ordinem incedendi servent Periculum enim ab hostibus semper graâ—issimuin sustinet divisus inordinatus exercitus Vegetius de re Milit. l. 7. If through ignorance negligence or perversness a Soldier forsakes his place and breaks Discipline he casts his Division it may be the whole Company into Confusion and makes an easier entrance for the Enemy Mannius Curius when Consul was wont to say Non opus est Reipublicae eo milite qui parere non potest The Common-Wealth had no need of that Soldier who knew not how to obey Orders When the Holy Ghost would describe an Army that should be invincible and bear all before them Jul. 2.7 he sayes that they should march every one in his way and none should break their Ranks The Church as you heard is an Army and a terrible one too Cant. 6.4 but 't is while shee marches with Banners while due Order and Discipline is maintained and every Soldier keeps his own place and station so long the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against her But when these are neglected or trampled under foot she is quite another thing like Samson without his looks she may be a Multitude a Rout but will hardly bear the name of an Army Believe it Sirs Order is a precious thing and Government a rare Jewel which we ought to acknowledge as the greatest Blessings without which all things would run into present Confusion and the whole World would be nothing else but Magnum Latrocinium a great Nest of Thieves and Robbers 'T is not in our choice to stand where we will and do what we list in Gods Army but must faithfully discharge that Duty and manage that particular place which is committed to our trust Every private Soldier must not snatch at the Leading-Staff nor usurp a Command not regularly put into his hand Every one that can Moot a Case at Law may not presently erect a Tribunal and pass sentence upon mens Lives and Fortunes but he onely who can answer that Question Quis te constituit Judicem Who hath made thee a Judge Every one that can Exercise a smal Party may not presently Beat up his Drums Array and lead men to the Field to destroy whomsoever he fancies to be an Enemy till he have received a Commission And yet how Common hath it been for one that hath gotten but the gift of the Tongue a knack of talking with a large stock of Confidence to invade the Pulpit and make himself an Officer and Teacher in the Church He that was never so much as a Corporal in the Schools will be a Captain in the Church and every Lansprizado thinks himself a Collonel He will obey no Orders but those of his own making nor them long it being as bad as death to him to be limited and confined When he is commanded to March he will Retreat when to Wheel to the Right â—â—s Ep 49. he will be sure to do it to the Left As one once-complained Ordo Militum nunc est Ordinem non tenere As if the excellency of a Soldier consisted in contradicting and thwarting the Command of his Superior Officers 3. But we go on 'T is not enough for a Soldier to stand his Ground but he must behave himself valiantly on it 't is not enough to defend his own Post but he must endeavour to force his Enemies from theirs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He therefore adds 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quit your selves like men an expression we find 1 Sam. 4.9 where the Philistims encouraging their Men to Battel use these words Be strong and quit your selves like men O ye Philistims Estote Viri so 't is usually translated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is translated by Vir and both Words in their several Languages signifie not any mean or ordinary Person but a Man of Worth Valour and Prowess so sayes David to Abner Art not thou a Man a valiant Man 1 Sam. 26.15 a worthy Person there is none like thee But the Words import more and are more properly rendred by others Estote in Viros a known Hebraism As ero tibi in Deum I will be unto thee for a God that is Truly and effectually to all intents and purposes so here Be ye for Men stand not for Cyphers fill not up onely the place of Soldiers but be what you appear to be indeed A form of speech much like those frequently used in Scripture to excite and stirr up to animate and incourage Soldiers to behave themselves manfully and with undaunted Resolution Thus Moses to Joshua Be strong and of a good courage Jos 1.6 2 Chr. 32.7 thus Hezekiah to his Captains Be strong and couragious be not afraid nor dismayd There is some thing that is the peculiar vertue of every rank and condition of men and that in a Soldier is Valour Viriliter agere to Act like a man and that two wayes 1. Passively 2. Actively 1. Ferendo in sufferance and bearing 1. Hardships 2. the impressions and assaults of his Enemies 1. He must quit himself like a man in bearing hardships Sufferance which is a well compactedness and ability of Body and a natural stoutness and resolvedness of mind to bear hardness is the first requisite to the making of a Compleat Soldier He must be able to feed low to lye hard to endure heat and cold hunger thirst and nakedness Effeminacy may sneak in a Court but must not be admitted into the Camp He that cannot sleep but in a Feather Bed not eate but at a French Ordinary nor break his sleep will never do much service in a sharp War He that spends his time between the Comb and the Glass and as Seneca said of such Carpet-Knights Mallet rempublicam turbari quam comam had rather an Army should be routed than his Perriwig be discomposed will do no great feats nor service in the Field 2. A Soldier must behave himself like a man in receiving the Assaults and bearing the Impressions of an Enemy not like those delicate Youths in the History who were no sooner toucht in their tender Faces by their Enemies Weapons but they threw downe their owne and runn away Psalm 78.9 Nor like the Children of Ephraim who being harnassed and carrying Bowes turned their Backs in the day of Battel But like that Order of Ancient Knights in France a part of whose Military Oath it was That they should never turn their backs upon their Enemies The Lacedemonian Women were wont to charge their Sons when they went out to Battel Vt aut vivi cum armis in conspectum earum venirent aut mortui in armis referrentur that they should either return with their Arms or dye in them Val. Max. l. 2. c. 2. Even the tender Mothers amongst the Romans would not lament their Sons that fell in Battell but rejoyced when their Wounds were in their fore parts and not in their backs 2. Feriendo * Disce feriri Disce
the case of Saul and his Army when David came and took away his Spear and his Pitcher 1 Sam. 26. while he and his men were all fast asleep Where we may observe by the way Though God is sayd to have delivered Saul into Davids hand and this sleep to have fallen on the people from the Lord Vers 8.12 though David might have stuck him to the Earth with his own Spear and spilt his blood as easily as have powred out the water on the Ground yet he neither would nor durst but judges them worthy to dye for their negligence in keeping no better the Lords Anointed Had he as Abishai councel'd him Vers 8. and other have done since followed the Conduct of Providence he might have quickly eased himself of his Adversary but he had a more certain Rule to walk by the unerring word for who saith he can lift up his hand against the Lords Anointed and be guiltless but that by the way The Church is an Army too Cant. 6.4 an army with Banners The Lord of Hoasts is both her Van and Rere Esa 52.12 2 Cor. 10.4 her Soldiers are Angels Martyrs Apostles all Christians her Weapons are not Carnal but mighty her Order and disposition Safe and Decent Ezech. 3.17 She hath her Watchmen too Son of man I have made thee a Watchman over the House of Israel These are the Pastors and Ministers that Watch over their Souls their Office is to foresee dangers and to give warning if he do so and they will not heed it they shall perish in their sin but he hath delivered his own Soul But if he give no warning the peoples blood will God require at his hands When the Church is resembled to an Army then the Ministers are called Watchmen when to a Flock they are stil'd Shepheards He doth but ill discharge the Office of a Watchman who is never on the Guard but on pay-Pay-dayes nor he the Office of a Shepheard who never sees his Flock but at Shearing time An Army hath no greater Enemies then such Watchmen nor can a Flock meet with verier Wolves then such Shepheards 'T is these mens Duties in a Special manner to Watch but not theirs only therefore what I say unto them I say unto all Watch. Luke 13.37 This is the first thing required of us in our Spiritual Warfare and that not without the highest reason For 1. Inimicus obsidet We are incompast with Enemies which Watch all advantages against us to do us mischief If you ask who are they The same that we abjur'd when we were first listed into Gods Artillery Ground the Flesh the World and the Devil The Flesh an inbred and secret Enemy and is thereby capable of doing us more mischief The World batters us with Cannons on all sides temptations of all sorts temptations in our meat drink apparel company every thing And the Devil who manages both these to his own advantage would you know what an Enemy he is Hear S. Paul the Major General of the Heathen-Christian Army Eph. 6.12 We wrestle not against Flesh and Blood terms of weakness and diminution but against Principalities and Powers against Spiritual wickedness in high Places For their Number they are many the words are all in the Plurall their Name is Legion for their Condition they are Great Principalities and Powers for their Nature they are Spirits who have got the advantage of the ground too they are in high places where as the Historian once said Salust Non solum cum boste sed cum loco dimicandum est The Devil is an Active Enemy he hath his Methods wiles and stratagems of War he is restless and indefatigable when he is beaten off from one Gate he assaults us at another he flyes from one extream to another when he fails in drawing us to one sin he offers the contrary There was much reason then in that Exhortation of St. 1 Pet. 5.8 Peter Be Vigilant and sober because your adversary the Devil goeth about night and day like a roaring Lyon seeking whom be may devour 2. 2 Sopo obrepit We are apt to be dull and drowsie in our best services What between this indisposition and the charms of the Devil we are apt to sleep at our best duties In that last and great conflict which the Captain of our Salvation had with the Prince of darkness those great Commanders Peter James and John who had the honour and happiness to tryal a Pike under his imediate conduct were drowsie and fell asleep though the spirit was willing the searcher of hearts being Judge yet the flesh was weak and therefore there was great reason for that following admonition Mat. 26.41 Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation 3. To which let me add 3 Imperator inspicit That the General himself duly walks the Round and observes in what posture his Soldiers are * Militibus Imper ator potius quam hestis â—etuendus est Val. Max. He is alwayes in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks his Churches He knows your works your tribulation patience watchfulness what they are and will suddenly come to give every Soldier his pay according to his works The hour of his coming is uncertain and therefore it behoves us to be still upon our Watch. He comes like a Thief in the night and if the good man of the house had known at what hour the thief would have come he would have watched Such shall the coming of the Son of Man be If he find you on your Guard happy are ye if not you must expect what sleepy Soldiers use to suffer Therefore Watch because ye know not at what hour the Son of Man cometh whether at midnight or at the Cock-crowing or at the dawning of the Day Mat. 24.42 Give me leave only to touch upon the dutyes which are usually joyned with Watching and I shall dismiss this point 1. Watch and be sober the best means to preserve our selves is to be vigilant the best way to be watchfull is to exercise sobriety sobriety is a most necessary duty for a Soldier A drunken Soldier cannot watch and a sleepy Watchman betrays himself and his trust What if the Trumper give an Alarum to Battel and thou hast not an care to hear it What if thy Generall should come and thou hast not an eye to see nor tongue to answer him What if the Enemy should approach and thou hast neither a fooâ— to stand nor a hand to fight Take heed therefore least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfetting and drunkenness and so that day come upon you unawares Luck 21.36 Watch ye therefore that ye may be able to stand before the Son of man 2. Watch and Pray are usually joyned together we cannot subsist without prayer we cannot pray without watchfulness We stand not by our own strength but must fetch supplies from him who sets us on work
A SERMON Preached before THE ARTILLERY COMPANY AT St. Andrews Vndershaft August the 30th 1670. And at their earnest Request PUBLISHED By WILLIAM DVRHAM B.D. Rector of St. Mildreds Breadstreet London Rei Militaris virtus coeteris praestat virtutibus Multo plus adfert dignitatis Res Militaris quam Juris Civilis Gloria Cicero Honestas idoneum militem reddit Verecundia dum prohibet fugere facit esse victorem Vegetius de re Milit. LONDON Printed by T. R. for Samuel Gellibrand at the Sign of the Golden-Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard 1671. TO MY Very worthy and much Honoured Friends The Honourable Sir John Robinson Knight and Baronet Lievtenant of his Majesties Tower of London Alderman and President of the Artillery Company Sir Joseph Sheldon Knight and Alderman Vice-President Sir Thomas Player Knight Leader Collonel John Mews Treasurer Sir John Robinson Knights and Aldermen Collonel John Mews Stewards Sir George Waterman Knights and Aldermen Capt. George Peryer Stewards Sir Thomas Davies Knights and Aldermen Major Tho. Gunston Stewards Sir John Smith Knights and Aldermen Capt. William Cooper Stewards And to the whole Court of Assistants Field-Officers Captains and Gentlemen Professing and Exercising Armes in that Famous and Honourable Society SIRS ' T Was with much Reluctancy that I prevailed with my self to Preach this Sermon but with much more to Print it Not but that I had a great willingness to serve you in both but because I judged my self unmeet for either I was never when Younger fond of such Publique Imployments Nor valued my self so high as to think this busy World at leasure to concern themselves with any thing that I could publish Much less can I cherish such vain thoughts now when broken to say nothing of hard usage with Age and Infirmities Might I have been left to mine own Beloved Privacies you had never had the trouble either to have Heard or Read this But as I affect not Popularity so I perfectly hate Incivility and Ingratitude Your great kindness hath obliged me to gratify you in what I may and your Importunity hath prevailed to have it Preach't and Publisht Importunity prevails with God and what am I that I should stand out against so many Gallant men and good Friends who have prest me till I was asham'd May it find but the like Acceptance with you in the Reading as it did in Preaching it will be incouragement enough to skreen it against all the Censures it may meet withall But I am very little sollicitous for its defence so long as Les Gens d'Armes the whole Artillery of this Royal City have invited and undertaken its Patronage Indeed not to defend so much it as their own Judgements who have pleased by their approving and desiring it to make it their own If it prove acceptable to you and in any measure Serviceable to the Publique it will be abundant contentment and satisfaction to Gentlemen Your much obliged Friend and humble Servant William Durham October the 12th 1670. A SERMON Preached before the Artillery Company at St. Andrews Vndershaft August the 30 th 1670. I COR. XVI 13. Watch ye stand fast in the Faith quit your selves like men be strong THough Religion in it self be the sweetest thing in the World all whose paths are pleasantness and all her wayes are peace yet the Exercise of it in a Christian life is usually set forth by such things as are accompanied with pains and danger A Christians life is compared to that of a Husbandman who must endure all weather the Summers heat and the Winters cold he must be at pains to Plow and Sow if he intend to Reap To a Travellers who must expect all wayes sometimes he meets with high and craggy Rocks and sometimes with swelling Brooks and dirty Sloughs To a Merchants who ventures himself on the merciless Waves now tost as high as Heaven now tumbled as low as Hell as David speaks alwayes within an inch or two of death To a Soldiers life which is ever attended with fears and dangers he walk◠perpetually at the points of Swords and mouth of Cannons and alwayes bears his life in his hand A Christian life then is a spiritual Warfare which is of all Wars the most dangerous the Enemy being numerous potent subtle within us and that which lyes at stake the Soul being infinitely more worth then all Alexanders Conquests and in this lyes our present Work The terms of the Text are Military all and so sutable enough to the occasion however they prove in the handling You must not expect that I should deal with you at your own Weapons having as David said of Sauls Armour never proved them Not that I should read a Military Lecture being utterly unacquainted with the Learning of the Tacticks and never having that I know of so much as seen that Book of Jasher which teaches the use of the Bow If I can onely make the Offices and Duties of a Soldier conduce to the illustration of our Christian Warfare 't is as much as I aim at or can be reasonably expected from my Profession And if herein I fall short as 't is more then probable you have nothing to blame but your own misguided choice Miles Emeritus a superannuated Soldier was by the Law of Arms exempted from publick service But being overruled in this Plea I have no way left but being short to gratifie you or my self You in relieving you from the inconvenience of your own Error and my self who being by your kindness adjudged to run the Gauntlope am obliged to make what haste I can in mine own defence There 's a Climax or Gradation in the words each word importing more then that which went before it 1. Watch ye be vigilant which is the least that can be expected of a Soldier if he faile here he certainly miscarries 2. Stand fast Stand to your Arms keep your Ground maintain that Post that 's given you to defend which is likeliest done by being Watchful 3. Quit your selves like men Not onely stand fast but fight and worst your Enemies Keep your own Ground and win theirs 4. Be strong Go on to compleat your Conquest and having once subdued your Enemies keep them under I begin with the first of these 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Watch ye A Metaphor taken from Sentinels in an Army whose office is to be upon their Watch-Tower to observe the motions of the Enemy that there be no sudden assault or irruption into the Camp or City and to give the Alarum of any approaching danger Indeed Watchfulness becomes every Soldier upon Duty he must have his eyes in his head not sleep at his work When an Enemy is neer the Camp or Beleagures the Garrison it becomes every Soldier not only to be awake but to be circumspect and attend the Motions of the Enemy Vigilance is requisite in a Soldier nothing more What a great oversight and what a desperate hazard it is to be found sleeping we may see in