I Have perused this Sermon, tending much to the Advancement of Military Holiness and Orders (with these) the success of this present War; and do therefore conceive them very useful for the public, especially the Armies. April 16. 1646. joseph Caryle. A SERMON Preached at Balderton March 27. 1646. Being a day of Humiliation throughout the whole Army before NEWARK. By ROBERT RAM Minister of Spalding in Lincolnshire, and Chaplain to Colonel ROSSITER. PSAL. 124.8. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth. LONDON, Printed for john Wright at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 1646. TO THE Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons residing at the Leaguer before Newarke. Right Honourable: I Will not excuse myself or these unpolished Notes by the shortness of warning, nor by the monthly Fast the same week, but only by your Honour's command, which must be my best plea, both for the Preaching and Publishing of them. Such as they are, I am humbly bold to refer both them and myself also to your censure, which I am confident will be favourable enough, because I have already tasted of a great deal of undeserved respect from you, which doth mightily engage me to be Your Honour's most humble servant, Robert Ram. A Sermon preached before the Army at NEWARK. LUKE 3.14. And the Soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages. Right Honourable, and well-beloved in the Lord: I May begin my Sermon as chrysostom did one of his at Antioch, preaching upon the conversion of Paul; who (saith he) will despair of any man, though never so vild and Hopeless, that shall hear of Paul's Conversion. In this Chapter we have mention of three sorts of men converted to the grace of God by the Ministry of John Baptist, as unlikely to be wrought upon as any in the world: First, The common people, vers. 10. who usually are ignorant and rude. Secondly, The Publicans, a most wicked generation, ranked by our Saviour with Heathen men, and worst of sinners; so odious amongst the Jews, that none would match their children into that family which had a Publican of it. Thirdly, The Soldiers, as unbopefull to be brought to goodness as the other; Barbarous Miles, the rude Soldier, was wont to be the common word. But such is the unlimited power of the grace of God, and such is the infinite mercy of Heaven, that even these ignorant people, these heathenish Publicans, these barbarous Soldiers are converted to goodness, and received to mercy. My business at this time is with the Soldiers; I wish it may be as profitable as 'tis seasonable; These Soldiers, you see, are enquiring of john what they should do; And what shall we do? is their question. O 'tis a hopeful thing and a comfortable sign when men will be ask Questions of this kind, 'tis an argument that there is something of God in their hearts, when they are unfeignedly willing and desirous to know the mind of God. I hope it is so with you, gentlemans, and fellow Soldiers, that are come together this day; I hope you have the same question in your hearts, that these Soldiers in the Text had in their mouths; What shall we do? In the words we may consider: First, the persons that move this question, The Soldiers; And the Soldiers likewise demanded. Secondly, the question they propound, which is concerning their own duty, What shall we do? Thirdly, the Baptists answer; which consists of three Lessons, 1 Do violence to no man. 2 neither accuse any falsely. 3 Be content with your wages. john doth not bid them, Lay down their Arms and give over that calling, he gives not the least intimation of any unlawfulness in this military profession, but only hints at the usual miscarriages that martial men are prone to, and labours to regulate these new converted Soldiers, instructing them how they should behave themselves in this calling. I will reduce all that I have to say at this time, upon this Tex, into this one point of Doctrine. Doct. That good Christians may be Soldiers, and all Soldiers should be good Christians. The point hath two parts: First, Good Christians may be Soldiers. Secondly, All Soldiers should be good Christians. I will handle them severally: First, Good Christians may be Soldiers. 1 Because to be a Soldier is a lawful calling, 'tis a profession that hath sufficient warrant in the Word of God, being often mentioned, but no where spoken against or forbidden either in the old or new Testament. Christ commends the Centurion's Faith in the Gospel, but speaks nothing against his calling. The other Centurion mentioned Acts 10.1, 2. hath an Angel and an Apostle sent to him to instruct him fully in the way of salvation but not a syllable against his military profession; which doubtless Peter would have done, if his employment, as a martial man, were not good and lawful. 2 Because 'tis a necessary calling; States and Common weals can hardly subsist long without it; there is great use to be made of the Soldier, for preventing of oppression and violence, for defending of Rights and Liberties, for the preserving and maintenance of Religion, for bringing of offenders to Justice: Saint Paul saith, Rom. 13.4. That the Magistrate bears not the Sword in vain, but the Civil Sword many times would be vain and useless without the help of the Military Sword, Jer. 48.10. 3 It is a very honourable calling to be a Soldier, not only amongst the Heathen, but even amongst Christians and the people of God: The Title of a Duke comes from Dux, a Captain, a Knight in Latin is Miles; 1 a Soldier, an Esquire, Armiger, one that bears Arms, etc. The Spirit of God makes honourable mention of many that have been famous in this Profession, as of David's Worthies, 2 Sam. 23. Of the Governors of Israel, My heart is towards the Governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly amongst the people; Bless ye the Lord, Judg. 5.9. And in Psalm. 149. The Prophet speaking of the activeness of God's people, against the Church's Enemies, how they should have a two edged Sword in their hands, to execute vengeance and punishments, To bind Kings in Chains, and Nobles in Fetters, saith in the close of all, This honour have all his Saints. 4 Many men famous for Religion and Piety, have been of this Profession; Abraham was a Colonel, he had a Regiment of 318. trained men in his own house, and he himself that was called the friend of God, and the father of the faithful, marched in the head of them in that Expedition against Amraphel, etc. Gen. 14.14, 15. joshua was a gracious man, and a renowned Warrior: David a man after God's heart, yet a man of War: That Centurion, whose faith Christ so magnified, Matth. 8.10. was a Captain over a hundred Soldiers; And so was Cornelius, Act. 10.1, 2. yet highly commended for devotion and godliness. The Apostle speaks of some of whom the World was not worthy, Hebr. 11.38. and before 34. That they were valiant in fight, and turned to flight the Armies of the Aliens. So then there is precedent enough to warrant that godly men may be Soldiers. 5 God himself disdains not to be counted a Soldier: The Lord is a man of War, Exod. 15.3. And JEHOVAH TZEBAOTH, The Lord of Hosts, is one of the most frequent attributes that God is set out by in the Scripture, which is as much as to say, As the Lord of Armies, and implies, that he commands in chief, and gives orders to all creatures both in Heaven and Earth. 6 The Holy Ghost gives Rules and Directions, almost in every point of War, as about preparations, Making War with good advice, Prov. 20.18. for Marches, for Quartering, concerning stratagems, summoning of Towns, ordering of Camps, etc. Besides there be many metaphors, and many comparisons, both in the Old and New Testament taken from Soldiers, and that Profession, as Ephes. 6. etc. Which doubtless the wisdom of God would not have permitted, if good Christians might not be Soldiers. 7 None are so fit to be Soldiers as good Christians and godly men, especially in God's Battles: This will appear in these four particulars: 1 They, of all men, will be most courageous and valiant; The righteous is bold as a Lion, Prov. 28.1. The word Geber, Psal. 37.23. translated a good man, signifies also a strong man, importing, that a good man and a strong man is all one; as if none could be truly valiant but good men. 2 They have most understanding, and will be well advised in their business; they will be sure of a good Cause, they will not draw their Sword against God or his People, (as our Enemies now do:) The War must be well warranted that they engage themselves in; good men will not fight, unless they have written Orders from their General, the Lord of Hosts. 3 They will behave themselves like Christians and good men, they will obey Orders and Commands; no danger or hardship shall discourage them, they will scorn all cowardice and baseness; godly men will be as religious in the Camp as the Church; the customary deboystnesse of that profession cannot prevail upon them; when others are playing, they will be praying; when others blaspheme, they will bless; They dare not do any violence or wrong, nor accuse any man falsely, they will be contented with their Wages, etc. 4 God will undoubtedly bless and prosper both the counsels and actions of a good man; The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way, Psalm. 37.23. They that honour God, God will honour them: How did God go along with David in all his Wars? And how hath the Lord prospered our New Model? I hope I have said enough to clear this point, That good Christians may be Soldiers; That godly men may lawfully take up Arms, and fight when a just occasion is offered. Object. But it is objected by some, That Christ Mat. 5.29. commands his Disciples, That they should not resist evil, etc. from which place they infer, That it is utterly unlawful for Christians, in any case whatsoever, to be Soldiers. Answ. To this I answer, That Christ there speaks only against private revenging of ourselves upon those that do us wrong, not forbidding public Justice to be done upon wrong-doers, nor the use of Arms, when necessity requires. Object. But Christ rebuked Peter for drawing his Sword in his Master's defence: Therefore christians should not fight, no not in the cause of Christ. Answ. Christ came to suffer and to die, and therefore forbids Peter to make any resistance against the Officers. Object. But some there be that hold Christians ought not to fight for Religion. Answ. To this I answer, First by Scripture, secondly, by Reason; Deut. 13.12, 13, 14, 15. where the express command of God is, That if any shall withdraw the people to serve other Gods, such should be smitten with the Sword, and utterly destroyed. Again, Iosh. 22.11, 12. All Israel gathered themselves together as one man, to go up to War against the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, etc. for setting up an Altar beyond jordan, contrary to God's command. This may be further cleared by these Reasons: 1. Religion is the glory of a Nation. 1 Sam. 4.22. And she said, The glory is departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken: Surely the Wealth, Peace, Honour, Strength and Prosperity of a Nation, are bound up in the trueness of its Religion; so that there cannot be a better cause in the World to fight for, then Religion, Presidium & dulce decus nostrum. 2 The true Religion would soon be rooted out of the World, if it were not defended by the Sword of the Civil Magistrate; The Church (according to ordinary means) could not subsist long, if she were not backed with Arms; she hath many mighty, cruel and crafty Enemies; They have said, Come let us cut them off from being a Nation, they have consulted together with one consent, etc. Psal. 33.4.12. 3 We may take precedent from famous Churches abroad, that have taken up Arms in defence of their Religion, when Idolatrous Princes have gone about to deprive them of that. The stirs in Germany, in Luther's time, were about Religion: The Protestant Churches in France, and the Netherlands, have recovered, and do still maintain their Religion by the Sword. Object. But what warrant have we to engage ourselves in this present War? Answ. God calls upon all his servants and friends to help him against the mighty; the Lord saith now, as jehu did once, Who is on my side? who? who will take my part against my Enemies? and woe be to him that sits Neuter now: You have a fearful doom against neutrality, judg. 5.23. Rev 3.16. And wrath is upon them from the Lord that do help God's Enemies against him, 2 Chron. 19.2. 2 Nature calls upon us, and bids us defend ourselves from thiefs and cutthroats: We are but upon the defensive part, men are risen up against us, and would swallow us up, and shall we make no resistance? May Beasts, Birds, and Worms, by their provision and instinct of nature, defend themselves from injury, and shall not Christians? 3 The highest powers under God do call upon us to arm ourselves at this time, against the Enemies of our Church and State. By the highest powers I mean the Parliament, which, according to the constitution of our Government here in England, hath the most Sovereign power over us: The King, we grant, is the highest person in his Dominions, but the Parliament is the highest power, and the command is, That every sold should be subject to the Higher Powers, Rom. 13.1.2.5. even for conscience sake, and as they would avoid damnation. 4 Religion, Law, Liberty, and whatever is dear to us, do now call upon us to take up Arms: These are mightily invaded, and unless we stand forth manfully, we shall be spoiled for ever, and England will quickly become the most slavish Nation in the World. 5 All the well-affected of the Land call upon us, that we should stand to one another, and quit ourselves like men, like fellow-Citizens, like Brethren, against the Common Enemy; for the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart, judg. 5.15. And may not we stand and wonder, that any that pretend any thing towards Religion, should mind their pleasures, or their profits in such times as these; or should lie lazing at home, when so many of God's dear Servants are engaged abroad. This may both awaken and encourage every one that would be accounted a Member of this Church in England, to come forth and join with his Brethren, to the uttermost of his ability. 6 Our Children and posterity call upon us, that we would not leave them slaves; That we would continue that Gospel to them, which their Grandfathers conveyed to us, signed and sealed with their dearest blood. Use. Now for Application of all this to ourselves, Go on Gentlemen and fellow Soldiers, let me speak to you as joab did to his Army, 2 Sam. 10.12. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the Cities of our God, and the Lord do that which seemeth him good. Truly Brethren, your encouragements are great and many, never had any Army greater, or more than you have; your calling is good and warrantable, as hath been shown, and that may be a comfort to you, whether you live or die. 2 Your Cause is good, for it is Gods, you fight the Lords Battles, you are engaged in a business that doth mightily concern God's glory and his Churches good. 3 You fight for your King too, to recover him from his, and the Kingdom's Enemies; and even the King himself hath justified our Brethren of Scotland in the like action. 4 You have the hearts and prayers of all the good and praying people of the Land; And prayer is a mighty thing. The last Queen of Scotland protested to her friends, That she was more afraid of Master Knox's prayers, then of an Army of ten thousand men. 5 Your Enemies are Gods Enemies; Then surely you need not fear them; they fight against the Lord, and his Christ; against the people of God, and that Reformation which would advance the glory of God: It is impossible then that they should prosper or prevail against you. 6 God hath mightily blest our Armies and Preparations; What multitudes of glorious Victories have we been crowned withal, in the compass of a few Months? the like hath hardly been known in any age of the World. 7 Honour and Success will undoubtedly attend you; your names will be famous to Posterity; It will be your children's honour another day, that their fathers were Soldiers in this Cause; that they did help the Church, the Commonwealth, the Parliament, and were means to prevent their ruin: And for a reward for your pains and labours in this Service, look for a full recompense, both here and hereafter; And make no more question of being victorious over all your Enemies, in God's time, then of God's Power and Truth, for if God be able, and his Word true, your Enemies are undone men, Zeph. 3.19. And no weapon that is form against his people, shall prosper. Isa. 54.17. Our help standeth in the name of the Lord, he hath been with us, and he will be with us; and if God be with us, who can be against us? Do violence to no man, etc. The Baptist knew that men of this Profession were prone to these evils; and indeed woeful experience tells us, even in our times, that these are the too usual practices of Soldiers, which john labours to rectify and reform in them. So then this is the second part of the Doctrine, or the next lesson, that I desire every Soldier here to take forth; namely, Doct. That Soldiers should be good Christians. As godly men may be Soldiers, so Soldiers should be godly men. This I shall endeavour to prove by these six Arguments: 1 The Lord of Hosts is our generalissimo, and he is a God of purer eyes, then to behold iniquity; He requires that all that come near him, or belong unto him, should be holy as he is holy; Read for this purpose, Deut. 23.9. When the Host goeth forth against thine Enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing, Whatever they were or did before, they should be sure then to forbear all wickedness, that so the Lord might go forth with them and bless them. And in the 14. Verse of that Chapter, Moses gives some reasons why Camps and Armies should be holy. 1. The Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy Camp, he can soon see what is amiss then in our Quarters: If there be any good exercises, as praying, reading, conferring, or the like; Or else if there be Drunkenness, whoring, gaming, swearing, mutining; the Lord cannot but take notice of it. 2. He insinuates, That if good Order be kept in the Camp, then will the Lord both deliver such godly Soldiers from their Enemies, and give up their Enemies before them. But 3. If our Camps be unholy, there will not the Lord stay, he will quickly be gone if our wickedness be there. 2 No calling allows men to be deboyst or wicked; indeed every Profession hath its peculiar corruption, but we find not any dispensation for such corruptions; It will not excuse a Soldier another day to plead That it is usual amongst Soldiers to be drunk, to swear, to plunder, etc. Certainly Almighty God will not be so answered; you must not think to carry it so; men may be as holy and religious in this Vocation, as in any other Calling amongst men; and there have been as good and holy men of this Profession, as of any other in the World: You must not live by custom, or example, you must live according to your rule; and the rule of a Soldier is to fear God, and to abstain from sin and wickedness: The grace of God that brings salvation, teacheth all men (Soldiers as well as others) to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present World, Titus 2. v. 11, 12. 3 Soldiers of all men are in continual danger of death, they have vitant in manibus, mortem in oculis, their lives in their hands, and death in their eye: It is therefore most fitting and needful, that they should be continually prepared for death. O Sirs, did you but consider what a sad thing it is to die without pardon of sins, without faith, without Christ, and how casual your lives are at all times, but specially when you go upon any service, you would be more careful to keep yourselves from wickedness, you would be more diligent to make your peace with God, you would not sqander away your time so prodigally as many of you do, you would not dare to be such as many of you are. 4 No men stand more in need of God's presence and assistance, than Soldiers. It is through God that men do valiantly; alas, what are Armies and Preparations, without the Lords blessing? let men be never so skilful, never so courageous, never so well furnished with all the Instruments of War, yet all is nothing, except the LORD JEHOVAH bless them: Now God will not help evil doers, job. 8.20. How can a lose, lewd, profane Soldier, expect that the Almighty should cover his head in the day of Battle? That he should put by the bullets, or blunt the Enemy's Sword? Can such godless wretches, as provoke God daily by their abominations, hope that he should be any ways helpful to them? The Lord may make use of such men, to serve his providence, as he doth of Devils, but never shall they obtain any special favour from his hand. 5 Soldiers are Instruments of Justice, a kind of Magistrates, the Sword is put into their hands to bring those to justice and condign punishment, which the civil Magistrate could not reach: Now for the Devil to rebuke sin is not proper; for men that are guilty themselves of violence and wickedness, to be employed in the punishing and reforming of the same faults in others, is not like to be well. If I should say to every Soldier here, that he is a Justice of Peace, you would think it a strange speech, but truly, upon the matter, it is so, your business is to do what the Justice would not, or could not do; you are better men than you took yourselves to be: O that the consideration of that which you are employed about, might make you better men indeed. 6 My sixth and last Argument, to prove that Soldiers should be godly men, is because else little good can be expected from them. Truly Gentlemen, it is an ill Omen, when Armies are made up of profane persons; had I not better hopes of this, yea, did I not know, that there are some amongst us, both Commanders and others, that do truly fear God, I should withdraw myself from this Service, as despairing of any good success against this place; we have been twice already foiled here, and have been made to turn our backs upon our Enemies, God grant our wickedness (which truly is great enough) cause not the Lord to blast our Design the third time? let me tell you, that the sinfulness of our Soldiers may cause us to fear the worst. First, Because wicked Soldiers cannot be valiant, wicked men may be foolhardy, but never truly valiant; and what can be expected from a company of cowards, whose guilty consciences will make them fear that every Bullet will be their Mittimus to Hell? Secondly, Godless men are not likely Instruments for God to work by, or to make use of in glorious achievements, he will not honour them that dishonour him; they know not therefore what they do, that send forth the scum and basest of their Countries into this Service. Thirdly, The wickedness of Soldiers, and the sins of a Camp, will provoke the Lord to forsake them and it. If God forsook Israel, and suffered his people to be baffled and beaten by a small Party of their Enemies, for the sin of one Achan. josh. 7. What may we fear, when we have many plundering achan's, multitudes of blasphemers, numbers of beastly Drunkards in our Armies? It is enough to make God forsake our Tenths, and not go out with our Armies. Use 1. This in the first place serves to reprove those (as well Commanders as Common Soldiers) that do not conform themselves to the rule of this Doctrine; it is very sad and lamentable, that men, Christians, fight and dying men, Soldiers engaged in this Cause, the best and noblest that ever men were employed in, and having the great JEHOVAH for their General, should carry themselves no better ●●en many do: Are horrid Oaths, swinish Drunkenness, shameful filthiness, and violent oppressions, with many other gross impieties, suitable to such a Cause as ours is, and such Soldiers as we profess ourselves to be? Brethren let me commend unto you these six considerations: 1 That it were too much for Turks and Pagans to be guilty of such abominations as are daily committed amongst us, that are called Christians, and have undertaken to fight for Reformation. 2 We condemn our Enemies the Cavaliers, for their blaspheming and outrages, when indeed we justify them, by committing the same things, or rather surpassing many of them in acts of wickedness. 3 Consider that we fight for Religion and Reformation; who will believe that we can be real and zealous for either, when we express no more Religion in our lives, and ourselves hate to be reform. 4 Remember this, That God will not hold a Soldier guiltless that taketh his name in vain, or that provokes him in any other kind, more than another man. 5 Think upon this; That we cannot hope for God's blessing, either upon our counsels or actions, if we walk so contrary to him; he hath protested that he will walk contrary to them that walk contrary to him. 6 Lastly consider; That such ungodly Soldiers will increase our misery, rather than help us in them, for certainly they do but more and more inflame the wrath of Heaven against us, and provoke him to enfatuate our Counsels, and blast our Designs. Object. It is common with men of our profession to be more licentious than others, and of all men we may be allowed to take our liberty, and not be tied so strictly to the rules of Keligion, lest our spirits be snibed and our hearts grow soft and cowardly. Answ. 1. The more pity, that licentiousness should be so common amongst Soldiers; I am sure it should not be so: A Camp should be a School of virtue, wherein men should learn and practise fortitude, chastity, sobriety, holiness, etc. 2 Sin is so fare from breeding of good blood, and making men valiant, that nothing doth more uncourage men; a good courage ever springs from a good conscience. Use 2. Next let me commend a word of Exhortation, 1 To you that are Commanders. 2 To you that are Common Soldiers. 1 To Commanders. 1 Be you men fearing God yourselves; piety is as fitting and necessary for you, as for any under your command; you will never govern well, nor fight well, nor live well, nor die well, if you do not truly fear God. 2 Make choice, so near as you can, of honest and godly men to be your Soldiers; one such is worth a hundred that have nothing of God in them, let such be entertained, let such be countenanced. 3 Use your Power and Authority to restrain wickedness; you may do much this way, and God looks for much from you; punish swearers and drunkards and prophaners of Sabbaths, lest their sins be put upon your scores. 4 Walk you so before your Soldiers, in soberness, chastity and holiness, that your examples may be a law to them; And let them not have occasion to say, My Captain, or my Colonel, will swear, will be drunk, etc. and why may not I do so to? 2 To Common Soldiers. My exhortation to you shall be this in the Text, the very same that John Baptist gave to his Soldiers; me thinks I hear you ask of me, as they did of him, What shall we do? I say as he did, Do violence to no man. That is, use no cruelty, nor injustice, do not oppress any man, nor put men in fear, as the Marginal note hath it. That you may be persuaded to this, consider; 1 That Almighty God hates violence, Psal. 11.5. 2 That grace abhors all such actions. 3 That all injuries shall be avenged, Proverb. 28.17. Colos. 3.11. Neither accuse any man falsely. Take heed of making offenders of innocent men, raise no slanders upon your superiors, wrong not your fellow Soldiers by false reports: Now against this evil consider; 1 That a man's good name is very precious. 2 That 'tis extreme injustice to accuse any man falsely, Prov. 25.18. 3 That though a Soldier may outface a poor man, yet can he not outface God. And be content with your wages. This prohibits mutining, plundering, detaining of Pay by Officers, any kind of fraud, improvidence, and profuseness, etc. Now to persuade this consider, 1 'Tis a brave thing to be contented. 2 That a Soldier should be content with a little; Food and Raiment is enough. 3 That a good Soldier hath the Public Faith of Heaven for better Pay than State Wages. And now for a close of all, give me leave to add but one thing more, which I should have been larger in, had not the time prevented me; It is concerning the business of this day: You know it was desired and appointed by the Honourable Committee, and our worthy Commanders, that this day should be set apart for the whole Army to seek God in a solemn way of Humiliation, for his blessing upon our designs against this place; Blessed be the Lord that put it into their hearts; and blessed be our God that vouchsafes us this liberty and encouragement: O 'tis a hopeful business that gins with God. And now that we may engage the Lord of Hosts to take our parts, and to prosper our work in hand, let me tell you, that there are three things chief required of us all, for the crowning of our desires, and for the obtaining of the help of Heaven against our Enemies. First, That we should search out and bewail, even with godly sorrow, and bitterness of soul, the evils of our own hearts and ways, and labour what we can to be afflicted in our spirits for our provocations. Secondly, To take up a resolution, and to enter into a Covenant with Almighty God, of more conscionable walking before him; this is a main part of such a day's duty, and the Lord expects this from every one of us; God grant we may do it. Thirdly, We must pour out our souls to God in fervent and faithful prayer; This is our best weapon, both for defence and offence; Moses prayer, Exod. 17.11. prevailed more against Amalek, than Josua's Sword; and truly prayer ought to be added to all other preparations; so that as this is our business to day, so should we make our most earnest requests to the Lord, that he would bless our Army, our Counsels, our Preparations, and our undertake: I beseech you then let every one of us put these things in practice; which if we do, I dare promise that Newark will soon be ours, and we shall suddenly see our desires upon all our Enemies: The Lord of Hosts will encamp with us, fight for us, cover our heads in the day of Battle, and make us both valiant and victorious. Consider what I say, and the Lord give you understanding in all things. FINIS.