THese words are part of Joshua's Commission, that God gave him, when in the room of his servant Moses lately Deceased, he appointed him his Captain General, for the conduct of Israel into the promised Canaan. They [Page 2] had all along, in their March through the Wilderness, met with great opposition from the neighbouring Countrey's, the Amalekites, the Edomites, the Moabites, taking the Alarm, Mustered up their For­ces, and did all they could, both by Am­bush and Skirmish to obstruct their pas­sage, and make it troublesome and hazar­dous: And looking forward into Ca­naan, they had reason to look for more and more formidable Enemies; the Amo­rites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hi­vites, the Jebusites, the Canaanites, being all of them in antient possession of the Countrey, and withal strangers to God, were not like so far to acknowledg his right, as easily, and without blows to quit their own to these new Occupiers. So that in these circumstances, God saw it needful to animate his servant Joshua, and put life and metal into him, for carrying on the difficult enterprise; and this he doth, by telling him, he will be with him, Verse 5. As I was with Moses, I will be with thee, [Page 3] I will not fail thee, nor for sake thee. Some­what like Caesars Venite to his Souldiers, (though infinitely more encouraging, for it was the mouth of the Lord of Hosts that spoke it) Come on, and I'll go along with thee. And he must be strangely faint-hearted and cowardly, that could let his spirit sink, his face grow pale, or his arm shake, with such a second at his right hand.

Which presence of God with Joshua, (though a mighty support) was by no means to be interpreted as a discharge from his own diligence and duty, as though all the work were now taken off his hands, and there were nothing left for him to do, No such matter! It was rather to excite in him a Masculine and Heroick bravery of spirit, as Paulus Emilius pray­ed to Hercules for Victory with a Spear in his hand, [...]. Plutarch in vit. God engaged himself not to forsake his servant Joshua, and thereby obliged him to look to it, that he was neither forsaken [Page 4] of his courage, nor his conscience, Only be thou strong, and very couragious, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law, which Moses my servant comman­ded thee.

In which words, as an Epitome, and short abridgment of his Military Disci­pline, God charges upon Joshua two things, that would in all things render him a gallant and compleat Souldier.

1. Valour and Courage, Only be thou strong and very Couragious.

2. Obedience, and a compliance with the Divine Law, That thou mayest observe to do, &c.

1. First, Valour and Courage: The phrase is doubled, [...] and so is the command too, in this and the foregoing verse, that may denote, as the greater strictness of the charge, so that double courage and fortitude that is necessary it make an accomplisht warriour,

[Page 5]1. Natural courage, which is a strength and stoutness of spirit, fearlesly to en­counter hazards and hardships, which as it was necessary for Joshua in his circum­stances, being to conduct a mutinous quarrelsome people, and combat warlike and combined enemies; So is it greatly requisite in every Souldier, whether in, or under command, his Art and Profession being to converse with Sword and Pike, Blows and Bullets, Wounds, and Death in a thousand shapes, and all its grim and dismal appearances, he had need wear bet­ter armor within his breast, than that which he puts upon it. Neither the Sword, nor the Sword-man is right metal, whose soft edge is soon blunted, and rebated, with a few hard strokes, and that pusilla­nimous tenderness for life and limbs, that in another man is easily overlook't, and pass'd by as a pardonable infirmity, in the Souldier amounts to an heinous crime, as having in it the baseness of treachery, and being false to his trust and undertaking. [Page 6] When death, and dangers appear in their most frightful, ghastly complexion, and threaten high, the true Souldier, with an unappaled courage, makes as brisk a re­ply as Brutus did once to his Malus Ge­nius, Plut. in vit. [...]. Thou shalt see me at Philippi, A match, Ile meet thee. What a brave speech was that of Joab to his brother Abishai, when encompassed with an huge and formidable Army of 2 Sam. 10. 12. Syrians, Be of good courage, and let us play the men, for our people, and for the Ci­ties of our God. And upon the like oc­casion Gentlemen, the Honour of your King, the safety of your Countrey, the hap­piness and flourishing prosperity of this City at stake, I doubt not in you such a generous and masculine spirit; But God grant there never be greater cause to try your Courage, than there is to question it.

2. Secondly, A Spiritual Courage is required that is suitable unto Saints; to this the Apostle presses the Ephesians, Be Chap. 6. 10. strong in the Lord, and in the power of his [Page 7] might, and there are three things wherein this strength and magnanimity is especi­ally to be exercised,

• 1. Enduring Afflictions.
• 2. Resisting Temptations.
• 3. Subduing and mortifying corrupt Affections.

In all which points, there is so much the more courage to be used, because the enemies to be conquered, the World, the Devil, and the Flesh, are most pernicious and deadly, and the Crown prepared for, and promised to the conquest, is most rich and glorious. So that what God hath (in the Text) said to Joshua, is par­ticularly to be applyed to every Christian, as if he were mentioned by name; and so much the rather, because the Apostle hath already done it to his hand, He hath said, Heb. 13. 5. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee: And he hath said, Be thou strong and ve­ry couragious.

1. First, Be strong and very couragious to endure Afflictions. Every good man [Page 8] especially is in this world exposed to crosses, and troubles, and it well becomes him, with a mighty and magnanimous pa­tience and submission to Gods will, to bear all his burdens, and take them, as the Ca­mel doth his load from his Master, upon his knees, strengthened with all might, un­to Col. 1. 11. all patience, and long-suffering with joyfulness. The patience and long-suf­fering of God, is founded in his Allmigh­ty Numb. 14. 17, 18. power, Let the power of my Lord be great, (saith Moses in the behalf of Israel) according as thou hast spoken, saying, the Lord is long suffering. And when God is pleased to send crosses, and calamities, all our might, and power is to be exerci­sed, in Patience and Long-suffering. 2 Tim. 3. 3. [...], 'tis Saint Pauls word to Timo­thy, endure hardness; And it is urged with this Argument, as he would approve himself a good Souldier of Jesus Christ, Tert [...]ll. Quid facis in Christi Militiâ delicate Mi­les? What makes the nice, and the deli­cate Souldier Marching under Christs [Page 9] Banners? How low, and hard, and full of crosses soever thy condition may be in this world, Courage man! to give ground by a froward impatience, and pettish de­spondency, is a certain sign of an impo­tent cowardize and feeble-mindedness, for if thou faint in the day of adversity, thy Prov. 14. 18. strength is small.

2. Secondly, Be strong and very coura­gious to resist temptations. Which so long as we are in this world, the Devils walk and Principality; and so long as that bloud-thirsty Abaddon hath malice, and subtilty, VVe must never look to be freed from, for as a roaring Lion he walk­eth 1 Pet. 5. 8. about, seeking whom he may devour. He tempts to Atheism and infidelity, pride and malice, hypocrisie, covetousness and sensuality, And there is no safety in truce, parly, or complyance, but in a stout and resolute resistance, and that Victory that certainly follows upon it; for, resist Jum. 4. 7. the Devil, and he will slee from you; yet, as erranda Coward as he is, he had the [Page 10] bold and daring hardiness to assault our Lord Christ, in that famous Duel and En­counter, Matth. 4. but its observable, how the Captain of our Salvation, to set us the pattern of a valiant and vigorous resistance, pickt up his fiery darts, and threw them in his face, It is written (saith the Devil) he shall give his Angels charge over thee; and it's written (saith Christ) thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. The Devil will never be worsted by a Meaky cowardly Milksop, and you must either overcome, or fall into his Clutches, the Apostle bids rouze up your courage, and stand to your Arms, Put on the whole Ephes. 6. 11, [...]. armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the Devil, for we wre­stle not against Flesh and Bloud, but a­gainst Principalities, against Powers, a­gainst the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, in high places. And though a man had strength and courage enough to rout whole troops and squadrons of other enemies in the [Page 11] field, he were like to bear away sad and mournful trophies, if he, whose name is legion, makes him Prisoner, and leads him captiveat his will.

3. Thirdly, Be strong and very coura­gious in the subduing, and mortifying of corrupt affections. Such as are Pride, and Passion, malice, earthly-mindedness, ambition, hypocrisie, wrath, and revenge, the worst enemies we have; and were it not for these, the Devil would more easily be vanquish'd. Samson slew the Phili­ [...]ins, heaps upon heaps, and they could never have wronged him, had not Deli­lah, that lay in his bosome, betrayed him. Against these therefore we must stir up our whole strength and courage, to smite them under the fifth rib. These remain­ing lusts in good men, not wholly to be rooted out in this life, are like that rem­nant of Canaanites, that God left to prove Israel, to teach them War, and train them up in the Art-Military; and with whom he commanded them never to make Peace, [Page 12] or a League of Friendship. And verily the crucifying of a darling lust, is an act of no less courage, then it was in Abra­ham, at Gods command to put a sacrifi­cing-knife to the throat of his beloved Isaac. David got more true renown, by conquering a passionate revenge, in the case of Saul and Shimei, than in cutting off the head of Goliab. And Solomon hath laid it down for a rule (nor though a man of Peace, hath he at all undervalued Prov. 16. 32. Martial exploits and atchievements) He that ruleth his spirit ( i. e. keeps his soul from being invaded by exorbitant lusts and passions) is a better man ( i. e. shew's more Man-hood and gallantry of mind) than he that tak [...]s a City. God hath set up his Royal Standard, and on purpose Proclaimed open hostility against those insolent rebels which we harbour in our bosome; that we should draw our swords, and that not only to brandish them, with a flourish, or play a Prize, and strike with a false edge, but be at sharps, run them [Page 13] through, slash and mangle them from head to foot, that we should give fire, and spend our Powder and Bullet at home. In a word, that without any quarter given, we should serve them as that wise woman did Sheba, at Abel of Bethmaacah, throw 2 Sam. [...]0 21. the Traytors heads over the wall. And thus much for the first part of the charge, Be strong and very couragious.

2. The Second follows, that of obedi­ence, and a complyance with the Divine Law, That thou mayest observe to do accor­ding to all the Law, which Moses my ser­vant commanded thee. Men of a Milita­ry Profession, are concerned seriously to mind matters of Religion; A faithful pun­ctual observance of the divine Law, is both necessary for a Souldier: And that which adds to him the greatest lustre and orna­ment. Joshua was a great Commander, and yet not so absolute, but that he must acknowledg a Superiour Lord, and take Law from God, and Moses in his name. The Law of Moses was then the only Ma­nisestation [Page 14] of Gods will, superadded to the originally imprinted Law of Nature: And although God hath to us amplified it in the Gospel, and reprinted it in a fairer Edition, yet that was to be the rule and measure of his actings, and he was thence to learn all his postures, not varying from it, by excess or defect, or as the Text hath it, in a Military phrase, not turning (or wheeling about) to the right or to the left. There's no such compleat armour for a Souldier, as that which Saint Paul re­commends out of Gods Magazine, the Ephes. 6. Girdle of truth, the brest-plate of righte­ousness, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, the Sword of the Spirit. And there's a walking orderly [...] beyond that of marching rank and file. Did God of old take such order, that the Priest (whose office and imployment was the killing of Beasts) should be a man of holiness, and can we think he'l allow the Souldier in his Profession of killing men, to be a stranger to it? There is indeed a [Page 15] Licentious, fanciful, and Fanatical Gene­ration of men, that say the Profession of a Souldier is now inconsistent with Religi­on, and the state of Christianity. All things are under the Gospel to be acted with tenderness and indulgence, love and lenity: And if they could with these fine smooth sayings, perswade others to lay down their Arms, they themselves were like to be the first, that without scruple would run to take them up. The Foxes, in the Fable, with such a plausible and in­sinuating artifice, would have drawn the sheep into a fair and kind correspon­dence, only there was a sort of rugged, and scandalous creatures, with sharp teeth, called Shepherds Dogs, that stood in the way, and obstructed the Peace, let them all be but first knockt on the head, and matters should then be menaged kindly and lovingly, to their own hearts content. They bring Arguments indeed, pitiful slender ones (God knows) to prove, that Religion forbids the use of the Sword, such [Page 16] as it would hardly be worth while for me to answer; Swordmen themselves may better do it, by a Religious deportment and conversation, the best and most effe­ctual confutation of their feeble cavils, being like that Philosophers walking up and down the room silently to refell his Arguments, that with mighty noise and bustle, would needs prove there was no such thing as motion. One of the great excellencies of Religion is, that as it con­duces to mens eternal interest, and makes them happy in another world. So 'tis the accomplishment and perfection of e­very state and condition in this. This makes the Good Prince and the Good Subject, the good Husband, the good VVife, the good Master, the good Servant, the good Merchant, Mariner, Husbandman, Lawyer, Physician, yea and good Souldier too; unto whom (that I may speak more particularly) it adds this sixfold excel­lency and advantage.

• [Page 17]1. Skill.
• 2. Courage.
• 3. Safety.
• 4. Honour.
• 5. Success.
• 6. A Publick and beneficial use­fulness.

1. First, Religion adds to the Souldier the advantage of Skill. How expert was David when a youth: who when Goliah, his proud Enemy, despised the poor strip­ling, as a raw and undisciplin'd novice, slung a stone into his forehead, and laid that mountain of flesh flat at his foot; would you know how he became so dex­trous, and with such art did the exploit, he himself tells you, that God, to the ob­servance and pleasing of whom, he appli­ed himself with a studious care, and ut­most diligence, had train'd him up in his Artillery-Ground. The Lord my strength Psal. 144. 1. teacheth my hands to War, and my fingers to fight. And at another time, when he over-reacht, and out-witted Achito­phel, [Page 18] countermin'd, and defeated the cunning stratagem of that profound shrewd pated Politician; it was not so much his own Mother-wit, as a Religious care to please God, that made him his Arts Psal. 119. 98. Master. Thou (sayes he) through thy Commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies, for they are ever with me. He that has the highest and principal wis­dome, to go beyond the Devil in his plots, and baffle that bloody enemy of souls in his mischievous designs (and the Job 28. ult. fear of the Lord that is wisdom, and to de­part from evil is understanding) is the likeliest person, by the guidance, and direction of the only wise God, to blow up and scatter the petty projects of fleshly opposites, that compar'd with that spiri­tual adversary, are the acutest of them, thick-scull'd and heavy-headed enemies. Atheism, profaness, and irreligion, blast the best laid designs, and lead the subtle Artists and contrivers of them, into traps, Job 5. 12. and unseen precipices. God disappoint­eth [Page 19] the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise, they are short and defective, both in the Theory and the Practice, their fine spun Policies come to nothing, and break like the Spi­ders web. And when any exploit is to be done, they are fumble-fisted, and their hand hangs in their Glove; the stout­hearted Psal. 76. 7. are asleep (saith the Psalmist) and the men of might have not found their hands: But what the Prophet sayes of the Husbandman, holds true of the up­right, obedient, and conscientious Soul­dier, his God doth instruct him to discreti­on, Isa. 28. 26. and doth teach him.

2. Secondly, Religion gives the Soul­dier the advantage of Courage and bold­ness. Nothing doth so fix and consoli­date the mind, to a fearless and undaun­ted resolution in dangers, as its being pos­sessed and principled with Gods holy fear, for in the fear of the Lord there is Prov. 14. 26. strong confidence. Clavus clavum trudit, Nieremberg. omnes timor Dei pellit timores. David [Page 20] in the 112. Psalm, deseribes a man of a brave and bold spirit, that he shall not be Ver. 6, 7. mov [...]d, nor afraid of evil tydings; and who this man of courage and confidence is, he tells us, one that the world would little dream of, the divine Coward, one Ver. [...]. that feareth the Lord, and greatly de­lighteth in his Commandments. And when the People in Samuel's dayes, were by a thunder in Wheat-Harvest, smitten with a pannick-fear, and scared almost out of their wits, it was excellent and proper counsel that he gave them (though to some it may look like a contradiction) fear 1 Sam. 12. 20, & 24. not, only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth, with all your heart. This we have suggested in the Text, Be strong and very Couragious; How so? Observe to do ac­cording to all the Law which Moses my servant commanded thee.

Vile men, of Atheistical, debauch'd principles and practices, Dammers and Sinkers, may rant and swagger, and when furnished with Pipe and Pot-Ammunition, [Page 21] pretend high to seats of Prowess and Chi­valry, and might bear away great renown for Martial exploits, if (as when of old the Giants sought it by fighting against the Gods) sending defiances to heaven, and storming it with full mouth'd Oaths, and Blasphemies, would carry it, but however they may rufile, and look big, they can never be truly couragious, who carry that deadly enemy in their bosome, a guilty accusing Conscience, a dismal Volume; which when it opens, more appales and dispirits them, than the writing upon the wall did Belshazzar, in his carowsing and drunken frolick; Conscience, I say, that at the approach of death, uses to awake and beat a frightful alarm, as old sores ake and throb most at night to bedward, and there's nothing more like to make a white­liver'd Souldier, than that black-mouth'd accuser, nor will any man sneak basely, and cowardly run his head in a hole, or be backward to venture his life in so good a cause as the saving of his Countrey, like [Page 22] him that is madly bold and forward to venture his Soul, in so bad a one, as the Prov. 28. 1. satisfying of his lusts. The wicked flee (saith Solomon when no manpursueth, he is haunted with so many walking Ghosts in a guilty Conscience, that he runs for his life, when there is nothing behind him but his own shadow; he is Al a mort with the shaking of the tops of a few reeds or thistles, as if they were the Pikes of an ar­med enemy, arrayed in Battalia; his heart sinks to his heel, at the rusling of the wind among the leaves, as if it brought the more certain News of his death, than the report of Musket or Canon. What a doughty combatant was Cain like to prove, when having armed and enraged his own Con­science against him, by imbrewing his hands in the bloud of an innocent brother, he stood whining and puling with finger Gen. 4. 14. in eye, Every body that meets me will kill me? But the righteous is bold as a Lion. That saying of David was no flashy va­pouring huff, but the issue of an unshaken [Page 23] gallantry of Spirit, Though an Host should Psal. 27. 3. encamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though War should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

3. Thirdly, Religion gives the Souldier safety, and secures him against danger. It were the less advantageous to a man at arms, if it only put into him spirit and me­tal to attempt and encounter dangers, and there left him of the forlorn, without hope of a safe and honourable retreat, or a strong hold for his defence and protecti­on, but the way of the Lord is strength to Prov. 1 [...] ▪ 29. the upright. And let Swords clash, and bullets fly thick, that man is out of harms way, and needs not flinch or fear colours, whose path is encompassed with a brazen wall. Holy David fighting upon great odds, against an whole Host, was not more confident than secure; For in the time of Psal. 27. 5. trouble, he shall hide me in his Pavilion, in the secret of his Tabernacle shall be hide me, be shall set me up upon a rock. That is, a well fortisied and impregnable Garri­son, [Page 24] into which the Prophet Isaiah puts the righteous person, and he seems parti­cularly to describe the righteousness of a Isai. 33. 15. 16. Souldier, One that despiseth the gain of oppression, and stoppeth his ears from hear­ing of blood: He shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall be the munition of rocks, bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure: If enemies beleaguer him, and bring ropes and scaling ladders, they are all too short, He dwells on high. If they bring Petards, and plant great Guns for Battery, all instruments of violence are (alass) too weak, to make a breach, and force an entrance, for his place of defence is the Munition of Rocks. And if per­haps despairing to storm, they shall design to starve him out of his strong hold, that plot is like to fail, and come off as poorly as the other, for the man is as well stored with Victual as Ammunition, Bread shall be given him, his Waters shall be sure. Gi­deon, a brave Souldier, when in obedience to God, he threw down Baals Altar, was [Page 25] sorely threatned, by a rude rabble of en­raged Idolaters, (And there is no madness like that of mens being mad for Religion) but God himself was of his guard, and gave him safe conduct, so that all their high bluster of words proved meer Squibs and Crackers. And if it shall be said, Religion is not alway the Souldiers de­fence; It was the hard hap of godly Jo­siah, and since that of many a good man, to be wounded and slain in the day of Bat­tel. I answer, God, when he sees it best, delivers them either from, or out of dan­gers; or if neither of these, however at the long run he will infinitely reward them, so that, be the hazards and mis­chiefs what they may, that they wade through, they are sure, when all accounts are made up, not to come off losers. Put the case, a General were able, (as we are sure God is) to make his Souldiers shot­free, to cure the wounded, and quicken the dead, and at the head of his Army should say before a Fight, Come on my stout hearts, fear nothing, He engage my honour, [Page 26] that not a man of you shall be a loser by this Battel. And yet when they fall on, and are at it Pell-mell: Some indeed are untouch't, but others lose, either a leg or an arm, or are killed outright. Well! the Fight over, and the General surveying his Army, the first, that lost never a drop of bloud, he rewards well for fighting, them that lost their limbs, he makes fish­whole, and gives them what is better than a leg or an arm; the slain he raises to life after a most glorious manner, makes them all Captains and Colonels, and bestows upon them places of honour and com­mand. Now which of all these lost any thing by fighting! they sure lost least that were quite knockt o'th head, and for a time lost all in appearance.

4. Fourthly, Religion adds to the Soul­dier honour and renown; And this many a one of that Profession prefers to his safe­ty, and so that be preserved untoucht, mat­ters not how he exposes life and limbs to danger. Now there's nothing like Re­ligion advances to honour and dignity, it [Page 27] makes a mans face to shine, and incircles his head with a glory. All the Orations and triumphs of Roman Consuls and Di­ [...]tors, gave but a mean and trivial lustre (like the glittering of a gloworm, or the shining of a piece of rotten wood in the dark) compar'd with the real and sub­stantial brightness of them that have the 1 Pet. 4. 14. Spirit of glory, and of God resting upon them. And of these two, that holds true that the Apostle saith of the Law and the Gospel, That which was made glorious, had 2 Cor. 3. 10. no glory in this respect, by reason of a glory that excelleth. The righteous (saith So­lomon) Prov. 12. 25. is more excellent than his neighbor. And representing Religion under the name of wisdom, as a magnificent Queen, distributing various and ample rewards to all her train, he reckons honour, with Prov. 3. 15. riches to boot, as a left-hand boon and largess. Nay God himself puts in cau­tion and security (that never yet broke his parole) to advance their reputation and renown, that are careful to lift up his Praise, by holy practices, and (as it were) [Page 28] dub them his Knight-Bannerets in the 1 Sam. 2. 30. field, them that honour me, I will honour, and they that despise me, shall be lightly H [...] 2. ult. esteemed. I will take thee O Zerubbabel my servant, the Son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord; and will make thee as a Signet, for I have chosen thee. God takes notice of his noble birth, the son of Shealtiel, not a Signet made of a shoe-buckle, but his highest honour was, Zerubbabel my servant, I will make thee as a Signet, for I have chosen thee. There is in vertue and goodness, that intrinsick beauty, and ami­able commanding Majesty, that it con­quers and captivates, sets up its trophies in the minds of observers, and conciliates respect and reverence from those persons that will not themselves be at the trouble to practice it.

5. Fifthly, Religion gives success and an happy prosperous issue of affairs: No­thing doth so intangle and perplex an enterprise, and make it miscarry in mens hands, as their sinning against God, they that walk in their own wayes, Sow the wind, [Page 29] and all the crop they are like to reap thence, is the whirlwind, to blast and scat­ter all they take in hand. The Israelites sin made their Carcasses to fall thick and threefold in the Wilderness, so that of above six hundred thousand that came Exod. 12. 37. out of Egypt, two only, Caleb and Joshua, set foot into the promised Land: Nay, Moses himself, for his infidelity and dis­obedience, striking the rock, when God bade him but speak to it, was shut out of Canaan, and had his Leading-staff taken from him. And when God put it into Joshua's hands, it was done with the charge in the Text, and a reason annexed, that affairs might thrive better under his conduct and menagery, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. And again, ver. 8. then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then shalt thou have good success. Not but that holy and good men have been worsted, and lost the day. It is no new thing, for Gods Israel to flee before accursed Amalekites, or be led cap­tive by Babilonish conquerors, but it was [Page 30] sin, that accursed thing that foyl'd and routed them, and casting Gods Law be­hind their back, made them to turn their back before their enemies. And there is no way lies so fair and smooth to success and victory, as for the Menagers of Marti­al affairs, by a Religious and faithful obe­dience, to engage him that is the Lord of Hosts, in their cause and quarrel.

6. Sixthly and Lastly, Religion adds to the Souldier a publick and beneficial usefulness, such as answers those just ends, for which God hath put the Sword into his hands; without which, the world perhaps would have no more cause to joy in the bare success of arms, then the poor Polander at this day in the Great Turks prosperity. Neither the Civil nor the Mili­tary Sword is to be born in vain, God hath appointed the one and the other to set and keep the world to rights, so as that where the Sword of the Magistrate cannot enter, nor Justice and reason take place, by reason of mens bruitish lusts, & ungovernable passi­ons, the Souldiers Sword is to cut a way for [Page 31] them. The state of things would, its true, be very much better'd in the world, if reason and equity, righteousness and honesty could obtain such an uncontrolled, and universal Empire, as might make the Souldier useless, and beat Swords into Plow-shares, and Spears into Pruning-hooks; but this neither being, nor to be expected, in our corrupt degenerate state, where the most men, like bruits, blindly and eagerly pursue a meer sensual interest; God hath made the Military Sword a whip for the Horse, a bridle for the Asse, and a rod for the Fools back.

Now without the sway and influence of Religion, and a sense of duty to God, this se­vere, boisterous, and bloudy instrument can hardly be menaged to the ends of Justice and righteousness; men would use it to promote their own lusts and passions, humours and in­terests, and cut and slash, only to carve the fat and large portions for themselves; and so greater injury and mischief would be done by the Sword than redressed; were St. John Luke 3. 14. Baptists Military Lecture no part of the di­scipline, the world would have no disease [Page 32] more fatal and deadly than this last remedy. When Cain took up arms without any re­straints of Religion, what woful havock did he make, destroying one quarter of the world at a blow? And among our selves, not long since, when they had the sword in their hands, that were Saints, without Religion, and ap­plauded themselves in a godliness without righteousness and honesty, how were honours and estates, lives and liberties, the crown it self, and the head that wore it, sacrificed to pride and revenge, boundless ambition, and insatiate avarice? I should not on such a day as this, bring sorrows to remembrance, but that there is joy in thinking we are past them. And that they are not now the objects of sense, but memory, olim meminisse. But on the other side the unbyassed holiness and Reli­gious integrity of a Sword-man, makes him a publick benefit: And as a second to the Prudent, faithful and conscientious Magi­strate, the world is beholden to him for that little peace, justice, honesty, and good order that are yet remaining in it.