The Christian champion being the substance of a second discourse to the besieged soldiers in London-derry ... / by Col. W----. Walker, George, 1645?-1690. 1689 Approx. 19 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A66943 Wing W341 ESTC R24592 08251589 ocm 08251589 41200 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A66943) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 41200) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1243:14) The Christian champion being the substance of a second discourse to the besieged soldiers in London-derry ... / by Col. W----. Walker, George, 1645?-1690. 10 p. Printed for P. Brooksby, J. Deacon, J. Blare, J. Back, [London?] : 1689. Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Londonderry (Northern Ireland) -- History -- Siege, 1689. 2007-05 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-05 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE Christian Champion ; Being the Substance of A Second DISCOURSE To the Besieged Soldiers in LONDON-DERRY : First , To exhort them to put away every evil thing , that God may be mercifull to them in this time of Trouble . Secondly , That they should be couragious in this Christian Undertaking , not fearing the Fury , or the Force of Rome . portrait Printed for P. Br●●●sby . J. Deacon . J. Blare . J. Back . 1689. Licensed according to Order . July the 30th . 1689. THE Christian Champion , &c. DEUTERONOMY XXIII . Chap. IX . Ver. When the Host goeth forth against thine Enemies then keep thee from every wickesd thing : Ver. 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of the Camp to deliver thee , and to give up thine Enemies before thee ; therefore shall thy Camp be holy , that he see no unclean thing in thee , and turn away from thee . THIS is an Exhortation given from the Word of God , and if we would be happy we must be Holy ; we trust not only to an Arm of Flesh , but to the gracious dealing of a powerfull God , whose All-seeing Eye is over all our Actions ; and put case we sin against him , How can we then expect a Blessing from him , who is of purer Eyes than to behold Iniquity with Approbation ? therefore let no Evil attend our Actions , we are here Besieged with Enemies who studies the Overthrow of the People of God , and would likewise Triumph over our Destruction , but keep close to your Duty in the Service of the Living God , then will he prove your Protectour , Psalm 84. 11. For the Lord God is a Sun and a Shield , the Lord will give Grace and Glory , no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly . It is our Duty , at all times to live Cireumspect in this present Life , but especially at this time when we are exercised under this sharp Tryall of Affliction , being closely besieged by a powerfull Enemy , and when we shall make our Sally forth , What Man is certain he shall return again ? therefore let our Actions be seasoned with Grace , and Holiness , that whether we live or dye we may be acceptable in the sight of God ; therefore when we go forth let us keep clear from every evil thing : This War which we are engaged in , is not designed by us for the destroying of Cities , or the Destruction of Countries , but for the maintaining of the Gospel-Truth against the common Enemy of Christianity , those that count they merit Heaven by Massacring and Murthering the People of God , and glory in the shedding of innocent Bloud ; therefore as God shall bless us in this Undertaking let us keep our selves free from Evil ; it is for the Glory of Heaven we venture our Lives , and who falls in the Field his Reward will be greater than his Loss , it being in the just Defence of True Religion and Piety ; let not our Foes affright us , nor any Fears attend us , for God will give the Victory to them that serve him , and make their Enemies fly before them , as Chaff before the Wind. How many signal Mercies have we been partakers off in our successfull Sallies against our Enemies ? And shall we now despair of God's Mercies ( no , no , ) he is able to Deliver us at the last moment , when we seem to stand tottering on the brink of utter Ruine ; nothing is impossible with our great Creator ; nothing can seperate us from the Love of God but our Sins ; therefore let us make War against our corrupt Nature ; let us destroy those Sins which makes us Enemies to God ; for , What is our Sighs , our Tears , and Prayers , if we still continue to hug our Darling Sins ? for , as the Psalmist saith , If I regard Iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me ; therefore let us be sincere in what we profess , and not to go from Praying to our Pollutions , or from hearing the Word of God to the breach of his Commandments ; he in his Holy Word hath afforded us many gracious Promises to support our Spirits in the greatest Troubles and Tryalls ; therefore be of good comfort , and lay hold on the Promises of God by Faith. Joshua 23. 5. And the Lord your God , he shall expell them from before you , and drive them from out of your sight , and ye shall possess their Land , as the Lord your God hath promised unto you ; therefore be exhorted like Christian Champions to goe forth with Courage , Deuteronomy 31. 6. Be strong and of a good Courage ; fear not ; nor be afraid of them ; for the Lord thy God , he it is that doth goe with thee he will not fail thee nor forsake thee . These most gracious Promises may be sufficient for us to rely upon they are the Sayings of a God that is not only willing but able ; no Forces , nor Power is able to disappoint him in his purpose ; it is not the great and mighty but the humble and meek that he hath a regard to ; therefore put away every evil thing and it will go well with us , Isaiah 1. 19. If ye be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the Land , yet observe what is threatened to Persons on the contrary , ver . 20. But if ye refuse and rebell ye shall be devoured with the Sword , for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it . Here you may see what is required by God , and how gracious he will be upon the performance of your Duty ; therefore , as in the Text , When the Host goeth forth against thine Enemy then keep thee from every wicked thing : Our War is holy , and therefore we must be holy ; our Sword must not be accompanied with Sins , which go forth in the fear of God , and the just Defence of the pure Religion ; therefore while we pursue the Enemies of Righteousness our Actions will be Crown'd with Victory , as the Prophet Isaiah hath it in 41 Chap. and the latter part of the 12. Ver. They that War against thee shall be as nothing , and as a thing of nought : The Scriptures are full of these comfortable Sayings , so that though our Enemy may come against us with a strong and powerfull armed Host , and threaten this City with ruine and destruction , yet if God be for us who can be against us . Romans Chap. 8. and the latter part of the 31. Ver. for when Pharaoh and his Host pursued after the Children of Is●ael , the Lord stretch'd forth his hand and show'd his Power in overthrowing him and his Chariots in the Red-Sea , when at the same time his power preserved his chosen People : What shall we say then ? Can we not put our Trust in him who is able to deliver his Servants at the greatest Time of Danger ? Here we read of wonderfull things which he hath performed for your Fathers of Old , and he is the same God now as then ; let us be but faithfull Servants , and then we may assure our selves he will be a Shield of Defence , and a present Help in the Time of Trouble : When David was pursued by Saul , and hunted after like a Partridge upon the Mountains , yet God being with him his Life was preserved , and his cruel Adversary could not wrong him , his Heart was upright , his Conscience was clear , therefore he had comfort in his Afflictions . Thus it may be with every Soul here , who labours to cleanse his Heart from Sin , for nothing can burthen our Consciences more , in a time of Distress , than a fearfull Remembrance of our Iniquities ; therefore keep your selves free from every evil thing ; it ought to be the care of every one present to cease from Evil , and learn to doe well ; a good Christian makes a good Souldier , that will not fear to venture his Life in a good Cause , and if God be pleased to require it , patiently submit , and then will he give you a Crown of Glory for your Reward , 2. Tim. 2. 3. Now therefore endure hardness as a good Souldier of Jesus Cbrist . put away every Evil thing , God would have the Camp as pure as any College , or Christian-Society ; the Reasons are plain , He that fights for the Glory of God , must be carefull that at the same time he does not sin against that Divine Majesty for whose Righteousness he seems to contend , lest his Wrath wax hot against us , and we are delivered up to the Fury of our Enemies , as a just Reward of our Impiety ; put away every evil thing , Ephesians 5. at the latter part of the 6 ver . For because of these thing cometh the Wrath of God upon the Children of Disobedience . Again , the Souldier ought to be prepared for another World before he goes out to face an Enemy ; for why , when we enter the Battel , Who is he that is certain to return again ? you have every one a Soul to be saved , and how dismal a state would it be to be cut off in the midst of your Iniquities , without having the opportunity of saying , Lord have Mercy upon me ? Thus do you see how necessary it is to put away every evil thing , when you see how soon the slender Thread of Life may be broke , and you be hurried into everlasting Misery , therefore I hope you will all be exhorted , this day , to quit your selves as Christian Champions both in the sight of God and Man ; this War of ours is a necessary War , and not like those restless Spirits who will not be at ease , but daily endeavours to intrench upon the priviledges of his neighbouring Countries , as Ahab who covered Naboth's Vineyard , and could not be at Peace in his mind till he had enjoy'd it , because it lay near him , as you may find in 1. Kings 21. we desire nothing more than Peace , and the True Religion , Laws , and Liberties which we at present are denied by that French and Romish Enemy , the common Disturber of ▪ Europe , and Persecuter of the People of God , but good Lord , ●n thy due time . Look on him that is proud and bring him low , and tread down the wicked in their place . Job . 40. 12. so shall these Kingdoms flourish once again , and the Gospel-Truth shine in it's full power ; but let us all walk worthy of that Heavenly Blessing , that Peace may be our Portion after the Victory over our Enemies which we do not doubt but the Lord will give us , if our Sins do not provoke him to anger ; therefore let our Camp be Holy , that he see no unclean thing that may cause him to turn away from us again ; be strong and couragious in the Lord , fear not the force of your Foes , for their Bounds are limited , and they can go no farther than God will give them leave , though they may resolve for Ruine and Destruction , yet they shall be disappointed in their Designs , for God will still have a regard to his People , whose Hearts are upright before him , and will preserve them under the shadow of his Wings from the Violence and Cruelty of wicked and perverse Men , he will be in the midst of our Camp , where his strength and power will appear , if we by Faith and Patience can but wait a while to behold the Salvation of the Lord , he will be with us ; and defend us from Danger , as he did his faithfull Servant Daniel in the Lyon's Den ; his Power is great , and his Love is nothing less ; he will not be wanting to those who serve him with an upright Heart ; he will be their Friend to comfort them , and will be a present Help in time of trouble ; therefore be of good courage , and lay hold on those gracious Promises of our good God ; through his Blessing and Assistance we hope in due time we shall be able to weather the storm of our present Miseries , and live to enjoy a sweet and pleasant Calm , and the bright Sun-shine of Prosperity in this Land and Nation whereunto we do belong Let none be found to murmur or repine at the Divine Providence of God , for this his sharp Rod of Correction upon us ; we have sinned , therefore we may well say , it is good for us that we have been afflicted ; for it 's a proper means to take us home : we read in Luke 15. that the Prodigal never returned to his Father's House until he was afflicted with Want , and then coming to himself , he said , How many hired Servants of my Father's hath Bread enough , and to spare , and I perish with hunger ; I will arise , and go to my Father , and say unto him , Father I have sinned against Heaven , and in thy sight , and am no more worthy to be called thy Son , make me as one of thy hired Servants . This his Sufferings brought him to a true sense of his Sins , so that he humbled himself before his Father , and was graciously received . Thus we see how the Lord deals with his Servants when he finds them stubborn and disobedient , he will not destroy them but chastise them and correct them , even as a Father do's his Son in whom he delighteth . Prov. 3. 12. therefore let us draw near to him whose Love and Kindness never fails , he will be in the midst of our Camp , and Fight for us ; then fear not but we shall have the Victory over all our Enemies ; by one word of his Mouth he is able to do more than many armed Hosts , for they are but Men , whose Lives are in his Hand , he can deal with them as it pleaseth him best : Shall they fight against his Church and People , his Truth and Gospel , and set up an Idol-Worship , contrary to his Holy Word ? I say , shall they doe all this , and yet go unpunished ? No , the Lord will be avenged of them , and suffer them to fall before his chosen People ; therefore let us not be in the least dismay'd , it is good for us that we have the Lord on our side , who has guarded , governed , and defended this City for these many Months past , and hath given us many Instances of his Love and Kindnesses , in bearing up our drooping Spirits to a miracle , during the time of this close Siege ; likewise affording us a happy Success against our Enemies , he is gracious , and his Mercies endure for ever ; he will not suffer his People to become a Prey to the Enemy , but will walk in the midst of the Camp for their Defence ; thy right hand , O Lord , is become glorious in thy Power , thy right hand , O Lord hath dashed in pieces the Enemy , and in the greatness of thine Excellency thou hath overthrown them that arose up against thee , thou sentest forth thy Wrath which consumed them as stubble , Exodus 5. 6. 7. Hear may we learn how the Lord did appear in his power for his People in former Ages , and he will not be wanting to us now , if our Sins doth not separate us from his Divine Love ; he has loved us , and it is likewise our Duty to Worship him ; the Life of a good Christian is seasoned with Heavenly Meditations , all the days of his Life he makes a Preparation for the hour of his Death ; let every Soul present examine his heart , and labour to bring his Soul into such a frame and temper as may be acceptable in the sight of the Lord , and by so doing he will become our Friend , and will fight for us , so that our Enemies shall soon be scattered ; this is the only way and method every good Christian Souldier ●ght to take ; for let me tell you , that Souldier that fights for Religion ought indeed to be a good Christian , and then live or dye he is certainly happy . Holy David was a Warriour , and yet a Man after God's own heart ; in a righteous Cause the Sword may be drawn , when it is to oppose the Enemies to Religion and Piety , such that can commit every barbarous Outrage upon poor innocent People , without any remorse of Conscience , but on the contrary count their horrid Villanies just and meritorious ; but , He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh ; the Lord shall have them in derision . Psalms 2. 4. yet let us keep free from every evil thing , for the Lord is in the midst of us , and seeth all our Actions , and searcheth into the Secrets of our hearts , there can be nothing hid from his Eyes ; therefore how pure and holy ought our Lives to be , when we certainly know that we are always in the Presence of that God which will bring us to Judgment ; It is appointed for all Men once to die , and after Death to Judgment . Again , what hardship we undergoe we must embrace it willingly , suffer chearfully , and wait the Lord's time for our Deliverance , which we hope will shortly be accomplish'd ; in ●he m●an while let us continue in our Duties , standing upon our Christian Guard , constantly praying and making our Supplications to that Great God who will not suffer us to fall ; though we may be afflicted let us chearfully undergoe our present Miseries , and then we shall not fail of a Reward ; the greater and more grievous our Crosses are in this Life , the brighter and more weightier shall our Crown of Glory be ; he that suffers most in this World for his Saviour's sake , shall one day sit the nearest to his Throne in the Presence of Saints , Angels , and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect . To which end God of his infinite Mercy bring us all . Amen . A Prayer . ALmighty and glorious Lord God , who never fails to succour those that put their Trust in thee , look down with an Eye of Pity and Compassion upon thy poor Servants , and suffer us not to sink under the weighty Burthen of our Sorrows ; lift up the Light of thy Countenance upon us , and speak Peace to us , and say , I will deliver you for my Name sake : Let our Enemies be scattered before us , who stands in defiance of thee and thy Truth , arise , Lord , and help us by the power of thy out-stretched Arm , and let them know that thou art a God that can and will pull down the Pride of those that would not suffer thy People to live in Peace . Oh that our Hearts may be so upright before thee that every one of us may be worthy of those Mercies which we so earnestly desire , neither let us pray only for Mercies to come , but return our humble and hearty Thanks for those Favours already received , that we have hitherto been preserved , and not delivered up as a Prey to our Enemies ; and for other Mercies , as , Health , Strength , Succour and Relief , it is of thy Mercy that we are not destroyed . Lord give us thankfull Hearts that we may make a sutable Return for all thy gracious Dealing towards us , that one Blessing may make way for another . Lord hear us , and answer us , and grant what we ask , and whatever else is needfull for us , through the Merits of thy dearly beloved Son , and our alone Saviour Jesus Christ , Amen . FINIS .