The Bible Battles, Chapter 13
CHAPTER. XIII. Of Counſell for warre.
NO General is ſo well qualified, though with the beſt endowments of bodie and minde; but needeth counſell and adviſe. Counſell and ſtrength is forEſa. 58. 5. warre. Hezekiah a wiſe King tooke counſell with his Princes and his mighty men to withſtand Senacherib and to hinder him, as much as he could: Abſolom would proceed by2 Sam. 16. 20. & 17. 7. adviſe in his rebellion to aske counſell, though God in his wrath confounded it, by Davids friend, in his merciemercy to David. Gedaliah not hearing truth, nor receiving adviſe when timely offered was trayterouſly ſlain by Iſmael; The King of Syria tooke2 K. 8. 1 Mach. 5. 67. Pro. 15. 22. counſell to proceed in warre againſt Iſrael. To warre without adviſe is not good: without counſell, ſaith Salomon, purpoſes are diſappointed.
The Romanes had their Counſellours with their Generals. L. Furius in his warres againſt the Gaules had fiue, Caſar againſt France ten, Pompey againſt Pirats had moe.
And as good Counſellours were appoynted, ſo the wiſe would take their adviſe: as did Cam…llus▪ before he fought with the Gaules: Curio in Afrike, S…iplo before he ſet vponupon Aſdr…ball. So did Cyrus before he charged Artaxerxes his brother; Zenophon refuſed not to heare the counſell of a meane ſouldier. A…tonius Piu… would doe nothing but firſt he adviſed. And where good adviſe is heard and wiſely followed good ſucceſſe often followeth thereupon: But where one will do all alone, as Charles Duke of Burgundy did, he may ſoone overthrow his eſtate as he did: Such a one was Lautreck who brought hisGuiccard. lib. 19. forces of France to ruine before Naples, becauſe he would hear no counſell nor be adviſed. The high conceit of himſelfe that was in Lewis Sforce to rule all after his owne apprehenſion, brought him to a tragicall end, as Guiccardine relateth. Counſellours muſt yet be firſt taken heed of, to wit, ſuch as are envious, ſuch as think through pride their owne counſell beſt, are not eaſily to be followed; nor thoſe to be Adviſers▪ who are Penſioners to the Enemy, as ſome Engliſh were vnderunder Edw. the 4▪ to Lewis of France the 11. ſuch Penſioners are Traytours to their … and Country.
Concerning Counſellours, their qualification muſt conſiſt in theſe 4 things, number equality, ability, and good hon…ſty. For the firſt▪ in the multitude of Counſellours is ſaf…ty, ſaith Salomon, and purpoſes are by th…m eſtabliſhed. To be led by one is vnadviſedneſſe;Prov. 11. 14 & 15. 22 & 24. 6 many eyes ſee more then one, though that one be very wiſe. In the number one may not ouer ſway the reſt in ſuperiour power; for then one is all, and the reſt are Cyphers to make vp the number, but are not of value, many in name are there, but in effect one is the ſubſtance, and they all in him: Therefore in ſome ſort equality is neceſſary, & freedome without feare to adviſe for the beſt. They muſt be wiſe men able to giuegive counſell, from knowledge and experience▪ Liv. 44.Aemilius Paulus hated thoſe which would be counſelling in that which they vnderſtood not. The Counſellours of the Romane State in Iudas 1 Mach. 8Machabeus dayes were many, among whom was neither emulation nor envy, nor any one of them that domineered over another. They were for wiſedome & age called Senators, and for loving care of their Country, Fathers. Severus the Emperor had many in Counſell of warre, but all of them ancient experienced Souldiers in Armes: Alſo if they be ſchollers, good hiſtorians, able to relate their reading in military matters, they may do much good. Whatſoever their number be or their equality, or their skill, its moſt meet principally that they be honeſt, that is, faithfull in their Counſell, fearing God, and deteſting treacheryProv. 12. 5. and al falſhhood: for the Counſells of the wicked are deceit, neither are flatterers & fearfull to be iudged good Counſellours. Alſo their honeſty muſt binde them to faithfull ſecrecie; there muſt be no falſe brother to diſcover their Counſell; Such a perfidious wretch if eſpyed, is to be made an example to other with terrour.