In the first place, Soldiers should be Gracious men. O get on the Whole Armour of God; Get gracious Principles into your Souls. Never dream That you are in all respects fit to war and to fight with any men▪ ⟨p. 25⟩till your peace be made with God. You that may some time or other carry your Liv• in your Hands, had need always to carry Grace in your Heárts. A very Heathen handling that Problem, Who is the best Armed Soldier? Solved it so, Integer vitae scelerisque purus: the sincere godly man is the best Armed of any man in the world. You be n't so fit as you should be to handle a Sword; till you come to use a Book as well as a Sword; till you govern your lives by the Words of Command in the Book of God; till you can say with that renowned Soldier in Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. You are poor Soldiers, till you can with all Hilarity say to your own souls as that dying Ancient Hilary did, Egredere▪ Anima, egredere, quid times? or Turn out, O my Soul, turn out; Scorn, Scorn to be afraid of Death; which no unconverted man can duly say. After all the Bravadoes which many Hectoring Dam-me's make while no body is like to hurt them, it is the New-born, heaven-born Christian that will stand the most daringly before the mouths of Cannons vomiting out Fire & Death; Here, here is the man that is best able to look the most terrible of all terribles in the face & to scoff at the hisses of that Rattle-snake▪ ⟨p. 26⟩DEATH, saying, Where's thy sting? I have heard that not a very long ago, In the Low-Countries an huffing Captain challenged one reputed a very pious man unto the Fighting of a Duel: the General taking notice of it said, Pray stay till to morrow, such a Town is then to be assaulted, I'll then see which of you two can fight best. The Town was assaulted, and a Breath made in the Wall, Now (said the General to the Challenger) Now do you Enter: To this the courageous Coward replied with horror, I beseech your Excellency excuse me, I be n't fit to die. But the man whom the Changes of Regeneration have made fit to live, he is likewise fit to die. He that hath Christ for his Life, will assuredly have Gain by his Death; and may fall into Transports of Joy, whenever the grim Ferry-man shall call upon him, Come away!
In the first place, Souldiers should be Gracious men. O get on the Whole Armour of God; Get gracious Principles into your Souls. Never dream That you are in all respects fit to war and to fight with any men▪ ⟨p. 25⟩till your peace be made with God. You that may some time or other carry your Liv• in your Hands, had need alwaies to carry Grace in your Heárts. A very Heathen handling that Problem, Who is the best Armed Souldier? Solved it so, Integer vitae scelerisque purus: the sincere godly man is the best Armed of any man in the world. You be n't so fit as you should be to handle a Sword; till you come to use a Book as well as a Sword; till you govern your lives by the Words of Command in the Book of God; till you can say with that renowned Souldier in Psal. 119. 14. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. You are poor Souldiers, till you can with all Hilarity say to your own souls as that dying Ancient Hilary did, Egredere▪ Anima, egredere, quid times? or Turn out, O my Soul, turn out; Scorn, Scorn to be afraid of Death; which no uncoverted man can duly say. After all the Bravadoes which many Hectoring Dam-mee's make while no body is like to hurt them, it is the New-born, heaven-born Christian that will stand the most daringly before the mouthes of Cannons vomiting out Fire & Death; Here, here is the man that is best able to look the most •errible of all terribles in the f•ce & to scoff at the hisses of that Rattle-snake▪ ⟨p. 26⟩DEATH, saying, Where's thy sting? I have heard that not a very long ago, In the Low-Countryes an huffing Captain challenged one reputed a very pious man unto the Fighting of a Duel: the General taking notice of it said, Pray stay till to morrow, such a Town is then to be assaulted, I'll then see which of you two can fight best. The Town was assaulted, and a Breath made in the Wall, Now (said the General to the Challenger) Now do you Enter: To this the couragious Coward reply'd with horrot, I beseech your Excellency excuse me, I be n't fit to dy. But the man whom the Changes of Regeneration have made fit to live, he is likewise fit to dy. He that hath Christ for his Life, will assuredly have Gain by his Death; and may fall into Transports of Ioy, whenever the grim Ferry-man shall call upon him, Come away!
