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A91977 A sermon preached at Balderton March 27. 1646. Being a day of humiliation thorow-out the whole army before Newark. / By Robert Ram minister of Spalding in Lincolnshire, and chaplaine to Colonell Rossiter. Ram, Robert, d. 1657. 1646 (1646) Wing R195; Thomason E334_6; ESTC R200763 11,002 26

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and godlinesse The Apostle speaks of some of whom the World was not worthy Hebr. 11.38 and before 34. That they were valiant in fight and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens So then there is president enough to warrant that godly men may be Souldiers 5 God himselfe disdaines not to be counted a Souldier The Lord is a man of Warre Exod. 15.3 And JEHOVAH TZEBAOTH The Lord of Hosts is one of the most frequent attributes that God is set out by in the Scripture which is as much as to say As the Lord of Armies and implyes that he commands in chiefe and gives orders to all creatures both in Heaven and Earth 6 The Holy Ghost gives Rules and Directions almost in every point of Warre as about preparations Making Warre with good advice Prov. 20.18 for Marches for Quarterings concerning stratagems summoning of Townes ordering of Camps c. Besides there be many metaphors and many comparisons both in the Old and New Testament taken from Souldiers and that Profession as Ephes 6. c. Which doubtlesse the wisdome of God would not have permitted if good Christians might not be Souldiers 7 None are so fit to be Souldiers as good Christians and godly men especially in Gods Battels This will appeare in these foure particulars 1 They of all men will be most couragious and valiant The righteous is bold as a Lyon Prov. 28.1 The word Geber Psal 37.23 translated a good man signifies also a strong man importing that a good man and a strong man is all one as if none could be truly valiant but good men 2 They have most understanding and will be well advised in their businesse they will be sure of a good Cause they will not draw their Sword against God or his People as our Enemies now do The War must be well warranted that they engage themselves in good men will not fight unlesse they have written Orders from their Generall the Lord of Hosts 3 They will behave themselves like Christians and good men they will obey Orders and Commands no danger or hardship shall discourage them they will scorne all cowardize and basenesse godly men will be as religious in the Campe as the Church the customary deboystnesse of that profession cannot prevaile upon them when others are playing they will be praying when others blaspheme they will blesse They dare not do any violence or wrong nor accuse any man falsly they will be contented with their Wages c. 4 God will undoubtedly blesse and prosper both the councels and actions of a good man The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Psalm 37.23 They that honour God God will honour them How did God go along with David in all his Wars And how hath the Lord prospered our New Modell I hope I have said enough to cleare this point That good Christians may be Souldiers That godly men may lawfully take up Arms and fight when a just occasion is offered Object But it is objected by some That Christ Mat. 5.29 commands his Disciples That they should not resist evill c. from which place they infer That it is utterly unlawfull for Christians in any case whatsoever to be Souldiers Answ To this I answer That Christ there speaks onely against private revenging of our selves upon those that do us wrong not forbidding publike Justice to be done upon wrong-doers nor the use of Arms when necessity requires Object But Christ rebuked Peter for drawing his Sword in his Masters defence Therefore christians should not fight no not in the cause of Christ Answ Christ came to suffer and to die and therefore forbids Peter to make any resistance against the Officers Object But some there be that hold Christians ought not to fight for Religion Answ To this I answer First by Scripture secondly by Reason Deut. 13.12 13 14 15. where the expresse command of God is That if any shall withdraw the people to serve other Gods such should be smitten with the Sword and utterly destroyed Againe Iosh 22.11 12. All Israel gathered themselves together as one man to go up to Warre against the Tribes of Ruben Gad c. for setting up an Altar beyond Iordan contrary to Gods command This may be further cleered by these Reasons 1. Religion is the glory of a Nation 1 Sam. 4.22 And she said The glory is departed from Israel for the Ark of God is taken Surely the Wealth Peace Honour Strength and Prosperity of a Nation are bound up in the trunesse of its Religion so that there cannot be a better cause in the World to fight for then Religion Presidium dulce decus nostrum 2 The true Religion would soone be rooted out of the World if it were not defended by the Sword of the Civill Magistrate The Church according to ordinary means could not subsist long if she were not backed with Armes she hath many mighty cruell and crafty Enemies They have said Come let us cut them off from being a Nation they have consulted together with one consent c. Psal 33.4.12 3 We may take president from famous Churches abroad that have taken up Arms in defence of their Religion when Idolatrous Princes have gone about to deprive them of that The stirs in Germany in Luthers time were about Religion The Protestant Churches in France and the Netherlands have recovered and do still maintaine their Religion by the Sword Object But what warrant have we to ingage our selves in this present Warre Answ God calls upon all his servants and friends to help him against the mighty the Lord saith now as Iehu did once Who is on my side who who will take my part against my Enemies and woe be to him that sits Newter now You have a fearfull doome against newtrality Iudg. 5.23 Rev 3.16 And wrath is upon them from the Lord that do help Gods Enemies against him 2 Chron. 19.2 2 Nature cals upon us and bids us defend our selves from theeves and cut-throats We are but upon the defensive part men are risen up against us and would swallow us up and shall we make no resistance May Beasts Birds and Wormes by their provision and instinct of nature defend themselves from injury and shall not Christians 3 The highest powers under God doe call upon us to arme our selves at this time against the Enemies of our Church and State By the highest powers I meane the Parliament which according to the constitution of our Government here in England hath the most Soveraigne power over us The King we grant is the highest person in his Dominions but the Parliament is the highest power and the command is That every sould should be subject to the Higher Powers Rom. 13.1.2.5 even for conscience sake and as they would avoid damnation 4 Religion Law Liberty and whatever is deere to us do now call upon us to take up Arms These are mightily invaded and unlesse we stand forth manfully we shall