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Here understand it the first way, viz. the preserving Davids life, which otherwise would have been lost.
This David often acknowledges. In gene∣rall,* 1.2 Psal. 19.14. In speciall for temporall death, 2 Sam. 4.9. for eternall death, Psal. 71.23. So Nathan tells him, 2 Sam. 12.13.
For the Reason hereof,* 1.3 though the first cause of all Gods benefits be that which is mentioned in the latter part of this verse, His own loving-kindnesse and tender-mercies, and the last end His own glory: yet among the benefits themselves also there may be a subordination, so that one benefit may be the cause or end of another. So here, God out of His free love to David and to His people Israel, and for His own glory and their good, had decreed from all eternity to set him as king over them, and for a testimony thereof had commanded Samuel to anoint him, 1 Sam. 16. In order therefore hereun∣to, and that the immutability of His counsell and the truth of His promise might appeare, He redeemed or preserved Davids life from temporall death, both whilest he was yet a private man, that He might bring him to the kingdome, and after hee was king, that he might goe through with the administration of it to the ends before mentioned.
For eternall death, his preservation from it necessarily follows upon his deliverance from the guilt and dominion of sinne, vers. 3. And therefore that deliverance is the im∣mediate cause of this, and the causes of that do mediately and by necessary consequence inferre this.
Our instructions from hence may be 1 Concerning temporall death.* 1.4 1 We see what it is to walk under Divine protection. How many and how great dangers Davids life was lyable to, we heard before: yet out of them all the Lord delivered him. Of this David was throughly sensible, Psal. 23.4. and could say experimentally of himself in particular what he saith of the righteous in generall, Psal. 34.19. 2 We see also who they are that may expect this protection from Almighty God; viz. not such as wan∣der in the by-paths of sinne, provoking God continually to His face (Such men indeed God sometimes delivers from many dangers: but 1 they have no promise from God, whereupon they may rely to expect it. 2 Though such deliverance be in it self good, and by God intended for their good, yet if they go on in their sinnes, it will through
their own fault prove very ill to them, as giving them time to heap up more sinnes, and so more wrath against the day of wrath) but such as are like unto David, who serve God and trust in Him: who though they have not such speciall promises for this as David had, yet they have Gods generall promises, Psal. 84.11. & 33.18, 19. &c. Whereupon they may expect protection from temporall death so farre as is expedient for them, that is, so farre as that death would be truly hurt∣full to them.
2 Concerning eternall death, we see 1 The great mercy of God, not willing to deale with mankind; fallen into sinne, according to the rigour of His justice, but finding out a way whereby we may be delivered from it, 2 To whom this deliverance belongs, viz. to David, and by the like reason to all that ob∣serve the condition of the covenant. For in this David had no speciall promise, nor any other then what all true beleevers in like manner have.
Here are reproved 1 In respect of bodily death 1 Such as presume to be delivered from it,* 1.5 when yet by their own deeds they call it unto themselves; as by immoderate worldly sorrow 2 Cor. 7.10. by envy
Job 5.2. Prov. 14.30. by drunkennesse Prov. 23.29. &c. In like manner by glut∣tony, idlenesse, quarrelling, unwarrantable venturing upon dangers &c. 2 Such as doe not trust or seek to God for deliverance from it, but to secondary meanes whether in themselves lawfull (as Asa 2 Chron. 16.12.) or unlawfull.
2 In respect of eternall death, 1 Such as expect of God deliverance from it, but pre∣sumptuously, as being nothing lesse then such as David here was. 2 Such as expect it other∣wise then from God.
Two things we are here to be exhorted to.* 1.6 1 In respect of our selves, To flee unto God for protection from both kinds of death.
Motiv. 1 In respect of the objectum quod, the deliverance it self which we seek. 1 We stand in great need of it, in regard of the ma∣ny dangers both bodily and spirituall, to which we are lyable. 2 The good or benefit of it is as great; whereof something shall be said in the Reason of the next Doctrine. 2 In respect of the objectum per quod, the means whereby we must be delivered. 1 No creature can do it but as Gods instrument. 2 God, even without the help of any crea∣ture, is able to do it. 3 If we rightly seek
to Him, He will most readily deliver us both from temporall death, so farre as shall be expedient, and from eternall death simply and absolutely.
Meanes. That we may rightly expect any thing from God, it is required of us, 1 That we be such as by the tenour of the covenant have part in Gods promises. 2 That we di∣ligently doe those things which on our part are to be done in order thereunto, viz. dis∣pose our affairs providently (Gen. 32.7.) recommend our selves to God by prayer, fasting &c. 3 That we seek Gods delive∣rances (as all His other benefits) in their due manner and order; that is, spirituall and eternall things chiefly and absolutely, tem∣porall things moderately and with submissi∣on to Gods will.
2 In respect of others, To procure their deliverance as much as in us lies; that so we may be like unto God, and according to our ability promote his work. Not that He, Who is omnipotent, stands in need of our help, but that He requires of us to love our brethren, and by this means to testifie our love. We must therefore endeavour to deliver them 1 From bodily or temporall death. For if he who is in danger of it, be a good man he is deare to God, Mal. 3.17. 1 Pet. 2.9.
and God tenders him as the apple of His own eye. Therefore our concurrence herein will be acceptable to God, and honourable to our selves: also profitable unto others, whom a good man, whilest he lives here, is continually exciting to glorifie God, both by his example, Mat. 5.16. and by his god∣ly exhortations &c. and besides is beneficiall to them in temporall things also, by his pray∣ers & other endeavours keeping off evils and procuring good things, Gen. 18.23, &c. & 19.21, 29. Jer. 5.1. 2 King. 3.14, 15, 16, 17, 18. Psal. 106.23. But if he be a wicked man, his losse of this life is the losse of eter∣nall life; whereas if his life here were lon∣ger continued, he might haply come to repen∣tance and so to eternall life. (See Eccle. 9.4.) To omit the good, which such a man being converted might doe before his death, as S. Paul &c. 2 From eternal death. Motiv. 1 From the horriblenesse of it, and irreco∣verablenesse from it. 2 From the danger of falling into it, in regard of the multitude of sinnes and enemies. 3 From the possibility, and (comparatively) the facility of the means of preventing it.
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