The Saints Sacrifice, Section 126 – Section 127
§. 126. Of the cauſes of the Suediſh Kings entring into Germany.
THe conqueſts made by the victorious King of Sued, are in their kind very glorious; but much more glorious in the cauſe of undertaking them.
Cauſa non p…a facit martyrem. Aug. Epiſt. 61.All confeſſe that it is not ſo much the puniſhment that maketh martyrdome glorious, as the cauſe.
So is it in warre. The cauſe rather then the event makes it warrantable and praiſe-worthy. Good ſucceſſe in juſt warre brings much glory to the undertakers thereof.
In this reſpect victorious Gustavus carieth away more glory then Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezar, Darius, Cyrus, Alexander, Caeſar, or other the great Conquerers among the heathen.
Of thoſe Conquerors who are commended by the Holy Ghoſt, it is ſaid that they ſubdued kingdomes and wrought righteouſneſſe.
Might and Right muſt goe together. Right without might may be much wronged. Might without right may do much wrong.
Take we therefore a briefe view of the cauſes of ſundry other conquerours, and we ſhall find might without right.
Take we a view of the cauſes which moved the conquering King of Sued to undertake his warres, and we ſhall find might regulated by right.
The cauſe which moved conquering Monarchs in former times to enter into other mens dominions, and to ſubdue nations, was eſpecially the pride of their heart, and their ambition to have the ſupreme ſoveraignty over the whole world, if poſſibly they could atchieve it.
It is ſaid of Alexander the great, that when he heard the Philoſophers concluſion concerning the unity of the world, he wept becauſe there were no more worlds for him to overcome. Behold the ambition of mens minds, how boundleſſe, how unſatiable it is.
The fore-mentioned Caeſar invaded Germany, France, England and other nations, to enlarge the dominion of the Romane Empire. So did other Romane Generals before and after Caeſar.
True it is that God in his unſearchable wiſdome ſtirred up many of them to be his inſtruments to puniſh peoples rebellions againſt God. In which reſpect they are called the Iſa 10. 5. Ier. 12. 1…. Ezek. 30. 24. Iſa. 45. 1. Ier. 25. 9. Iſa. 44. 28.Rod of the Lord, his ſtaffe, his ſword. Yea God is ſaid to put his ſword into their hands: and becauſe the Lord uſeth them as his inſtruments, they are in that reſpect ſtiled The Lords Annointed, his ſervants, his Shepheards. Yet notwithſtanding this ſecret intent of the Lord which he by their Miniſtry brought to paſſe, they were ſtirred up by pride and ambition to do what they did. So ſaith the Lord of Aſhur: O Iſa 10. 5, 7, 13.Aſſyrian, the rod of mine anger, &c. I will ſend him againſt an hypocriticall nation, &c. I will give him a charge to take the ſpoile, &c. Howbeit he meaneth not ſo, &c. For, he ſaith by the ſtrength of my hand I have done it, and by my wiſdome, &c. And further to ſhew that they by their inward wicked diſpoſition were ſet on worke, it is ſaid, that when God gave Iſa. 47. 6. Z…c 1. 15.people into their hands, they ſhewed them no mercy: and againe, when the Lord was a little diſpleaſed, they helped forward the affliction.
But the pious and righteous King of Sued hath made it manifeſt to all the world, that no ambitious thoughts, no deſire of enlarging his owne Dominions, by forcing away other mens rights from them, hath embroiled him in theſe Germane-warres.
Great wrongs were done to him by the Enemy, and feare given of greater, if he looked not the better to himſelf. So as he was forced to take up armes to ſecure his owne dominions, and his neighbours bordering upon him.
2 Sam. 5 17.It is noted of the Philistimes that they came up to ſeeke David. Whereby is implied that they firſt provoked him to warre: and his ſetting upon them, and deſtroying them is thereby juſtified.
2 Sam. 10. 4, &c.It is alſo recorded of the Syrians, that they helped the Ammonites who had moſt deſpitefully uſed Davids Ambaſſadours; Thereby Davids warring againſt the Ammonites and Syrians is juſtified. Againſt the Ammonites for wrong done to David: againſt the Syrians for aiding Davids enemies.
Such provocations had King Guſtavus to enter upon theſe later warres. He was firſt ſought by the Enemy. His Ambaſſadours were baſely uſed. This later Enemy ſent armies under his owne Enſignes in aid of the Pole his former enemy, with whom he was then in warre.
Beſides theſe wrongs done to himſelfe, Complaints and invitations were made to him by ſundry oppreſſed Princes and States, and particularly of thoſe, to whom he was engaged by ancient allyances and confederacies. By theſe alſo he was drawne into theſe warres, wherein the divine providence hath given him ſo good ſucceſſe, and ſo great glory.
Gen. 14. 14.Abraham on ſuch a ground as this later is, was moved to take up armes againſt thoſe that ſpoiled Sodom where his brother Lot was: wherein the Lord gave him good ſucceſſe.
Ioſ. 10. 6, &c.Ioſhua alſo on ſuch a ground made warre againſt the five Kings of the Amorites who encamped againſt Gibcon. The Gibconites were at that time in league with the Iſraelites: Thereupon Gibeon being invaded by the Amorites, ſends unto Ioſhua to the camp, ſaying, Slake not thy hand from thy ſervants, come up to us quickly, and ſave us and helpe us.
Thus Guſtavus in affording ſuccour to ſuch as were oppreſſed and craved his aid (they being alſo his confederates) hath done that which ſuch as were guided by Gods Spirit have done before him: and that as well for ſecuring his owne dominions, as for relieving others. For, had that flood of warre, which over flowed and in a manner ruinated the greater part of Germany, beene ſuffered to ſwell and run longer and further, it might have made an irrecoverable breach even unto the very Kingdome of Sued.
Where that floud of warre had a current, it carried away the true Religion before it: it bare away Princes out of their principalities, other Governours out of their juriſdictions, Miniſters of Gods Word from their charges, Owners from their poſſeſſions, and others from their places, and callings: it deprived free cities of their immunities and priviledges: and brought many miſchiefes and inconveniences to many others.
Wherefore to preſerve true Religion where it was in great hazard to be ſuppreſſed: to re-eſtabliſh it where it was removed: to reſtore Princes, other Governours, Miniſters, Owners, and others to their owne rights: to recover to free people their priviledges: to bring home the baniſhed: to take off the heavy yoke of bondage and intolerable burdens from their necks on whom they were unjuſtly laid: and finally to prevent cruell maſſacres and perſecutions for the Goſpell ſake, hath this contrary ſtreame of warre beene oppoſed; ſo as violence by violence (as neceſſity required) hath beene reſiſted: and a ſtrong ſtreame of ſweet waters hath beaten backe a great flood of ſalt waters.
§. 127. Of the effects of the Suediſh Kings warres.
THe bleſſed events that have followed upon the King of Sued his warres in Germany do give evident proofe to the truth of the ends and intents before mentioned. For, thereby true Religion is in many places re-eſtabliſhed, and a free liberty for exerciſe thereof procured to the profeſſours of it: Ancient immunities and priviledges are recovered: Princes, other Governours, Miniſters of the Goſpell, States, Polities, private Lords and Owners are reſtored to their dominions, dignities, charges, callings, inheritances, and poſſeſſions: Many people are eaſed of their heavy burdens and grievances.
There hath alſo hereupon followed a great abatement of the greatneſſe of the houſe of Auſtria, and ſuch a diminution of the power thereof, as that they who have beene the chiefe pillars of the Church of Rome, are by theſe late victories got againſt them, diſabled (as we hope) from helping forward the Popes deſigne of reducing the Chriſtian world to an abſolute obedience unto his chaire; yea and from further promoting their owne ambitions deſires of the Monarchy of Europe.
By the fore-named ſucceſſe there is alſo procured much addition and great ſtrength to the Proteſtant parties, by digeſting all Germany into their body: and a great means effected for facilitating the unions betwixt thoſe that to the great ſcandall of the Profeſſion, and diſhonour of thoſe worthy lights of the Church, Luther and Calvin, have beene diſtinguiſhed by theſe factious titles, Lutherans and Calviniſts.
Great ſecurity is hereby further brought to the reformed Churches in France: who could never be reduced to the termes wherein they now are, ſo long as the Proteſtant Princes in Germany retained freedome and power in their owne dominions.
A way is alſo hereby opened to the very gates of Rome: whereby the threatnings againſt the ſeven-headed beaſt may in the Lords appointed time be accompliſhed.
Finally, there is great hope given of eſtabliſhing much peace and ſecurity to all the true Churches of God: and many other bleſſings are expected, which the Lord grant to his people.