And yet we see for all this, God had no pleasure in him, that all who shall hear or read this story or the laying open of it, may fear and tremble, if their righteousness and sincerity exceed not his; for no such shall enter into the Lords kingdom;1 which was one ⟨p. 349⟩especial end why I lay out this story before the eyes of men, as I said in the beginning. Neither let any object and say,2 that his estate was fearful afterwards: but now when this was done, which is here mentioned, he was not so desperate and past hope: Answ. for I say that for the acts here and before mentioned, (take one with the other) he was cast off, although it is to be granted, that afterwards he was much worse. Let no man deceive himself, Samuel was forbidden to pray for him, at his departure from him, at the time here mentioned, as appeareth in the next chapter, verse 1. for at his departing from him after he had done the Lords message ⟨p. 350⟩to him, which I have now spoken of, he left him no better, then at his coming to him he found him.3 But as it was said of Jeroboam (when the man of God had reproved his Idolatry threatening him sore in the name of the Lord) that for all this he departed not from his evil way: So it is said of Saul, that when Samuel went away from him, he was nothing bettered, nor reclaimed by him, ver. 34. after which going from him, it is said he came no more to see him, unto the day of his death. And as for that it is said of him in 30. verse of this chap. that he confessed his sin again, as he had done before, least any should think his latter confession to have ⟨p. 351⟩been better then the former, it is branded by the holy ghost, with a manifest mark of hypocrisy, when he said I have sinned, for this is added [but honour me before the people] signifying that he looked not so high as to God,4 who requireth truth in the inward parts, but only his fear was, least men should have known that God rejected him, and so might thereby have cast him off, and have refused him for their king. And of Saul thus much, for I have said the best of him, that the scripture sets down in this chap. or afterwards, and showed that nothing spoken of him, savoured of true repentance. The further we proceed in this story, the worst we shall ⟨p. 352⟩find him.
And yet wee see for all this, God had no pleasure in him, that all who shall heare or read this story or the laying open of it, may feare and tremble, if their righteousnes and synceritie exceed not his; for no such shall enter into the Lords kingdome;1 which was one ⟨p. 349⟩especiall end why I lay out this story before the eyes of men, as I said in the beginning. Neither let any obiect and say,2 that his estate was fearefull afterwards: but now when this was done, which is heere mentioned, he was not so desperate and past hope: Answ. for I say that for the acts heere and before mentioned, (take one with the other) he was cast off, although it is to bee granted, that afterwards hee was much worse. Let no man deceiue himselfe, Samuel was forbidden to pray for him, at his departure from him, at the time heere mentioned, as appeareth in the next chapter, verse 1. for at his departing from him after he had done the Lords message ⟨p. 350⟩to him, which I haue now spoken of, hee left him no better, then at his comming to him hee found him.3 But as it was said of Ieroboam (when the man of God had reproued his Idolatrie threatning him sore in the name of the Lord) that for all this he departed not from his euill way: So it is said of Saul, that when Samuel went away from him, he was nothing bettred, nor reclaimed by him, ver. 34. after which going from him, it is sayd he came no more to see him, vnto the day of his death. And as for that it is said of him in 30. verse of this chap. that hee confessed his sinne againe, as he had done before, least any should think his latter confession to haue ⟨p. 351⟩bene better then the former, it is branded by the holy ghost, with a manifest marke of hypocrisie, when he said I haue sinned, for this is added [but honour me before the people] signifying that he looked not so high as to God,4 who requireth truth in the inward parts, but only his feare was, least men should haue knowne that God reiected him, and so might thereby haue cast him off, and haue refused him for their king. And of Saul thus much, for I haue said the best of him, that the scripture sets downe in this chap. or afterwards, and shewed that nothing spoken of him, sauoured of true repentance. The further we proceede in this story, the worst we shall
- 1Mat. 5. 16.
- 2Object.Obiect.
- 31 King. 13. 34.
- 4Psal. 51.
