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Contemplations on the historical passages of the Old and New Testament
Contemplations on the historical passages of the Old and New Testament Author:Joseph Hall Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: bosheth in Ziba's ? Are these the arrows of David's quiver ? Are these his hot burning coals ? " Thou and Ziba divide." He that had said, Their tongue is a sharp... more » sword ; now, that the sword of just revenge is in his hand, is this the blow he gives ? " Divide the possession." I know not whether excess or want of mercy may prove most dangerous in the great; the one discourages good intentions with fear ; the other may encourage wicked practices through presumption ; those that are in eminent place must soon learn the mid-way betwixt both ; so pardoning faults, that they may not provoke them: so punishing them, that they may not dishearten virtuous and well- meant actions ; they must learn to sing that absolute ditty, whereof David had here forgotten one part, of mercy and judgment. CONTEMPLATION III. HANUN AND DAVID'S AMBASSADORS. It is not the meaning of religion to make men uncivil. If the king of Ammon were heathenish, yet his kindness may be acknowledged, may be returned by the king of Israel. I say not, but that perhaps David might maintain too strait a league with that forbidden nation. A little friendship is enough to an idolater; but even the savage cannibals may receive an answer of outward courtesy. If a very dog fawn upon us we stroke him on the head, and clap him on the side ; much less is the common band of humanity untied by grace. Disparity, in spiritual professions, is no warrant for ingratitude. He therefore, whose good nature proclaimed to show mercy to any branch of Saul's house for Jonathan's sake, will now also show kindness to Hanun, for the sake of Nahash his father. It was the same Nahash that offered the cruel condition to the men of Jabesh-Gilead, of thrusting outtheir right eyes for the admission into his covenant. He that was thus bloody in hi...« less