Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A64804
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Military and maritine [sic] discipline in three books.
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Venn, Thomas. Military observations.
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1672
(1672)
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Wing V192; ESTC R25827
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403,413
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588
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called forth upon these principles need not fear of being conquerours A just cause may be spoiled through the ill management thereof or through perfidious dealings A Rebellious Conquerour may make lawes even to death it self to maintain his Victory as our late Usurpation hath experienced But at last the whole world beheld with an eye of admiration to see how miraculously God restored his Majesty to his Crown and Dignities the Church and People to their just rights and liberties I do affirme and truly say of Soveraign Power Kingdomes Lawes and Armies as was said of Hippocrates's Twins they laugh and weep together they live and die together for as without Lawes the Soveraign power and the Common-wealth cannot subsist by reason of disorders within so without Armes and the exercise of them thâ— cannot be safe by reason of dangers without I shall further and briefly prove that the safety both of King and people is much advanced by the exercise of Armes although Solomon saith In the multitude of people is the honour of a King and for want of people cometh destruction Notwithstanding I may affirm that safety is not in a multitude of men without weapons and skill to manage them It is asserted That Counsel and strength are for War Then how shall Counsell and strength be established Isa 36. without education and instruction to service and how shall a man be instructed without Military Exercises There are some disadvantages that happen in Wars partly by reason of the suddainness of the War and partly in respect of the inequality and odds betwixt party and party Now Souldiers without dexterity and skill can never be able to extricate themselves out of such difficulties as may befall them All which proves that the exercise of Armes is to be allowed and Commanded And as I told you at first I have heard some say that we live in Gospel times which are to be times of Peace and not of war therefore there needeth not those Exercises of Armes as you reason for c. This is argued by some out of covetousness to save their expences but are ready to declare when there is occasion then they will be in a readiness to do their best There are others of a Fanatick humour He speaketh not against the use of weapons or lawfull War Whereas before Christ they were enemies but now there shall be love c. unwilling to set forward any thing that may be commanded them argue from that in Isaiah They shall heat their swords into plough shares and their Spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not lift up a Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Now in answer hereunto we must oppose it by another saying in Joel where the people were called upon to beat their plough shares into swords and their pruning hooks into Spears For the reconciling hereof the learned say that Isaiah was to distinguish between the purpose and intent of Christs coming into the world and the other sheweth the success and event which was accidental in respect of mans malice Again to the first of these they argue what Christ said to Saint Peter Put up thy Sword for he that strikes with the Sword shall perish by the Sword But I pray you observe what he saith to his Disciples That he that hath no Sword let him sell his coat and buy a Sword Although the end of Christs coming was to reconcile things in Heaven and things on earth I have been further taught by the Learned that this is attained unto between God and us in our Justification and will be accomplished between man and man in the day of Redemption Yet as long as there is a Sathanical Spirit in the children of disobedience and so long as there is a remnant of sin in the heart of any there will be Divisions Familists Quakers Anabaptists Independents and Presbyterians All being refractory to the present commands c. Which sheweth a necessity to have a care and prepare for the exercise of Armes That none of these by their Usurpation may for ever hereafter snatch the Trumpets out of Moses's hands nor the Trumpet only but the Sword also nor the Sword alone but the Crown and Scepter also Now by this mutual exercise of Armes I doubt not but in a litttle time God Almighty will unite the affections of most against such as shall exalt themseves above all that is called God Let me excite all to be diligent in the use of the meanes to make themselves able and fit Souldiers and Commanders by often Exercising and willing to get compleat Armes to be exercised in Martial dispipline considering how ill it was with Israel when there was not a shield to be found amongst 40000 men And consider again how worthy of praise it was to Martial Discipline in Israel when they had 170000 every one able to lead an Army c. I must tell you we have not our peace by Patent we know not how long it may continue Let war therefore be provided for as to train up some to military practises If War should come it is labour well spent If not it is a labour well lost Long preparations make a short and quick victory Some are apt to say we have Souldiers enough we will all fight when occasion shall serve Let me tell such that they that never tried it think it a pleasure to fight and they will fight strangely if they have no weapons and use their weapons more strangely if they have no skill Re Milita lib. 1. c. 20. It is a saying of Vegetius Non de pugna sed de fuga cogitant qui nudi in acie exponuntur ad Vulnera Their minds are not so much on fighting as fleeing that are exposed to War without weapons and a Souldier may be almost as well without them as not to know how to use them Now that the Souldier may not be failing herein and that his Majestie may never want able Souldiers in the Country as well as in the City I most humbly beg and crave pardon in presuming to present it That the Muster master in every Countrey should be a careful unbyassed person an able Souldier and one whom the Commanders and Gentlemen love and affect who should be alwayes by authority to attend at such times and places as shall be thought convenient to exercise and teach the Art of Military discipline to all that shall willingly imbrace it And if his pay be too little for him to make it his business and to attend upon it It may be then augmented without any trouble and the Souldier will be found much more capable for service when commanded There must be exercise or else mens spirits will grow restie what turnes to putrefaction sooner than standing water what is Vertue without Action Idleness doth neither get nor save but lose If exercise be good then those are best that tend to the most good The exercises of War step in to