And sixthly, If you be overcome and die, you die for God and your Country; who can bring his life into a better market? blessed are those that dye for the Lord, so that word • is rather to be read, Rev. 14. 13. Wherefore as heretofore so now much more labour to hold forth the virtues of him that hath called you to this great employment. As Soldiers are more honoured then others, so they should be more virtuous; he had need carry much grace in his heart that doth daily carry his life in his hand; and your Soldiers should as well overcome the Countries with their good examples, as the Enemies with their swords. When Joshua went out to battle against the Amalekites his men were all chosen or choice men, Exod. 17. 9. And saith the Lord Deut. 23. 9 when the host goeth forth against thine enemy then keep thee from every wicked thing. It is ordinarily observed, that when the jews marched out of Egypt into Canaan, they carried in their colours ⟨image 4⟩some significative sign, Judah carried a Lyon in his Standard, Ephraim an Ox, Reuben, the picture of a man, Naphtali an Hind; a Lyon noting their courage, a Man noting their skill and understanding, an Hind noting their swiftness and readiness for execution; and an Ox for patience, strength and obedience. Such colours should those wear in their lives that are Soldiers for God. The enemies of the Churches had their Colours also; the Bear, the Leopard,1 &c. Dan. 7. cruel in humane practises, being more fit to be worn in their lives then ours. How can men be faithful to you that are unfaithful to God? Dr. Ferne, your Adversary and mine, writes thus of the Parliaments Forces; If a list of the Army against his Majesty were examined, there would be found if not a considerable number of Papists, yet of such as they that employ them would have cause to be ashamed of, &c. It may be some of your Soldiers would say as Davids did, Let me go over I pray thee and take off his head. But let your answer rather be▪ Let him alone, and let him reproach, it may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his reproaching this day. And as formerly so now yet more and more let your endeavour be to wipe off such aspersions by sending and employing such Soldiers as may not stain your good cause with their ill practise, let your Motto be, Militia fine malitia.
And sixthly, If you be overcome and die, you die for God and your Countrey; who can bring his life into a better market? blessed are those that dye for the Lord, so that word • is rather to be read, Rev. 14. 13. Wherefore as heretofore so now much more labour to hold forth the vertues of him that hath called you to this great imployment. As Souldiers are more honoured then others, so they should be more vertuous; he had need carry much grace in his heart that doth daily carrie his life in his hand; and your Souldiers should as well overcome the Countreys with their good examples, as the Enemies with their swords. When Joshua went out to battell against the Amalakites his men were all chosen or choice men, Exod. 17. 9. And saith the Lord Deut. 23. 9 when the hoste goeth forth against thine enemie then keep thee from every wicked thing. It is ordinarily observed, that when the jews marched out of Egypt into Canaan, they carried in their colours ⟨image 4⟩some significative signe, Judah carried a Lyon in his Standard, Ephraim an Ox, Reuben, the picture of a man, Nepthali an Hinde; a Lyon noting their courage, a Man noting their skill and understanding, an Hinde noting their swiftn•sse and readinesse for execution; and an Ox for patience, strength and obedience. Such colours should those weare in their lives that are Souldiers for God. The enemies of the Churches had their Colours also; the Beare, the Leopard,1 &c. Dan. 7. cruell in humane practises, being more fit to be worne in their lives then ours. How can men be faithfull to you that are unfaithfull to God? Dr. Ferne, your Adversary and mine, writes thus of the Parliaments Forces; If a list of the Army against his Majestie were examined, there would be found if not a considerable number of Papists, yet of such as they that employ them would have cause to be ashamed of, &c. It may be some of your Souldiers would say as Davids did, Let me go over I pray thee and take off his head. But let your answer rather be▪ Let him alone, and let him reproach, it may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite good for his reproaching this day. And as formerly so now yet more and more let your endeavour be to wipe off such aspersions by sending and employing such Souldiers as may not stain your good cause with their ill practise, let your Motto be, Militia fine malitia.
- 1Quo modo fidem praestabunt autboritat• qu• Deo sunt persidi. Cons. sa••ff. pa. 56.
