Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
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A55189
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The character of a good army &c. being a few hints touching the gallantry and fidelity of an army in the late wars who gave the sole honour and glory of all their atchievments [sic] to God alone, whom they exalted daily in these self-denying expressions / written by Capt. Tho. Plunket.
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Plunket, Thomas, b. 1625.
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1690
(1690)
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Wing P2628A; ESTC R28444
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17,060
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25
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because it is nothing but what I know to be Truth Though I deny not but they had their failings and imperfections as well as other Christians for otherwise they would be more than Men and yet they were something more than meer men but as much as could be rationally expected from men for the Ends aforesaid was really intended by them in their several Capacities yet never was any Army in this world more hated of the world than they were and are still because they were not like the world in rioting and drunkenness in chambering and wantonness c. Rom. 13.13 yea curst them because they would not eat and drink themselves to death as they did Praesens malejudicat aetas Judicium melius posteritatis erit Although many of this Age scorn and vilifie that renowned Army yet I am persuaded their Successors will think and speak more favourably of them in whose behalf and commendation I could write much more but I should thereby offend the prejudicated Reader as I have in what hath been said already therefore I shall add but little more my self and that in the close of this Book referring you in the mean time to the perusal of the following Account and Character given of them by an eminent Minister one of the Chaplains belonging to General Fairfax in those days which he Published about the time of Oxford-Siege 1646 which is now Forty three years the last June And because it is quite lost and forgot and I having it by me in Print could not be quiet till I gave it a second Birth or once again expose it to publick view only I must supersede divers Words Sentences and several Lines therein fearing the Times will not bear them for I would be cautious in giving offence especially to those in Authority believing that it is beneath their Wisdom and Grandeur the Eminency and Sublimity of their Stations to stoop so low as to be concern'd or offended with such a harmless Nude Narrative as this is reflecting neither upon their Persons or Proceedings which hitherto have been just and honourable And as I have not writ these things without caution so shall I not mention my Rulers without Reverence at any time as occasion serves Vivant Rex Regina TETRASTICHON De Rege Lex sine Rege velut Lumen sine Sole fuisset Rex sine Lege velut Sol sine Luce foret Grex Regem primo legit Rex cum Grege Legem Condidit hinc Legem Rex regit atque Gregem And this following is the Character which the aforesaid Minister gives of that Army I Find my Heart stirred within me to testifie to the world what I know in mine own experience saith he touching the Army under the Command of that worthy and faithful General Sir Thomas Fairfax and that because I am not ignorant of the great Undervaluings Despisings and Reproachings of it by many even of those whose Blood runs warm in their Veins and who enjoy all the Comforts they have in the world through the Faithfulness Diligence Activity Labours Hunger Thirst Cold Weariness Watchings Marchings Engagements Stormings Wounds and Blood of these Men Instruments of God's own chusing and calling forth to his foot for great Services which after-ages will wonder and stand amazed at as well as at the vile Ingratitude of this Age to such Instruments as these for which God will not hold it guiltless This then for mine own part I am most confident of that there are as many Gracious and Godly Christians in that Army as in any Gatherings together of Men in all the World again Men full of Faith and the Spirit and the admirable Endowments of it More particularly there are these six things most remarkable in that despised Army 1. Their Vnity which is admirable it being more the Unity of Christians than of Men more an Unity in the Spirit than in the Flesh in the Father and Son than in themselves and this hath been one great Means of their great Successes they being all both in Counsel and Action but as one man they are knit up together as in one Bundle and so could not be broken but have broken all their Opposites Many of their Matters of greatest moment have been carried in Council with that Unity that sometimes not so much as one hath contradicted 2. Their Humility which hath been admirable as well as the former for after great and glorious Victories to the wonder of the Kingdom and of the World when mighty men did flee apace and the men of Valour ran away like Women yet I have never heard any of the worthy and godly Commanders or Officers to say I did this or that or to boast of his own Counsel or Valour or to attribute any thing to himself or any body else of what God had done but every one to say This was the Lord's own doings and it is marvellous in our eyes and it was not our own Sword or Bow but the Lord 's right hand and his Arm and the Light of his Countenance And they have been most willing to be nothing themselves that God might be all And this hath been one Means to keep them humble because though God hath been much with them yet the World hath been much against them not so much for their own sakes who were true and faithful but for God's sake in them because there is more of God among these men than among other men 3. Their Faith There are many in the Army men of great and precious Faith through which they have wrought righteousness obtained Promises c. Through this Faith they have fought Battels pursued their Enemies c. Through Faith they have entered strong Cities c. And I can truly and particularly say let them that will needs be offended stumble and fall at it that Bristol among other Places was conquered by Faith more than by Force i. e. it was conquered in their hearts before ever they stretched forth their hands against it c. Through Faith one of them chased Ten and Ten put an hundred to flight and an Hundred a Thousand And this was performed in the very Letter of it c. Many more Instances I could relate of the power of Faith in that Army but that I should thereby grieve and afflict many too much 4. The Spirit of Prayer And this the Lord hath poured forth upon many of them in great measure not only upon many of the chief Commanders but on very many of the inferiour Officers and Troopers some of whom I have by accident heard praying with that Faith and Familiarity with God that I have stood wondering at the Grace They never undertook any thing of weight but God was always sought to of them again and again and they have found God near to them in all things they have call'd upon him for yea God hath been found of them while yet they have been seeking him c 5 The special Presence of God with them I