THE Armies of the Philistines were now gathered together in the Coast of Dammim, and pitched between Sho­choh and Azekah, a Place belonging to Judah: And, in order to oppose them, SAUL and the Men of Israel were gathered together also and pitched by the Val­ley of Elah and had set the Battle in Array against them: The former Army stood on a Mountain on one side; and the latter stood on a Mountain on the other; so that there was only a Valley between them.

Behold now a Champion marches out of the Camp of the Philistines, named GOLIATH, who was of enor­mous Size and formidable Appearance: He comes in [Page 6] warlike Armor complete, and with a Spear in parti­cular as much exceeding common ones, as his Sta­ture exceeded the common Stature of Mankind: He advances to defy the Armies of Israel, and challenges them to produce a Man that would be so hardy as to encounter him.

SAUL, the unhappy King whom GOD gave in His Anger to Israel, was present to behold the Sur­prize, the Disorder and Confusion of his enervated People: And all Israel were overwhelmed with the fearful Expectation of ignominious and cruel Slavery: Terror itself had chilled the Hearts of the whole Isra­elitish Host and caused the Faces of the most Brave among them to be covered with Distress and An­guish.

At the View of such a tremendous Adversary, and at the Hearing his mighty Voice, his daring Challenges and his fierce, tho' too early Boasts and Threatnings, their fainting Souls were upon the Wing and the Shades of the Night were just rushing over them.

But now, when there was not a Man of the whole Israelitish Army, that had the Heart to ap­pear for them, to espouse their Cause and revenge their Wrongs; Almighty GOD of His ineffable Good­ness disposed and excited a brave Soldier to accept the Challenge of the haughty GOLIATH: 'Twas DAVID the great, the good, the generous, who with his gallant, but gentle, Voice revives the Hopes of disheartned Israel and recals their departing Spirits.

The intimidated Israelitish Monarch indeed could not at first believe and hope, that DAVID by Reason of his tender Youth was equal to the vast Encounter, and therefore endeavours to disswade him from the Tho'ts of it.

But the young Hero, instead of being discouraged and turned aside by the Speech of his King, grows rather more courageous and more resolved for the Combate: For he was strong in the LORD and in the Power of his Might.

[Page 7]Being therefore Divinely fortified in his Mind, he hence says to his terrified Prince, Thy Servant will go and fight with this Philistine, seeing he has defied the Armies of the living GOD; Q. D. Tho' you, my Sovereign, have endeavoured to put me off from my proposed Encounter, you have only con­firmed me in my valorous Purpose. 'Tis true GO­LIATH is a Warrior, an old and experienced War­rior, and I allow that I am but a Learner in the Art of War: But in the present Case I have an unshaken Reliance, not on my own Power and Skill, but on the Recruits and Aids of Divine Power and Grace: The audacious, godless Giant has reproached our GOD, who therefore must be his Enemy: And, when this our GOD is my Friend I have no Doubt but that HE will be my potent Auxiliary and crown me with Victory and Triumph: It must be acknowledg­ed, that he places great Dependance on the Strength of his Body, the Force of his Valor and the Glory of his Arms: But yet I have much the Advantage of him: For the Divine Majesty is my Strength: He is my Deliverer and my Shield; and in Him do I put my Trust to subdue this Gigantic Mortal under me.

So spake the brave DAVID: And the Conse­quence of his Speech was, that King SAUL was per­swaded by it to let him engage with their Enemy: Accordingly, that he might be equip'd for this Pur­pose, we read, in Verse twenty ninth of the preceeding Context, that SAUL armed DAVID with his Ar­mor, &c.

Some Expositors have hence absurdly enow sup­posed, that SAUL put his own disproportioned and un­suitable Armor upon him: I said, They have absurdly supposed it: For it is altogether unlikely and incredi­ble, that SAUL should put the Arms design'd and made for his own Majestically tall Body, which over-top'd all Israel by the Head, upon the small Body of DAVID. But others have with more Probabi­lity [Page 8] determined, that this Armor is called SAUL 's, because it was taken out of his Magazine or Armory.

DAVID then, being thus clad and accoutred ac­cording to the King's Mind, finds that his Arms, instead of being a Service, would be an Injury to Him and an Impediment to his Victory: He there­fore determines to lay them aside. And DAVID said unto SAUL, I cannot go with These: For I have not proved them. Q. D. My Prince and Sovereign, I am going to fight with that proud and vain GOLI­ATH: Tis fit and requisite, that I have suitable Arms with which to go against him: And, as I have not by proving These found them to be so, I ought not to go with Them, but should proceed to the Engagement with such Arms as are most proper for me and which are most likely to be used well and successfully by me.

By the Words therefore, in this Exhibition of them before us, we are fairly led to endeavour these three Things, namely,

In the first Place, To justify the Lawfulness of going to War:

Then, To consider Arms as requisite for them that go to War: And

Lastly, To shew, that Men cannot well, nor should, go to War but with such Arms as are proved.

Accordingly, in the first Place, The Lawfulness of going to War is to be justified by us.

And here we shall readily grant, that War is a very grievous Calamity and Judgment: For It pro­ceeds for the most part from wild Ambition or Cove­tousness or inordinate Anger or some other irregular [Page 9] Frame of Mind: And, if it should be ever so just and righteous as its Causes; it is however so pernici­ous and hateful a Thing as that no good Man can be well pleased with it.

For not to mention the Men generally improved by States and Princes for carrying it on, who, tho' They be styled Regular Forces, are yet for the most Part faithless, ^(a) profane and impious Wretches, and of such fordid Souls as not to regard any superior Considerations whatsoever: These are the Men, who from the Love of Praise or Lust of Wealth are always ready and prepared for the Battle: And These must be received into fertile Fields and crouded Cities, and keep them in Awe and Subjection under the Pretence of defending them.

But, not to insist upon This; It is a Thing by no means to be overlook'd or deny'd, that Men in a Time of War cannot well pursue their lawful Affairs and Interests: For Then, through the Prevalence of Fear, the Labor of the Field is neglected and the Trade of the Merchant is moor'd.

Nor is This all: But at such a Time, while good Laws are silent ^(b) nor allowed to speak their Ter­rors; what Debaucheries, what Thefts and Rapines, and how great a variety of other Villanies are per­petrated? And, even after the Extinction of War, it is next to impossible but that this Pestilence of Man­ners should continue and rage for a considerable while.

And besides; War is always very chargeable: And, supposing the War should terminate with Success and Triumph; yet there is scarce any War so hap­pily concluded but that, upon the Review, it will be found the Loss sustain'd is equal to the Benefit and Advantage accruing to the Victor.

[Page 10]And, which is no small and inconsiderable Un­happiness, many valiant, useful and great Men fall Sacrifices in the Day of Battle:

Such are the Horrors of War, as the English HOMER has livelily painted them to our View ^(c).

But however, all these Things notwithstanding, War is sometimes requisite and necessary: It is so for the Recovery of what is unjustly taken away, and for the Vindication of some Wrong sustain'd, according to the Proportion of the Injury, and for procuring and establishing desireable Peace ^(d).

'Tis true there should be a Call of sufficient Autho­rity to engage in War: Nor should War be wag'd but with a good Intention and Frame of Mind: But, when War is Thus not only commenced, but [...]nly pur­sued also; and when, in the Prosecution of it, there is Fortitude in Dangers, Patience in bearing Hard­ships, Industry in setting about Things, Counsel in pro­viding for them and Speed in accomplishing them; Then it is not barely lawful, but it is honorable and glorious.

[Page 11]There have bin indeed many in Germany and other Places, who have condemn'd all going to War as unlawful and wicked: But, upon due Enquiry and Consideration, it will be found, that They know not what they say nor whereof they affirm.

For it is certainly agreeable to the Law of Nature, and so it has unanswerably bin proved to be over and over again by learned Civilians, that a People, as such, have their just Rights and Claims, that They may and should assert and maintain These, and, in so doing, repel the Violence used against Them with their best Forces.

And, altho' the peaceable Men just mentioned have taken the Liberty to quote some Passages from the Writings of the old and new Covenant, and form'd some specious Arguments from them against going to War; yet it can easily be prov'd, as that the Texts produc'd are not well understood by them, and consequently the Arguments collected from them cannot be good; so that the Passages in Scripture, which are in Favor of going to War, are many and very considerable.

That GOD in the Law, which He gave to the Hebrews, directed them with respect to the Way and Manner wherein They should proclaim, begin and pro­secute their Wars, This cannot reasonably be denied: But now such Things as are Evil are rather to be disallowed and forbidden than permitted and even re­commended with suitable Statutes and Laws.

It is suggested indeed by the Enemies to War aforesaid, as if Testimonies from the Old Testament could not be of great Validity in this Case; because there are many Things to be found in That, which ought not to be imitated by us.

But the Reply to This is easy, which is, that, altho' it be true, it is nothing to the present Purpose: For the Things written in the Law of MOSES con­cerning War refer to the Law of Nature, which is [Page 12] perpetual: It being eternally right and just, that the Innocent should be protected and the Evil and Op­pressive repress'd.

And besides, We read, in the Eleventh to the Hebrews, concerning DAVID and other ancient Worthies, that by Faith they subdued Kingdoms, wax­ed valiant in War and turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens: But, if they did these Things in the Ex­ercise of Faith, they were not then to blame for their thus Warring.

But, in our Scriptural Proofs of the Lawfulness of going to War, we are not confined to the Law and the Prophets: We have other Testimonies, besides These, to be taken from the Books of the New Co­venant.

When the Soldiers came to JOHN the Baptist and asked him, What they should do to be saved? He did not advise them to quit their Service, but to carry them­selves well in it, namely, by doing Violence to no Man, by not accusing any one falsely and by Contentment with their Wages, as in Luk. III. 14. And our blessed SAVIOUR did not require the Centurion to resign his Post, whom He commends as having su­perior Faith to any in Israel, as in Mat. VIII. 10. And we read of CORNELIUS a Roman Captain, that, while he was so, his Prayers and his Alms came up as a Memorial before GOD, as in Act. X. 4. TER­TULLIAN indeed supposes, that, after his Conversion to Christianity, he quitted his Post: And This was the receiv'd Opinion of the Primitive Church: And, if the Roman Tests for Soldiers were then in Force, as They probably might be; for all above the common Soldiers ^(f) were necessarily obliged to immolate to the Pagan Deities, as EUSEBIUS assures us; we must then conclude with the learned Mr. MOYLE, that CORNELIUS undoubtedly laid down his Commission.

[Page 13]But, to go on with our Demonstration; our blessed LORD requir'd, as in Mat. XXII. 21. Render unto CAESAR the Things which are CAESAR's: Now the Taxes then collecting were without Question ap­plied in Part for the Defence of the Common-Wealth and the Payment of Wages due to Soldiers: And the Apostle PAUL, in Rom. XIII. 4, 6 and 7 Verses, declares, as he is speaking of the higher Powers or the Civil Magistrate, He is the Minister of GOD, a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil: For this Cause, proceeds He, pay you Tribute also: For they are GOD's Ministers attending upon this very Thing: Render therefore to all their Dues, Tribute to whom Tribute is due, &c.

It was, I doubt not, under the constraining Power of these and such like Passages of Holy Writ, that the Primitive Christians serv'd, as They thought them­selves in Duty bound to do, under the Pagan Empe­rors, as in the Theban Legion: And EUSEBIUS tells us, that They fought under the Emperor MARCUS AURELIUS in Germany ^(g) TERTULLIAN there­fore makes it as a good Apology for the Christians, when by the Pagans They were tax'd as useless to the Common-Wealth, We fight, says he, along with you ^(h).

But, having thus in Opposition to the Opinion of some weak and foolish Enthusiasts justified the Lawfulness of going to War,

Let us now, in the Next Place, consider Arms as requisite for Them that go to War.

For indeed, as DAVID thought it lawful and a Duty for him to go to War; so he judg'd it requisite to go with suitable Arms: Accordingly for an Offen­sive Weapon He takes his Sling: And, if we may [Page 14] believe the Jewish Historian JOSEPHUS, He had a Breast-Plate for a Defensive one.

'Tis true the LORD of Hosts has sometimes re­markably interposed for His People, and avenged Himself on their Enemies immediately, as in the extra­ordinary Overthrow of Jericho and the miraculous Destruction of SENNACHERIB's Army: But such extraordinary Things as these are not now to be ex­pected: Nor may we presume, that we shall obtain Deliverance and Safety from Enemies but in the Use of the ordinary Means and Instruments which are Divinely allow'd and requir'd.

It must be acknowledg'd at the same Time, that we ought not to confide in an Arm of Flesh and the Force of Military Weapons ^(j): But while we are im­proving the Instruments of War we are to place our Trust in the Principal Agent: So DAVID would not trust in his own Sword or Bow or faithful Sling: But He trusts in GOD, and blesses Him as teaching his Hands to War and his Fingers to fight, as in Psalm CXLIV. 1: Where, an ancient Writer observes, DAVID alludes to MOSES 's lifting up his Hands for the Conquest of the Amalekites ⁽ⁱ⁾: And it is very probable the Psalmist's Meaning was, that GOD had taught his Hands to fight in Prayers, as well as with Arms.

While therefore we pay our Acknowlegements unto GOD, make Him the Object of our Trust and place our entire Dependance upon Him; we are also to take the Weapons of Defence and Annoyance.

[Page 15]As every Nation and People at some Time or other are molested with Enemies or have Cause to be apprehensive of their Sallies and Attacks upon them; there must therefore be Reason for a Compliance with our LORD's Direction, in Luk. XXII. 36. Let him, that has no Sword, sell his Coat and buy one: For, unless Men procure Armor for themselves, be the Charge of it what it will, their Enemies may with Safety and Courage come against them and make an easy Prey of them.

There is therefore no Room to question but that Arms are requisite and necessary for going to War: And indeed, to go without These into the Field and face an Enemy, it would be a very stupid Thing: For such as are exposed to the Assaults of Enemies, without Them, ought rather to think of ignominiously running away than staying and Fighting ^(k).

But however, as necessary as it is to have Arms in going to War, it is equally requisite and necessary to have fit and chosen ones, and such as are both suitable to the Times and adapted to the Persons that wear Them: And this is no more than what is intimated unto us in the Text, wherein some Arms are rejected and others are prefer'd before them.

The most ancient Arms were such as the humane Body afforded; and, according to the Poet, Teeth, Hands and Nails were the Principal of them: Arma antiqua Manus, Ungues, Dentesque fuerunt ^(l).

These were follow'd with Clubs and Stones for offending the Enemy, and with the Skins of Beasts for the Defence of the Body ^(m).

But, by Degrees, as Mankind encreased in Num­bers and in their ambitious Designs and Views; so their Weapons of War grew more numerous and more cruel.

[Page 16]Some have supposed, that MOSES was ⁽ⁿ⁾ one of the first Inventors of warlike Instruments: Whether that be so or no is uncertain: Tho' it is very proba­ble, that He might be the Improver of many of them.

If we consult the Law and the Prophets, and com­pare the several Passages in them, wherein the Arms of the ancient Hebrews are mention'd; we shall find, that they consisted of Carriages and Arms.

Their Carriages were of three sorts, namely Cha­riots with Scythes, Waggons and Bow Chariots, the Disposition and Managery of which requir'd no small Labor, Activity and Skill.

As for the Arms for the Body; These were such as they wore upon them, and such as were exercised by them.

Their Military Clothes were a Coat of Mail for the Body and an Helmet for the Head: With such Clothes as these was the Philistine Champion accou­tred: For we read, at Verse fifth of the preceeding Context, He had an Helmet of Brass on his Head and was armed with a Coat of Mail: And the Weight of the Coat was five thousand Shekels of Brass.

And, to these, we may add their Targets and Shields: The former were made of raw Skins, and Hides, and sometimes of Wood; and they were of such Heighth as that they would cover such as wore them from Head to Foot: The latter were made of Iron and Brass and other Metals ^(o). And betwixt these, there was a smaller Target or Shield, called afterwards Pelte, which was wore by the Archers or Bow-Men.

But here it must be observ'd, that, as the Hebrew Armies consisted of Horse and Foot, so each of These had their proper and peculiar Weapons to use.

[Page 17]The Sword was the most ancient and common Weapon of War properly so call'd that I can find: That used among the Hebrews was like the Eu­ropean. As for the Hanger or Scymeter, which from ancient Times to the present Day has bin used throughout all Asia, That is of an Assyrian Original.

We cannot certainly describe the Hebrew Pikes, Lances and Spears: But it is not unlikely, that they might have such as the ancient Romans: Theirs were some loop'd ones, some with Handles and some light Harness ones to be flung like a Dart.

Among the Hebrews also Bows and Arrows were us'd: And they were doubtless acquainted with those Instruments called Balistae and Catapultae among the Romans, which were design'd to cast huge Rocks and a great Number of Darts at a Time.

And, without adding any Thing further, the com­mon Sling was much improv'd by them: The whole Tribe of BENJAMIN are celebrated for the skilful Use of it: And the warlike DAVID is famous for his successful Improvement of it against the bulky GOLIATH.

These were the Arms of the Ancients: But, as we do not now conform to their Policy; so neither are we confin'd to their warlike Instruments: But there has bin found sufficient Reason for changing them.

Fire Arms have now superseded many of the anci­ent Weapons, and obtain'd the Preeminence before the Lance and Pike, the Bow and Arrow, the Dart, Javelin, Sling and other offensive Weapons.

The first Inventor of Guns in Europe was a Monk, named BERTHOLD SCHUVART, a considerable Alchymist, who liv'd in the Year of our LORD thir­teen hundred and eighty ^(p). Tho' some affirm the Hand-Gun or Musket was never used until the Siege of Rhegium in the Year fifteen hundred and twenty. [Page 18] And it is doubted by some, who have made it their Business to enquire into such Things, whether it be so old: For about the Year fifteen hundred and sixty some Muskets and but a very few of them were mix'd with Harquebusses: So that, according to this, it must have bin forty Years before the Hand-Gun had learned to speak.

These Hand-Guns or Muskets have from the Time of their first Invention bin of various Lengths and Bores: But it is proper to observe here, that it is always fit the Muskets of one Army and of one State or Kingdom should be exactly of but one Bore.

Besides these Muskets, there are now other Wea­pons for the Foot, such as Touks, Shables, two handed Swords, Hangmen's Swords, Javelins, Morning Stars, Rapiers; most of which are rather for the Defence of Batteries, Forts and Towns than for the Field. As for the light-arm'd Foot, They for the most Part are now arm'd with Musket and Sword or Rapier.

As to the Cavalry or Horse, They have now their peculiar Weapons; as the Pistol, which was invented by CAMILLO VITELLI an Italian, in the Time of HENRY the Eighth of England, the Harquebuss, which is of older Date, and the Carabine. The Ca­rabine is usually carried about the Soldier's Neck in a Bandileer of Leather, which is a far easier Way of carrying them than the former one of hanging them at their Saddles. Some, instead of these Carabines, carry Blunderbusses, which are short Hand-Guns of a great Bore. Broad Swords were constantly used by the English and Scots. As for the Rapier, that is not above forty Years old; altho' [...] [...] Sort of them was used in the Times of the Civil War in England for a while, and afterwards laid aside.

Nor may we omit to mention here great Guns, which by the English are accurately divided into the Cannon, the Culverin, the Pierior and the Mortar. Each of which are sub-divided into several Sorts [Page 19] according to their various Bores: The three former are generally made of Iron Brass and Copper: The latter, I think, is generally of Iron: And, under the Mortar, may be comprehended Pot-Pieces, Square Murtherers, Tortles and Petards.

The Mortars are of vast Use in Sieges both to the Defendants and the Assailants: For, while the Former use them against the Batteries and Approaches of their Enemies to destroy their Men, to burn their Ammunition and ruin their Works; the Latter use them to terrify and annoy the Besieged, to burn their Houses and Magazines with Granadoes, or break them down with ponderous Stones.

Thus I have cursorily called over the most used and approv'd Arms of both the Ancients and the Mo­derns, and rank'd them in the best Order I could. And, altho' what I have thus done might appear very strangely on any other Occasion; yet, in such an Auditory as This, there cannot, I think, be any sufficient Reason to blame me for it.

It might now perhaps be expected, that I should enter into some Enquiry, which Arms are in going to War to be prefer'd, The Ancient or the Modern: But, as the Learned are divided on this Head, I shall not venture to give Judgment upon it: Only thus far I will take leave to say, that We Moderns are frequently partial and commonly judge in our own Favor ^(q).

But let us now pass on to the third and last En­terprize, namely, To shew, that Men cannot well, nor should, go to War but with such Arms as are proved: For, agreably to the Language in our Text, we can­not nor should go with These or Those Arms, unless we have proved them.

[Page 20]As Use and Exercise is the End of other Instru­ments; so the same is the End of all warlike Instru­ments in particular: And, without the Use and Exer­cise and Proof of Them, their designed End is not attain'd.

And, if any pretend to appear in Arms, which They know not how to use, because They never exer­cised and proved Them, They deserve to be condemned for their Folly and Rashness.

That Christian and Apostolical Hero the blessed PAUL acquaints us, that after the Manner of Men He fought with Beasts at Ephesus, in 1 Cor. XV. 22. And, without Doubt, in that Encounter He skilfully and successfully used the Weapons commonly improved against Beasts in the Amphitheater.

But, if any should go to War either with Beasts or Men with Weapons which they have not exercis'd and prov'd, instead of fighting after the Manner of Men, They would only fight after the Manner of Beasts, and perhaps not in so skilful a Manner as they.

'Tis certain that in those Times and Places, when and where Men have not known the use of warlike Instruments, and have bin unacquainted with Military Order; the strongest Party has generally, if not always, prov'd victorious and triumphant.

But, since Men have learned the Art of War, the skilful Use of Military Weapons and the suitable Dis­position of Soldiers in Rank and File; this Military Science is of equal Consequence with Strength, or rather superior to it. It has to be sure a direct Tendency to make Men courageous: Whereas, on the contrary, a Multitude without Skill in Arms and ignorant of Order are usually dastardly and mean-spirited, and easily subdued by an inferior Number who are vers'd in the Military Art.

We may well conclude then from these Things, that the Proof of Arms and Military Discipline is alto­gether convenient and necessary among every Nation and People.

[Page 21]This Military Science and Skill consists in the Sol­dier's knowing how to proceed and fight on Horse or a Foot with Order, Regularity and Readiness: And This is to be acquir'd in the Way of Drilling or Train­ing.

Now, that Men in this Way may be form'd for complete Soldiers, They should, first of all, be taught their Postures; that is to say, They should be instruc­ted how to handle and manage their Arms with Dex­terity and Vigor, Readiness and Beauty: And then; They should be made in a Body to perform their Mo­tions and Evolutions, or to move in such an Order and cast themselves into such a Figure as shall be com­manded.

I shall not here be so minute as to say any Thing concerning the particular Exercises of the Horse and Foot, lest I should be tiresome to Those of my Au­ditory who are acquainted already with these Things: But I would only observe, that the Words of Command both for Horse and Foot in their Motions are the very same; tho' the Distances requir'd of Them are dif­ferent ^(r).

But, if any be desirous of obtaining a complete Know­ledge of the Postures, Motions▪ and Evolutions in the Training either of particular Men or of Bodies of Horse and Foot; They may be assured, that it is not enow to learn the Words of Command by Reading or by looking on the Figures of a Compliance with them: For the Military Art is practical: And most Men shall understand more by observing and practising of it for three Days than by Reading and Study for that Number of Years: LUCULLUS indeed was but a raw Soldier when he set out from Rome; and yet, on [Page 22] his Journey and while he winter'd in Greece, he so far improv'd himself in the Art of War by consulting the Histories he had formerly read, that, after several Battles and Sieges, MITHRIDATES pronounc'd him to be the most expert and able Commander next to ALEXANDER commonly called the Great that he had known or read of in History: but he is a singu­lar and extraordinary Instance.

Thus I have endeavor'd the Illustration and Proof of the Points offer'd to our Consideration: And, if after all that has bin offer'd any should think, either that War is not lawful in the Cases which have bin mention'd, or that Arms are not requisite and necessary for carrying it on, or that Men may go to War with­out Skill in Arms from the Proof and Exercise of them; I must ingenuously own, that I despair of convincing and satisfying them to the contrary.

But the Improvement of what has bin offered now remains: And it shall be made in a threefold Ad­dress, first of all, To the ancient and honourable Com­pany who have done me the Honor of an unanimous Choice to this Service; then, To the Government over us; and, in fine, To this whole Militant Assembly.

As therefore to You, Gentlemen of the Artillery, who are the very Soul from whom our Militia has its Life and Motion ^(s), You are much to be com­mended for your Endeavors to revive the Proof and Exercise of Arms among us.

For, altho' the GOD of Armies has blessed us with a long Peace; we know not how soon our Plough-Shares may be turn'd into Swords, and our Pruning-Hooks into Spears: There is therefore no Room to doubt but that, as fit Arms are necessary for us, our Men also should be made skilful in the Use of Them: [Page 23] For it would be of dangerous and very bad Conse­quence to be obliged to learn Military Skill, when the immediate Exercise of it is wanted.

But where is Military Skill to be learned but in the proper School of it? Such, Sirs, is your Company: It was founded for this End by the Government: And, as it has bin of great Use and Advantage hither­to for obtaining this End; so we cannot but desire and hope, that it will be yet more and more successful towards it.

The Generality of our People, I fear, look upon Training as an useless Exercise or only a trifling Piece of Recreation: For, at our annual Trainings, the Practice of many of our common Soldiers is sportful and ludicrous: But this is a vast Indecency: And yet it is a much greater Piece of Indecorum and an higher Fault, if any of the Officers can wink or smile at any such Irregularities.

We may well expect of You, Sirs, who are our Masters in the Art of War, that our Trainings and Martial Exercises be gravely perform'd and that our Skill in Military Discipline grow and encrease by a diligent Proof of it, that our Men, while under Arms, be so sedate and quiet as that no Voice be heard but their Commander's, and that, after they are dismissed, they do not grow boisterous and unruly, but modestly retire with their Arms.

And, if you would keep the respective Companies of which you are the Officers in good Order and lead them on to Piety and Virtue; it becomes you, as Tit. III. 8. to be careful [not to maintain, as we render it, but] to go before others in good Works: For the Greek Word ^(t) here used is a Military Term taken from Those who lead a Company or Army.

[Page 24]And, in fine, Look up to GOD, the Giver of every good Gift and of every perfect Giving, for all that Military Skill, Direction and Conduct which you fur­ther want; and It shall be liberally and without up­braiding given You.

By the Observation of These and such like Rules, Dear Sirs, You may depend upon the Divine Favor and Blessing, when War shall arise and an Host shall encamp against You: So that, when You are called forth to Battle, You may say to your People, as in the Style of DAVID to King SAUL, The LORD has delivered us from the Paw of the Lion and the Bear; and He will deliver us out of the Hand of the Philistine, as in Verse thirty seventh of the preceeding Context: And we, who have a rais'd Opinion of your Valor and Conduct, shall answer you in the Language of SAUL to the Heroic DAVID, as in the same thirty seventh Verse, Go, and the LORD of Hosts be with you.

In the Next Place; Our Address is to be made with a becoming Deference and Submission, but yet with the Courage becoming a Soldier, ^(u) to the Govern­ment over us.

And here, since it entirely belongs to your EX­CELLENCY to appoint our Military Officers; we cannot but hope,

Sir,

That you will only honor such with Military Com­missions as are Men of Piety, Prudence, Generosity, superior Knowledge in Military Affairs and able to support their Dignity and Authority; and that, if any of them appointed by your EXCELLENCY fail to answer these Characters, you will take away their Commissions and give Them to such as are more worthy of Them ^(v): And the Reason of this our Hope is [Page 25] assign'd for us by the wise Man, who says, in Prov. XXVI. 8. As he that bindeth a Stone in a Sling, or the Military Instrument already mention'd called a Balista, so is he that giveth Honor to a Fool: For the heavy Stone and the stupid Fool are alike rais'd with a View to their doing Execution: But They are equally insensible of their Advancement and incapable of themselves to do any Thing to Purpose.

But, as to the Care of providing against a Time of War; This belongs to the whole Legislature: To you,

Most Honored Rulers, It appertains to raise need­ful Moneys, to procure suitable Arms, Ammunition and Provisions and to build and repair Fortifications.

As Money is necessary for carrying on a War and evidently appears to be the Nerves and vital Spirit of it; It becomes you, Sirs, to see to it that your Treasury be supplied with Money, and that it be with such Money as is well regulated and established: This, I say, becomes you from a due Regard to Righteous­ness and Honesty.

Since also Arms both of Defence and Annoyance are requisite towards maintaining a War; It is incumbent on you to found an Arsenal or Magazine for all war­like Instruments.

Again; As it is impossible for Men in a Time of War to hold out against their Enemies and the Want of Necessaries; the Civil Magistrate therefore should take Care, that such as are employed in their Service have their Backs well covered and their Stomachs sa­tisfied with good Provisions.

And, inasmuch as Fortifications are for the Safety of your Subjects and the Security of our Properties; It is undoubtedly the Province of our most Honored Legislators to build such in the Places most convenient for Them: And, Sirs, allow me to speak it with Freedom, If you do not think it proper to erect any [Page 26] New ones, it behoves you at least to repair, enlarge and strengthen the Old ones ^(a).

It is high Time, that our Batteries, which made an handsome Figure and had some tolerable Strength formerly, but are now in spreading Ruins, should be re-edified.

And you cannot wonder at it, Sirs, if, out of Re­spect to The Castle, where I was improved in your Service for a Number of Years, and to my Comfort had a delightful Opportunity of making Progress in useful Knowledge, I beseech you to take a special Notice of that beautiful and important Fortress: It ought to be further strengthned: And there is want­ing a greater Number of Men, able and effective Men, to be constantly there upon Duty: Nor is there sufficient Encouragement for able Officers and Soldiers to abide there: Nor yet has it been duely considered, how many and unavoidable the Expences are of the Commanding Officer usually residing there ^(e): These Things are in Fact true: And, if They be so, you will be so good as to forgive me this Wrong.

And here it may be of Consequence to observe, that we have very few Persons, as I have Reason to believe, in the Province who are versed in the Art of Gunnery: This, if it should be a Time of War, We should find to be a vast Inconvenience: I would there­fore humbly move it to the Legislature, Whether it would not be well for Them to pay for the Schooling of a meet Number of Persons to learn this necessary Art.

[Page 27]Moreover, Honored Sirs, I would offer one Thing more to your Consideration, which is; It appears re­quisite, that some Law should be enacted, whereby our young Men shall be obliged to undergo certain fatiguing Marches and other laborious Exercises: For otherwise there is Reason to fear, that we shall grow a lazy, feeble, effeminate and pusillanimous People, and be soon and easily overcome by any potent Invaders.

And what if, in particular, a Military Watch of a competent Number were kept every Night in this Town, some of which might always be either walk­ing or standing Centinels; while others, having per­formed their Duty, might be lying down on Beds of Planks to brace up their loosned Frames and enure them to salutiferous Hardships.

It has not bin tedious unto Me, but for you and your People I have judg'd it safe, to mention these Things in your Audience: And I cannot but hope, that I have not given just Ground of Offence in the Liberty which I have taken on this Occasion.

But I proceed, in the Third and Last Place, to address this whole Militant Assembly: For now Res ad Triarios rediit: And, as the Triarii among the ancient Romans were in the Rere and were the most completely disciplin'd Soldiers that they had; we have now also in the Rere of our Discourse to do with an higher Order of Soldiers, even such as are Christian and spi­ritual Soldiers: Such indeed either are or should be this whole Assembly.

You see your Calling then Brethren ^(w): We are all called and chosen to be Warriors and to fight the good Fight of Faith: May none of us then entangle our selves in the Affairs of this Life, that we may gratify Him who has chosen us to be Soldiers!

[Page 28]In our spiritual Warfare we are to fight not only against Flesh and Blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World and against spiritual Wickednesses in high Places.

And These our Adversaries are not only powerful and malicious, but very artful and subtle: Hence, in Eph. VI. 11. we read of their Wiles: Where the Word used ^(x) refers to those Stratagems of War among Men, whereby They set upon their Adver­saries on the Side where They are least expected and fear'd.

But, however numerous, powerful, malicious and subtle our Enemies be; Let us not be disheartned from the Combate ^(y), but be reconciled to the Labors to be undergone in it, and to the enduring of Toil and Hard­ness ^(z) as good Soldiers of JESUS CHRIST.

Being thus prepar'd and fortified in our Minds; Let us by an holy Pact devote our selves to the Service of GOD and the REDEEMER: For it was pre­scribed by the old Romans, that none should go to War, until he had sworn to do whatsoever was order'd him by his chief Officer ^(&): And accordingly we should bind our selves by a solemn Oath and Vow to conform to all the Directions and Orders of our Divine Generalissimo, with a deliberate, serious and inviola­ble Purpose to walk in all His Commandments and Or­dinances blameless.

[Page 29]And, becoming thus Milites per Sacramentum, or Enlisted Soldiers by a professed Subjection to the Gospel and its Ordinances; we are now to take the Arms which our Divine Emperor has bin pleased of His Goodness to provide for us: And These we are to ex­ercise and prove.

These Weapons, like the Warfare in which they are to be used, are spiritual, but powerful and mighty: For our suprerne LORD and Commander may ad­dress us with much more Truth and Propriety than BELISARIUS his Army, when he was about to put some lewd Soldiers to Death, ‘Know, that I am come to fight with the Arms of Religion and Justice, without which neither Victory nor Happiness is to be expected: I desire my Soldiers should have their Hands clean to kill an Enemy: Never will I suffer any Man in my Army that has Fingers crooked or bloody, were he in Arms as terrible as Lightning: Force is of no Consequence, if it have not Equity and Conscience for Companions ^(a).’—And indeed He, who is our great and glorious Leader, has clearly re­vealed it as His Will and Expectation, that we should have and exercise such spiritual Arms as These.

But here, that so we may be acquainted with the whole Armor of GOD and put it on; I shall fetch it out from the Tower of the Son of DAVID, especially from that Apartment of it the Sixth Chapter to the Ephesians.

Here, Sirs, is a fine Belt for us. A military Gir­dle is of great Use for Soldiers: And it is a Piece of Armor of such Significance, that in ancient Times it signified a complete warlike Dress. But this Belt is a rich and admirable one. 'Tis Truth, which is to be girded about our Loins.—Some suppose it is an Adhe­rence to the Gospel or an holding fast the Form of sound Words: But This is to confound the Belt with the [Page 30] Sword, which is afterwards to be produc'd.— It is rather to be understood of Sincerity and Integrity, in Opposition to Hypocrisy which enervates the Mind: And the Passage alludes to That in the Prophecy, in Isa. XI. 5. Faithfulness shall be the Girdle of his Reins. This Faithfulness or Truth or Integrity then, as our Military Belt, is to be girded about us to keep us erect and steady in our spiritual Exercise.

And here, Fellow Soldiers, is a Divine Breast-plate for us: 'Tis Righteousness: Which may denote an universal and impartial Obedience to the Divine Laws: For This will defend and guard our Hearts against the Detractions and Calumnies of a base and malici­ous World: And, in wearing this Piece of Armor, we shall appear like our supreme Officer: For of Him it is written in Isa. LIX. 17. He put on Righteous­ness as a Breast-Plate.

In the next Place; If we want Armor for our Feet, here it is for us: And we are to be shod with this Preparation of the Gospel of Peace. As it was usual in ancient Times to fix short Stakes and cast Gall-Traps in the Way of the Enemy to hurt their Feet and make them fall; and for this Cause the Soldiers had a Sort of Boot for their Feet and Legs to accommodate and arm them against the Inconveni­ences to which they were exposed: Even such is the Case now: For in our Way to Victory and Triumph, we shall meet with Distresses, Lets and Impediments. But, to keep us from many Wounds and Injuries, we have the Gospel; which is called the Gospel of Peace, because it reveals, proposes and establishes a Peace be­tween GOD and Man: This Gospel then let us take, with its Directions and Comforts: And This will be a wondrous Preparation against the Evils, the worst of Evils, to be encountred.

And then; Because we cannot fight securely with­out a Shield, here is one for us: The Name of it is the Shield of Faith; and it is equal to quenching all the [Page 31] fiery Darts of the Wicked. Like the poisonous Scy­thian Darts, which in flying caught on Fire and inflam'd the Bodies which they pierc'd, are the Darts shot against our Souls by Satan to enflame them: But, as the ancient Warriors had Shields of raw Neats Leather to quench the Power and Venom of these Darts; so we are now provided with Armor to quench the fiery Darts of the Wicked: 'Tis the Shield of Faith; that Faith, which is the Substance of Things hoped for and the Evidence of Things not seen; and that Faith in our Prince and Saviour, which covers all the Defects of our Obedience and is imputed unto us for Righteousness.

But we are not yet fully provided with our De­fensive Armor: We must have some for our Head: Here then is an Helmet for us: It is the Helmet of Salvation; or what is elsewhere called, the Hope of Salvation. Our Divine Commander has put this Helmet on His Head, as we may see in Isa. LIX. 17. We are then to have a firm Expectation of the Bles­sings of the New Covenant, and a lively, stedfast Hope of the Accomplishment of all the Divine Promises to us: This will guard our Heads against all hard Thoughts of GOD in the most terrifying Encounters and keep us from shrinking at the Assaults of our fiercest Enemies.

We have now Armor sufficient for our Defence: But, that so we may be able not only to stand, but to resist and oppose the Enemies of our Souls, we should have some offensive Arms: Well Sirs: And here is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of GOD, for us: Concerning this Weapon we may say, as DAVID concerning the Sword of the slain GOLIATH, There is none like it: With This our great LORD conquered His and our Adversary; passing it is written at him to his Foiling and shameful Retreat: And the same should we brandish [Page 32] and push against our assaulting, spiritual Foe, who seeks our Destruction.

Nor yet are we provided with all our Armor: But, moreover, we are to pray always with all Manner of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit, watching thereunto with Perseverance: When the Devil, the Flesh and the World come forth against us and are furious in their Onsets, we must, like JEHOSHAPHAT in his Distres and the Emperor THEODOSIUS in his Extremities, cry to GOD with Fervor, Constancy and Importunity: And, accord­ing to Military Rule or Order, we must continue upon our Watch, until we are reliev'd and even until we are discharg'd from our Warfare by Death, like trusty Centinels upon Duty.

Thus are we now entirely furnish'd with fit Armor for us, not only to defend and guard us, but also for resisting and vanquishing our spiritual Enemies.

It remains now, that we should prove this our Armor: Let us then be daily and constantly in the Exercise of it: For Use will make us perfect in the Exercise: So we shall be prepar'd for the Battle continually, tho' the Enemy should have the Har­diness to rally ever so often against us: And so we shall come off Conquerors and more than Con­querors, even considerable Gainers ^(z) and glorious Riders in Triumph, through HIM who has loved us.

And indeed This is no more than what may be reasonably expected; since JESUS our LORD is for us and with us. After the Conversion of the Emperors to the Faith, the Tessera or Word among Them frequently was DEUS nobiscum: And it [Page 33] continues in frequent Use, as such, yet in the Ger­man, Danish and Swedish Armies: This, my Bre­thren and Fellow-Soldiers, is to be our Watch Word: And, with the firm Belief of it, we are to engage in our Spiritual Warfare and pursue it faithfully even to the Death.

In this Way we are to rejoice in the Salvation of JESUS, and in the Name of our GOD we are to set up our Banners: For so we may rest assured, that the LORD will be with us and save us with the Strength of His Right Hand: Let others then trust in the Legs of Men or the Strength of their Horses: But we will remember the Name of Immanuel, the LORD our GOD:

Now unto HIM, whose is the Greatness, the Ma­jesty, the Power, the Victory and the Glory, be all Honor and Praise both now and for ever,