An explication of the iudiciall lawes of Moses. Plainely discovering divers of their ancient rites and customes. As in their governours, government, synedrion, punishments, civill accompts, contracts, marriages, warres, and burialls. Also their oeconomicks, (vizt.) their dwellings, feasting, clothing, and husbandrie. Together with two treatises, the one shewing the different estate of the godly and wicked in this life, and in the life to come. The other, declaring how the wicked may be inlightned by the preaching of the gospel, and yet become worse after they be illuminated. All which are cleered out of the originall languages, and doe serue as a speciall helpe for the true understanding of divers difficult texts of scriptures. ... / By Iohn Weemse, of Lathocker in Scotland, preacher of Gods word.

CHAPTER X. Whether the Kingdome of Iudah or Israel were the best Government?

IT may seeme at the first, that the Kings of Israel did more formally proceed by way of Iustice, than the Kings of Iudah did; the Kings of Israel did not pro∣ceed by way of arbitrary Iustice, neither was there any peremptory execution upon the will of the King. When Naboth was to be stoned to death, the matter was hand∣led after a judiciall forme, which might haue given sa∣tisfaction to the ignorant people, who knew not the device and secrecy of the matter.

But the Kings of Iudah proceeded by their absolute authoritie, as may appeare in some of them, who tooke away their Subjects liues by their absolute authoritie, without any order of law, or processe in Iudgement. David killed the Amalekite; and againe, he seemeth to haue broken his oath, swearing that nothing should be∣fall Shimei, and yet he biddeth his sonne Salomon put him to death; thou art a wiseman, and knowest what thou hast to doe, 1 King. 2. and so caused to kill Ioab who was Davids neere kinsman, and who had undergone many dangers for the glory of God and the good of the Church, 2 Sam. 10. And he dedicated many of the spoyles which he had taken in the warres to the house of the Lord, 1 Chro. 26. 8. he fought for his Countrey all Davids time; he was faithfull to the King, he stood for David against Saul, he followed him still, although he was banished, and at that time when he was made Captaine, 2 Sam. 18. he did represse the sedition of She∣ba, even when David would haue put him from his place, and put Amasa in his stead, 2 Sam. 20. 4. It was he that forbad the King to number the people, 2 Sam. 24. It was he who first invaded Sion, 1 Chron. 11. It was he who by his wisedome taught the woman of Tekoa to obtaine pardon for Absalom; It was he that was most skilfull in the warres; It was he that fought against the Syrians, and the Amorites, and all the enemies of the Church; and it was he who in modestie when he had gotten the victory, refused to take the praise to himselfe, but sent for the King that he might get the praise of the victorie, 2 Sam. 12. 28. He was not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or implaca∣ble; when Abner sought peace at him, he willingly granted it, so did he to the people of Abel, 2 Sam. 20. He had good successe in the warres, he was a terror to all his enemies, 2 Sam. 10. as to Hadarezer, the Edomites, &c. therefore it may seeme that David by his absolute

authoritie, caused him to be put to death unworthily. And as for Salomon, he seemeth most unjustly to haue killed his brother Adonijah; for first, he was Davids el∣dest sonne now aliue; secondly, his father loved him most dearely; thirdly, he never did find•• fault with him for seeking the Kingdome, and Salomon might seeme here to be too rigorous; for Titus a Heathen Prince was more mercifull to his brother, for when his brother did affect the Kingdome, yet notwithstanding he lovingly embraced him, and disswaded him from that course; and Seneca writeth of the like in his first booke of Clemencie, cap. 9. how Augustus spared Cinna, and made him of a foe a friend.

But if we shall consider that the Kings of Iudah, espe∣cially David and Salomon being directed by the spirit of God immediately, had a better warrant to proceede by their sole authoritie, than the Kings of Israel had, we shall be of another minde: and where it is objected, that David killed the Amal••kite onely upon his owne confession; the confession out of ones owne mouth, if it be the confession of one that is well at himselfe, and is not wearie of his life, and if he stand constantly at it, then the confession out of his owne mouth is sufficient, Luk. 19. 22. Wicked servant, out of thine owne mouth will I judge thee. Secondly, this Amalekite gloried that he had killed Saul, and so flattered David: and lastly, he was an Amalekite, against whom the Lord had given out sentence long before, that they should all be killed with the sword, and the Lord was wroth with Saul for sparing the Amalekites.

The second thing objected to David, is the breaking of his oath in causing Shimei to be killed, when he had sworne that nothing should befall him; but it was not for his former railing that he was put to death, but for his new transgression; David saith to his sonne Salomon,

Habes apud te, 2 Sam. 28. that is, confine him, and suffer him not to goe abroad; for he is a mightie man, and is able to gather together a thousand of Benjamin, 2 Sam. 19. 17. therefore Salomon makes him to sweare that he should never goe beyond the brooke Kedron under the paine of death, and he most willingly assented unto it, yet he brake his oath and went to seeke his fugitiue ser∣vant, and for the breach of this oath, David comman∣deth to p••t him to death, and Salomon caused to execute him, and after his first transgression, he is kept in ward here, and he is like a fish taken upon the hooke, but yet [Simile.] not pulled out of the water to be dressed by the Cookes.

But Salomon layeth to his charge that sin which was [Object.] forgiven him, 1 King. 2. 42. thou knowest what thou didst to my Father David.

Both David and Salomon pardoned this sinne but [Answ.] conditionally, that he should not fall into a new sinne; and even as an old Cicatrix being healed, if it get a new blow, is more dangerous than any other wound; so a fault pardoned, if the man fall into sinne againe aggra∣vateth the sinne more; he was pardoned conditionally onely, that he should not transgresse againe.

But it may seeme too great a punishment for so small [Object.] a fault, going but out to seeke his fugitiue servant.

He was guiltie of treason, [Answ.] in setting light by the Kings commandement, and he bound himselfe by an oath, if he did transgresse.

As for the killing of Ioab, all the commendations set downe for his prayse are nothing, if yee will compare them with his foule offences; that which he did for his Countrey maketh him not a good man; his skill in mi∣litarie discipline, maketh him not a good man, but a good warriour; and justly he deserved death, for he would haue had the Kingdome from Salomon to Ado∣nijah,

hoping thereby to haue gotten preferment under him; as Abner would haue had the Kingdome from Da∣vid to Ishbosheth, and from Ishbosheth to David againe, onely for his owne advancement: so would Ioab haue Adonijah to haue the Kingdome, hoping thereby to get preferment to himselfe; therefore he was not to be rec∣koned amongst the loyall and faithfull Subjects of the King.

And whereas the vertues are reckoned up, wee shall finde moe vices than vertues in him; first we shall see him delight to see one kill another, which he thought to haue beene but a sport, 2 Sam. 2. 14. And looke to his cruell murthering of Abner and Amasa, he shed the bloud of peace as it had beene in warre: and when Ab∣ner looked for no such thing, he traiterously killed him, neither was he a white moved when he was defiled with their bloud, when he saw the bloud both upon his gir∣dle, and his shooes, he gloried in it; and he was readie to kill Vrijah at the commandement of the King; So he killed Absalom the Kings sonne, contrary to the Kings commandement. Wherefore Salomon being a Prince of peace, would not haue his servants turbulent like Ioab; but would haue them, as Christ would haue his Disci∣ples, not to seeke fire from heaven to be revenged upon the Samaritans, for then they knew not of what spirit they were, Luk. 9. 55.

Now for Salomons killing of Adonijah, we must not judge rashly of Salomon, who had many excellent vertues in him; the great vertues which were in him, meekenesse, veritie, fortitude, and justice, were the foure Horses, as it were, which drew his Chariot, Psal. 45. First, his meeknesse, he was the Prince of peace, and therefore he pardoned. Adonijah, regnum auspicandum a clementia, for this procureth the favour of his subjects; so David would not kill Shimei in the beginning of his

reigne; but Rehoboam that would not gratifie the people in the beginning of his reigne, his Kingdome prospered not. Secondly, his veritie; if thou be a good man, a haire of thy head shall not fall to the ground. Thirdly, his justice when he failed againe, justly he caused to put him to death. Fourthly, his fortitude; although Ado∣nijah had a great faction which were against Salomon, yet he durst be bold to cause to apprehend him: so Sa∣lomon for Adonijahs second transgression justly caused to execute him, and we are not to measure his heaven∣ly wisedome by the morall vertues which are found in Titus and Augustus; Adonijah was guiltie of treason, for he sought Abishaig onely for that end, that he might get the Kingdome. Secondly, he saith, that the Kingdome belongeth still to him; he was not like good Ionathan, who willingly gaue way to Gods ordinance, he knew well that the Lord had appointed the Kingdome for Salomon, 2 Sam. 7. The sonne which shall come out of thy loynes, shall build thy house, and succeede in the Kingdome: this was spoken after all his other sonnes were borne, & this aggravated all the rest of his sinnes, that he affected the Kingdome, his father being yet a∣liue, and although his father was decrepit, yet he ruled by his Counsellours, and he was not weake in minde now although in bodie.

Wherefore wee may conclude, the Kingdome of [Conclusion.] Iudah to be the best government, and still to be prefer∣red before the Kingdome of Israell.

Notes

• The Kings of Israel proceeded by way of Iustice formally.
• The Kings of Iudah proceeded by abso∣lute authoritie.
• What things objected to David.
• Ioabs worthy deeds reckoned up. Ioab was Davids kins∣man.
• He gaue many things to the house of the Lord.
• Repressed the sedition of Sheba.
• Disswaded David to number the people.
• Reconciled Absalom to his father.
• Subdued many wicked Nations.
• He had good successe in his vvarres.
• What things objected to Salomon.
• Suctonius lib. 9.
• Heathen Kings louing to their brethren.
• David and Salomon Prophets.
• David in killing the A∣malekite sinned not.
• When one may be con∣demned upon his owne confession.
• David brake not his oath in causing Shi∣mei to be killed.
• Shimei had his former fault pardoned condi∣tionally.
• Shimei how guiltie of treason.
• David sinned not in causing Salomon to kill Ioab.
• Ioabs vices.
• He would haue Adoni∣jah to be King.
• He delighted to see men kill others.
• He killed Abner and Amasa.
• He killed Absalom.
• Why Salomon killed A∣donijah, Ioab, and Shi∣mei.
• Salomon sinned not in killing Adonijah.
• Foure chiefe vertues found in Salomon.
• Salomons meekenesse in sparing Adonijah.
• Salomon•• veritie in kee∣ping his promise to A∣donijah.
• Salomons fortitude and justice.
• How Adonijah was guiltie of treason.