Psalm 18.29 We never go forth in our own strength but we are worsted seldome in his but we prevail It was by his help that David leapt over the wall i.e. conquered all difficulties when his Enemies thrust sore at him that he might fall God was his strength Psalm 118.30 and that supported him There 's no man more obliged to prayer then the Soldier because none conflicts with greater difficulties and dangers therefore above all men they ought to continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving That 's the first part of a Soldiers Duty Watch. Coll. 4.2 2. We come to the second Stand fast in the Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The word imports a firm and stable standing it behoves the Soldier to keep his ground to stand stoutly to it and rather then fly to dye upon the Turf A duty then which nothing is more frequently commanded to a Christian Soldier Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free Stand fast in one spirit Gal 5.1 1. Phil 21.1 Thes 3.8 Stand fast in the Lord. And here Stand fast in the Faith 1. In fide Deodata In that Faith which ye have given and plighted to God There was among the Romans a Military Oath given to all their Soldiers obliging them to be faithfull to their Generals and their Cause We have all of us taken Sacramentum Militiae Our Baptismal vow ingages us to be faithful Soldiers to God and to renounce the World the Flesh and the Devil Contestamur nos Diabolo renuntiare pompae Angelis suis says Tertull. We have made our publick protestation and solemnly abjured the delights of the Flesh the Pomps and Vanities of the World with the Devil and all his works and all this we are ingaged to not only by promise but by a solemne Vow made to God before Angels and Men we were not only unjust but forsworn if we should not keep it Remember that the Oath of God is upon you Who is more odious then a Renegado who is sentenced as a Skellum and hang'd in effigie What greater persidiousness then for a Soldier transire in castra inimicorum to run from his Colours into the Enemies Camp and to become a Soldier and Vassal to them 1 Sam 22.7 whom he hath solemnly abjured What Saul said once to his People Can the Son of Jesse give you Vineyards and make you Captains of thousands I may say on better grounds Can the Devil give such rewards as God can that you forsake God to serve him What will you answer when the Devil shall plead with Christ for your souls at the last day as Saint Cyprian brings him in pleading his title to those who profest themselves Christians and lived not answerable to their profession the Question was Whose they were Gods or the Devils and to whom they did belong The Devil he urges Lord they say that thou art a righteous Judge and I appeal to thine owne Judgment whose these Souls are thine or mine for my part Non crucem pectuli non cruorem fudi non coelum promisi c. I never suffered upon the Cross for these men never shed one drop of blood for them never promised them Heaven nor did they ever promise or ingage to be my Servants All those things thou hast done for them and this they have done to thee Yet no sooner could I hold up my finger but they would break all thy Laws forget all their Vows and Obligations and serve me before thee Be thou thy self a just Judge and give sentence whose they are Thine or Mine Consider I beseech you what defence you can make against such a Plea 2. Stand fast In fide a Deo accepta In the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints This is that which is chiefly meant in all the former Scriptures and which Saint Jude bids us earnestly to contend for Verse 3. Be ye stedfast and unmoveable saith Saint Paul as to points of Faith and as to matters of practice 1 Cor. 15. Ult. alwayes abounding in the work of the Lord this is that he presses on the Ephesians Ch. 4.14 that they be not as Children tost up and down by every wind of Doctrine by the slight of men and canning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ I have read of one Philetas Symsons Cron â—ad An. Mundi 3721. an excellent Poet and Critick who flourisht in the dayes of Alexander the Great and was School-Master to Ptolomeus Philadelphus that great Lover and Advancer of Learning that he was so thin and spare of body that he was fain to sole his Shoes with thick Plates of Lead least every puff of wind should overturn him How many are there that want such a poise and ballance in matters of Religion Perfect Moons-Men who hardly appear two days in the same shape of the same mind Now they are of this perswasion then of that at last of none they begin in Scepticism and which is the genuine product end in Atheism But for you being rooted and grounded in the Truth and the Love of it hold fast the profession of your Faith firm unto the end But We must take notice that 't is not to be obstinate in an Heresie to be stiff in a Schism that 's here injoyned us A man may be stedfast in his owne opinion peremptory for his Party and yet fall short of this Duty nay if he happen to be in the wrong the more tenacious he is the greater is his sin Constancy is an excellent thing if well placed Perseverance an excellent Grace but must still be ingaged in that which is good 'T is no commendation to an old-Thief that he will not be reclaimed from his former courses and company Nor do I value the sufferings of a Romish Priest though he hath the hardiness to dye at Tyburne he is not punisht for obeying God but for disobeying the just Lawes of his lawfull Prince 1 Pet. 4.15 A man may suffer as a Busie-body or as an Euil-doer and he hath the amends in his own hands he hath his reward 'T is in vain to talk of sufferings unless the Cause will bear it 't is not the suffering but the Cause that makes the Martyr 3. Stand fast 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that Order Place and Station wherein you are set by your Great General which I add because I find it joyned with stedfastness of Faith Col. 2.5 And the Apostle was much pleased to observe their Order as well as their Stedfastness in the Faith Elsewhere we find him troubled to see some that did walk disorderly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 3.6 'T is a Military word they kept not Rank and File nor regarded the Word of Command as Soldiers are obliged to do a Nihil magis in acis custodiendum est quam ut omnes milites
A SERMON Preached before THE ARTILLERY COMPANY AT St. Andrews Vndershaft August the 30th 1670. And at their earnest Request PUBLISHED By WILLIAM DVRHAM B.D. Rector of St. Mildreds Breadstreet London Rei Militaris virtus coeteris praestat virtutibus Multo plus adfert dignitatis Res Militaris quam Juris Civilis Gloria Cicero Honestas idoneum militem reddit Verecundia dum prohibet fugere facit esse victorem Vegetius de re Milit. LONDON Printed by T. R. for Samuel Gellibrand at the Sign of the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1671. TO MY Very worthy and much Honoured Friends The Honourable Sir John Robinson Knight and Baronet Lievtenant of his Majesties Tower of London Alderman and President of the Artillery Company Sir Joseph Sheldon Knight and Alderman Vice-President Sir Thomas Player Knight Leader Collonel John Mews Treasurer Sir John Robinson Knights and Aldermen Collonel John Mews Stewards Sir George Waterman Knights and Aldermen Capt. George Peryer Stewards Sir Thomas Davies Knights and Aldermen Major Tho. Gunston Stewards Sir John Smith Knights and Aldermen Capt. William Cooper Stewards And to the whole Court of Assistants Field-Officers Captains and Gentlemen Professing and Exercising Armes in that Famous and Honourable Society SIRS ' T Was with much Reluctancy that I prevailed with my self to Preach this Sermon but with much more to Print it Not but that I had a great willingness to serve you in both but because I judged my self unmeet for either I was never when Younger fond of such Publique Imployments Nor valued my self so high as to think this busy World at leasure to concern themselves with any thing that I could publish Much less can I cherish such vain thoughts now when broken to say nothing of hard usage with Age and Infirmities Might I have been left to mine own Beloved Privacies you had never had the trouble either to have Heard or Read this But as I affect not Popularity so I perfectly hate Incivility and Ingratitude Your great kindness hath obliged me to gratify you in what I may and your Importunity hath prevailed to have it Preach't and Publisht Importunity prevails with God and what am I that I should stand out against so many Gallant men and good Friends who have prest me till I was asham'd May it find but the like Acceptance with you in the Reading as it did in Preaching it will be incouragement enough to skreen it against all the Censures it may meet withall But I am very little sollicitous for its defence so long as Les Gens d'Armes the whole Artillery of this Royal City have invited and undertaken its Patronage Indeed not to defend so much it as their own Judgements who have pleased by their approving and desiring it to make it their own If it prove acceptable to you and in any measure Serviceable to the Publique it will be abundant contentment and satisfaction to Gentlemen Your much obliged Friend and humble Servant William Durham October the 12th 1670. A SERMON Preached before the Artillery Company at St. Andrews Vndershaft August the 30 th 1670. I COR. XVI 13. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong THough Religion in it self be the sweetest thing in the World all whose paths are pleasantness and all her wayes are peace yet the Exercise of it in a Christian life is usually set forth by such things as are accompanied with pains and danger A Christians life is compared to that of a Husbandman who must endure all weather the Summers heat and the Winters cold he must be at pains to Plow and Sow if he intend to Reap To a Travellers who must expect all wayes sometimes he meets with high and craggy Rocks and sometimes with swelling Brooks and dirty Sloughs To a Merchants who ventures himself on the merciless Waves now tost as high as Heaven now tumbled as low as Hell as David speaks alwayes within an inch or two of death To a Soldiers life which is ever attended with fears and dangers he walk◠perpetually at the points of Swords and mouth of Cannons and alwayes bears his life in his hand A Christian life then is a spiritual Warfare which is of all Wars the most dangerous the Enemy being numerous potent subtle within us and that which lyes at stake the Soul being infinitely more worth then all Alexanders Conquests and in this lyes our present Work The terms of the Text are Military all and so sutable enough to the occasion however they prove in the handling You must not expect that I should deal with you at your own Weapons having as David said of Sauls Armour never proved them Not that I should read a Military Lecture being utterly unacquainted with the Learning of the Tacticks and never having that I know of so much as seen that Book of Jasher which teaches the use of the Bow If I can onely make the Offices and Duties of a Soldier conduce to the illustration of our Christian Warfare 't is as much as I aim at or can be reasonably expected from my Profession And if herein I fall short as 't is more then probable you have nothing to blame but your own misguided choice Miles Emeritus a superannuated Soldier was by the Law of Arms exempted from publick service But being overruled in this Plea I have no way left but being short to gratifie you or my self You in relieving you from the inconvenience of your own Error and my self who being by your kindness adjudged to run the Gauntlope am obliged to make what haste I can in mine own defence There 's a Climax or Gradation in the words each word importing more then that which went before it 1. Watch ye be vigilant which is the least that can be expected of a Soldier if he faile here he certainly miscarries 2. Stand fast Stand to your Arms keep your Ground maintain that Post that 's given you to defend which is likeliest done by being Watchful 3. Quit your selves like men Not onely stand fast but fight and worst your Enemies Keep your own Ground and win theirs 4. Be strong Go on to compleat your Conquest and having once subdued your Enemies keep them under I begin with the first of these 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Watch ye A Metaphor taken from Sentinels in an Army whose office is to be upon their Watch-Tower to observe the motions of the Enemy that there be no sudden assault or irruption into the Camp or City and to give the Alarum of any approaching danger Indeed Watchfulness becomes every Soldier upon Duty he must have his eyes in his head not sleep at his work When an Enemy is neer the Camp or Beleagures the Garrison it becomes every Soldier not only to be awake but to be circumspect and attend the Motions of the Enemy Vigilance is requisite in a Soldier nothing more What a great oversight and what a desperate hazard it is to be found sleeping we may see in
the case of Saul and his Army when David came and took away his Spear and his Pitcher 1 Sam. 26. while he and his men were all fast asleep Where we may observe by the way Though God is sayd to have delivered Saul into Davids hand and this sleep to have fallen on the people from the Lord Vers 8.12 though David might have stuck him to the Earth with his own Spear and spilt his blood as easily as have powred out the water on the Ground yet he neither would nor durst but judges them worthy to dye for their negligence in keeping no better the Lords Anointed Had he as Abishai councel'd him Vers 8. and other have done since followed the Conduct of Providence he might have quickly eased himself of his Adversary but he had a more certain Rule to walk by the unerring word for who saith he can lift up his hand against the Lords Anointed and be guiltless but that by the way The Church is an Army too Cant. 6.4 an army with Banners The Lord of Hoasts is both her Van and Rere Esa 52.12 2 Cor. 10.4 her Soldiers are Angels Martyrs Apostles all Christians her Weapons are not Carnal but mighty her Order and disposition Safe and Decent Ezech. 3.17 She hath her Watchmen too Son of man I have made thee a Watchman over the House of Israel These are the Pastors and Ministers that Watch over their Souls their Office is to foresee dangers and to give warning if he do so and they will not heed it they shall perish in their sin but he hath delivered his own Soul But if he give no warning the peoples blood will God require at his hands When the Church is resembled to an Army then the Ministers are called Watchmen when to a Flock they are stil'd Shepheards He doth but ill discharge the Office of a Watchman who is never on the Guard but on Pay-dayes nor he the Office of a Shepheard who never sees his Flock but at Shearing time An Army hath no greater Enemies then such Watchmen nor can a Flock meet with verier Wolves then such Shepheards 'T is these mens Duties in a Special manner to Watch but not theirs only therefore what I say unto them I say unto all Watch. Luke 13.37 This is the first thing required of us in our Spiritual Warfare and that not without the highest reason For 1. Inimicus obsidet We are incompast with Enemies which Watch all advantages against us to do us mischief If you ask who are they The same that we abjur'd when we were first listed into Gods Artillery Ground the Flesh the World and the Devil The Flesh an inbred and secret Enemy and is thereby capable of doing us more mischief The World batters us with Cannons on all sides temptations of all sorts temptations in our meat drink apparel company every thing And the Devil who manages both these to his own advantage would you know what an Enemy he is Hear S. Paul the Major General of the Heathen-Christian Army Eph. 6.12 We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood terms of weakness and diminution but against Principalities and Powers against Spiritual wickedness in high Places For their Number they are many the words are all in the Plurall their Name is Legion for their Condition they are Great Principalities and Powers for their Nature they are Spirits who have got the advantage of the ground too they are in high places where as the Historian once said Salust Non solum cum boste sed cum loco dimicandum est The Devil is an Active Enemy he hath his Methods wiles and stratagems of War he is restless and indefatigable when he is beaten off from one Gate he assaults us at another he flyes from one extream to another when he fails in drawing us to one sin he offers the contrary There was much reason then in that Exhortation of St. 1 Pet. 5.8 Peter Be Vigilant and sober because your adversary the Devil goeth about night and day like a roaring Lyon seeking whom be may devour 2. 2 Sopo obrepit We are apt to be dull and drowsie in our best services What between this indisposition and the charms of the Devil we are apt to sleep at our best duties In that last and great conflict which the Captain of our Salvation had with the Prince of darkness those great Commanders Peter James and John who had the honour and happiness to tryal a Pike under his imediate conduct were drowsie and fell asleep though the spirit was willing the searcher of hearts being Judge yet the flesh was weak and therefore there was great reason for that following admonition Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation 3. To which let me add 3 Imperator inspicit That the General himself duly walks the Round and observes in what posture his Soldiers are * Militibus Imper ator potius quam hestis â—etuendus est Val. Max. He is alwayes in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks his Churches He knows your works your tribulation patience watchfulness what they are and will suddenly come to give every Soldier his pay according to his works The hour of his coming is uncertain and therefore it behoves us to be still upon our Watch. He comes like a Thief in the night and if the good man of the house had known at what hour the thief would have come he would have watched Such shall the coming of the Son of Man be If he find you on your Guard happy are ye if not you must expect what sleepy Soldiers use to suffer Therefore Watch because ye know not at what hour the Son of Man cometh whether at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or at the dawning of the Day Mat. 24.42 Give me leave only to touch upon the dutyes which are usually joyned with Watching and I shall dismiss this point 1. Watch and be sober the best means to preserve our selves is to be vigilant the best way to be watchfull is to exercise sobriety sobriety is a most necessary duty for a Soldier A drunken Soldier cannot watch and a sleepy Watchman betrays himself and his trust What if the Trumper give an Alarum to Battel and thou hast not an care to hear it What if thy Generall should come and thou hast not an eye to see nor tongue to answer him What if the Enemy should approach and thou hast neither a fooâ— to stand nor a hand to fight Take heed therefore least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and so that day come upon you unawares Luck 21.36 Watch ye therefore that ye may be able to stand before the Son of man 2. Watch and Pray are usually joyned together we cannot subsist without prayer we cannot pray without watchfulness We stand not by our own strength but must fetch supplies from him who sets us on work
Mori syllaba una brevis aut longior tua facta variabit vel occides vel occides ad utrumlibet horis locisque omnibus te paratum exhâ—be Fr. Petrarch in smiting He must quit himself like a Man in Fighting too he must be as reato give as to receive blows Their Commission runs To Kill Destroy and do to Death Like Samson that Smote his Enemies hip and thigh or like Davids Worthies whose exploits Judg. 15 8. 2 Sam 23. were they not recorded in Scripture would stagger our belief In these lyes the Gallantry of a Soldier in Bearing hardship enduring blows and hewing down his Enemies And in all these the Christian Souldier must shew his valour too 1. â— Tim. 2.3 In sufferance of Hardship Thou therefore endure hardness as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ They must and will submit to any termes be fed and cloathed as their General pleases No place so far no ways so foul no weather so sharp but they will March if their Commander give the word No severities of Religion how great soever whether they be fastings mortifications pulling out of Right Eyes cutting off of right hands giving up their bodies to torments and to death it self can terrify or affright them They can live upon any thing upon nothing but a bare promise and never mutinie for want of present pay 2. He must shew his valour too in bearing the Impression of Enemies on every side they are not daunted with the approach of Enemies but like David toward Goliah run half way to meet them If temptations come persecution come death come welcome what God sends they stand their ground receive and bear all with invincible courage As Tertul. says of his Souldier Russatus suo sanguine totus de Apostolo armatus Donativum Christi in Caelis expectat Being dyed red in his own blood Arm'd at all points with the Apostles Armour he stands ready to encounter all difficulties expecting his reward from Christ in Heaven Lastly He must shew his valour in fighting too Ephes 6.11 A Christian must take to himself the whole Armour of God He hath his offensive as well as his defensive Weapons his Sword as well as his Target the sword of the Spirit as well as the buckler of Faith and the Helmet of Salvation whereby he may be able to stand and to withstand in the evil day 1 Pet. 5.9 'T is not enough to defend our selves but we must also repulse our Enemies Jam. 4.7 not only be vigilant against the wiles of Sathan but resist him too And for our comfort St. James tells us that he is but a Coward if we bear up to him Resist the devil and he will fly We must fight if we expect the Crown In all those Epistles to the seven Churches where Heaven is promised under several Metaphors still Vincenti Dabitur Rev. 2.3 the hidden Manna the white stone c. is given to him that overcometh 4. But I hasten to the last thing in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shew your selves strong by keeping your Enemies under 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is fortiter impero to command and rule like a man of wisdome and courage Having subdued his Enemies the Souldiers next and greatest care must be to Rule them and keep them in obedience 'T is as much skill to know how to use and enjoy a Victory as to obtain it Neither is it less vertue to defend what we have gotten then to get it Hence it hath been the care of all Prudent Commanders so to settle their new acquisitions as to take away all possibilities and hopes of future insurrections and rebellions When the Philistims had conquered Israel 1 Sam. 13.19 they left them neither Sword nor Spear nor so much as a Smith amongst them to sharpen their Axes or their Ox goads So Cyrus in Justin having conquered the Rebellious Lydians arma equos ademit took away both their Horses and Arms and effeminated their Spirits by imploying them in mean and sordid work that they might neither have courage nor advantage to give him further trouble And this also must be the great care of the Christian Souldier Rom. 8.15 Being delivered from the bondage of Corruption into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God he should stand fast and not be intangled again with the yoak of Bondage 2. Pet. 2.19 For if after he hath escaped the pollutions of the World he be again entangled therewith his latter end is worse then the beginning Hast thou been a Swearer Drunkard unclean person hath God opened thine Eyes to see thy faults Given thee a heart to repent of them grace to break their yoak from off thy neck now make use of thy best wisdome and valour to keep them under Be not again intangled with them nor overcome by them 2. â—et 2.21 For it had been better not to have known the way of Righteousness then after thou hast known it to turn aside from the holy Commandment Of all Postures none so ill becomes the true Convert as Faces about and as you were which is but according to the Proverb to return with the Dog to his vomit and with the Sow to her wallowing in the mire Keep a watchful eye over your Corruptions and let not your lusts get head again Withdraw all incentives and fewell keep ammunition and provision from these Enemies and starve them out For these are your greatest Enemies The Devil indeed is a cunning and sore Enemy but he could not so eassly hurt us were there not a false party in our bosomes which were ready to invite him and to open the Gates to let him in Consider I beseech you how unreasonable a thing it is that Man a Noble Creature made after the likeness of God should so far degenerate is to have his ear boared and become a willing slave to the Prince of darkness How unseemly a thing it is to see Hercules spinning at Omphale's distaffe Samsons head lolling in Dalilah's lap and him who could snap asunder the strongest coards like twine threads held captive with one of her Locks how unmanly a sight it is to see him who can command men to be conquered by women and those who have subdued Armies to be mastred by their own brutish Lusts And now me thinks it should be time to sound a Retreat Give me leave only to make one running March over the ground read over my Text again and then we shall Lodge the Colours Gentlemen Souldiers You who are under God and the King the Walls and Bulwarks of the City and that Famous Nursery whence have sprung so many Noble Souls and may every year add to their number that may serve God their King and Country in the present and Succeeding Generation 1. Watch ye as I doubt not but you will against whatsoever Enemies to the Publique Peace Ne aliquid detrimenti capiat respublica that