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make use of God for their own purposes; and care only, to make divine authority a colour for their own designs. No man ever heard Abner godly till now; neither had he been so at this time, if he had not intended a revengeful departure from Ishbosheth. Nothing is more odious, than to make religion a stalking horse to policy.

Who can but glorify God in his justice, when he sees the bitter end of this treacherous dissimulation? David may, upon considerations of state, entertain his new guest with a feast; and well might he seem to deserve a welcome, that undertakes to bring all Israel to the league and homage of David: but God never meant to use so unworthy means, for so good a work. Joab returns from pursuing a troop; and, finding Abner dismissed in peace and expectation of beneficial return, follows him; and, whether out of envy at a new rival of honour, or out of the revenge of Asahel, he repays him both dissimulation and death. God doth most justly by Joab, that which Joab did for himself most unjustly.

I know not, setting the quarrel aside, whether we can worthily blame Abner for the death of Asahel, who would needs, after fair warnings, run himself upon Abner's spear; yet this fact shall procure his payment for worse. Now is Ishbosheth's wrong revenged by an enemy. We may not always measure the justice of God's proceedings, by present occasions. He needs not make us acquainted, or ask us leave, when he will call for the arrearages of for gotten sins.

2 Sam. ii, ini

CONTEMPLATIONS.

BOOK XV.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MY VERY GOOD LORD,

WILLIAM, LORD BURLEIGH,

ALL GRACE AND HAPPINESS,

RIGHT HONOURABLE:

THERE
are but two books wherein we can read God; the one is
his Word, his Works the other : this is the bigger volume; that,
the more exquisite. The characters of this are more large,
but dim; of that, smaller, but clearer. Philosophers have turned
over this, and erred; that, divines and studious Christians, not rwith-
out full and certain information. In the works of God we see the
shadow, or footsteps of the Creator; in his word we see the face of
God in a glass. Happiness consists in the vision of that infinite
Majesty; and if we be perfectly happy above in seeing him face to
face, our happiness is well forward below, in seeing the lively re-
presentation of his face in the glass of the Scriptures. We cannot
spend our eyes too much upon this object: for me, the more I see,
the more I am amazed, the more I am ravished, with this glorious
beauty. With the honest lepers, I cannot be content to enjoy this
happy sight alone: there is but one way to every man's felicity.
May it please your Lordship to take part with many your peers, in
these my weak, but not unprofitable Contemplations; which shall
hold themselves not a little graced with your honourable name;
whereto, together with your right noble and most worthy Lady, I
have gladly devoted myself, to be

Your Lordship's in all dutiful observance,
JOSEPH HALL.

UZZAH, AND THE ARK REMOVED.

THE house of Saul is quiet; the Philistines beaten: victory can

not end better than in devotion; David is no sooner settled in his house at Jerusalem, than he fetcheth God to be his guest there. The thousands of Israel go now in a holy march, to bring up the ark of God to the place of his rest. The tumults of war afforded no opportunity of this service. Only peace is a friend to religion; neither is peace ever our friend, but when it is a servant of piety. The use of war is not more pernicious to the body, than the abuse

of peace is to the soul. Alas! the riot bred of our long ease rather drives the ark of God from us; so, the still sedentary life is subject to diseases, and standing waters putrify. It may be just with God, to take away the blessing which we do so much abuse; and to scour off our rust with bloody war.

The ark of God had now many years rested in the obscure lodge of Abinadab, without the honour of a tabernacle. David will not endure himself glorious, and the ark of God contemptible. His first care is, to provide a fit room for God, in the head of the tribes, in his own city. The chief care of good princes must be the advancement of religion. What should the deputies of God rather do, than honour him whom they represent?

It was no good, that Israel could learn of Philistines. Those pagans had sent the ark back in a new cart; the Israelites saw God blessed that conduct, and now they practise it at home: but that, which God will take from Philistines, he will not brook from Israel. Aliens from God are no fit patterns for children. Divine institution had made this a carriage for the Levites, not for oxen: neither should those sons of Abinadab have driven the cart, but carried that sacred burden. God's businesses must be done after his own forms, which if we do with the best intentions alter, we presume.

It is long, since Israel saw so fair a day as this; wherein they went, in this holy triumph, to fetch the ark of God. Now their warlike trumpets are turned into harps and timbrels; and their hands, instead of wielding the sword and spear, strike upon those musical strings, whereby they might express the joy of their hearts. Here was no noise but of mirth; no motion but pleasant. O happy Israel, that had a God to rejoice in, that had this occasion of rejoic ing in their God, and a heart that embraced this occasion! There is nothing but this, wherein we may not joy immoderately, unseasonably: this spiritual joy can never be either out of time, or out of measure. Let him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the Lord.

But now, when the Israelites were in the midst of this angel-like jollity, their hearts lifted up, their hands playing, their feet moving, their tongues singing and shouting, God sees good to strike them into a sudden dump, by the death of Uzzah, They are scarce set into the tune, when God mars their music, by a fearful judgment; and changes their mirth into astonishment and confusion. There could not be a more excellent work, than this they were about; there could not be more cheerful hearts in the performing of it; yet will the most holy God rather dash all this solemn service, than endure an act of presumption or infidelity.

Abinadab had been the faithful host of God's ark, for the space of twenty years: even in the midst of the terrors of Israel, who were justly affrighted with the vengeance inflicted upon Bethshemesh, did he give harbour unto it; yet even the son of Abinadab is stricken dead, in the first departing of that blessed guest. The sanctity of the parent cannot bear out the sin of his son. The

Holy One of Israel will be sanctified in all that come near him: he will be served like himself.

What then was the sin of Uzzah? What was the capital crime, for which he so fearfully perished? That the ark of God was committed to the cart, it was not his device only, but the common act of many; that it was not carried on the shoulders of Levites, was no less the fault of Ahio, and the rest of their brethren; only Uzzah is stricken. The rest sinned in negligence; he, in presumption. The ark of God shakes with the agitation of that carriage; he puts forth his hand to hold it steady. Human judgment would have found herein nothing heinous. God sees not with the eyes of men. None but the priests should have dared to touch the ark; it was enough for the Levites, to touch the bars that carried it. An unwarranted hand cannot so lightly touch the ark, but he strikes the God that dwells in it. No marvel if God strike that man with death, that strikes him with presumption. There was well-near the same quarrel against the thousands of Bethshemesh, and against Uzzah: they died for looking into the ark; he, for touching it. Lest Israel should grow into a contemptuous familiarity with this testimony of God's presence, he will hold them in awe with judg

ments.

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The revenging hand of the Almighty, that, upon the return of the ark stayed at the house of Abinadab, upon the remove of the ark begins there again. Where are those, that think God will take up with a careless and slubbered service? He, whose infinite mercy uses to pass by our sins of infirmity, punisheth yet severely our bold faults. If we cannot do any thing in the degrees that he requireth, yet we must learn to do all things in the form that he requireth.

Doubtless Uzzah meant no otherwise than well, in putting forth his hand to stay the ark. He knew the sacred utensils that were in it, the pot of manna, the tables of the law, the rod of Aaron, which might be wronged by that over-rough motion: to these he offers his aid, and is stricken dead. The best intention cannot excuse, much less warrant us, in unlawful actions. Where we do aught in faith, it pleaseth our good God to wink at and pity our weaknesses; but if we dare to present God with the well-meant services of our own making, we run into the indignation of God. There is nothing more dangerous, than to be our own carvers in matter of devotion.

I marvel not if the countenance of David were suddenly changed, to see the pale face of death in one of the chief actors in this holy procession. He, that had found God so favourable to him in actions of less worth, is troubled to see this success of a business so heartily directed unto his God; and now he begins to look through Uzzah at himself, and to say, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? Then only shall we make a right use of the judgments of God upon others, when we shall fear them in ourselves; and, finding our sins at least equal, shall tremble at the expectation of the same deserved punishments. God intends, not only revenge in

of peace is to the soul. Alas! the riot bred of our long ease rather drives the ark of God from us; so, the still sedentary life is subject to diseases, and standing waters putrify. It may be just with God, to take away the blessing which we do so much abuse; and to scour off our rust with bloody war.

The ark of God had now many years rested in the obscure lodge of Abinadab, without the honour of a tabernacle. David will not endure himself glorious, and the ark of God contemptible. His first care is, to provide a fit room for God, in the head of the tribes, in his own city. The chief care of good princes must be the advancement of religion. What should the deputies of God rather do, than honour him whom they represent?

It was no good, that Israel could learn of Philistines. Those pagans had sent the ark back in a new cart; the Israelites saw God blessed that conduct, and now they practise it at home: but that, which God will take from Philistines, he will not brook from I rael. Aliens from God are no fit patterns for children. Divine institution had made this a carriage for the Levites, not for oxen: neither should those sons of Abinadab have driven the cart, bât carried that sacred burden. God's businesses must be done after his own forms, which if we do with the best intentions alter, we presume.

It is long, since Israel saw so fair a day as this; wherein they went, in this holy triumph, to fetch the ark of God. Now their warlike trumpets are turned into harps and timbrels; and their hands, in stead of wielding the sword and spear, strike upon those musical strings, whereby they might express the joy of their hearts. Here was no noise but of mirth; no motion but pleasant. O happy k rael, that had a God to rejoice in, that had this occasion of rejoic ing in their God, and a heart that embraced this occasion! There is nothing but this, wherein we may not joy immoderately, unsea sonably: this spiritual joy can never be either out of time, or out of measure. Let him that rejoiceth, rejoice in the Lord.

But now, when the Israelites were in the midst of this angel-like jollity, their hearts lifted up, their hands playing, their feet moving, their tongues singing and shouting, God sees good to strike them into a sudden dump, by the death of Uzzah. They are scarce set into the tune, when God mars their music, by a fearful judgment; and changes their mirth into astonishment and confusion. There could not be a more excellent work, than this they were about; there could not be more cheerful hearts in the performing of it; yet will the most holy God rather dash all this solemn service, than endure an act of presumption or infidelity.

Abinadab had been the faithful host of God's ark, for the space of twenty years: even in the midst of the terrors of Israel, who were justly affrighted with the vengeance inflicted upon Bethshemesh, did he give harbour unto it; yet even the son of Abinadab is stricken dead, in the first departing of that blessed guest. sanctity of the parent cannot bear out the sin of his son. The

The

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