me aliquid ubi persecutor pervenire non possit ubi Deus meus habitat Let Man be never so sharp in persecuting yet nothing dies in me but what is mortal Nevertheless there will be something in me at which the cruel Persecutor cannot come where my blessed God dwelleth Whom have I in Heaven but thee O Lord and there is none upon Earth that I desire beside thee But as this reproves all wicked and unbelieving Hearts so in the next place it is no small Encouragement unto all the Servants of the most high God for to fear him and serve him in Truth with a perfect Heart and willing Mind For it is an undeniable Assertion That such a Kingdom or People cannot be moved or shaken by any terrible Blasts of the Devil or his Instruments who hath the eternal Lord for its Strength and Defence And I may truly say that there are no times so very Perillous nor Days so very Evil but that they may be made easie and happy unto every Child of God and Believer in Jesus Christ I mean the dangerousness and badness of these times which many groundlesly and unjustly complain of may be reduced to an equality with the Peace Safety and Comfort of better times Yea may be made equal unto the best of Days which this present World commonly affords unto the Church militant As the sharpness of a very cold and pinching Season may by a proportionable addition of warm Cloathes the use of good Fires and the like be made as little offensive to a Man's Constitution as a temperate Season is Or as a Man who is shut up close in a most strong or impregnable Castle and is there sufficiently provided and stored with all things necessary as Men Arms Mony Powder Ball c. Is in as much or rather more safety and freer from all danger altho' he be encompassed about and besieged by his inveterate and implacable Enemies at the same time than another Man is who hath no Enemies at all seemingly near him In like manner when once a Man hath the great and mighty God for his Defence and the covering of his Almighty Wings spreading over him and underneath him the everlasting Arms which Moses speaks of Deut. 32. 27. Then what Bullets soever are flying about him what Cannons soever are roaring against him what Storms soever are rising what Waves or Billows soever are raging what Enemies soever are Plotting yea what Perils or Dangers soever he may be seemingly in yet notwithstanding all he is most safe he is most secure in God who is a firm Rock near a most raging Sea a sure Shield amidst Showers of invenom'd Darts And 't is one and the same thing unto such a Man for to be in the very midst of a Battel either by Sea or Land among the thundring Guns and Showers of small Shot which falls round about him like Hail as to be in the Walks of a most pleasant Garden and hear the sweetest singing of Birds The sound of Alarum by a Drum or Trumpet is as acceptable to him as the voice of the Turtle Because he can always and in every place rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of his Salvation as the Church does Hab. 3. 18. Alas A Man can but be safe a Man can but be secure and at rest and ease in his Mind if he lived in those halcion Days or golden Times prophesied of by the Psalmist When the Mountains shall bring Peace to the People and the â—â—ttle Hills Righteousness Psal 72. 3. That is to say when neither High nor Low King nor People shall be troublesome one to another nor disturb each other But the Wolf also shall dwell with the Lamb and the Leopard shall lie down with the Kid and the Calf and the young Lion and the fatling together and a little Child shall lead them Verily the condition of a true Child of Light and Heir of Glory be he in the Wars either by Sea or by Land abroad or at home is always thus blessed and happy thus at ease and rest in his own Breast and Conscience because he is kept in perfect Peace by him who is the Prince of Peace Whereas 't is far otherwise with an ungodly wicked Man who is like the troubled Sea when it cannot rest whose Waters cast up Mire and Dirt. There is no Peace saith my God to the Wicked You then that are gone forth to War against the Enemies of the Lord and his Church whether you are by Land or by Water let me beseech you in Christ's stead and for his sake to receive this wholsome and profitable Advice and let it take deep Root in all your Hearts and be continually in your Mind Trust ye in the Lord Jehovah for ever for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting Strength for he bringeth down them that are Proud and exalteth the Humble and Meek Isa 26. 4. 5. What could you wish for more than Strength Yes but here is everlasting Strength What could you desire more than Defence Yes But here is Defence and Safety Courage and a Blessing Oh our gracious and merciful God hath always some Twigs left for to preserve and keep his elect People above Water when they suspect themselves to be most in danger For he hath either the Castle of his Providence the Ark of his Promise or the All sufficiency of his Grace and Goodness for the safety and retirement of his Children and Servants in the greatest of Storms How did he defend David and his little Company when Saul and his Army had almost encompassed him about Alas you must expect to meet with some rubs in your way towards the Celestial Canaan and through many Tribulations you must enter into the Kingdom of God Non est ad astra mollis e terris via all true Christians know well that the Church is militant here on Earth and therefore the Saints commonly sow here in Tears that they may reap hereafter in Joy We must all expect to fight the Lords Battel here on Earth which St. Paul terms a good sight that we may acquire the Victory and receive our Crown of Righteousness and Glory in Heaven where there is no Enemy or Opposition for all are there of one Mind and Heart praising God with Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Here we must all run the Christian Race which is set before us by our Lord and Saviour with Patience and Alacrity that we may obtain the Prize or that Incorruptible Crown which the Lord the righteous Judg bestows on such Here is the place appointed for us to work in while it is day or rather the Lord's Vineyard But in the Kingdom of Heaven are we to expect and receive our Wages when our Work is done or our Course finished For there is the rest which remains for the People of God Wherefore then should any rational Soul think to find that in this World which God hath reserv'd for the World to come when
Safety in War OR THE INFALLIBLE ARTILLERY OF A Kingdom Fleet or Army IN SERMONS UNTO THEIR Majesties Forces by 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 By JOHN WHITTEL Chaplain in the Army 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 10. ◠721. LONDON Printed for Randal Taylor near Stationers Hall 1692. To the Right Honourable the LORDS of the Treasury My Lords ACcidentally meeting with a certain Pamphlet concerning Courage which was design'd no doubt to weaken the Hands of Gods People or dismay their Majesties Forces in this holy War by Sea and Land I conceived it would not be in vain for me to publish something which might tend to their Majesties Welfare and the Encouragement of the Fleet and Army in this depraved Age wherein Fidelity is abandon'd by many as Antichristian My Lords these naked Truths in these Jejune Papers are for the most part such as were sounded in the Ears of the Army And therefore I have reason to hope they may be embrac'd by them now with the same Candidness and Singleness of Heart as they were deliver'd in order to the Advancement of Gods Glory the good of the Church Militant against the common Enemy and Oppressor and the Welfare Peace and Happiness of their Majesties and their Kingdoms I must confess my Lords there is in them no Politeness of Style Floridness of Phrase or Sweetness of Rhetorick which may make them esteem'd by the Learned Yet I hope a familiar Scripture-dress may not be disesteem'd by the Vulgar and more Vnlearn'd for whom alone they are sent abroad in this nice Age. And since nothing is spoken here but what hath been spoken before our Days and Treatises or Sermons are generally entertain'd according to the Proverb Quot Homines tot Sententiae I must crave the Honour of your Lordships as to shelter these honest tho' unpolish'd Papers under your Lordships Patronage praying you to accept them as a sincere Acknowledgment of that indispensible Duty which is owing unto your Lordships From your Lordships most humble Servant J. W. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Numb 14. 9. Rebel not ye against the Lord neither fear ye the People of the Land for they are Bread for us Their Defence is departed from them and the Lord is with us Fear them not BEFORE we come to handle these Words in particular it cannot be improper for to shew you the occasion of them together with the People unto whom they are spoken and the Person or Persons that spake ' em We read in the Holy Bible how God Almighty of his free Grace and Goodness chose the Seed of Jacob which was afterwards call'd Israel because as a Prince he had Power with God unto himself for to be a peculiar People unto him above all other Nations And therefore he promised for to multiply them as the Stars of Heaven for number and to give unto them the Land of Canaan for an Heritage And in order to the fulfilling of his gracious Covenant the Lord Jehovah brought his own People out from the midst of Egypt by Temptations by Signs and by Wonders and by War and by a mighty Hand and by a stretched Arm and by great Terrors which he brought upon Pharaoh and his whole Host and at length overturning them in the midst of the red Sea as they were pursuing the Children of Israel Deut. 4. 34. Moreover the eternal God led his own People forty Years long in the Wilderness going before them by Day in a Pillar of a Cloud for to shew them by what way they should go and by Night in a Pillar of Fire to give Light unto 'em and be a Wall or Defence between the Camp of Israel and the Camp of the Egyptians So that the one came not near the other all Night When they were come unto the Confines of the Land of Promise Moses by the Commandment of God and Entreaty of the People sent forth a Man out of every Tribe for to go before them and search the Land and bring 'em Word back what it was whether good or bad and what People they were which dwelt therein whether strong or weak few or many and whether they dwelt in Cities Tents or strong Holds After forty Days these Spys return'd from searching the Land and brought with them from thence some Grapes Pomegranates and Figs and came and told their Brethren That it was a Land which flowed with Milk and Hony but the People thereof were Strong and of a great Stature and their Cities were wall'd and very great Yea they said That they saw there Giants the Sons of Anak and they were in their own Sight but as Grashoppers unto them and therefore there was no going up against them they were so strong Thus these Spys which were sent brought up an evil Report upon the Land insomuch that all the Congregation of Israel lifted up their Voice and cryed and the People wept all Night and murmured against Moses and against Aaron saying Would God that we had died in the Land of Egypt Or would God that we had died in this Wilderness Wherefore hath the Lord brought us up to fall by the Sword and our Wives and our little ones to become a Prey c. Were it not better for us to return into Egypt And they said one to another Let us make us a Captain and let us return thither Upon this Moses and Aaron fell on their Faces before all Israel And those two mighty Men of Valour which were of them that had search'd the Land and had another Spirit in them following God fully Namely Joshua the Son of Nun and Caleb the Son of Jephunneth used their best endeavours for to still and satisfie the People and to cause them to be better opinionated towards the Country and to remember how the most high God was their Defence and had fought their Battels for them against their Enemies and how he had led them safely thither saying The Land which we passed through for to search it is an exceeding good Land If the Lord delight in us then he will bring us into this good Land and give it to us Only rebel not ye against the Lord neither fear ye the People of c. As if they had said You whose Eyes have seen what great things the Lord your God did for you ever since he brought you out of the Land of Egypt or out of the Furnace by the Hands of Moses and Aaron You who are his own peculiar People for you now to fear when ye are at the very Borders of the Land is very evil Therefore do not rebel against the Lord in murmuring against his Ministers Moses and Aaron whom he hath set over you But remember the mighty Hand of God which bare you in all this Wilderness as a Man doth his Son and be not discouraged at the Strength of the People the number of their Cities and the height of their Walls for the Lord your God which goeth before you he it is that fighteth for you
unbelieving Hearts do not hinder him Be warn'd then by the Example of the Spies ye false Reporters and ye Murmurers and Complainers by the Israelites lest you provoke the most-high God to Anger and make him swear in his Wrath That none of you all which have either seen with your Eyes or heard with your Ears the many great Deliverances which the Lord of Hosts hath wrought for this Kingdom before our time but more especially not many years since by the Hands of our most gracious K. William that mighty Prince of Valour whom the Lord hath raised up for to be a Deliverer of his reform'd Church shall ever be so happy as to live to see or hear of Mercy and Truth met together and Righteousness and Peace to embrace each other in all parts of Europe Oh be asham'd and blush ye false Reporters and causless and unjust Murmurers and Complainers and give the Lord the Praises due unto his most holy Name and render unto the King the Honour and Obedience which is due unto his Majesty who hath graciously given you your Lives for a Prey when as ye were appointed as Sheep to the Slaughter Good God! Wherefore doth a living Man now complain Whereas not long since you would willingly have given all that you had for your Lives and Safety And do ye now grudg to pay a little Mony towards the War Is it possible that Christians should be thus ungrateful and forget their Danger so soon and be willing to return again into Egypt I mean Are you willing to be reduc'd to Popery Slavery and Arbitrary Power again Or rather to be in subjection to French Dragoons God forbid Search then and try your ways and meddle no more with our blessed Governors and Government which does not concern you But busie your Heads about your own Occasions and turn thus again unto the Lord And then we have no cause to fear but that God even our own God shall give this Kingdom his Blessing God shall bless their Majesties and their Forces and prosper their Arms both by Sea and Land and all the ends of the World shall fear him because they shall see or hear of the mighty Salvation which he hath wrought for his Church and People Secondly This may caution and admonish the whole Nation in general but in a more especial manner you that belong to the Fleet or Army in this most deceitful Age of ours for to take heed and beware of all disaffected and treacherous Persons which have no fear of God before their Eyes and therefore will make it no scruple of Conscience to start aside from their Duty and Allegiance unto their present Majesties like a deceitful Bow upon the first occasion And let me declare my Mind freely and tell you That I am persuaded there are not a few who have listed themselves in this present Service both by Sea and Land on meer purpose as Joab speaks of Abner to King David 2 Sam. 3. 25. to deceive their Majesties and to know their going out and their coming in and to know all that they do and what Forces they have by Sea and Land in a readiness and then to inform the Enemy therewith the first opportunity And therefore I may boldly say you that are gone forth to War cannot be too circumspect and diligent in searching the Minds and Hearts of all those employed in the Service And to further you herein we beseech the great Searcher of all Hearts and Tryer of the Reins for to discover all evil and disaffected Persons and private Traytors daily both by Sea and Land that so they may be put to Shame and Confusion And we will heartily pray That the everlasting Arms may be underneath their Majesties King William and Queen Mary that they may be compass'd about with the Favour and Protection of the Almighty and prosper in all their ways But let all their Enemies O our God fall down and flee before them and their Arms Amen What can Rebels expect at the Hands of the Immortal King which is immutable and most faithful But that he should command such unfaithful Persons to be bound Hand and Foot and cast among their Fellows the Apostate Angels there to be kept in everlasting Chains under Darkness and to dwell with devouring Fire and everlasting Burnings For the terrible and most holy God declares to us That he equally abhors both the Blood thirsty and deceitful treacherous Man And wise Solomon tells us That whoso provoketh the King to Wrath and is deceitful to him Sins against his own Soul Prov. 20. 2. He means thus That the Soul of a Traytor shall suffer in the World to come altho' his Body may escape it here on Earth For be it known unto all Men That a King that rules in the fear of the Lord and according to the Truth of his holy Word can never be honour'd or obey'd enough by his Subjects and ought to be priz'd as dear unto that Kingdom as the Eye to the Body and is as necessary for its Prosperity as the Sun is to the Firmament which gives both Light and Life and makes all the Earth become fruitful That Counsel of Vegetius unto a Prince is not to be despised What you have to do confer with many what ye will do with very few or none but your own self For there are no better Counsels than those which the Enemy knoweth not before they are put in Execution But to speak to you that are employ'd by their Majesties in this Holy War Let me charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels for to hold fast your Loyalty your Allegiance and Obedience unto our gracious King and Queen without wavering And make it one part of your business for to provoke one another daily thereunto now in these evil Days above all other times and so much the more as you see or hear of the hour of Battel approaching Wherein I I question not but the strong God will manifest his great Power and mighty Arm unto the World and especially against your Enemies in your behalf if you do but trust in him and call upon him duly by Prayer But in the next place as this ought to caution and admonish every one in the whole Nation to beware of disaffected Persons and Traytors So in a more peculiar manner to take good heed of provoking the most-high God to Anger against us or our Hosts by our unrepented of and unmortified Sins We know that Righteousness exalteth a Nation but Sin is a Reproach to any People And for it the Land it self mourns and the Fleet and Army is in no small danger because the weight of our National Transgressions do out-weigh others I am affraid in the Ballance of the Sanctuary Oh that all persons then from the highest to the lowest would but seriously turn to God with Fasting Weeping and Mourning Oh that the whole Nation would but be of one Mind and Heart upon our