Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

And this is confirmed by the examples of the most holy and excellent men that have been in the world, which have taken war in hand for the defence of their country and harmless countrymen: as I have already declared out of S. Pauls Epistle to the Hebrews, when as in the exposition of the fifth precept, I showed what honour every man doth owe to his country. I will add to these some reasons of S. Augustine uttered contra Faustum Manichaeum lib. 22. cap. 75. Neither let him (saith he) marvel or be astonied at the wars made by Moses, for because even in them too, he followed Gods commandment, not like a tyrant, but like an obedient servant. Neither did God rage with cruelty when he commanded those wars, but justly paid home them that deserved it, and terrified those that were worthy of it. For what is blame worthy in war? Is it to be blamed, that they do die which once must die, that they which live may rule in peace? To find fault with that, is rather a cowardly touch, than the part of a religious Christian. Desire to hurt, cruelty in revenging, an unappeased stomach, bruteness in rebelling, greediness to rule, and whatsoever else is like to these, are the things that in war are worthy to be blamed, & by right of law to be sharply punished. Against the violence of injurious enemies, at the commandment either of God himself, or any other lawful power, even good men are wont to take war in hand, since their state in the world is such, that politic order doth justly bind the magistrate in such a case to command it, and the subjects to obey it. Otherwise John when the soldiers came to him to be baptized saying: And what shall we do? would have answered them and said, Caste off your armour, forsake your soldiers life, strike, wound, or kill no body. But because he knew, that while they did so as soldiers in the war, they were not manquellers but ministers of the law, not revengers of their own injuries, but defenders of the common weal, he said unto them: Strike no man, do no man injury: be content with your wages. But because the Manichees have of use blasphemed or spoken against John, let them hear the Lord Jesus Christ himself, commanding to give to Caesar that stipend, which John did say the soldier should be content withal.

And this is confirmed by the examples of the most holie and excellente men that haue beene in the world, which haue taken warre in hand for the defence of their countrie and harmelesse countriemen: as I haue alreadie declared out of S. Paules Epistle to the Hebrues, when as in the exposition of the fift precept, I shewed what honour euerie man doth owe to his countrie. I will adde to these some reasons of S. Augustine vttered contra Faustum Manichaeum lib. 22. cap. 75. Neither let him (saith hee) meruaile or be astonied at the warres made by Moses, for because euen in them too, hee followed Gods commaundement, not like a tyraunt, but like an obedient seruaūt. Neither did God rage with crueltie when hee commaunded those warres, but iustlie payde home them that deserued it, and terrified those that were worthie of it. For what is blame worthie in warre? Is it to be blamed, that they do die which once must die, that they which liue maye rule in peace? To finde faulte with that, is rather a cowardly touch, than the part of a religious Christian. Desire to hurt, crueltie in reuenging, an vnappeased stomach, brutenesse in rebelling, greedines to rule, and whatsoeuer else is like to these, are the thinges that in warre are worthie to be blamed, & by right of lawe to be sharpely punished. Against the violence of iniurious enimies, at the commaundement either of God himselfe, or any other lawfull power, euen good men are wont to take warre in hand, since their state in the world is such, that politique order doth iustlie binde the magistrate in such a case to commaunde it, and the subiectes to obey it. Otherwise Iohn when the souldiers came to him to bee baptized saying: And what shall wee doe? would haue aunsweared them and said, Caste off your armour, forsake your souldiours life, strike, wounde, or kill no bodie. But because he knew, that while they did so as souldiers in the warre, they were not manquellers but ministers of the lawe, not reuengers of their owne iniuries, but defenders of the common weale, hee said vnto them: Strike no man, doe no man iniurie: be content with your wages. But because the Maniches haue of vse blasphemed or spoken against Iohn, let them heare the Lord Iesus Christe himselfe, commaunding to giue to Caesar that stipend, which Iohn did say the souldier should be content withall.