A01970:42
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.
In applying this point, I will give 1you a divine direction for attaining to that which hath been proved to be so requisite, valour and courage. The direction is grounded on one of Solomons ⟨p. 26⟩Proverb, which is this, The 2wicked sly when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a Lyon. Righteousness then maketh men valorous, 3wickedness timorous. They who know who are righteous, who wicked, cannot but acknowledge the truth of this proverb. A righteous man cannot be here thought to be such an one as hath in every part, point, and degree fulfilled the Law of 4righteousness according to the exact rule thereof. So there is none righteous: no not one. But in Gospel-phrase he is accounted righteous, that by true Faith applying to his soul the blood of Christ, for purging away all his unrighteousness, and laying hold on Christs righteousness to be justified thereby, doth his utter most endeavour to keep a clear conscience before God and Man. This man of all others must needs be the most valorous, whose soul is fenced with the breast-plate of righteousness, and shield of Faith, as well as his body with armour and weapons of steel. ⟨p. 27⟩He feareth nor Devil nor Man. His conscience will make him fight in none but a good cause. His Faith will make him courageous in that cause. If in his body he be wounded, he hath *a Spirit to sustain his infirmity. No passion can so supply the want of blood and support a man, as this Spirit. Might of mind may overcome 6the force of fire. But if the earthen vessel of his body be so broken as it can no longer retain this spirit, then flieth it upward to the place of rest and triumph, passage being made for that righteous soul to ascend to the society of the souls of just men made perfect: so as the supposed conquest over such an one is the cause of his triumph, and maketh him more then a Conqueror. The death of his Saints is precious in the sight of the Lord. But in War so much more precious it is, by how much more glorious. Get Faith therefore and a good conscience, get them, and keep them, and they will keep you from faint heartednesse: they will put life, and spirit,