A02572:71
The soldiers honour Wherein by divers inferences and gradations it is evinced, that the…The souldiers honour Wherein by diuers inferences and gradations it is euinced, that the…
The soldiers honour Wherein by divers inferences and gradations it is evinced, that the profession is just, necessary, and honourable: to be practised of some men, praised of all men. Together with a short admonition concerning munition, to this honoured city. Preached to the worthy company of gentlemen, that exercise in the artillery garden: and now on their second request, published to further use. By Tho. Adams.The souldiers honour Wherein by diuers inferences and gradations it is euinced, that the profession is iust, necessarie, and honourable: to be practised of some men, praised of all men. Together with a short admonition concerning munition, to this honour'd citie. Preached to the worthy companie of gentlemen, that exercise in the artillerie garden: and now on thier second request, published to further vse. By Tho. Adams.
London: printed by Adam Islip and Edward Blount, 1617
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.
But now do not many tax them, that are worse themselves? Who can endure to hear an Usurer tax a Pillager? an Epicure find fault with a Drinker? a man-eating Oppressor with a gaming Souldier? Quis tulerit Gracchum de seditione loquentem? Who can abide to hear Gracchus decline against sedition? or the Fox preach peace to the Geese? Say that some are faulty: must therefore the whole Profession be scandalized? Will you despise the word of God, because some that preach it are wicked men? no; Dent ocyus omnes, Quas meruere pati, sic stet sententia poenas. Lay the fault where it should lie: be they only blamed that deserved it. Some persons may be reprovable, but the Profession is honourable.
But now doe not manie taxe them, that are worse themselues? Who can endure to heare an Vsurer taxe a Pillager? an Epicure find fault with a Drinker? a man-eating Oppressor with a gaming Souldier? Quis tulerit Gracchum de seditione loquentem? Who can abide to heare Gracchus declaine against sedition? or the Foxe preach peace to the Geese? Say that some are faultie: must therefore the whole Profession be scandalized? Will you despise the word of God, because some that preach it are wicked men? no; Dent ocyus omnes, Quas meruere pati, sic stet sententia poenas. Lay the fault where it should lie: be they onely blamed that deserued it. Some persons may be reproueable, but the Profession is honourable.
The martialist may be a good Christian: in all likelihood should be the best Christian. Mors semper in oculo, therefore should be semper in animo. How should death be out of that mans mind, that hath it always in his eye? His very calling teacheth him to expound Saint Paul; who calls the Christians life ⟨p. 24⟩a Warfare. His continual dangers to the good soldier, are as it were so many meditations of death. If he die in peace, he falls breast to breast with virtue. If in war, yet he dies more calmly then many an Usurer doth in his chamber. Though he be conquered, yet he is a Conqueror: he may loose the day in an earthly field, but he wins the day against Sin, Satan, and Hell; and sings with Paul, like a dying Swan;