A SERMON

PREACHED BEFORE

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE,

On Thursday the 7th of June, 1716.

Being the Day of Public THANKSGIVING to Almighty God for suppressing the late unnatural REBELLION.

2 SAM. XX. I, 2.

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.

So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.

THIS and the foregoing chapter give us the history of the

rise, progress, and conclusion of an unnatural rebellion raised against good King David: one that appeared formidable, and might have been of unhappy consequence to him and his kingdoms, had not his timely care and vigilance (with the blessing of God thereupon) seasonably suppressed it. The narrative of the

matter is this.

King Davida had been some time absent from his royal city, having "fled out of the land for Absalom." But as soon as the death of Absalom had removed all difficulties, "the people

a 2 Sam. xix. 9.

"were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel," about bringing the King back to Jerusalem, to reinstate him in his throne.

The King, hearing of the zeal and concern which his subjects of Israel had for him, thought proper to intimate it to the elders of Judah, inviting them, as being nearest akin to him, of the same tribe with himself, his brethren, his bones, and his flesh, as himself expresseth it, to come to him with all convenient speed, that they might not be "the last to bring back the King."

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By this affectionate and endearing message," he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man, so that they sent this word unto the King, Return thou, and "all thy servants d." And soon after they went in person to meet him, and to conduct him over Jordane, in his way to Jerusalem.

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While the men of Judah were thus paying their early offices of duty and respect to their royal master, the men of Israel, thinking themselves neglected and postponed, in a matter which concerned their honour and their interest, began to be full of anger and resentment against their brethren of Judah; and accordingly came to the King with remonstrances and complaints against them. Why have our brethren, the men of Judah, "stolen thee away, and have brought the King and his house"hold, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?" To which the men of Judah replied very justly, that the reason was, because the King was near of king to them; intimating withal, that what they did, was not so much with an eye to their own advantage, (not having "eaten at all of the King's cost,") as out of their particular duty and affection to their sovereign, to whom they were so nearly related.

This did not satisfy but still the Israelites insisted, that they had "ten parts in the Kingh," according to the number of their tribes, and therefore "more right in David" than the other and "why then," say they, "did ye despise us, that our "advice should not be first had in bringing back our King?" The men of Judah being hereby warmed and irritated, gave them rough language in return; and " their words were fiercer "than the words of the men of Israel."

And now matters began to look towards a rupture. Which

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yet, very probably, might have been prevented, but that "there happened to be there a man of Belial," a factious, turbulent man, (one who probably had had an inveterate hatred to the house of David ;)" whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a "Benjamite," perhaps of the house and lineage of Saul, as was Shimei he knowing how to take advantage of a popular discontent, and wanting not the will to do it, presently" blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we "inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O "Israel." As much as to say, "We, of the tribes of Israel, "are dismissed from King David; and have no further interest 66 or concern with him. He has discarded us, to take our "brethren in; and has no regard but to the house of Judah. "To your tents, O Israel: and look ye out for another king." This was putting the most invidious and malicious construction upon what had been done that could be; and was turning the rage of the discontented people upon the King himself, who had no way affronted them, except it was by his inviting and admitting the men of Judah, which he had so great reason to do.

But when men's minds are sore, and fretted with contention, they are very apt to run into extremes, and to take every thing by the worst handle; and "so every man of Israel went up "from after David," (deserted and revolted from him,)“ and "followed Sheba the son of Bichri." It was presently made a party concern, and accordingly all that were there joined in it. Some, we may suppose, out of resentment and ill will; and others out of fear or shaine; lest they should seem unconcerned for, or regardless of, what was, or what was pretended to be, the common cause of their brethren.

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By every man of Israel," in the text, we are not to understand all the ten tribes; but that part only who were there present; all that came to conduct the King over Jordan; probably a small number in comparison to the whole.

"The men of Judah" however, as well out of affection and bounden duty, as because they had been the unhappy occasion of the others' revolt, "clave unto their King from Jordan even "to Jerusalem," conducting him all the way to his royal seat, placing him in his throne, and steadily adhering to his interest, against all opposers.

No sooner had the King dispatched his necessary affairs, but

he" assembled the men of Judah " together, thinking it high time to look after the growing rebellion. For Sheba was so vigilant, that he went through all the tribes of Israel," poisoning the minds of the King's loyal subjects, and drawing many after him. King David was sufficiently apprehensive of it; and therefore suddenly gave orders to his forces to pursue him. "David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's "servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, "and escape us.

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"And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Chere"thites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they "went out of Jerusalem to pursue after" him with all expedition, to stop his progress, and thereby to prevent a general defection of the tribes. This so seasonable and prudent dispatch of the King's forces had, by the blessing of God, its desired effect.

Sheba was in a little time besieged and blocked up, at the place of his rendezvous, which was Abel of Bethmaachahm; and the people of the town, either out of a sense of loyalty, or out of tenderness for themselves, finding they had no other remedy, were glad to capitulate, and to buy their peace at the price of the traitor's head. Upon this they dispersed, and the rebellion ended. This is a brief but full account of the matter of fact. These things, no doubt, "were written for our admonition," and may be useful to us when carefully considered. My design is,

1. To draw such reflections and observations as naturally occur to us, from the contents of the foregoing history.

2. To make some brief application of them, so far as is suitable, to the occasion of this day's solemnity.

3. To conclude the whole with a few practical advices proper. to the place and audience.

I. I am to draw such reflections and observations, as may naturally occur to us, from the contents of the foregoing history.

1. And the first is, how men's passions, beginning often from some very slight and inconsiderable occasions, swell, by degrees, to an amazing height; and carry them further than they at first intended, or so much as suspected; even to things which themselves, when cool and sedate, would have heartily abhorred. How small and trifling a circumstance was it, (if rightly coni 2 Sam. xx. 3, 4. 1 Ver. 6, 7.

k Ver. 14.

m Ver. 15.

sidered,) that the men of Judah happened to come first to the King; and were beforehand with their brethren of Israel, in paying their dutiful addresses to him. Might it not have contented the men of Israel, that their own hearts were loyal, that they meant the same thing with the other, had done their best to signify it, and only failed in a small circumstance of time, and that not through any neglect or fault of theirs, but by being prevented by their brethren? Was it worth contending so eagerly, who should be there first to conduct the King over Jordan, so long as both were agreed in the principal matter, that he ought to be conducted; and that it was for the common interest that he should return, and be set at the head of his people? Admitting that the men of Judah had the advantage by ingratiating themselves first with the King: yet was this any thing more than what was very natural for men to take, when they had so fair an opportunity for it; or than the men of Israel themselves would gladly have taken in the like circumstances, and have approved very well, when it had been their own? Could one ever have imagined, that this should be thought reason sufficient to justify a revolt, and the taking up arms against their sovereign? Had it been told the Israelites beforehand, what monstrous extravagances they should run into; that they should engage in a rebellion against the Lord's anointed, and enter into measures equally destructive to their country and themselves; that they should run the risk of sacrificing the lives of many innocent subjects; of bringing destruction and desolation on many well deserving families; of filling their country with cries and tears, laying cities waste, or burying them in blood and ashes had these or the like scenes of barbarity and cruelty (the certain attendants of a civil war of any long continuance) been represented to them in their blackest colours beforehand; which of them might not have said, as Hazael to the prophet, "What, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great "thing"?"

But when once men give way to their unruly passions, they are no longer masters of their own thoughts or designs; but are hurried on by an impetuous force. Consideration leaves them, and they advance by imperceptible steps so far, that they know not how to retreat. "The beginning of strife is," (as the Wise

n 2 Kings viii. 13.