ANE MEDITATIOVN vpon the xxv, xxvi, xxvii, XXVIII, AND XXIX VERSES OF THE XV CHAPT. OF THE first buke of the Chronicles of the Kingis.
Set doun be the maist christiANE KING AND SINCERE PROfessour of the treuth IAMES the SEXT KING OF Scottis.
Ane day in thy courtes is better then ane thowsand vther quhair. I had rather be ane dure keeper in the hous of my God, then to dwell in the tabernacles of wickednes.
For the Lord God is the sunne and sheild to vs: the Lord will giue grace and glorie: and no gude thing will he withhald from them that walk vprichtlie.
O Lord of hostes, blessed is the man yat trusteth in the.
Imprentit at Edinburgh be Henrie Charteris. 1589.
Cum Priuilegio Regali.
To the Christiane Reider.
THE Sonne of God be Isay the prophete informes the christiane kirk that God sall raise vp Kinges to be nuresing father is vnto hir.Isay 18.23. And be the mouth and pen of ane King,Psal. 72.10. euin Salamon his figure, assures the samin Kirk that the Kingis quhilk dwell about the Ocean, and the Monarches of the Iles sall bring presents vnto him, to testifie thair vnfeinȝeit vnioun with the Saintis in their heid Iesus Christ. The pruife quhairof, praised be the gudenes of our God, we haue, christiane Reider, aboue all nationes in our most gracious King, not onlie cairfull in his calling to be ane nuresing father to ya▪ stoke conquished be ye blude of Christ, and committed to his lieuten [...]ndrie in his awin boundis: bot also most earnestlie and zealouslie bout in the eis of the haill warld, to offer with himself to the King of Kinges and Lord of Lordes his gift and present,Apos. 18.16. as ane witnes of his vpricht meaning in the caus of Christ, and anefauld coniunctioun in him with the haill reformed christiane Kirkes in the earth: And that now twyse: Anes in forshawing according to the line of the writtin Word the iust wrak that was to fall vpon the proude persequuteris of the Kirk in the hicht of thair pryde, as is exponed in his Maiesties former Meditatioun vpon the 20 of ye Reuelatioun: And now agane in ane vther Meditatioun vpon the 15 of ye first buke of ye Chronicles, expressing the dewtie of the trew Kirk toward God for yair deliuerance, and ye maner of thankesgeuing that aucht to be geuin to God thairfoir. Quhilkwirk so soone as it come to my handis, I did diligēce to communicat it to the to be ioyn it with ye former. Receaue thow thairfoir ye samin thākfullie & pray God for both: and call to God for ane gracious and l [...]ng reigne to his hienes in his trew feir and obedience, and that yis rare exemple in his maiestie may prouoke vtner kingis to ȝeild to the treuth,Apoc. 21.24. and offer thair giftis to the beilding of the hous of ye King of Kinges: that with our King, the glorie and honour of earthlie kinges, they may enter in that new Ierusalem, as citizenis thaiof. So farewell.
EPIGRAMMA; QVO VIDERI POSSIT INVICTISSIMVM SCOtorum Regem multò maximè christianum Dauidica stirpè esse oriundum.
Ane Meditatioun vpon the 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 VERSIS OF THE 1 [...]. CHAP. of ye first buke of the Chronicles of ye Kingis. SET DOVN BE THE MAIST CHRISTIANE King and syncere professour of the treuth IAMES THE SEXT KING OF SCOTTIS.
SO Dauid, and the elderis of Israell, & the Captaines of thowsandis wont to bring vp ye arke of the couenant of the Lord from the hous of Obed Edom with ioy.
26 And becaus that God helpeth the Leuites that bare ye arke of ye couenant of the Lord, they offered seuin bullockes and seuin rammes.
27 And Dauid had on him ane linning garment, as all the Leuites that bare the arke, and the Singeris and Chenaniah that had the cheif charge of ye Singeris: and vpon Dauid (wes) ane linning Ephod.
28 Thus all Israell broght vp the arke of ye Lordis couenant with showting and sound of trumpettis and with cymbables, making ane sound with yioles and with harpes.
29 And quhen ye arke of ye couenant of the Lord came into the citie of Dauid, Michol the doughter of Saull looked out at ane window, and saw King Dauid dauncing and playing, and scho despysit him in hir hart.
The Meditatioun.
AS of lait quhen greitest appearance of perrill was by ȝone forreine and godles floit I tooke occasioun by ane text selected for the purpose to exhort ȝow to remane constant, resting assured of ane happy deliuerance: So now by the greit mercies of God, my speaches hauing taking ane euident effect, & could do no les of my cairfull dewtie then out of this place cited, teache ȝow quhat restis on ȝour part to be done. Nocht of any opimoun I haue of my habilitie to instruct ȝow, bot that th [...]r brulleries of myne may efter my deith remaue to the posteritie as ane certane testimonie of my vpricht and anefauld meaning in this so greit and veichtie ane caus. Now I cum to ye matter. Dauid that godlie King hes no sooner obtened victorie ouer Goddis and his enimeis the Phil [...]stines, b [...]t his first actioun that followis is with concurrence of his haill estaitis to translate the arke of the Lordis couenant to his hous in greit triumphe and gladnes, accompaneit with the sound of musicall instrumentis. And being so brought to ye Kingis hous he him self dancis & reioycis befoir it: quhilk thing Micholl the doughter of Saul and his wyfe perceauing, sho contemned & lichtlied hir husband in hir mynd. This is the sowme.
The Methode.
FOR better vnderstanding quhairof thir heidis ar to be oppinnit vp in ordour, and applyit. And first quhat caussis mouit Dauid to do this wark. Secundlie quhat persa▪ is concurrit with Dauid in doing of this wark. Thridlie quhat was ye actioun it self, & forme of doing vsit in the samen. Ferdlie the persone of Michol. And fyttlie hir actioun.
The first part.
[...]eale in Dauid & exper [...]ence of Goddis kyndnes towardis hi [...] mouis Dauid to ho [...] God.AS to the first part. The causis mouing Dauid, passing all vtheris, I note two: Ane internall, the vther externall. The internall was ane feruent and zealous mynd in Dauid fullie disposed to promoue the glorie of God that had callit [Page] him to be King as he sayis him self, The zeale of thy hous it eatis me vp. Psal. 69.9. bot mair largelie expressed in the 132 Psal. composit at the same tyme quhylles this wark was in doing. The externall was ane notable victorie newlie obtenit be the power of God ouer and against ye Philistinis auld & pernicious enemeis to the pepill of God erpressit in the last part of the 14 chap. preceding. Be this victorie or caus erternall, ye internall caus and zeale in Dauid is so doublie inflammed, that all thingis set asyde, in this wark allanerlie he will be occupyit. Thir ar the two weichtie caussis mouing him. Quhatrof we may learne first that ye cheif wertew quhilk suld be in ane christiane Prince, 1 and quhilk the Spirit of God alwayis cheifly praisis in him, is ane feruencie & constant zeale to promoue ye glorie of God that hes honaured-him. 2 Nirt that quhair this zeale vnfeinȝeit is, GOD leuis neuer that persone without continuall pouring of his blissingis on him, thairby to steir vp into him ane double measure of zeale and thankfulnes towardis God.3 The Kirk euer troublie be men bee ane ioyfull end. Thridlie that the Kirk of God neuer want it enemeis and notable victories ouer them, to assure them at all tymes of the constant kyndnes of God towardis them, euin quhen as be the croce, as ane bitter medecine, he cureth thair infirmities, saisfeth them from grosse sinnes, and exerciseth thair faith: For we find planelie in the scriptures that na sooner God chuisit himselfe Israell to be his pepill, hot als soone, and euer thairefter als lang as they remaned his, the Deuill so inuyit thair prosperitie as he houndit out his instrumentis the natiounis at all tymes to trouble and weir against them, ȝit to the comfort of his Kirk afflicted and wrake of the afflicteris in the end. This first was practised by Pharao in Egypt: and efter thair delyuerance then by the Ammonites, and sune by the Philistinis continuallie thairefter quhill the rysing of the monarcheis, quho euery ane exercit them s [...]lfis in ye saine labour. Bot to note heir the rage of all prophaue princes and natiounis quhilkis exercit thair crueltie vpon the Kirk of God wer superfluous and cedious in respect of that quhilk I set doun in my former meditatioun. Quhairfoir I unlie go fordware them in this, [Page]As this was the continuall behauiour of ye natiounis towardis Israell, So it was maist speciallie in the tyme of Dauid, and amangis the rest at this tyme heir cited, at quhat tyme hauing newlie inwaidit Israell, and being doung bak, they wald ȝit counene agane in greit multitudes to weir against the pepill of God. And not content to defend thair awin countrie as the Israelites did, wald neidis cum out of ye samin to persew them and so spred themselfis in the valley. Bot Dauid by Goddis directioun bringis furth the pepill against them, quho fechtis and according to Boddis promeis ouercummis them, onlie by the hand of God, and nocht by thair power, as the place it self maist planelie proportis. So the Kirk of God may be troublit bot in troubill it can not perishe: And the end of thair troubill, is the very wrak and destructioun of Goddis enemeis.
The secund part.
Thre rankis of personis cōcurrit with Dauid in this wark.NOW followis secundlie the personis quho did concur with Dauid in this actioun. The Spirit noitis thrie rankis of them. In the first ar ye Elderis of Israell: In the nixt ar the captanes ouer thowsandis: In the thrid ar the Preistis and Leuitis: of quhom summarlie I will speik. Thir Elderis wer rewlaris vnder Dauid in the kingdome, and as his handis in all partis of the countrie ministring iustice and iudgement to the Kingis subiectis: Thir Elderis wer of twa sortis, magistratis in wallit townis, quho in the portis of the cities executed iudgement, and cheifis in trybis and fatheris of famileis quho in the countrie did iudge & minister iudgement as the scripture proportis. Thir wer not vnlyke to twa of the estaitis of our kingdome, the Barroun and the Burges. The Captanes ouer thowsandis wer godlie and valiant men, quho vnder the King did rewle in tyme of weir: had the custodie of ye Kingis persone: and faucht his battailis: Thir wer necessair officiaris for Dauid quha was appointit be God in his tyme (as we ar teachit of Goddis awin speiking be Nathan to Dauid) to fecht Goddis battaillis, to subdew the enemeis of his Kirk and to procure he that doing ane peaceabill kingdome [Page]for Salomon his sone quho suldin peace, as figure of Christ the prince of peace, beild the Lordis tempill. Thir ar spokin of heir to teache ws first that thair calling is lawfull: Nixt in thair calling they suld be earnest to honour God: And thridlie that thir captanis cheillie wer lawfullie callit and lawfullie walkit thairin, as we haue plane declaratioun out of Dauids awin inouth expressed weill in ye haill 101 Psalme, seing nane wer admit [...]it in his seruice or houshold, bot sik as vnfeinȝeitlie feared God, and without all questioun godlie and zealous Dauid wald neuer haue committit the gaird of his persone, nor ye fechting of Goddis battaillis to ye enemeis of God or men of weir of quhois godlines and wertew he neuer had pruife: See then thair namis and praise 1. Chron. 11.26. The thrid rank of Preistis & Leuites ar set doun in ye same chapt. ver. 4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11. So men of all estaitis wer present in this godlie wark. This is to be markie weill of Princes, and all thois of ony hie calling or degrie that mellis to do in Goddis caus: Dauid dois nathing in matteris apperteining to God without ye presence and speciall concurrence of Goddis Ministeris apponitit to be spirituall rewlleris in his Kirk: and in the first hunt to conuoy the same Arke to Ierusalem finding thair absence and want of thair counsaill hurtfull: now in this chaptour, ver. 12.13. he sayis to them, ȝe ar ye cheif fatheris of the Leuites, sanctifie ȝour self and ȝour brethren, and bring vp the Arke of ye Lord God of Israell vnto the place that I haue prepared for it. For becaus ȝe wer nocht thair at the first, ye Lord our God maid ane brek a mang ws: For we socht him not efter dew or dour. And this far for ye secund part concerning personis.1 Quhair in we may learne first that ane godlie King findis as his hart wishis godlie estaitis concurring with him. Nixt ane godlie King of his godlie foirsicht in choosing guid vnder rewlaris reapis this profite & pleasure, 2 that as he gois befoir, so his with zealous hartis do follow.
The thrid part.
The Arke is transportit with ioy to Ierusalem.THE sowme of this ioyfull conuoy may be digestit in thrie actiounis quhilkis ar thir: The transporting of ye Arke, the harmonie of musicall instrumentis, & Dau [...]dd [...]s [Page]dancing and reioysing befoir it. He buildit ane tabernacle for ye Arke in mont Sion, and transportit it thairunto, to signifie his thankfulnes for the mony victories God had put in his handis: And this transporting was the occasioun of all this solempnitie and reioysing that followit thairupon.The significatioun of ye Arke of the cou [...]nent. As to the Arke it self, we knaw it was buildit be Moyses at the command of God in ye wildernes of Sinay. This Arke was maid of Schittim wood quhilk admittis no corruptioun: It was of maist cumlie shaip and forme: Two cubites and ane half in lenth, ane cubit and ane half in hicht, and ane cubit and ane half in breid, ouerlayed within and without with pure beatin gold, and was not onlie ane figure of Iesus Christ our perfite Sauiour, in quhom all the promeissis of God ar ȝea and Amen. 2. Cor. 1.20. and in quhom as ane sure Arke all aboundance of Goddis blissingis ar placit, that out of his fulnes we may all receiue grace vpon grace. Iohn. chap. 1.16. Seing he is maid vnto ws of God, wisdome, richteousnes, sanctificatioun, and redemptioun. 1. Cor. 1.30. Bot also ane sure pledge of Goddis continuall presence in Christ with his pepill, to blis them with all maner of blissingis. And to signifie this purpois mair particularlit, within ye Arke. was placit the tables of ye couenant and law writtin be God, (for quhilk caus also it was callit ye Arke of ye couenant) Rom. 10.4. to teache them in Christ promisit ye perfectioun of ye haill law to be found for all that beleue in him. Abone ye Arke was ane couer or lid called ye mercisait, and abone ye lid ye figuris of two Cherubines, couering with thair wingis ye mercisait, out betuirt ye quhilk two the liuing God did louinglie speik to ye instructioun and comfort of his pepill, to assure them that all Goddis mercifull dealingis with man,Heb. 1.14. Iohn, 1.41. ather in communicating his knawledge to them: ather in sending his Angellis ministring spirites for thair comfort had the ground and fundatioun in Christ Iesus allanerlie. This Arke then being ane sure sacrament of God dis fauour towardis them & ane couenant of Iesus Christ, quhatrin corporallie Goddis mercifull promeissis did inhear. Followis ye thrid part ye forme of doing vsit thairin be thir personis. [Page]Generallie ye actioun was to bring vp ye Arke of the couenant of ye Lord from ye hous of Obed Edom with ioy, and to be placit in ye tabernacle beildit for it be ye King in mont Sion: The forme of doing vsit be euerie persone is. The Preistis offer bullockis and rammes becaus that God blissit ye wark. The King cled in ane linning garment dancis and playis before ye Arke. Chenaniah ye cheif of ye Singeris with his fellowis praisis God with psalmis, and all ye estaitis in Israell bringis ye Arke of ye couenant with showting, sound of cornet, trumpet, cymbales, violes and harpis, and places it in ye citie of Dauid. Breiflie then Dauid vpon his victories will transport to his hous ye samin, to testifie heirby his cair to retene Goddis fauour towardis him and his pepill: Nocht thinking it aneuch to haue anis or twyis pruife thair of: bot also to procure ane continuance by pe centinuance of this holie Arke: Esteming this ye worthiest trophee or triumphe he culd mak or erect for his not abill victories. Ane triumphe in deid far surpassing ye Egyptiack Pyramids, ye grecian tropheis, or ȝit ye Romane triumphall chariottis. As to ye harmonie and musicall instrumentis that accompanyit this holie Arke, I trust no man is ignorant of ye custome that was amangis ye Iewis in praising God with all kynd of instrumentis, as Dauids Psalmes innumerabill tymes beiris witnes. Bot in cace sum wald demand quhairfoir ye Kirk of God suld mair extraordinarlie reioyse at ane tyme the [...] [...] vther, seing we ar assured that all Goddis actiounis tow [...]dis ws ar for our weill, ather spirituallie or corporallie, sup [...]is we can nocht at euerie tyme comprehend it? I answer that althocht I must confes that sentence to be maist orthodoxe, ȝit must I also confes that quhensoeuer it sall please God to manifest by outward signes to ye warld, as at ane tyme mair then at ane vther ye greit lufe he beiris to his Kirk be sum notable wark for thair delyuerance, We ar then of dewtie bund in ye hiest degrie to praise God asweill for ye conseruing of ye waik anis amangest ws, as for stopping of ye mouthes and dashing of ye proude wickit without ws, to mak the glorie of his name als far [Page]as in ws lyis to rescund. The monyfald exemplis of ye Saintis of God throch the haill scriptures prouis this mair nor euidentlie, besydes the exemplis of the prayeris of sindrie of ye godlie, quho for ye glorie of his name mair nor for thair particulare weill hes prayit him to giue publick testimonie of his lufe towardis them. So did Moses, Iosua, Dauid, Elias, Elizeus, and innumerabill vtheris of the prophetis and seruandis of God. As to the dancing of Dauid: Dancing, playing and siclyke actiounis we knaw ar of them selfis indifferent, & guid or euill according to thair vse, and intentioun of ye vser. And thairfoir being vsit at this tyme with ane cumlie zeale for the furthsetting of Goddis glorie at not onlie to be borne with & ercusit, bot euin maist heichlie to be praisit and commendit, althotht that Michol dispraisit the samin. Mairouer it is to be markit that Dauid in this doing did nathing without the speciall motioun of ye Spirit of God as ane extraordinar wark, quhilk so fullie possessit his soull at this present that forȝetfull as it wer of ye actiounis of his bodie he gaif his haill persone ouer to be gouernit as it pleasit him, alwayes seiking in all, ye honour and glorie of his God without respect to him self. And this far for ye thrid part.1 Quhair of we haue to note first in the Arke:Christ is the ground of all [...] re [...]ligioun The ground of all trew and ancient religioun & the bodie of the haill seruice of God that bringis saluatioun, to be situat in Iesus Christ onlie, as is planelie set doun Act. 4.12. Iohn. 14.6.1. Cor. 2.11.1. Iohn. 1.7. Nixt that they quhilk will be saif be this Arke must beir this Arke in thair hart be faith,2 in thair mouth be oppin confessioun. Rom. 10. and in thair actioums conforming thair haill doing in thair calling to his will.3 Math. 7.21.22.23. Thridlie that they quha ar sincerelie ioynit with Christ reioyse in ye beiring of Christ and comptis it thair hiest ioy to be occupyit continuallie in his beiring.
The ferd part.
Micholis hypocrisie.AS to the persone of Michol, sho was Sauls doughter, and Dauids wyfe: ane woman appeirandlie euill brocht vp by ane maist wickit father: quhilk ye Spirit of God will signifie by calling hir Sauls doughter, as sho was in hypocrisie [Page]his doughter in deid, asweill as by nature: ȝit sho was ioynit with the bodie of ye Kirk visible, quhilk is signifyit be ye stile geuin hir, quhen sho was callit Dauids wyfe. And so sho was outwardlie ane persone ioynit by mariage in societie with ye Kirk, ȝit in effect ane lurking hypocrite within ye bowellis of ye same. Suche kynd of folkis (hypocritis I mene) ar ane malum necessarium inseparablie & continuallie ioynit with the trew Kirk neuer to be siftit quhill ye maister of ye haruest cum with the fan in his hand.
The fyft part.
Micholis doing.HIR doingis ar: Being quiet in hir ludgeing all ye tyme of hir husbandis greit and publick reioysing with the pepill nocht cumming out, for nocht being abill as appeirit to counterfite fynelie aneuch ane dissimulat ioyfull countenance. And thairfoir keiking out at ane window sho spyis hir husband dancing befoir the Arke, incontinent interpreitis sho this indifferent actioun in malam partem, as nocht being tuichit with ane trew feiling of the caus of his ioy, and so dispysis sho his doing in hir mynd as onlie proceding of ane lasciuious wantounes. Ane meruelous cace: Scho that of befoir of naturall lufe to hir husband did preserue him althocht to hir awin greit perrill from the handis of hir awin father Saul, can not now abyde to see him vse aricht that indifferent actioun, quhilk sho hir self (I dout not) did oft through licentionsnes abuise. Be this we may note the nature of the hypocrites, and interiour enemeis of the Kirk, quha althocht in thair particularis not concerning religioun thair will be nane in shaw mair freindlie to the godlie nor they: ȝit how soone matteris of religioun or concerning ye honour of God cummis in hand, O then ar they no langer abill to contene or brydill thair passiounis, euen as heir Micholl defendit hir husband, euin in the particulares betwixt him and hir awin father, bot his dancing befoir the Arke, to the honour of God, culd sho na wyse abyde. Now this far being said for the methodick oppinning vp of the text.
The applicatioun of all.
The applicatioun of the purpose to [...].IT restis onlie to examine how pertiuentlie this place dois appertene to ws and our present estait. And first as to ye personis, the pepill of God and ye natiounis thair enemeis togidder with chair prydefull persute of Dauid & Goddis maist not avill deliuerance. Is thair not now ane sinceir professioun of ye treuth amangest ws in this Ile oppugnit by ye natiounis about, haiteris of ye holie word. And do we not also as Israell profes ane onlie God, rewlit by his pure word allmerlie on ye vther part. Ar they nocht as Philistinis adoreris of legionis of Goddis, and rewlit by ye foolish traditiounes of men: Haue they not as ye Philistinis bene continuallie ye perseweris, and we as Israell ye defenderis of our natiue soill and patrie: Nixt haue they not now at ye last euin lyke ye Philistinis cummed out of thair awin soilles to persew ws and spred them selfis to that effect vpon ye greit valley of our seas presumptuouslie threatning ye destructioun and wrak of ws? Bot thridlie hes nocht our victorie bene far mair notabill then that of Israell: And hes not ye ane bene als weill wrocht by ye hand of God as ye vther? For as God by blawing in the toppis of ye trees with his michtie wind put ye Philistinis to flicht, hes he not euin in lyke maner by brangling with his michtie wind thair timmer castellis scattred and shakin them a sunder to ye wrak of ane greit part and confusioun of the haill: Now that we may resembill Israell als weill in ye rest of this actioun, quhat triumphe restis ws to mak for ye crouning of this blissit comedie: Cum to bring amangst ws the Ark with all reioysing. Quhat is ye Arke of Christianis vnder grace bot ye Lord Iesus Christ quhom with ioy we bring amangest ws, quhen as receiuing with sinceritie and glaidnes ye new Testament in the blude of Christ our Sauiour, in our hart we beleue his promeissis, and in word and deid we beir witnes thairto befoir ye haill warld, & walkis so in ye licht as it becummis ye sones of the same. This is ye worthiest triumphe of our victorie that we can mak. And althocht thair will doutlessie be mony Micholis amangest ws, let ws reioyse and praise God for the discouerie of them, assuring our self they wer neuer of ws accompting [Page]all them to be against ws that ather reioysts at ye prosperitie of our enemeis, or reioysis not with ws at our miraculous delyuerance. For all they that gatheris not with ws they scatter. And let ws also diligentlie and warlie try out thes traftie Micholis. For it is in that respect that Christ recommendis vnto ws the wisdome of Serpentis, not thairby to deceiue and betraise vtheris, (no: God forbid) bot to arme ws against ye deceit & treasoun of hypocritis that gois a bout to trap ws. And leist that thir greit benefites quhilk God hes bestowit vpon ws be turnit be our vnthankfulnes in ane greater curs in seruing for testimonies at ye latter day against ws to ye procuring of our doubill stripis. Let ws now to conlude bring in ye Arke amangest ws in two respectis befoir mentionit. Seing we haue alreddy receiued the Gospell, first by constant remaning at ye puritie of ye treuth, quhilk is our maist certane couenant of saluatioun in ye onlis meritis of our Sauiour: And nixt let ws so reforme our defylit lyues as becumis regenerat Christianis, to ye greit glorie of our God, ye vtter defeacing of our aduersaries ye wickit, and our vuspeikabill comfort baith herr and ellis for euer.
AMEN.