there is usually some breach in their peace with God which makes them so froward, and so passionate as they are with men. And to show, that the more our peace with God is broken, the more froward will our spirits be. You have a notable example for that in Saul; Saul when he came first to the Crown, he seemed to be of a very low, and meek spirit, he counteth his family to be the least of the Tribes, and himself to be of the least of that family. And when ⟨p. 37⟩there were some Children of Belial that spake against him, and said, Shall this man be King over us? The scripture tells us that he held his peace: and when some would have had those that spake against him before to be put to death, no, saith Saul, there shall not any man be put to death this day. At first you see Saul was of a quiet spirit, of a very meek disposition, but after Saul had departed from God, and God was departed from him, he was then of a very froward, and surly, and rugged and harsh disposition, and he that was before of a peaceable, and quiet disposition to his enemies, yet afterwards he was of a froward, and cross disposition, even to his own Son, to Jonathan who was a good Son, a gracious, and godly Son, a Son of a sweet nature, and yet even to him, how harsh was he, O thou child of a perverse woman saith he, and he would have slain him in that passion, if the people had not prevented him. And how froward was he likewise when he was but crossed of his will, when he heard that the Priests had but let David pass away with some small supplies, they must be all put to death, man, woman, and Child, and fourscore and five of the Priests of the Lord that wore a sinnen Ephod must all be presently murdered, such a froward, cross, rugged, and harsh nature was Saul of, and what was the reason of this? Because he had departed from God, and God was departed from him. You therefore that are of froward, and passionate Spirits, have cause to look into your own hearts, and examine your selves well whether this be not the ground of it, even that you have broke your peace with God, and now you are at peace with no body, not with Husband, nor with Wife, nor with Neighbours, whereas if you did keep close with God, and maintained but the sweetness of your hearts in the enjoyment of peace with him, it would not be easy for you to be disturbed with any thing that befalls you from without.
there is usually some breach in their peace with God which makes them so froward, and so passionate as they are with men. And to shew, that the more our peace with God is broken, the more froward wil our spirits be. You have a notable example for that in Saul; Saul when he came first to the Crown, he seemed to be of a very low, and meek spirit, he counteth his family to be the least of the Tribes, and himself to be of the least of that family. And when ⟨p. 37⟩there were some Children of Belial that spaek against him, and said, Shal this man be King over us? The scripture tels us that he held his peace: and when some would have had those that spake against him before to be put to death, no, saith Saul, there shal not any man be put to death this day. At first you see Saul was of a quiet spirit, of a very meek disposition, but after Saul had departed from God, and God was departed from him, he was then of a very froward, and surly, and rugged and harsh disposition, and he that was before of a peaceable, and quiet disposition to his enemies, yet afterwards he was of a froward, and cross disposition, even to his own Son, to Jonathan who was a good Son, a gracious, and godly Son, a Son of a sweet nature, and yet even to him, how harsh was he, O thou child of a perverse woman saith he, and he would have slaine him in that passion, if the people had not prevented him. And how froward was he likewise when he was but crossed of his wil, when he heard that the Priests had but let David pass away with some smal supplies, they must be al put to death, man, woman, and Child, and fourscore and five of the Priests of the Lord that wore a sinnen Ephod must al be presently murdred, such a froward, cross, rugged, and harsh nature was Saul of, and what was the reason of this? Because he had departed from God, and God was departed from him. You therefore that are of froward, and passionate Spirits, have cause to look into your own hearts, and examine your selves wel whether this be not the ground of it, even that you have broke your peace with God, and now you are at peace with no body, not with Husband, nor with Wife, nor with Neighbors, whereas if you did keep close with God, and maintained but the sweetness of your hearts in the injoyment of peace with him, it would not be easy for you to be disturbed with any thing that befals you from without.
