The Bible Battles, Chapter 6
VI. CHAPTER. Of neceſsary VVars.
ITs not enough to look onelyonly to the iuſtice of the cauſe in making warre; but alſo it is toPſ. 68. 30. & 140. 2. & 120. 7. be conſidered how neceſſary and conuenient it may be. The evills of warr ſhould make men not to be haſtie to goe to warr: Its an evill quality to delight in warre; againſt ſuch David ſpeaketh and deſires God to ſcatter them, as beingLeu. 26. 25. Reu. 20. 8, 9, & 16, 14 evill men and violent, eſpecially when they make themſelues ready to battle againſt ſuch as be for p…ace. The ſword is threatned as a puniſhment, and to ſhed, bloud is the Diuels delight, hee it is that ſeduceth the Nations to make warre, and hee ſendeth out the vncleane ſpirits, like croaking froggs to gather Kings to battle.
Beſides theſe conſiderations, the calamities and miſeries of warrs are vnutterable, who can recount them? Luſts of vnrulie Souldiers raigne, without reſpect of friends, or foes, many times. The battle of the warriour (ſaith Eſa) is with confuſedEſa 9. 5. & 14. 17. & 13. 16. 18. noyſe, and garment rolled in bloud; and hee telleth the people that the ſword hath made the world a wilderneſſe and deſtroyed Cities; yea children hauehave beene daſhed to peeces, houſes ſpoyled, Temples robbed,Lam. 1. & 2. & 3 & 4. & 5. ſtrong men ſlaine, and women rauiſhed, and crueltie committed without pitie. The woefull effects of warre are liuely ſet out in Ieremies Lamentation, and in the book of the warres of the Iewes in the laſt deſtruction of Ieruſalem, who can reade either booke without teares, except their hearts be of Adamant?
Yet a iuſt warre, if alſo neceſſary, forcing to take armes againſt an infeſting Enemie, is to bee preferred before an vniuſt peace. That which hath beene vttered concerning the evill of warre is not to diſhearten valorous hearts, nor to abate the courage of the valiant, who know that true fortitude is onelyonly ſeene in perills, and borne patiently without daunt of ſpirit: but it is onelyonly ſpoken to prevent raſh warre, for Duloe bellum inexpertis; as alſo to aduiſe ſuch to conſider in whoſe power it is to make warre, that iuſt cauſes of warre bee not pretended onelyonly, and ambition, deſire of Soveraignty, and other motives finiſter bee indeed the cauſes thereof.
Offenſiue warre vponupon iuſt and neceſſarie grounds is lawfull both from command from God, and the practiſes of iuſt Princes, as wee may obſerue in Divine and humane ſtories: But Defenſiue warre, magis eſt iuris naturae & politici officij: yea and better becommeth the people of the Prince of peace; and indeed, the warres foretold in the Reuelation, which the Church ſhall hauehave with the beaſt, the Dragon, the whore, the falſe Prophet, and with God and Magog are altogetherNote this. defenſiue. For its ever ſaid (a point worthy obſervation) that the beaſt made warre, the Dragon went out and warred, the ſpirits of divells went out to gather armies to battle; the beaſt, the whore, and tenne Kings made warre with the Lambe;Reu. …, 7. & …2. 17. & 137▪ & 16. 14. & 17. 14. & 19. 19. & 20. 8, 9. Gog and Magog gather together againſt the Saints, So that the offenſiue warre is on the enemies ſide, and the Defenſiue warre is altogether on Chriſt and his Churches part, by which yet they ſhall ouercome: would God this were conſidered of; if the Enemie begin, let vsus ſtand for our Religion and lives with courage, Chriſt will take our parts and giuegive vsus a glortous victorie in the end. The Lord hath ſpoken it; if we beleeue his Prophets, wee ſhall proſper; and hee that beleeueth maketh not haſt, if wee …ake a right courſe, let vsus ſtand ſtill, not feare, fight valiantly the Lords battles, for and in the cauſe of Religion, ſeeking to avenge the Lord on thoſe Romiſh Midianites, and behold then the ſalvation of the Lord, which hee will ſhew vntounto …s …n his appointed good time, even ſo, Amen.