Good Soldiers Described and Animated, Title page – Preface
Good Soldiers Deſcribed, and Animated. A SERMON Preached before the Honourable Artillery-Company, in Boſton, June 6th. 1720. Being the DAY of their Election of Officers; And now Publiſhed at their Requeſt. And in Obedience to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR: His Honour the Lieut. GOVERNOUR, and Several of His MAJESTY'S Honourable COUNSELLOURS.
By THOMAS SYMMES, A. M. Paſtor of the CHURCH in Bradford.
Eccl. 9. 18.
Wiſdom is better than Weapons of War.
BOSTON: Printed by S. KNEELAND, for S. GERRISH, and D. HENCHMAN, and Sold at their Shops, 1720.
PREFACE.
AFTER the Great and Extraordinary Acceptance which the following SERMON met with, from ſo Numerous and Judicious an Audience in the Delivery of it from the Pulpit, I cannot but think it will be very acceptable to every one from the Preſs. I can by no means therefore comply with the deſire of the Reverend Author to me, that I would Excuſe his yielding to the Printing of it. I think none that heard it will allow me to ſay a word on that head: And after ſuch an uncommon Attention as the Diſcourſe commanded when it was utter'd, there is no room neither left for me to commend it to them that heard it.
THE Author in a kind and obliging Letter to me aſcribes the unexpected and undeſerved Favour of GOD to him, unto the Prayers of a very religious People, which Heaven hath committed to his Care; upon whom he had called to ſtrive together with Him in Prayer to, GOD for him, that his Service might be accepted of the Saints. And now that it has pleaſed GOD to give a remarkable Anſwer unto their Prayers, I beſeech Him alſo to give 'em Humbleneſs of Mind, whereby they may accept aright and improve His Grace ſhown them.
IT is a peculiar Honour to any Miniſters of the Goſpel, (and thro' Grace we have not a few among us who ſhare in it) when in retir'd Places of Service; out of the way of Fame or any worldly reward, they are diligent in their Studies and labouring in the Word and Doctrine, to feed the Flock of GOD among them; Studying to ſhew themſelves approved unto GOD, Workmen that need not to be aſhamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth; that by the help of GOD they may be wiſe to win Souls, be Maſters of acceptable Words, and meet to ſtand and teach (if called of GOD thereto) before the Greateſt of Men. The Author is among us a ſhining Example of this Diligence and Proficiency, and GOD is pleaſed to own and crown his Labours with an uncommon Succeſs: There being within theſe Three laſt Months added to the Church in Bradford no leſs than Forty and Six Perſons: May they indeed be ſo many Seals of his Miniſtry, and his Joy in the Day of CHRIST, and the LORD add many more to 'em daily, ſuch as ſhall be ſaved.
MAY their worthy Paſtor be long continued, a more abundant Bleſſing to them, and a diffuſive one to others: And particularly I pray GOD that this Martial Lecture Sermon may be as profitable to the Gentlemen of the ARTILLERY COMPANY, and others of us, in the Reading of it, as it was Pleaſant in the hearing: That as the Preacher was unto us as a very lovely Song of one that has a pleaſant Voice, and can play well on an Inſtrument; So now that we have heard his words we may be of them that do 'em; And then we ſhall indeed know WHO has been among us.
Boſton, June 24th, 1720. BENJAMIN COLMAN.