Soldiery Spiritualized, Title page – Dedication
SOULDIERY SPIRITUALIZED, OR the CHRISTIAN SOULDIER Orderly, and Strenuously Engaged in the SPIRITUAL WARRE, And SO fighting the good Fight: Represented in a SERMON Preached at BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND on the Day of the ARTILLERY ELECTION there, June 1. 1674.
By JOSHUA MOODEY Pastor of the Church at Portsmouth in New-England.
1 Tim. 6.12.
Fight the good fight of Faith.
2 Tim. 2.3.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good Souldier of Jesus Christ.
Ver. 5.
And if a Man also strive for Masterie … is he not Crowned except he strive lawfully.
CAMBRIDGE: Printed by Samuel Green. 1674.
To the much Honoured, the Artillery Company in BOSTON.
Honoured and Beloved,
THe Ensuing Word is the Lords, is Mine, is Yours, and is to be lookt at as a Message from the Lord, by me, to your selves, (to your selves I say, nextly and immediately, yet not so restrictively, but that all others in like capacity with your selves; yea all Christian Readers into whose hands it shall come, may look at themselves as concerned therein)
It is the Lords as part of his Counsel, Mind and Will: some of the great things of Gods Law lately Preached, now written to you.
It is mine, as an Instrument (however unworthy) in the composing, then dispensing, now publishing of the same.
It is yours, as I was called by you to this work, a Servant to you therein, and as by this presentation it is now made more especially yours.
As the Lords▪ you are most solemnly Commanded; as mine, most humbly intreated; as your own, strongly obliged to peruse, understand, receive and practise what is here sent you.
I could not think any thing of mine worthy of the publick view; but seeing your selves thought otherwise, and others, whom I honour and reverence were like minded with your selves; I thought meet to submit to persons of better judgements. And therefore have permitted it to pass the Press, being not able to be inexerable to the Importunity of my Friend…, nor daring to be disobedient to the Commands of my Superiours, and the desires of Superiours (in Case, and in this Case) I account Commands.
The Lord expected that all the Israelites in the Wilderness should contribute something toward the building of the Tabernacle; and that none might plead Poverty as an Argument for their Exemption, ordered their bringing and promised his accepting of Goats Hair and Brass, as well as silk and silver, Chittim Wood as well as precious Stones, (see Exod. 25.1—8) I was thence encouraged to bring my Oblation, when called for, of what was under my Hand. He that ha's received but one Talent must lay it out, not wrap it up. The Lord is no hard Master, he accepts according to what a man ha's, not what he hath not, (2 Cor. 8.12.) and men should do the like. If what is here done may (though but in the least degree) promote the work of the Lords house among you, or elsewhere, I shall attain my End, and be abundantly rewarded for my Labour.
If any that were mine Auditors should object the difference between the SerSermon as then preached and now written. I must own it, and add that it was …f force, not choice, my Memory not serving me at any Time to Remember Words, nor at all Times things in thei… proper places. You have it in the Press … it was intended for the Pulpit, and as you should have had it there (at least …or the Substance) if I could.
As for my manner of speaking in the using of many Metaphorical Expressi…ns, and Allusions unto the Calling, Pastures, and motions of Souldiers, and …his often in your most common and familiar Terms and Phrases, though it may possibly grate upon some Critical and captious Ears, yet I hope it will be at least excusable or tolerable to your selves, It being done chiefly for your sakes. My aim being to Spiritualize your Calling as Souldiers, and to …el… you a little of that much of Heaven that is therein contained, I had no readier way before me to do it then this. Had I been to handle the same Head of Divinity on another occasion and before another Auditory, I could and should have sought out other words, but as matters were Circumstanced, I am willing to believe that these may not be to the Charitable and teachable, altogether unacceptable. My Auditory, Subject, Occasion being Military, and my Text Metaphorical, if my discourse had not been in Terms and Language somewhat answerable, it had not been suitable. I conceive a man should take Measure of his Theam to out out his Language by, and make it up something according to the mode of his Auditory, I do not mean so as to please mens Humours, but to suit their Conditions, provided alwayes be keep within the Bounds of a Scripture mode and Cut. Edification was my End, and Familiar plainness one of the means conducing thereto. If some things seem blunt and homely, yet I hope they are all the words of soberness, and may have their use, if soberly and seriously read and improved. Nor is such manner of speaking on like Occasion without the Warrant of Scripture Example
I End with two Requests, First, that you will vouchsafe acceptance of this presentation as a Token and Testimony of the Sense I have on me of my Obligations to you for your favourable Construction and kind Entertainment of my poor Labours already manifested by you: Next that you will joyn with me in fervent Prayer to the Lord of Hosts that he who only can, would teach us all to profit, help us so to run that we may obtain, so to fight, not as those that beat the Air, but beat down, and keep down sin and the rest of our Spiritual Enemies, lest while speaking to others, heating or reading what comes from others, any of us should be cast away. To his blessing I commend you and these Endeavours for you, and remain
Your Servant in your Spiritual Warfare Joshua Moodey.