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1. Abner died when he least thought of ••••ath: even so our Prince and great man, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pulled down to his grave in the flower ••••d strength of his years, when he least ••••ought of the turning of the Sun. Cesar ••••ing asked what death he would choose, ••••s••••ered, no lingring, but a sudden death,
and this our Prince enjoyes, being alive, a dead in a moment; the breath of man 〈◊〉〈◊〉 scarce pronounce so fast, Est, but the ••••∣cho answereth as fast, Non est, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fallen.
2ly. Abner died a violent death: even 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Prince by unmercifull hands on eve•••• side is bereaved of his life; Gebal, Ammon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Amalech, Edom and Ishmael, Moad and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Agarims, Jesuites and Zamzummims, D•••• 2.20. that is a people, who called the•••• selves Rephaims, preservers or Physicia•••• to heal and reform vices, but played the D••••∣vils to open a gap to let in all heresie a•••• abomination, and wickedness and pr••∣fanesse, and covetousness which is idol•• try; These all of them have taken cra•••• counsel against him; Psal 83.3. and w••••∣ried him, and dethroned him, and li•••• Cannibals have devoured him.
3ly. Abner was evil spoken of by Je•••••• and his innocency tainted and spotted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him, and his integrity and best meani•••• misconstrued and misinterpreted, 24, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ver. Even so, our Prince, our great ma•••• was calumniated and reproched in the A•••• my by rude Souldiers, In the City by ign••••∣rant Ephesians, Factious Schismaticks, a••••
many pratling Diotrephe's. In the Countrey, ••y Copper-Smith Alexanders, and giddy∣••rained Athenians, stil longing to hear, and ••ell news, sucking in all poison, and then pewing it out to the disgrace of their ••rince. This was Christs lot and portion, ••sa. 53.3. to verse 12. and certainly (how ••ver the world deem of it) that servant is ••ighly honoured, that is admitted to drink ••f his Masters cup. If they have done these ••••ings to the green tree, what may they not, ••ill they not do to the dry? Luke 23.31.
4ly, Abners fall was lamented by all Is∣••••el, unlesse it were by cursed Joah, and his ••••icked brood, verse 32. Even so our great ••ans subversion did afford much lamenta∣••on in our Rhaina, where among the more ••odly and constant godly ones, there was ••eeping, and mourning and howling for ••••ir Abner, for their Prince, because he as not, Matth. 2.18. Perhaps there might 〈◊〉〈◊〉 some greedy of prey might rejoice in his ••••ll, that they might rise and step into his ••at; but as Christ prayed for his malefa∣••or••, so pray I, Father forgive them, for they ••ow not what they do, Luke 23.34. That ••rown must needs be dear bought, which purchased with blood, and an ill consci∣ence
and the losse of a soul, as Alexande the sixth sold his soul to the Devil, to ad∣vance him to be Pope. The Romans wer•• wont to begin their Epioedics after th•• death of their Worthies, with August•••• mortuus est, the King is dead; the tidings 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Augustus death made a Land-flood over a•••• Rome: And why should not Ahijabs sad ••••••∣dings of Princeps occidit, our Prince is fa••∣len, turn our Israel into Bochim, a valley 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tears? Unlesse we have eyes and will no•••• see, and hearts that will not understand the which was one of Pharaoh's plagues, W•••• never had more cause to pour out wat•••• before the Lord, than this day, 1 Sa•••• 7.6.
5ly, Abner falling, Ish-bosheth present•••• fell, with those adherents to them both 2 Sam. 4.7. Even so, our Prince and gre•••• man falling, how many hundred Famili•••• that are bread at his Table, and were ch••••∣rished by our good Abner, were utterly ru••••∣ned? The Peers lost the honour of the•••• birthright, and some of them their live•••• The Bishops, Deans, Arch-Deacons, wi•••• the learned Clergy lost their Livings, an•••• Liberties. The Gentry their Estates; an•••• have not all cause to cry out, as Elisha di••••
after Elijah, when he was taken up into heaven, 2 Kings 2.12. My father, my father. What shall we do? as the servant of the man of God said, Chap. 6.15.
6ly, Abner signifies the fathers Candle; and what he was by name, our Prince was by nature, a bright shining light and Can∣dle, as it was said of John Baptist, John 5.35. and this Candle being put out, we must needs walk in Egyptian darknesse, and dark∣nesse is none of the least plagues.
7ly, Abner was gulled of his life under a colour of kindnes, v. 27. Joah pretended love, but intended murther. Mel in ore, verba la∣ctis, fel in corde, fraus in factis, he had ho∣ney in his mouth, but gall in his heart, he spake to him peaceably, but struck him to the heart. Even so our Prince was fed with golden promises, and Naphthalies goodly words, that they would make him the grea∣test Prince in Christendom; if he would null Bishops, Confirm the Parliament du∣ring their own pleasure, Resign the Militia into their hands, which having obtained, and all they could ask, at last cut off his head-with his own sword, as David served Goliah, 1 Sam. 17.51. And so let us pray,
From the Crafty Counsel of Abithophel, From Rabshakeh's railing, & Shimei's cursing, From Iudas's kisse, and Joab's bloody hands, Good Lord deliver us.
From all false Doctrine and Heresie, From hardnesse of heart and privy conspi∣racy▪ From sudden death and Jesuitical cruelty, Good Lord deliver us.