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

DOCTRINE. It is a great point of Prudence, in times of Peace, to make Provision for War.

Prudence is a natural foresight of future Contingencies, and providing our selves accordingly against the danger of them. Prov. 27.12. The Prudent fore seeth the evil, and hideth himself. Although the Providence of God Governeth, and infallibly determineth all Contingencies; yet they do not, for that, cease to be Contingencies, as to the order of Second causes; among which Peace and War have their Revolutions, though known to God, yet casual to us. Eccl. 3.8. A time of War, and a time of Peace. So that Peace is never so settled, but that War may on a sudden arise: and security, which is the mother of negligence, always exposeth a people unto danger. It is an ill time, when the Trumpet of War is sounded, and Hannibal is at the gates, for a people then to have their Forts to build, their Arms, Ammunition and Provision to seek, and their Soldiers Untrained. Nor is it less hazardous, when once Peace is proclaimed, for men to let their Fortifications fall, hang up their Arms, and let them grow rusty and useless, and lay aside their Military exercises, as things superfluous. ⟨p. 17⟩Arms, are for the maintaining of Peace, as well as the suppressing of War, for its preservation as well as recovery. Nor will any thing strike more of terror into our ill willers, than to see us always ready for the worst: hence such an expression. Cant. 6.10. Terrible as an army with Banners. Whereas, if they who watch for an advantage, find us, Laish like secure, and no way provided, nor expecting evil, they will be ready to serve us, as the Tribe of Dan did them.