mountaine of rocks bread shal be giuen him and his water shall be sure They that feare God and walke in the pathes of the most High they onely shall be safe in the time of triall There is no other foundation of our hope to be secure at home nor promise that our forces shall prosper abroad but onely our sure trust in the God of hoastes whom we must also serue in feare all our daies to whom we must pray for our selues and them in faith that they may prosper in the warres for we shall bee partakers of their successe bee it good or euill And were they neuer so strong in power neuer so godly in their proceedinges neuer so faithfull religious in the warres our sinnes may yet hinder them our iniquities turne away Gods fauour from them and we may make a iust cause to succeede ill by our vngodly liues The Lord is iealous of his glorie he will haue all to serue him abroad and at home and though the naturall imperfections which wil perforce remain in flesh bloud can not be so remoued or mortified but that they wilsome time breake forth to the blemish of the best men we must not make it an argument that though we sinne we are yet safe But rather endeuour so much the more to weaken sinne in euery of vs and to quicken our soules by continuall meditation of God and good things Making our members rather instrumentes of the glorie of God then permitting them to be defiled with licentious vanities And howsoeuer vnapt we find our naturall inclinations to this diuine striuing against sinne we must struggle manfully to subdue the euill and to support good thinges in vs to hate the one with a perfect hatred and to imbrace the other with a sincere loue So shall we find a most glorious change in our minds and a comfort to our soules for who so coueteth to doe righteously shal haue spirituall helpe to accomplish their desires And though the possibilitie be not in flesh and bloud to liue godly to knowe rightly and to pray faithfully the promised comforter shall effect these diuine thingeâ— in vs and by vs if our affections raung not after vaine thinges The Lord is most true in all his wordes and performeâ—h iustly all his promises And it is hee that willeth vs to aske and he will giue to seeke and we shall find to knocke and it shall be opened vnto vs. The faithfull therefore obserue this rightly obtaine it truely but the faithlesse aske and receiue not seeke and find not and knocke and enter not because they aske and seeke and knocke amisse It is the peculier woâ—ke of the faithfull and proper onely to true Chrisâ—ians to doe these thinges with profite Prophane men in deede may vse the wordes of prayer but it is a vsurpation of the worke a fruitlesse labor of the lippes for without a feeling consent and feruent â—esire of the heart prayer is no prayer For as men may prophecie in the name of God and yet be strangers to God â—o they may pray to God and not be heard for God approoueth them not to be the children of faithfull Abraham that can onely say Abraham is their father but such as bring forth the fâ—uits of Abrahams faith He holdeth not them to be true Christians that can say Lord Lord or Christ Christ but they that doe the will of God and take hold of the merites of Christ by a working faith It is not the talking of diuine thinges nor boasting that wee haue the Gospell that can defende vs nor the sincere preaching of the word and attentiue hearing of it that can preserue vs but the true practise of it in the faith of Christ Iesus onely that auaileth vs. Happie is the nation that hath these diuine blessings but much more happie that bringeth forth the fruites of them The people of Samaria and other prouinces of the ten tribes did heare Elias Elâ—zâ—us Oseas Amias preaching most diuinely the will of the Lord and other most excellent men were diligent also among them to shewe them the iudgementes of God But they were so farre from beleeuing that in steede of repentance of their old they committed new sinnes and in steede of faithfull obedience they became insolent and carelesse of the practise of pietie flattering themselues to be able to vndergoe whatsoeuer might happen vnto them saying in their heartes Peace peace but there followed warre afterward first by the Syrians after by the Asserians so that by little and little warre and captiuitie brought them to naught Stately Ierusalem was often forwarned by diuine Iâ—remy the Prophet and Ioachim and Zedechias her kings were by him put in minde of the peoples securitie disobedience and sinne but they seemed not to feare though hee tolde them plainely the Chaldees should ouerâ—hrow the Citie The Apostles and Christ Iesus himselfe preached most instantly in Ierusalem to draw the people to repentance but as it preuayled not so it preserued them not from the Romans The sacred word affordeth many notable examples for our learning that we by other mens harmes might become more reformed and watchful more humble and zealous more faithfull and religious and that we should appease the wrath of God with our vnfeyned repentance before it fall vpon vs in the strength of his furie Though perchaunce some amongst vs may thinke and so the fruites of their liues testifie that Gods displeasure is not so incensed against vs but that the ordinary course of their liues and their superficiall seruing of God may retaine the fauour of God wel enough and stay his anger This is a daÌ„gerous fancie a deceiuing dreame For a father threatneth not his sonne whâ—n he doth wel and God neuer infecteth the aire with pestilence nor maketh a land fruiteles by barrennesse nor threatneth a nation by the rumors of warre but there is great cause that moueth him sinne prouoketh him to pronounce punishment or iudgement And therefore we cannot say â—ush we are safe when we yet sinne without sorrow and submit not our selues more seriously to serue the Lord. It is a common thing to say among our selues one crosse followeth another so one plague or punishment of God followeth another not long since wee had the pestilence now famine and warre is reported to be like to follow And are all these for naught Surely vnles we repent we shall likewise perish But where and whence should repentance begin That of Niniue began at the King who commaunded his Nobles Citizens Artificers men and women children and babes yea the beastes of the fielde were constrayned to shew some token of the repentance of this Citie It is a blessed thing to see superiours to begin a godly action whether it be by reformation of general euils or restauration of any vertuous and godly thing for their examples to the inferiour are as strong cordes to draw
then of the fauour of God almightie who only is readie to comfort relieue and defend the godly and louers of vertue and religion The wicked and careles he regardeth not in loue but casteth them off and suffereth them to fall into their enemies hands The Scriptures abound with examples of the same and threatneth to such as feare not God miseries and calamities but to the godly it promiseth all prosperitie and victorie Whereby they haue alwaies cause to praise God and to sing hymnes of triumph to his glorie as Claudianus did in the behalfe of the happie victorie wherein Theodosius ouercame Arbogastes and Eugenius at the Alpes Omnium dilecte Deo tibi militat aether Et coniurari veniunt ad classica venti All thinges helpe them and fight for them that feare God whereof our late experiences may more and more encourage vs to become more and more obedient vnto him that maketh his creatures so obedient vnto vs. That all men should be readie to defend their Prince and Countrie And how inferiour officers in armes the common and priuate souldiers should behaue themselues as touching their obedience to God their Prince and Commanders The Argument of this second treatise HOwsoeuer it may seeme to some a needlesse labour and vnprofitable to sende foorth so simple a discourse into the field among men of warre accustomed rather to the pike then to the penne to the bullet then to the Bible and to a carelesse course of life then to leuell their actions according to that honestie and equitie which is required in the warres yet sith Iayme my desires for their good their comfort consolation I presume to set downe in a familiar manner some necessarie considerations of their dueties aswel in regard of God whome they ought chiefely to obey as of their Prince and superior Commaunders whom he commaundeth them to obey And to remember them of the daungers which commonly follow such as neglecting vertue and exercises of thinges commanded doe follow and imbrace vice and practise things forbidden Euery man I know will fauour and follow my counsel not as it is but as they themselues are if good they will receiue it without disdaine if euill they will scorne it and my good will Sundry reasons haue moued me to vndertake this worke and aboue the rest God knoweth the loue I beare to my couÌ„trie threatned by the rumors of warres and the good will I beare to my country men that must vndertake the defence by warre Wherein as I haue a little waded in the former treatise to shew my duetie to the highest in military offices so I endeuour to speake something to men of meaner qualities And for that not onely report but experience it selfe doth assure me that there is defect in the maÌ„ners proceedings of some meÌ„ trained vp in that most honorable exercise of warre in regard of diuine duetie and consequently that by tradition the corruption floweth to the peruerting of such as either voluntarily or by authoritie are daily drawne thereunto and the matter yet beeing so slenderly considered that no learned hath beene seene to vndertake any thing whereby to giue them the light by any peculiar treatise for their reformation and comfort as is fitte in that regard for the persons and for the time I the most vnworthy of all other aduenture my poore endeuours to be censured of the learned rather then to omit a mattâ—r of that importance at this time wherein the busines is for the glory of God himselfe in maintaining his trueth and the generall preseruation of all our estates against an aduersary mortally disposed as by many probabilities appeareth to lay all our honor in the dust SYth therefore there is no warrant promised or assurance to vs to preuaile or to maintaine our owne defence without the assistance of God the high Commaunder of all hoastes we must prepare our selues to meete this enemie and to shew what we are not that it is enough to say we are souldiers but that we can say our consciences and our professions doe testifie that we are christian Souldiers souldiers fearing God then we may goe forth with true boldnes because Dauids faith hath Dauids true courage and that shall stande our glory after our mortalitie Euery man called vnto these affaires may no doubt find for their military directions sufficient and able persons aboue them to conduct and leade them who also will haue care and regard of ciuill gouernement and military discipline But it more concerneth euery man to haue a priuate regard vnto himselfe that as his outward actions are trained by discipline of warre to the knowledge of the order of marching charging fighting retiring and such like necessary points and obseruations of warre so he must be also instructed how to behaue himselfe in loyaltie to his soueraigne in duetie to his commaunder in fitte exercises in time conuenient in loue and concord towardes his fellow soldiers how to make true vse of prosperitie wealth and plenty of pleasure and comfort of sorrow and griefe of life and death all which are the fruites and effectes of warre And especially hee ought to learne how to eschew the thinges that are euill and to imbrace and follow what is good how to know God to serue him truely the principall and chiefe ende for which wee were created And who so is thus prepared either in deede or in desire may challenge vnto himselfe thetitle of a true souldier He therefore that will vndertake this honorable profession must consider that the principall and chiefe meane to attaine vnto perfection is the feare of God without which he marcheth as a naked man be he neuer so completely armed on all partes at proofe as an vnskilfull man be he neuer so politicke and as a weâ—ke man had he the valour force of Hector And because it is presupposed that euery soldier is called vnto armes by his Princes authoritie as behooueth though some of their voluntary inclination be as forward I will speake first of euery mans obedience to his Soueraigne wherein hee must yeeld himselfe freely to her disposition and consequently to the direction of her Lieutenants and substitute Commanders that hee may with the more freedome of a good conscience serue the Lord in that vocation Obedience is the mother of all vertues and no man sauoureth truely of this obedience without hee first obey God and that obedience hee must learne by his worde with which obedience we will suppose that all English men are already indued so speake of their obedience wâ—ich they owe to Gods Ministers whereof the first is the chiefe Magistrate the supreame gouernour our Soueraigne whom we must obey in all things as the children of Israel obeyed Joshua saying vnto him All that thou commaundest we will doe and whithersoeuer thou sendest vs we will goe Here is the true paterne of the duty of true subiects towards their
couet to be idle are so lothsome to the valiant minded that they hold them profitable neither for themselues nor for other men And it is the greatest discouerer of a dastard for hee that hath valour and fortitude will apply his bodie to all lawdable exercises not yeelding himselfe to a drowsie sottishnes giuing place to euery motion of bodily faintnes and imbecilitie of the members for that the bodie becommeth so much the more vnapt to good endeuours by how much it discontinueth exercise and vse And therefore Cicero proueth idlenes to be a thing in man against nature because man is borne to exercise and labour and he that coueteth to be idle is transformed from the nature of a man to the nature of a beast which desireth ease to â—ate And that is all that an idle person willingly would doe There be some that come short of the diligence of the wilde beast neglecting through sloth the prouision of things necessarie for liâ—e doe not these come short of the industrie of beasts shewing themselues more brutish than humane If vnreasonable beasts spare neither light nor darknes heate nor colde winde nor tempest frost nor raine if no impediment can hinder them from their continuall trauaile for things necessarie for nature what may bee thought of reasonable man a souldier to bee seene lazie therein But if the desire of naturall necessaries will not prouoke him to be laborious painfull and industrious let either hope of honorable reputation or the feare of shamefull ignominie pricke him on to be liuely and like a souldier If neither of these will auaile with him let the contemplation of diuine iustice moue which hath set downe a law that he that will not labour should not eate As though the idle person were to bee depriued of his foode yea euen where and when it aboundeth and that it were vnlawful he should be fed So odious is idlenes before God as he plagueth it in the meanest degree with pouertie and want of necessarie things both for the back bowels many times euen with loathsome and vgly diseases of the bodie which make a man odious euer to his companions and dearest friends The Commanders in warres ought as carefully to punish them in policie for where that monster passeth in an armie vnconsidered it deuoureth a multitude ere it can be cured The Romane Captaines saw the inconueniences and daungerous effects of this moth and deuouring vermine and therefore caused their souldiers to labour in things not vrged by compelling necessitie but meerely to preuent the daungers of idlenes and sloth When it falleth out therefore that there is an intermission and a time wherein an armie desisteth from the exercise of armes against the enemie euery man should betake himselfe to some honest labour or lawdable practise if not in things priuate to his owne behoofe then for his friend or for the common good of all For he is a bare and base fellow of slender gifts indeede that hath no qualitie at all to stead himselfe or others and his bringing vp hath been very swinish yet if his capacitie be not very grosse and his conuersation very bad hee may conioyne himselfe in familiaritie with some that haue such faculties as are not so intricate and difficill but he may become by vse and practise not onely able to preuent idlenes but a profitable member of the armie and fit for honest societie And therefore he seemeth the happiest man that among many can make best meanes to liue which without carefull industrie the most skilfull cannot doe It were therefore a matter of great discretion if all fathers would endeuour to giue their sonnes some such qualitie either of the bodie or of the minde or both as might stead him in the warres considering that none is exempted from the exercise thereof in time of neede It is seene a common fault in parents to measure their childrens fortunes to come by their owne present wealth wherby they couet to maintaine them idle gentlemen without not respecting how beggerly they be within qualified neither with inward vertue nor outward vertuous faculties Furthermore because the mind of euery man is capable of good and euill impressions and from naturall inclination doe euer proceede worst imaginations whereby the members are often set on such exercises as are not onely not idlenes but worse then idlenes it selfe which commeth to passe by reason that the minde is putrified for want of right mouing and the vse of diuine counsell and conference And therefore hath that most wise prouider and right disposer of all thinges in man necessary bestowed on him two most excellent means whereby the inward and better part may be benefited and stirred vp to vertuous contemplations namely the tongue the instrument to pronounce and the eare the doore of the vnderstanding of that which is spoken whereby men of armes in their idle intâ—rims haue meanes to profite one another by discourse of vertuous and diuine things the sweetest consolation that man can receiue of man here in this life And although it bee not in the power and abilitie of all men learnedly to dispute it sufficeth the willing minded to discouer their good and vertuous inclination in the simplest measure And no doubt if conference be grounded vpon the feare of God and doe tende to the increase of knowledge and faith the heauenly Schoolemaster Gods spirit is ready among them to teach the speaker how to vtter wisedome and necessâ—ry comfort to the hearer For God in nothing is more pleased then with the assembly of such as couet to know him thereby and to increase in righteousnesse and true holinesse if it bee but two in a consultation and it were a heauenly vnion a wished yoking of companions in the field if the end of their society were to seeke God the true knowledge of him his loue towardes them their dueties towards him And to that ende God in prouidence affordeth to mortall man that the labours of the holy and blessed Prophets and Apostles the recordes of the will and pleasure the loue and fauour the power and prouidence of the Almightie are left vnto all men by his great benefite of Printing which sacred labors whosoeuer willingly imbraceth following truely the substance commaunded thereby is most diuinely busied and it shall not onely not hinder his military affaires but make him both cunning and couragious and bring him to that honor that shall be appâ—oued of God Many diâ—ine labors also of men learned and heauenly disposed are offered to all to the ende that all excuses both of idlenes and ignorance might be taken away vaine and lasciuious treatises of worldlinges and wicked ones offensiue to God and euery good minde are imbraced of soldiers for the most part whereby they may learne to loue and line more viciously But it were a happie change if they would abandon
God and our spirits as euery good thought but conceiued in the heart is present with God and his mercies againe of his loue and bountie in Christ meete our desires and supply our necessities with all thinges expedient yea better then wee can aske or thinke Prayer is a lifting vp of the heart to God by the motion of this diuine spirit And this is that spirituall thing that armeth and defendeth the christian soldier it is a helmet and a sword a weapon both offensiue and defensiue The Iewes preuailed more by this against Amalâ—â—k then by fighting And therefore as Paul commandeth it as a thing necessarie before we eat and before we vndertake any labour so much more before we march toward the battell most of all before we fight But how should men pray to him in whom they beleeue not they do but for fashion they speake but the wordes that are good of themselues if they proceeded from knowledge and beleefe but because they know not they beleeue not and because they pray and beleeue not the wordes they speake yea be it the Lordes prayer it selfe profiteth nothing And therefore such as couet to pray aright must first learne then beleeue with a full assurance of the heart builded vpon that knowledge which is reueiled out of the word of God by the spirit whereby the promises of safetie and saluation of rest and refuge are declared vnto them and they apprehending them by faith are rightly prepared and made fitte to talke with their Creator not by the mediation of Saint or Angell but by the immediat intercession of the man Christ Iesus who knowing their infirmities and temptations standeth assured vnto them euermore in whose name and for whose sake they may aske and haue all thinges Let euery man therefore examine whether he know aright and beleeue aright then doubtlesse he may pray aright But it is the fault of too many not onely of soldiers but of all sorts of men to say in their heartes there is no God and therefore they say no praiers though they seeme to pray often because they haue no faith and yet they babble with their lippes as if they were truely deuout But as none examineth the heart but God and none findeth out the Hypocrites Atheists and such as deceiue themselues and the world with fained shewes of religion but God so I leaue iudgement to God But I say with Dauid such as deceiue themselues in dissimulation say in their hearts there is no God to finde them out But they are fooles and become odious and abominable before God If souldiers be abominable where is their hope of Gods presence with them If God refuse them nothing remaineth with them nor comfort for them but feare and confusion And therefore if they regarde their safetie here in this life and their saluation to come let them imbrace that knowledge that may ingender faith that may bring foorth praier which shall conioyne and knit them so to God as they shall be able to say with Job I know that my redeemer liueth So euery souldier shall be able to assure him that his defender liueth that his strength castle comfort and refuge is in heauen readie to helpe him and to relieue him and to deliuer him here in earth Some are apt to many things some to all things but they cannot pray They can handle their peece well they can tosse the pike well they can vse the sword well decent qualities for vertuous men most fit for souldiers Some can sweare well swagger well carrouse well dissemble well things proper to vitious men most vnfit for souldiers But when they come to heare the word well when they shuld beare it away well practise it well to beleeue wel pray wel they put it ouer to other men say they be souldiers But they are but single soule souldiers souldiers that haue but the carnal not the spiritual power that was in Moses Dauid Ioshua Hezekiah Sampson and others without which twofold blessing they seeme to be but are not true souldiers as y e diuel seemed to be but was not Samuel It were a happy thing therfore if our English souldiers would looke backe a little into the time they haue had to learne wisedome and knowledge and faith and praier liuing as they haue done in a kingdome of peace brought vp in Christian warres and haue had the vse of the Gospell freely If they bee ignorant sinne followeth ignorance and death and hell sinne But it is not too late being late to seeke knowledge to exercise faith and practise prayer This is the way to become the souldiers of Christ brethren with Christ and heires with Christ who will yet grace them if they come quickly with the title of Christian souldiers and crowne them with the glorie of conquering souldiers but if they be negligent and will continue foolish still they may couet it too late and bee shut out like the improuident virgins If then they haue any sparke of that spirit which teacheth wisedome let them presently striue and without delay take hold of time for it is slipperie and swift yet pretious and not to bee redeemed for any price A souldier thinketh it a great grace that can obtaine the place to leade the Vangard of a battell the Forlorne hope which is to betake him into the greatest danger for a little glorie among men and priseth life of little value in regarde of the reputation of being desperate in the field but when they bee called to the most honorable seruice the seruice of the liuing God which consisteth in the former most sweet exercises of faith religion and prayer they seeme happiest that come in the rereward the forlorne hope indeede for they deceiue themselues in preferring vaine honor before immortall glorie But were they qualified with these heauenly vertues then should their valour shine as the Sunne in the forward of the battell and draw with them the maine bands with such godly resolution as should quaile their enemies with a spirituall terror It were a most worthie sight to see souldiers in the field to flocke about the preacher and to accompanie and conferre with the godlie and to contend in vertuous emulation who should bee most religious in an armie who could speake best of God liue best before GOD and pray best vnto GOD. This is the weapon that must preuaile if wee at all preuaile this is the fort that must preserue vs if we be at all preserued and without this haue they neuer so glorious a promise of the flesh it is peeuish and vaine Some in an armie may perchance haue an inclination to serue the Lord which is a good token of a desire But they bee not graced of their fellow souldiers nor of their Leaders as they ought they become rather scorned then fostered or followed But let them not
to stand on our side and to fight for vs. For as hee louingly calleth vs vnto him when wee be grieued in daunger or heauie loden so in the time of warre especially he will bee made a partaker with vs by our humiliation and prayer or against vs by our disobedience He cryeth out against the careles and wicked that regard not his loue nor feare his furie or are luke warme or cold in zeale I will not heare you saith he though ye make many prayers because your hands are full of bloud He spendeth his labour in vaine and turneth his prayer into sinne that prayeth for that in the behalfe of another which he is not worthie to receiue himselfe They that seeke the Lord must depart from iniquitie for he heareth not sinners such as refuse to bee reformed One mans righteousnes cannot defend the iniquitie and transgression of another But the land that sinneth against me saith the Lord and goeth on in wickednesse I will stretch out my hand vpon it and destroy all their prouision of bread and send dearth among them to destroy man and beast in the land And though these thâ—ee men Noah Daniel and Iob were among them they should deliuer but their owne soules And to the end that the godly should not bee dismaied among the wicked he confirmeth his loue towards them by Esay who saith Surely it shall goe well with the iust for they shall eate the fruites of their godly endeuours But wâ—e vnto the vngodly for they shall be rewarded after their workes The Lord is found onely of the faithfull and they onely are safe vnder his feathers But as for the vnfaithfull their liues are not sure within themselues Yet none seeme more secure in their owne conceits then they who finding all things to goe well with them and all things to prosper about them make it an argument that God loueth them and consequently that he will not punish them But the argument holdeth on the contrary they that haue all things at their hearts desire are not the blessedst men and if they were beloued of God he would punish them for whom he loueth â—e correcteth Some thinke it enough to talke of God to heare his word and to serue him at idle interims when neither matters of pleasure nor causes of priuate profit moue them not otherwise God is last in their thoughts Nothing is lesse in their practise then prayer nor more seldome in their mouthes then the prayses of God Faith and the true fruites of â—eligion concurre not with the affections of the carnall man and therefore he little or neuer seeketh God for himselfe or other men And yet they can smile at the worlds fawnings and reioyce as one that findeth gold in a dreame but the Apostle telleth them that they haue no true cause in themselues to reioyce For if any seemeth to himselfe that he is somewhat when he is nothing he deceiueth himselfe in his imagination And therefore let euery man proue his owne worke and then shall he haue reioycing in himselfe onely and not in another His ioy shall testifie his peace of conscience in simplicitie and godlie purenes which is within himselfe and not in fleshlie wisedome and carnall things that are only without and not properly his Such as are trulie godly and rightly zealous and simplie pure and vnfeinedly faithfull are neuer idle but still offer themselues by diuine striuings as it were vnto the God of hosts aswell in the behalfe of their brethren in the warres as of themselues at home And surely some that are in the eyes of the world very poore base and ignominious such as for their outward glorie seeme vnworthie to haue accesse vnto some men worldly glorious haue daily recourse vnto the most high and most glorious king of kings aswel in the behalfe of al their brethren as of themselues they seeke not their owne but the good and prosperitie of other men as their owne And as the souldier standeth in the face of the enemie to encounter him with the sword so they before the throne of Gods high maiestie for mercie and pardon that his furie and irefull indignation may be changed into clemencie and loue These are for the most part abiects in the world but accepted with God these poore are the Lords rich men these meane men are the Lords honorable these ignominious are the Lords glorious children Whether they bee rich or poore high or low noble or base he that feareth the Lord and serueth him truly is imbraced of him He respecteth no person by his wealth or title or office or dignitie in the world but as euery man liueth and obeyeth and worketh and performeth his calling so he is approued or reproued of the Lord who respecteth the godly hart within and not the glorious habite without the riches of the soule and not the wealth of the world the fruites of the spirit and not the workes of the flesh Such as walke honestly and liue godly and pray faithfully and praise him heartily are his and they preuaile with him they labour in loue to preuent the dangers at home and forget not the miseries of their brethren in the warres Yet may the impietie of the rude multitude draw the most godly into danger For although the Lord would haue spared Sodome for fiue and Ierusalem for one righteous man yet we must not think that God will spare many wicked for some few good mens sakes Ieremy and Baruch and other godly men were at Ierusâ—lem wheÌ„ Nabuchadnezzar destroyed the citie God is so farre froÌ„ sparing many for few as he punisheth many for one as al Israel for AchaÌ„ according to the Poets saying Saepe luunt ciues quicquid peccatur ab vno Not onely sinners but the tolerators of sinne are punished And though the godly fall among the wicked it is but a correction in mercie but the destruction of the wicked is in iudgement And because all should feare the Lord and reforme their waies and walke warily and not participate with the sinnes of the careles multitude he punisheth the godly in the day of the slaughter of the wicked The execution of iustice without partialitie fauour or foolish pittie is a necâ—ssary meane to stay the wrath of God incensed through sinne and fond affection and rewards peruerters of iustice a dangerous increase of iudgement against a whole people and nation For where iustice is neglected there lawes penalties are bought for monie and where Gods word is a cloake for sinne there is religion as a garment on all sides alike held indifferent and that the safest and surest that is professed of the most But where the word of the Lord denounceth Gods threatnings for sinne and the Magistrates concurre to punish offenders there cannot but follow a more sincere course in euery mans proceedings more liuely fruites of a Christian profession and consequently a more absolute
best at home To be wounded or dye in the warres The effect of warre Aâ—l souldiers â—ie not in wars A souldier must not feare death Rom. 14.18 Phil. 1.21.22 Iohn 11.16 The resolution of Caâ—licratides that knew he should be slaine None must start aside to saue himselfe Gods power and prouidence in preseruing his He is happie that can be ouercome with no distresse 1. Timot. 4.6 He that feareth God and exerciseth religion need wish for nothing immoderatly All things are at Gods disposition A man can be no valiant soldier without the feare of God and practise of Religion Prayer followeth the feare of God Reuel â— 6. Prayer is an exercise of the godly only Num. 3 1. He that prayeth truely seeth God by faith Prayer an approoued remedie for all diseases a meane to obtaine good and auoid euil Prayer ouercommeth God God must be made on our side God can not be hired for reward In prayer we must be prepared within as we seeme without He that prayeth not rightly prayeth not at all Ier. 14.10.11 We must pray in knowledge 1. Cor 14.15 The spirit teacheth vs how to pray Why Christ promised to send the comforter The cause why the carnall man asketh receiueth not The sppirit of God maketh an affinitie betweene our thoughtes and Gods mercies Psal 86.4 What Prayer is The fruites of prayer Exod. 17.11 Rom. 14 6. Act. 20.36 38. Praier without knowledge and faith profiteth nothing How a man is made fitte to prayer In Christ we are assured if we aske to â—eceiue Hipocrites pray not though they seeme to pray God findeth out Hypâ—crites Atheists c. They are fooles abominable that dissemble with God The perfection of a souldier Some are able to do all things but they cannot pray Single soule souldiers 1. Sam. 28.8 A necessarie thing in souldiers Sinne followeth ignorance The glorie of a reformed souldier A â—â—ueat for souldiers Time pretious and slipperie A vaine daunger to attaine honor An ouer sight in souldieâ—s True vertue a terror to the enemie A wâ—shed sight Our surest weapon and preseruation The godly are not graced in an armie The steps of religious souldiers The offering of sinne for sinnâ— He that praeeth must be free from sinne Ierem. 11.11 2. Tim. 1.9 2. King 3. He that praieth zealously and instantly shall sâ—e wonders The souldier in the warres may see the wonders of the Lord. Infidels made scourges for Gods disobedieÌ„t children The ignorant souldier is in a miserable case Vsurped glorie in a souldier Sâ—nnes may procure ill successe in a iust cause Not to pray before we fight in the warres approueth vs to be but counterfeit Christians Gods children are neuer ouercome but when they forget 〈◊〉 Exod. 23.20 32.2 All Gods creatures fight for his children Exod. 14.19 Iosh. 10.12 We must submit our selues to Gods will God seeth cause to punish vs when we think our selues safe Securitie God causeth vs to remember our sinnes by punishment We haue Christ our sworne defender God alsufficieÌ„t They are safe that dwell vnder the protection of God Prayer a terror vnto the aduersarie God heareth men at large A fault in nobles and men in high place The God of hoastes disposeth of armies as he will Such as attribute successe to fortune deny there is a God To staÌ„nd vpon fortune is a fallacie of the diuell God appointeth second meanes The cause why we attribute successe to fortune Fortune is muffled The resolution of the godly A foolish conceit of fortunistes Machiauilâ— propositionâ— vayne Iosh. 6.4.5 c. Iudâ— 19.20 The godly attribute all successe to their sinnes The manner of the godly in pâ—osperitie and aduersitie A memorandum for martiall men A soldier must be constant referre all thinges to God The true rewarde of christian soldiers Paul setteth downâ— the effects of faith Heb 11. Io. 10.11.13 2. King 4 33.34 The effectes of prayer Prayer the most absolute meane to preuaile in warres He that hath a desire to be godly shall be godly Prayer speaketh aswell in the heart as by the lippes When we haue comfoâ—t by prayer we must be thankâ—full The meaning of câ—â—tinuall pâ—ayer A soldier wheÌ„ he hath time must vse mâ—anes to increase his zeale Soldiers after victorie must be thankefull â—sal â—10 13 Gen. 14.20 Exâ—d 1â— 12 The manâ—er of the exâ—resse thankâ—fulnes of the godly fathers Iudg 5 12. Ingratitude odious to God and men We must not attribute good successe to our selues but to God lest he become our enemie The sequell of Ingratitude What true thankefulnesse â—â— We ought to serue God at home in their behalfes that are in the wars Who are especially thrâ—atned by this noyse of warre The word of God the touchstone of saluation Rumors of warres An obiection The Answer This is the time foretold of the rumors of wars Warres about the mysterie of Christs death The warres in these daies are either for or against Christ. The offended and offending partieâ— in these warres The cause why the diuell and his ministers set kingdomes together by the eares Iustitiaries deuils in the flesh Christ a partie with his persecuted Church We must pray that God will blesse our militarie meanes Our sinnes the cause of warre Where we must seeke the cause of these warres The danger of tollerating sins A secure kingdome soonest snared How we ought to shew wâ—e haue thâ— light Warres the beginning of sorrowes Matth. 24.8 Forces alrâ—ad preuaile little without godly counsell and prayer at home True securitie Gods especiall enemiâ—s A deniall of God to trust in our selues Idumea â—ere 49 7 1â— 16 There can be no hope to the wicked The disobedieÌ„t cannot well bragge that he is the worke of God Fortune the blind god of the wicked We must sâ—ew gratitude for former benefits Gods delight is in them that feare him A multitude of men what they are of themselues Men fearing God Goliah The badge of true religion Matth. 32 39. Rom. 13 10. Galat. 5.14 15. Eph. 3. â—7 Phil. 1.9.10.11 Loue. 1. Thes. 3.12.13 The effects of loue Deut. 17.20 Mich. 3.11 God seeth all thiâ—gs A man is not iusâ—â—fied before God by outwâ—rd things onely Euery man must cast himselfe downe in his owne conceit How a man must examine how he staÌ„deth Such as are far from safetie may seeme secure Esay 28.14.15 Euery man hath a conceit how he standeth The state of the wicked Esa â—8 18 Who shall stand in the day of tryall Why we should pray for our forces in the warres What sinne may doe The exercise of the godly The diuine comforter helpeth them that are willing to doe good To pray rightly peculier to the good It is not the talking of but the â—ractise of religion that auaileth vs A carâ—lesse people Ierâ—salem The punishments of former nations iâ— for our learning and foâ—ewarning A deceiuing dreame One plague followeth another Niniue Good examples of superiours profitable in a kingdome All men ought to humble themselues There be many arguments of the loue of God toward vs. The vse of the sacraments profit vs noâ—â—ing without repentance Disobâ—dience polluteth the most sacred things Sâ—lo Ier. 6. God seeth all men what they be What God requireth of his Prayer Intercession in the behalfe of our brethren in the warres Deprecation against our enemiâ—s and what is required therein We must not aâ—ke vengeance against our enemies but as God will Luk. 9 â—4 God sometime deâ—ieth the requests of his dearest childreÌ„ Patience God will be made a partaker with vs or els he will be against vs. Esay 1.15 Deut. 21.8.9 Ezek. 14.16 Esay 3.10.11 Hab. 2. â— Why the wicked think them mâ—st sâ—cure Worldlings deceiued The reioycing of worldlings vaine Galat. 6.34 True reioycing The practise of the godly The godlie though base in the world are accepted with God Who are dearest with God The sinnes of the multitude may bring danger vpon the mâ—st godly Iere. 5.1 God punisheth many for one Iosh. 7.1 Hesiodus The difference betweene the death of the wicked and the godly Why the godlie are punished with the wicked Neglect of iustice dangerous Deut. 19.19 Where the Magistrate maintaineth the word there will be seene the practise of religion Deut 19.20
the weapons they beare so it behooueth him daily to take view of his vertues how they stand vndefiled and how he hath subdued the sundrie enterprises and preuented the many inuasions of vaine desires which often preuaile where watch is not kept ouer the thoughts Euery pleasure that a man imbraceth is a delight either of the bodie or of the minde but where there is an absolute consent there is the whole man become a captiue and a slaue to that whereby he is ouercome whether it be the lust of the eye or concupiscence of the flesh which indeede include all the rest And therfore aboue all other persons the martiall man who standeth vpon his magnanimitie and fortitude vpon his ordering and gouerning of things tending to victorie must stand vpon his valour in thâ—se assaults of sinne wherewith if hee suffer himselfe to be ouercome he loseth the greatest part of his glorie in that he presupposâ—th an abilitie to encounter any other man and yet is ouercome of his owne weakenes as if a man should inuade a house abroad and lose his owne citie at home But it is a great argument that hee that can subdue him selfe and resist the pleasures of sinne is worthie to be a souldier in the warres yea he deserueth the place of a Leader because he knoweth how to conquer the greatest and mightiest enemie which indeede is his owne delight and carnall desires whereof whosoeuer is ouercome is not worthie the name of a souldier much lesse of the place of a Commander But I haue heard some of no small place in the warres affirme with no lesse audacious insolencie then hee ought to haue sinceritie that it is enough for the Ministrie to be masters of sinne and that it beseemeth souldiers to liue like souldiers to sweare like souldiers and to sinne like souldiers Wherein he shewed little the parts of a true souldier but rather thereby discouering the libertie of souldiers the securitie and careles liues of souldiers who ought indeede to striue to goe before all other sorts of men in vertue and godlinesse hauing like soule and like bodie like account to make and like reward to receiue Nay what should so besot a souldier or miscarrie a Gouernour that they should not haue greater regard to liue well then all other sorts of men considering that other men haue naturall infirmities onely and accidentall casualties to bring their carcases to the graue but they beside those haue the furie of mortall blowes and danger of the bullet to finish their race suddenly And therefore should so vprightly walke in their liues and conuersations as becommeth Saints knowing this that after death is no redemption And that they shall answer for euery sinne they commit and for euery idle word they shall speake much more for euery oth they vainly sweare for euery blasphemie against God and for euery iniurie done to their brethren And it will bee no excuse to say I was a Souldier I was a Captaine I was a Generall and I sinned but like a Souldier I did but like a Captaine or like a Generall This generall answer will be a generall rebuke to as many as take not hold by times of the promised mercie in Christ in true repentance reformation faith and exercise of all godlines and pietie I counsell therefore euery militarie man to whom especially I bend my speech in this poore treatise that he will bethinke himselfe that he is a man and that he must liue as a godlie man that he may dye like a godly man If he be honorable and haue dominion and rule ouer others he resembleth the neerer the diuine power of religious men faithfull and fearefull to sin he so much the neerer commeth to the heauenly nature If he be a man inferiour and knoweth his dutie to God and forgetteth or neglecteth it God will remember it against him in iudgement If he be ignorant and refuse knowledge his iudgement shall be iust But the poorest fearing God is alreadie exalted to the high and powerfull protection of the chiefe Soueraigne whose hand hath taken charge to support him in the field and to adorne him with the diademe of mercie which is the crowne of eternall glorie after death I haue aymed this sillie treatise to the good of the most glorious Commaunders and officers in our warres in simple termes and vnfained zeale of their welfare whose prosperitie as it is the generall happines of all so all ought to set their helpes by best practises and pray that God will blesse their proceedings And because the function of militarie gouernment is high and sacred Reason willeth and true duetie and reuerence to God commandeth that all suspition of offending that high commander Iehouah should be taken away by clensing euery part of this bodie of gouernment from the daungers likely to fall on vs by suffering vnlawfull things to follow our armies And although no doubt â—uery Commander in policie grounded vpon true religion can of himselfe discouer the enormities and reforme them which seeme to be most perillous yet I may vnder their patieÌ„ce briefly remember that where the discipline of warre is truly executed there is commonly good successe and where it is neglected there it is vncertaine And therefore if abominable blasphemies beastly drunkennes common carding dicing and whoredome Atheisme and Papisme with such like were repressed no doubt but vertuous exercises wold be better accouÌ„ted of for God would blesse the godly endeuours of the Commanders and fructifie the obedience of them that are commanded And for the more profitable exercising of all it behooueth the Generall to enioyne his Captaines the Captaines their souldiers that they will abandon Jdlenes the mother of all sinfull actions and that they will betake them to the hearing reading and discoursing of the diuine word which is the lanterne to light them to true dutie both to God and their gouernours And let the spirituall minded haue encouragement that they may strengthen the more weake either by conference or reading some diuine treatise to the increase of a more generall knowledge and zeale in all wherein they may betake themselues to often prayer that God may garde their courts of gard and be present in their armies to comfort euery member by supply of their priuate and publike wants And what can this diuine course of life and daily exercise impayre the credite honour or reputation of the chiefest Nay what an ornament will it be vnto them to be seene first in the sacred seruice of God with the people It is too coldly imbraced of many and lâ—ttle practised of the most who thinke it more coÌ„sonant to their professions to betake them to more offensiue exercises wherein neither can the God of heauen be glorified nor their dutie in armes truly discharged What hope then can there bee of victorie or good successe which commeth of nothing els nor by any other meanes