A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

2 Sam. CHAP. IV.

THis Chapter gives an account of the decrease of the House of Saul, as the former did of the increase of the House of David, which two Houses are Allegories; for as there was constant opposition and continual skirmishing for a long time between the two Houses of Saul and David, even so in a double Emblem, there is first betwixt Christ, and Antichrist while the World endures; and Secondly, betwixt the Spirit and the Flesh, in the Souls of the Saints while their lives do last. This double Type holds forth a double Mystery in the History, both in a general and in a particular respect.

First, As to the General, Ishbosheth's Kingdom was founded upon an Arm of flesh, namely Humane Power and Policy, and not any Divine Word to warrant it, but rather on the contrary to abolish it; therefore must it in God's time decrease tho' it look never so big with so many Tribes of Israel in the belly of it at its first beginning: Whereas David's Kingdom was founded upon a sure word of Prophesie and Promise of God, which was at the first supported with one Tribe only at Hebron, yet must it in God's time greatly grow, having both the Promise and the Providence of God to warm, water, and nourish it into a kindly growth. Even so the Kingdom of Satan, tho' at the first it be enlar∣ged almost over the face of the Earth, the whole World lying in wickedness, 1 John 5.19. yet the Lord hath spoken, it shall grow weaker and weaker as the House of Saul did, Ch. 3.1. until at last, our Lord shall destroy the Man of Sin utterly, with the breath of his mouth, and with the brightness of his coming, 2. Thes. 2.8. Whereas the Kingdom of Christ (our blessed David) tho' it be but as a little stone, the Kingdom of a Stone at the first, yet shall it become the Kingdom of a Mountain, to fill the whole Earth, Dan. 2.35.45.

In like manner, if those two Houses of Saul and David be particularly considered, they represent the two opposites, the Flesh and the Spirit in our Spiritual Warfare: what can we see in the Shulamite (or one at peace with God as the word signifies, and so is every true Believer) but as it were the Company of two Armies, Cant. 6.13. and these two are contrary each to other, Gal. 5.17. So that we cannot do the things that we would; as we cannot do the good things we would, because of the Army of the Flesh (which is Satan's Lieutenant General) consisting of innumerable Lusts and Corruptions that do oppose us, so we cannot do the evil things we would, because of the Army of the Spirit which is God's Lieutenant General, consisting of a Company of Evangelical Graces that do stop us in the way of sin, as the Angel of God stopped Balaam in his perverse way. Now because he that is in us is greater than he that is in the World against us, 1 Joh. 4.4. therefore the Kingdom of the Flesh (like that of Saul) grows weaker and weaker (though it seem never so invincibly strong in the beginning of this Christian War∣fare) and is at the last finally abolished; whereas the Kingdom of the Spirit (like that of David) grows stronger and stronger, tho' it seem at the first but as little as a grain of Mustard-seed, yet grows it into a great Tree, Math. 13.31, 32. in the Kingdom of Grace, and so into the Kingdom of Glory.

The Remarks upon the Particulars of his Chapter, after this general double Allegory are,

First, The Death of Abner did not only dispirit Ishbosheth, but also put all the People into a deep consternation, v. 1.

N. B. Note well, The most Wise God would never suffer evil to be done, unless he knew how to bring some good out of that evil: Indeed Joab had his ends in thus basely (under colour

of friendship) to stab such a Prince in Israel as Abner was, namely to revenge his Bro∣ther Asahel's death by him, and to secure his own place of Generalship from him; but God had his ends also, as well as Joab his, and that was,

First, To punish Abner justly, as for all his other sins, so more especially for his Re∣bellion against David his Lawful Lord and Sovereign, contrary to his own Knowledge and Conscience, Chap. 3.9. for compassing his Worldly Honours and Wicked De∣signs, in which unlawful War, tho' much precious blood was spilt, yet that was but a sport to this bloody Man, Chap. 2.4. but

Secondly, God's end was to take Abner out of David's way, not only that he might not be beholden to so bad a Man (upon whom he now too much depended) to bring all Israel under his Government, for God will have David to come to his Kingdom over all the Tribes by a better way as followeth.

The Second Remark is, The Death of Ishbosheth by two of his own Captains, ver. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. wherein,

Mark First, The Motives that induced those two Traytors to Murther Ishbosheth were because

(1.) Abner's death (upon whom he wholly depended) had disabled him for any Royal duty, so was become an insignificant Cypher.

(2.) All the Tribes were in a confusion to hear their Peace-maker was slain (while he was negotiating their Covenant of Peace with David) and that by Joab when he came home drunk with a successful Victory over the Enemies of Israel: hereupon they now doubted of obtaining David's favour.

(3.) None of Saul's House (beside Concubine Sons uncapable of the Crown) were alive to revenge Ishbosheth's murther, save only Mephibosheth, who was lamed by a fall, and but five years old, so neither fit to Reign, nor likely to Revenge his Ʋnkle's Death.

(4.) These two Traytors therefore thought that by their removing useless Ishbosheth out of David's way, the Crown of the whole Kingdom must needs come to him without any contradiction; Hereupon these two Benjamites of Ishbosheth's own Tribe, and Cap∣tains of his Guard (so had free egress and regress) came into his Chamber, and slew him sleeping at Noon time a day.

N. B. 'Tis a wonder he could sleep at all by night, considering he had lost his right hand in the loss of Abner. Alexander said he could sleep soundly while Antipater was his Guard; but Ishbosheth's sleeping at Noon, and without a Guard under all his present sad Circumstances, bespeaketh him a sluggish, sapless, and a secure fool, unfit to weild the Scepter of Israel: while he dreaded no danger, they smote him under the fifth rib, where there was no bone to hinder the Stab, took off his head, and away they went that Night from Mahanaim to Hebron, with this Present to David.

The Third Remark is▪ What Reception these two Traytors found with David when they presented Ishbosheth's head to him, v. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. wherein,

Mark First, Their starch'd Oration to David, highly commending their own Dam∣nable Deed to him upon Three Topicks.

• 1. A Jucundo [lo here's the Head of thine Enemy] and can there be a more sweet Spectacle than this?
• 2. Ab Honesto, We did it by God's Authority, who set us on work to avenge my Lord the King, &c.
• 3. Ab Ʋtili, Now thine Enemy is removed, thou shalt Reign without a Rival: Thus those Wretches do Rhetoricate to make their heinous fact not only Lawful, but Meritorious, and all to ingratiate themselves into David's favour, which was indeed the grand inducement of this their desperate Exploit.

Mark Secondly, David abhors the Villany, and resolves with an Oath to execute the Villains, as he had done to that pick thank Amalckite, who did but (upon Saul's Request) help only to kill him: How much more such Traytors as you (saith David) to a Righteous Man. Grotius Observeth here how David doth not call Ishbosheth King (because he was not so by right) but Man only, yet doth he aggravate the fact as far worse than that of the Amalekite in many respects, as

First, He was an Amalekite, so (by birth) an Enemy to Israel, and therefore no better could be expected from him, especially by Saul, who had lately slain almost all their Nation; but you are Israelites, Brethren of the same Religion, and therefore bound to do all good Offices one to another; yea, you are Benjamites of the same Tribe with Ishbosheth, which was yet an higher obligation upon you to the contrary;

but the highest bond of all was, you were his Servants, and he had been a good Master to you, in preferring you to be Captains of his Life-guard, so his life was your trust, where in to find Treason makes a most treacherous Traytor.

In a Second Respect, The Amalekite did but hasten Saul's death whom he found deadly wounded to his hand and without hope of recovery, so that what he did, was both to ease him of his pain, and to prevent his shame by the Philistines, &c. but you kill'd a Man in perfect health, in his own house (which is a Man's Castle) while he was taking his repose, and not pursued by his Enemies in the Field, &c.

In a Third Respect, The Amalekite did it (as he pretended) at Saul's earnest request out of meer compassion to him to shorten his torment and to free him from disho∣nour, &c. but you of your own will fell in a violent way upon this man (whom you should have guarded safe) and slew him against his will, not fearing any danger, &c.

Mark Thirdly, Hereupon David justly commanded their execution, and cut off their hands that had done the deed, and their feet that carried them away with this Present; God punishes those offending Members 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Weapons of Wickedness, Rom. 6.13.

Mark Fourthly, Ishbosheth's head was buried with Abner's to be Partners alike in the same Sepulchre, as they had been in the Ʋsurpation, and both faln by treacherous bands; yet in Hebron where the Patriarchs lay buried.