The Bible Battles, Chapter 14
CHAPTER. XIV. Of the diſciplining of an Army, and orderly government thereof.
AN Army gathered, a fit General appointed, and well deſerving Officers choſen, and by good counſell the warre eſtabliſhed; yet all is nothing without military diſcipline: which is the very vinculum belli; The Lord therefore when hee he brought forth his hoſt of the Iſraelites from Egypt, vnderunder his Generall Moſes, he appointed a ſtrict diſcipline, which is the ſtrongeſt Guard to preſerve an Army from deſtruction.
Alexander Severus, ſo called for his ſtrict obſerving of diſcipline, ſo held diſcipline the preſeruation of the Common-wealth, as the letting of it ſlip, ſhould be loſſe both to his name and Empire, Scipio Africanus ſo obſerued diſcipline, as his ſouldiers ſeemed Senatours, as Plutarch witneſſeth. The cruell Turkes obſerve diſcipline, and that to our admiration,Hiſt. peregr. by which they hauehave mightily preuailed againſt vsus Chriſtians, who may be aſhamed of our ouermuch looſenes herein.
The well ordering of the hoſt of Iſrael by the Lord, ſtood in theſe things.
I. In the making of excellent lawes for good govtrnment: for his lawes were ſo righteous, as no NationSu…cl. 303. 4. Deut. 4. 8. could come neere them, nor had the like: as Moſes told them. Good lawes are the foundation of order and diſcipline, the guide of mens actions, and preſervation of an Armie, without which there▪ would be nothing but diſorder, and ſo confuſion.
II. In the execution of theſeDeut. 5. 32 Lawes, from which none might turne either to the right hand or the left. The life of all Lawes is to ſee them obſerved, and ſtrictly obeyed, for elſe Lawes be made in vaine.
III. In not allowing any priviledge to any one, or any diſpenſation to any perſon to tranſgreſſe theNum. 20. 12. 24. lawes. Moſes the Generall was a ſtrict obſeruer therof, and ſo his Deputy Lieutenant Ioſua, and if Moſes himſelfe offended, he taſted of the kings, the Lord of hoſts diſpleaſure. Though David for iuſt cauſes forbore Ioab his Generall for a time, yet for his breach of lawes he tooke order to hauehave him puniſhed after his deſert. Moſes was ſo iuſt and ſtrict a Iuſticer, that in iuſt proceedings hee would hauehave none ſpared, not the heads ofNum. 25: 4. Exod. 32. 27. 29: the people, nor any to ſpare his brother, nor his companion, nor his ſon. Saul would hauehave put Ionathan to death, for not keeping the charge which he impoſed vponupon the whole hoſt. And the Romans without reſpect of perſons, puniſhed offenders. The Conſul Titus Manlius cauſed his owne ſonne, for breaking the law of diſcipline, though otherwiſe his act in ſlaying an vpbraiding enemie, was both honourable, and to the Romans beneficiall to be beheaded. None in a campe may thinke themſelves free from obſerving order, no not the Generall, for hee that commandeth others muſt order well himſelfe, or his command will grow into contempt. This made Papirius to purpoſe the death of the Generall of his horſe, becauſe hee fought without command, though he returned victorer. Alexander the great would deſire of his ſouldiers the obſeruation of no ſtricter lawes, then himſelfe would vndergoe; Adrian the Emperour was ſingularly prayſe-worthy for this, and ſo was Scipio, Severus, Pyrrhus, with others.
IV. In promiſing rewards to the obedient, grace and ſavour to ſuch as kept themſelves within bounds, within the liſts of good▪ order andNum. 14. 24. 38. gouernment, the promiſes are ſet downe at large in many places by Moſes, and were faithfully performed to the well deſerving, as to Caleb, to Ioſua, to Phineas, and others. This will procure louelove to the lawes, make them more remarkeable, and take vp the minds of the well diſpoſed with a watchfull care, to obey them. For as impartiall execution of lawes terrifieth ſome; ſo the reward promiſed and performed, putteth life and courage into the hearts of other ſome, to doe worthily.