To treat much of the Artillery profession, before this Artillery Company, would be to act aPhormio his part before so many Annibals as are here present. You all know that the Artillery Profession is a Military Discipline, 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 hand, to prove. How it appeareth by my text to be an honourable function, ye have heard. Hittites, Amorites, Perizites, Hivites, Jebusites, ⟨p. 415⟩and such like servile persons coming from a base of-spring, 2were 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 3himself, that Prince of God (as he is for excellency sake styled) trained up in Artillery exercises, 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 4them 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, whereunto also he was incited 5by divine instinct, he would needs prove to be a man of War, and indeed proved to be an approved Man of War. Saul himself though a King, Jonathan, that lovely Jonathan, 6the Kings Son and heir, other of his brethren, all Kings Sons, THEY were Men of War. Of old, the best of a Nation, best in blood and birth, as Kings, Princes, Nobles, their children and kindred: best in stature and properness of body, as the three tall, proper sons of Ishai: best in courage, valour, and strength, as they whom Saul chose to follow him: best any other way, THEY were Men of War. 7What shall I more say?
To treat much of the Artillery profession, before this Artillery Company, would be to act aPhormio his part before so many Annibals as are here present. You all know that the Artillery Profession is a Military Discipline, whereby choice persons are instructed and enabled well to manage weapons of Warre, orderly to march in their due place, wisely to encampe, and skilfully to embattaile. That to be trained up hereto, and well exercised herein, is an honourable function, belongeth to me, and to the matter in hand, to prove. How it appeareth by my text to be an honourable function, ye have heard. Hittites, Amorites, Perizites, Hivites, Iebusites, ⟨p. 415⟩and such like servile persons comming from a base of-spring, 2were counted unworthy hereof. In Israel Israelites, Children of the ever renowned Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, Men of highest and greatest esteeme, THEY were Men of Warre. That function whereof base people were counted unworthy, and whereunto Men of best account must be deputed, is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, without contradiction an honourable function. To like purpose it is noted that Abraham 3himselfe, that Prince of God (as he is for excellency sake stiled) trained up in Artillery exercises, not bond-slaves, bought with his money, but such as were borne and brought up in his house, whom he had in high esteeme. THEY were Men of Warre. Where as old Ishai, an understanding and wise man had eight sonnes, the three most honourable of 4them all, even the three eldest, were trained up in an Artillery profession, THEY were Men of Warre. And though David, being the youngest of all, were by his Father deputed to be a shepheard, yet his brave mind affecting more honourable imployments, whereunto also he was incited 5by divine instinct, he would needs prove to be a man of Warre, and indeed proved to be an approved Man of Warre. Saul himselfe though a King, Ionathan, that lovely Ionathan, 6the Kings Sonne and heire, other of his brethren, all Kings Sonnes, THEY were Men of Warre. Of old, the best of a Nation, best in bloud and birth, as Kings, Princes, Nobles, their children and kindred: best in stature and propernesse of body, as the three tall, proper sonnes of Ishai: best in courage, valour, and strength, as they whom Saul chose to follow him: best any other way, THEY were Men of Warre.
- aCum Phermio de Imperatoris officio, & omnire militari sic dixisset, ut cae••ri qui illum audirent vehementer essent delectati, Annibal interrogatus quid de illo Philosopho judicaret, respondit, multos see deliros senes saepè vidisse, sed qui magis quam Phormio de•raret, vidisse neminem. Cic. de Orat. lib. 2.Cum Phermio de Imperatoris officio, & omnire militari sic dixisset, ut cae••ri qui illum audirent vehementer essent delectati, Annibal interrogatus quid de illo Philosopho iudicaret, respondit, multos se deliros senes saepè vidisse, sed qui magis quam Phormio de•raret, vidisse neminem. Cic. de Orat. lib. 2.
- 2The soldiers profession, and honourable function.The souldiers profession, and honourable function.
- 3Gen. 23. 6.—14. 14.
- 41 Sam. 17. 12, 13.
- 51 Sam. 17. 32, &c.
- 6—18. 27, 30. Who of old were men of War.—18. 27, 30. Who of old were men of Warre.
- 71 Sam. 14. 52.
