Selected quad for the lemma: land_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
land_n	abraham_n	canaan_n	promise_n	3,562	5	7.0124	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52557	Abraham in arms, or, The first religious general with his army engaging in a war for which he had wisely prepared and by which not only an eminent victory was obtained, but a blessing gained also / delivered in an artillery-election-sermon, June 3, 1678, by S. N.	Nowell, Samuel, 1634-1688.	1678 (1678)	Wing N1440; ESTC R32339	18,391	24

otherwise had belonged to them Those souldiers of Jesus Christ that valued not their lives to the death will shew themselves to be of the same spirit that Abram was that will not so much look at gain or reward of men as the advancement of a good Cause But to hint something to you from the words 1. From the occasion of Abrahams taking up arms When Abram heard his brother Lot was taken Captive or his Nephew he was his brothers son it was for the rescue of his Kinsman To take up arms for the defence of friends and Allies is lawfull To take up arms for such as are confederate with us for united Colonies or Provinces from this example of Abraham and his confederate that were engaged in a league offensive and defensive So Anar Eshcol and Mamre were confederate with him Though here be not an expression of such a league yet there was a great friendship and relation between him and Lot and through Abrams wisdome they parted lovingly though they did part and could not live together therefore Abram engageth in a War for the rescue of Lot and his Family 1. Hence our late War was justifiable though the Quarrel was firstly with our neighbours 2. Hence consequently it is lawfull by war to defend what we have lawfully obtained and come by as our possessions lands and inheritance here to which we have as fair a title as any ever had since Israels title to Canaan Theirs was not only a gift of Providence but of Promise Ours we can call only a gift of Providence but yet such as we may lawfully defend As Jephthah said to the Children of Ammon What Chemosh thy God gives thee to possess wilt thou not possess it So what God hath providentially given us without injury to others is that which we may lawfully defend There are commonly reckoned three causes of War 1. For defence of our selves 2. To recover what hath been taken away 3. To punish for injuries done But to pass by the occasions of the War through the goodness of God we have peace Abram armed his trained servants or Souldiers three hundred and eighteen the number was small to encounter with four Kings such as they were Chedarlaomer being supposed to be Nimrods's successor and Tidal King of Nations could not be a mean Prince or have a small number of Souldiers so that three hundred and eighteen men must in reason be but a very small handfull or number to encounter with such an Army an Army heightned with success flushed with victory over the five Kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and those neibouring cities They had a great Army for number in probability though it be not e●pressed they had an army that was heightned with success their spirit courage was which makes men abundantly more considerable Take men flushed with success they will undertake any thing though very hazardous Here was but a little handfull to goe out against such an army But what is it that a few men will not dare to doe if the Cause the Courage the Conduct be but like that of Abram But to note some things from the words Abram armed his trained Servants Abram was eminent in his place 1. For preparation before War his servants were trained men 2. For his carriage in the business and management of it when he undertook it I shall speak chiefly to the first of these Doctr. That the Training of Souldiers to be fit for War is a commendable practice yea a Duty of great Consequence or not of the lowest rank or thus Frequent Trainings for the instructing of men in military Discipline that they may be ready and expert for War is a commendable practice yea a Duty which God expecteth of all Gods Abrahams in their respective places that is by Gods Abrahams in their respectve places I mean such as are meerly civil Rulers to encourage such exercises by their authority and presence when convenient Such as are military officers it is their duty actually to instruct men such may be supposed to represent Abraham and God doth expect it from them that they should take care of this part which Abraham acted so happily to so good end And which is the consequent of this second Doctrine It is the duty of those that would be accounted of Abrahams Family to learn of them whom God requires to teach them the use of their weapons and order of War If it be Abrahams duty to teach it is the duty of Abrahams servants those that represent them to learn of those God sets over them the use of their weapons and the order of War that they may be expert for Warr. It is a commendation of a people or of souldiers to be expert for war that which the Scripture frequently mentioneth I shall look but to two places 1. Cron 12.33 35 36. in many verses of that Chapter of Zebulun such as went forth to battle expert for war with all instruments of war fifty thousand that could keep rank Here was Training up men to be expert and fit for War And so in the following verse of the Danites expert for War twenty eight thousand of Asher such as went forth to battle expert in War fourty thousand In that Song of Solomon Cant. 3.7 8. Behold his bed which is Solomons threescore valiant men are about it of the valiant of Israel they all hold swords being expert in War Every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night It is an high Commendation of any people when care is taken by Rulers and people are willing to learn and hearken to Rulers that they may be instructed to be expert in war It is a part of the general Calling whereto God calls every man that is capable not impotent men nor children but according to that time the Scripture reckoneth from twenty years and upward all that were ready to go forth to war It is not a thing by the by but that which men should make their business It is a duty and praise-worthy piece of skill to be expert for war To be good souldiers is a matter of praise or honour which made the Apostle use it in a spiritual sence therefore my Son endure hardness as a good souldier of Jesus-Christ 2. Tim. 2.3 It is a strange piece of dotage befallen this crazy headed Age that men should not use the sword the best of men have done it and it hath been reckoned among their most praiseworthy actions that they have used the sword Of some it is said that their hands did cleave to their swords they were so much in the use of it so happily for the advantage of the Church The Apostle to the Hebrews Cap. 11.33.34 when he makes mention of the Worthyes he mentioneth these two together Who through Faith subdued Kingdoms wrought righteousness they two may well go together that is reckoned one of the great works of their Faith there is not any thing wherein the glory of the

Faith of many Believers did more shine forth then in the use of it in War There is no higher occasion ordinary or outward wherein we have a higher opportunity or use for Faith so other Graces A Souldier may be and should be an holy man and the more fit he is for a Souldier But that it is a duty of great Consequence I shall speak to the Doctrine in these two parts 1. It is a commendable practice 2. It is the duty of Gods Abrahams to have a care of this work to instruct souldiers that they may be fit for War 1. It is a commendable practice that may appear in four or five things 1. In that the Lord himself doth claim the honour of it if it were not an honourable work God would not challenge the honour of it He teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight Military skill is such a piece of divine wisdome that the Lord will not loose the honour of it If every good and perfect gift be from him he doth challenge every good and perfect gift as from him but peculiarly claims the honour of this gift of giving Military skill God is the Author of it The Lord is a Man of War the Lord is his Name That the Lord doth claim the honour of it I might shew you by induction of Particulars or by instances Every thing every part that belongeth to a Souldier God challengeth or claims as being from him every thing that is honourable or praise-worthy 1. The giving Spirit and Courage to men of raising up the Spirits of men that he claims as being from him Jer. 5● 11. Make bright the arrows gather the shields the Lord hath raised up the spirits of the Kings of the Medes He raiseth up mens spirits when they are raised up for war God hath a hand in it 2. God challengeth this he teacheth to make weapons of War and the use of them God doth not only give spirits to such a work but teacheth the framing and making of weapons and hath a hand in the whetting and furbishing of them He directeth the Smith to form or frame weapons for war Isar 54.16 17. to shew that he hath the ordering of the use of weapons Behold I have created the Smith that bloweth the coal in the fire and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work And I have created the Waster to destroy and no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper God useth it as an Argument to encourage his people to trust in him there is no weapon of War but I do direct to the making of it He whets the sword and furbusheth it to the battel if I whet my glittering sword and my hand take hold on vengeance Deut. 32.41 He looks to the forming of the weapons He teacheth men the ordering of the battel God doth give that wisdome also to the Sons of men he teacheth them by the order of his own Host the Stars But more especially he provideth a Captain for his own Host Josh 5.14 It came to pass when Ioshua was by Jerecho he lift up his eyes and looked and behold there stood a man over against him with a sword drawn in his hand and Ioshua went to him and said unto him Art thou for us or for our adversaries And he said nay but as Captain of the Host of the Lord am I now come It was an Angel appeared When any Host of his is called forth the Lord doth take care as he did for Israel when he intended to possess them of Canaan he sent his Angel to goe along with them he was invisibly constantly with them for he came to be as Captain of the Lords Hosts And therefore that good King encourageth the people the Lord is with us to fight our Battels He hath a hand in ordering the battel 2 Chron. 32.8 He appeareth eminently in the day of Battel raising the spirits on the one side and taking it away from the other The Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the strong God over-rules it gives it where he pleases It is the Lord of Hosts that mustereth the Host of the Battle Isa 13.4 5. The noise of a multitude in the mountains like as the noise of a great people a tumultuous noise of the Kingdoms of nations gathered together the Lord of Host mustereth the Host of the Battle they come from a far country from the end of heaven even the Lord and the weapons of his in dignation And therefore we have this as a frequent expression The Battle is the Lords hath been used for encouragement by those that have been Commanders of the People of God when in any eminent danger Be not afraid for the Battle is the Lords 1. Sam. 17.47 That the Battle is the Lords appears by Gods turning the Battle by such a small accident as he doth frequently one stone directed right casteth the day as it was with the Philistines fighting against Israel One arrow drawn at a venture smote the King of Israel between the joints of the harness and that one stroke turns the day God covers the head in the day of Battle God particularly saith in every thing He hath a hand in it in forming weapons giving Skill raising the Spirit God hath a hand in it and eminently in this in Covering the Head in the day of Battle How neer doe the Bullets or instruments of death come but God covers the head in the day of Battle Therefore it is a commendable thing to teach and instruct men to be expert for War because God hath so great a hand in it and doth claim the honour of it 2. The wisest of Rulers and holiest of men have been still carefull about this duty and work in the acting of this part making preparation for War in Peace and in order to it instructing men in the use of weapons the holyest and best and wisest of men have alwayes had a care about it David made a Law he commanded them to teach Israel the use of the bow 2. Sam. 1.18 By that weapon the Worthyes of Israel fell Saul and Jonathan David made a Law of it to teach the use of that particular weapon that had been so destructive to the Church of God Abraham Trains his Servants Jacob that was so eminent for holiness was skilfull in the use of his sword bow he won a parcel of land by it that he gave to Joseph by Will at his death Gen. 48. ult and that he taught his children the use of it is apparent by the ill use of it made by Simeon and Levi. He had both used it himself was expert in the use of it had won a considerable portion of a country by it and had taught it his children It was apparent they were so ready at it Solomon that wise man though he enjoyed such peace in his dayes that it is said there was no adversary nor evil occurrent yet none made greater preparation for