A01970:30
The dignity of chivalry set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company…The dignitie of chiualrie set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company…
The dignity of chivalry set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company of London, June xiij. 1626. By William Gouge, B. of Divinity and preacher of Gods Word, in Black-friars London.The dignitie of chiualrie set forth in a sermon preached before the Artillery Company of London, Iune xiij. 1626. By William Gouge, B. of Diuinity and preacher of Gods Word, in Black-friers London.
London: printed by George for Ralph Mab, 1626
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To treat much of the Artillery profession, before this Artillery Company would be to act Phormio his part before so many Anniballs as are here present. You all know that the Artillery Profession is a Military Discipline, ⟨p. 11⟩whereby choice persons are instructed and enabled well to manage weapons of War, orderly to march in their due place, wisely to encamp, and skilfully to embattle. That to be trained up hereto, and well exercised herein, is an honourable function, belongeth to me, and to the matter in 1hand, to prove. How it appeareth by my Text to be an honourable function ye have heard. Hittites, Amorites, Perizites, Hivites, Jebusites, and such like servile persons coming from a base offspring were counted unworthy hereof. In Israel Israelites, Children of the ever renowned Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Men of highest and greatest esteem, THEY were Men of War. That function whereof base people were counted unworthy, and whereunto Men of best account must be deputed, is [Greek or Hebrew] without contradiction an honourable function. To like purpose it is noted that Abraham himself, that Prince of God (as he is for excellency sake 2styled) trained up in Artillery exercises, ⟨p. 12⟩not bond slaves, bought with his money, but such as were borne and brought up in his house, whom he had in high esteem. THEY were Men of War. Where as old Ishai, an understanding and wise man had eight sons, the three most honourable of 3them all, even the three eldest, were trained up in an Artillery profession, THEY were Men of War. And though David, being the youngest of all, were by his Father deputed to be a shepherd, yet his brave mind affecting more honourable employments, 4whereunto also he was incited by divine instinct, he would needs prove to be a man of War, & indeed proved to be an approved Man of War. Saul himself though a King, Jonathan, that 5