Gods three arrows plague, famine, sword, in three treatises. I. A plaster for the…Gods three arrovves plague, famine, svvord, in three treatises. I. A plaister for the…

¹I. Princes must provide for their peoples protection. As they who are under government must be subject, so it becometh Governors and Princes to be watchful for the good of those that are under their charge. So was Moses here: and so all good Kings, Princes, Judges, and other supreme Rulers and Governors have been from time to time. Many have put their own safety in hazard to save their people. Instance those who in their own persons have gone to war, and been Generals themselves over the ⟨p. 204⟩armies which they have gathered together for their peoples protection. Thus have done, not only Judges who were extraordinarily and purposely stirred up to deliver the people, as Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, Sampson, and such others: but also Kings, both such as were immediately chosen of God, and such as by lineal descent came to the crown, as Saul, David, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, and others. Kings of old were wont to be Generals in war. In this respect it may be said of them, as Jephthah said of himself, They put their souls in their hands, that is, they jeoparded ²their lives. It was the protection of her people whereby Esther was moved to attempt that which made her say, If I perish I perish. It was also the like cause that made Nehemiah undertake a long journey from Shushan to Jerusalem, ³