The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 98 – Part 99
Of Warres wherein few have overcome many
The Lord fighting for them.
VVArres are lawfull only when Magistrates are driven to take weapons in hand to execute publike revenge upon those that trouble the peace of their Dominion, whether they be Civill or Forreigne enemies, wherein is also required that it be denounced and undertaken by the Prince, and that for a just cause, wh… ther it▪ be Defensive or Offensive; Peace being first refused.
Abraham Overcame Five Kings with their Armie, having but three hundred and eighteen persons of his own Familie.Gen. 14.
Ki. Ahab Overcame King Aram with two and thirtie other kins joyned with him, having but a little hoste, like a little flock of Kids, and slew1 King. 10. 11. one hundred thousand of them.
Amaziah Overcame King of Edom: And slew ten thousand of his fighting men.2 King. 14.
Abijah Overcame Ieroboam, and slew five hundred thousand chosen men of his Company, the Priests only blowing with trumpets, and his men shouting they fled suddenly.2 Chron. 13.
King Asa Overcame Zerah, having ten hundred thousand m…n, with five hundred and fourscore thousand, and that onelyonly by prayer, calling on2 Chron. 14. the Lord earnestly.
Adino Overcame Eight hundred men: Abishat three hundred at one time.2 Sam. 23. 8, 18, &c.
Benaiah Overcame An Egyptian with a staffe, he having a speare in his hand.
Barak Overcame Sisera having nine hundred Chariots of Iron, and slew all his hoste, so that a man was not left of them, and he himself wasIudg. 4. by Iacl slain.
David Overcame Hadadezer And took a thousand and seven hundred horsmen,2 Sam. 8. 4. 2 Sam. 5. & 8. Chap. 10. 1 Chron. 18. 1 Sam 30. 1 Sam. 23. 1 Sam. 17. Iudg. 3. 2 Sam. 22. and twentie thousand …ootmen, he slew twentie two thousand Aramites with a small companie and with foure hundred men overcame the Amalekites being a great companie: He slew the Philistines whole Hoste with a few men: and Goliah with a staffe and a sling.
…hud Overcame King Eglon by policie: and slew ten thousand of his men.
Eleazar Overcame The Philistines, who till his hand was weary slew them.
G…deon Overcame The Midianites and Amal…kites, and they of the East, being in multitude like Grashoppers, with three hundred men byIudg. 7. blowing of Trumpets and breaking of Pitchers, the Lord setting each mans sword on other.
Hezekiah Overcame King Ashur: An Angel slaying of them 85000. in number.2 King. 19. Exod. 14. Chap. 17. Numb. 21. …osh. 12. Numb. …1. 49. 1 San. 7. Iu…g. 19. Iosh. 6. Chap. 11. Chap. 10. Iudg. 12. 1 Sam. 14.
The Israelites Overcame Pharaoh, being drowned in the red sea by the Lord.
The Israelites Overcame Amalek, more by Prayer then by Ioshuabs sword.
The Israelites Overcame K. Arad the Canaanite, and overthrew his Citie.
The Israelites Overcame The Kings in the land of Promise, being in number many.
The Israelites Overcame Five Kings: And slew thirtie thousand with 12000 men.
The Israelites Overcame Philistines: The Lord thundring from Heaven upon them.
The Israelites Overcame Benjamites: And slew in one day twentie fi…e thousand men.
Ioshua Overcame Jericho Only with blowing of trumpets and shouting.
Ioshua Overcame Ammonites And smote twentie cities among them.
Ioshua Overcame Five Kings The Lord casting stones from Heaven on them.
Iephthah Overcame Ephraimites; And slew two and fortie thousand of them.
Ionathan Overcame Philistines: The Lord causing the earth to tremble under them.
Jeh…shaphat Overcame The Ammonites and Moabites with the men of Mou…t Seir, by calling on the Lord and shouting, the Lord causing the men2 Chron. 20. of Ammon and Moab to slay the people of Mount Seir, and after themselves with their own swords to slay each other.
Pekah Overcame Judah men: And slew of them one hundred & twentie thousand.2 Chron. 28. Iudg. 3. Chap. 15. 1 Sam. 11.
Sham…ar Overcame The Philistins: And slew of thē Six hundred with a Goade.
Samson Overcame The Philistins: And slew of thē A thousand with a Jaw-bone.
Saul Overcame Nahash the Ammonite; and slew all of them.
Samaria Overcame The Syrians: The Lord causing them to heare a noise of Chariots and horsmen, whereupon they fled.2 King. 7. 2 Chron. 24. … Sam. 4. Numb. 14.
Syrlans Overcame Ioash, haing a great hoste, but forsaken by God.
Philistines & Amalekites Overcame The Israelites: and slew of them thirtie thousand, so that they were as Bees chased, God being with them displeased.
The Lord Saveth not with sword or speare: it is nothing with him to save1 Sam. 17. …7. Chap. 14. 6. 2 Chro….14. 11. 2 Cor. 12. 9. 1 Sam. 2. 4. Psal. 44. 3. 5. Psal. 76. 3. Psal. 144. 1. with many or with few: His power is made perfect throughPsal. 27. 3. Psal. …8. 39. & 60 1…. & 68. 30. & 76. 3. weaknesse: through him the bow and the mightie are broken, and the weak are girded with strength: we thrust back our adversaries, and tread down those that rise up against us, through him we shall doe valiantly; for it is he that teacheth our hands to fight, and our fingers to battell.
The King Is not saved by the multitude of an Hoste, neither is the mightiePsal. 33. 16, 17. Psal. 44. 7. 1 Sam. 17. 47. Psal. 46. 9. m…n delivered by much strength: The horse is a vaine helpe: The helpe of man is vain: The bow and the sword cannot save,Psal 98 1. they are broken by the Lord, the speare is cut, and the Chariots are burned.Eccl. 9. 18. Prov. 20. 18.
Better is wisdome then weapons of warre: By Counsell make warre.
ReadeIsai. 31. 1. Iosh. 10. 25. Ier. 21. 4. Psal. 76. 6. Psal. 10. 8, 12, 13. Psal. 46. 0. Psal. 76. 1. Psal. 18. 24. Exod. 14. 14, 25. 1 Sam. 17. 47. 1. Sam. 2. 9. 2 Chro. 24. 24. Psal. 44. 3, 6. 2 Ki. 6. 16. 1 Chron. 19. 13. Prov. 21. 31. Hos. 1. 7. Psal. 108. …3. Psal. 44. 3. Psal. 68. 30. Psal. 76. 3.
Of Tyrants and their Tyrannie.
TYrannie is a thing base and inhumane, and therefore by the Latines called feritas, because it maketh us to forget all humane MercieMercy and Compassion, and causeth us to delight in bloud and murther, not respecting the weaknesse or unworthinesse of the enemie, nor yet the equitie of the cause.
Tyrants are of two sorts: The one in Title.
Tyrants are of two sorts: The other in Action.
In Title, that without lawfull Title usurpeth the government of any place.
In Action, that having lawfull principalitie behaveth himselfe cruelly.
Crueltie of Tyrants are likewise of two sorts:
The one fiercenesse in afflicting of punishment upon cause.
The other a certain madnesse with delight in crueltie without cause.
Causes of crueltie are three: Covetousnesse, Violence, Ambition, naturally ingrafted in the will of Tyrants wanting reason, in that they often against reason, as also common equitie and honestie, execute their Tyrannie (their will being only a law) according to the old common proverbe: Stat proratione votuntas.
Tyrannically and cruelly
Adoni-bez…k cut off seventy kings thumbs & great toes of their feet & hands.Iudg. 1. Iudg. 9. 2 King. 11. Mat. 2. Exod. 1. 1 King. 21. Ier. 41. Gē. 4. 2 Sā. 3. 20 2 Mac. 2. 2 King. 15. 2 King. 3. Luke 13. 1. Ier. 3…. 1 Sam. 22. 2 King. 17. 31.
Abimelech murthered seventie of his brethren to be king.
Athaliah massacred all the seed Royall (save Ioash) to be Queen.
Herod murthered all the little children: Pharaoh drowned them.
Iezebel caused Noboth to he stoned, and his vineyard to be taken.
Ishmael slew Gedaliah, and seventie other men.
Cain slew Abel his brother: And Ioab, Amasa and Abner.
The King put to death the seven children with the mother.
Menahem ript up the women of Tiphsah that were with childe.
King Moah offered up for a burnt offering his owne childe.
Pilate mingled the bloud of tho Galileans with their sacrifices.
Nehuchdnez zar slew Zedekiahs sons before him, and then put out his eyes.
Saul slew fourescore and five belonging to the Levites.
King Ahaz, 2 King. 16. 3. King Manasseh, 2 Chron. 22. Israelites.
Judah men, Ezek. 16. 20. The Sepharvims, 2 King. 17. 31.
Heathens made their sonnes and daughters to passe thorow the fire.
Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemites for ravishing their sister.Gen 34. Melanct. loc. com. Psal. 55. 25.
Phocas slew the wife and children of Mauritius the Emperour before his face, and after put him to death.
The bloud-thirstie and deceitfull man shall not live out halfe his dayes: The Lord abhorreth both of them.