Soldiery Spiritualized, Sermon · Part

Soldiery Spiritualized · Sermon · Part

p. 13Thus the Doctrine hath been in some measure explained and proved; we shall now improve it in some few particulars.

Is the Life of a Christian a Souldiers Life, and is he so to act as hath been said? Then this informs us something of the Nature of,

1. The profession and practice of Religion, that it is no such easy, slighty, indifferent busin…ss as many Professors make of it. Indeed to talk of Religion and make a Flourish is easy, to beat the Air is not difficult; to seem Religious is facile, but to be Religious is hard and will be found so. He utterly mist…kes the matter that dreams of taking his ease, and nourishing Sloth in a Christian Life, that as soon as he hath given up himself to Christ, that now his work is over; I tell thee no, the Warr now begins, now there are two Principles in thee, and those in an hot dispute at the Swords point, and there must be bloud-shed and loss of Life on the one hand or the other, And sure this is no Childrens play. God knows the Sloth and slightiness of mans Heart naturally, and therefore meets with it by setting forth a Christians Imployment under such Metaphors as will allow of no Lazines, Exempli gratia Math. 11.12. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and they take it by fo…ce, Sin make… a violent opposition against thy going to Heaven, and therefore thou must also make a violent Resistance. If Sin and Satan can … p. 14hinder it thou shalt never have possession of Heaven given thee, however not a peaceable and quiet Possession, and therefore thou must make a forcible Entry. Again, Luk. 13.24. you hear of Striving, being in an Agony, like men that are a wrestling, who tug and pull, and shake one another, taking all Advantages to give each other the Foil or Fall. Paul us'd the same word of himself, 2 Tim. 4.7. I have Fought, &c. I have striven that good strift, have well acted the part of a Wrestler. Striving implies action, Intenssness of Action, and that against a great deal of opposition. So [Running] in the Context is used in the same Sense, now Running is opposed to standing still, and also to moving slowly, it is a vigorous, lively motion. So 2 Pet. 1.5, 10. Giving all Diligence, Jude 3. Contending earnestly, Psal. 63.8 Following God, following him hard, and that with the Soul, Rom. 12.11. Fervency of Spirit, warm and vigorous acting.

But I need not go from this Metaphor of the Tent, Fighting is work, not play, hard work, (2 Tim. 2.4.) mens work, dangerous work. And let us about this Warr, Consider that it is.

1. Near us, yea, within us, not at a distance, two Men in every Christian.

2. Between us, our selves and our selves are the parties concerned.

3. Politickly and powerfully managed on either hand, by the Parties and their Auxiliaries.

4. Mortal, not some small blows, light scarrs, but Death on the one or the other side is the end of it.

5. Soul-Warr, the soul is warred against, 1 Pet. 2.11. and the Eternal Weal or Woe of the soul is the result of it.

6. Irreconcileable without Atonement.

7. Constant without Interm…ssion,

8. Perpetual without End, till death puts an End to the Combatants and combate both at once.

I say, Consider these particulars, and then say when may a Christian be Lazy or slothful? what leisure-Time shall he find to gratify a sluggish Spirit? where is there any room for slighty and superficial Carriages in his work? At what time may he have a Licence to say to his Soul, Soul take thine Ease, eat, drink, and be merry, (at least in that sense as he did, Luk. 12.19. and many still do) when will it be lawful for him to lay down his Arms, put off his Sword, unbend his Bow? where will you find from God or from the nature of the work any allowance or Countenance for that dulness sleepiness, security and Indifferency that finds so much Countenance among men? And do not wonder to see in your …ourny Heaven-ward the way bestrewed with dead Carkasses, and to see such Troops of dastardly Cowards, and white livered, …aint hearted, milk sopps upon their Retreat, and when you come there do not wonder to see so few Professors there, but rather that any should so Fight p. 15as to Overcome, that considering the opposition, any should obtain.

2. Then it will be good prudence for …l that are looking Christ-ward to sit down first and count the Cost, Luk. 14.25-33, Christs deals plainly with us and tells us what we must trust too, let not us deceive our selves. Zebeaes sons were for a Kingdome, but Christ tells them of a Cross, a Cup, a Baptism and a bitter one too, Math. 20.22, 23. and so should we tell our selves of the Warr as well as the Reward, of the way, as well as the End, not only of the Crown to be worn, but of the Sword, that by which it must be won before worn.

Many when they hear of the Gospel and word of Grace, they like the … Ground (Math. 13.) Immediately receive it with Joy, perhaps are told of the Warr, but do not consider of it, or if they do it is the Plunder and Triumphs that their mind is mainly on, hence when they meet with bloud and and wounds, repent of their choice, when Persecution arises they are offended, and lay down their Profession as hastily as they took it up inconsiderately, ver. 5.20, 21. Its good therefore for a Christian to look before he leaps, lest after he hath advanced he draw back again, throw down his weapons, run away from his Colours, and make a shameful Retreat.

The Lord Jesus looks back on all that are following him, and saith, I have a Crown for you, but you must Fight for it; a Kingdome for you, but you must take it by Force. What ever Christ proposes to us we should Consider of. Now his question to us is, (and should be ours to our selves) Can we Fight? can we venture where Arrows and Bullets flie? can we Face an Army? can we endure Hardship as good Souldiers of Jesus Christ must do? Can we bid defiance to Sin, send a Challenge to our bosome lusts? can we be content to live a life of opposition to every Sin? We are naturally for Ease and quiet, would fain live without Care and fear, meet with no cross or trouble, swim down the Stream without any stop or check, not to have a strong Tide to row against, or be forced to turn it up against a Trade-wind of perpetual Opposition. Most are like Issachar to whom rest is sweet, Gen. 49.14. whereas we should be like Judah, and divers other of the Tribes who are described to be of warlike Spirits, some with open force, others with subtle Stratagems engaging against their Adversaries, Only that Tribe was dull and low-spirited. We are therefore to examine our own Hearts, God will try them and so should we. The Lord would not lead Is…ael by that way lest they should see vvar and so recant, Exod. 13.17. but God will lead us that way where we shall see Warr, and that vvay we must go or none, for there is no other, and woe to us if we do recant.

Great will be the Advantage that will acrue to us by due Consideration of these things before hand, hereby we shall be put into a posture of Expectation of difficulties, and hard Hardship in this Warfare will be no new thing to us, and so we shall not be so likely to be Surprized or offended. Expectation p. 16will put upon preparation, and that will be very profitable Christ told his Disciple… that his end in warning them of Persecution before hand was to prevent … being offended when it came, (Joh. 16.-14.) Again, it will prevent our Apostatizing and falling back from our Profession after we have engaged in it. Apostacy from a Profession made, arises from want of due pondering what we did when we fi…st made it, and were like to suffer in the prosecuting of it. Therefore let us be advised and deliberate in taking up a Profession of the Name of Christ, lest that which was rashly enterprized be groundlesly deserted.

3. Let no poor sincere hearted Follower of Christ be discouraged, as if all were not well with him because he meets with much Fighting and Opposition, no peace or quiet; Enemies come on him like the waves of the Sea, scarce can have one resting day or night, the Devil ever beating up his Quarters, his own Treacherous Heart often betraying him to Satans tempta…ions and Allurements, &c. Why know this is no strange thing, see 1 Pet 4.12. Paul could tell you as much as all this upon his own Experience, (Rom. 7.) He stood to his Arms when he first engaged for Christ, and never laid them down till he came to lay down himself in the Grave. It was no Argument that Nehemiah and his Company were not about Gods work, because they were fain to hold the Sword in the one hand, and the Trowel in the other, Neh 4 17, Rebecca had …o just cause of fear by reason of the struglings and Fightings within her, Gen. 25.22, 23. She had conceived by the Son of the Promise, only there were Twins. Say not then, if so, why am I thus? Nay, if so, how can it be otherwise then thus? If a Believer, thou goest with Twins (the one the Old man that is in thee naturally, the other the New, begotten in thee by Christ Jesus) and these two must and will, yea, cannot but Fight and struggle, for they are contrary, see Rom. 7.23. with Gal. 5.17. Thou maiest bind the Old man indeed and keep him Prisoner that he shall not run, but canst never so bind him as that he cannot Struggle; He will Rebel while he ha's a Being, and while thou hast a Being in this Life he will have one too.

To you that are discouraged because you feel the Body of Sin in you Fighting and disturbing you, let me say, there is one though you should not feel it, and to feel it is a mercy, yea, to feel and Fight it is a Duty That it is there is most certain, that you feel it there speaks some Life, that you Fight it some Strength also, and consequently your Frame is in some measure right, as well as your state good.

It is the Condition of every man to be either taken Captive or in Warr: if Captived at Satans will he may have a kind of peace or …he present, but no wise man will think such an one safe; if in Warr it speak… … gotten out, or at least getting out of his Snare, and that is comfortable.

Then let not Satan b…ff…e th…e, and make thee wound thy self with thine p. 17own weapons which thou shouldest use against him. Warr against Sin, if from a Principle of Life within thee, is a most certain Sign of a good Estate.

Its true, there may be a kind of a Warr between a Natural inlightned Conscience, and a carnal unrenewed Will; and between the sensitive and rational Faculties in an unregenerate Man, but if the warr be between two Men in thee, be sure one of them is the New Man: and if there be a new Man in thee, there is Christ in thee, and if Christ be in thee thou shalt Overcome. Those other strivings of Reason or of a natural and inlightned Conscience, are not against Sin as such, and so not against all Sin, are usually weak, nor do they grow more strong, are inconstant, and by Fi…ts only, not out of Hatred of Sin, but will consist with a Trade of Sin, at least with an Allowance of some secret-darling Sin. But if thou findest the warr against Sin as such, all Sin, constant, gr…wing, and such as proves thee an utter Enemy to all Sin, so that thou canst say thou wouldest never Sin more, &c. if so, thy Struglings should rather encourage thee then otherwise. Do not expect an End of this Warr while thou livest, only live a Life of dependence on Christ, and from his death and Resurrection daily, fetch renewed strength and Grace. What would poor combating Paul have done with his Body of Sin had it not been for Christ? Rom. 7.

4. This Doctrine may also serve to give an Alarm to the secure, quiet, easy Professor, and that on a double Account, viz.

1. If thou be not engaged in this Spiritual Warfare.

2. If though in a Sense engaged, yet not Strenuously.

1. Know, if thou art no Warrier, thou art no Ch…istian. If there be no Warr, there is no Grace, if thou know not what it is to be a Champion, then not what it is to be a Christian neither. He that is no Souldier of Christ is no Servant of Christ. All Christs Followers have their Names in the List of those that Fight the Lords Battels. He that now is, and ever was in peace, so continuing, now is and ever shall be without true peace. Do not cry peace, because thou never knewest Warr; Cujus Contrarium. He that never knows Warr shall never know Peace. He that will be crowned must Overcome, he that will Overcome must Fight, then judge what will become of him that does not, cannot, will not Fight. You are either with Christ, or against him, Fighti…g fo… Christ or in Opposi…ion to him, there is no Neutrality here, mind what was said in the former use, if not in Warr then a Captive, oh do not bless thy self because thou art quiet and at Ease, are not in Trouble as other non, No, its a Sign that the strong man▪ A…med hath Possession of thee and there o… al is in peace, me-thinks it should be a Sta…t…ing and … thee to hear that thou art the Devils Captive, Slave, Vass…l, as … is that is not a Souldier of Christ. Thou that hast no warr with Sin … sure thou hast no Peace with God. It is said, Gen. 1 4. p. 18that when News came to Abraham that Lot was taken Captive, he and all his Company were up in Arms presently: why let every secure Sinner know, every quiet sinner that hath not yet given up his Name to Christ as a Souldier under him in this Holy Warr, I say let him know that the Lord hath sent me to him this day, as his Messenger in his Name to bring him these heavy Tidings viz. that not his Friend, Acquaintance, Relation, &c. but himself, & that not his Body only, but his Soul, his precious, Immortal Soul, his darling, that is more worth in it self, and should be to him then Ten thousand VVorlds, is taken Captive by Satan, and there vvithout Infinite Power and Grace, like to be a perpetual Bondslave. That roaring Lion thine Adversary the Devil hath seized thee, thou art in the Dragons claws, and if thou bestir not thy self speedily he will drag thee down into his Den, his Cave, the Bottomless pit, from whence no Ransome shall ever fetch thee; No Ransome but Christs now can, and when once the day of Grace is over, (which how soon it may be, God only can tell) that shall not neither. Oh is it possible for any secure Sinner to be so fast asleep as not to take this Alarm! God forbid. We account it a miserable thing to be taken Captives by a cruel Adversary, & carried at a great distance from our homes and Relations into the Enemies Country, where we are like to wast away our whole life Time in hard & rigorous Service, in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and want of all things; and we think that all which hear of our Case are obliged to pity and pray for us, yea, & (if there be need and hope) to contribute something toward our Ransome: apply it then to thy Soul-concerns, & think what it is to be in the Hands, and at the will of the Devil, the greatest Tyrant that ever was, to Serve him with the greatest Rigour, in the hardest Service, for the longest duration, viz. that of Eternity, in the greatest penury of all things, no rest night nor day, nor the least drop of water to cool their tongues, and when thou hast thought of this, say if it be not a Condition Infinitely more miserable then the other, and then again say, if it be not amazingly strange, that the same persons that would be so much affected with the other, should be so little moved with this. Oh why doth not the world ring with the doleful Complaints of such poor wretches? why do they not fill Heaven and Earth with their Cries, and (being first alarm'd themselves) alarm both to contribute to their Relief? Alas they know not that they are poor and miserable, &c. (Rev. 3.) they feel not the Iron yoke upon their Neck, nor the Chains of darkness at their heels, at least they do not feel Sin to be as a Yoke, as Chains, cords and Fetters, hence not startled, not affected; but (miserable self-destroying sinners that they be) stop their Ears at the Proclamation of the Year of Jubile, the acceptable Year of the Lord is not an accepted Year to them, they turn their backs upon the tenders of Liberty, hugg their chains, c…se their Captivity, love their Bondage and refuse to go out free. Hence though we see such persons daily, we hear any of them crying p. 19and bemoaning themselves but seldom, hence in stead of following Christ who would lead them out of this Slavery they rather prepare Warr against him, and use their utmost Endeavours to keep themselves in. Well, one of the next mercies to the giving of Jesus Christ to a poor sinner is the making him throughly sensible of his misery, and disquieting and distressing him thereupon with on Christ. Oh pray for that work to be wrought, and pray that none may (as it is frequent for many to do) look up a little at the first hearing or reading of such a Truth, but soon lay down their drowsy heads again, and make a Shift ere long to get asleep again, and dream that notwithstanding all that hath been said, they shall have peace.

2. It alarms them that though they make a show and pretend high, yet in reality do play rather then work, talk rather then Fight, and so indeed do but beat the Air. Christ loves to see a man that girds up the loins of his mind, and buckles to his work, that puts his Bones as well as his Brains to it, and laies about him like a man. There's many that make a Shift to pass among men for Christians, who yet will want a place to hide their Heads in at that day when the Great-General shall appear, because they have been only personaters of the Christian stage-players in Religion, that never yet had the Courage, or will, to Face any beloved sin, or give it one sound Blow. Thou hast Flourished thy Weapons about thine own head, but never gavest one down-right Blow upon Sins Head; this is not like Christ, nor will be liked by him; For when Christ is brought in as returning from the Fight against his Enemies, Isai. 63.1, &c. his Garments are all red with their Blood. It far better becomes the Coat of a Christian Souldier to see it sprinkled with the Blood of Sin, then to see i… spotted with the Flesh, the former should be laboured for as honourable, the latter hated as reproachful, Iude 23. which yet is the Condition of every las…e, easy Fighter. In stead of garments rouled in sins bloud, they are rouled in Sins filth and pollution.

5. Be we all then Exhorted to stand to our Arms, Let us Fight, Fight the good Fight, and so Fight.

Fight] do not play, idle, sleep when there is so much work to do, so many Enemies to oppose, woe to him that now stands with his Hands in his Pockets, or his Arms folded one in another in the Sluggards posture, as if there were nothing to do. Oh its a busy world, and Fighting a busy work.

Fight the good Fight] Fight for Christ against Sin, &c. that is the good Fig…t. And so Fight] not with their tongues, but Hands and Hearts, not with Flourishes but Realities, not with words but Actions; So Fight that you may Overcome, not ever Fighting and never Conquering, ever learning and yet never understanding. Be often pressing on our Souls the necessity not only of doing but [so doing] without which all our doing is nothing worth and tends only to self-undoing. Fight we must, and conquer we must, or else p. 20it vvill be ill vvith us. We are in the same Case as those Souldiers vvhom when the Commander had landed on the Enemies Country ▪ he burnt up their Ships that transported them, and then told them that they must either eat up these men (i. e. their Enemies before them) or drink up that Sea, intimating that there was no way left but to it they must, and that upon the peril of their lives. God hath set us here in our Enemies Country where we must either Fight manfully, or die shamefully. Now to further us in this our work, take some Directions and Encouragements, and that,

1. Unto all those who are or would be accounted Christians, and therefore must be Souldiers.

2. To those in particular, who are Souldiers and also Christians, or to Christian Souldiers and Souldier Christians.

To the former let me say these following words, and that,

1. By way of Direction, 1. Make sure that your Names, and Hearts as well Names are given up to the Service of Christ. Remember that in your Baptism you took Press-mony from the Lord, engaging you to serve him in the Warr, against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and as you grow up he expects that you should Answer for your selves, what side you are for. All men are Souldiers either in the Devils Regiment, or under Christs Banner. Be not then halting between two Opinions, be not Neuters, but deliberately make your choice. Jesus Christ is lifted up as an Ensign to the Gentiles; and wherever the Gospel is preached he sets up his Standard, and causes it to be proclaimed by sound of Trumpet, that whoever will fall off from Satan and come and put themselves under him, they shall be welcome to him, and protected by him. Oh then when he saith who wilt thou be for, say, let thy Soul say, Lord I will be for thee and for no other. He off…rs thee Conditions of Peace, comply with them then, for thou canst not meet him in an Host…le way with thy poor, miserable, naked Soul, who ha's his twenty Thousand As Luk 14. yea, Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand to wait on him. Do not then harden thy heart against him, for thou wilt not Prosper Th… submit to him, and be free in it. All Christs Souldiers are Volunteers, Psal. 110.3. They are the men of Desires that offer themselves willingly, Judg 5.

2. That being done, enquire who are Christs Friends and Foes, and let them be thine too; do not mistake and Fight Friends, while thou compliest with Foes, and if thou dost the former, thou wilt not shun the …a…ter. Do not as they, Isai. 5.20. hugg a Lust when thou shouldest stab it, embrace a darling sin when thou shouldest cut the throat of it, l…ve …he World when thou should hate it. … contrà do not be shy of Holi…ess vvhen thou oughtest to seek, pursue and perfect it, &c.

3. Be at peace with God, get and keep him on your side, and then none can be against you, at least shall not hurt you, Rom 8. Nothing vvill more further and succeed you. Warr vvith Sin then your peace with G…d. When p. 21Sauls Time of Punishment for his Treachery and Cowardize drew nigh, he bustled all he could to save his Stakes, but God was departed from him, and then there was no help for him. Heaven would not, Hell could not relieve him though he implored Aid from both, see 1 Sam. 28, and Chap. 31. But if God be on your side, victory must needs be there too.

4. Be Couragious, Courage is an high Accomplishment of a Souldier, and most indispensibly requisite in a Christian. Faint Hearts will shew themselves false ones, when the pinch comes. How often did the Lord say unto Joshua, (Chap. 1.) Be strong and of a good Courage, and it was on the same account that we are, when he was going to Warr for Canaan. Hear the Lord saying to us as to them, Deut. 20.1-4. and say we to our selves, and one another as they did, 1 Sam. 4.9.

5. Get well armed. Good Armour will help to good Courage, he that is unarmed or ill armed must needs be faint-hearted, and one Coward is enough to spoyle a whole Company. The Lord hath a good Armoury where you may be furnished. See Eph. 6.10, &c. And when you have this Armour, prove it, try what your Faith can do, what your hope, &c. can do. Suppose Cases of Diffi…ulty, as David does, Psal. 27.1, 2, 3. and supposing your selves to be in such Cases, see what work you can make of it, suppose the loss of friends, near Relations, Estate, Health, yea, suppose Death looking in at your window, try if you dare face it, make proof of the strength of it, and see if you are able to grapple with it. Supposed Cases will furnish and fit you for real Cases. Be often handling your Arms, and use will make you prompt, the frequent handling them will help you to handle them handily, expertly, dex…erously, successfully.

6. Be at variance with every sin, get inward, setled, radicated heart-Hatred against sin as such, and then thou wilt oppose every sin. Correspondence with one sin will ruine thee. Do not spare …ny because a little one (thy doing so will be a great one) neither dare to connive at any, because sometime a dear one, and still a secret one. God sees, and is a witness of all secret sins, (Jer. 29.23.) Be not bold, do not adventure to commit one sin in hopes of a pardon, lest the Lord of Hosts should answer thee as sometimes a Commander did an offending Souldier who pleaded that it was the first Time, or he had done so but once, quoth he, Souldiers must offend but once. To sin once is once too much.

7. Begin with Sin betimes, ere it grows to an Head and the Conspiracy strengthen. Achitophels Counsel was fatal if it had been followed. I will pursue him this night, while weak and weary, 2 Sam. 17.1, 2. Let this Counsel be acceptable to thee, it is (as was said of his) as if thou shouldest ask Counsel at the Oracle of God, nay it is the Oracle of God, follow Sin this night, resolve against it this moment, and pursue it speedily. Sin is like Fire in the p. 22House-Top, either quench it presently, or else all will be in a Flame within a few moments, and in ashes within a few more. The Twig will come up easily, but the Tree when grown up will be Invincible. Sin is a great Breeder, a little Company will soon increase to a potent Army. And it will grow strong as fast as numerous. Then take the little Foxes, (Cant 2, 15.) the old ones may be too sub…le and too nimble to be taken Begin with Sin as soon as it begins with thee, nip it in the bud, crush it in the Egg, the first risings & motions of Sin do thou rise up in Arms and move against. The Emphasis of Achitophels Counsel lay in the Circumstance of Time [this Night] and hence Hushai's policy was only to strike at that, and by so doing enervated and weakened the whole, so that it was turned to folly. The Conscience of many a sinner is so far convinced of that plain Truth that sin must be fought, that the Devil seeth it bootless to beat him out of that, dares not say the Counsel is not Good, only it is not good at this Time, what needest make so much hast as to go this night, stay and sleep upon it, to Morrow is a new day, another Time may do as well, and thus while the sinner delays, Sin increases, delaying to oppose sin is a sin, and gives way to more sin, and the renewing of the Act strengthens the Habit. Custome in Sin will prove a second Nature, and be as incureable as the Ethiopians Colour or the Leopards Spots. Unto none is it of so great Concernment to take the very nick of Time as Souldiers, especially Christian Souldiers. The Bratts of Babylon may more easily be dasht against the Stones, if we take the Season for it, but if we let them grow up they will become more formidable, and hardly Conquerable.

8. In stead of making any Provision for, endeavour to cut off all Provision from the Flesh, watch against the occasions of Sin, and resist them strongly. It's accounted good Policy in Warr to leave as little Provision as may be in the Enemies way, men will burn and destroy even in their own Country to prevent the Enemies finding relief. How foolishly do they act then who pretend to Fight Sin, and yet secretly supply it with Provision & Ammunition to carry on the Warr? The Flesh hath many Inventions to provide for it self, will shift noteably, and the Devil is a careful Cater and Purveyor for it, it needs none of our help. He that keeps not himself from the Occasion, cannot expect that God will keep him from the Sin. Some Lusts like some strong-holds may be easier starved then taken by Storm, yea, no lust will …e taken that is not starved, or dye if you give it meat.

9. Plant your main Battery against your nearest and dearest Sins, your own iniquities. Deal with that Sin that is as a right hand, and eye, and deal most surely there. Those that thou art most endangered by, thou shouldest make most Opposition against. If there be any thing tha… holds Correspondence with the Enemy, no wonder thou art betrayed. Satan could do Christ no harm because he found nothing in him, Joh. 14.30. The less thou hast in thee p. 23for Satan, the less can he do without thee against thy self. And indeed it is little that he doth against thee without thee, I mean, without thine own having an Hand in it; the most he does is to strike Sparks upon our Tinder or Powder, to bring Fire and Bellows to our dry S…ubble, do but damp that combustible matter that is in thee, and he will lose much of his labour. Fight neither with small nor great but with the King, was a Charge he gave his Souldiers, (2 King. 18 30.) So let us Fight mainly against the King-lusts, commanding Inclinations and Desires. When the Enemies and Traytors within are conquered, executed, at least the Leaders or Heads of them, thou wilt with less danger oppose the Rest. Let the Head-sins be taken off, and the other will fly like the Philistines when Goliath their Champion was dead.

10. When Sin begins to fall follow it close, give it no breathing, no recruiting Time, pursue thy victory, lee it not have leisure to rally, but follow the Chase till none be left remaining. The Sun shall stand still at Joshua's prayer to give him opportunity to be avenged on his Enemies, Chap. 10.12, 13. If thou hast a Spirit to pray and pursue Sin thou shalt want neither light nor help to give it an utter overthrow.

11. Be much for Order. Christians are Souldiers and that in actual Exercise, now Souldiers in Exercise, at least if they exercise well are great observers of Order. What is an Army in a Rout, or Christians out of their places? It was both sightly and safe for Israel that came harnessed out of Egypt to march in such exact Order through the wilderness. Hear his saying concerning them, Numb▪ 24.5. Order is Beau…y and safety. Then let each know and keep his own place, and not while inquisitive into other mens places and duties, neglect his own. Let Leaders lead, and let the rest follow; let Commanders command▪ and let the rest obey, else there will be Confusion. They are the best Souldiers that can keep from a Rout, and the next best that can rally soonest. The best will sometimes miss it, but miserable are they who when out cannot bear to be reduced or brought in. As much as possible keep in; if out, as soon as possible fall in again. Keep in your places and you keep out of danger. Strayers from their Colours or straglers from their places will soon be snapt up.

12. Be constant in Christs Service. His standard is ever in the Field, do not fly from your Colours. The work of Christian Souldiers is not a Battel but a Warr, when once listed never freed, no not after sixty years, as in Israels Camp. Beware of neglecting any Season of going to Warr, 2 Sam 11.1.

You read that David had a Battel, and yet again a Battel, and yet again a Battel, 2 Sam 21.15, 18, 19▪ 20. No discharge in this warr till death comes, and he is your last Enemy, 1 Cor. 15 26. you must Fight till you die upon the place. Resolve to live and die Fighting, and then you shall live and die Conquering, yea, you shall be more then Conquerours, Rom. 8.37.

p. 24Then lose no Time. Alexander being askt, how he did so much, conquered so many places in so little time, Answered, foreign by omitting no opportunity. We have many Enemies to conquer, and much work to do in a little Time, we had need lose none, but by redeeming it to make more. Christ bade them gather up the Fragments, (Joh. 6.) which proved more then the whole that they had at first. Sure our Time is as precious as our Bread, we should then preserve and improve every Inch, bit and Crum of it, let none be lost; do not whittle out our precious Time into chips, break it in pieces, crumble it into bits; should we gather up those Fragments of Time spent in vain chatt, needless Recreations, &c, perhaps it would be more then the whole that many of us have ever made good use of to this day.

13. Vnite firmly, strongly and closely together. Christian-fellow Souldiers you are Members of one Body, yea, members one of another, th…n be one, and of one Heart at least though you be not always in all things of one mind. It was the Devils maxime of old, and Machiavels since, divide and Conquer. It was Christs mind of Old, and his Apostles since. Be of one mind, live in love and peace, &c. 2 Cor. 13.11. Peaceableness and Innocency are Good Qualifications in Souldiers, and so in Christians, Gentleness in Souldiers makes them Gentlemen Souldiers. All Christs Souldiers are of peaceable, meek, gentle, quiet, tractable dispositions. Innocent also as Doves, (Math. 10.16.) do violence to no man saith John Baptist to the Souldier, (Luk. 3.14.) be spotless, harmless, and without rebuke (yea, among a crooked and perverse Generation that will provoke) saith Paul to the Christian, Ph. 2.15. Christs Souldiers ride on white Horses, clothed in white Linnen, Rev. 19.14▪ viz. Holiness, Righ…eousness, Equity, Innocence; to have an hand in any of those dirty Actions of injuring, wronging, or quarrelling with any of your fellow-Souldiers or others, will be a spot soon seen on, and a blemish to your white Coat.

But especially Covet her Characters of her self, 2 Sam. 20.19. I am one that is Faithful and peaceable in Israel. The Lord is a man of Warr, Ex. 1….3. yet the God of peace, Heb. 13.20. Christ is the Captain of the Lords Host, yet the Prince of peace, Josh. 5.14 with Isai. 9.6. The Spirit maintains the Warr with sin and Satan, and yet one of his main fruits is peace, Gal, 5.22. while at Warr with all Gods Enemies, Be at peace with all his Friends, and as much as possibly in you lies with all men. Saints have the most warlike, and yet the most peaceable Spirits of any men in the world. Their wisdome is from above, and that is first pure, then peaceable. Let there be no Faction, or Fraction among us. If one Body, dread that there should be a Schism in the Body. Let not Christian Souldiers delight to keep at a double, (perhaps it is too often double double) distance. If we are quarrelling one with another when we should be joyning shoulder to shoulder to oppose the common Enemy, we shall make matter of sport for our Adversaries and shame and misery for our p. 25selves. And when our Captain comes to look on us, if he find us quarrelling and Fighting one with another, we may expect that he will frown, yea, and Fight too, beat us, punish us altogether. It is usually observed that in Controversies and Contentions, though one party might be mainly to blame at the beginning of them, yet if they continue long, it is much if either be wholly Innocent.

Our being Souldiers saith we must Fight, but our Rule as Christians tells us against whom we must Fight viz. sin, &c. and for whom viz. for Christ and the Common Faith, not one against another, nor for our Lusts, and yet from them all our Warrs and Fightings come, Jam. 4.1, Small matters oft make Great Breaches, A little Earth sometimes, a Fancy, a humour, a Lust, &c. why better lose much of our Earth, Fancy, &c. and all our ill humours and Lusts then any of our peace. The Fig-tree Jud. 9.11. feared losing its sweetness if it should accept of promotion over the Trees: I am sure while we contend for promotion over others, contend to promote our wills and humours above others (and the Text tells us Prov. 13.10. that only by pride comes contention) we lose our peace, our quietness, our sweetness, and sowre our selves, into a frame unpleasing to God and unprofitable to our selves and others, and the Gain will never countervaile the Damage. One of the highest pieces of Souldiery is for a man to Overcome himself, and he that hath attained that skill will be a Conquerour where ever he comes, no evil shall overcome him, but he will overcome it by doing of good, (Rom. 12.21.) and that is the noblest conquest in the world. Mistake not Courage & valour to think it consists in rendring evil for evil, (no, when thou dost so thou art overcome, and shewest thy self a Coward) or being able to give persons as good as they bring, to be even with them, stand out stifly against them and not yield, &c. No, he is truly Couragious & stout hearted that can stoop rather then quarrel, yield rather then sin. Abraham shewed as much true Christian magnanimity when he yielded to Lot to prevent strife (Gen. 13.) As when he faced all those Kings and delivered Lot, Gen. 14. True magnanimity shews it self in an utter Impotency and inability to do any thing against Truth and peace. Courage of the right stamp appears in daring to grapple and Collar with thine own Lusts and Corruptions, in enduring hardness, (2 Tim. 2, 4.) and hard dealing too, without being put out of thy way thereby.

Then set all Christians move, act, harmonize as one Body, and members of the same Body. Refer our zeal and host for the Enemy, and then lay it out when it may praise God, and be sure the wrath of Professors of Religion one against another does not work his praise, but ….

Martial Discipline is …. Woe to those that begin, woe to those … that (as G…d gives opportunity) come not with their Pain of … to help to put ou… the p. 26Fire of Contention. God is angry at our being angry with one another, our selves are wofully distempered and damnified, others Scandalized and hardened, Satan only smiles because he gains the while. In these pudled waters the Devil accounts (because by experience he finds) that it is good Fishing, and though he cannot Fish out (no more then he could winnow out, Luk. 22.31, 32,) any true Grace, yet he may deprive us of the present, profitable, and comfortable Exercise of it; and he may, and often doth at such Times fish out all the seeming grace of an Hypocrite, and make him manifest in his own Colours. Quarrelling Times are trying Times, and manifesting Times, those that have any Faith, love, patience, &c. it will then appear; and those that had nothing but a show of these will then show what they had. Yea, the Saints themselves when troubled, shaken and disturbed by the Storm of Contention, do cause more filth and froth to rise then either themselves or others thought to have been there.

Offences have been and will be, Controversies and Divisions have been by Satan raised and fomented in all Ages, which have occasioned great digladiations among Christians. Hence Pulpits and Presses have been more then glutted with many Polemick and unedifying Discourses, besides sharp Debates in private, by which much precious Time hath been wasted, that will be dearly missed one day. And for men either in publick or private Capacity to be much (much more to delight to be much, and being much will breed delight) in those matters, to travel farr in that Road, how well it suits with their feet who are to be stood with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, (one piece of our Spiritual Armor) I leave them to Judge who have for any considerable Time worn that Shooe. To study to disquiet Lust and sin in our selves first, and also in others is given us in Charge, but in the mean Time to study to be quiet in our selves and with others, lies very fair and full in our Commission and Instructions, 1 Thes 4 11. with 2 Thes. 3.12. That the Sword should devour for ever while there is any Sin remaining to be the Antagonist, must be for ever owned; but if the Sword devour at all, much more for ever, while our Brethren are the Subjects of it, this will be bitterness in the latter end, 2 Sam. 2.26. Let Pulpits ring with the Everlasting Gospel, the bitterness and vileness of Sin, the excellency of Christ, the freeness of Grace, the necessity of Faith and Holiness toward God, Superlative Love to Christ and to one another as our selves; and let private discourses and Occasional Conferences between Fellow-Souldiers throughout the whole Army, be the Eccho of such Counsels, and our Carriage and Conversation toward God and one another, the Examples of those Rules, if (I say) men were thus busied they would have little list or leisure to quarrel, and many of our endless and fruitless Controversies would die alone. There is a great deal of Profaneness, Sensuality, worldly mindedness, pride, want of Love, &c. againgst these let the voice he lifted p. 27up like a Trumpet, and when men write against these, they may be allowed some Gall and Vineg…r in their Ink, only let us spare our Brethren.

14. Walk humbly both with God and among men. If Humility be not one of the pieces of our Spiritual Armor exprest, Eph. 6. yet it is the Grace of the whole. Humility in a Souldier sets him forth more then all his Bravery besides; so Humility in a Christian is the very Bravery of a Christian. Its called his raiment, 1 Pet. 5.5. And indeed the rest of our Graces are so ragged that we had need have the upper Garment of Humility over all, lest the shame of our nakedness appear. Vain-Glory, which is the proud mans study, is an empty study, a vain study. Do not talk great words: nor make great shows or Flourishes, but do great things. Neither should the Souldier or Christian be a Vapour, a Flash, a Bubble, Vo… pretereà nihil, but be a through and substantial doer in all that he does do, and let thy deeds speak, and they will say enough, Prov. 31. ult. Do high and loud deeds: while you speak little and low words, say little, but do the more, do not speak swelling words, but do swelling works, and these works will speak words big enough to guard thee against obscurity or oblivion, will get thee a Name and Fame that shall never be forgotten.

15. Know your strength lies more in, and your success is more from the General then your selves. The Security of our Lives is more from the Grace in Christ for us, then from the Grace from Christ in us. Indeed we must keep our Graces bright and in Exercise, our weapons on and in use, let not our Swords rust in our Scabbards that they will not draw, &c. yet still the Exercise of our Graces when we have them, and their success when we use them is from him without whom we can do nothing. He gi…ds us and prospers us. Eye him, imitate him, keep him near us, with us, within us, and then we shall be more then Conquerours through him that hath loved us. He only who died for Sin, can be the death of Sin in thee.

16. Finally, Think much of your last Enemy Death, with whom also you must combate, and this part of your Warr will give you a full dischage from all the Rest. It becomes Christs Souldiers to be no strangers to death, who are called so often to Face it, and ever to carry their Lives in their Hands.

And you aged Christians, you old, beaten, experienced Souldi…rs, do not carry all your Experiences with you into the Grave. You have been long acquainted with Satans method and manner of Fighting, and versed in the Stratagems of Warr, you may be of excellent use and great bl…ssings among a Company of young Beginners, spend what you m…y of the … Time that is left you in instructing, informing and encourageing those that have as yet learnt but a little Warr. Your Gifts and Experiences were given you to profit withal, and therefore did the Lord help and comfort you, that you might communicate to others for their Assistance, what he hath been pleased p. 28to impart to you. And it will much conduce to your comfortable laying down your Heads in the Grave, that you shall leave others behind you who are engaged in the same Warr with your selves, and likely through Grace to manage it well.

2. By way of Encouragement, let me add a few words.

And Suppose you heard our Great Captain speak…ng these words to us this day, to hearten us in our work; and if any need Heartening Courage and Encouragement, it is the Souldier, and if any Souldier it's the Christian, unto whom it had need often be said, as Isai. 35.3, 4. Then (Fellow Souldiers) let us know;

1. We have a good General, one that is Sk…lful, able, Compassionate, &c. the Lord of Hosts, who when all the Armies of Sin, Lust, &c. are gathered together against us, and the Devil the Leader of the Black Guard, he can Command and Countermand them all.

2. We have a good Cause, The Warr with Sin and Satan, &c. is a iust and and lawful Warr, and also profitable, no plunder like the profit to be had in this Warr.

3. We have good Company, good Fellow Souldiers, all of them like the Children of a King, nay indeed they are such.

4. We a…e all well Armed, each part Armed, and the Armor of each part Impenetrable.

5. Our Enemies are already conquered by Christ Jesus our General.

6. We Warr not at our own Charge:

7. Nor in our own Strength, for in the hottest and sharpest dispute, we have our Leader with us, ordering matters himself, and affording us strength from himself. He is with us in the Fight, be it in Fire, water, Furnace, &c. see Isai. 43.1, 2. Dan. 3. He is like that Commander who was never wont to bid his Souldiers [Goe] but [Come] himself being ever present with them, and going before them. see Rom. 8.31, 37. Psal. 118.7. Heb. 13.5. Psal. 18.1, 2. 1 Joh. 4.4.

8. If we are indeed his Souldiers, he will preserve us and see us all forth coming. Have we given up our Names to him, believed on him, then he will keep what we commit to him till that day, 2 Tim. 1.12. He can, and does warrant all our lives throughout the whole Warr, which no General on Earth can do. All that Fight for, and with Christ, shall live with him. Say not, I sh…ll one day fall by the hand of Saul, Thou shalt never fall by the hand of Saul, nor Devil neither. Let no mans heart fail then, but be of good Courage, Act. 27.22. Not a man of you shall lose his Life. Numb. 31.49. After that Ingagement with Midian in the Wilderness, it's said, they numbred the people, and there lack…d not one. When the Book of Life, the Muster-Roll, in which the Names of all Christs Souldiers are lifted, comes to be brought forth and opened at the p. 29end of the Warr, if our Names are there we shall be called over, and every one be able to Answer to his Name. Let us but know that our Redeemer lives, Job. 19. and then, because he lives, we shall, Joh. 14.19. And what should then daunt us? His Life for ours we shall all be safe. No sooner are we listed, but all our Lives, yea, the lives of our Immortal Souls are ensured in Heaven, and Christ's Life is the pledge and pawn for ours, Joh. 11.25, 26. who would not Fight under such a Commander? Our Captain cannot die, he was once dead, but he is now alive, and lives for ever and ever, Rev. 1.18. he dies no more, and his Life is the Security for ours.

Chear up Fellow-Souldiers, take heart in Grace: it's true we have many Enemies, many Swords, Pikes, Bullets about us, the Arrows fly thick, and these and those drop down on our right hand and left, but it is with us, as 1 Sam. 22.23. they that seek our Life seek Christs Life, but with him we shall be in Safety. They that seek to take away thine, must seek, and find, and take away His too, or else miss their Aim, for thy Life is bid with Christ in God, Col. 3.3. When Christ comes to give an account of his Souldiers under his care to the Father, he will say (as Joh. 17.) Father I have not lost one of them, not one of my true-hearted Souldiers how weak soever, The Cowards, the Traytors indeed are gone, but not one of the rest. Paul could say, I have Fought, &c. and so there is a Crown for me, 2 Tim. 4 7. what he said at the end of his Course, thou maiest say at the beginning of thine, (for Christ that is the Author is also the Finisher, Heb. 12▪2.) and it is as true Divinity to say, he that is Fighting (in the present Tense) is sure to be crowned, as he that hath Fought in the preterperfect Tense: if Finishing thou art as safe as if thou hadst Finished. If you Fight the Lords Battels, your Souls are bound up in the Bundle of Life, 1 Sam. 25.28. The poor Believer though he hath an Host to break through, where he shall be sure to have one thousand Swords drawn, Guns levelled, Pikes directed at him, yet is sure to scape, he that carries him on, is obliged to bring him off with Honour and Safety.

9 Our Warfare shall not last long, much less alwayes. It was a comfortable word to them, and should be to us, [your Warfare is accomplished] I…ai. 40.1, …. Yet a little while and Friendly Death (a welcome Messenger to every warfaring Christian) shall in the Name of the Captain command you to lay down your Arms, never to strike one bloody blow more, but to come and enjoy the sweet of all that you have been labouring and Fighting for. And then will be the first and last Time that this word [lay down your Arms] shall be heard by you, first, for you must Fight till you die, last, for you shall never take them up more, and so have no occasion to lay them down any more. The Gospel hath been sounding a Charge to us all our Life Time, but Death shall sound a Retreat, when we shall return to the Head-Quarters that our General hath taken up, and prepared for us, (Joh. 14.2, 3.) and there be fairly and safely lodged for ever.

p. 3010. We shall then be all Crowned that have been thus Fighting. The Senate of Heaven hath decreed a Triumph for every Overcomer, Heb. 12.1, 2. Not only the Generals, Commanders, some few eminent Christians, but every common Souldier shall ride into the Citty, the heavenly Ierusalem in his Triumphant Charriot, laden with the Spo…ls of his Enemies, and crowned with the Merits of his Saviour. Every true, hardy, couragious Souldier shall then be found to be an Overcomer, every Overcomer shall have a Crown, every Crown shall be a Crown of Glory, an incorruptible crown, now reserved, then put on, and worn, and that never shall fade, or wear away. Oh think how Heaven shall ring with that joyful Shout, those heart-ravishing Acclamations that shall then be given, when all the whole Army of the Church-Militant shall meet and become Triumphant! How shall they congratulate one another, and Christ welcome them all, into the Possession of that Kingdome prepared for them from before the Foundation of the World! There will be opportunity enough to all Eternity to recount their dangers, their hard Encounters and narrow scapes ▪ how often there was but a step between them and death, and yet they are safe. Then shall God have the Glory of his Power and Grace in keeping them through Faith unto Salvation; that though they were so often, and so often at the Swords point, at the Canons mouth, yet they came off, so many Ambushments laid, and yet not surprized, so many Mine… sprung, and yet not blown up, Pharaoh holding them in Bondage with all his might, when out, following them to bring them back, the red Sea before them, oft ready to perish for hunger and thirst, fiery flying Serpents, Enemies, &c. in the wilderness, Iordan in their way, Anakims and walls to Heaven, yet being helped to follow the Lord fully, couragiously, as Ioshua and Caleb did, they shall say, when Possest of Glory, as Ioshua did, Chap. 23.14. Behold not one good thing is failed of all that the Lord in his word spake concerning us, or promised to us. Encourage and comfort your selves, and one another with these words.

I shall close with a few words to those that have been the Occasion of this present Assembly, and what I say to you, may be of use to all of like Profession with your selves.

You called me hither, (Worshipful, Honoured and Beloved) that I might (to give it in your own words) dispense to you some word in the Name of the Lord for your Incouragement in your work; I shall therefore according to your desire present you with a word of Incouragement, and a word of Advice also.

By way of Incouragement, my Text ha's matter enough.

1. I need not insist largely on (though my Text will bear it,) the Lawfulness and commendableness of your Imployment as Souldiers, which yet may be mentioned as a word of Encouragement to you; and that is hinted here and elsewhere in the Scripture where the Lord makes use of this as one of the most p. 31fit, suitable and significant Emblems of a Christian Life, which he would not do, at least so much, if the Calling it self were not lawful. There is a Generation that call these Exercises carnal Exercises, and your Weapons carnal VVeapons, but God hath said enough in his Word to stop the mouths of such Gainsayers, and I am apt to think that one main Reason why they call these weap…ns, carnal weapons, is because they be not in their own Hands, though if there, I fear they would be carnal weapons indeed, and it may be carnally and cruelly used; Witness the Stories of others that have pretended to like Principles, till opportunity hath given them Advantage to discover themselves.

Indeed the first Warr that we read of in Scripture, viz. Gen. 14. was begun by those that we have no ground to believe were any of the best of men, yet that gave occasion to Abraham that holy, rightsous, Pattern-Believer to draw the Sword in the same Chapter, having before hand prudently trained up his Servants unto Military Ex…rc…ses, that they might be fit to go forth to Warr when Providence should put them upon it. (ver. 14.) The word there rendred [trained] doth not only signifie trained up in Religious Educa…ion, as it is used, Prov. 22.6. But also initiated or instructed in Military skill, as the Scope of the place, besides the Sense of the word seems plainly and fairly to carry it. So that as Abraham was the Great Pattern Believer, so he was in this Chapter the G…eat Pattern-Souldier, exemplary and imitable both in training up his men before hand to have them ready, and also in leading them forth to actual Service when there was occasion. Nor need any of the Children of Abraham (as all Believers are) doubt to imitate (rather they are to account themselves obliged to imitate) their Father in that which is so many wayes warranted, and wherein he was so prospered and succeeded, and upon his return from which so extraordinarily blessed, as you find in the same Chapter. Sure the Lords so blessing him upon such a warlike Exploit intimates his acceptance of him therein, and helps to warrantize the like practise to us.

Thus David was a man after Gods own heart, and yet a man of warr, 2 Sam. 1….8. Had his mighty men trained to Service, about him, made a Law in Iudah thereabout, 2 Sam. 1.18. that there should be Tra…ng-daies (as we call them) Times set apart to …each the Art of Souldiery. The Bow being a principal Instrument then used in Warr, is Synechdochically put for every weapon of warr, and their learning the use of that, intends their Skill in the whole Art. Solomon in his best dayes, and before his Apostacy, though a King of p…ace, yet provided for Warr, and so did Asa, 2 Chron. 14 6, 7, 8. he took the Advantage of the peaceable dayes they had to fit themselves for warr. So they are commended for their ability to keep Rank, and use the Sword with both hands, 1 Chron. 12.38.

The Benjamites skill in slinging Stones at an Hairs-breadth is upon Record p. 32to their Commendation, and sure they had not that Skill naturally, but by use and Exercise.

You find also that Nehemiah when about the wall of Jerusalem had his Fighting Tool in one hand, and working Tool in the other, Chap. 4.17.

Let me add a place or two out of the New-Testament, Luk. 3 14 when the Souldiers came to John Baptist and asked what they should do, he bids them not lay down their Arms, but use them well, not violently, injuriously, &c. and to be content with their wages, though to take wages, i. e the wages or Stipend of Souldiers, though to do the work of Souldiers, else it had not been lawful or rational to take wages, though the Calling & Imployment of Souldiers is lawful. Some in our dayes would have said, man thou maiest not Fight, thou must not meddle with that Profession any more, it is not lawful for thee to be a Souldier, but the Baptist knew better.

The godly Centurion that had not his Fellow for a Believer in Israel, did not lay down his place, give up his Commission or disband his Souldiers (which doubtless he would have done if it had not been lawful to be a Souldier) no, but he keeps up good Discipline among them, maintains his Authority, and ha's them at his B…k, Math. 8.8, 10. You read also of Armies following Christ on white Horses, Rev. 19.14. I might further urge it from the Law of Nature. Self Preservation is one of the Prime Dictates of Nature. It is rivetted into our very Beings as Creatures to preserve our selves, we must uncreature our selves if we renounce that. Sure God hath not given to all other Creatures an Instinct to preserve themselves, (some by hiding, some by flying, others by Fighting, &c.) and in the mean Time left … a tame Fool to be a Prey to his Adversary.

Again, The Law of Faith speaks the same thing, for it doth most strongly and indispensibly put upon the use of means. Abraham could (for ought I know) believe as much as any man alive, even in hope against hope, and yet Abraham could not believe Lot out of Captivity, (though he could believe Isaac out of the ashes) but rather chose to use men and means to Fight him out ▪ This Great Believer was a great Souldier. It is true, the main Security of the Believers is their Faith in God, but still in his own way, viz. in the use of means where God gives opportunity, without doing of which you cannot trust God. He knows not the Nature of Faith that knows not the activity of it in the use of means. Faith is a most Active, obedient Grace. You spoil its acting while you are not found in a way of Obedience. In putting it out of that way you ham-string, enervate it, clipp its wings, and then how can you expect it should goe, act, fly?

We might argue also from the unreasonable, envious, quarrelsome, injurious, cruel, yea, murtherous Spirit that is in sinful man, which will not be kept from doing wrong but by such means. Were all men rational and Religious, p. 33Conscientious and pious, then beat their Swords into plow-Shares, &c. The command of God, and the Royal Law of doing as we would be done by, would secure all mens persons and Estates; but all men have not Faith, nor love, nor obedience, nor do they use Conscience neither. The enmity between the seed of the Serpent and the woman, which appeared betimes in the Example of Cain and Abel, and inclined the one to Hatred and Opposition, should prompt the other to self-preservation and the means of it.

What Warr is lawful and when, I shall not dispute, but that a Defensive Warr is lawful is beyond dispute, to Fight for the Citties of our God, as 2 Sam. 10.12. or to recover ours out of the Hand of violence, as Gen. 14. So Jephthah went to Warr against those that would have put him out of the Inheritance which God had given him, Jude 11. and he was one of those that acted in Fai…h, Heb. 11.31, 33, 34. together with others there mentioned, while▪ subduing Kingdomes, wa…ing valiant in F…ght, and turning to flight the Armies of the Aliens. Christs forbidding to resist evil, Math. 5.30. &c. refers to private persons in a way of Revenge, vid. Perkins in loc. Nor had Peter a Call at that Time to resist Authority in that way, Math. 26.52. who was therefore bidden to put up his Sword, and they are threatned to perish with the Sword that do unseasonably and injuriously use it. Not but that the Civil Power may, and ought draw the Sword in Case. It's true, we read of a Curse against them that delight in Warr, Psal. 68.30. and no less are they cursed that come not to the Help of the Lord against the mighty, Jud. 5. and do but only beat the Air, and not bath their Swords in Blood when they do come, Jer. 48.10. That then is the first word of Encouragement to you in your work, viz. that you have good warrant, Scripture warrant for your Training dayes and Military Exercises, and that the Lord doth Countenance and require these preparations, that you may be ready to serve the Lord and his people, when he calls you thereunto.

2. A second word of Encouragement which I may add, and that from my Text, is that Great is the Honour which the Lord puts upon you as Military persons, especially in such a Capacity as those that do willingly give up themselves to the Service of God in such Exercises, and that not only in that he speaks of the Saints, (the excellent ones upon Earth) in your language, but also in that the Lord is often in Scripture calling himself the Lord of Hosts, so also a Man of Warr, Exod. 15.3. The Son of God also is Captain-General, (as Mediatour) under his Father, see Psal. 45.1—5. Besides the most eminent of the Saints all along have been Souldiers, (I mean properly so) Father Abraham was free of the Souldiers-Hall, and had an Artillery Garden at his house, three hundred and eighteen in his trained Band, Gen. 14.14. David in like manner, 2 Sam. 17.8. Indeed, God and Christ, and all the Saints upon Earth are of your Company, which is much for your Honour. Again, much of p. 34the Scripture is spent about Souldiers, and Souldiery. How many Chapters in Sacred Writ are no other but so many Lists of the Names of Souldiers that have been in former Ages, and how many more are spent in reciting the noble Exploits and valorous Attempts and Enterprizes of Souldiers? Twice over in two several Chapters, viz. 2 Sam. 23. and 1 Chron. 11. are the Names of Davids choice, expert Souldiers, called his Worthies, set down. Besides a large Catalogue of the mighty men that helped David is exprest, 1 Chron. 12. the expert Commanders and able Souldiers that came in to them, till they became a great Host like the Host of God, ver 22. Now to have such frequent and Honourable mention made of Souldiers in the Word of God, and to have so considerable a part of it so spent, is a great Honour to Souldiers, and shews the great delight that the Lord of Hosts hath in his Souldiery, it tells us that they are persons whom the Lord delights to Honour, And Honour is a good Encouragement and Spurr to a Souldier. Your Imployment is no base, low, Inferiour Imployment, but one highly honoured by the Lord.

Souldiers, know that the Lord hath put a great deal of Honour upon you, for which you are exceedingly beholden to him; carry it humbly, thankfully, and serviceably toward God under the Honour He conferrs upon you. See that you Honour him, who thus honoureth you. If God will Honour those that Honour him, (1 Sam. 2.30.) Then surely those should honour him whom he honours.

3. A third word of Encouragement I shall take from the great use that God hath all along made of Military men in his Church. To be useful and serviceable is an Honour, (for the more serviceable the more Honourable) especially to be so directly and immediately serviceable to God and his Church, as Souldiers have been, yea, are, and shall be even to the very last. And this is a further Encouragement. Though properly the Lord needs no help against the mighty, yet he uses them, and one Reason is for the Honour and Encouragement of them that he uses. Christ may make use of you to be great blessings in the places where you live. It is a Blessing to a people to have mighty men and men of Warr among them, as appears, because it is a great judgement to have such taken away from them, Isai. 3. Be encouraged then, for you are useful, and may be made great Blessings, and that is a blessed thing.

4. Great is the Affection that God ha's for such, especially for …hem that offer themselves willingly unto that service. (provided that their Hearts be right therein, for the Service and Glory of God,) Gods heart is toward such as Deborah's was, Iudg. 5.9. Now that Gods heart is toward you, … presence with you, while you are with, and for Him, is a very comfortable, heartening, and encouraging word to be spoken at the Head of an Army, see 2 Chron. 15.2.

5. The main Scope of the whole that I have spoken may be improved by way of Encouragement, viz. that you are both much inlightned about the Nature of, and furthered in the managing of your General Calling as Christians by p. 35your being Souldiers. As your Christianity will help your Souldiery, so be sure your Souldiery (if the fault be not your own) will noteably help your Christianity. Every Training-day may be a learning day to you, while training you may be working for God and Christ, and for your Souls too. If your Soul-work may go forward amain while you are exercising your Arms, it cannot but be a great Encouragement to them that know they have Souls, and know the worth of them. You that are Souldiers (as I have already hinted) are eminently beholden to God in that he is full, large, and pa…ticular in Spiritu…lizing your Calling, in putting so much of Heaven thereinto, that if you will seriously attend, you cannot but find it. Truly our going with an Earthly mind about our Earthly work, with a common-Heart about our common Imployment, is that which spoils us in it, and makes us lose the best Good, even the spiritual Good that might be gotten thereby.

Unto this word of Encouragement, I shall add a few words of Advice.

1. Propose right Ends to your selves in these Exercises. There are good and useful Ends of them, let those good Ends be your Ends. If your Ends are not right, you may be Souldiers but scarce Christians. Now the Great End of all our Vndertakings, and of this in special, is the Glory of God. Whatsoever you do, do it to the Glory of God, (1 Cor. 10.31.) Let the Service of God and his Church be the mark you aim at, the white which you desire and endeavour to hitt, which if you do you shall be sure to get the prize. Had we never read ought of Ioab save that one Speech, 2 Sam. 10.12. we should have in Charity accounted him not only a Souldier, (as we say) every Inch of him, but a pious man also; However he deserves to be Chronicled for it, and imitated in it. [For our people and for the Citties of our God] Come not into the Field to shew your Bravery, &c. but come to do Service, to learn Skill, and so prepare for further Service. Do not Exercise that you may know, or be known to know, but that you may do, and do for the people and Cause of God and Christ, for whom to shed your Blood, is the best way to preserve it, to lay down your Lives, the best way to save them.

2. Then be serious in your work, as those that have so high an End, and mean to do your utmost to attain that End; If this be your End, then do not go about your work like men that beat the Air. I may use the Apostles Expressions, and propose his Example to you, (For your ultimate End in your particular Calling is the same with his in his General Calling and your Activity in every Business and in this especially, is to have the same Common End) so run that you may obtain the prize, and so labour not as uncertainly, and so meet, Exercise, train, (as you call it] not as those that beat the Air. God makes use of your Calling as Souldiers to set forth the Calling of Christians by, a Calling wherein the greatest accurateness, exactness, Care, Skill, Diligence is to be used: then so do your work, so mind your Business, that as p. 36Religion honours your Calling, so your exactness and compleatness in your Calling may honour that Religion which you profess, and which honours your Profession.

You called me hither to speak to you a word in the Name of the Lord, then, In the Name of the Lord I say to you in the words of my Text, again, be not like those that beat the Air, and in the words of Solomon, Eccles. 9.10. what ever your Hand findeth to do, do it with your might.

You much Interest or concern the Name of God in your Military Exercises, you Invocate the Name of God in the morning when you come together, you desire something to be spoken to you in the Name of God upon these Occasions, then, in his Name, I beseech you to hear what is now spoken in his Name, viz. Play the men, not the children, not the Fools. To pray for the presence of God when you go about a Business, and then to play when you are at it, not to be thorough and serious in it, is to pray God to come among you to see you play the children or Fools, as if the infinitely holy and wise God would be pleased with the Sacrifice of Fools, Eccles. 5.1. (which Text though it relates principally to worship, yet it holds by proportion in any thing that is called serving of God.) To supplicate Gods presence, and then to take no Care to do ought worthy of his presence, to desire God to look on, when you have nothing but a vain Heart, and a slighty, heedless Carriage to shew him, how near this comes to mocking of God you may sadly Consider. God is a man of Warr, and delights to be among such, to deign them his presence when they desire it, but I tell you he hath a Curious and skilful eye, and therefore it becomes you to behave your selves as becomes his presence. I have seen some Artillery men as really serious when they have been at training as when they have been at prayer, and so to be is very pleasing both to God and man.

I shall make bold to insist a little upon this Direction; Here is a Great Assembly and many Souldiers are present from all parts, it may not therefore be amiss and unseasonable to give something by way of General Direction unto what is regular, and of Reprehension to what is otherwise, in this matter now before us.

It is too palpable and obvious not to be taken notice of, that there is a great deal of slightiness and frothiness in Military Exercises, or in men, while Conversant in those Exercises; Your ordinary Training dayes are accounted Recreation-dayes, play-dayes, sporting-dayes, and they are oft, and by many, spent in vanity and Licentiousness, as if vain merriment, Idleness, Voluptuousness and Excess were the work of the day, as if there would be no reckoning for so many dayes in a year unprofitably spent, nay, as if there would be no reckoning for mens taking occasion to make Provision for the Flesh at such … when they should be Serving God, not with their Bodies only, but with p. 37their Spirits also. But suppose there be not, (as I hope among your selves there is not, you pretend to higher things, and I hope better things of you though I thus speak) I say, suppose there be not any of these Extravagancies, yet now will you be able to Answer for bare non Proficiency, and for sligh…iness and heedlessness, the Cause of it Know, that when you have given up your Names unto such a work▪ then to neglect Attendance either not to come at all, or to come late to study Excuses for your neglect, to be among your sheep, ships, &c. as they, Iud. 5.16, 17. you may possibly save your Fine among men, but with God will not come off so easily. Or if you do come, and that … Season, so as not to be prickt for want of Answering to your Names, and spend the day in the Service, and yet not so seriously intensly, heedfully, as to make some Addition to your skin or Dexterity by every dayes expence, how will you be able when called to account for that day, (and every day is a Talent and must be reckoned for to say, Lord thus much gained.

Oh let not Souldiers be like school-Boyes, as not to care how little they have for their Mony, how little Time at their Books, or how little good they get in that Time. Be not ever Training and never gaining any skill by the Exercise. Better stay at home and work, then come into the Field and play, to spend Time and get no skill, nor perhaps aim to get any, will not pass for well spending of Time. You Artillery men should be Artists indeed, each of you Able to d…ll a Company, to lead an Army, able to keep Rank ▪ your selves, and teach others to do so too, your being an Artillery Company speaks that you are, and aim to be somewhat more then Ordinary. And truly you will never do as you ought to do, till you make Conscience of doing as you ought. Conscience of duty will make you attend duty, and be intense in your Attendance, the way to be succ…ssful also.

It's a Good Rul… in any Business, (and surely in yours) to argue thus, either this is Gods work that I am about, or not, if not, lay i… aside, give over, take your Names out of the List, wholly withd…aw, appear no more; but if it be Gods work, then do it wi…h your might, remembring the workless grave toward which you are marching, as also the danger you are in of that dreadful Sentence against the deceitful dealer in Gods Service, Ier. 48.10. You are therefore to be grave and serious in your deportment… Gravity in a Souldier especially while in Service, is very commendable. It's a weighty work that you are about, and getting skill therein, may be as much as your Lives are worth. Matters of Life and death are solemn ponde…ous matters, (and these are, or you know not how soon they may be such, what ever men think of them) and therefore to be gravely managed. Edge Tools are not to be plaid with. Over much lightness in mens Hearts and Spirits and want of being Grave and deliberate, oft Times occasion mu…h mischief, in these Exercises. Frequent Examples shew us what comes of rashness a…d rudeness. Youthful vanity, precipitancy, p. 38jestings, frolicks have (and that not unusually) sorrowful Catastrophes, sad and and better Conclusions. Souldiers have no Law for being lawless. Headiness and Hast…ness makes way for Repentance at leisure, when he that walks gravely and regularly walks safely, and so spares himself that labour. Then mind your Business, as those that know it is Gods business, mind your work as those that have a mind to work, and to be gaining by their work.

Mind and attend to the word of Command, which you cannot do with g… zing, smokeing, and chatting away this Time; want of mens giving up themselves to the work when they are at it, because they do not Hoc agere, nor give heed to what is commanded, and so by them to be done, I say, this is the Cause why often Times they are so unbandy at their Business, and so unhandsome in performing their postures, do not keep Rank and File, are routed in their marches, Counter…marches, doublings, wheelings, all in a baddle and ridiculously disordered. Heedlessness in work makes confused work.

Excuse my plainness with you, I cannot charge any of your selves upon my own Knowledge with these disorders that have been reproved, if any are guilty, those that deserve, may very well patiently bear Reproof; those that do not deserve it, may well be quiet, while others are reproved that do, and may also take it as a word of Caution to themselves, yea, and Commendation too; for a Reprehension to the Guilty is implicitely a Commendation to them that are otherwise. But thus be in good earnest.

Perhaps your Exercises may look like beating the Air, because you are not called forth to real Service, but know, that preparation for real Service is real Service, and if you do nothing but beat the Air now, you will be like to do little toward beating your Enemy then. Act so in your preparation, that it may appear you have not been trained up for nothing. We read of the Enemies being skilful to destroy, Ezek 21.21. which speaks need of our being skilful to defend. Study to be mighty men, and men of Warr, (as Isai. 3.) the Bulwarks of the place while you live, that you may be as they, 2 Sam. 1.17. honourably Epitaphed, and bitterly lamented when you die. Be ambitious of being like to those who are for their skill and valour recorded in Scripture as worthy of Imitation, see. 1 Chron. 5.18. and 12.8, 21,, 30, 32, 33, 38.

You know not how soon the Lord and his people may have occasion for your Help against the Mighty. It is true God hath been very kind to New-England, no breaking in, nor leading forth, nor complaining in our Streets, this last year also, this dangerous year, this threatning year, so like to prove a bloody one to us, as well as to many other places, I say, this year is you see fairly gone off the Stage. We had the last week our Great Solemnity, our Beginning of a New Year, or New Years day, wherein we had opportunity of setting up our Eben Ezer and saying, hitherto God hath helped us. We may bless God and say with him, Psal. 55.18. He hath delivered our souls in peace from the Battel p. 39that was against us, for there were many with us. It is true also, that this year begins with the Tideings of Peace, we have had the Dove sent in among us with an Olive leaf to give us some intimation of the Abatement of the flood, & Hopes that it may not reach us; And the God of peace grant that there may be Peace indeed, a well grounded and settled Peace: Peace with God first, as the Cause, and then with men as the Effect, peace with Truth, peace with holiness, and that will be a firm, long-lasting, everlasting peace.

But yet for all this, I could not see Cause to preach on that Text, Isai. 2.4. Beat your Swords into Plow-shares, &c. I think rather that of Luk. 22.36. or 2 Sam. 1.18. or Ioel. 3 10. would be more suitable. I fear the Nations have not forgotten Warr as yet, nor will they unlearn Warr wholly, till they do unlearn Sin and Lust more, from whence their Warrs come, till pride lower and strike, the Warrs will never end. While there is Flesh as well as Spirit in the new man, there will be Warrs within; and while there are carnal men as well as Spiritual in the World there will be Warrs without. Therefore while we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, we are to provide for the Wars that will be made against Ierusalem, as knowing that the Church on Earth is the Church-Militant, Jerusalem sha…l be a quiet habitation, but we must not antedate Gods work. That Time shall come, but in the mean Time we must handle our Arms, as well as Ploughs.

Anti-Christ must Fall, and the Enemies of the Church shall be overcome by a material Sword, as well as by a Spiritual one. The Prayers of the …ints have long cried, their teares have cried, their blood hath cried, the bowells of Christ have long yearned over them, and himself hath long waited to to see his Enemies made his Footstool, and therefore sure it cannot be long. And what an Honour will it be to be called to that work, and dexterous at it when called to it. When Abraham was called to follow God in a way of Reformation, & God had in that way blessed him outwardly too, he could not but know that the Enemies about him would envy him not only as Religious, but as prospering outwardly in a Profession of Religion, which might give him just occasion to train up his Family to Military Discipline, as we read, Gen. 14, 14. that he might be in a posture ready to receive them if Occasion should be. We in this Wilderness, both on the account of our Profession and Prosperity under it, have long been, and still are an Eye-sore to the Adversary, there are, that are consulting to undermine us, and we should be endeavouring to secure our selves, not only by p…aying, that no foot of pride may come against us, nor hand of violence move us, but also, if any such should come by preparing before hand to give them such a Reception as may discover, that as we were fore-warned, so also fore-armed.

Great are the things that a Religious people have to defend, viz. besides their Lives, Liberties, Relations, Estates, &c. the Name, honour and worship p. 40of God, the pleasant things of his House, those Great Betrustments which the world cannot boast of, and are more worth … all the world, and hence they should labour to furnish themselves both with Skil and ability to defend and maintain what God ha's given them, or else they will act both irrationally for themselves, and unthankfully toward God that hath so priviledged them. The Faith and the pleasant things of Zion are worth contending for, and that not with the tongue and hear… only, but with the hands and Sword also when God calls thereunto.

Great also is the Advantage that a people get by being expert for Warr, their being so, may be a means to prevent Warr. The report of a people's being a warlike people may be of singular use to them, the same of their skill may be a means to prevent their using it. Whereas the Security of a people invites an Enemy, and renders them lyable to be a P…ey, see Judg▪ 18 7, 8, 9.

Times of peace are Times to prepare for Warr, and if we miss it in our preparation, we shall be fearfully hurried and blundred when we come to action, we cannot promise our selves to be saved then, unless we be diligent in preparation now. If Warr comes, the comfort of having done our duty, and the profit of being in a readiness, will make amends for the trouble; if it comes not, our peace will bear the Charge of our preparation. Thus be intense about, and serious in these Exercises, make Conscience of gaining Skill, and of spending Time so as may best conduce to that End. So do in these as well as other matters, as you would be glad to have done when an Enemy comes, yea, when Chri… …hall come. Train as in the sight of an Enemy, with whom you … be … to Fight. Train as doing Service to Christ, and in the sight of Christ, who will one day reward every dayes Service, and this dayes Service, if you diligently and obediently serve him therein.

3. Be Spiritual and He…venly in all your Military Exercises, that you may be good Christians as well as good Souldiers. It is good policy and prudence for pious Rulers to command and Countenance the training up those that are under their Government unto Military Skill, so that if need be, they may be able to speak with the Enemy in the Gate, and under their approbation and Authority, you list and Exercise your selves in these Affairs. Will it not then be much more prudence and piety in every man that should be Master of himself, to command his whole man to follow the Lord Jesus in the Spiritual Warfare, to list every Faculty and member of Soul and body under Christs Command, and deliver th…m up to his Service, that under his protection he may Fight and over…ome his Spirit…al Enemies? Art thou a Leader, and hast a Charge of a Company ab…ut thee? Consider then the great Charge that is left with thee, as to a little world within thee, a little Army consisting of Soul with it's Faculties, the body with it's members, like the Cavalry and Infantry, horse and foot, and these thou must train up in the Art of Spiri…ual Souldiery.

p. 41Art thou under Command, and to be led by others, then remember that Christ the great General expects like obedience from thee as the Centurio… had from his Souldiers, Math. 8. to come and go and do at his pleasure. He that can drill that little Company of himself, and teach every part its proper motions and Postares is a compleat Souldier indeed. You are labouring to be exact Souldiers, what, and bungling Christians? Oh for …ame! what, lead an Army, and be misled by a single, silly lust? dost thou know all the Postures of a Souldier, all the Facings, Firings, Wheelings, &c? and yet a… ignorant, dull Soul as to spiritual Souldiery? God forbid. Art thou labouring to be a Souldier, and takest no Care and Thought to be a Christian? how sad will that be? God expects of all us that live under the Gospel, that we should be Artillery-men, and he expects of you Artillery-men that you especially should be exact Christians, as having such a Calling as will greatly advantage you thereunto, in many respects above other Callings. The very sight of your Arms and Weapons should affect you with some Spiritual Consideration, and the handling of them put you upon like Actions. Your Souldiery and Religion do Border so near together, that they are in a great measure both of one language; the Christian and the Souldier may, and ought understand one another, and both the language and work of the latter will help to familiarize that of the former. Take a touch of it in some few Instances.

Your listing of your selves, minds you of that great duty of giving up your Na…es to Christ as your General, and your doing it voluntarily, should put you in mind of, (Psal. 110▪3.) and make you pray heartily, to have it cleared up to you that you are some of the people that God in a day of Power hath made willing. The Souldiers listing of himself is the Christians Conversion, turning from Sin, Self, &c. unto God, by Faith and Repentance, and this of Effectual Vocation will lead you up to Election, and this known, will make Election also known, see (Rom. 8.30. with 2 Pet. 1.10.) and help you to read your Names in the Lambs Book of Life; the Joyes of which Condition, and Priviledges belonging unto which, no tongue can tell.

Upon listing you are obliged to attend on the Seasons, & at the places of Exercise, to do all the duties that the entring of you… Names in the L…st do besp…ak; Christians, know, that to be called Christians is a Priviledge, but withal it is la…en with duty, your Name in Christs Ro…l d…th signifie your I…gement to be for him, to follow him as his Souldiers, to Fight under his Banner and no, other, to wait on him at all Times, and in all places and wayes of his Appointment, there to be ready to Answer to your N…mes when called, and upon the Intimation of any Service to be done for him to say (as he Isai. 6.8▪) Here am I se…d me. Woe to him that in a P…ofessi…n aims only at a Name, (as they Isai 4.1.) to take away his Reproach, or gain a little R…p…e in the World. Either appear in the work of Christ, or Cut thy Name out of the List. Christ p. 42will not bear long, be sure not alwayes with Christians in Name only; but as you Souldiers do one of another, so will Christ require of you the Service and …uty o… your places. But if you are alive only in Name and dead to the work o… your Calling, expect to be judged by Martial Law; and be sure you will find Christ very sharp against Hypocrisie. When you come into the Field compleatly armed, let your Arms about you make you turn to Ephes. 6. where you have the Armor set down that every Christian must put on, and see if you have it all, and also if it be well fixed, and you thereby ready for Service. To want any piece of Armor, or to have any of that which he hath either unsightly or unserviceable will be as ridiculous and absurd for the Christian as the Souldier. Christ will have your Armor viewed to see if you have all your Acco…tr…ments, according to Law, be so fixt that you may not be afraid of coming to the Test. When commanded to fall into your places, think how ill Christ will take it to find you ou…, and that either from ignorance of them, or unwillingness to be brought into, or kept in them; you have, as Souldiers, your Order, your distance to be observed, even Ranks, or streight Files are often called for among you, (and perhaps no oftner then there is cause enough) observing your right-hand men is also required, with many the like, which make you a sight comely in the eye of your Friends, and terrible to your Adversaries. Now know, that all things in Christs Army are to be done decently and in order, (1 Cor. 14▪40.) and what is orderly will be decent. Each one hath his particular place, peculiar station, and his proper work in that place or station assigned to him, and that not only as referring to our selves, absolutely considered, but relatively also, as concerned with others among whom we walk. Beware of looking into other mens duties, so as to overlook our own: and yet again remember, we are our Brethrens keepers, and are so farr also to eye and observe them, that if they do well, we may imitate them, if otherwise, we may be Instruments to reform them by setting a better Example. Keeping thy Heart with all diligence, and making streight steps to thy fee…, (Prov. 4.25, 27.) are directions that their Parrallels in Souldiery may bring to Remembrance. While you begin your Exercises with Prayers, (as you do if Christian Souldiers) Remember that Scripture, Prov. 3.6. and be practically convinced of the need of Prayer, all manner of Prayer, Ephes. 6.18. which he adds unto their being armed. When we mean that a Child is dead born, we say it's still-born ▪ because living Children usually come into the World crying, thou mayest have a Name of being new born, but be sure thou art dead, if thou do not pray, and irregular, if thou do it not in all the Seasons of it, and that with all manner of Prayer too, see 1 Thes. 5.17. with Eph. 6.18. Prayer should be an Introduction to work, and be sure matter will succeed with thee in the Warr, according as the Hand of Prayer is up or down Ex. 17.…1. You are often commanded silence, (and it's pity there should be so p. 43often need of commanding it, there being ever need of attending it, as that without which no other word of Command can be obeyed, because not heard and understood, & Solomon Eccl. 9.17. will tell you that the words of the wise … heard in Silence; Christians, let your Souls be silent and still before the Lord, Commune with your own Hearts & be stil…, Psal. 4.4. that you may listen to what God ha's to say to you. The noise and D…nn of carnal reasonings, worldly lusts, and Businesses, immoderate desires after lawful things, with inordinate ones after unlawful, these and such like make such a Clamour and sound in mens ears that Gods voice is not heard by them, and so they bring themselves into a Confusion, for want of knowing and understanding the word of Command. Keep in a still, quiet posture, then sit to hear and obey.

Face to your Leader, is a word of Command you often hear of also, and you have one General Command for all, in Heb. 12.2. that you should do all your motions with your Face to your Leader, run your whole Race looking to Jesus. A look to Jesus, gives both direction how, and strength wherewith to run, work, Fight. Keeping your eye Christ-ward, will be of more Advantage to you in your Combate then either Sun or wind which Combatants have so much regard to. A new look to Jesus will give new leggs to run, new hands and Skill to Fight, and a constant Facing Christ-ward will keep you in a right Fighting, and so overcoming posture.

And when so Facing, you are bidden march, mind your Duty of pressing on forward, (Phil. 3.14.) you must move and promove in your Christian Course, yea, and let your eyes look streight on, and right forward, without turning to the right hand or the left, Prov. 4.25, 27. And while you follow him as your Leader, where ever he goes, you are sure to goe right, and certain not to go into any difficulty, out of which he will not also lead you in the End. This Leader never misleads any that follow him. All your lawful Facings are towards him, and marches after him. Beware of Confusion in your Counter-marches, it is dangerous to see Christians march Counter, but a pleasant thing to see them all minding the same things, and moving the same way.

Stand] in Opposition to going back by sinful discouragements or forward by Giddy presump…ion. Stand your Ground, and maintain it against Sin and Satan, give no place to either. Let no Opposition fright you into a Retreat, Gods Soul takes no pleasure in them that draw back, or give out, Heb. 10 38. Stand still, you must, to see the Salvation of God, Exod 14.13. Only know, your Time to stand, and your Time to Advance, and know, that you have no Time to Fall back.

As you were] if spoken to men in a Rout and Confusion now, who were sometimes in Order, is good, and is the Summe of this word of Advice, from Christ to Ephesus Rev. 2.4▪ …. wher… they are minded of the loss of their first love, and willed to remember from whence they are fallen and do their first p. 44works; from which Text we had a solemn word from the Lord by the mouth o… his Servant in our late General Assembly, the Lord grant that it may … …ceived, remembred and attended as the voice of Christ, and happy New-England, if after all our disorders, we may at last rally, and be [as we were] indeed … [as you were] be taken for mens being in the same Condition that they have been long agone, after much Time spent, and many means used for then bettering, if still they are Ignorant as they were, Scepticks as they were, …ma…, slighty, or Superficial as they were, loose and profane as they were, of such it may also be said, they are Fools as they were, Children as they were, Slugg…us as they were, turning like the door upon the Hinges, doing without any thing done, moving without any progress, and are themselves in a peri…ous Condition, being some of them that help to make perictous Times, 2 Tim. ….1, 7. ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.

Make good your Leaders Grownd] A seasonable word of Command for the rising Generation in New-England. Could we be with God as our Fathers were, he would be with us as he was with our Fathers. Did not our Fathers do Justice and Judgement, and it was well with them? Jer. 22.15, 16. To imitate them will be our prudence, and weal. God remembers the kindness of our youth, then was New-England h…liness to the Lord, as Jer. 2.1— 3. Our Fathers found no iniquity in God to give them any occasion to change their God, or the wayes of serving and worshipping their God. The same God should be ours, and he is the same, and his wayes the same. Gadding to change our way will not please him. We are in a way of Reformation, if God discovers to us farther then to them that were before us, thankfully improve that light, only let that Ground which they gained (for which also they had Scripture-Ground) be first maintained or made good.

The Beat of the Drum, the Sound of the Trumpet is of great Vse to Souldiers, and to Christians as much, Know, that God also calls you to hearken to the Sound of the Trumpet, Jer 6.17. viz. his voice in his word, and that especially in the publick dispensing of it by his Watch-men, whose work it is to lift up their voice as a Trumpet. Then when the Trumpet is blown, do you attend, Amos 3 6. yea, and bless God that it is not your portion to dwell there, where the Trumpet gives an uncertain Sound, 1 Cor. 14.8. File-Leaders (as w…l as chief Leaders) see how you lead, have a Care to go right, lest you mislead others, & their miscarriages be charged to your account. The Examples of Leading men are leading Examples, and if bad Exampl…s then m…sleading ones too. Peters Example before others, was in a Sense Coercive or compelling to them. Gal▪ 2.13, 14.

As Souldiers you set your Watch, and place your Sentinels, and I am sure, as Christians you have as much need, while you are in the Enemies Count… … he p. 45in yours. The Enemy lies intrenched within view, you had need keep your hearts with all diligence, and often walk the Rounds, as careful Commanders will in person do, walk up and down the World with your Soules under necessary and Consc…tion, Obligations to Attend that duty, so frequently and solemnly urged in the Scriptures, see 1 Pet. 5.8. with Mark 13.33, 37.

When you are commanded to Charge, present, give fire, it is a shame and trouble to you to miss Fire, or make only …alse Fire, or when a mark is before you not to …: it think then how it offends Christ, disadvantages you now, and will grieve you another day, if the result of all your Profession and pretended preparation hath only been a little false Fire, a form of Godliness an empty …ame, Then be sure to be well f…xed, and take good Aim, be not like a deceitfull Bow, do not shoot at Rovers, lest you miss the Mark and lose the great Prize, which as Professors of the Name of Christ, you pretend to be labouring after

In Summe it will be your Honour as Souldiers to be accurate and punctual in all your postures and Exercises; and it will your great Advantage as Christian, if you can (and you see if you will you may) turn all your Exercises into Spiritual and special use.

Whether any of you may ever be called as Souldiers, to make matter to fill up the Pages of future Histories with your warlike Exploits & valorous deeds in taking of Cities, overrunning Countries, &c. we know not; but if you be good Souldiers of Christ in the Spiritual warfare, that is the way to lasting honour. He that rules his own Spirit, is better, and shall be more honoured and reward…d then he that win… a City, Prov. 16.32.

Only this you must all know that both as Souldiers & Christians your strength & Success lies in the Lord of Hosts, not in your selves. I …ust not to your Number, strength, Activity Courage, &c. The Battel is not alwayes to the strong, nor the Race to the swift, Eccl. 9.11. man is not saved by his Strength, an Horse is a vain thing, Psal. 33.16 17. In every Ingagement as men, as Souldiers, as Christians, there may be enough of our own weakness seen to humble us, and in all our Success enough of Christs Power and Grace to occasion us to g…ve him all the Glory. You are never like to have better Prosperity in either Warfare, then when you go forth sensible of your own Impotency, because you then fairly and professedly leave Room for him to advance his own Honour. see 2 Chron. 20.12. And be sure, when we come to see how our matters were brought about, we shall set the Crown on the Head of Christ, and throw down our own Crowns at his feet.

To conclude with a word of that which shall shortly put a Conclusion to all our Exercises in this World whether Military, Civil, or Religio…s. Know, that Death our Enemy is upon a swift and speedy march towards us, and we are … him, and therefore must necessarily meet quickly, between this p. 46and that the Time is but short, over a few dayes (moments it may be) the day will discover what we have been, and done. We are now all of us training … under the doctrine and Discipline of the Lords House, and possibly (yea, probably) in this Life he may pu… u… to the Trial what we have gained, some such plunge we may be brought unto, as wherein we shall have occasion to use all the Skill that ever we have had an opportunity of getting. He may call us to combate with Persecution, Poverty, Reproach, Bereavements of Relations &c. or at the utmost Death will try us all, Death, (I say,) which among men of all Ages and Sexes takes promiscuously according to the Commission which the Lord of Life and Death hath given it, though ordinarily, those that are in the Front are nextly for present Service, who d…scharge, and Fall off, and make way for the next to be Front. So one Generation passeth away, and another comes in its Room, Eccl. 1.4. ever in motion, going off, and coming on the stage each hour and moment. I may not unfitly liken the whole Race of Man-kind, or all the men in the world to a well-Marshall'd Army, (well Marshall'd I say, for notwithstanding al… the seeming, and in themselves real Confusions that there are, the Lord orders all wisely, and at the end will discover when all is put together, beautifully too) upon a march to meet with Death, where the first Rank discharge, (yea, and are discharged too) Fall off, yea, Fall down, never to return or rise more, and then the next is first, and so on; there are Old men, middle-Aged, and young ones, in the Front, Center, and Rear of the Army, The Old Fall off, the middle-Aged Advance, the Younger are drawing after, now, though sometimes here and there one of the younger ones may be pickt out of the Reer by a Shott out of Deaths murthering piece, yet we commonly say, and truly, Young ones may die, but Old ones must. It's a usual word of Command among you, The first Rank make ready, they especially should be ready, but i… is a duty for us all to watch and pray alwayes, that we may be accounted … to stand when the Son of man shall come. Let all our Care and motions throug… out our whole Life tend to the fitting us for a safe, Honourable, and comfor…ble Exit at last, that when we come to look Death in the Face, or to look back (and we should often look back) upon our Life past, we may neither be afraid nor ashamed to die.

But perhaps some may think that I have Charged too farr and that it is Tim… to draw off, I shall therefore immediately discharge you of your present Attendance; Only that I may not leave you within fight of Death without a Prayer for you, give me leave in so many words, to close with my Desires on your behalf▪ (& sam nil nisi vota supersunt)

In general, my wishes for you are, that you may be blest in the Name of the Lord, and from the House of the Lord.

More particularly,

That the Lord will bless your Labours, accept your work. Eccl. 9. … p. 47and increase both your Number and Skill, that he will teach your hands to Warr, and your fingers to Fight, Psal. 144.1. grant that your thoughts, words, and Actions in this Affair especially, may be acceptable to him; and may you have all Incouragement and Countenance from men too.

That the Lord will make you all Christians, as well as Souldiers, yea, excellent Christians, and accurate Souldiers.

That if it be best for his Glory, the Common good, and your particular weal) you may not be used in any other Military way then in this that you are in, of Preparation. You honour God in the use of this means of his Appointment to prepare for Warr, and he can honour you by preventing any further use of this preparation.

That if the Lord hath further occasion for you, he will make you offer your selves willingly, yea, though it be to the jeoparding of your Lives to the Death in the High places of the Field, Judg. 5.2, 9, 18.

And then that the Lord of Hosts himself will encourage your Hearts, strengthen your hands and cover your Heads in the day of Battel, Psal. 140.7. And Gods presence wit… you, together with the Goodness of his Cause, while you follow his Advice, will both put and maintain valour in you, and be a safe protection over you.

Finally, for your selves, and all of us here present, (your Fellow-Souldiers in the Christian warfare) let us beg that when we come to lay down our Arms at the Graves side, and there to take our final discharge from all kind of Warr, we may be able each for himself to say with some of our latest Breath, in the language of that Good old Souldier of Christ, 2 Tim. 4.7. I have fought a good Fight, I have finished my Course, I have kept the Faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Life, which the Lord the Righteous Judge shall give me at that Day, and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing.

FIN…

End of the text · Joshua Moodey, Soldiery Spiritualized (1674)