The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

The third cause of this unjust suspicion & misdeeming is an evil conscience; for when one is himself infected with any sin and lies in it without repentance, he is ready to measure all men by himself, and thinks no man can go upright, now himself halts, And this is exceeding plain in Saul. He was a wicked murderer and purposed fully, if by any means he might effect his purpose to kill David, and therefore we see how he goes about craftily to bring him in danger, under a show of friendship, and forsooth did bear such a good mind to David that worthy man and faithful captain, that had ventured his life for Gods cause and in the defence of his people; as that he would freely and willingly admit him to so near a place as to be the Kings son in law. And therefore if David were as willing to accept of his offer in kindness and duty, as he was desirous kindly to grant it, and offer it, there should be no let but David should without delay espouse his daughter, and become his son in law, therefore he willed all his servants to commend his good will unto David and to show him how highly he was in the Kings favour; when all this while GOD knows and hath made the world to know, that this was but to entrap him and bring him into a snare, that by her means he might the sooner privily dispatch him. But when David in modesty was unwilling to take so high a place and therefore excused himself for his poverty and inability to give a dowry befitting the greatness of such a personage; Saul very glad of so good an occasion as he thought would not let it slip; but as he made show, in great kindness tells him; what is the dowry all that you stand upon? if that be all the impediment, I will soon remove this let, and the matter shall be effected. Let ⟨p. 81⟩not David think but that his nature will afford a dowry good enough for a princes daughter, and let him not imagine that Saul is so far in love with money as that he will look for so great a sum of him, whom he hopes to find a valiant & courageous son; no David, thy valour is a treasure and some of this courage, is that which my soul desires, and which shall fully accomplish this marriage we desire▪ let me but see here 100. foreskins of the Philistines, those enemies of God, and Gods people by whose means we have sustained much loss and danger.

The third cause of this vniust suspicion & misdeeming is an euill conscience; for when one is himselfe infected with any sin and lies in it without repentance, he is readie to measure all mē by himselfe, and thinkes no man can goe vpright, now himselfe halts, And this is exceeding plaine in Saule. He was a wicked murtherer and purposed fully, if by any meanes he might effect his purpose to kill Dauid, and therefore we see howe he goes about craftily to bring him in danger, vnder a shew of friendship, and forsooth did beare such a good minde to Dauid that worthie man and faithfull captaine, that had ventured his life for Gods cause and in the defence of his people; as that hee would freely and willingly admitte him to so neere a place as to be the Kings sonne in law. And therefore if Dauid were as willing to accept of his offer in kindnesse and dutie, as he was desirous kindly to grant it, and offer it, there should be no let but Dauid should without delay espouse his daughter, and become his sonne in law, therefore he willed all his seruants to commend his good will vnto Dauid and to shewe him howe highly he was in the Kings fauour; when all this while GOD knowes and hath made the world to know, that this was but to entrap him and bring him into a snare, that by her means he might the sooner priuily dispatch him. But when Dauid in modestie was vnwilling to take so high a place and therefore excused himselfe for his pouertie and inabilitie to giue a dowrie befitting the greatnesse of such a personage; Saule verie glad of so good an occasion as he thought would not let it slip; but as he made shew, in great kindnesse tels him; what is the dowry all that you stand vpon? if that be all the impediment, I will soone remoue this let, and the matter shall bee effected. Let