ple of his promise. He, that had said, Ask on, for I will not say thee nay, can now say, God do so to me and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life. His promise was according to his supposition; his supposition was of no other than of a suit, honest, reasonable, expedient; now, he holds himself free from that grant, wherein there was at once both sin and danger. No man can be entangled with general words, against his own just and honest intentions.

The policies of wicked men befool them at last. This intercession hath undone Adonijah; and, instead of the throne, hastens his grave. The sword of Benaiah puts an end to that dangerous rivalry.

Joab and Abiathar still held champerty with Adonijah. Their hand was both in the claim of his kingdom, and in the suit of Abishag. There are crimes, wherein there are no accessaries; such is this of treason.

Abiathar may thank his burden, that he lives: had he not borne the ark of the Lord before David, he had not now carried his head upon his shoulders: had he not been afflicted with David, he had perished with Adonijah: now, though he were, in his own merit, a man of death, yet he shall survive his partners: Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine mon fields. The priesthood, of Abiathar, as it aggravated his crime, so it shall preserve his life. Such honour have good princes given to the ministers of the sanctuary, that their very coat hath been defence enough against the sword of justice how much more should it be of proof, against the contempt of base persons!

Besides his function, respect is had to his sufferings. The father and brethren of Abiathar were slain for David's sake; therefore, for David's sake, Abiathar, though worthy of death, shall live. He had been now a dead man, if he had not been formerly afflicted. Thus doth our good God deal with us: by the rod, he prevents the sword; and therefore will not condemn us for our sins, because we have suffered.

If Abiathar do not forfeit his life, yet his office he shall: he must change Jerusalem for Anathoth, and the priesthood for a retired privacy.

It was fourscore years ago, since the sentence of judgment was denounced against the house of Eli: now doth it come to execution. This just quarrel against Abiathar, the last of that line, shall make good the threatened judgment. The wickedness of Eli's house was neither purged by sacrifice, nor obliterated by time. If God pay slowly, yet he pays sure. Delay of most certain punishment is neither any hindrance to his justice, nor any comfort to our miseries.

472

CONTEMPLATION III.-THE EXECUTION OF
JOAB AND SHIMEI.

1 KINGS II.

ABIATHAR shall live, though he serve not.

It is in the power

of princes to remit, at least, those punishments, which attend the breach of human laws: good reason they should have power, to dispense with the wrongs done to their own persons.

The news of Adonijah's death and Abiathar's removal, cannot but affright Joab; who now runs to Gibeon, and takes sanctuary in the tabernacle of God. All his hope of defence is in the horns of the altar. Fond Joab, hadst thou formerly sought for counsel from the tabernacle, thou hadst not now needed to seek to it for refuge if thy devotions had not been wanting to that altar, thou hadst not needed it for a shelter. It is the fashion of our foolish presumption, to look for protection, where we have not cared to yield obedience.

Even a Joab clings fast to God's altar, in his extremity; which, in his ruff and welfare he regarded not. The worst men would be glad to make use of God's ordinances, for their advantage necessity will drive the most profane and lawless man to God. But what do these bloody hands touching the holy altar of God? Miserable Joab, what help canst thou expect from that sacred pile? Those horns, that were sprinkled with the blood of beasts, abhor to be touched by the blood of men: that altar was for the expiation of sin, by blood; not for the protection of the sin of blood. If Adonijah fled thither and escaped, it is murder that pursues thee, more than conspiracy: God hath no sanctuary for a wilful homicide.

Yea, such respect doth Benaiah give to that holy place, that his sword is unwilling to touch him that touches the altar. Those horns shall put off death for the time; and give protraction of the execution, though not preservation of life.

How sweet is life, even to those who have been prodigal of the blood of others, that Joab shifts thus to hold it, but some few hours!

Benaiah returns with Joab's answer, instead of his head; Nay, but I will die here; as not daring to unsheath his sword against a man sehltered in God's tabernacle, without a new commission. Young Solomon is so well acquainted with the law of God in such a case, that he sticks not at the sentence. He knew that God had enacted, If a man came presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile, thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. He knew Joab's murders had not been more presumptuous, than guileful; and therefore he sends Benaiah to take

away the offender, both from God and men, from the altar and the world.

No subject had merited more than Joab. When proclamation was made in Israel, that whoever should smite the Jebusites first, he should be the chief and captain, Joab was the man: when David built some part of Jerusalem, Joab built the rest; so as Jerusalem owes itself to Joab, both for recovery and reparation: no man held so close to David: no man was more intent to the weal of Israel; none so successful in victories: yet now he is called to reckon for his old sins, and must repay blood to Amasa and Abner. It is not in the power of all our deserts, to buy off one sin, either with God or man. Where life is so deeply forfeited, it admits of no redemption.

The honest simplicity of those times knew not of any infamy in the execution of justice. Benaiah, who was the great marshal under Solomon, thinks not his fingers defiled with that fatal stroke. It is a foolish niceness, to put more shame in the doing of justice than in the violating of it.

In one act, Solomon hath approved himself, both a good magistrate and a good son; fulfilling at once, the will of a father and the charge of God; concluding, upon this just execution, that Upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, there shall be peace for ever from the Lord ; and inferring, that, without this, there could have been no peace.

Blood is a restless suitor; and will not leave clamouring for judgment, till the mouth be stopped with revenge. In this case, favour to the offender is cruelty to the favourer.

Now hath Joab paid all his arrearages, by the sword of Benaiah. There is no suit against his corpse; that hath the honour of a burial, fit for a peer of Israel, for the near cousin to the king. Death puts an end to all quarrels. Solomon strikes off the score, when God is satisfied. The revenge, that survives death, and will not be shut up in the coffin, is barbarous, and unbeseeming true Israelites.

Only Shimei remains upon the file. His course is next; yet so, as that it shall be in his own liberty to hasten his end. Upon David's remission, Shimei dwells securely in Bahurim, a town of the tribe of Benjamin. Doubtless, when he saw so round justice done upon Adonijah and Joab, his guilty heart could not think Solomon's message portended ought but his execution; and now he cannot but be well pleased with so easy conditions, of dwelling at Jerusalem, and not passing over the brook Kidron. What more delightful place could he choose to live in, than that city, which was the glory of the whole earth? what more pleasing bounds could he wish, than the sweet banks of Kidron? Jerusalem could be no prison to him, while it was a Paradise to his betters; and if he had a desire to take fresh air, he had the space of six furlongs to walk from the city to the brook. He could

not complain to be so delectably confined. And besides, thrice every year he might be sure to see all his friends, without stirring his foot.

Wise Solomon, while he cared to seem not too severe an exactor of that which his father had remitted, prudently lays insensible twigs for so foul an offender. Besides the old grudge, no doubt Solomon saw cause to suspect the fidelity of Shimei; as a man who was ever known to be hollow to the house of David. The obscurity of a country life would easily afford him more safe opportunities of secret mischief. Many eyes shall watch him in the city. He cannot look out unseen; he cannot whisper unheard. Upon no other terms shall he enjoy his life, which the least straying shall forfeit.

Shimei feels no pain in this restraint. How many nobles of Israel do that for pleasure, which he doth upon command! Three years hath he lived within compass, limited both by Solomon's charge and his own oath. It was still in his power, notwithstanding David's caveat, to have laid down his hoary head in the grave, without blood. The just God infatuates those, whom he means to plague. Two of Shimei's servants are fled to Gath; and now he saddles his ass, and is gone to fetch them back. "Either," he thinks, "this word of Solomon is forgotten, or, in the multitude of greater affairs, not heeded; or this so small an occurrence will not come to his ear." Covetousness, and presumption of impunity, are the destruction of many a soul. Shimei seeks his servants, and loses himself. How many are there, who cry out of this folly, and yet imitate it! These earthly things either are our servants, or should be: how commonly do we see men run out of the bounds set by God's law, to hunt after them, till their souls incur a fearful judgment?

Princes have thousands of eyes and ears. If Shimei will for more secrecy saddle his own ass, and take, as is like, the benefit of night for his passage, his journey cannot be hid from Solomon. How wary had those men need to be, that are obnoxious! Without delay is Shimei complained of, convented, charged with violation both of the oath of God and the injunction of Solomon; and, that all these might appear to be but an occasion of that punishment, whose cause was more remote, now is all that old venom laid before him, which his malice had long since spit at God's anointed; Thou knowest all the wickedness, whereto thine heart is privy, that thou didst to David my father.

Had this old tally been stricken off, yet could not Shimei have pleaded ought for his life: for, had he said, "Let not my Lord the king be thus mortally displeased, for so small an offence: whoever died for passing over Kidron? What man is the worse for my harmless journey?" it had soon been returned, “If the act be small, yet the circumstances are deadly the commands of sovereign authority make the slightest duties weighty:

if the journey be harmless, yet not the disobedience." It is not for subjects, to poise the prince's charge in the scales of their weak constructions; but they must suppose it ever to be of such importance, as is pretended by the commander.

Besides the precept, here was a mutual adjuration. Shimei swore not to go; Solomon swore his death, if he went the one oath must be revenged; the other must be kept: if Shimei were false in offending, Solomon will be just in punishing. Now therefore, that, which Abishai the son of Zeruiah wished to have done in the greenness of the wound and was repelled, after long festering Benaiah is commanded to do. The stones that Shimei threw at David struck not so deep, as Benaiah's sword: the tongue that cursed the Lord's anointed hath paid the head to boot. Vengeance against rebels may sleep; it cannot die: a sure, if late, judgment attends those, that dare lift up either the hand or tongue against the sacred persons of God's vicegerents. How much less will the God of Heaven suffer, unrevenged, the insolences and blasphemies against his own divine majesty! It is a fearful word, he should not be just, if he should hold these guiltless.

CONTEMPLATION IV.-SOLOMON'S CHOICE, WITH HIS JUDGMENT UPON THE TWO HARLOTS.

1 KINGS III.; 2 CHRONICLES 1.

AFTER SO many messages and proofs of grace, Solomon begins doubtfully, both for his match and for his devotion. If Pharaoh's daughter were not a proselyte, his early choice was (besides unwarrantable) dangerous. The high places not only stood, but were frequented, both by the people and king. I do not find David climbing up those mishallowed hills, in an affection of the variety of altars: Solomon doth so, and yet loves the Lord, and is loved of God again. Such is the mercy of our God, that he will not suffer our well meant weaknesses, to bereave us of his favours: he rather pities, than plagues us, for the infirmities of upright hearts.

Gibeon was well worthy to be the chief, yea the only high place. There was the allowed altar of God: there was the tabernacle, though, as then, severed from the ark thither did young Solomon go up; and, as desiring to begin his reign with God, there he offers no less than a thousand sacrifices.

Solomon worships God by day: God appears to Solomon by night. Well may we look to enjoy God, when we have served him. The night cannot but be happy, whose day hath been holy.

It was no unusual course with God, to reveal himself unto his