The Christian Soldiers Great Engine, Title page – Dedication 2
THE CHRISTIAN SOVLDIERS GREAT ENGINE, OR The Mysterious and mighty workings of FAITH, discovered in a Sermon Preached before the Lord GENERALL in OXFORD, May 20. 1649.
By JOHN MAUDIT Fellow of Exeter Colledge, and Senior Proctor of the Ʋniversity.
foreign. Gr. Nazianz. ad Gr. Nissen. Orat. 6ta.
OXFORD, Printed by LEONARD LICHFIELD, Printer to the Ʋniversity. An. D. 1649.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THOMAS Lord FAIRFAX, Lord Generall of the Parliament Armies within ENGLAND & IRELAND.
MY LORD,
YOur late Entertainment at Oxford, was all on a suddain, and therefore no marvaile if something meane & unsuitable (My Lord) unto your Excellencies merit, as unto our desires and well wishes. If your triumph here bore any proportion to your Victory abroad, it was only in this, that the one was as quickly over, as the other, your work short, your triumph short, both done in such hast, as if you cared for neither. Well may you on such an occasion as this, take up the Emperour of Romes three words, who to set forth how speedily all his work was done, wrote down thus in short, Veni, Vidi, Vici: So may you also say, adding one word to his Veni, Vidi, Vici, Triumphavi, all was speedily over, you went out, you looked on, you overcame, you triumphed, you returned, and the newes of the first could scarce runne before, and get a foots ground of the last. Whiles you were here, every one most gladly brought you his Present, and all places strove to yeeld you some requitall for past kindnesses: The Schooles prepared a Banquet, remembring they had bin of late yeares converted to Granaries, but you had purged them of their Leaven: The Convocation-house called you to the Scarlet Robe, but that Reverend Senate there could not but acknowledge, that whil'st they gave you a Robe, by this last Victory they owe unto you even their owne. The Orators on all sides presented you with their rich and choise Eloquence, but they are these who must confesse, but for you and the worthy Champions that are with you, might have sung the songs of Sion in a strange land.
I speak not this, that you should glory in your selves who are nothing all of you, but in the Lord Christ who hath drawn his sword, and musters the battaile & is the Generalissimo of his Church in those latter daies. Now whiles others like Arauna to David, thus made a noble offering, so it was with me (I must confesse) who am daily spent with publike services here, that I could not make you better provision on so short warning, then Ahimelek did for that same David, setting before you and your Captaines a little Shew-bread, & to bring you forth Goliahs sword, and the Armes of the old Warriers, which hang up in the Sanctuary, Gidions, and Baraks, and Sampsons, and Davids experiences, that may strengthen your hands in battell, and by holding forth this discourse of the atchievments, and admirable workings of Faith, to proclaime from God unto you, In hoc Vinces: which sithence you have so well accepted, I again recommend it to your remembrance, and to the blessing of Almighty God, to whom only be all Glory, and strength, and victory, and wisdome ascribed for ever
By you, and by my Lord Your Lordships Faithfull Servant in Christ, JOHN MAUDIT.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE LIVETENANT GENERALL CROMWELL L. Livetenant of Ireland, towards the furthering of his expedition for IRELAND.
Right Honorable,
THE Prince of Peace and the Lord of Hosts, are two of Christs Titles in Scripture: Sometimes He comes forth in much meeknesse, as He rid to the great Cittieupon a Colt, the fole of an Asse: and sometimes Hee appeares dreadfull in battle, treading the wine presse, and dying all his rayment in the blood of his enemies. He ownes both Peace and Warre, neither is there any foundation in truth of either but in him: and shall we not complie with him in both, take either with him? If Christ speak peace, those that pray for the peace of Jerusalem shall prosper, blessed are such Peace keepers: and if Christ be in the Head of an Armie, those that come not up to the Help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty shall have Meroz Curse: Observe the Lord therefore in every administration of his that you may live upon it.
You are now one of those who gather willingly unto him at the sound of his alarme, and lifting up of his standard for the rescue of his great name and cause in Ireland: there are that have wisht you over long since, but for this end that you might appeare an Exile frrom hence, but we trust your departure is no other then that of Abrahams from his house, when he went out after the foure Kings for the rescue of his brother Lot, who returned with much glory and triumph home: So may your returne be with all aboundance of Peace and Joy, to see the Temple in more glory here then when you left it, and to sing the songs of Sion in this Land againe, after a while that you have tun'd the Irish Harp unto them.
You are called to a good work, onelyonly goe forth in the uprightnesse of your heart about it, that you may not miscarry. Let not your desires he after houses, and fields, & Vineyards there, as after the advancing of Christs throne in that Kingdome againe, and enlarging his dominion thitherward. Feare not your enemies, their owne guilt hath weakned them. You are sent over not to harme and oppresse the innocent, but to subdue and chastise the rebellious, and take an account of the cruell massacres and aboundance of blood of the Lords owne deare ones, which they have shed. Your Commission is not to invade and disinherit those that are fairely possest of their right: those that are there, have either forfeited their own right, or usurped other mens: Feare them not, though you cannot match them in numbers, trust You in the Lord your God by Faith, which is the most that he requires from you: He can shake the hearts of your enemies, as the trees of the Forrest are shaken with an East winde, and make them fly when no one pursues them.
I have set this word before you, that I may arme you with Faith; for by this you shall attaine unto high and noble atchievements. Take with you but a few, a strange word, when most call for many thousands, and say, where is the number that can equall our enemies? But have you not taken notice all this while for the strengthning of your Faith, how God hath preserved a few in that Land unto this day: surely the power can be no lesse in preserving a few against so many, then in destroying so many by you few. Thinke any of you, that the Lord doth stand in need of your great multituds to doe his work? Read this word over that I set before you that you may be convinced. And as for encouragements, God hath afforded you many: suffer me to minde you: First, behold the Lord Christ in a warlike posture through out Christendome in the Reformed Churches, and hath beene so these many yeares: who would not engage himselfe in his quarrell, though he be one of those that must fall before the victory be wonne? Next remember you have seaven yeares prayers of the Church sent before you, which will meet you upon the Borders of that kingdome, and welcome you and those that goe with you. Again, consider & be truly sensible of the cries of those that are under the Altar untill their blood be avenged on those that dwell on the earth: if the blood of one righteous Abel would not suffer heaven to rest, how think you is the full stream of blood like to prevaile with God of so many thousands? I will be short, add unto all this how much of Gods honour lies at stake on your side for the fulfilling of his promises to his Church, and upholding the work which he hath begun: which though it may be hindred and set back yet never can be quite everthrowne, but though carried on through many difficulties must be finished in due time. And lastly, lay againe to heart what large experiences You have already had, as so many pledges to hearten You in future exploits. And now say at length, or rather let those trembling hearts among you speak out, what should damp your zeale for the recovery of Ireland? Is not the time of Irelands deliverance yet come? We have long expected and prayd, and doe you yet want an opportunity? Shall jealousies and feares prevaile to keep you at home, when the cries of Orphans, and Widdowes, and besieged call you abroad? Dare You not trust us with God in Your absence, who can trust You with God in this service? Not that we want more love, but that You want more Faith. Or tell us must you goe far about to get thither, because of obstructions in the way: we trust there are not many, howbeit sure we are, God hath not discovered himselfe in a little glory lately, in checking and suppressing, both in this and the neighbour Nation, the Remora'es that would have retarded Your motion, as if he would plainely speake his minde thus unto you: goe on these shall not hinder the expedition for Ireland. Wherefore (Right Honourable) I must beseech You zealously, and I thought it my …ty upon this occasion to plead with You (as also some Ministers of Christ before me) in the behalfe of Ireland, that nothing that is not of God may divert Your Resolutions from that Noble and good service: & if any thing shall intervene, my prayer is that the Lord would rebuke it, and make a prosperous way for You through it; and when you have fulfilled Your Work which he hath ordained You unto, and served Your generation, You may as the Elders here specified, obtain a good report in the Church of Christ Militant, and a waighty Crowne of Glory and life in heaven with his Church triumphant, which is the hope and prayer of him
SIR, who owes you all honour and service in Christ Jesus J. M.