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wants not an Abner to resist him, and the title of an Ishbosheth to colour his resistance.

If any of Saul's house could have made challenge to the crown, it should have been Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan; who, it seems, had too much of his father's blood to be a competitor with David.

The question is not, who may claim the most right, but who may best serve the faction. Neither was Ishbosheth any other than Abner's stale. Saul could not have a fitter courtier ; whether in the imitation of his master's envy, or the ambition of ruling under a borrowed name, he strongly opposed David. There are those, who strive against their own hearts, to make a side; with whom conscience is oppressed by affection. An ill quarrel, once undertaken, shall be maintained, although with blood. Now, not so much the blood of Saul, as the engagement of Abner, makes the war.

The sons of Zeruiah stand fast to David. It is much, how a man placeth his first interest. If Abner had been in Joab's room, when Saul's displeasure drove David from the court, or Joab in Abner's, these actions, these events had been changed with the persons. It was the only happiness of Joab, that he fell on the better side.

Both the commanders under David and Ishbosheth were equally cruel both are so inured to blood, that they make but a sport of killing. Custom makes sin so familiar, that the horror of it is to some turned into pleasure; Come, let the young men play before us. Abner is the challenger, and speeds thereafter; for though in the matches of duel both sides miscarried, yet in the following conflict Abner and his men are beaten by the success of those single combats, no man knows the better of the cause both sides perish, to show how little God liked either the offer, or the acceptation of such a trial; but when both did their best, God punished the wrong part with discomfiture.

Oh the misery of civil dissension! Israel and Judah were brethren. One carried the name of the father, the other of the son. Judah was but a branch of Israel; Israel was the root of Judah: yet Israel and Judah must fight and kill each other; only upon the quarrel of an ill leader's ambition.

The speed of Asahel was not greater than his courage. It was a mind fit for one of David's worthies, to strike at the head, to match himself with the best. He was both swift and strong; but The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. If he had gone never so slowly, he might have overtaken death now he runs to fetch it.

So little lust had Abner to shed the blood of a son of Zeruiah, that he twice advises him to retreat from pursuing his own peril. Asahel's cause was so much better as Abner's success. Many a one miscarries in the rash prosecution of a good quarrel, when

the abettors of the worst part go away with victory. Heat of zeal, sometimes in the indiscreet pursuit of a just adversary, proves mortal to the agent, prejudicial to the service.

Abner, while he kills, yet he flies; and runs away from his own death while he inflicts it upon another.

David's followers had the better of the field and day. The sun, as unwilling to see any more Israelitish blood shed by brethren, hath withdrawn himself: and now, both parts having got the advantage of a hill under them, have safe convenience of parley. Abner begins; and persuades Joab to surcease the fight; Shall the sword devour for ever? Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the end? How long shall it be, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? It was his fault, that the sword devoured at all: and why was not the beginning of a civil war, bitterness? Why did he call forth the people to skirmish, and invite them to death?

Had Abner been on the winning hand, this motion had been thankworthy. It is a noble disposition in a victor, to call for a cessation of arms; whereas, necessity wrings this suit from the over-mastered. There cannot be a greater praise, to a valiant and wise commander, than a propension to all just terms of peace for war, as it is sometimes necessary, so it is always evil; and if fighting have any other end proposed besides peace, it proves murder.

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Abner shall find himself no less overcome by Joab, in clemency, than power. He says not, "I will not so easily leave the advantage of my victory since the dice of war run on my side I will follow the chance of my good success: thou shouldst have considered of this before thy provocation; it is now too late, to move unto forbearance:" but, as a man that meant to approve himself equally free, from cowardice in the beginning of the conflict, and from cruelty in the end, he professeth his forwardness to entertain any pretence of sheathing up the swords of Israel; and swears to Abner, that if it had not been for his proud irritation, the people had in the morning before ceased from that bloody pursuit of their brethren. As it becomes public persons to be lovers of peace, so they must shew it upon all good occasions; letting pass no opportunity of making spare of blood.

Ishbosheth was, it seems, a man of no great spirits; for, being no less than forty years old, when his father went into his last field against the Philistines, he was content to stay at home. Abner hath put ambition into him; and hath easily raised him to the head of a faction, against the anointed prince of God's people. If this usurped crown of Saul's son had any worth or glory in it, he cannot but acknowledge to owe it all unto Abner; yet how forward is unthankful Ishbosheth, to receive a false suggestion against his chief abettor: Wherefore hast thou gone

into my father's concubine? He, that made no conscience of an unjust claim to the crown and a maintenance of it with blood, yet seems scrupulous of a less sin, that carried in it the colour of a disgrace. The touch of her, who had been honoured by his father's bed, seemed an intolerable presumption, and such as could not be severed from his own dishonour. Self-love sometimes borrows the face of honest zeal. Those, who out of true grounds dislike sins, do hate them all indifferently, according to their heinousness: hypocrites are partial in their detestation; bewraying ever most bitterness against those offences, which may most prejudice their persons and reputations.

It is as dangerous as unjust, for princes to give both their ears and their heart to misgrounded rumours of their innocent followers. This wrong hath stripped Ishbosheth of the kingdom.

Abner, in the mean time, cannot be excused from a treacherous inconstancy. If Saul's son had no true title to the crown, why did he maintain it? If he had, why did he forsake the cause and person? Had Abner, out of remorse for furthering a false claim, taken off his hand, I know not wherein he could be blamed, except for not doing it sooner; but now to withdraw his professed allegiance, upon a private revenge, was to take a lewd leave of an ill action. If Ishbosheth were his lawful prince, no injury could warrant a revolt. Even betwixt private persons, a return of wrongs is both uncharitable and unjust; however this go current for the common justice of the world, how much more should we learn, from a supreme hand, to take hard measures with thanks! It had been Abner's duty, to have given his king a peaceable and humble satisfaction, and not to fly out in a snuff. If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences: now his impatient falling, although to the right side, makes him no better than traitorously honest.

So soon as Abner had entertained a resolution of his rebellion, he persuades the elders of Israel to accompany him in the change and whence doth he fetch his main motive, but from the oracle of God? The Lord hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David, will I save my people Israel, out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies. Abner knew this full well before; yet then was well content, to smother a known truth for his own turn; and, now the publication of it may serve for his advantage, he wins the heart of Israel, by shewing God's charter for him, whom he had so long opposed. Hypocrites make use of God for their own purposes; and care only, to make divine authority a colour for their own designs. No man ever heard Abner godly till now; neither had he been so at this time, if he had not intended a revengeful departure from Ishbosheth. Nothing is more odious, than to make religion a stalking-horse to policy.

Who can but glorify God in his justice, when he sees the bitter end of his treacherous dissimulation? David may, upon considerations of state, entertain his new guest with a feast; and well might he seem to deserve a welcome, that undertakes to bring all Israel to the league and homage of David : but God never meant to use so unworthy means, for so good a work. Joab returns from pursuing a troop; and, finding Abner dismissed in peace and expectation of beneficial return, follows him; and, whether out of envy at a new rival of honour, or out of the revenge of Asahel, he repays him both dissimulation and death. God doth most justly by Joab, that which Joab did for himself most unjustly.

I know not, setting the quarrel aside, whether we can worthily blame Abner for the death of Asahel, who would needs, after fair warnings, run himself upon Abner's spear; yet this fact shall procure his payment for worse. Now is Ishbosheth's wrong revenged by an enemy. We may not always measure the justice of God's proceedings, by present occasions. He needs not make us acquainted, or ask us leave, when he will call for the arrearages of forgotten sins.

CONTEMPLATIONS.

BOOK XV.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MY VERY GOOD LORD,

WILLIAM, LORD BURLEIGH,

ALL GRACE AND HAPPINESS.

Right Honourable,-There are but two books wherein we can read God; the one is his Word, his Works the other: this is the bigger volume; that, the more exquisite. The characters of this are more large, but dim; of that smaller, but clearer. Philosophers have turned over this, and erred; that, divines and studious Christians, not without full and certain information. In the works of God we see the shadow, or footsteps of the Creator; in his word we see the face of God in a glass. Happiness consists in the vision of that infinite Majesty ; and if we be perfectly happy above in seeing him face to face, our happiness is well forward below, in seeing the lively representation of his face in the glass of the Scriptures. We cannot spend our eyes too much upon this object: for me, the more I see, the more I am amazed, the more I am ravished, with this glorious beauty. With the honest lepers, I cannot be content to enjoy this happy sight alone: there is but one way to every man's felicity. May it please your lordship to take part with many your peers, in these my weak, but not unprofitable Contemplations; which shall hold themselves not a little graced with your honourable name; whereto, together with your right noble and most worthy lady, I have gladly devoted myself, to be Your lordship's in all dutiful observance,

JOSEPH HALL.

CONTEMPLATION I.-UZZAH, AND THE ARK REMOVED.

2 SAMUEL VI.; 1 CHRONICLES XIII.

THE house of Saul is quiet; the Philistines beaten: victory cannot end better than in devotion; David is no sooner settled in his house at Jerusalem, than he fetcheth God to be his guest there. The thousands of Israel go now in a holy march, to bring up the ark of God to the place of his rest. The tumults of war afforded no opportunity of this service. Only peace is a friend to religion; neither is peace ever our friend, but when it is a servant of piety. The use of war is not more pernicious to the body, than the abuse of peace is to the soul. Alas! the riot bred of our long ease rather drives the ark of God from us;

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