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I • #1 i: * ■.• «• If> I* *-',': r ■u- m-' '■■"*.' ^ Hi MMiBMiiiii •WW^Jff"^"»^ T'&e Advice of Joab to the Hoji of IfraeU going " forth to War y confidered and urged^ A)5 INTWO DISCOURSES Delivered at Worcejler^ April 5th, 1759, ^ B E I N G T H E k, -§L Pay of the publick annual Faft, ' ^ \ Appointed by Authority, ^^ "& ^ A N D T H E a> n-. O t Day preceeding the General Mufte^ .^ ^ © «^i OFTHE ^"^^3 Militia throughout the Province, ? % coO FORTH© Inlifting Soldiers '^ F o R T H E Intended Expedition againft CANADA. By Thaddetis Maccarty^ A- M. Faftor of the Church there. II. Chron. 14. 8, 11. — And A fa bad an Armf 9/ Men thai iar» Targets and SpearSf cut of JuJah three hundred Thou/and, and out of Bettjamin, that hare Shields and dreuo Bonus, two hundred and fourftort Thoufand} All thefe were mighty Men ofFalour. And J^a er ted unto th$ Lord his God, and /aid. Lord it is Nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or nvith them that have no Power :-r-help us O Lord our God; for nue rtfi on Thee, and in thy Name lue go againfi this Multitude.-^ Pfalm 108. 13. Through Qod we Jhall do valiantljt j^ for He it h that Jhall tread down our Enemies. ^\C ^>^ BOSTON: f^WH^hy Ij^o^As and John Flee ,'»■.■! - il ; V y ): i iU, H'^ T r~UiJ 7 r;;-. .' V r- ■-. ':%!. If J ft ■*'il . ' 1 ' n ^i;y and into Ami treaty Gffic of [they ,.f«!fc 1 l^y^ ^be Advice of Joab to the Kofi of Ifrael, going forth to Wary confidered and urged.'^ 1 1 #«««#«««#i«»««^'««^«»»«« II. SAMUEL loChap. i2 Verfe. BE of good Courage^ and Ut us play the Men for our PeopU and for the Cities of our God \ and the Lord do that which feemeth him good. THIS Chapter gives us an Account of a War which Divid had with the Amn.onites and the Syrians who were in Alliance with them. — The Occafion was this Nahafli the King of Ammon, who had (hewed Kindnefs to David, died, — David, defirous of keeping up a friendly Correfpondence wiih his Son Hanun, who facceeded him in the Kingdom, in a gene- rous and refpedtful manner, fenc his Servants, feme of his prime Minifters it is like they were, to condole with him and comfort him upon the Death of his Father \ and perhaps to tender him his good Services, or to enter into or renew his Alliance with him. But when the Ambafladors came, who (hould have been received and treated with a Refpedt and Dignity becoming their high Office } thro* the Infinuation of the Princes of the Children of /imtnon^ as they are called in the 3d Verfe, as tho* I they came upon a bad Pefign, to fearch the City and to & The Advice ofjoab to tbeHoJi oflfrael f I. fpy ic out, that fo they might overthrow it, they were, I (ay, upon this Infinuation, treated with moft (hameful Indignity, as you may fee in the 4th Verfe — Wherefore Hanun took David's Servants^ and Jhaved off the one half cf their Beards, and cut off their Garments in the Middle^ even to their Buttocks^ and fent them away. cc They themfelves (fays one) were Men of Honour, and much more fo, as they reprefented the Prince that ** fent them •, they and their Reputation were under the fpecial Protection of the Laws of Nations*, they put a Confidence in the Ammonites and came among them unarm'd, yet Hanun ufed them like Rogues and Vagabonds and worfe — • cc i going forth to War confidered and urged. leful tford half \ddU. nour, e that IX the y pu« ; them :s and rs, vaa id how Qut any le Lifts ton/aw non fent of Zoba, tboufand \Q Am- ihe firft nfibleof David accepted rd. Bat vhat ihcy ) wonder puts bitn m. — The the abufd nt of their that they vuere were unable of theHnfelves to cope with him, fliould be raife his whole Force and conne out to War againft them» And indeed they were Tenfible of the inequality on their Side, for they were obliged to hire Forces from other Nations into their Service, as in the 6th v. — When David heard how that the King of Ammon had raifed his Forces to attack him, he at once raifed his to fjpeak with him in the Gate, v. 7. Joab was the Ge- neral of David's Army upon this Expedition. And by the account we have of him in the following Verfes, it appears that he was a wife, a prudent, a courageous and a pious General ; Qualifications which are very necefiary •!! every General, as much under God depends upon them» as to the Iflue and Event of Campaigns i Qualifications, which at (his Day are in a very eminent, diftinguilhing Manner to be found in the illustrious King of Prussia. And thefe are Qualifications which are alfo neceifary, not only in Generals, but in Officers under them» efpecially in thofe of the principal Rank. Such was the Skill, ConduA and Valour of the General of David's Forces, that he entirely routed the Enemy and gained a compleat Vi6tory over them, as the following Part of the Chapter before us gives us the Account.— The Words I at firft read to you, as a proper Theme of Difcourfe upon this Occafion, prefent us with the ani« mating, manly, religious Addrefs, that Joab made to the Hods of Ifrael * now miuftered for the Battle with the Ammonites * It looks, taking the Words with what imoiedtately preceeds, as tho' this Addrefs was ihade only to Abi(hai.-*^But if it was moredire^}/ ' made to him, yet it may be, that it was in the Audience of the Troops that he thus addrefs'd him ; that it was in Coofideration of the high Pofthewas in, that when he would animate them, he direfled his Speech to him, as having a principal Command in the prefent Expe- dition. Accordingly Expofitors confider this Addrefs as made not only to him, but to all the Forces. Agraeabl;r in this Latitude I have confidered it in thefc Difcourfcs. ^^ ^: mtmmtt I t T&e jidvice ofjoab to the Hofi of tfrad AmmonUes and thctir Confederates— Bt ofgMd Cottrage^ ice. And no Doubt, it codk good hold of rhem, and was happily influential upon their Conduct in the im- portant Affair they were engaging in. 1 (hall read to you from the 8th Verfe — And the Children ofAmrtmeantt outy and put the Battle in Aray at the entring in of the Cate i and the Syrians of Zoba^ and of Rehoby and Jfl^toh^ and Maacaht were hy them/elves in the Field, Pf^hen Joah fiw that the Front of the Battle was againfi him before and behindy be cbofe of all the choice Men of IfraeU and put them in aray againft the Syrians, And the reft of the People be delivered into the Hands of Abifhai bis Brother ^ that be might put them in aray againft the Children of Ammon, And he faid, if the Syrians be too ftrongjor me^ then thoufialt help me ; hit if the Children of Ammon be tooftrongfor thee^ then 1 will come and help thee. Here you fee his Skill in the Difpofition of the Army under him, and of the Provifion he made againft fuch and fuch Emergencies. — So ac- quainted was he with the Art of War, as to plan out the Campaign in the mbft advantageous Manner, fo as that, humanly fpeakiflg, Succefs might be enfured- — But yet after all, as our Text ihows us, be has his Eye, as a nelU gious General, principally to God, whofe is the Battle. ^^e Lord do that which feemetb him good. Were I this Day preaching before Generals and prin- cipal OfHcers, I fhould doubtlefs take Occafion to fet be> fore them Joab, as an Example of .Military Skill and ConduA s to fet before them his Courage and Piety, and propoie this Example to their Imitation. Bat I have not to do with Generals and principal Officers, but with private Centinels — And as there are fome of you of thi^ Rank, who will be called to go forth into the intended Expedition againft Canada, fo the Words of my Text will furnifh us with Matter proper for yott io your Station: and Capacity.—— Tha tior porj and! this! ^^^ and \ im- ad CO Iff the Joah re and t them ople be m^bi And be lit belp V, then in the ovifion So ac- out the IS that, But yet i a reli" Battle. id prin- [) fet be- kill and cty, and t I have but with J of thi^ intended ny Text irStfttioit: Tha going forth to War confidered and urged. ^ J The Speech which this excellent General of King Da- vid's made to the Hoft of Ifrael, may very properly be made to you, who (hall go forth in this great but very neceflary Expedition—^^ of good Courage^ &c. Obfervable is the Manner of this Addrefs which Joab made to thefe Hofts ; Be tf good Courage^ and let Us play the Men &c. — You fee he confiders himfelf as interefted in the Affair— Let Us play the Men. — He did not content himfelf with his honourable Title as General— nor was it for the fordid Principle of Gain, that he undertook the Office I not caring how the Expedition turned out, fo that he might make a Purfe of his Commiffion. — It is a Pity that ever there fhould be any Officers that fhould be in- fluenced from no higher or worthier Motives, than mere- ly Honour or Profit ; that, when their Country and <;11 its dear and important Interefts lie bleeding and gafpingt and the moft vigorous Meafures are necellary to i revent its Death i>nd reft ere it to Health and Vigour, any that wear Com milfions and fill Pofls of Importance, fhould be unafFedttd as to the publick Good, ard care little or nothing as to the IfTue and Event of a Campaign ; that they fhould have nothing further in View than to aggran- dize themfelves and receive the Pay of their Country. — > Their King and their Country, and I may add, their God too, expedt other Things— that they fill their Pofls with Honour, and that they difcharge iheir important TruAs with all Fidelity. And if they do fo, they take the readiefl Courfe to obtain Honour amongfl Men, to be accepted and applauded by the Multitude of their Brethren, and which is a Confideration of greater Importance flill> CO be accepted of God. , ..jj ' . No doubt David was well fatisfied as to the Qualifica- tions of Joab for the General of his Forces upon this im- portant Occafion, and therefore appointed him to this high and important Office. Nor was he at all deceived as to this Matter. For in what a noble, gencioas and worthy 'U . ' Jl ■ Manner njiitti mmm^^^mmrn ^MB^»^ Bl m I to jrt^ Advice ofjoab to the Hoji oftfraeh Manner does he fpeak to the Hoft of Ifrael, now' (^ey are going forth againft the Enen^y t 'Be of ^ooi Courage^ and let us play the Men^ &c. He deflgned pefh^^ps to head the Army himfclf when he came to the Engage- ;nent w^h the Enemy, at lead his own Divifion of it (for Y^^ BrQther Abifhai had one Pivifion) pr if it was no( Prv4?pce to expoie himfelf in the He^it of EMttle, ai his F»jl might occafioii great CgnfuHon in the Army and endanger a Defeat ; yet doubtlef$ he would be fo polled, as CO idire^ all their Motions and Attacks, to enliven and urge them on, fo as that upon (he whole the Enemy would be routed and vanquiihed.-"— j , i . I-iowevcr this may be, yet It U plain, he looked upon himfeU as interefted in the prcfent AiFair, and is deter- mined to exert himfelf fo as to bring it, to a happy Iflue — Let us play the Men. It is plain that Joab by thi? Speech he made to them, did rot look upon the Army under him as a parcel of Slaves — When he called upon them to do their Duty in the prefent Expedition, he did not come upon them in a rough, domineering, im- perious Manner, fwearing at them, and curling and dam* nin^ them, and fn^iting them — But he comes to them as Men — treats them with Civility and Decency. — He had a Right indeed to form the Plan of Operation, as we find he did with his Brother — He had a Right to command his Soldiers and to direct them in the Expedition *, and they had no Right to oppofe his Meafures — He muft be prefumed to be the beft Judge of what was fit and pro- per, and then he had a Power vefted in him by his King. They had no Right to difpute his Authority, but it was tlieir Duty to fubmit to him, as it is of all Soldiers to their principal Officers. For what would be the Confc^ quence ? What dreadful Confufion would enfue, if every one was to fee up for himfelf to do what was right in his own Eyes, without any to o^mroul him ? But diey pS CO gage- t(for 8 not k, ai y md oiled, n and 3 upon deter- y iffue by thi? Army j upon ion, he ig, im- id dirn* them a} He had we find )minand )n •» and muft be md pro- lis King. It it was ]cjier9 to le Confe- if every right in But ^oing forth to JVaVt conftdtred and urged. It % But then, tho* he wa» fenfible of the Power he wai veiled with, and of the fubjedion wh'fch the Soldiers in the Army owed hioi \ yet he is diijpofed to treat them in 9 kind, civil, and hurhaqe Manner. *-And there is doubt*- lefs a great Propriety in this. — For what are the braveft Generals and Commanders without their Soldiers? Tis by their A^ivity that fixploiis arjg performed. *Tis by their rnftrumentality, that they obtain tiie Honours ana the Rewards of Conquerors. Nothing then can be more reafonable and proper than that they fhould be treated by their Superiors with Kindnefs and Humanity in every Shape. And doubtlefs were they always to be fo, they would be more likely to honour and refpe£t their Supe«- riors, to be more tradable and obedient to them — hereby they would b;: more likely to be encouraged in their Du* ty, and to do it to good Purpofe. . ^: Whatever Exceptions there may be of fume of a baHr, fordid, ungenerous turn of Mind, yet in all Societies, whe- ther Civil or Military, it is very generally the Cafe, thai; where Superiors rule with Moderation and Kindnelt, they are obeyed with Freedom and Chearfulnefs. and no Difficulties tho*t too much to encounter to teflify their Love and Refpe^t to them, and to do them Honour. — But T will no further enlarge upon thefe Matters, but proceed to the Confideration of this excellent Speech which Joab made to the Hoft of Ifrael : Us of good Courage^ &c. And in the firft Place, •,, r. . What J 3ab here fays, fuppofes the LawFulnefs and Ne« cefiity of uking up Arms, or engaging in an Expedition, iQinetimes at leaft. — - From the Account we have in the Chapter before us, \Ye fin J King Divi4 mullering his Forces to to forth to 6 3 Wa? m^ m mmmm ■mmm wmmm n ■f m I r, 12 ^he Advice ofjoab to theHoft of If roe I War againft the Ammonites. And the Speech which his General made to them in our Text, fuppofes that they might lawfuHy go forth. — Twas as much as if he had faid — Now ye are called to go forth to War, behave like Warriors, if you would accomplifh the End defigned, viz. the fubduing and vanquifhing the Ammonites and their Allies— .9^ of good Courage And Ut us play iba Men, We have taken Notice how David was infulted and boldly defied by the Ammonites in the Treatment of his AmbafTadors *, and how that thereupon they muflered their Forces to come out againft him to invade his Kingdom and if pcffible to overthrow it. And was this now patiently to bt barn ? And no Meafjres ufed in order to prevent all this Mifchief defigned againft him ? Was he not obliged by all the Laws of Reafon, yea and of Religion too, to endeavour to f^ve himfcU ^nd his People from the threatned Ruin ? The Ammonites, it is plain, were the Aggreffbrs in this War— Wirhout any Provocation was David infulted and defied by them and threatned with an Invafion.— They were therefore very culpable, and juftly rendered themfelves obnoxious to David's Refentment— And Da- vid could not confiftent with the Principles of Honour, Reafon or Self- Prefer vation but unll^each the Sword and go forth againft them. \ , The Sword is not to be dr^wn at Random — put cf Caprice and Humour, to gratify Men's Ambition, to raife themfelves to Grandeur, to be celebrated for their Ex- ploits and to build themfelves up upon the Ruins of their Fellow Creatures, who by the alldifpofing Providence oF God, have an abfolute Right not only to their Lives but to their various Properties and Enjoyments. — Put yet the Sword has been often drawn and all the Horrors of War hav5 been felt from fuch bafc and unworthy and un- iuftifiablQ h his they had !like gned« I anj Men, I and of his flered ]e his as this fed in him ? n, yea If ^nd (Tors in finfulted ifion.— - endtfred ind Da- -lonqur, ord and -put cf , to raife leir px- } of their idencc oF ir Lives its.~Put lorrors of ' and un- ludifiabk going forth to War conftdered and urged. i ^ jaftifiable Motives as thefe— The unbounded Lufl; after Power and Dominion — The infatiable Third after Fame, and the Avarice of Princes, has from Age to Age, involved Kingdoms and Nations in the moft diftrefTuig Wars, in which Thoufands and Millions of Mankind, quietly enjoying what the God of Nature has put them in PoiTiTion of, have fallen a Sacrifice, or been reduced to Beggary and Slavery. And aliho* fuch have often accomplifhed their Ends and gain*d their Point, and their martial Atchievements have been highly celebrated by iervile Flatterers, and handed down to fucceeding Gene- rations, yet it is but a falfe Grandeur after all that they have attain'd to. — To over- run and depopulate Kingdoms, to diftrefs and ruin Mankind— to butcher them by Thou- lands and Millions, and all this to be celebrated as great and glorious, as heroick and mighty Conquerors I Call you this true Glory ? Verily, it is to the lading Shame and Reproach of Princes. What are fuch, but like th& J Jons and Tigers, tearing and devouring all before them ? And yet even thefe Beafts of Prey are not wont to fall upon thofe of their own Species ; but to maintain a Sort of Friendlhip and good Agreement amongft themfelves — But Men, from whom other and better Things may be expelled, conlidering their Elevation above the brutal World, can bite and devour one another, and make Thoufands miferable to gratify their Ambition and Avarice. — What a Shame and Reproach is this to human Nature I and how wretchedly funk and degenerated is it ! The Aggreflbrs in every War are mod certainly culpable. There can be no Difpute of this. There's no Argument that can be fetched from Reafon or Revelation that can juftify Princes in entring into a Quarrel with thfir Neighbours, invading their Dominions, molefting their Subjefts in their PoffelTions, their Trade, their Religion, captivating and killing them It is a vile ffnd wicked Thing in them, if at any Time -they take wm ^ F 1 ]■! 1 'ii;i il I 14 7)&^ Advice ofjoab to the Hoft of Ifrael it into their Heads to be thus injurious to them, an^l commence Ho(lilitIes and Outrages upon them. — This bas often been the Cafe fince pavid's Time. tiut now. when a Nation or Land are thus motefted and injured and abufed, what is to be done by them \ Are they quietly to fubmit to chefe Abufes and Inj iries ? fufier their Enemies to carry their Schemes into £xecu-< tion ? fuffer themfelws to be over-run by them, to be deftroyed, or difponc^fTed and enflaved ? Can it be thought that they are obliged to this ? Would this be manly and rational \ Would it be acting like Beings whom the great Author of Nature has endued with a Principle of Self- I'fefcrvgtion ? Verily, it can't be pretended, — — Altho*, as I obferved before, the Sword is not to be drawq at Random, yet when the State of Affairs is, as i have juft faid, moft certainly it may and ought to b: drawn. / ■''•,.•■••• tSlavid thought fo when the Ammonites commenced Hoftilities againft him, and I might mention other Scripture InSances, were ic oecefTary— ^ .,- -, , . An injured and opprefTed People, whofe D.ftruflion and Overthrow is aimed at by unreafonable Men, ought to Hand upon their Defence, to maintain their Ground, and not tamely fubmir to their Incurfions and Violences. — The inferior Creatures, feme of the weakeft of them will (land upon their Defence when affaulted, fuch is the Indindt implanted in them by the God of Na« ture. And the Principle of Self- prefer vation is implant- ed in the Breads of human Beings, and agreeable to the Defign of the Author of it, ought to exert itfelf, efpcially in the Cafe we are confiderirg. Unreafonable Enemies are vigorouHy to be oppofed and refifted in their Deigns and Attempts, and they ought earneftly to endeavour to keep Pcfltflion of ih?ir dc^r ^nd facred Things, and to Jr^ftrat? going forth to War eonfidered and urged ^ i j fruftrate the deep laid Schemes and Plots of their Enemies^ who are reftlefe »nd bufy to deprive them of 'cm. ' Bat then is this 9II that is to be done ? Are thejr to wait for the approach of the Enemy and till they ftrike the Blow ? Thi^ furely would be ill Policy. What vaft Advantage would an Eneniy gain, were they fuffer^ without any MoK ftation, to invade a Country and to be* gin their Hollilities^ Would not thi) go far to cnfurc them the Conqueft? . ... ^. - ' i 1 ' ' . • .K !. r.< > . '■ . '\ :'■' ■■ . So that in order to fruftrate the t)erign9 of Enemies aiui to prevent their doing Mifchief» it is fometinies abrolute"* ly necefTary, that Forces and Armies be raifed to march forth againft them, to harrafs and perplex them, to curb tnd restrain them, and fo to prevent them from perform- ing their defigned Enterprizes. It may very often be comparatively eafy to prevent Evils^ but very hard to re- medy them. And this Maxim is doubtlefs as emphatically true in the prefent Cafe as in any other that can be nan^ed* When the Well being and even the Being of a Coun* try is at Stake, furely none can be at a lofs whether it is not proper and expedient to endeavour to prevent iti Ruin. And an't the Men who are plotting and con- triving this, and exerting themfelves to effedt it, an't they» I fay, to bt reftrained, if poflTible? And in order tothis» ought not Forcsa and Armies to march out againft them and invade their Territories^ and if not to put them to the Swor^^ vet, if pofTible, to wreft the Sword out of their Ha* lit fo they may be obliged to ad a different Part from what they have done ? In ihort» to reduce them to Reafon and a better Condufb, or totally to de- flroy them ? Surely this Cafe will not admit of any Difpare.— I might go on further to illuflrate it, were it necefHry, but what has been faid may fuiBce here. I now ^Ifg.j^i'HSWWWW'W''-' ■''WWWrllWWN*-,^-. ■ Irfi r 1 i 1 6 IT^^ ^^wr^ ofjoab to the Hoft of Jfrael ;. I now proceed, .^rfv^ ' Secondly, To confider the Advice itfclf which Joab gave to the Hoft of Ifrael, now they were going forth 10 War. Be of good Courage^ and let us play the Men, He himfelf was doubtlefs a Man of true Courage and Fortitude. And as he looked upon it to be a very neceflary Qualification in a Soldier, fo he is defirous of lieartning and animating his Forces. He would have them courageous, and manifeil that they were fo when they come to encounter with the Enemy, by their bold and gallant Behaviour. Be of good Courage and let us play the Men. Let us fhew that we are Men of Forti- tude and Bravery, , The moft numerous Army, and compofed of Men of a gigantick Stature, will bring little to pafs in the Want of true Courage and Fortitude — I fay true Courage. — ** For true Courage is a very difFerfnt Thing from a *' FJufli of animal Spirits or a Firmnefs of Fibres in the ■* Heart or Brain. *Tis a moral Virtue. It muft have ** its Foundation in Reafon, yea, in Religion which is *' the beft Reafon, or it fubfides into Stupidity or foams •• up in Phrenfy."— It is written in the Prophet Daniel § Sibat the People ihat know their God, that know him in a praAical Manner, fhall he ftrong and do Exploits, Shall be infpired with Courage and play the Men. Ic is written alfo, that the Righteous are hold as a Lion, f Their Faith in God, in his Being, Perfedtions, Providence and Promifes ; their Truft in Him, and reverential Re* gards to Him, makes them magnanimous and intrepid, and urges them on to the hardieft Enterprifes. — What a noble Account does the Apoftle to the Hebrews * give us of fome of the Old Tettamenc Saints and Prophets ; of § Chap u. 32. t Proy. 28. 1. * Chap. 11. 32. &c. going forth to War confidered and urged. 17 of their Faith, of their Valour aiid of their Succefs ? OF Gideon and Barak and others ? Who tbre^ Faith fubauei Kiffgdoms. — Out of fVeaknefs were made flrofig, waxed valiant in Fight ^ turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens ? Pofftfs'd of a Principle ot Religion, how valiant and viAorious were they ? — There was no Duty but they would engage in, no Difficulty but what they would furniount. We have a glorious Inftance of Courage and Fortitude in King David, wh^en but a Youth and a Strippling, in his encountering the Giant of Gath, and his Courage hid its Foundation in Rtligion. 'Twasthis that infpirited him, notwithftandmg his fnequality as to Stature and warlike Weapons. Only with a Sling and a few Pebbles he goes out againft him. And in what a gallant and heroick Manner docs he addrels him, and in the Spirit of Religion too ? ^hou comefi to me with a Sword and a Spear and a Shield ; but 1 come to thee in the Name of the Lord of Hofts^ the God of the Armies of Ifrady whom thou haft defied * And we may fee his glorious Courage and Fortitude and his Religion as the Spring of it in the 27th Pfalm at the Beginning. So that when Soldiers go forth upon an Expedition, it is not only neceflary, that they hit well equipt wiih mili- tary Weapons, and that they underftand ho»v to ufe them ; it is not fufficient that they know how to perform ihe Exercifes of a common Training- Day at home, but they muft be Men of Courage and Fortitude, if ihey would be good Soldiers ; and in order to this they muft t)e Men of Religion — have fuch a Fairh and Truft and Reverence for the glorious God, as poffefled the Hearts ot thofc an- tient Worthies, we juft (pake of. _, , , What a Token for Good would it be, if this was gene- rally the Cafe with them ? But many there are that ima- gine Religion is of no I-nportance in the military Life, (hat it rather makes Men Cowards than bold and cou- ! i . rf . rageous I. Sam. 17. 45 ;|8 ne Advice ofjoab to the lloji oflfrael li I I' r if 4! } « Mgeousr " That a M-^n will never (as one fpeaks) make " a gallant, brave, bold Fellow in the Army, til) he has '* thrown off all Veneration for the Deity, and all Regard tor Religion ; that he will never dare to look his Ene- mies in the Face, iinlefs he be fo horribly impious as ** to fiy in the Face of his Maker -, nor to ftorm a City, ** or enter a Breach, till he Itorm Heaven iifelf, with h"S *' horrid Imprecations and blafphemous Oaths. All they. •' defire is, to have good Guns and Swords ; a goor^ Ge- •* neral, a weJl difciplin'd Army and compleat Artil'ery ; •' and then fhew them their Enemies. They truft in *' their own Bow, their Swords, Guns, B imbs. Cannon, *' Ships and Horfes, becaufe they are many : They truft ** in their own Prowefs and Policy, Strength and Con- ** dudt, and what in an heathenifh Manner, they call *^ thQ\t good Fortune" But there is no true Courage and Valour in all this. — There's nothing but Ralhnefs and Madnefs and Phrenfy, —and an Army that is ccmpofcd of this lorr, are no more to be celebrated as Heroes, than the War-Horfc that rufh- eth into the Battle, that foams and rages and drives on thro* Fire and Smoke, and Swords and Cannon, without any Thought cr Confidsration. • j' 4 1 • >;■ .) a Many great and notable Exploits have, no Doubt, been done where Armies have had little or nothing of Religion mongthem. — But this is no Argument why Armies Ihould rot be religious, and that Religion is not the proper Foundation of Courage, that Qualification which is fo neceffary in order to their performing great and notable Exploits. If Soldiers would quii tbemfehes like Men and he Jlrong^ they moft Jland faft tn the Faith. In this Cafe they will not be under a flavifh Fear of their Enemies, when they ^nter the Lifts with them in the Fitld, or when they ' *. attack i us as City, hhis ihey. Ge- ery ; ift in nnon, truft Con- y call -> '* i«' ^ if- going fori /j to War conjidered and urged, i^ attack their Forts and Citicfi, however (Irong they may be, and however formidable the Military Apparatus of them may be. If Soldiers are Men of Religion, let it be noted they will be Men of Prayer, nor will they forget to pray when they are going to fighr and aflualiy come to the Charge, They cm wreftle wirh God at the fime Time that they are combuing with Men. — They cua fhoot up their Prayers to God in the Heavens, while they are c^if- charging their Shot upon the Enemy in the Field. They know that fervent, b.lieving Prayer can do more and greater Execution than Guns or Swords — This en- gages the Preftnceof God with th-^m " And if the Lord is on their Side, they need not fear the- Faces of their Ene- mies. — The Lord is with them in the Diy of B:itile, while thsy are with him, religioufly ackno^vledging him and'de- pendin-jupon him. — He is wiih them to gjide them into thofe Mrafures that are moft fuitable to annoy the Enemy and difcomfit th■ \- Obferve, The War was of God—not only did he per- mit It — but he infpired thefe Troops with Courage an4 Fortitude. And why fo ? Why becaufe they cried to God in the Battle. They were a religious, praying Army, and their Courage and Valour was well founded. —So ^Ifo we find Mofes exhorting the People of Ifrael '"^ : '■' to I. Chron. 12. 8. f 5 Chap 18, &c. ; A going forth to JVar confidered and urged. at to the Service of God, asf a proper Foundation of C6u- ragft and ihs Way to Succefs againft Enemies "^ If y& walk in my Statutes (fays God b/ him) and keep my Com" mandmenti and do them --ye Jhill chafe your Enemies, and they Jhalt fall before you by the Sword — /Ind five of you fhall cttafe an hundred^ and an hundred of you fhM put ten Thoufand to flight, and your Enemies fhall fall before you by the Sword. Succefs does not depend upon Numbers ; for whata vaft inequality is here ? But if Soldiers were Men of Religion and their Courage founded upon it ; what migh- ty Atchievements would be performed ? So that upon the whole here,— — That Courage that is necelTary to make good Soldiers and fuccefsful and triumphant ones, is a religious Courage. — Poffeffed of the Fear of God and a reverential Regard to his glorious Majefty^ they are in Alliance with Hin!» the God of Armies— and who then can (land before them ? If God be on their Side to help them in fighting their Battles, who then can profper that fight againft them ? ■ The fame I might fay with refpeft to fpiritual Eit6* mies — who of them can harm us if God b^ for us ? fn this Gafe we (hall come off Conquerors, and more than Conquerors over them all. But without enlarging up- on this Point, I clofe the prefent Difcourfe with the Ad- drefs of Mofes to the People of Ifrael, pertinent to the Subjedb I have been upon— § fVhen thou goefi cut to Battle again(i thine Enemies^ and fetft Horfes and Chariots and a People more than thou^ be not afraid of them^ for the Lord thy God is with thee. — And when ye fhall come nigh unto the Battle, the Pfiefl fhall approach and fpeak unto the People, —Tou approach this Day unto Battle againfl your Enemies^ let not your Hearts faint, fear not and do not tremble^ neither be ye terrified becaufe of them. For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you againji your Enemies., and to fave you. * Levit. 26. 3. 7. 8. § Deut. 20. I — 5. THE ** ^e Advice ofjoab to the Hojl of Ifrcel m i I t/BU >^m a^Vt tnr» *^w t^r* t^rt t^V> •''wW t^v '^c .^n* »nt\» .^t t/^ KkJM I KrL/» *^J» '^^* "W* iiy* '^U* "J^ '\v* "Vfl^ %&'■ ^^^ ^^* ^fw» (u^ K^« yr^V T H E .<\ •.. Second Difcourfe. ■K i *■ -■•' ' '\ ^^'^^^^if^4p4p^^4pif0ifiF4f'if^4?if'if4pif4f'lp^ ■ II ! II. SAMUEL lo. 12. ... - f'r . M i. r«I"i » Bi of good Courage, and let us play the Men for our People^ and for the Cities of our God j and the Lord do that lobtcb feemetb him good, ' ' i 7.. iM' IN the Morning we confidered the OccafiO!! of Joib*s nuking this glorious Speech to the Hoft ot Ifrael — and ihvwed in the firlt Place — The Lawfulnefs of taking up Arms to oppofe and fubdue unreafonabie and inveterate Enemies. — v- - r 5 In the next Place— confidered Courage as a neceflary Qualification in Sjldiers in order to Succtfs and Viftory, i|od plaqtd it upon Religion as its true and proper B.iris. — ' • I go on now, ^ ; - ^ , ^. ^ Thirdly, To confider the Principles and Motives, fog- gefted in our Text, that fliould influence Soldiers to a cou- rageous anr! heroick Condudl, when they are called to encounter Enemies. Be of good Courage and let us flay the Men *' Not foe '* Tay and ^^refermcnt, for Honour and Fame," baifor our going forth to tVar conftdered and urged^ 13 V6^ . ,\ 4f4f^ for our do that Joab's frael— Inefs of ble and eceffary ^iftory, Bifis.— /es, fog' a cou- :alled to •i ■••,- .. Not foe aijor our People, and the Cities of our God, «* For the publick Stfe- *• ly ami Wdfarr, in which the Glory of God is fo much •* intercftcd— God and our Country wasche Word.— Let ut ** be valiant f'^om a Love to Ifrael ; that are our People, «* defctrded from the fame Stock, for whom wc are em- " ployed i :s. To r Caufe, ire neg- ig Enc- ^imating of the injufticc. it is un- lufe they cafion to : a Coun- jrther to r Armies vigorous ire bound id it they do going forth to War confidered and urged, if do not courageoudy id the Duty adigned them, they are aifo unfaithful to their God.— ^ Again,— Let m flay the Men for our Peopk^ from ^ Principle of Love to them.-- — Indeed moft Men have a natural Fondheis for their Coun« try where they were born and bred up. The People of it tire more natural than other People. When at a Diflance from it, it is often thought of, and they defire a return td it. And it would be a grievous Thing to the mof^ to be wholly banifh'd from it, never to return more.— The moft have a Defire for the Welfare of their Country i* and fuch is the Love and Regard that many have for it, that they are difpos'd to ferve it, and will accordingly eXerC ihemfelves in various Ways to promote it's Happinefs, and efpecially in fuch Places and Stations as give them Opportu- nity for it, and when alfo, agreeable to thole Places and Sta- tions, it is expefted of them that they fhould do fo.- • And there is abundant Reafon for every one to love his Country, for in many Inftances that might be mentioned, he is under Obligations to it — yea every ones Intereft is clcfely connefted with that of his Country. So that if he has a Regard to it and ferves it according to his Ca- pacity, he himfelf fhares in the Benefit. If one Member in the Body natural ferves another Member, the ivhole is benefited, even fo it is in the Body politick. — A publick Spirit is befure an excellent Spirit, and were it duly cultivated, the Publick would be in vaftly more agreeable Circumftances than it commonly is.— *-— But a private, felfifh Spirit has very much gaioM the Afcendant of a publick one. The moft may wifli well to their Country, but they can'c find it in their Heart to ferve it. Or if at any Time they do ferve it, it muft be in a Confiftence with ferving their private Intereft at the fame Time. — The principal Queft ion with many, when . . D Servicea iW I ifS fjl>e Advtce (jfjoat tq the JJoJt oftjrael Services are propos'd to tbem for the GoQd of the Pijblick» is, not what is Duty ? not what will turn out for the Good of the whole ? But will this and the other Matter turn out to my own private* perfonal Intcreft ? If there is no Proiped of this, the Publick may take Care of it- felf for all them. But this moft certainly is a very bale and unworthy Spirit, more efpecially in Perfons of Trvift. i^uch as thtfe efpecially ought to cultivate a I^ve and Regard to the Publick and a Difpofuion to do whatever Service lies in their Power, ^* 'Tis related of Auguftus, who (as one obferves) wa$ *' one of the befl and wifeft of all the Roman Emperors* ** before the Chriftian Religion was publickly counte- •* nanc'd in that State, that when the People offered ^* him the Title of Lord^^ a Title of Honour and l^efpe^, *• he refus'd it, and thought the Title of PaHf •* Pqtx'i^.y the Father of his Country, more honourable." ^^A i^oble Ifi^^nce of a publick Spirit.^— He had rather wear a Title that carried in the Idea of it. Love and tCindnefs and Bt^neficence, than a Tide of D^nity and fiopoor. He did not defire to be look'd upon merely as high and mighty, but in the more amiable and en^ gaging Light of a kind and tender Father to his Coun** try* He was diipoi&M to (hew himfelf fuch an one> cq all Intents and Purpoies. ,,. ^; ... But then it ts not incumbent merely upon Perfons of Honour and Dignity and in Places of gr«at ProH< to be of a publick Spirit, but uppn all, whatever low Sphere they may n^ovc in.- — And to apply it to the Cafe tve ai?c ccniidering, — It is npt only incumber upon Q^nerals and O/Hcers* wliether pri^oipal pr fubordinate, ^jat even uspon privs^te Centinels. And whenever ih^y %r^ Jin the Providi^knce of Qoyd c^ll'd to go forth to ferve U\fir CouAtry, b ^;(peditions againft the common Ene- tp^t Tuob ihoiri4 ^9 tiieir Love aj^ R^ard to it as tQ put going forth to War confidered and urgedi % f blickt >r the Matter there of it- y baie Trqft. and )acever e$) wa$ perorf, counte- offcred ur and if ?iiUf jrablt.'* i rather ive and ity and merely and eiw IS Coun» one> tp rfons of fi< to be Sphere he ^^^ vi. upon ordinate^ vcr thc^y to Co; v.e it as td put pot them upon the mod br^ive and gallant Beht^toor» in order to fubdiie the Enemy, and that their Coltmfr]f may reap the Adirant^ges and BeneBcs of a com{)Ieat Coaqueft^ ThiM I h^te conftdered the firft Motive foggefted vti tm Texf, that fhouki iftfiuence Soldiers to a courageous andhe^ roick Condo^, when they are called ifoeneoumlerErtemies. K.i There is another, which is not Ids greit and fanportant, which 1 now proceed to fpeak to— v/as. ^ Soldiers fhould be courageous and a^ive when caH^nour of his gr^-at Name, —(hould defire that it may be promoted, and endeavour according ro his Station and Capacity that it may be fo.-^ But now, il powerful and inveterate Enemies over- run Cities and Countries where God has been in fome Meafure glorified in the Way of his huly (nditquons and Ap- D 2 pointm^nc% * ^i^\^ 8^. ^, ■^iri 28 Xbe Advice ofjoah to the Hofi aflfrael 1 r ii m ij i i'. W' r m 'fr pointments ; if Things are turn*d upHde dovvn, &nd the Sanfbuaries of God become* defolare, what will bfcome of God's great N itne ? — Wc fi.id the Pfalmift, on Occafion of the Heathen's invading J>:^ruralem and the Temple there, and running all Things into dreadful Confufion, thus praying to G d f Help us God of our Salvottion, for the Glory of thy Name, And then ufcs this Argument to en- force the Petidon, Wherefore Jhould the Heathen fay ^ where is their God ? It deeply concern'd him to think of the Dif- honour dope to God by the heathen-Enemy's prevailing agai'jft Jerafalem, the Holy City, the City of th^ir So- lemnities, the City of their God. — Now fliould heathenilH and antichriftian Enemies from Time to Time invade the Cities of our God, how would his Intereft fuffer, his Honour be debas'd, his Glory eclips'd ? And now, when the Cities of pur God are at any Titpe in Danger from his and his People's Enemies, and it is neceflary to draw the Sword upnn them, ought not thofe who have it put ipto their H^n^^s to wield \t vigorouQy and dexteroufly, to deftroy them* if they cannot retrain them '< Or iix Other Words, ought not the Honour and Glory of God to be fuch a dear and facred Point with all who go forth sgainft Enemies, as to aniniate them, and put them upon t:xc*rting themfelves to the utmofV, that they may be fub- dued, and the Intereft and Honour of God on the whole be fecured and maintained, as well as the temporal Good ^nd Welfare of their People ? — Let us be of good Courage and flay the Men for our People and for the Cities of our God, And now I proceed to the lafl Thin^ to be fpoken to, viz. Fourthly, To confider the pious Remark which Joab ■ makes upon the whole, to the Hoft of Ifrael, after he had animated and encouraged (hem in the Manner wet have heard- £^ of good Courage^ ^c. And tU Lord da that which feemeih him good, "' /' ' Aa -f Pfalm 79. <^, JO. 1 the ne of afion mple ifion, n,for :o en- here is I Dif- ailing r Spr henilh invade er, his when r from ) draw it puc roufly , Or ia 3f God ;o forth n upon be fab- ; whole il Good Courage mr Cod, to, viz, ch Joab after he ner we Lord da going forth to War confiiered and urged. \^ ' As much as to fay,— " Let nothing be wanting inus^ ^* whatever the Succefs be. Let God's Work be done <* by us, and then God's Will be done concerning us.** ^U Lord do that, £s?f . It is an Acknowledgment in the Firft Place,— * That nothing copld be done to Purpofe in this Ex- pedition they were engaging in, without God, without his Agency. . . ., ^, _,^ ,..,',.. _ , , -, ■. And fo it 18 in all like Cafes. Good and faithful, wife and brave Generals and Officers are ncceflary, ■ Swords and Guns, and other Implements of War are ne- cr(riry,~and Courage and Fortitude in all, both Officers and Soldiers, is nece0ary, — and under thefe Circumftances there is a probable Profpeft of Succefs. But then *' a *^ mod expert and valiant General, with an Army well ^' difciplin'd, equipt and pofted, and confiding of fturdy, ** refoluteand bold Men, thro* fome unforefeen Accident, •? feme unexpedted turn of Providence, tl>e Change of the " Wind and Weather, may, thro* their too great Boldnefs *• and purfuing the Enemy too far, lofe the Day. ■ ' ■■ ** there is a fecret, powerful, over- ruling Providence, that " determjneth Events ^uite crofs to the natural Tenden- ^* cy of Things and the rational Expectations of Men.— ^ That the Succefs of military Expeditions is with God, may be accounted for partly, from the Do6trine of his univcrfal Providence.^ /i/tf bath prepared bis Throne in the Heavens^ and bis Kingdom ruletb over alU * And if over alL why (hould his PreHdency and Agency be excluded in an Affair of fuch great Importance as that we are con- fidering } An Affair, whicti concerns the Intereft of whole Provinces, Kingdoms and Nations ? — It is a clear pidtate of the Light of Natqre, that if God made the World, TT- I P(alin 103. 19, I a'] ■SI' m I*;''! ':ij|| in: |0 ^& Jihtce ofjoab to the Hoft oflfraet ' World, Hi mtt/t he Lord of all. But then befides what lius Lfghc of Nature didates upon this Head, we find Chat divine Revelation is futi and rxpre s in declaring the Agency of the moft H gh in rh- SucceflTes ot War. ^ine O Lord is the ViSiory, §— the Battie is not your*s lut God^s +— T^ro* God we fitall do valiant ly^ for be it is tbatjball tread down our Enemies || A Muicitudf ot the like PalTiges might be produced, were it nectflary in Confirmation ot che P int.— So thar nntwithilanding all military Preparations, the bravpf[l Officers and Soldiers, the beft concerted Plans, anU the m 'it vigorous, manl/ and proper Methods to execute! them, yet after all, the Event is with God, the God o* Armies. If Armies are, on (be whole, fuccefsful according to Exped^ition and Defire, the Rij^ht Hand and Holy Arm ot God is princi- pally to be eyed and regaf-ded^ which has ^qc them che yiAory.— r Again, .•' Secondly, The Events oT military Expeditions ^rc ^o be left with Cod. 'Twas as much as if Joab had faid to bis Forces, Let us dp our puty in the prelt^nt Affair and leave the Event to God. And certain it is that Events of this Nature as well as all other mud be left to God. For God will do as he pleafes in his own World and in his own Dominions. And his Hand can't be (lay*d, ha can't be hindred or oppofed in any of his Meafures. For none has an Arm like his. |n vain may the united Strength and Force ot all his Creatures be oppo^'d to his. They are all as Qriflioppers before Him.— — ... > "' . But then what Jcab here fayg, fpeaks a Difpofitian i« himfelt (and the fame he would lead his Forces to) to refeff the Event of the prclent Campaign to his Difpofal. Tbfi Lord do that, (Jc. And this was a religious Dilpofiiion rn him. Whereas there is no Religion in referring the Event I I Chfon. 29. \^\, fa Chron. 30, 15. |} Pfal. 19^. V5i going fifth to War con/UereJ and urged* jf what find ;the War. mr*s tt ts >f the ry in g all diers, I, the es are, n and jrinci- m the ZffL to faid CO air and Events o God. a^d ia y*d, ha I. For united \ CO his. fition in to refef al. Tb^ [pnftiioil ring the Event Bvetit of Things to God, merely becaufe wf are under t Ncctrdicy of doing ib in Confideration of his AltniKhnnelf and can^c helt» our felves. But that is a religious Difpofi* tion when, atter we have done our Duty, we freely ita?f the Event to Qod, to order this out juft as he pleafes. Thif feems to be the Difpofition of Joabat this Time Nodoubl he defired Succefs and Vidory. This was natural and rational But then it wai with this Provifo, if it was agreeable to the Will and Pleafure of God. He has a further Vi^w of God, than merely bis being of Almightf Power, and (o able to bring Events to pafg. He eyef him at the fame Time as being of infinite Wifdom, and (6 knowinix what is bed to be done in this great and important AfF4ir. And he freely refers the Matter 19 the Difpofal of his iafinite Wirdom....i^«— ,, . ■>■-<«,' M )i In AfTairs of this Nature we are confidering* as w^l as all others, we are to lay this down as an undoubted Maxim, that God rhe great Governor of the World, and Difpofer of all Things, is infinite in Wifdom. and fo knows what is bed to be done in every Cafe, The wifeft and the bell of Men are but (hort-fighted. They judge according to the natural Probabilities and Appearances of Thing9.~<^Viewing all Circumftances, they are led to con« elude chat their military Expeditions, not only will be fucceed^d, but chat it is of the laft Importance that they fliould be h, and that a Pefeat will be the Oeftru^ion and Ruin of the Ckwncry. And according to the nacural Courfe of Things, their Apprehenfions may be well grounded. But yet they can'i look into Futurity— can'c lay what may be in the Womb of Providence and wba( Turns may happen hereafter. Whereas God has thff whole Plan of his Government before him in one entire* pj&rfe^ View } and knows how to briog Order out of Con^uGon, Light out of Darknefs. So that all Thingi are done by Him in the wifcft and beft Manner, and (hiiifia th« wlmki will bo fecn and felt aod cpnie&'d by hia 3* ne Advice rfjoab to the Hbfi bfjfraet Iff m his own faithful and obedient People. — So that in Times of War and military Expeditions, it is not for us to prefcribe to God, but having done that which was our Duty to do. Events are rcllgioufly to be rcterr'd to Him, CO whom they btlong, to order them out, as He in infi- nite Wifdom fees meet. And now, from the feveral Heads that have been difcourfed upon, we might take Occafion to reflect upon the Degeneracy of Mankind. — That inftead ol that Ho- linefs. Love and Peace, which ought by all the Laws of Reafon, as well as Divine Revelation, to be pra£tis*d univerfally by them ; that they fhould be fo much under the Influence of their Lufts and PafTions — that thefe fhould operate as they do to the Mifery and Diflrefs of one ano« ther, in dreadful Wars and Slaughters and Defolations. — Tho* the Advice in our Text to Courage and Fortitude in military Expeditions is good, and fhould be complied with, yet how fad is the Confideration that there fhould ever be Occafion for fuch Advice? , I might take Occafion alfo to mind you of your fpi« ritual Warfare— To call upon you to enlifl under the Banner of Chrifl~>to put on the whole Armour of God, and under the Captain of your Salvation, to fight coura- geoufly againfl your fpiritual Enemies, with which ye are conflantly furrounded, that fo yOu may finally receive the Laurels of compleat Conquerors which he has to beflow. T--:,J > 1 ,; ' I might take Occafion alfo to lead your Thoughts op to the heavenly World, where are no Lufls and Corruptions, no Enemies, Wars or Tumults—where Ho- linefs, Peace and Harmony reign and fhine in glorious Ferfe^ion ; and excite you to labour earneflly that what* ever may be the State of this lower World, whatever the Evils, Wars and Confufions there are in it, yet that when you are difmiis'd from U you may attain that glorious '~.y ' World V! ^:3^ itnea us to s our Htm, \ inft- beeA upoA tHo- aws of aais»d under Ihould ic ano* ons. — irtitude mplied (hould )ur fpi- ier the DtGod, coura- lich ye receive beftow. houghts jfts and ,ere Ho- glorious at what- ever the lat when glorious Woild gomg forth to War cojjfidered and urged, 3 j World and the everlafting BlefTednefs and Joys of it.--» But thefe and other Refledfcions that might be offered I ffaall pafs over— and conclude with a few Words fuitable to the prefent Day. , ^ . .^., ., As God is the great Sovereign of the World and Biipofer of all Things ; as we have a conftant and ne- cefTary Dependance upon Him for all Good, perfonal and publick, fo it is but fit and proper that we religioufly acknowledge him, pray to him and crufl in him for the Beftowmenc of it. M; ,(* The Defign of this Day's Solemnity is in a publick Manner to afk of God his Smiles upon us and upon the Publick, our Nation and Land, thro*out the Courfe of the enfuing Year more efpecially. — And now in Addition to our Prayers and Supplications, may we all truly humble our- felves before God for our manifold Sins, and reform every Thing that is amifs amonglt us.- Let every one care- fully fee to this.— May this be the Cafe univerfally with this People. For notwithftanding we may make many Pray- ers, yet if we continue impenitent and unreformed, we may with very little Reafon expecb that God will fmile upon us and blefs us. But if we are willing and obe- dient we may exped to eat the Good of the Land-~to be biefiiM in the City and in the Field, in our Bafket and in our Store, and in all the Works of our Hands. • Godlinefs is profitable for the Life that now is, . ^ But then befides the common and ordinary Concerns of the Year, which we are this Day call'd upon in a pub- lick united Manner to afk of God his Smiles upon, we are foalfo and more efpecially to afk them upon us, as to the War which we are engag'd in. — For the Succefs of the Bririfh Arms in Europe and America, and for the Succefs of theArmsof the King of Prussia, that glorious Potentate, that ccvragecus, religious and fuccefsful Hero, E whom ^ l]^^ ■Ml ' .^'f^ 14 iTi^^ -^ > OtJR GRACIOUS Sovereign and his Minifters are very fenfibie of the Neccffity of the Redu6tion of if, in order to the Well- Being, and even the Being of thefe American Provinces and Colonies: Of whofe Importance to the Britifh Nation they aredoubtlefs morefenfible than in Times paft. As an Evidence of this a confiderable naval Force was orderM to Winter here to proteft us and to be early in the Spring upon BuHnefs. — And in Addition to this, a grand Fleet and fome Thoufands more of Britifh. Troops are deflin'd hither to join thofe already here. — How ready to afTift us with their Fleets and Troops a;»d Money ! — How folicitous for our Prefcrvation and Safety I And OUR GRACIOUS Sovereign, who has long been t, nurfing Father to the Nation and its Dependencies (may God flill preferve his anointed!) he doubtlefs experts that his American Subjeds, for whom he has and is doing fo much, fhould exert themfelvts in that which is more immediately their own Caufe, their own Intc^rc(t> and or which their owr Safety depends.-— - Tho^ going forth to War confiiered and urged. J 5 jd by brm'd luccefs oth io 1 have lat be- 'ortrcfs e very of that d — and lert are f it, in ■A thefe jortance t)le than , iderabic ; us and iddition fBritifh. here. — icps 5,nd I Safety 1 ng been ies (may expedlj is doing is more , and on Tho- Tho* we have in pad Years been unfaccefsful, as to the prefent AtFair, been greatly perplexed, had our Nam- bers much thin'd and been at great Expence, yet we are noc CO be difheartned, to fee down and give up the Poiilt. We are callM upon by the King and his illuftrious Mi- nifters co go again upon this Expedition, and there is an abfolute NeceflTity of our going. And as we have always prov'd loyal and faithful co the BriciHi Crown, (hall we (how ourfclves oiherwife upon this very urgent Occafion I Whac would be the Confequences (houkl we refufe to obey the Orders and Commands of our Sovereign and our Rulers chat are fent by him ? Wherefore, it is to be hop'd that many will be fpirited to go forth upon the prefent Expedition.— Remember it is for your People and the Cities of your God^ chac you are call'd to go forth, for the Prote^ion and Safety of. — That the Good of your dear Country, the Honour of God, his Caufe and tntereft I which is fo dear and precious to him, requires your going forth.— ^Confider how great and happy the Confequences of Succefs will be co your Country and co yourfelves, if you engage, and how highly you will be honour'd and refpefted if you are made the Inftrumenrs of preferving this People and all their dear and facred Interefls. — Befure good Soldiers, by whom great and notable Exploits are done, are worthy of Refpe6t, of double Honour, tho* fome- times it may have been ungracefully withoheld from them* — Confider alfo how terrible will be the Confequences, (hould chis People be backward, (hould chey refufe to lend a helping Hand upon this greac OccaQon. — How great will be the Hazard of our Enemies prevailing againS us, of rooting us out in Time, of deftroying us, or which is next akin to it and perhaps as bad, of bringing us into miferable Bandage and Slavery ? And can New>Eng]and Men, who have ail along enjoy'd the fweets of Libert/ both upon civil and religious Accounts, bear the Tho'c of this with any Patience ? Shall they not exert thcmfelvea vijorodlly ?^nd to their utmoft to prevent this mo(t ter^ £ 3 riblQ I,, m -I 1^ m ■J ill X W 3(5 7he Advice ofjoab to the Hoft of Ifrael rible Calatnhy ? Can they bear to think of being depriv*d of their precious and invaluable Liberties, efpecially, when it was with fo great a Sam, fuch an immenfe Expence of Blood and Treifure, that their renowned Fathers purchafed them — leaving their Native Land and all their fair Inheri- tances, and coming into this defert Land, a Land not fown^ that they might enjoy their Liberties themfelves and tranf- mit them down as the bed Legacy to their Pofterity in fuccefliive Generations. — And thro' the Indulgence of Hea- ven, they have been handed down even to usof thepre- fent Generation. And Ihall we not endeavour to have them continued and handed down to thofe that come after us? O that chat generous Ardor which glow'd in the Breads of our Fathers might be enkindled in all our Breads, and in the Breads of all the Sons of New -England! — It is for the good of this People, and for the Cities of our God, that I think my feU call'd upon this Day to en- courage this important Enterprife. ' ■ Some poflTibly may be difpos'd to engage in it, if they could be fatisBed that they fhould be well provided for as to the Neceflaries of Life, and might be fuitably ac- commodated and have Help and Medicmes in Cafe they are fick. — Whether any in Times pad have had jod Caufc; but to complain upon thefe Heads, it is not for me to deter* mine. — However, if there have betn Defefts, it is a Pity that they fhould be remedied ; and the Soldiers fhould have as much Satisfaction as they can well have of there being fo. For doubtlefs. Soldiers, who mud unavoidably meet with various Hardfhips in a Campaign, ftand in Need of good wholfome Food to keep them in Vi^jO'jr and to enable them to do the Duties adign'd theni, and ought to be taken Care of and provided with fuitable Medicines whea they are fick. And we hope they will find it {o in the enfuing Campaign.~So that if any Thing difagreeable as 10 thefe Matters have happen'd in Times pad, it is to be hop'd this will not prove a Hindrance and Difcourage- mcnt to thsir engaging in the prefent Affair. And * going forth to War conjidered and urged, ^j And now, as to thofe who may go forth upon this £x- pedirion, 1 mull, ap:reeable to the Subject I have been upon this Diy, addrefs you as Joab did the Hoft of IfraeU Be of good Courage and play the Men, I have endeavoiir'd to (hew you the Nature of true Coura^f, that it muft have its Foundation in Religion. — It is incumbent upon every one of us here prefent, to fear God and his Cominandments, to believe on the Name of his Son J'^fus, as we would be happy here and hereafter. But how inc umbent is this upon thofe who go forth to War? that lo God may go along with them to preferve and protefb (hem ? Or if they fall in Battle that they may indeed die in the Bed of Honour, and that from the World militant their Spirits may wing away to the World triumphant ? The great End of your going forth is to jlrve your People and the Cities of your God. May thefe important Intercfts be very dear to you. In order to fecure them it is necefTary that you be courageous and valiant, that you be bold as Lions— not running needleily into Dan- gers, nor avoiding them when Duty calls, trufting in God fbr Protedtion Mod Soldiers would doubtlefs look upon it as a Shame and Reproach to be tax*d with Cowardife, to fneak and fkulk and Bee away when none purfued, yea tho' they were purfued. Bat verily, notwithftanding the the Sprightlinefs and Agility of your Bodies and Flow of animal Spirits, there is Danger left you prove Cowards and fuffcr the Reproach of fuch unlefs you are poiTeiTed of a Principle of Religion. There can be no true Forti- tude in the Want of this, and if there is no true Fortitude* there can be no good Soldiers. Religion, as has been faid this Dayf moft certainly makes the beft Soldiers. Health and Vigour of Body is neceflary—Arms and t Skill ip ufing them are alfo necefTary. And when Reli- gion |9 tb^ Aii>ke ofjoab to the Hofl oflfrael g^ 15 the Spr'mg that fets all a going, then they become Herpes and arf jiMy to do valiant Exploits. Wherefore let every one be concern'd that he have the Fear of God in his Heart and his Laws written in his iowatd Parts.— Let every Sin be repented of, forfaken, and Pardon fought for moft earneftly thro' the Blood of itl^ great Atonement. — Let no accurfed Thing go along ipitii yoa mto the Camp to trouble the Camp and to pro- VfOke God CO bUft you. Alas! that there is fo much )H>rfiblc Profaaenels and Impiety in Armies, and that \f. is the Cafe in fuch numerous In^ances, that when young Men, many of whom have always lived in agreeable Families and who have tht^mfelves been decent and agree* able in their Manners, yet when they come to enlift as Soldiers, at once throw off all Reftraints and grow vain and frothy, and rude and profane, imagining, it feems, as iho* in this way, they were to recommend themfelves as good, chearfud, brave Fellows and fit for the Bufinefs. Would to God, that there was more of the Fear of God and of his great and glorious Name among Men m the military I^ife, whether fupreme or Subordinate. For the Profane* l»efs and Impiety which fo much abounds among them is lan ill- boding Symptocn. Do you my Friends, who may go forth keep yoarfelves from every wicked Thing. And may you be (Iroog and very courageous^ may all our Forces be iband do Exploits, and bring the prefent Cam- paigo to a happy