N00354:125
Military duties, recommended to an artillery company
Military duties, recommended to an artillery company; at their election of officers, in Charles-town [sic], 13.d. 7.m. 1686. / By Cotton Mather, Pastor of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines of quotations in Latin]Military duties, recommended to an artillery company; at their election of officers, in Charls-town [sic], 13.d. 7.m. 1686. / By Cotton Mather, Pastor of a church in Boston. ; [Three lines of quotations in Latin]
printed by Richard Pierce, 1687
MILITARY DUTIES Laid before A TRAINED BAND 13. d. 7. m. 1686. › Application 5 › Rule 2: RULE. II.
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 what shall we do for a Shield? Especially since the Darts to be shot at us, like those among the Scythians, dipped in the Venomous Gall of Vipers, will horribly inflame and torment the Souls which they are smitten with. Broad Shields of Raw Neats-Leather were wont to be held up against the violence of these. But here now above all take the Shield of FAITH. Let your Faith convey unto you the Substance of things hoped for ▪ the Evidence of things not seen. Especially let your Faith put you under the Conduct of the Lord Jesus Christ, and call in Him ▪ as an able and a ready Saviour, always knowing how to succour the tempted. Here will be a Shield which will stand you in stead to keep off more than as many Darts (two hundred and twenty) as were stuck in the Shield of S•eva at the Siege of Dyrrachium.
But what shall we do for a Shield? Especially since the Darts to be shott at us, like those among the Scythians, dipt in the Venemous Gall of Vipers, will horribly inflame and torment the Souls which they are smitten with. Broad Shields of Raw Neats-Leather were wont to be held up against the violence of these. But here now above all take the Shield of FAITH. Let your Faith convey unto you the Substance of things hoped for ▪ the Evidence of things not seen. Especially let your Faith put you under the Conduct of the Lord Jesus Christ, and call in Him ▪ as an able and a ready Saviour, alwayes knowing how to succour the tempted. Here will be a Shield which will stand you in stead to keep off more than as many Darts (two hundred and twenty) as were stuck in the Shield of S•eva at the Siege of Dyrrachium.
Thus the Body is defended: But what shall be done for the Head? Lo, an Helmet! Take ⟨p. 65⟩•he Helmet of Salvation, That is, as the Apostle else where has it, the Hope of Salvation. Let there be in your Souls, a lively Hope that God is your Friend, that Christ is your Redeemer, that the Promises are your Portion; and live and die in such a well-grounded Hope; not only say, Dumb spiro spero, I will Hope while I Live; but also Dumb expiro spero; I will Hope when I Dye. Thus will your Heads be guarded against those hard Thoughts of God and Grace, those Terribilia de Deo, and Horribilia de Fide, which the Tempter would wound you with.