Military Duties Recommended, Application 3
USE. III.
Hence, Men …pert in Military Discipline are to be had in high Account by us, as the great, Blessings of the Great God.
If Acknowiedgements are to be made unto God as the Author of Military SKILL or STRENGTH; surely the River of our Acknowledgements running into that infinite Ocean, may do well to call at the Banks of Earth, as they glide along, paying some kindness to the Men that have military Ornaments on them. He that would say, Blessed be God that teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight, may also see cause to say, Blessed be God who has made any Hands & Fingers, expert at Military Discipline in the midst of us. Our Sight of a Trained Company, but especially of an Artillery Company, should not be perhaps without some special Expressions of our Value thereof; Since we may say, There march the Scholars of the Almighty GOD.
Persons well-acquainted with Military Discipline, have Honours and Roses cast upon them by the blessed God Himself. The most High and Mighty GOD Himself affects to be called (in Exod. 14. 3.) A Man of War. The Lord Jesus Christ also chooses to be represented (in Psal. 45. 3.) as a Mighty One with a Sword by His side. The glorious Angels, the bright Inhabitants of the Third Heaven, are styl'd in Luc. 2. 13. The heavenly Host, or Army. Their Excellent General calls 'em forth by twelve Legions at once, that is, to the number of Seventy two thousand Foot-men, and eighty four hundred Hors-men, the Number which a Roman Army consisted of O What matchless Fellow-Souldiers all well-qualified Souldiers have! The Scriptures, these inestimable Treasures of Heaven, are filld with nothing more than Military Terms and Things And among Men have Souldiers in all ages had most remarkable Reputation. The best Souldiers were by David in 2. Sam. 23. 8. reckoned, the Worthyes of the Kingdom. In Solomons time, tis noted in 2. Chron. 8. 9. that the Best men in the Land were the men of war. It was made an Act among the war-like Spartans that no man should have an Epitaph, or so much as his Name written on his Grave, if he had not been a Souldier. Some of the chief Dignityes now in the world had a Military Rise: an Esquire, an Earl, a Duke, and some Orders of Knight-wood owe their Titles to the Field. Let us then manifest a special Esteem unto the Right Souldiers that this Countrey is favoured withal.
But let me bespeak your peculiar Acknowledgements for them who Ieoparded their Lives on the high places of the Field, for us in the late Indian-war. My heart is towards those Souldiers, and, under God those Saviours of this people, who then willingly offered themselves. Tis just that those Lovers of their Countrey, should have extraordinary Marks of Respect from all of us for whom they exposed themselves; their very Countenances methinks carry Loveliness in them, & their wounds are B…autyes; If ever any of those dear men should be reduced to Penury, let all, their Neighbours testify more than common Kindness unto such well-deserving persons. I have the delight of seeing some of them in this Assembly; and tho I must own unto them, as Tertullian did unto the Christian Souldiers of his time, Non tantus sum ut Vos Alloquar, and say, I am too mean a Person to render you the Thanks of your Countrey; yea tho I must account no Tertullus able to make a due Address unto them; yet by me let it be said, Seeing that by you, we enjoy great Quietness, and very worthy Deeds have been done for this people by your Fortitude, We accept it allwayes, with all Thankfulness.
Blessed be the Lord for you, Ye blessed of the Lord.