Gods Three Arrows, Section 12 – Section 17
§. 12. Of keeping out enemies.
III. *See §. 9.MIlitary men must be choice men. Of this ſufficient is ſpoken in the Dignity of Chivalry.
IIII. *See §. 9.Enemies must, as much as may be, be kept out. I ſay, as much as may be, becauſe the power of enemies may be ſuch, as they can not be kept from entring. Before Deborahs time there was aInd. 5. 8.warre in the gates. And in Hezekiahs time, though he did what he could to prevent the enemy, b2 King. 18. 13, 17.Senacharib tooke the ſtrong cities of Iudah, and encamped before the walls of Ieruſalem. But if poſſibly they can they muſt be kept out. The phraſes of cLuk. 14. 31, 32meeting an enemy, or ſending to him while he is yet a great way off, uſed by Chriſt in the parable, import as much. So doth alſo the care that wiſe Princes and States have had in this caſe. dIudg. 3. 10.Othniel WENT OVT to warre. So did that wiſe and mighty Prince e2 Sam. 8.David: he fought with many enemies on every ſide: but he went out to them all.
The many frontier townes, walled cities, forts, garriſons, and other proviſions againſt enemies invaſions, which prudent Kings have in all ages beene wont to make, do manifeſt their care in keeping enemies from entring among their people. Salomon, though he were a Prince of peace, yet wiſely to prevent the worſt, f2 Chro. 8. 5.Built cities fenced with walls, gates, and barres. And g—9. 25,he had foure thouſand ſtalls of horſes and chariots, and twelve thouſand horſemen, whom he beſtowed in the chariot-cities, that upon all occaſions they might be ready to go out againſt enemies. Though Rehoboam manifeſted much folly in rejecting the counſell of his fathers ſage counſellours, yet he ſhewed more after-wit and wiſdome h—11. 5. &c.in building fenced cities in Iudah and Benjamin, and fortifying ſtrong holds, and putting captaines in them, and ſtore of victuall, and ſhields, and ſpeares. The like is recorded of i—14. 6, 7.Aſa, k—17. 2. &c.Iehoſaphat, l—26. 9 &c.Vzziah, m—27. 3, 4.Iotham, n—32. 5, 6.Hezekiah, o—33. 13, 14.Manaſſeh after his repentance, and others.
Thus many dangers and miſchiefs are prevented, wherinto people, by enemies entering in among them, might otherwiſe fall. Sundry of the Tribes of Iſrael, thorow too much ſecurity, ſuffered Iebuſites, Canaanites, Amorites, and other enemies to dwell among them pIudg 1. 21, 27, 29, &c.a point of folly taxed by the Holy Ghoſt) whereby they became ſnares and traps to the Iſraelites, and ſcourges in their ſides, and thornes in their eyes. What in the proverbe is ſaid of a troubleſome gueſt, may Turpiùs ejicitur quàm non admi…itur h…ſpes. Vel hoſtis. Ovid. de Triſt. lib. 5. Eleg 6. Intelligences uſefull.more properly be ſaid of a mortall enemy. There is worſe adoe to cast him out, then to keepe him out.
For application of this point,
1. The beſt care that can be muſt be taken for good intelligence: that the purpoſes and plots of enemies may be prevented in the beginning before they come to any maturity. Gods care in giving extraordinary intelligence by his Prophet to the King of Iſrael, of his enemies projects, 2 King 6, 8, &cgiveth evidence that it is a point of wiſdome to get by all lawfull means what intelligence we can. The advice which David gave to Huſhai concerning intelligence was not unlawfull, 2 Sam. 15. 34 &c. —17. 14. &c 1 Sam. 19. 2, 11. —23. 9, 25.but very uſefull, as the iſſue proveth. David was oft preſerved by that intelligence which he had of Sauls purpoſes againſt him.
2. So ſoone as any true notice is given of an enemies purpoſe againſt us, all good ſpeed muſt be uſed to withſtand him. Expedition is a principall point of warlike policy. Expedition uſefull. Gen. 14. 15. Ioſ. 10. 6, 9. foreign. Veni, vidi, vici, Caeſar inter pom pae fercula trium verborum praetulit titulum, Veni, vidi, vici, non acta belli ſignificantem, ſed celeriter conſecti notam. Sueton de 12. Caeſar. l. 1.Hereby Abraham ſoone recovered what five Kings had loſt in battell. When the Gibeonites ſent to Ioſhua for ſuccour, this meſſage they ſent, Slake not thine hand, come up to us quickly and ſave us. Ioſhua therefore came unto them ſuddenly, and went all night. Alexander got his many and great conqueſts by putting off no opportunity, nor deferring time. Iulius Caeſar (another great Conquerour) thus expreſſeth his expedition, I came, I ſaw, I overcame. I came to ſuch a place, I ſaw it, and inſtantly ſet upon it and overcame it.
3. Leaſt enemies ſhould riſe, and be upon us before we can have intelligence of their purpoſe, or notice of their approaching, it is very needfull to have means to deſcry them before they be among us. The comming of Iehu upon Ioram Meanes to deſcry enemies afarre off.was very ſudden. Yet by reaſon of the continuall watch that was kept, he was deſcried afarre off. And, had not God raiſed up Iehu to execute vengeance on the houſe of Ahab, ſome miſchiefe might have been prevented thereby.
4. So well prepared ſhould kingdomes, nations, and cities Sufficient defence in a land Imminente bello, intus fide, for is ferro, non auroſe muniunt: quatenus armati & non ornati hoſtibus melum incutiant. Bern. ad Mil. Temp. cap. 4.be, as if an enemy ſhould ſuddenly invade them, yet not prevaile againſt them, and over-run them. For this purpoſe (according to the ſituation of the place) ought they to be provided. Ilands environed by the ſea, with good ſhippings. Cities and townes in Continents well fenced. Expert ſouldiers and munition of all ſorts in all places: yea and continuall trainings, and military exerciſes for preſerving ſeminaries of ſouldiers.
Let the iſſue of Laiſh her ſecurity, & want of intelligencers, of watchmen, and of other meanes by which her people might in time have gone out againſt the Danites, and preſerved their city, be a warning to all countries.
§. 13. Of the lawfulneſſe of warre.
V. *See §. 9.WArre is warrantable. Abundant proofe is hereof given in holy Scripture, (whence all ſufficient warrant for any thing is to be fetched) as appeareth by theſe arguments following.
1. Saints not ignorant of Gods will, nor reproved of God Illi bella geſſerunt, ut tales victorias appareret Dei volun tate praeſlari. Aug. contr. Fauſt. Manich. lib. 22. cap. 76.in this caſe, have waged warre: as Abraham, Ioſhua, extraordinary Iudges, and the beſt of the Kings, with many others.
2. They have asked counſell, and received direction from God for waging warre, Iudg. 1. 1. & 20. 28. 1 Sam. 23. 2. & 30. 8. 2 Sam. 5. 19.
3. They have prayed for aſſiſtance herein: their prayers have in this caſe beene heard: and they anſwerably have beene thankfull for ſucceſſe herein, Num. 21. 2. 2 Chro. 14. 11. & 20. 6. Pſal. 18. 1, &c.
4. Their wars are teſtified to be waged in faith, Heb. 11. 33, 34.
5. God hath of himſelfe (when no prayer hath for that end beene made by man) expreſly commanded his people to fight againſt enemies, Num. 31. 2. Ioſ. 6. 2.
6. God hath viſibly ſhewed himſelf a principall party in war and is ſtiled a Captaine of his peoples hoſt, Ioſh. 5. 14, 2 Chro. 13. 12.
7. God hath given directions for well waging warre, Deut. 20.
8. Part of the ſpoiles taken in war were to be dedicated to God, Numb, 31. 28.
9. The Lords holy Prieſts were appointed to go with their holy trumpets unto the warre for the ſouldiers better encouragement, Numb. 10. 9. 2 Chron. 13. 12, 14.
10. Victory in warre is promiſed as a bleſſing, Lev. 26. 7, 8, &c.
11. God is ſaid to teach mens hands to warre, and fingers to fight, Pſal. 18. 34. & 144. 1.
12. Battels are ſtiled warres of God, and the Lords Battels, 1 Sam. 18. 17. & 25. 28. 2 Chro. 20. 15.
13. God himſelfe is ſtiled A man of warre, and the Lord of hoſts, Exo. 15. 3. 1 Sam. 1. 11.
§. 14. Of the lawfulneſſe of warre under the New Teſtament.
1. Ob. ALL theſe proofs are taken out of the Old Teſtament, 1. Ob. No proofe for war out of the New Teſtamēt Anſw.which gives not ſufficient warrant to Chriſtians.
Anſw. 1. The ground of the objection is unfound. For in many things the Old Teſtament gives even to Chriſtians as good warrant as the New. e2 Tim. 3. 16. 2 Pet. 1. 21.The Old Teſtament is as truly divine as the New. And many things therein contained concerne all ages of the Church to the end of the world.
2. The kind of the fore-mentioned reaſons is ſuch as is agreeable to common equity, and muſt in that reſpect be extended to all times.
3. Though no particular arguments could be diducted out of the New Teſtament, yet becauſe the Old is ſo plentifull in proofs for warre, the New is the more ſparing. For the New Teſtament uſeth leſſe to inſiſt on thoſe points whereon the Old hath much inſiſted. Inſtance the Sabbath, uſury, removing land-markes, and other the like.
4. The Church in thoſe times whereof the New Teſtament recordeth the hiſtory, had no outward ſetled ſtate; but was under ſuch civill Governours as were of a contrary profeſſion, as Heathen Emperours and Lords. No marvell then that the New Teſtament ſpeaketh no more then it doth of warre.
5. The ſcope of the New Teſtament is rather to ſet out the ſpirituall kingdome of Chriſt, and the ſpirituall government of the Church, then civill outward polities and kingdomes of men: and therefore is the more ſparing in this point of warre.
6. The New Teſtament doth alſo afford ſufficient warrant Arguments in the New Teſtament for warre.for war: as is evident by theſe following reaſons.
1. aSi percutere gla…io omninò …a… non eſt Chriſtiano, cur ergò Praeco Salvatoris contentos ſore ſuis ſtipendijs militibus indixit, & non potius omnem militiam interdixit. Bernad Mil Temp. c. 3. Vide Aug contra Fauſt. Manich. l. 22. c. 74.When profeſſed Souldiers, who lived on that profeſſion, being powerfully wrought upon by Iohn the Baptiſts miniſtry, asked him (for their future courſe of life) what they ſhould do, he counſels them not to leave that profeſſion, but well to uſe it, to be content with their wages, (Luk. 3. 14.) not to returne their wages back againe. Thus he juſtifieth their calling. For in an unlawfull calling they might not continue, nor receive wages for it.
2. bFidem laudavit Centurionis, non illius militiae deſertionem imperavit. Aug. loc. citat. Sanē cum occidit malefactorem, non homicida, ſed, ut ità dicam, malicida, & planè Chriſti vindex in his malè agunt, & defenſor Chriſtianorum reputatur. Ibid.Centurions, who were principall perſons in warre, are commended for thoſe graces which were in them, and for the evidences they gave thereof, without any reproofe or diſ-allowance of their warlike profeſſion, Matth. 8. 10. Acts 10. 4.
3. Warres waged in the Old Teſtament are commended in the New, Heb. 11. 33, 34.
4. Michael and his Angels are brought in fighting with the Dragon and his Angels, Rev. 12. 7.
5. The victories which the Church under the New Teſtament ſhall have over her enemies is foretold, Rev. 17. 14. & 19. 19.
6. The Magiſtrates ſword is juſtified. But he beareth the ſword aſwell to ſubdue open enemies abroad, as to puniſh evill ſubjects at home, Rom. 13. 4. With that publique ſword when he ſlayeth a malefactour he is not to be counted a ſlayer of men, but a deſtroyer of evill men, and Chriſts avenger of thoſe that do evill, and a protector of Chriſtians.
§. 15. Of other objections againſt the lawfulneſſe of warre, anſwered.
2. Ob. CHRIST threatneth that All they that take 2. Ob. See §. 20.the ſword ſhall periſh with the ſword.
Anſw. 1. That and ſuch like principles concerned the Iewes, and others that lived before Chriſt as much as Chriſtians.
2. They all are againſt private revenge. But warre is a publique execution of juſtice.
3. The fore-mentioned threatning is in ſpeciall to be applied to the houre, wherein Chriſt would give himſelfe to the power of his enemies, and would not be reſcued by the power of Angels: much leſſe by the ſword of man.
4. He would ſhew how his kingdome was protected: not as humane kingdomes, by dint of ſword.
3. Ob. We are commanded to have peace with all men.
Anſw. That, and other ſuch like precepts are limited 3. Ob. Heb. 12. 14. Rom. 12. 18.with ſuch proviſoes as theſe, If it be poſſible, and, As much as lyeth in you. On our part there muſt be no occaſion of breaking peace, or making warre. Yea if we can on lawfull and meet termes make peace, we muſt do our beſt therein.
4 Ob. It was foretold of Chriſtians that they ſhould 4. Ob. Iſa. 2. 4.beate their ſwords into plough-ſhares, and their ſpeares into pruning-hookes: and that nation ſhould not lift up a ſword against nation, nor learne warre any more.
Anſw. Thoſe and ſuch like propheticall phraſes are ſomwhat hyperbolicall; they expreſſe that intire amity that ſhould be betwixt true Chriſtians: and the alteration of their nature by the Spirit of grace. So as the difference betwixt nature and grace is very lively ſet out thereby: to which purpoſe tend thoſe other high tranſcendent hyperbolicall phraſes of the Prophet Iſay, Chap. 11. Verſ. 6, 7, 8, 9.
§. 16. Of warring with Chriſtians.
5. Ob. TO yeeld that warre may be made againſt Infidels, Idolaters, and other open enemies of the Church, yet may it not be made againſt Profeſſours of the Chriſtian Faith.
Anſw. 1. Some that outwardly profeſſe the Chriſtian Faith may be as great enemies to the true Faith, as plaine Infidels. I know (ſaith Chriſt) the blaſphemy of them that ſay Rev. 2. 9.they are Iewes, and are not, but are the ſynagogue of Satan. Papiſts profeſſe the Chriſtian Faith, yet are Anti-Chriſtians, the directeſt and deadlieſt enemies that Chriſts true Church ever had. The ten Tribes that with Ieroboam revolted from the houſe of David, profeſſed themſelves to be the people of the true God, the God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, and yet were deadly enemies to Iudah, and the children of Iudah oft waged warre againſt them, and that juſtly and lawfully: 2 Chro, 13, 15and the Lord helped them therin. What can Papiſts plead more then the revolting Iſraelites could. Papiſts profeſſe the true God, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt: So did the Iſraelites the God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob. Papiſts are baptized: Iſraelites were circumciſed. Papiſts retaine the holy Scriptures; ſo did the Iſraelites, as much of them as was then written. Were it not too great a digreſſion, I could eaſily demonſtrate how Papiſts have much further ſtarted from the true Chriſtian Faith, then the Iſraelites did from the Law of Moſes.
2. The cauſe of warre is more to be reſpected then the perſons againſt whom it is waged. If Protestants ſhould give juſt occaſion of warre, warre might juſtly be undertaken againſt them. Before the diviſion of the ten Tribes from the reſt, the reſt of the Iſraelites fought againſt the Iudg. 20. 28. 2 Sam. 2. 13. 2 Sam 18. 7.—20. 6.&c.Benjamites, and that by Gods advice. David alſo was forced to fight againſt the men of Iſrael that tooke part with Iſh boſheth: and after that with Abſalom; and after that with Sheba the ſonne of Bichri.
§. 17. Of the neceſsity and benefit of warre.
VVArre is a kind of execution of publique juſtice: and a means of maintaining right. For oft there is ſuch conſpiracy of many men together in doing wrong, and ſo obſtinate and violent they are therein, as by no admonitions, perſwaſions, threatnings, penalties of Law, or ordinary means of executing juſtice they wilbe reſtrained. And ſo inſufferably ambitious are ſome, & ſo inſatiably covetous, as no dignities or jurisdictions will content them, no revenewes or profits will ſatisfie them. Were not ſuch men reſtrained, and ſuppreſſed by force of armes, none ſhould live in quiet, none ſhould poſſeſſe or enjoy any thing beſides themſelves. So as the iniquity of men cauſeth a neceſſity of warre: and the benefit that thence ariſeth cauſeth pious and righteous men to uſe it. By it a free and quiet profeſſion of the true Faith is maintained: peace is ſetled: kingdomes and common-wealths are ſecured: lands and inheritances quietly poſſeſſed: all manner of callings freely exerciſed: good In ipſis rebus bellicis iuſta bella, an iniuſta ſint, ſpectandum. Amb. Offic l. 1 c. 35. Ita ferè Aug. Quoeſt. ſuper Ioſ. l. 6. c. 10.lawes put in execution: due juſtice executed: ill minded perſons kept under: and many evils prevented. I deny not but by warre the cleane contrary is oft effected, and all things thereby put out of order. But then warre is abuſed. We ſpeake of the juſt and right uſe of warre. For this is in warlike affaires eſpecially to be conſidered, whether the warres undertaken be juſt or unjuſt.