IN the whole body of the holy scripture (O Jesus▪ thou son of the living God (there is nothing more commended and set forth unto us then peace, unity, quietness and concord. Unto this Moses and the Prophets, thou and thine Apostles do diligently exhort,1 and contrariwise vehemently dissuade from discord, ē mitie, malice, war &c. For what is ⟨image 67⟩more seemly for man, then to embrace amiable peace,2 friendly concord, and quiet amity? The creation, the shape, the birth of man proveth evidently, man to be formed and made unto peace.3 But Satan that old enemy of mankind, which goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, sweateth & with all main laboureth to banish peace from the children of men, and in the stead thereof violently to thrust in discord, tumults, seditions, wars blood shedding, manslaughter, destruction of realms & countries, by this means intending to make havoc of altogether, so y• he furiously raging in his members, provoketh many times thy servants, for the defence of their country & the safeguard of their people, to wage battle with their enemies. We therefore most humbly beseech ⟨p. lii⟩the to assist all such as justly attempt any wars against their enemies, and mightily to defend them against their adversaries, that they may receive through thy puissance a glorious victory and noble triumph.4 Send thy holy angel unto them that he may pitch his tent among them and overthrow their enemies. Give all soldiers grace so to behave them selves in the wars with all godliness, & honesty, that thou mayst have a pleasure to be present among them, to be their captain and valiant defender. Suffer them not to be discouraged for the multitude of their enemies, but with strong faith let them whole lye depend on thee, the most mighty conqueror, with whom it is all one to help in few or in many,5 and with the princelike warrior boldly ⟨image 68⟩say the Lord is my light & my health, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life of whom shall I be a frayed?6 If mine enemies pitch pavilions against me, my hart shall not fear. If men of war rise against me, I will trust in the Lord my God.7
IN the whole bodye of the holye scripture (O Iesu▪ thou son of the liuyng God (there is nothīg more commended and setforthe vnto vs then peace, vnity, quietnes and concord. Unto this Moses and the Prophetes, thou and thyne Apostels do diligentlye exhorte,1 and contraryewyse vehemently disswade from discord, ē mitie, malice, war &c. For what is ⟨image 67⟩more semely for man, then to embrace amyable peace,2 frendly concorde, and quiet amyty? The creacion, the shape, ye byrthe of man proueth euidently, man to be formed and made vnto peace.3 But Satan that olde enemy of mankinde, which goth about like a roring lion, seking whome he may deuour, sweateth & with al main laboureth to banyshe peace from the chyldren of menne, and in the stead therof violently to thrust in discord, tumults, sedicions, wars bloud sheding, manslaughter, destrucciō of realmes & coūtries, by this meanes entending to make hauock of altogether, so y• he furiously raging in his mēbers, prouoketh mani times thi seruaūts, for the defence of their country & the safegarde of theyr people, to wage battel with their enemies. We therfore most humbly besech ⟨p. lii⟩the to assist al such as iustly attēpt any warres againste their ennemies, and mightelye to defende them against theyr aduersaryes, that they may receiue thorow thy puissance a gloriouse victory and noble tryumphe.4 Send thy holy aungell vnto them that he maye pitch his tent amonge them and ouerthrow their ennemies. Giue all souldiours grace so to behaue them selfs in the warres wyth al godlines, & honesty, yt thou mayst haue a pleasure to be presente amonge them, to be theyr captaine and valeant defendour. Suffer them not to be discouraged for ye multitude of theyr enemies, but with strong faith let them whole lye depend on the, ye most mighty cōquerer, with whom it is al one to help in fewe or in manye,5 and with ye prīcelike warriour bouldlye ⟨image 68⟩say the Lord is my light & my healthe, whome shall I feare? The Lord is the defender of my lyfe of whom shal I be a frayed?
- 1Gene. lxiii. Job. xxii. Jere. xxix. •achar ix. Math. v.Gene. lxiii. Iob. xxii. Iere. xxix. •achar ix. Math. v.
- 2Luke. ii. Mark. ix. John. xvi. ii. Cor. xiii. Hebru. xii.Luke. ii. Marke. ix. Iohn. xvi. ii. Cor. xiii. Hebru. xii.
- 3•. Peter. v.
- 4Gene. xxxii.iiii. Re. vi. and .vi•. P. •. xxxiii•
- 5ii. par. xiiii.
- 6Psa. xxvii.
- 7Psal. xx. Psa. xxxiii. […]. xxi.
