SECT. CLXVIII.
SAƲL now was bereaved of those Heroical gifts that God had before bestowed upon him, and Satan (by Gods permission) taking advantage of his extream melancholy and discontent (for the loss of Gods favour, and his Kingdom) filled him with frights and fears with disquietness of mind, and grief of heart, which so distem∣pered and distracted him, that he fell into fits of Phrensie, and sometimes grew outra∣gious, and ready to kill any body that came in his way, and was (for a time) as one possessed with a Devil. He had preferred his own reason before Gods directions in the bu∣siness of the Amalekites, (and so made an Idol of it) and now God justly deprives him of the use of it. His Physicians tell him that an evil spirit sent of the Lord (to execute his righteous judgment) troubled him, and therefore advise him to seek out a man that was skilful to play on the Harp, who by his Musick might chear and re∣vive his spirits, and allay his melancholy passions, and thereby he would be less subject to the Devils operations. One of Saul's servants (that stood by) said he had seen a Son of Jesse that was very skilful in playing on the Harp, and was also a man of war, and prudent in matters(e), and a comely person, and the Lord was with him, and assisted him in all his designs, and prospered him in all his enterprizes. Saul hear∣ing this, sent messengers to Jesse to desire him to send that Son of his that kept his sheep(f) unto him. Jesse sent his Son David to him, with a small present(g), namely an Asse laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a Kid; for great persons do many times kindly accept of small presents from their inferiours, seeing they are signs that they do respect and honour them. But Jesse knowing that God had anointed his Son David to succeed Saul in the Kingdom, might well have been afraid to put him into Saul's hands, had not his faith overcome his fear. David now came and atten∣ded upon Saul, who was much pleased with him, and loved him greatly, and ap∣pointed him to be one of those that should carry his Shield before him; Saul also liking him very well(h) sent to his Father that he might stay with him, and conti∣nue in his service. And when the evil spirit was at any time upon Saul, David play∣ed on his Harp before him, and so he was for the time freed from his melancholy, God working with David's Musick, and giving Saul ease thereby, that he might make way for David's advancement. Yet the Musick wrought no perfect cure on him, but only an abatement of his fits. He should have used the right means if he intended to be cur'd, viz. Repentance, Faith, Fasting and Prayer.
1 Sam. Ch. 16. from 14, to the end.