That which hath been delivered of the lawfulness of war cannot but afford matter of much comfort and courage to such as are called to just war. They may on this ground go in faith, with much confidence, cheerfully, and courageously. If there be peace betwixt God and their own souls, if they have truly repented of all their sins, if their persons be justified as well as their cause warranted, they may not only call upon God, and that in faith, for his assistance and blessing, and depend on him for the same, but also undauntedly meet death in the mid-way, and comfortably commend their souls into Gods hands. What need he in 1life or death fear, to whom to live is Christ, and to die is gain, Phil. 1. 21. Though enemies destroy the body, yet no danger comes thereby to the soul: neither can they impeach eternal salvation. There is much comfort in breathing out our last breath in Gods work. It is a kind of Martyrdom. For a soldier to die in the field in a good cause, it is as for a Preacher to die in a pulpit. Upon the cautions before noted, this assuredly will be the issue, If a soldier get the day, or otherwise escape with his life, they that set him on work are too too ungrateful if they do not abundantly reward him. Herein if man fail, assuredly the righteous Lord will not fail. For, whatsoever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free, Eph. 6. 8. In particular, The Lord will certainly make them a sure house that fight the battles of the Lord, 1 Sam. 25. 28. If 2in this work of the Lord, in his war, he be slain, his soul shall be more then a conqueror, triumphing in heaven over all sorts of enemies. They may therefore be secure. O how gloriously do such with victory return from war! how blessedly do such as Martyrs die in battle!
THat which hath beene delivered of the lawfulnesse of warre cannot but afford matter of much comfort and courage to such as are called to just warre. They may on this ground go in faith, with much confidence, cheerfully, and couragiously. If there be peace betwixt God and their own soules, if they have truly repented of all their sinnes, if their persons be justified as well as their cause warranted, they may not onely call upon God, and that in faith, for his assistance and blessing, and depend on him for the same, but also undauntedly meet death in the mid-way, and comfortably commend their soules into Gods hands. What need he in 1life or death feare, to whom to live is Christ, and to die is gaine, Phil. 1. 21. Though enemies destroy the body, yet no danger comes thereby to the soule: neither can they impeach eternall salvation. There is much comfort in breathing out our last breath in Gods work. It is a kind of Martyrdome. For a souldier to die in the field in a good cause, it is as for a Preacher to die in a pulpit. Vpon the cautions before noted, this assuredly wilbe the issue, If a souldier get the day, or otherwise escape with his life, they that set him on work are too too ungratefull if they do not abundantly reward him. Herein if man faile, assuredly the righteous Lord will not faile. For, whatsoeuer good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free, Eph. 6. 8. In particular, The Lord will certainly make them a sure house that fight the battels of the Lord, 1 Sam. 25. 28. If 2in this worke of the Lord, in his warre, he be slaine, his soule shalbe more then a conquerour, triumphing in heaven over all sorts of enemies. They may therefore be secure. O how gloriously do such with victory returne from war! how blessedly do such as Martyrs die in battell!
- 1Quid vel vivens vel morieus metuat, cui vivere Christus est, & mori lucrum. Bern. ad Mil. Temp c. 1. Eisihosies nos perimant, nullum tamen ad animas periculum migrat: neque salutem illam sempiternam violare possunt. Chrys. Hom. 7. in 1 Tim. 2.
- 2Quàm gloriosi revertuntur victores de praelio, quàm beati moriuntur Martyrs in praelio. Bern. loc. citat.Quàm gloriosi revertuntur victores de praelio, quàm beati moriuntur Martyres in praelio. Bern. loc. citat.
