koah, to sue for the recalling of Absalom, from his three years' exile? Who but he, went to fetch him from Geshur to Jerusalem? Who but he, fetched him from his house at Jerusalem, whereto he had been two years confined, to the face, to the lips of David? Yet now he, that was his solicitor for the king's favour, is his executioner against the king's charge. With honest hearts, all respects, either of blood or friendship, cease in the case of treason. Well hath Joab forgotten himself to be a friend to him, who had forgot-. ten himself to be a son. Even civilly, the king is our common father; our country our common mother: nature hath no private relations, which should not gladly give place to these. He is nei ther father, nor son, nor brother, nor friend, that conspires against the common parent. Well doth he, who spake parables for his master's son, now speak darts to his king's enemy; and pierces that heart, which was false to so great a father. Those darts are seconded by Joab's followers: each man tries his weapon upon so fair a mark.

1

One death is not enough for Absalom: he is at once hanged, shot, mangled, stoned. Justly was he lift up to the oak, who had lift up himself against his father and sovereign: justly is he pierced with darts, who had pierced his father's heart with so many sorrows: justly is he mangled, who hath dismembered and divided all Israel: justly is he stoned, who hath not only cursed, but pursued his own parent.

Now Joab, sounds the retreat; and calls off his eager troops from execution, however he knew what his rebellious countrymen had deserved in following an Absalom. Wise commanders know how to put a difference, betwixt the heads of a faction, and the misguided multitude; and can pity the one, while they take revenge on the other.

So did Absalom esteem himself, that he thought it would be a wrong to the world, to want the memorial of so goodly a person. God had denied him sons: how just it was, that he should want a son, who had robbed his father of a son; who would have robbed himself of a father, his father of a kingdom! It had been pity, so poisonous a plant should have been fruitful. His pride shall sup ply nature he rears up a stately pillar in the king's dale, and calls it by his own name; that he might live in dead stones, who could not survive in living issue: and now, behold this curious pile ends in a rude heap, which speaks no language, but the shame of that carcase which it covers. Hear this, ye glorious fools, that care Hot to perpetuate any memory of yourselves to the world, but of ill deserving greatness. The best of this affectation is vanity; the worst, infamy and dishonour: whereas, The memorial of the just shall be blessed; and, if his humility shall refuse an epitaph, and chuse to hide himself under the bare earth, God himself shall engrave his name upon the pillar of eternity.

There now lies Absalom in the pit, under a thousand grave. stones, in every of which is written his everlasting reproach. Well might this heap averlive that pillar; for when that ceased to be a

pillar, it began to be a heap; neither will it cease to be a monument of Absalom's shame, while there are stones to be found upon earth. Even at this day, very pagans and pilgrims that pass that way, cast each man a stone unto that heap; and are wont to say, in a solemn execration, "Cursed be the parricide Absalom, and cursed be all unjust persecutors of their parents, for ever." Fasten your eyes upon this woeful spectacle, O all ye rebellious and ungracious children, which rise up against the loins and thighs from which ye fell; and know, that it is the least part of your punishment, that your carcases rot in the earth, and your name in ignominy: these do but shadow out those eternal sufferings of your souls, for your foul and unnatural disobedience.

Absalom is dead. Who shall report it to his father? Surely Joab was not so much afraid of the fact, as of the message. There are busy spirits that love to carry news, though thankless, though purposeless; such as Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, who importunately thrust himself into this service. Wise Joab, who well saw how unwelcome tidings must be the burden of the first post, dissuades him in vain. He knew David too well, to employ a friend to that errand. An Ethiopian servant was a fitter bearer of such a message, than the son of the priest. The entertainment of the person doth so follow the quality of the news, that David could argue afar off, He is a good man; he cometh with good tidings. Oh how welcome deserve those messengers to be, that bring us the glad tidings of salvation; that assure us of the foil of all spiritual enemies; and tell us of nothing but victories, and crowns, and kingdoms! If we think not their fect beautiful, our hearts are foul with infidelity and secure worldliness.

So wise is Ahimaaz grown by Joab's intimation, that, though he outwent Cushi in his pace, he suffers Cushi to outgo him in his tale; cunningly suppressing that part, which he knew must be most necessarily delivered, and unpleasingly received.

As our care is wont to be where our love is, David's first word is not, "How fares the host?" but How fares the young man Ab sulom? Like a wise and faithful messenger, Cushi answers by an honest insinuation; The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is; implying, both what was done, and why David should approve it being done. How is the good king thunder-struck, with that word of his blackamoor! Who, as if he were at once bereaved of all comfort, and cared not to live but in the name of Absalom, goes and weeps and cries out, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee; O Absalom, my son, my son! What is this we hear? That he, whose life Israel valued at ten thousand of theirs, should be exchanged with a traitor's? That a good king, whose life was sought, should wish to lay it down for the preservation of his murderer? The best men have not wont to be the least passionate. But what shall we say to that love of thine, O Saviour, who hast said of us wretched traitors, not, Would God 1 had died for you; but "I will die; I do die; I have died for

you?" Oh love, like thyself, infinite, incomprehensible; whereat the angels of Heaven stand yet amazed; wherewith thy saints are ravished. Turn away thine eyes from me; for they overcome me. O thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause us to hear it; that we may, in our measure, answer thy love, and enjoy it for ever. 2 Sam. xvii, xviii.

SHEBA'S REBELLION.

It was the doom, which God passed upon the man after his own heart, by the mouth of Nathan, that the sword should never depart from his house, for the blood of Uriah: after that wound healed by remission, yet this scar remains; Absalom is no sooner cast down into the pit, than Sheba the son of Bichri is up in arms. If David be not plagued, yet he shall be corrected; first by the rod of a son, then of a subject: he had lift up his hand against a faithful subject; now a faithless dares to lift up his hand against him.

Malice, like some hereditary sickness, runs in a blood: Saul, and Shimei, and Sheba were all of a house. That ancient grudge was not yet dead. The fire of the house of Jemini was but raked up, never thoroughly out; and now, that, which did but smoke in Shimei, flames in Sheba: although even through this chastisement, it is not hard to discern a type of that perpetual succession of enmity, which should be raised against the true king of Israel. 0 Son of David, when didst thou ever want enemies? How wert thou designed by thine eternal Father, For a sign that should be spoken against How did the gentiles rage, and the people imagine vain things! The kings of the earth assembled, and the rulers came together, against thee. Yea, how do the subjects of thine own kingdom daily conspire against thee! Even now, while thou enjoyest peace and glory at thy Father's right hand, as soon shalt thou want friends as enemies upon earth.

No eye of any traitor could espy a just quarrel in the govern ment of David: yet Sheba blows the trumpet of rebellion; and, while Israel and Judah are striving who should have the greatest part in their re-established sovereign, he sticks not to say, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse; and, while he says, Every man to his tents, O Israel, he calls every man to his own: so, in proclaiming a liberty from a just and loyal subjection, he invites Israel to the bondage of a usurper.

That a lewd conspirator should breathe treason, it is no wonder; but is it not wonder and shame, that, upon every mutinous blast, Israel should turn traitor to God's anointed? It was their late expostulation with David, why their brethren the men of Judah should have stolen him from them; now might David more justly expostulate, why a rebel of their brethren should have stolen them from him.

As nothing is more unstable than the multitude, so nothing is

more subject to distastes than sovereignty; for as weak minds seek pleasure in change, so every light conceit of irritation seems sufficient colour of change. Such as the false dispositions of the vulgar are, love cannot be security enough for princes, without the awfulness of power. What hold can there be of popularity, when the same hands, that even now fought for David to be all theirs, now fight against him, under the son of Bichri, as none of theirs? As bees, when they are once up in a swarm, are ready to light upon every bough, so the Israelites, being stirred by the late commotion of Absalom, are apt to follow every Sheba. It is unsafe for any state, that the multitude should once know the way to an insurrection the least track in this kind is easily made a path.

Yet if Israel rebel, Judah continues faithful; neither shall the son of David ever be left destitute of some true subjects in the worst of apostacies. He, that could command all hearts, will ever be followed by some. God would rather glorify himself by a

remnant,

Great commanders must have active thoughts. David is not so taken up with the embroiled affairs of his state, as not to intend domestic justice. His ten concubines, which were shamelessly defiled by his incestuous son, are condemned to ward and widowhood. Had not that constupration been partly violent, their punishment had not been so easy; had it not also been partly voluntary, they had not been so much punished: but how much soever the act did partake of either force or will, justly are they sequestered from David's bed. Absalom was not more unnatural in his rebellion, than in his lust: if now David should have returned to his own bed, he had seconded the incest. How much more worthy of separation are they, who have stained the marriage bed with their wilful sin!

Amasa was one of the witnesses and abettors of Absalom's filthiness; yet is he, out of policy, received to favour and employment, while the concubines suffer. Great men yield many times to those things, out of reasons of state, which, if they were private persons, could not be easily put over,

It is no small wisdom, to engage a new reconciled friend, that he may be confirmed by his own act; therefore is Amasa commanded to levy the forces of Judah,

Joab, after many great merits and achievements, lies rusting in neglect: he, that was so intire with David, as to be of his counsel for Uriah's blood, and so firm to David, as to lead all his battles against the house of Saul, the Ammonites, the Aramites, Absalom; is now cashiered, and must yield his place to a stranger late an enemy. Who knows not, that this son of Zeruiah had shed the blood of war in peace? But if the blood of Absalom had not been louder than the blood of Abner, I fear this change had not been now Joab smarteth for a loyal disobedience. How slippery are the stations of earthly honours, and subject to continual mutability! Happy are they, who are in favour with him, in whom there is no shadow of change.

Where men are commonly most ambitious to please with thei first employments, Amasa slackens his pace. The least delay if matters of rebellion is perilous; may be irrecoverable: the sons o Zeruiah are not sullen: Abishai is sent, Joab goes unsent, to the pursuit of Sheba. Amasa was in their way; whom no quarrel but their envy, had made of a brother an enemy. Had the heart of Amasa been privy to any cause of grudge, he had suspected the kiss of Joab: now his innocent eyes look to the lips, not to the hand, of his secret enemy. The lips were smooth; Art thou in health, my brother? The hand was bloody, which smote him under the fifth rib. That unhappy hand knew well this way unto death; which, with one wound, hath let out the souls of two great captains, Abner and Amasa: both they were smitten by Joab; both under the fifth rib; both under a pretence of friendship. There is no enmity so dangerous as that, which comes masked with love: open hostility calls us to our guard; but there is no fence against a trusted treachery: we need not be bidden to avoid an enemy, but who would run away from a friend? Thus, spiritually, deals the world with our souls: it kisses us, and stabs us, at once. If it did not embrace us with one hand, it could not murder us with the other only, God, deliver us from the danger of our trust, and we shall be safe.

Joab is gone; and leaves Amasa wallowing in blood. That spectacle cannot but stay all passengers. The death of great persons draws ever many eyes. Each man says; "Is not this my lord Amasa? Wherefore do we go to fight, while our general lies in the dust? What a sad presage is this of our own miscarriage?" The wit of Joab's followers hath therefore soon both removed Amasa out of the way, and covered him; not regarding so much the loss, as the eye-sore of Israel. Thus wicked politics care not so much for the commission of villany, as for the notice. Smothered evils are as not done. If oppressions, if murder, if treasons may be hid from view, the obdured heart of the offender complains not of remorse.

Bloody Joab, with what face, with what heart, canst thou pursue a traitor to thy king, while thou thyself art so foul a traitor to thy friend; to thy cousin-german; and, in so unseasonable a slaughter, to thy sovereign, whose cause thou professest to revenge? If Amasa were now, in an act of loyalty, justly, on God's part, paid for the arrearages of his late rebellion, yet that it should be done by thy hand, then and thus, it was flagitiously cruel: yet, behold, Joab runs away securely with the fact; hasting to plague that in another, whereof himself was no less guilty. So vast are the gorges of some consciences, that they can swallow the greatest crimes, and find no strain in the passage,

It is possible, for a man to be faithful to some one person, and perfidious to all others. I do not find Joab other than firm and foyal to David, in the midst of all his private falsehoods; whose just quarrel he pursues against Sheba, through all the tribes of Israel. None of all the strong forts of revolted Israel, can hide the