And it may be he never comes (as the second Temple) up to the former pitch and glory.1 Thus Solomons zeal and love was abated in his old age, as his father Davids natural heat was in his age, that he needed an Abishag to lye in his bosom,2 so was Solomons spiritual heat cooled by the many Abishags that lay in his bosom: and though he was beloved of his God, his Sun set in a cloud, his last was not like his first. Thus Sampson, after many triumphs over the Philistines, was at length circumvented and betrayed into their hands, who bound him, put out his eyes, made sport with him, who though his hair and strength grew again, and he dyed in the Quarrel, and dyed a Victor, yet never did he regain his sight or liberty to his dying day. These kind of decays are dangerous, and make the people of God go mourning to their dying day, and they are saved as by fire. But are not inconsistent with grace.
And it may be he never comes (as the second Temple) up to the former pitch and glory.1 Thus Solomons zeale and love was abated in his old age, as his father Davids naturall heat was in his age, that he needed an Abishag to lye in his bosome,2 so was Solomons spirituall heat cooled by the many Abishags that lay in his bosome: and though he was beloved of his God, his Sun set in a cloud, his last was not like his first. Thus Sampson, after many triumphs over the Philistims, was at length circumvented and betrayed into their hands, who bound him, put out his eyes, made sport with him, who though his hair and strength grew again, and he dyed in the Quarrell, and dyed a Victor, yet never did he regain his sight or liberty to his dying day. These kind of decays are dangerous, and make the people of God go mourning to their dying day, and they are saved as by fire. But are not inconsistent with grace.
- 1Ezra 3.12; 1 King. 11, 4, 9, 10.
- 2Incepit melius qu•m definit, Ultima primit cedunt, dissimilis h•c puer, ille senex.Incepit melius qu•m definit, Ʋltima primit cedunt, dissimilis h•c puer, ille senex.
