t'^. ^..-^^ ik li^e^. ^/(\/ X ^y\ / /'fiA I ^^^^ PRINCETON, N. J. re. K Collection of Puritan Literatu Division Section Number y*:..-. /Of^(^ Achitophel Befool'd : SERMO PREACHED NOVEMBER V. 1678 AT S^ SEPULCHREa — ^ ./ ^ ^ ^ By A AXON SAIsiE J. T I L L O T S O N, Dean of Canterbury ^ and Chaplain in Ordinary to his MAJESTY. Reverend Sir, 'H E Importunity of Friends could never have prevailed with me to let this ^ifconrfe come abroad^ had not your better Judgment com^lyedwitb their depres. This is enough to mal^ it pafs among thofe within ; And as for thofe without, / mufl expeU to become their Enemy becaufe I tell them the Truths and though I have endeavoured to rebuke them with a ipirit of Meeknefs, / do not fiippofe they miU receive it fo. They have a "way of anfwering m^ by thofe Inftru- ments of Cruelty that are in their habi- tations 5 fo that we fhall never reply more J unlefs by our blood, that cryes for Vengeance. But the WiU of God be done : If we mufi be fent as Sheep in the midft of Wolves, and that too by the great Shepheard and Bifhop of our A 2 Souls, Epiftle rSedicatory. Souls^ it behoves tis all that are under- She^heards ^ by Tatience and Innocence to become Examples to the Flock. But I bop the Lord o^T)a.vidwill fnatch us out of the Jaws of thefe Lyons and Bears^ and E xperience works that Hope that he who hath deliver d^ will deliver us 5 and he hath deliver'd us out of fix troubles and out of feven. But mhatfo- ever becomes of Juch mean Lamp as my felf my hearty Prayer to God is^ that Juch burning and fliining Lights as Ton are in the Churchy may never be put out by thefe Extinguijhers^ but continue to turn many unto Righteoufnefs^ till in God's good time you Jhall be tranjlated to fliine as Stars in the Firmament of Glory. Sir^ learnejily recommend you ^and ally our ^iom and learned Labours in the Vine- yard^ to the Bleffings of him who is Lord ofity and am ^'^'l^mSe^^l Your moft obliged and humbly Devoted Servant, Jaron "^^hn L. J SKRMON Preached at S^- S EP V L C H R E S, ^]\(ovemher V. i 6 7 8. 2 S A M. XV. 31. <^nd one told David, f'^y^^g ^ Achi- tophel is among the Conj^irators'with Abfalom, and Da:Vid [aid ^ Lord^ I pay thee ^ turn the Counfel of Achi- tophel intofoolijhnefs. NO Danger can appear more Dread- full than that which is known to be plotted by Wickednels armed with Subtilty and Power ; Such is that Danger which js in this place reprelented to Davidy being pro- jected Achitophel befooled. jefted by ^chkophely that State JMa^Uavd in Ifrael at that time. And this Danger mull be the Subject of our prefent Difcourfe, now we are met upon oecafion of Thankfgiving at this Anniverlary Commemoration. The words are a Part of that Hiftory which records Jhfaloms Treafon againft the King his Father. I fhall divide them into thele two Generals : Firft, A VtfcoVery of Danger made to Da- Secondly, Vayid's Defenfathe againft this Danger. Concerning the Firft, I fhall enquire into three Things. Firft, What the Danger was ? Secondly, Who it is that is noted as a chief JBor or Jdvifer in this Conipiracy ? JchitopheL Thirdly, By whom this Difcoyery was mtade ? Jnd one told DaVid, The Firft General is an Advertifement given to Vayidy or a Dilcovery of Danger, and there- fore our firft Enquiry muft be, What kind of Danger it was. This is eafily collected from the Text, JchU tophel among the ConJ^irators, So that the Danger 'was;, a Confpiracy againft Vayid God's Anoin= ted, Acbitofhel befooN. 9 ted, fiich as we Commemorate this day. For the better underftanding whereof, we muft re- flea on the former PalTagcs of this Hiftory 5 where we fhall find the Author of the Conrpi-- racy to be Jbfalom, DaVtis Son by Maacha the ,sam daughter ofJalmaiiQngofGe/hur, a man of that goodly Perfonage and Endowments, that he was at once the Love and Beauty of Ifrael: a man of that exquifite Frame and Compofure of Body, that from the file of his Foot to t/pe^samM 2, Crown of his Bead, there mas no hlemijh in hm. This Jhfalom not long fince returned from Banifbmmt after the Murther of his Bro- ther Jmnon ; and after fome reftraint in Jeruft- iem, reconciled to his Father by die means of JfMk, who fuborned the Woman of Tekoah to mmkonT>aindhy2i Parable, is again received into Grace and Favour of his Compaffionat^ andRmral Father. But Pride and Ambition not fuffering his haughty Spirit to content it felf with a moderate Profperity, are reftlefi withk him, till they have wrought his afpiring MmA to aim and level at a Kingdom : Hence It IS that he runs into a defperate Rebellion ; and that he might die more eafily pluck the Crown from the Royal head of his Indulgent Father, he ufeth his utmoft diligence to become Popular^ >3 4 Achitophel hefooM. Popular, and by his feeming Affability to win the Affections of the heedlels Multitude. Am- bition wants no Diligence. Whence he r'tjeth a Sam. 1 5, 2. -^p ^^yiy ^^^^ Jiandeth in the Gate^ where he com- plements all that pals by j And li?hen any man that had a Centro'Verfe came to the IQng for Judo-e^ ment, he would caft Afperfions on his Fathers Government, as, Firft, An Imputation of Re- verfe3. mifleuels and Negligence, Thy matters are good and right ^ hut the King deputes no man to hear Qaufes. Secondly, An Imputation of Jw- verf.4. jujlicej Abfalom muft be fain to do it, T>aytd would not. And Thirdly , An Imputa= . tion of ^ridcj too much Relervednefs and Haughtinels. DaVid belike kept too much State, ^«rf.5. while Jhfalom kiffed thole that came to him; but as Judcts's T'reafon was breath*d forth in a Kils, ib this Popularity of Jbfalom was but the Veyl to his Unnatural Treachery. For "the End ci all his Kindnefi was. Stealing away ,erf. 5. the Hearts of Ifrael from the King, and the laft and ultimate end of that, no lels than Ulur* pation of the Crown 5 The Theft of hearts from their Natural and lawful Sovereign came verfe 4. all to this upfhot, Quis me conjlituet Judicem ? that I were made Judge in the Land I And now having gain'd (as he thought) the Peoples Achitofhel befooled, ^ Peoples hearts (whole fimplicity is eafily abu- fed with the defire ofNovelty and/^ir J>ee.fe ) Rom. i^. ra. he puts on a Pretence of Religion (as the ^^= pfts did in this their matchlefs Confpiracy) and tells Va-vid, that he had a ro«; to be paid atverfe. Hebron', but he had no fooner obtained leaveverfecp; to go thither buthe/.2^ Emiffaries {fecret (hies) ve.re xo throughout all the Tribes oflfrael, to feel the Incli- nations of the People, and to draw a Party to meet him at Hebron y where having gathered his Counfellors and Abettors, he quickly made it verfe x. appear, that. That which drew him to Hebron was his Devotion to theCrov^n, not the Altar. Jbfalom is proclaimed King, Jbfalom reimeth m Hebron. News of this is foon brought to Davtd, for ^Mefinger comes and tells him, that the hearts verfei. Gf the men of Ifrael are after Jbfalom; ta which Dayid h^th nothing to fay, but fpeaks to hisfer-. ■VMS ^nd thoCe that were with him, to arif and y,,^, ,, flee from Jerufalem. And now in his flight in great Diftradion for fear of the Traitour his Son, as he was going up Mount OliVet with vene 30. his head coyer d (a token of Subjedion, as fome .///., p. p,. think) his feet bare and eyes weeping (Symbols of his Humiliation ) behold another Meflenger overtakes him, and tells him more particu- B larly 6 Ach'ttofhel befooled. larlyofthe Confpiracy and Confpirators. One told Dayidy faying^ Jchitophel is among the Qonj^lra- tors with ^bfalotrij See. Here then we may behold the horridnels of Sam. 25. p. this Sin of Conlpiring agalnft the Lords mointedy and how Infamous Confpirators have been in all Ages. Ahfaloms Treafon in this Story, writ- ten, in the indelible Characters of the Scriptures by the Holy Spirit of God, and there painted out in its proper colours to the life, with all his Art of Plotting and Contriving, has made him odious to all Pofterity. How are his cunning Infinuations into the Peoples Affedion, and his Affability and Popularity dilplayed ^ how his pretence of Piety and Religion.^ And this, partly to let us know, that the wicked and irreligious Hypocrites care not how they mock God, lo they may abule and miflead the Peo- ple 5 and partly to acquaint us, that the Beft, not only Kings, but Men, have not been able to (ecure themfelves from the Traiterous Plots and underminings of the Wicked, who make no Conicience of paying Obedience to Gods Vicegerent. For was it not DaVtd's cafe, a man: after God's own heart j more than once ? Here Ahfalom the Son of his own bowels, and fbon afier Shha the Son of 'Bichr't Uew the Trumpet ; What. rf Achitophel befooVd. 7 What Tart haye we in DaVid^ and who, as 'Da- yid himfelf (aid, was like to do him more harm 2 sam. 20. 5. than did Jbjalom. This was St. Tauh Cale too, Certain Jeli^s, more than forty in the Conjpiracy^ Aasajia,!?. hound themfehes under a curfe neither to eat nor drink 'till they had killed TauL And thus it was with our Saviour himfelf, for he had but twelve Difeiples, and yet one of them a Traitor. No marvel then if Queen Eli;^abeth of ever fragrant memory, King James a pious and Proteftant Prince, and as a feafonable and happy Difeo- very makes it even now appear, our prefent King Charles the Second, have found the (ame Lot in their and our Times irom the hands of Bloody and murtherous Tapijls, Zeal of the- Holy Caufe, Extirpation of Hereticks, and the fpreading of the Catholick Religion, were their Pretence in this, as well as in other their plots and Conlpiracies. Whence they are the worft fort of Politicians, never bogling at, nor making any Confeience of driving on their Pro- jects and wicked Self-ends under the Vizard and I^tence of Religion. Thus it was, we fee, with Ahfalom in my Text ; when he intends to raife a Rebellious Army againft DaVid his Fa- ther, he pretends he mufl: to Hebron to (acrifice, he hath a Vow to be performed to the Lord in B 2 Hebron. 8 Achtto^hel befoaN. Hebron. So Herody when his Purpofe was to Mat. 2. 8. kill Chrift, pretends that he would go and ivorfhlp the Babe that was bom. And how did Julian cry up Piety and Reformation, when he had no other End, but facrilegioufly to take away the Revenues of the Church, that Chri- ftian Religion for want of maintenance for the Minifters of the Go(pel, might infenfibly decay and fall to the Ground ? But let fiich wretched Politicians know, that as there is nothing more Odious to God, than to make Religion thus balely (ubfervient to Policy *, fo they are the worfi and mofi: dangerous lort of Hypocrites, and cannot long efcape the Wrath and fearful Vengeance of God, whofe Religion they thus make a Mockery of, to ferve their own moft wicked Ends and Purpofes. And (b much may luflSce to be Ipoken of the firfl Branch of our Enquiry into the Dilcovery, narmlyy What the Danger was ? A Conjpiracy. Come w^e now to the Second ^ Who a chief Ador, Ring-leader or Advifer in this Conipi- racy ? and the Text tells us, It was JchitopheL Jchkophel with Jbfalom, Now this Jchkophel^ if we enquire into his Birth, was born in the City of yi/p/?, which joft1.15.51. Jojhua numbers amongft the Cities of the Tribe Achttofhel bejoofd: 9 Tribe of Judah. Whence in the ii^^ Verle of the lame Chapter with my Text, we find him called, Achkofhel the (^ilomite. For his Place and Relation to DaVid ; befide that of a Subje6tj which had been Obhgati- on enough to have engaged his Loyalty and Obedience, he was DaViIs Counfellor, one that did partake of his Secrets, and with whom he did principally Advife about the Affairs of State. Achkofhel David's Counfel- lor. And laftly, for his Parts and Abilities, and his Eftimation in giving Counlel, he was Co Prudent and Wiie, that it is faid, that the Counfel of Jcb'ttophel wds as the Oracle of God -y 2Sim.16.uit. ]S(on ratione ^Bkudinis Conftlii , fed Jdh^fonis^ cajet. m loc. . laith Cajetan 5 liich Eftimation found it both with DaVid and wkh Ahfalom* Hence it was, that Ahfalom had an Eye on him in the hatch- ing of this Treafon, and lent for Achkophel for the benefit of his Advice and prudent Con- du6t : So that well might David complain of the Greatnefs of his diftrels, in regard of the Perfons by whom it was effected 5 Ahfalom his Son, and Achitophel his Counfellor; the one out of his own Loins, the other from his own Board and Council-Table. Who could have lo Achitofhel befool* d. have iu(pe(5ted or fear'd any luch thing from thefe ? and yet behold Thele are the Con(pi- rators. Da'Vtd indeed relents it, and com- plains heavily of it, as a hurden intolerable. ¥fk\, $$. If an Enemy had done this unto me, I could haye bom it ; we can look for no lefs from an Enemy, who profefles Hoftility ; but alas, faith DaVtdj it wcvs thou my Companion^ and my Guidej my bofom Jcquaintancej my Counfellor^ and my familiar Friend ^ we took fweet counfel to- Q-ether, See, This was it that late near un- to the Royal Plalmift's heart, that the Trea- fon was menag^d by lo near an Inftrument. There are no Wounds to the Wounds of a Friend. Even our Saviour Chrift took it to lech. 13. (5. his very heart, that he was ipounded in the houfe of his Friends, And is the Trealbn of this day free from the like Guilt ? May it not be juftly tax'd with this very Circumftance ? Was it not to have been A(5led againft the King by his own Subjects, Perlbns that had received many lingular Favours from his happy Government and Royal Clemency towards them ? Had they not a Propriety in their Eftates, the Benefit and Security of the Laws ? Yes certainly, they I King 4. 25. ate of the Fat of the Land, they late under their Achitofhel befooled. their own Fine , and under their own Fig-treey without the lead difturbance of a Sequejlra- tion or an Inquijition as to their Superftitious and Idolatrous Religion. Jchitophel is among the Conlpirators with Jhfalom in the Text ; and Subjects in the Confpiracy of the Day. ^chitophel was of David's Privy-Council, a great Statefinan, and a cunning Politician, and therefore a very dangerous and remarka* ble Con(pirator. The greateft Wits prove moft Pernicious, when they are mifimployed^ Who fb wi(e as JchitopheU When he was Da- Vtd's CounfeUor, the Oracle of God 5 what a Stay, what a Prop, what a Pillar and Sup- port to a Church or Stated But now, who more formidable to Dayid ? How is DdvH ftartled to hear, that Jchitophel is among the Coji- J^irators ? Wile Politicians if wicked, are of all others moft Deftrudive. So was Catiline among the ^mansy a great Wit, but a moft pernicious Rebel 1 And fo the Gracchi in the fame State, wife and eloquent, but to the publick detri- ment it was the Cafe of thefe fopifh Traitors, many of them of good Birth and great Parts ; but how did they caft away their Abilities > God II \ 12 Achitofhel hefooM. God beftowed them on them, but they em* ployed them in the Devil's Service. But O that we could leam, that when God gives us PaTts, as Learning and Wifdom, to employ them to his Glory, and the Churches good. jer. 4. 22. Take heed of being Ahitophels^ wife to do Evil^ hut not to do Good, Our good Parts, if abuled, will one day turn to our greater Condem- nation 5 and Knowledge milemployed will Luk. 12.47. but encreafe our Stripes. And let us beware likewife of finning againft the Laws of Gra- titude and near Relations; for we may be aflured, that God's Juftice looks upon and will feverely punifli the unnaturalnefs of our fins, as when Sons Rebell againft their Fa- ther, or Subjects againft their Prince, there- by fiibverting the Laws of Nature it felf. SMark thofe that caufe Diyijions amongjl yoUy and ch.15.verf.17. ^-^o/J them^ was St. haul's Advice to the (?^- mans. As we muft fliun Faction and Rebel- lion, fo muft we avoid all Occafions condu- cing thereunto, and elpecially mark thofe that caufe them, that are Chief A6tors and Ring- leaders in them. For as ^chitophel is here ob- ferved above others, Co in all Seditions the Leaders and Counlellors are moft Notorious, the People but Followers feduced and mifled. In Achitoj^hel befool" d. 1 5 In the 2^ Sam. 20. i . Sheha blew the Trumpet j and in the 2^ Verfe it follows, Eyery man of IJrael went tip from after Da'Vid, and followed Sheba the Son of 'Btchn. And lo here in my Text, ^"/;^fofW plotted, the reft imit out in their fim- verfen. flicityj and knew not any thing of Abfalonis or Achitopheh Intent, though at laft they were eafily won upon and drawn into the Con- fpiracy. Which that we may Parallel in the Powder- Treafon : Were not lome Tapifts fingled out to be the Adors, as Fawks and Catesby ? While the reft had defign'd their time to come in and do their Parts, if God's Mercy had not prevented their Defigns, and leafonably inter- posed it felf in the Defeating of their Counlels. What the Prophet Ifaiah faid once of the fin- chap.^p.z;.^,?. ful JewSy may be fitly applyed to them, TImr works are fi^orks of Iniquity^ and the Aci of Violence is in their hands ; their Feet ran to evi/, and they made hafte to [Jied Innocent blood ; and therefore their Webs f^all not become Garments 5 their hopes ended in difappointment, for their Plot was difcover'd, and they taken in the crafty IVily^ p,ai. 10. z. nefs that they had Jmagmed. Which brings me to The third particular Enquiry, By whom C the lA Achitofhel befootd. tlie Diicovery is made. Jnd one told David. The Vulgar renders it, Et nunciatum eft Da^ y'ld '^ In the Hebrel? Elliptically, Et David in- dicaVitj i. e. indica)nt qutj^ianiy as Mont anus ^ or quidam ; No name, an JndiVtduum Vagum. It doth not appear, that he was any employed by David j but rather one that came Caiually or Providentially, by Gods own Dilpenfati- on and peculiar Miffion ; one not thought on, or put upon any (uch Employment : to Teach us, that God doth many times bring to light Confpiracies againft Kings and States by ftrange and wonderful Means. As he hath profefled himlelf to be the Prote6lor of his Anointed, and his Church, that the Gates of Hell fhall not prevail againft the One, nor the piai. 89. 23. Sons of Violence approach to hurt the other ^ (b he hath appeared Marvellous in the detedion and manifeftation of the Pradtiies of the Wic- ked, though never io (ecret and dole. I can- not inftanGe in a plainer Cafe, nor indeed in any more pertinent to our purpofe, than that which is the Occafion of this days Thankf- giving. For certainly none can doubt, but that the hand of God was in the Diicovery^ while the Treafon was brought to light by a Omdaniy a Letter from an- unknown Perfon, w^hich Mat. 1 5. 18. Achitophel befool' d. 1 5 which the King by God's diredion conilrued aright, and (b fore-feeing the danger, prevented the fatal ftroke. How then iliould this deter men from Confpiring againft the Lords Anointed^ fince God is fo engaged in the defence of their Perfons, that rather than they fliould perifh by the Plots and Conipiracies of the Wicked, he will bring to pals ftrange Difeoveries, though even by the expence of Extraordinary and Miracu- lous means. In the Scripture we are forbid- den to j^eak eVtl of Dignities : But how little jude v. 2. this Prohibition is regarded by us of this Na= tion, I leave you to judge, who cannot but be fenfible fiirely of the frequency of Whilper- ings againft God's Vicegerent; of the Num- ber of feditious Pamphlets and fcandalous Li- bels, that have of late years ftollen out into Print, to rob our Governours Ecclefiaftical and Civil of their Reputation, Ibme murmur- ing, others mutining againft their Rulers, de- tra6ling from the worth of their Good deeds, and amplifying and aggravating their Bad, that lo by traducing their Government, they may the looner ripen the People for a Rebel- lion againft the firft Opportunity. But, this Practice is no lefs finful than common, for C 2 ' - 'tis ^2^ a . 1 6 Achitophel befooN. ^tis a notorious thwartiog the Commands of Scripture ; Thou J}?alt not reyile the (^ods ( iaith Exod. 22.28. Mofes) nor curfe the ^ler of nty^-^^pkv "We may not Whifper or Ipeak evil, much lefs Plot and Conipire the Death of our Sovereign the Lords Anointed, I flhall conclude -this Par= ticular with that of the Royal Preacher : Eccief. ro..w^ Curfe not the Kjng^ no not in thy Sed-chamber^ nor mthy Thoughts ^ for (it fhall not be concealed) a Bird of the Air finll carry the yoice^ and that ivhich hath wings flull tell the Matter. God will have it difcovered by fome Means or other. I have done with the frjl General propofed, A Dijcoyery of the 'Danger toward Va'Vid^ in the firfl: w^ords of my Text, ^nd one told Dayid^ fayingy Achitophel is among the Confj^irators ivith Abfalom. I proceed now to the Second General, Da- yid's Defenfative againft the Danger difcover'd in the next w^ords : And DaVidjaid^ Lordy I fray the turn the Counfel of Achitophel into FooUjl?- neffe. And herein three Things alfo prelent them- lelves to our Confideration. Firft, The Perion to w^hom Vayid leeks and applyes himfelf, which is God y and VaVtd laid, Lord.. Secondly, Ac h it of h el befool d. i - vSecondly, The Means which "DaVid ufeth in his Search or Addrefs to the Lord, Grayer, O Lord, I pray thee. Thirdly, The Summe and Tenour of Da- vid's Prayer, Lord^ I pray thee^ turn the Cou?i= fel of Achitophel into FooUflmefs. I begin with the Firft of thefe : The Terfon to whom DaVid doth leek and apply himfelf, The Lord j And DaVtd iaid, Lord, David who was called, J -man after God's own hearty had that Eulogy and Commenda- 153^.13. 14 tion (as lb me think) for his Mercifulnels. He was (pi^^Trlco^os ( laith ^rocopm ) a Lover of the Poor, a compaffionate man. But others are ^^vv/^^ p* 4s.. of opinion, that DaVid was called lo for his Faithful 'Dcpendance upon God in all Dangers, which did either threaten or affrioht him. He had a faithful heart, a heart that was Conftant and True to his God. How often doth he profels it ? 2LsTfal 57. Lord my heart is fixedj verfe 7. my heart is jjK^d, And again, ^Vfal. 10%, GodycrCe 2. 7ny heart Is fixed. His heart was liich as would - never ftart or recoyl from God , no not in the greatell Fears and Concuffions whatlo- ever. Even in this great Danger he keeps dole to his God. The Reafon that Cajetan . . gives, doth indeed vary in words, but is to p 97- the iB Achitophel befooN. the felf fame Effeft and Purpole. ^ When Da^- ^ yid ( laith he) is laid to be a man cfter Qjoi's ' o'm heart J God who calls him fo, laith, Iha^e 5[Saffi. 13. 14. ' /orgk a man after mine own heart -^ Whence Qt'jetan^ Qmjitm erat DaVtdy ideoque ad jimllitu- dinem qu£rentis: 'DaVid was fought by God, and therefore was a man like God. As he was, qudfttm a Deo ; fo was he, Vir qu^rens De- um. So that he that feeks God in his Diftrefs, is a man after God's own heart. This w^as this Pious King's Pradlice in all Difficulties, in all approaches of Trouble and Affliction ; I l'fei.34.4. fought the Lor dy and he delivered me, I fought him rfai.77. 2- in the day of my Trouble ^ yea I fought him in the TSlight , when my Sore ran ; Tlaga. fluente^ e^ non quiefcente ; when my Wound bled, and my Pain was upon me : and that in the Nighty the moft difinal and difoonfolate Condition ; even Then I fought him. It is the (ame Lord, whom he leeks in this Place, and to whom he doth apply himfelf in the great danger that was Imminent at that Time. One tells DaVid of a Treafon and Conlpiracy againft him. Dayid runs immediateiy to God, and faid, Lord, Too many among us fwerte jfrom this Ex- ample of DaVtdy as^ Firfl, Achitophel bejootd. jg Firftj Thofe who in their AflBi6lions and Neceffities look not up to God, but caft their Eyes only on Inferior and Second Cauies. * Thole are they oC which the Apoftle Teter ^^^^■'■9- ipeaks, pmrt-Jt^htedj purbund men, men of thick eyes J that can lee only liich Objedls as are at hand, jfuch as are the obje6ts of their Senles. It w^as God's complaint ofEphraim and Judahy Hofea^.. That they could fee no further than their neighbour Nations, their Friends and Allyes for help. They faiv their l^ound^ but they went not to God ; no, they ment to the Affyrmi^ and fent to Kjn^ Jarebj who ( as the Prophet tells us ) could not heal J nor cure their ipound. They ^^^^^ '5> could difeern nothing but the Arm of Flefh, which was vifible to their fleflhly Eyes ; they had not the Eye of Faith which fees afar off] e\cn the things iphich are not feen. Or zCor.^.uUi. Secondly^ Such as fee no help at all, but are caft down in damps of Dejection and Defpair, like the Thiltfms'm i Sam. who cry- aiap.4. z'.8». ed out. Woe unto m^ ivho [hail help tps ^ .they are eyen at their wits end. Or, pfai. 107. 270. Thirdly J ' If they do fee ajar off^ they look the wrong way. Inftead of looking up to God with DaVidj whole eyes were If ted up unto rrai. 121^ k the Hills J they look down to the fmoaky Gates of QQ Achitopbel befooN. 5 Sam. 28. 7- of Hell, as Saul did to the Witch of Endor. Deiperate Sinners will look after any Shifts, rather than they will turn to God. But Da- Vid here knew well, that w^hen a Danger is threatned from a Malicious Enemy, fiich as Jchitophel was, in whom Policy and Power were both combin d, none is able to defeat Hich an Adverfary but God himlelf, to whom he makes his Addrels. And it would be happy for us, if we would follow his Example, and in all our Extremi- ties fly unto our good God for Relief and Succour. We are all even at this time again, in a Panick Fear, becauie of the Treachery of the Tapifts ; A fecond Towder-plot was to have been a6led amongfl us, the very Con- fideration whereof has put us into fuch a Ge- V iieral Confl:ernation and Aftonifhment, that we are in Jehojhaphat and Judal/s Condition, fiChron. 20. jfe hiow Hot iphut to doe ; The Counfel that I fhall advile you to, is the courfe that they took in the words Immediately following, Verfe 13. Qur ejes are upon thee. Lift up your Eyes and your Hearts unto the Lord, and truft in the Name of God, and then no doubt, but he will fome way or other rid you of your Ene- mies, and bring you out of your Diflrefi, or elfe Achtto^hel befooM. 2 1 elfe (if a tryal of your Conftancy and Chrifti- an Courage be moll for his Glory ) fupport you under it. Y ox ^ Surely^ the ]S(ame of God «• Prov. i8. lo. a ftyoyig Tower ^ the righteous runneth into It mi isjafe. Let us not ftand Amazed, or in fu(pence what to doe, in a Fluduation and doubtfull di(piite with our felves ; No, let us firft humble our felves for our fins, and then run and be- take our felves with fpeed to this Tower, leaving the Itlue to God and his Anointed, the King and Parliament, while we ufe the Means which DaVid did in the Confpiracy of the Text, and that is, Trayer^ Our next Par- ticular, and now comes to be infilled on. ^nd T>a'Vidfaidj O Lord, I pray thee. As Protection and Deliverance from Dan- gers are works of God's Providence, (o Prayer is a means fiiblervient to this Providence. Prayer is a Condition without which there is no one thing we have Promife to receive from God. Jsk and ye flull haye , not otherwife. Mac. 7. 7.; And for this caufe Dayid no fooner hears of Jchitophel in the Confpiracy, a Combination of fiich ftrong and Malitious Politicians, but he falls immediately to Prayer. Lord^ J pf'^}' thee. It was Vayid's Practice here and eliewhere, ^'^^•io9-4- D and 22! jiehitofhel befool' d. and it muft be ours, if we would be deliverU Hal. 45. K as Dayid was. God is a Trefent help in the day of Trouble y and tis our Duty to Pray to him for his Affiftance- Firft^ God's Command xcqukts it, when we are engaged in the greateft Difficulties. p/aUso. 15. Call Upon me in the day of Trouble, Secondly, God*s 'Promi/e is obliged, and pfaL^i.ij, annexed to. our Prayers. He [hall call upon me y and I will anfmer him^ Imill be mith him in Trouble ^ and will deli^^er him. Much here might be added concerning the: Duty, Power and Efficacy o£ Prayer^ as that^, it is 2iS Incenfe tothe "Noftrils of the Almighty; 'A Sacrifice wherewith he is well-pleafed. Of 'jam,$. 17,18. t}^^|. force, that it * opetis Sind Jhuts Heaven; .^jofh. 10,12. i^^5 Command over the Sun^ and Moon, toi make them fiand fi:iU at Koon-day ; allayes, ^ll^^'^"- =^; the fury of the ' Fire, and the raging of the «Aas28.t.^^''^&^ ; Cures the ^ Body oi Difeafes, and the.- f Job 42.s,io. f Soul oiSin : In a word, that conquers^ Be^fL *£ Kings 17. 1 1 u ,-^ I 1 • / -r T 20,21,22. and the ^ Vem^ and in a. manner ( ir I may > [¥,i^.\2!ioS'P^2ik it with Modefty) even ' God himfelf. Let me alone, laith he to SHofes -, as if he could not do what he was about, unti\i Mofes ceas'd ; Praying. But this is a trite Sub jed:, we meet with k often, and therefore I purdie it not at prefent, Achitofhel befoofd. 55 prefent, but proceed from the Means, Grayer ^ to the Form or Tenor of this Prayer , or ( if you will) to the Objeci of it, the thing which Dccvid prays for, which is next in order, and craves your Patience yet a little longer^ O Lord, I pray thee, turn the CounfeUf Achitophel into fooll^lmefs. The lame God who makes Wife the God- ly, doth infatuate the Wicked. Thou^ O Lord, *'^^- ''?' ^' ( (aith T>aVii ) haft made me w'tjer than mine Ene- mies. That D^vid was wife ^ yea wijer than his Enemies^ he acknowledges to be God's do- ing, TItou througl? thy Commandments^ through the Light of thy Word haft done it. On the other fide, it is Gods work too to infatuate and befool the Ungodly, fuch as conspire againft his Church and Anointed ; As Abfa^ lorn and Achitophel did in this Scripture, and as the ^opijh Traitors, whofe Wickednels we commemorate this day, with that Mark of Shame, and brand of Infamy which is due unto them. The (umme of Dayid*s Prayer is here in the Hebrew ^rVsD, which word imports a be^ fooling-, an infatuating^ 2l bereaving of Under- ftanding and Judgment, or as 'tis in our Englifh Tranflation, a turning into Foolipnefs. D z God 24 Achttoj^hel befool' d. God is that God of whom Joh (aith, he makes Job 12. 17. the Judges Tools ^ and leads away the Counfellors Jpoykd-y (b we render it. In the Latine it is, adducit Confiliarios injtukum fineniy makes Judges Fools 5 and brings Counfellors to a foolijh end. The word Hivu is j^oykd not only of Goods, but of Reafon and Underftanding. Thus it verfe 5. }§ tranflated ^fal j6. The Jlout -hearted are Jpoyled or rohhedy which muft not be under- ftood (o much of Goods, as of Reafbn and Judgment, of Courage and Animolity ; So here the Counjellors Jj'oyled, is as much as to lay, they are befooled. He is that God that, i^a. 19.3. as Tfaiah Ipeaks, deftroyeth the Counfels of Egypt y that challengeth all the Policy of men, and verfes 11,12. bids defiance to it. Where are thy tmfe men^ faith he to Pharaoh ; Who makes the Counfel- lors of Pharaoh brut'ijl^j and the Princes of Zoan ifa. 44. 25. jp^^j^^ Laftly, fee, that God, that maketh DiVi- ners mad, turneth Wife men backward, and maketh their knowledge fodifh ^ and to whom the Wif- 1 Cor. 3. 19. dom of the World is Foolifhnefs. This was the fumm of DaVid's Prayer againft that Wicked and Unnatural Conlpiracy which at that Time was on foot againft him. Lord, turn the Coun- fel of Jchitophel into Foolifhnefs, A fhort Ejacu- lation, the words few, but fo Powerful and Effeau- Achitofhel befool d. Effedlual with God, that by them was over- thrown all the Policy of Achitophel and his Complotters rifen up in Rebellion againft God's Anointed. I fliall fliut up all in a brief Application, wherein (becaule I would not be too forward in fpeaking to this prelent Plot 'till it be fully dilcovered, which we (hould all wifh and ear= neftly pray to God for) give me leave to draw before you a Parallel between the Defeating of ^chitofheh Treaibn of old, and thole *?(>- fljh Traitors in King James's days, our De- liverance from whom we Commemorate year- ly this day. And firft, This may acquaint us with the variety of God's Methods, and the many ways he hath to defeat and dilappoint the Wicked, who like Qehal and Amnion and Jmalek knot themfelves together againft his Church and Anointed, as thole ^apifts did about Seventy three years fince, and do now again at this Time. Who Wifer than Achitophel ^ whofe Couniel for Authority (you heard) was held as the Oracle of God ? Yet let all the Achito- phels ^ CyHachiaVelsj Judajfes and Julians of the World , let them all, I lay, combine , and joyn in weaving the moft lubtle and Arti- ficial ^5 2^ Ach'tto^hel befooled. ficial Web of Treaion, God is able to unra- vel it, and take it adinder thred by thred, that every Eye may look through the Folly of their Ungodly Defigns. I cannot tell you all the Means that God hath to turn the Counfel of Traitors into Foolijh' nefs^ for who can fet bounds to the Infinite and Incomprehenfible Wildom ol God ? Let it luffice, that I point to (ome few notable w^ays, obfervable by us, by which God hath, and doth ftill turn the Counfel of Wicked Re- bels ( fuch as rofe up againft David at this Time) into Fooliflmejs. The Means efpecially are Five. Firft, God turns their Qunfel into Foolipnefsy by Countermining and oppofing their Coun- lels by weak and Improbable cleans. So he ^ Sam. 17. countermined Achitophel by Hujhaty a man not of that deep reach or Excellency that Achito* fhel was, a man that had not that Eftimati- on or Opinion 5 yet his Counfel muft be in- xlind unto, and Achitopheh rejefted. How could AchitopM hut think himfelfbelbtted and befooled, feorned and negle(5bed , when the Counfel of an Upftart and Novice is preferred before his ? In the like manner, God befooled Tharaoh and his Hoft by Unlikely JMeans ; !j^ Againft 2, 2r. 27. Achitophel befool^. 27 • Againft all his Horfes and Chariots he lent Ar- mies of Fro^s and Flies. So all the Policy of Exod.8. the Gentiles in upholding their Idol-Gods, all their Learning and Wildom he filenced and confounded by the FoolijJmefs of breaching , as i cor. i. God is plealed to call it. And lo in this "PoTib^ der-plot, A fmall unlikely Means ^ the lending of an oblcure Letter^ which was hard to be con- flrued, befool'd. all their Wildom. Traitors in all Ages have been betrayed by their own Folly. That's the firft way how God^ turns the Counfels ofAchitophel into Foolijhnefs^ by Weak and Unhkely Means. Secondly, By taking them in their own Crafii^ jo^ 5. ^,^ nefs, God makes the Policy of all Wicked Machiayels a Snare to entangle their own Nets. . In the Firft of iQngs, we read of Senhadad ^-^p. 2-0.4- King^ of Syritty that he came up againft Sama^ ria and befieged it 5 but God, who called him, Vir retis meiy made him fall a Prey into the hands oflfraeL So was it with Ahit