THE whole Chapter is a most no­ble and illustrious Prophecy of the wise and peaceful, victorious and triumphant Reign of the Messiah. It is the Person of JESUS, the Son of David, the Son of Jesse, in the Offices and Benefits of our Lord Redeemer, that is here displayed under the Simili­tude of an Ensign, Standard and Banner, unto them that fear him and because of the Truth.

[Page 2] HE, the^* Head of the Body, the Church, who also bears on his Shoulders ^* the Government of the whole World, is the Rod from the Stem of Jesse, v. 1. and also the Root of Jesse, which is the greater Dignity, born in my Text. He is both the Root and Offspring of David: Rev. xxii. 16. In his Divine Nature the Root, in his Humane the Branch or Offspring; Immanuel, God with us; "in two distinct Natures and one Person for ever.

In the second Verse of the Chapter his Glory is display'd as the ANOINTED; anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT in his unmeasurable Gifts and Graces; ‘The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spi­rit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, the Spirit of Knowledge and of the Fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick Understanding’ therein,—which is the high­est Accomplishment of every Prince, or Commander in Chief or Subordinate; for then "Righteousness will be the Girdle of their Loyns, and Peace the Blessing of their Rule and Command; which is the Abstract of my Context.

You see then, my Fathers and Brethren, Fellow­ Soldiers under the one Ensign and Standard of CHRIST, Whom we Gentiles are to be looking, seeking and gathering unto; that his Rest may be glorious in us as a part of his Church, and ours in Him, whose Banner over us is Love. Cant. ii. 4. You see your King and General, the Captain of your Salvation, and are now in his Presence, to behold [Page 3] his Glory, to hear his Word of Command, and to seek his Favour and Protection. The Armies of Heaven follow Him, and bless Him all ye his Hosts, ye Ministers of his that do his Pleasure; with all his Works, in all Places of his Dominion; bless the LORD O our Souls ^†!

Could I possibly bring You, our Honoured Commanders, a more charming or more awful Sight of our LORD and of his Church; to constrain your Duty to Him and his People! Look only with his Eyes upon the Part of his Church put under your Watch and Protection, and you will be constrain­ed to take up his Words of Transport and Rap­ture; Cant. vi. 4, 10, 13. ‘Thou art beautiful, O my Love, as Tirzah; comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an Army with Banners! turn away thine Eyes from me, for they have overcome me!—Who is She that looketh forth as the Morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners?—Or ever I was aware, my Soul made me like the Cha­riots of Ammi-nadib. Return, return, O Shu­lamite, that we may look upon thee! What will ye see in the Shulamite?’ as it were the Company of two Armies: Mahanaim; the two Hosts of An­gels guarding the Church in Jacob's House; or rather Jews and Gentiles united under the Ban­ner of Christ, a Vision but little lower than that of Angels.

Forgive me this Excursion in the beginning of my Discourse, my Reverend Hearers; and You Gentlemen in Arms, who have on a sudden press'd [Page 4] me to speak my last to you, when others have fail'd you.

It is now almost forty Years ago that I spake to your Fathers in this Place, and on this Solem­nity; and I then led em to JESUS; to the Faith in Him, whereby the heroic Saints of old Time subdued Kingdoms ^‖, wro't Righteousness, obtained Promises, out of Weakness were made Strong, waxed valiant in Fight, and turned to Flight the Armies of the Aliens. It is the Will of Christ, my Brethren, that They without Us should not be made perfect; and therefore I would now finish as I began, and lead you again to your standing Colours, CHRIST your Ensign; (the Alpha and Omega, the Begin­ning and the Ending, the first and the last; which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Al­mighty! the same yesterday, to Day and for ever:) And I doubt not but you will gladly be led again and again to Him, the glorious Object of your saving Faith, the Author and the Finisher thereof.

Now then, my Brethren, To your Leader and Standard! to your Ensign and Banner! to your Lord and Saviour, to whom the Apostle (after Da­vid ^* and Isaiah) directs your Hearts and Eyes, repeating my Text, Rom. xv 10 11, 12. Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his People! praise the Lord ye Gen­tiles, and laud him all ye People! as Esaias saith, ‘There shall be a Root of Jesse, and He shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles trust.’

[Page 5] See then your present pleasurable Work, my happy Hearers! it is to contemplate your SA­VIOUR under this Similitude and Comparison, the ENSIGN for your Souls to gather to.

It is no empty Flourish you are invited to! it is JESUS in his saving Offices and Benefits you are come forth to see! "behold Him, behold Him! red in his Apparel, with died Garments from Boz­rah! travelling in the Greatness of his Strength! speaking in Righteousness and mighty to save! "Look to Him and be saved, all the Ends of the Earth^†!

1. He is the Ensign and Standard set up from Everlasting, in the eternal Counsel and Decree of God; from the Beginning or ever the Earth was; the FATHERS everlasting Delight and rejoycing in the habitable Parts of the Earth; these Parts of it, which He then saw and ordained to be inhabited by our Fathers. Prov. viii. 23, 31.

And this royal Standard of Heaven was first displayed on Earth, to the Confusion of Devils and the everlasting Wonder and Praises of Angels and Men, in that glorious Revelation and Promise to our first Parents, Gen. iii. 15. "A SEED of the Woman to break the Serpents Head, with his bruised Heel.

Heaven then held out the Flag of sovereign Grace, with these Words written on it; this Figure drawn thereon, "A Serpent peircing the Heel of a Godlike Man, but his Head crush'd by it. The [Page 6] Standard bore the Image of God's dear Son in our Nature, treading the Dragon, the Devil and Satan, into Hell: from off that Pust, where it had crawl'd and rear'd its poisnous Head.

Indeed our Saviour is the Ensign lift up thro' the whole written Word, and display'd from Sab­bath to Sabbath, in the preached Gospel He is lifted up on high by Moses and the Prophets, and by the inspired Apostles of the New Testament; and after them, all the Ministers of Christ in all his Churches, thro' the whole Earth and to the End of Time, are Standard-bearers; to bear his Name and Truth, his Law and Covenant, his Promises and Threatnings, unto all People. We preach Christ crucified, buried, risen, ascended and reign­ing at the Fathers right Hand, and coming again in the Clouds of Heaven. He was lift up as an En­sign on the Cross, and from the Grave in his Re­surrection, and yet more in his Exaltation to the right Hand of Power! Christ the Power of God and the Wisdom of God, and the Righteousness of God for us.

2. An Ensign is a conspicuous thing; to be look'd on, seen, beheld and consider'd; and such is Christ.

This is the gracious Evangelical Phrase, "Look­ing to Jesus ^*! the gracious Gospel Precept, "be­hold me, behold me! and the gracious constraining Promise, "they shall look upon Him whom they have pierced.

Strong is the Eye of Faith, and the Hand of Prayer, to reach the highest Heaven, and bring [Page 7] down Salvation from the exalted Jesus. We must look and admire, look and love, look and ascend to Him on the Wings of strong Desire and un­failing Faith. He has said, John xii 32. "And I, if I be lifted up from the Earth, will draw all Men to me. Amen, Glorious LORD!

From Heaven we also look for Him again, in Power and great Glory. The Angels of Jesus bid the Disciples do so in the Hour of his Ascension: Acts i 11. Ye Men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven.

Without Controversy great is this Mystery of Godliness, the Visions of the Son of Man as in the Glories of the Only begotten of the Father: 1 Tim iii. 16. God was manifest in the Flesh justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the World, received up to Glory.

3. The Standard is set up, and the Ensign dis­play'd, for People to gather unto, and such is Christ. To Him shall the Gentiles seek; says my Text, and after it the Prophet goes on, He shall set up an En­sign to the Nations, and gather the dispersed of Judah, and assemble the Outcasts of Israel.

This was the Ancient and famous Promise, in the Prophecy concerning Judah, and the Blessing wherewith his Father blessed him! Gen. xiix. ‘The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his Feet, until Shi­loh come; and unto Him shall the Gathering of the People be.’

[Page 8] This is the first Meaning and Use of the Stan­dard, for summoning and inviting Persons to in­list themselves, and for the assembling of the in­listed. The Tribes of Israel, in their Incampments and Marches thro' the Wilderness, had each their own Standard, and they pitched about their own Ensign; Numb ii. 2 ‘Every one by his own Standard, with the Ensign of their Fathers House.’ This made their Camp look beauteous and yet terrible in their Order and Array: "How goodly were thy Tents, O Jacob! as the Val­l [...] were they spread forth, and as Gardens by the Ri­ver side: He couched, he lay down as a Lion, and who dare stir him up? Numb. xxiv. 5, 9.

The Spirit of Prophecy in after Times speaks of this Use of the Ensign ^‖, to call the Nations from far, and to hiss to em from the Ends of the Earth; to come with speed swiftly, with their Loyns girt! And thus runs the Burden of Babylon; "Lift ye up the Banner upon the high Mountain, exalt the Voice to 'em, and shake the Hand, to go up to her Gates: "I have commanded my sanctified Ones, I have called my mighty Ones, &c.

The Gospel is preached to the Nations for this very End, to enter them in a War against Sin and Satan, and for the Defence and Support of the Kingdom of Christ, his Truths and Ways, People and Worship. We gather to Him as our Ensign by our Profession of Faith in his Name, by our assembling to Worship from one Lords-day unto a­nother, in his appointed Ways. Of Him the whole Family in Heaven and Earth are named. [Page 9] To his one Altar the Tribes go up, to give Thanks to his Name, to Worship the Lord in the Beauties of Holiness.—So the Tabernacle of the Lord stood in the midst of the encamped Tribes, and marched in the midst of them. The Cloud, the Glory and Shechinah was their Standard; when that went they did, when that stood they rested round a­bout it. Christ was there with his shining Hosts of Angels, their Guard and Conductors. There were their holy Convocations, there was the holy Law deposited in the sacred Ark, and there stood the Altars of Burnt-Offering and Incense: There stood the golden Table with the Shew-Bread, and there hung the golden Candlestick, with the burn­ing Lights. All was but a Figure of Christ in the Flesh, enlightning the Multitudes in the Mount with his heavenly Doctrine, feeding them with the Bread of Life, and then offering Himself a Sacri­fice on the Tree. The Day of Pentecost was the famous Time of the Ingathering of Jews and Gen­tiles together: Christ was the Ensign lifted up in the rushing Wind, and cloven Tongues, and the Thou­sands of Converts; the Tongues were for gathering in the Nations to him. Acts. ii. 32. ‘This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we are Witnesses! therefore being by the right Hand of God ex­alted, and having received of the Father the Gift of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed abroad this which ye see and hear: As it is written by David, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right Hand until I make thy Foes thy Footstool: Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ’ This prick'd 'em to Heart, and made 'em come in; 'Men and Bre­thren, what shall we do? In all Christ was the En­sign, to gather in Souls to Himself.

[Page 10] 4. The Standard and Ensign is for Union, for the gather'd People to unite under; to unite in Affection and to join their Strength: and such is Christ to his Church.

There is one Lord, and one Body; one Faith and one Baptism. All Christians declare them­selves to be as one, and bind themselves to be so. They lift in one Cause, and engage in one Design, which is Christs. John xi. 52. That he should ga­ther together in One the Children of God which are scatter'd abroad. They gather to Him as their common Lord and General, to his Colours; or if you will into his Fold; for there is one Fold and one Shepherd. One is the Head, Christ, and the many Members are one Body; animated by one Spirit, and having the same Care one of another^*. Christ is the Centre of Unity to his People; the Faith and Love in Him is the Band and Means of it. What He ask'd of the Father for his Chosen, that his Apostle declares to be granted, and true in fact: He pray'd for them, "That they may be One, one in Us, as Thou Father art in Me and I in Thee: This the Apostle affirms of true Believers, "Ye are all One in Christ Jesus As we read of the Mul­titude of the first Believers, that they were of one Heart and of one Soul. Acts iv. 32. So Soldiers are one, an Army is one; and their Unity like the Form of a Phalanx, is their Force and Strength; to hear down all before them.

5. The Standard, Ensign and Flag of the King or State is for the Protection of the Subject; and such is Christ to his Church, its almighty Protector and [Page 11] Defence. We repair to Him for Salvation, and nothing less; we flee to Him and are safe. He is our King, and shall save us. His Name is Je­hovah-nissi, the Lord our Banner! the Lord our Righ­teousness. Write this on our One Altar and Sacri­fice. This Name of our God and Saviour defend us! send us Help from his Sanctuary, and strengthen us out of Si [...]n! we will rejoice in his Salvation, and set up our Banners! Some trust in Chariots and some in Horses, but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God! Save Lord, let the King hear us when we call! Be thou exalted, Lord in in thy own Strength; so will we sing and praise thy Power. Psalm xx and xxi.

David, the valiant and the warlike Prince, had all his Courage and Conduct inspir'd from on High; and to God alone he looks and ascribes, and relies in Raptures of Faith and Devotion. Psalm xviii. ‘I will love thee, O Lord my Strength; my Rock, my Fortress, my Deli­verer! my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Buckler, and the Horn of my Sal­vation, and my high Tower! I will call up­on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my Enemies.’ Psal. xliv. 4,—8 ‘Thou art my King, O God; com­mand Deliverances for Jacob: thro' Thee will we push down our Enemies, thro' thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us: For I will not trust in my Bow, nor shall my Sword save me: But Thou hast saved us from our Enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us: In God we boast all the Day long, and Praise thy Name for ever.’ Psal. lxii. 5,—8. ‘My Soul wait thou only upon God, for all my Expectation is from Him: He [Page 12] only is my Rock and my Salvation, He is my Defence, I shall not be moved: In God is my Salvation and my Glory, the Rock of my Strength, and my Refuge is in God: Trust in Him at all times ye People, pour out your Hearts before Him, God is a Refuge for us.’ Thus David, the Man after the Heart of God, the Hero of the Church; in all his Wars, from his first facing the Giant Goliah, to his putting on the Crown of the King of Rabbah, dwelt ever in the Secret of the Most High, and abode under the Shadow of the Almighty, and said of the Lord, "He is my Refuge and Fortress; his Truth shall be my Shield and Buckler. Psal. xci. 1, 4. So the Ensign is for the safety of the Subject; and happy the true Subjects and Soldiers of the merciful and faithful Saviour.

6. And lastly, The Standard and Ensign are more especially for a Declaration of War, a Defiance of Enemies, the Conquest of them and Triumph over them

Christ has his Enemies, and Souls have theirs. His Enemies are ours, and the Enemies of our Souls are his. Against these the Spirit of the Lord prepar'd and rais'd a victorious Standard in the Body of Jesus, our atoning Sacrifice^‖ He tri­umph'd over them on his Cross, spoiling Principalities and Powers, and making a shew of them openly. Satan like Lightning fell from Heaven, the Prince of this World was cast out.

We are all listed in this spiritual Warfare, and must be good Soldiers, fighting the good Fight, and [Page 13] resisting unto Blood, in striving against Sin ^*. We had need be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might; and put on the whole Armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil. For we wrestle not only against Flesh and Blood, but against Principalities, against Powers, against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World, against spiritual Wickednesses in high Places. Strength, Armour and Courage is provided for us, to put on, prove, wear and use. "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith) take to you the Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil Day. Stand therefore having your Loyns girt about with Truth, and having on the Breast-plate of Righ­teousness, and your Feet shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace: Above all taking the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; and praying always with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit. Good Armour truly for our own Day of Rebuke and Blasphemy, from the Infidelity of the Enemies of Christianity, who like Rabshakey re­proach the Living God: Eno' to make us cry out with the mourning Prophet, ‘My Bowels, my Bowels! I am pained at my Heart! because thou hast heard, O my Soul, this Alarm of War.’ We must heartily offer, and engage on the Side of Truth and Holiness. The Lord has sworn, that He will have War with Amalec for e­ver. Our Lusts, and their Confederates, the World and Devil, are this Amalec. The War is for Life, and the Lord will fight for us. More are with us than with them. We go forth [Page 14] in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, whom they defy. His Ensign is display'd against Error and Vice, Profaness and Impiety, our own and o­thers Sins. Jer. [...]. 25. ‘Behold I am against thee, O thou that destroyest the Earth! Set ye up the Standard blow the Trumpet, pre­pare the Nations, and Babylon shall be a Deso­lation.’

The Ensign is of various Use in War: to strike the Enemy with Terror, to animate and inspire Courage, and to lead on to Victory and Triumph.

1. The Ensign is to terrify the Enemy. The Ar­my in Array is made terrible by their flying Co­lours. They are defying and threatning Signs. They threaten Death and Slaughter, Destruction and Desolation. The Flag of Christ from Hea­ven, is a bloody Flag to all his impenitent Enemies. It is the Flag of Death; the second Death is written on it in black Capitals; Death spiritual and eter­nal! Death and Hell following it. Rev. vi. 8.

We read of the Garments of Vengeance for Cloath­ing, which the Redeemer puts on, when he repays Fury to his Adversaries; and this is the Standard lift up against the Enemy, when he comes in like a Flood Isal. lix. 17, 19. So St John saw the Hea­vens opened, Rev. xix. 11. and behold a white Horse, and He that sat on it was called Faithful and True, and in Righteousness he makes War: His Eyes are as a Flame of Fire, and on his Head are many Crowns, and he is clothed with a Vesture dipt in Blood, and his Name is called, "The Word of God; and out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword to smite the Nations, and He treadeth the Winepress of the Fierceness and Wrath of Almighty God:—and with a loud Voice he calls all the Fowls of Heaven, to eat [Page 15] the Flesh of Kings, of Captains and of Mighty Men. This is the Ensign to strike the Enemy with Terror.

2. The Ensign inspires Courage and animates the Host to Battel The [...] Colours put Life into the Soldier, and lead him on intrepid. It bespeaks the Host and says, as our Lord does to us, ‘Look on me and do likewise! Come on without Fear! Have not I commanded thee? be strong and of a good Courage: be not afraid or dis­mayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee^*.’

Christ can inspire Fortitude and Strength, to en­dure Hardness, to resist unto Blood, to be stedfast and immovable, and not draw the Hand back that stretches out the Spear. Jesus can make Joshuas, and strengthen with all Might in the inner-man; yea out of Weakness he makes Strong. Luke x. 19 ‘Behold I give unto you Power to tread on Serpents and Scorpions, and over all the Power of the Enemy.’ Accordingly read the Con­fidence and Defiance of Faith in Him: Rom viii. 37. [...]8. ‘Nay in all these things we are more than Conquerors thro' Him that loved us: for I am perswaded that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities nor Powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor Height nor Depth, nor any Creature, shall be able to separate us from the Love of God, which is in Jesus Christ our Lord.’

3. Here then is Victory and Triumph in the High­est, to the utmost, under our conquering Ensign, CHRIST JESUS.

[Page 16] 1. Victory. We have a Standard that can never fall Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but not a tittle of his Word. The everlasting God fainteth not, neither is weary. A Sampson may faint for Thirst, and one of the three mighty Men with David smote the Philistines till his Hand was weary, and clave to his Sword; "benum'd with holding it so long and fast^† but they that war under Christ shall renew their Strength. He it is that brings forth Judgment unto Victory. He came and overcame, and in his Strength we conquer our Selves, the World and Devil The Victory that overcomes them all is our Faith. The God of Grace, says the Apostle, shall brui [...] Satan under your Feet shortly. The Enemy may sometimes roar in the midst of the Congregation, and set up his Ensign in Assu­rance of Victory; he may prevail over a Peter in an Assault, but not in the War; No, Jesus has pray'd for him that his Faith fail not, and he returns to his Colours. Keep to your Ensign and you fright away the Enemy; resist the Devil and he shall flee before you. Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the World. What saith the SPIRIT to the Churches, thro' the second and third Chapters of the Revelations of JESUS CHRIST? He speaks of all the Saints as Overcomers and Trium­phers;—To Him that overcometh will I grant—every high Honour and Glory that our immortal Souls can possibly aspire after or receive.

2. On Victory follows Triumph: Triumph for every one that overcomes The Apostle therefore gives the Honour and Joy as common to all; [Page 17] 2 Cor. ii. 14. ‘Now Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.’ Mi­nisters triumph in the Success of their Ministry, and the People with them; they triumph now toge­ther, and will much more hereafter. When the Lamb opened the first Seal, John heard a Voice saying to him, Come and see! and behold a white Horse, and He that sat on him had a Bow, and a Crown was given him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer. The Conquerors keep the Field with their displayed Ensigns. There is an eter­nal Triumph before every good Soldier of Jesus Christ. HE is triumphing at the Right Hand of the FATHER, and all his Enemies are made his Footstool. He wills that they also whom the Father has gi­ven him, be with Him where He is, to behold his Glory. He has promis'd them a Share in it; Rev. iii. 21. ‘To him that overcometh will I grant to sit down with me on my Throne, as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his Throne.’

The Generals among the Romans had Triumphs decreed them by the Senate, after Wars and Battles of singular Renown and Profit to the Commonwealth. These were Spectacles of high Pleasure both to Small & Great among them The Multitudes tri­umph'd in & with their Generals, rending the Skies with their Acclamations. But O how poor and low were these Earthly Triumphs, to those of Hea­ven, which the least Believers in Christ hope to share in! Rev. vii. 9, 10. ‘And lo a great Mul­titude which no Man can number, of all Na­tions and Kindreds, People and Tongues, stood before the Throne of the Lamb, clothed with white Robes and Palms in their Hands; and they cried with a loud Voice, saying, Sal­vation [Page 18] to our God, which sitteth on the Throne, and to the Lamb.’ Again, hear the Shout of Triumph on the Dragons Fall Rev xii 10 ‘Now is come Salvation and Strength, the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ! and they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony! Wherefore rejoice ye Heavens, and they that dwell therein.’

Thus the Standard of War and the Banner of Love are in the End one. Our Saviour subdues us to Himself, and captivates us by his Grace, that we may triumph in his Love, over all his and our Enemies. And thus it has been from the be­ginning of Revenges on the Enemy. Jer. l. 2. ‘De­clare ye among the Nations and publish, and set up a Standard; Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded.’

And thus have we seen, in many Respects, our glorious SAVIOUR standing for an Ensign of the People.

Every Similitude whereby He pleases to repre­sent Himself, his Offices and [...]fits to us, is beau­tiful and pleasant, teaching and very instructive, affecting and very moving, elegant and charm­ing, endearing, awful and reverend.

You will own, my Honoured Brethren, Professors and Students in Arms, that this Vision of the Son of Man, the Lord of Glory, which has been passing before you, is most proper to your Selves, and the Occasion before us. And now learn You of Jo­shua, the best of Captains under JESUS, and prostrate your Selves, and worship the Lamb of God, to Whom you have consecrated your Selves and your [Page 19] Arms. Josh. v. 13, 14, 15. ‘And it came to pass when Joshua was by Jerico, that he lift up his Eves and looked; and behold there stood a Man over against him, with his Sword drawn in his Hand: And Joshua went to him and said, Art thou for us, or for our Adversa­ries? And he said, Nay, but as Captain of the Host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his Face to the Earth and did worship; and said, What saith my Lord un­to his Servant? And the Captain of the Lords Host said to Joshua, Loose thy Shoe from off thy Feet, for the Place whereon thou stan­dest is holy: and Joshua did so.’

Imagine, if you please, my Brethren, your own Ensign to Day bearing before You, your professed Devotion to the Lamb in the midst of the Throne, as it had been stain; Or if you please, to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah: They are both One, and alike reverend and holy to You; alike formidable to Sinners and pleasurable to Saints.

Let CHRIST be great and good and glorious in your Eyes; the chiefest of ten Thousands and alto­gether lovely. Be You as the valiant of Israel about his Bed▪ they all hold Swords, and are expert in War, every Man has his Sword upon his Thigh, because o' Fear in the Night. You watch for Christs Church, its Preservation and Safety; He wakes for it and you. Let Faith make your Necks like the Tower of David, built for an Armoury, whereon there hang a thousand Bucklers, all Shields of migh­ty Men. Cant. iii. 7, 8. Such you will become by Faith in your Saviour, and Obedience to Him; and he that is feeble shall be as David, and the House of David as the Angel of God.

[Page 20] See, my Brethren, your Need of Christ, and your God your Glory. See your Danger by Distance from Him and Enmity against Him. Mourn all your Desertions from Him and Rebellions against Him. Never be it said of any One here present, "This my Enemy that would not have Me to reign over him! Ever may the Lord be able to say of us, as the Centurion did to Him of the Soldiers under him, "I say unto one, Go, and be goeth, and to another, Come, and be cometh. Take the Sacrament of Fide­lity to your General and King; (for the Word meant at first the Oath of Soldiers to their Gene­ral.) You know who it is has said, and sworn by Himself, "Unto Me every Knee shall bow, and every Tongue shall swear! Surely shall one say, In the LORD have I Righteousness and Strength! to Him shall Men come, and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed; in the LORD shall all the Seed of Israel be justified and shall glory. Isa. xlv. 23, 24, 25.

In this Address to You, my Fellow-Soldiers in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ ^†, I am perswaded you will think I act as becomes my Age ^‖. What else were worthy of your Souls and mine! Or were any of our deceased Fathers ^* to return and speak to You to Day, what else would They think worth saying to you! They that have finish'd the War, and see the Face of the Lamb, and know the Price of Souls, and of his Blood!—But Wo to all his Enemies both now [Page 21] and another Day! whom do they fight against, and whom do they defy! under what Ensign do they war, and whose Cause do they Support? you read—"The Dragon fought and his Angels! He is your Captain and your King, if you fight a­gainst Christ. But he can never prevail, tho' the Kings of the Earth should confederate with him, and the Rulers take Counsel together, against the Lord and his Anointed, saying, (Psal. ii. 3, 4, 5) "Let us break their Bands asunder, and cast away their Cords from us! He that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in Derision! He shall speak to them in his Wrath, and vex 'em in his sore Displeasure!—I have set my King upon my holy Hill of Sion! "Thou art my SON, this Day have I begotten thee! Ask of me, and I will give Thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance, and the uttermost Parts of the Earth for thy Possession.

It must be own'd, with Shame and Sorrow, that little of Religion, but Abundance of Impiety, is found among the Men of Arms, by Land or Sea, in Camps or Navies: The SAVIOUR and his Blood is blas­phemed outrageously! Yet such vile Arms have been often us'd by the King of the Church for its Defence and Service; for He makes even De­vils to serve Him. And no wonder then to find Armies given up in the Great Day of the Lord for a Prey to Satan, or cast with Devils into the Lake of Fire and Brimstone: Rev. vi. 12, &c. ‘And I be­held when he had opened Sixth Seal, and—the Sun became black as Sackcloth of Hair, and the Moon became as Blood, and the Heaven departed as a Scrowl, when it is rolled toge­ther.—And the Kings of the Earth, and the great Men, and the rich Men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty Men, and every bond­man [Page 22] man and every free-man, hid themselves in the Dens and in the Rocks of the Mountains; and said to the Mountains and Rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the Face of Him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb! for the great Day of his Wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?’

And now Christians, whose Soldiers will you be! chuse you this Day and come, subscribe ^‖ with your Hand to the LORD; ‘Thine are we David, and on thy Side thou Son of Jesse! Peace, Peace be to all thy Helpers!—Gird thy Sword upon thy Thigh, O most Mighty, with thy Glory and thy Majesty; and in thy Majesty ride prosperously, be­cause of Truth and Meekness and Righteousness; and thy Right Hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine Arrows are sharp in the Heart of the Kings Enemies, (to terrify, convert or slay) either way the People fall under Thee: Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever; the Sceptre of thy Kingdom is a right Sceptre.—The Lord shall send the Rod of thy Strength out of Zion; rule Thou in the midst of thy Enemies! thy People shall be willing in the Day of thy Power, in the Beauties of Holiness, from the Womb of the Morning (from the Day of Pentecost, the Dawning of the Gospel) Thou hast the Dew of thy Youth; thy early Converts, nume­rous as the Dew, and gently softned by the de­scending Doctrines of a Saviour, as Showers upon the Grass.’

Gentlemen in Arms, Let this be your first Character, that You are of this blessed Company and Number: [Page 23] Christ has called You to be his Soldiers, like the trained Family of Abraham ^†, whose Blessing is come upon you by Faith, who also saw Christ's Day and was glad. The Heroic Patriarch at the Head of his small victorious Host, paid his grateful Tythes to this King of Glory, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in Battle, the King and Priest of the Most High God; and He blessed Abraham in that High Name. The King of Salem, the Prince of Peace, brought forth Bread and Wine to the va­liant Father of the Faithful, and blessed the most High God who had delivered his Enemies into his Hand. Just so, the LORD your Banner displays Himself, his Grace and Benefits to You and to all of us, in his Gospel-Feast; to whom You have there lift up your Hands, with your Hearts, that the King of Glory might come in. If You, my Brethren, in your Places, and under your Colours, are faithful to Christ, your King and Country, You also shall be blessed of the Most High God.

Your Earthly Captain General ^* is here present to go before You. And I doubt not but He will gladly lead You toward a better World. I am persuaded He has chosen the LORD to serve Him in the Way of these Churches; and that many of You also have given your Hearts with your Names to Christ^‖. May you all be found Chosen and Called and Faithful. Such are They that truly war un­der the LAMB, who is the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. Rev. xvii. 14.

[Page 24] Your Fathers had the Honour to be enrolled Sol­diers on the Lord's Side ^*. They had a sure Prospect of enduring Hardship for His Truths and Ways. Like Peter they walk'd to Him on the Sea, and their Feet did not sink. To Perils by Water suc­ceeded new Dangers and Fatigues on Shore. A wild Desert, and many barbarous Salvages, was to be subdued by their Arms. Their Zeal for Christ, whose Cause they had at Heart, animated them for the Labour and Encounter. After the man­ner of Christian Men they fought here with Beasts ^‖, in Hope of a better World, the Heavenly. They trusted in God, and from Time to Time had the Evidences of his Presence with them. "They got not the Land in Possession by their own Sword, neither did their own Arm save them; but thy right Hand and thy Arm, O LORD, and the Light of thy Counte­nance, because Thou hadst a Favour unto them. What got they in Temporals for themselves? or rather what Loss for Christs sake did they not suffer? leaving all to follow Him! but for spiritual and eternal Gains.—What have they not left to us their Children? a most pleasant and goodly Heritage on temporal Accounts, as we must acknowledge who have seen other (and the better) Parts of the World: But above all, they sought for us, and have bequeath'd unto us, "the Heritage of those that fear Gods Name! Purity of Worship and Liberty of Conscience; a valuable Portion, for the Purchase whereof they counted no Travel or Expence too much: That Kingdom of God, which is not Meat [Page 25] and Drink, but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost God gave 'em the Heritage of the Hea­then, and Meat, being ever mindful of his Covenant, and shewed them the Power of his Works; which are all Verity and Judgment, all his Commandments are sure.

God gave 'em Valour and Conduct; for Wis­dom and Strength are His. He said, and spake ef­fectually unto them, as He had done to Joshua when he was entring Canaan, "Only be thou strong and very couragious, to observe to do according to all my Law. Josh. i. 7. They were inspired accor­dingly to act a brave and Christian Part, for the Law of their God and the saving Good of their Posterity.

Religion and Learning, Churches and Schools were their first Care; and for these they laid a wise and strong Foundation, while they might seem but weak and feeble for it, to propagate a well instructed and a godly Seed. They proposed nobly and great, and projected wisely the surest Means, beginning humbly and creeping alone in their Infant-State.

Only in respect of Arms they commeno'd Men at once; sought their own and the Natives Peace, did all they could to teach and win and save 'em: But when Hatred was return'd for their Love and Enmity for their offer'd Friendship, they resolutely defended themselves, and pursu'd their Invaders. God sent his Fear before them, and one as it were chas'd a Thousand. The Plague also had made Room for them, and set 'em in a large Place. This Settlement on religious Principles and Motives prosper'd, while others on worldly Motives failed. [Page 26] Our Founders died in Faith, and dead call us to Prudence, Meekness, Devotion, Courage & Love.

They pray'd and wro't and sought; plow'd and built, with their Guns and Swords by their Side, like Nehemiah and the Remnant in his Day. How ardent were they on their Sabbaths, how diligent and frugal all the Week long. Only their Train­ing-days, and Days for Electing their Civil Rulers, were those of their Show and Pride. Then they took State upon 'em, and made an Appearance; to express their Thankfulness to God their Trust, and to inspire their Sons with Reverence of God and Go­vernment, and with a Zeal to maintain and preserve what They had so worthily acquir'd for them, by the Blessing of God. Just as Moses and Joshua did, for their Learning, in the Minority of Israel.

ORDER was their Aim. This was sacred to 'em, as it is thro' the Creation of God. A just Rule and Liberty they sought, in State, in Church, in Families and Schools. They put great Honour on their Of­ficers, who were ambitious to deserve their Titles and command Respect. A Corporal look'd as great as a Captain now, and set more by his Office, being much set by. This was not Vanity but true Wisdom; for by their looking great, and acting so, we soon grew great among the Provinces. Go­vernours shone with their hundred a Year, and none durst despise them. The Majors were then Colonels, and the Captains were more than Roman Centurions, without any of their Usurpation or Ostentation.

See your Original, our present Honoured Com­manders, and write fair after your Copy. Look to the Rock from whence you were digged, and read these things graven on it as with the Point [Page 27] of a Diamond. They are not worn out to this Day, tho' more than a hundred Years past. Remember the Days of old, the Years of ancient Times, when the Most High divided to You your present In­heritances and Honours.

This Day is your Jubilee, Gentlemen of the Artillery, your second Jubilee; for You are a hun­dred Years old. Where is your Jubilee-Trumpet, the Thunder of the Captains and the Shouting! "GOD is gone up with a Shout (the LORD GOD of your Fathers) sing Praises to Him, sing Praises; and do it with Understanding: [...] Shields of the Earth belong to God, He is greatly exalted.

You tell me that your compleat Age this Day has partly led you to apply to me. I would not damp your Joy of coming at Age, by looking back with Tears, as the Fathers at Jerusalem, did on our first Love, Virtue and Fortitude. We are risen up in our Fathers stead an Inferiour Generation, ex­cept in Numbers, or at least in Proportion to our Numbers, as in respect of Religion, so also of Arms.

Our Scarlet annd Crimson ^* can boast no proved [Page 28] Valour ^‖ equal to their hardy Buff. Our Children it may be would be frighted to see the Dress and Aspect of one of their Great Grandfathers on such a Day as this. They put on Courage and it clothed them, and they took on 'em an Authority, which together with their Righteousness was their Crown and Diadem. The Captains aw'd their Families and Neighbours ^† by their Gravity and Piety, as [Page 29] well as frighted their Enemies by their Boldness and Fierceness. The Natives trembled when they law them train, and old as well as young stood still and reverenc'd 'em, as they pass'd along in Martial Order. A valiant Church ^* could jump down a kind of Precipice, amidst a Score or two of Counsellors & Attendants about their Sachem, me­ditating War upon us, and take him away, to an­swer to our Governour. Fuit, fuit ista quondam in hac Republica Virtus, ut Viri fortes—.

And very precious is the Promise in the Book of God. "Instead of the Fathers shall be the Children, whom thou mayest make Princes in all the Earth. Psal. xlv. 16. I thank God that we have seen, and still see, many of the Sons of New-England shining in the Virtues, filling well the Places, and adorning the Names of their Ancestors.

Such was our late Honourable Agent QUINCY, at the Head of his Regiment; in his Seat at the Council Board, and on the Bench of Judgment. Gentlemen of the Artillery, You will give me leave to mourn before you the lamented Death of such a Captain. He was an Honour to his Commission, lov'd and fear'd by all under him.—We read o the Meekness of Wisdom; This he had, and also the Mildness of Courage. May our Country ever be blessed with Men of like Modesty, Constancy and Fortitude. All he did was from Conscience toward God, and in his Fear. Had he lived in the Days of our Fathers, I truly think he would have been esteem'd a very perfect Pattern by them. There was a Treasure of Piety, Prudence and Integrity [Page 30] in that Earthen Vessel; and such Men should be priz'd while they live, and mourn'd when they die; as no small Part of the peculiar Treasure of the Provinces.

The Residue of the Spirit is with GOD; and down to our Days he takes of the Spirit that was on Moses, and puts it on Rulers here and there; and also Joshua's Spirit on Commanders in Chief and Subordinate. God has many a David in store for his Church, in Times long to come, to serve their own Generation, after his own Heart, in Inte­grity and Uprightness: And then how easy is it for 'em to fall asleep, and be gathered to their Fathers? Acts xiii. 36.

But should an Angel of the Lord now appear to such a One yet alive among us, finding him we will suppose in his Threshing-floor or by his Cyder­press ^‖ and salute him, saying, "The LORD is with thee, thou Man of Valour! would he not be ready to answer in Gideon's Words, "O my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is it thus? why are Things with us as they are? and where be all the Tokens of his Presence among us, as in the Days of our Fathers? what is become of that ge­nerous noble public Spirit of Piety and Prudence, Gravity and Authority, Courage and Command,^† Subjection and Obedience, Reverence of God and Go­vernment, Temperance and Frugality, Godliness and Honesty, which our Fathers were famous for?—The LORD look on every One disposed to speak after this Manner, and say unto Them chat [Page 31] spiriting Word, Judges vi. 14. Go thou, in this thy Might, and help to save my People out of their present Weakness and Feebleness, Folly and Impo­verishment, the Poverty that is come upon them as an armed Men.

Do we a [...]k what has bro't on us this Want, as one that [...]? Prov. vi. 11, It is easy to an­swer,—Our Wordliness, and Pride, Sensuality, Vain glory, Fl [...]ries and profuse Expence in Dress and Furniture; which have naturally led into Unrighteousness and Dishonesty: These have bro't us low, and will bring us lower it not amen­ded, and lay our Honour in the Dust.

Neither the Christian, nor the Roman Spirit can subsist long under our profuse Expences, in the Furniture of our Houses, the rich Dresses of our Families, our Silks and China and empty Pockets^‖. [Page 32] Within another Century, our present Way conti­nuing, to what are our Numbers like to be re­duced? as those in our Books to a Multitude of Noughts, which we call so many hundreds and thou­sands; so the Numbers of our People to a Multi­tude of Debtors and Starvelings, the Property of Them who now feed our insatiable Vanity, to whom we are selling our Families as fast as we can for a little Dress.

Where then is our Courage, or rather where our Shame! can we bear this? then fold up your En­sign, and hush your Drum, put off your Scarlet, and lay down your Arms; and let me leave the Desk, with that first of Lamentations over Judah, when she had destroy'd her self; "She that was Princess among the Provinces, how is she become tri­butary?

But let us recover our Arms? CHRIST our King and Captain lives! Of Him it is testified, that He liveth. He can humble and reform us; respirit, revive and restore us. Of his Fulness we may re­ceive, and Grace for Grace. Whatsoever we ask of the Father in his Name, He will do it. One Day is with Him as a thousand Years, and a thousand [Page 33] Years as one Day, Our Centuries pass quick, and how Sovereign is the Rise and Fall of Families, Cities, Provinces and Kingdoms in every Cen­tury almost! but Thou art the same, and thy Years shall not fail. Heb. i. 12.

One Generation goes and another comes, but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever; the same to e­very Generation. This Word which by the Gos­pel is preached to us, was also to our Fathers, and received by Them with Love, Fear and Reve­rence. The LORD has commanded it to a thou­sand Generations. We will not hide it from our Children, but show to the Generations to come the Praises of the Lord and his Strength.

Know therefore, that the Lord thy God, He is GOD; the faithful God, which keepeth Covenant and Mercy with them that love Him, to a thousand Generations; and repayeth them that hate Him to their Face, to destroy them. He is the Lord our God, his Judgments are in all the Earth. Seek the Lord and his Strength, seek his Face evermore; glory ye in his holy Name. Return unto Me, saith the Lord, and I will return unto you. Let our Souls answer, with the lamenting Church, "Turn thou us and we shall be turned; renew our Days as of old. Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy People may rejoice in Thee! shew us thy Mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy Salvation.

If CHRIST in the Cloud of Glory will cover our Camp, and dwell in our Churches, we shall yet be safe and flourishing. But else in vain is Salvation hoped for from the Hills & Mountains. Worthy is the LAMB to receive Power and Riches, and Wis­dom and Strength, and Honour and Glory & Blessing! JESUS has sent his Angel to testify of Him in his Churches; HE is the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright and Morning Star.