The man of war. A sermon preached to the Artillery Company at Boston, on…

USE.

Let Soldiers then be advised to approve themselves friends, and not enemies to Christianity. Let not the old Scandalous observation be verified in men at arms, Nulla fides pietas que viris, qui castra sequuntur. Let us do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. Hath God given us leave to fight, let us not be fighters against God. Beware of embracing that cursed Machiavellian principle, That too much of Religion will make a man Pusillanimous; as if there could be excess in the true Religion; or, as if Atheism, and Irreligion, were the best course to render a man truly valorous: whereas the holy Oracle hath taught us the quite contrary. Prov 28.1. The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous is bold as a Lyon. Cornelius was an honourable Commander in a noble Regiment; and yet how is he Commended for his Piety? Acts 10.1, 2. A devout man, and one that feared God, &c. And he sought to instil devotion, as well as the Rules, of Military Discipline into his Soldiers; whence that Character given of one of them. Verse 7. A devout Soldier of them that waited on him continually. And, though profaneness and debauchery may possibly stupefy mens Consciences, and so render them fool-hardy and desperate: yet, out of doubt, that ⟨p. 15⟩man who dwells in peace with God, who enjoys the inward serenity of a good Conscience, and is always in his heart pressed for the Glory of God▪ is best armed against the fear of death, when called to run into the mouth of danger, and stand in the midst of Confused noises, and garments rolled in blood; when he seeth, a thousand fall at his fide, and ten thousand at his right hand.

Let Souldiers then be advised to approve themselves friends, and not enemies to Christianity. Let not the old Scandalous observation be verified in men at arms, Nulla fides pietas que viris, qui castra sequuntur. Let us do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. Hath God given us leave to fight, let us not be fighters against God. Beware of embracing that cursed Matchiavellian principle, That too much of Religion will make a man Pusillanimous; as if there could be excess in the true Religion; or, as if Atheism, and Irreligion, were the best course to render a man truly valorous: whereas the holy Oracle hath taught us the quite contrary. Prov 28.1. The wicked fleeth when no man pursueth, but the righteous is bold as a Lyon. Cornelius was an honorable Commander in a noble Regiment; and yet how is he Commended for his Piety?