2 Samuel 14

Heaven itself would not satisfy without Christ; Christ is the diamond in the ring of glory. If God should say to the soul, I will put you into heaven, but I will hide my face from you, I will draw a curtain between, so that you shall not behold my glory — the soul would not be s…

If it were said, 'God will indeed pardon you, but he will never love you as he did; he will not look on you; you must not come into his sight' — this would grieve the soul more than the other would content it, and he would be troubled without end. I may allude to what Absalom sa…

The Loadstone of mercy does not draw us so near to God, as the Cords of affliction. When Absalom set Joab's Corn on fire, then he came running to Absalom, 2 Samuel 14.30. When God sets our worldly comforts on fire, then we run to him, and make our peace with him.

Now when Christ shall speak for us, and speak God's own heart, how prevalent must those words needs be? David's soul longing to go forth to Absalom (2 Samuel 13, last verse), whom notwithstanding (for the honor of a father, and a king's state policy, and to satisfy the world) he…

But wherever this is done, by and by the flesh is tickled with vainglory and grows proud. For there is none (no not among the godly) which would not rather be praised than dispraised, except perhaps some be so well established in this behalf, that he will be moved neither with p…

Thus, it may be my sons have sinned and departed from God in their hearts: and they bring some texts of Scripture wherein the word [Barach] signifies to depart, or to take leave, and go away: as (Genesis 47:10) Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from before Pharaoh, he blessed h…

He gives two directions, holding forth what was more proper, and fit for her case, 1. Let me see your countenance (says he) like one that is ashamed, you hide yourself, as if you dare not appear before me, but come (says he) let me see your countenance. This expression imports f…

A crazy body retorts and shoots back its distempers upon the soul with which it is so closely conjoined; but though now the soul (as Theophrastus speaks) pays a dear rent for the tabernacle in which it dwells, yet when death dissolves that tabernacle, all the diseases and pains…

A stone that falls on a wool-pack rests there, and rebounds not to do any further mischief, such is a meek answer to an angry question. It is observed in that encounter which was between the royal tribe, and the other ten, that the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the…

No principle has such a commanding influence upon the soul, as that which has a regard to God, and wherein we approve ourselves to him. It was a good hint which the woman of Tekoah gave to David, when she was suing for a merciful sentence (2 Samuel 14:11): I pray you, let the ki…

God sent a tempest after Jonah. Absalom set Joab's barley-field on fire, and then he came to him (2 Samuel 14:30; Isaiah 26:16). Lord in trouble have they visited you, they poured out a prayer when your chastening was upon them.

7 They must suffer the loss of God himself, who is the Heaven of Heaven: all good things are but as a drop to the Ocean, in comparison of him (Psalm 73:25) — "whom have I in Heaven but you" — as if all the rest were nothing. If a saint were to go to Heaven this very day, he woul…

This sour sauce spoils all the sweet-meat, this dram of poison makes deadly all the delights and pleasures that [illegible] can be attained or expected. As [illegible] when he was recalled from his banishment, and had the liberty and use of his house, and all the conveniences an…

Evangelical mourning is a spur to prayer; the child who weeps for offending his father goes into his presence, and will not leave until his father is reconciled to him. Absalom could not be quiet until he had seen the king's face (2 Samuel 14:32-33). Fourth, gospel-mourning is f…

Christ's beauty, like his coat, is woven without seam. We read of Absalom, 2 Samuel 14:25. In all Israel there was none to be so praised as Absalom for his beauty, from the sole of his foot, even to the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.

It appeared Jacob loved Joseph better than all his other children, because when he was gone, though he had all his other children about him, yet could not be comforted by them all, and all because he wanted Joseph. So Joab said to David, I see you love Absalom more than the whol…