Theo. But amongst all the rest,1 whom the example of Saul ought most to terrify, are all glorious, proud, envious, and hypocritical men, and all tyrants, but especially, those kinds of men,2 who fight against their own consciences, and persecute such as they know to be most innocent. For, Saul, was subject to all these vices. But, he most manifestly showed, what great power the Devil had over him, when as he so openly fought against his own conscience, which oftentimes enforced him to accuse & condemn his own self, for the injuries and wrongs which he had done unto David. ⟨image 115⟩For, how often was he enforced to say, that he was a vile and wicked man, and had done great injury to David,3 and that David was innocent, and a far honester man then him self? And who enforced him this to do, but the very power of the trueth, and his own conscience, which drave him to it, as if he had been racked to do it? he right well knew, that he did wickedly, and that he manifestly fought against God, and yet for all this, he no whit amended him self: but still became more traitorous, fierce & cruel, without any regard, either to GOD, justice or equity, then any brute and furious beast.
But when he made such a jolly confession of his sins, a man would have thought, that he had been very penitent, and altogether converted. A man would have thought that he had been come again to his right wits, and that he had been very well disposed to have don much better, then before time he had. But he was immediately after, quite and clean altered, and did worse, then before he had done. Insomuch, that at the very same instant, wherein he used these speeches, declaring the innocency of ⟨image 115⟩David, he took his Javelin, & thought if he had could to have run David through with it,4 with his own hands, and afterward caused him to be sought for all over, to have put him to death.
Theo. But amongst all the rest,1 whō the example of Saul ought most to terrifie, are all glorious, proude, enuious, and hypocritical men, and all tyrants, but especially, those kindes of men,2 whoe fight against their owne consciences, and persecute such as they know to be most innocent. For, Saule, was subiect to all these vices. But, he most manifestly shewed, what great power the Deuil had ouer him, when as he so openly fought against his own conscience, which oftentimes enforced him to accuse & condemne his own self, for the iniuries and wronges which he had done vnto Dauid. ⟨image 115⟩For, how often was he enforced to say, that he was a vile and wicked man, and had done great iniurie to Dauid,3 and that Dauid was innocent, and a far honester man then him selfe? And who enforced him this to doe, but the very power of the trueth, and his owne conscience, which draue him to it, as if he had beene racked to doe it? he right well knew, that he did wickedly, and that he manifestly fought against God, and yet for all this, he no whit amended him selfe: but stil became more trayterous, fierce & cruel, without any regarde, either to GOD, iustice or equitie, then any brute and furious beast.
But when he made such a iolly confession of his sinnes, a man would haue thought, that he had beene very penitent, and altogether conuerted. A man would haue thought that he had beene come againe to his right wittes, and that he had beene verye well disposed to haue don much better, then before time hee had. But hee was immediately after, quite and clean altered, and did worse, then before he had done. Insomuch, that at the very same instant, wherein hee vsed these speeches, declaring the innocencye of ⟨image 115⟩Dauid, he tooke his Iaueling, & thought if he had coulde to haue run Dauid through with it,4 with his owne handes, and afterward caused him to be sought for al ouer, to haue put him to death.
- 1The Imitators of Saul.The Imitators of Saule.
- 2What a grienous thing it is for a man to sin against his own conscience.What a grienous thing it is for a man to sinn against his own conscience.
- 31. Sam. 24. 26.
- 41. Sam. 18. 24▪ 26.
