was not remooued from the Priesthood vntill Salomons raigne, neither was it now a time for Dauid to bestow offices.
2. Pet. Martyr saith, videntem vocat, quia prior aderat, he calleth him a Seer, because he was there first: but the name Seer is taken for a Prophet: as Samuel was so called, 1. Sam. 9.9.
3. The reason hereof was this: Abiathar and Zadock had their times to serue in course, as was appointed by Samuel and Dauid, 1. Chron. 9.22. and this weeke Zadock serued, and therefore Dauid calleth him Seer. And thus much in effect he saith vnto him, that he was the publike Minister to giue attendance vpon the Arke for the seruice of the whole Church, and therefore it was not fit, that he should onely follow the King, priuata conditione fugientem, now flying away, as in a priuate state and con∣dition. Iun. And further, Dauid in effect saith thus much vnto him: Art not thou a Seer which doest vse to aske counsell of God by Vrim and Thummim? thou maiest stand me in more stead in returning, and abiding with the Arke to consult with God for me, then to be with me still here. Borrh.
10. Quest. v. 30. Of Dauids going barefoote, and his head couered.
1. Some thinke that Dauids couering his head, was a signe here of subiection, and the putting off his shooes of resigning the kingdome, which was a ceremonie vsed in Israel to signifie the deliuering ouer of the possession of a thing. Borrh. But Dauid knewe it was not Gods will, that he should surrender the kingdome to Abshalom, it was apppointed to Salomon. 2. Therefore these were onely signes of Dauids mour∣ning; for so they which mourned vsed to couer their heads, that their teares should not be seene of men, which were knowen vnto God. Mart. 3. And Dauid is here a liuely type of our Blessed Sauiour, who went vp the mount of Oliues heauie vnto death, as Dauid goeth vp weeping here. Osiander.
11. Quest. v. 34. Of Dauids counsell to Chusai, say vnto Absha∣lom, I will be thy seruant: whether Dauid did well in teaching him to dissemble.
1. Some are of opinion, that whereas there are three kind of lyes, iocosum, officio∣sum, perniciosum, a lie in iest, an officious, and a pernicious lie: the two first they hold to be lawfull: and that to make a charitable lie to doe good to some, and not to hurt others, is not vnlawfull. But this is no sound opinion: for euery lie with what pre∣tense so euer it is made, is an offence: because we doe not speake the truth from the heart: and S. Pauls rule must be obserued, we must not doe euill, that good may come of it. See more hereof, 1. Sam. c. 21. qu. 13. qu. 14.
2. Osiander thinketh that this dissembling of Chushai was an officious kind of lie, which was not against charitie, but it tended to preserue the life of the King, and the state, and therefore neither Dauid therein sinned in giuing this aduise, nor Chushai in following it. But if it be graunted that Chushai here made a lie, it must needes follow, that it was not without offence.
3. Pellican resolueth thus, that Chushai did here tell no lie: for hee had done in∣deed faithfull seruice to Abshalom, if he would haue beene ruled by him, and surcea∣sed to pursue his father: and his counsell was also in effect profitable to him: for it was better that Abshalom was slaine, then he should haue killed his father. But it is eui∣dent, that Chushai had no such intendment to profite Absalom by his counsell, but to ouerthrow all his deuises.
4. Wherefore either with Iunius it may be answered, that Chushai ambiguo sermone ludificatur, doth with ambiguous speach dally with Absalom, and so telleth not a lie: See c. 17.16.18.
5. Or else, as Pet. Martyr concludeth, Dauid might herein haue Gods direction, and then hee sinned not; for God is aboue his owne law: as Abraham in attempting to sacrifice his sonne, the Israelites in taking f••om the Egyptians, sinned not, because they did it by Gods direction. So if it be graunted, that Chushai here lied and dissem∣bled, if he did it humano impulsu, by a mans meere deuise, he cannot altogether be ex∣cused. But if it were by Gods direction, they offended not: as it may be gathered by