Orders Given Out, Title page – Encomium 2
Orders given out; the Word, Stand Faſt.
As it was lately delivered in a farewell SERMON BY Major Samuel Kem, to the Officers and Souldiers of his Regiment in Briſtoll.
Novemb. 8. 1646.
For now are we alive if yee ſtand faſt in the Lord.
Finally my brethren be ſtrong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole Armour of God that yee may be able to stand, &c.
LONDON, Printed by I.M. for Michael Spark, and are to be ſold at the ſign of the blue Bible in Green Arbour. 1647.
TO the Noble and Experienced faithfull Officers of my Regiment, Captain Hart ſenior, Capt. Grig, Capt. Pope, Capt. Roe, Capt. Lieut. Richards.
Noble Gentlemen,
IT was your love firſt ingaged me to take the charge of the City Regiment, and I appeal to you, whether my private gain, or the publicke ſervice was my ends, in accepting of my Commiſſion; ſince which received; I have put you in a poſture, whereby you are inabled to defend your ſelves, or offend the Kingdomes Enemies; it is my happineſſe I can ſay and none dare gain-ſay, the faithfull acting my part, Yet am I a debter to your Love; and in regard the chamber ſtock of my abilities fail me to diſcharge what I owe; yet were it diſhoneſty not to keep promiſe, what therefore you heard with ſo much patience; and importuned (with more hope to be granted) I have here preſented to your charity. Do but beleeve it, and ſtand faſt in the Truths of Jeſus Chriſt, and it ſhall be a compleat compenſation for all my labours with you.
And ſince I muſt leave you, give me leave to comfort you, and to tell you my heart: that I think you are the happieſt Garriſon in the Kingdome maugre you ſemi-Reducement, whilſt you poſſeſſe within your line, that reall piece of Valour, humility, and ſincerity, and no leſſe Noble then Cordiall Patriot of his Kingdome, your Governour: Who, abhors all ſelf-ends, and denyeth attendance onelyonly for the publick good, and ſhould I here that he were Charioted from you either by diſcouragement or ingagement, I ſhould ſadly cry out, Oh my Father, my Father, the horſe-men and chariots of Iſrael and pray for a double portion of his Spirit on all his publicke aiming ſchollers in this Kingdom.
Yea, give me leave to councell you: the word is, Stand Faſt, I beſeech you do ſo to God and his Glory; to Jeſus Chriſt and his Truths, to your Covenant in its naked true primitive intentions, as at firſt before the All-ſeeing-God; to both the honourable Houſes of Parliament who have adventured all for you, to the worthy aſſembly of Divines who ſeek God continually for you and attend his Will to declare it to you, and to me the moſt unworthy of the Kingdome and your ſervants who flyes to you for protection; yeilding my Commiſſion and ſubſcribing myſelf, Noble Gentlemen,
Yours and the Kingdoms faithful, although mean, Servant Samuel Kem
VponUpon his much honoured friends Farewell Sermon M. D. theſe few lines.
KNow Soldier, theſe enſuing pages tel
The properties of a true Centinel;
Orders are given out, The word Standfast,
Which intimates true valor firſt and laſt
For let me tel thee if thy heels prove light
What ere thy Colours be, thy Liver's white,
Therefore be ſtedfaſt, Though the giddy rout
Wear windmils in their heads and wheel about
Keep thou thy Poſts, though others Hedghog like
Shrink up their courage in ſome narrow Dike
Of ſelf reſpects, there's no ſuch liberty
In Truths plain field either to ſquat or fly.
Such as out-run the Truth may here wel know
They can have no good ground for what they do;
Stand to your Arms then (Chriſtians) and advance
To beat all falſhood out of Countenance,
And rout the infantry of new rays'd Crimes
And Troops of Hobby-horſes of theſe Times;
This is the only way to get to be
Captain Lievtenant to Integritie▪
Now to the Author of this Book one word,
Who ſpeaks and then maintains it by the ſword,
Stil crop the peaking Errors which appear,
That Malobus like not one may ſhew its ears.
Stil preach the truth, although ſome Gadarens
Have made thee quit their Coaſts by hoggiſh means
Stil fight for truth fear not a ſquint-ey'd troop
Of falſe opinions, rather make them ſtoop
To ſence and truth, or elſe ſo rout their train
That they may never Rally up again.
Wel haſt thou left the Land to put to Sea
Where you'l not find ſo much inconſtancie;
Fiſher of men, caſt out thy net once more
'Tis like you'l catch at Sea, more then a ſhore.
To his friend the Author:
SIR, wil you leave us, and is this your laſt
Orders given out, the word ſtand faſt,
Weele you obey, and ſeeing we muſt part
Who ever comands our perſons you the heart:
Farewell dear Major, this we are forſt to ſay
You put us in a poſture, and we wiſh your pay
Yours in Truth, R. R.