The unconquerable, all-conquering, & more-then-conquering souldier, or, The successful warre which a believer wageth with the enemies of his soul as also, the absolute and unparalleld victory that he obtains finally over them through the love of God in Jesus Christ : as it was discussed in a sermon preached at Boston in New-England, on the day of the artillery-election there, June 3d., 1692 / by Urian Oakes ...

Christian Reader,

THat Title of the Book of the Wars of the Lord, Numb. 21. 14 may truly be ascribed to that best of Books, the holy Scripture, wherein accordingly after a short account in the first leaf thereof; of the fi∣nishing of the Heavens, and the Earth, and all the Host of them, the Lord of Hosts do•…•…h presently acquaint us with the enmity put between the seed of the Woman, and the seed of the Serpent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 3. 15. whereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is bid, and which Word of the Lord, hath, in a sense, g•…•…ven being 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Battels that have been fought in the World, for more then 5000 years, even from the beginning thereof unto this day; and whence it is also, that this Earth shall be the continued Field and Stage of War▪ •…•…ill the last day; witness the close of this bloody Scene, in the Scriptures last prediction of the great; Pitcht, Fa∣tal and Final Battel between the same Serpent, the Dragon and his Seed, in the Book of the Revelation; The upshot whereof will be the last and ama∣zing opening, and so the eternal shutting of Heaven and Hell, filled with the Combatants respectively, for the receiving their Arrears therein. The day of Iudgement, doubtless, will be the day of publishing (and by sound of the left Trumpet) the compleatest History of the whole fight from first to last; in the interim the Lord General hath his many Heraulds at Arms, to denounce his Wars, and so proclaim also his Peace to the World, both by Word of Mouth (as by sound of Trumpet, Isai. 58. 1.) and by Writing also, of some of whom espe∣cially it may be said, as sometime of Lucan, viz ut praelia videatur non canere, sed committere, & tonare Classicum, eodem{que} ardore arma scribe•…•…t, quo Caesar tractavit, they have not shunned to deliver the whole Counsel of God, and that in the demonstration of the Spirit, and with Power; And blessed be the Lord for all the Alarms, Lectures of War, Instructions and Hortatory Speeches given from the Captain of our Salvation by any of his Commission Officers, for the doubling and fortifying our spiritual Watch. Israel un∣der the Law needed the Priests of the Lord (in order to their 〈…〉〈…〉 to found the silver Trumpets, Numb. 10. 2, 9. that so blowing an•…•… A•…•… that H•…•…

Camp might be remembred before the Lord their God, and saved from their Enemies: and the whole life of every Christian, being that of a Man of War, hence what may tend to aceomplish him in his Heavenly Military skill, and encourage him in his spiritual conflict wherein that Cry is still heard (as Exod. 32. 26.) Who is on the Lords side? yea, wherein the E•…•…igent is such, that he must either Fight or Dye, and that the consequence is for no less then Eternity, must needs be welcome to him, and so, without question, will be this following VVatch-word and Exhortation, delivered to the principal Artillery Company of this Land, at whose request it was first published to the Ear and Heart of the Hearer, and is now (after not a little importunity) to the Eye also of the Reader, from one of our Leaders (Heb. 13. 17. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) under the Chief Leader (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Heb. 2. 10.) Iesus Christ who is given for'•…•… Leader and Commander to the People, Isai. 55. 4. this discourse being to ani∣mate each one thereof, as a good Souldier of Iesus Christ to endure hardness; giving us sure intelligence of the happy success of this Divine Militia, the bles∣sedness of every faithful VVarrier, in being more then a Conquerer: and though he may seem to be worsted in this or that Battel, yet as to the whole war, that he shall be, yea, in the language of Truth, that he is an Overcomer, and above an Overcomer. A Christians victory is indeed like to that of his chief Commander Iesus Christ, Col. 2. 14, 15. and through that Blood, and infinite Grace, very strange and mysterious; he is overcoming, when i•…•… appea∣rance overcome, and triumphing, when to the view of others he is a crucisied Captivs: as dying and behold we live! 2 Cor. 6. 9. A Paradox, and incre∣dible in other Combats; and yet the wonder seems not so great that he should gain such a Victory over all his Enemies of this World, when we consider him as one that hath (with Reverence be it spoken) conquered the Lord himself, as is said of Iacob, whom the Lord Dubbed with the Name of Israel, Gen. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 20. because as a Prince he had power with God, and had prevailed, whence also that strange word from the Lord himself, Cant. 6. 5. turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me; thus do they sometimes come forth, e•…•…arend, from the dust, Isai. 52. 2. and from their wrestling places of Prayer, as Luther did with those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Faith, vicimus! vicimus! and surely •…•…uch as one may glory in, the Lord, and through him humbly boast even as soon as he hath put on his spiritual Harness, because he is here well assured, by the promise, of the victory, before he sometimes strikes a stroak; and for which cause partly he may be said to be more then a Conquerer.

Every Victory was not celebrated with a Triumph; to be triumphant is •…•…orc ore then to be victorious. There were, and are the Battels, wherein eve•…•…

the victor hath no c•…•…use so much as to rejoyce: of which sort •…•…e may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 those, of them (who being not only visibly listed under the B•…•…er of Jesus Christ, but have Christ in them, the hope of Glory, yet) by whose Divisions and fidings, and warrings one against the other, through the hour and po∣wer of darkness, and temptation prevailing, the truth and peace is lost: these are Bella nullos habitura triumphos: and O that a most serious and wise con∣sideration of their common danger from the Gates of Hell, and the necessity of that Brotherly union to which the Lord hath entailed the blessing, by way of command, even life for evermore, might •…•…ause a retreat to it, in all quarters of the spiritual Camp sounded, from those hazardous and w•…•…ful pursuits! shall the Sword devour for ever? will it not be bitterness in the latter end? how will the uncircumeised rejoyce?

The most Warlike Christian Souldier will see, one day, that he had not any Mi∣litary skill, strength, courage or weapon to spare, wherewith to sight against Christ, in waging any unbrotherly War against any of the called, thosen and faithful followers of that Lamb. As for those of Christs Enemies, sinful self, the Devil, and this evil World (all Antichristianism) fight agains•…•… them we should, and not spare them; the severe•…•… encounters cannot be too sharp; no quarter must either be given or taken here for ever. The Enemy is discovered, and those Stratagems of Faith in the Blood of Christ proposed by the Reverend Author of the following Sermon (whose praise is in the Gates) as that, b•…•… our right taking the Word, not only victory may be gained, but what is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 transeendent. Thou hast here (by one of the Lords Auxiliaries, expert in warring the warfare of the service of the Congregation (for such will the service of the Ministry be found, Numb. 8. 24, 25.) sent else from asar, upon the relief to us, and in such a day) graphically represented to thy view the Church even Triumphant here on Earth, more then conquering while it is in in•…•…ate Militant. And though their ancient Triumphs were appointed for the General of the Army, not for the common Souldiers, yet in this Spiritu•…•… War, the meanest of Christs followers shall Triumph with him, and divide the Spoils; an earnest and specimen whereof they that are sincere are not seldome acquainted with in this life; whence there are erected in heart and life, Trophies of the lesser victories gained, and all to the Glory of him, in whom when they are weak they are strong, through the power of his might, and may conclude before hand that they are more then Conquerers, and shall abide s•…•… superlatively for ever; roceiving those dona militaria which are to •…•…e distribute•…•… to all such as are faithful unto death: I will give thee (saith the Lord Rev. 2. •…•…0) the Crown of life: There is the corona triumphalis, not for Paul only, a primi∣pilar

Champion, But 2 Tim. 4. 7, 8. which shall be given by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iudge, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them also (even to all them that fight the good fight, finish their course, and keep the faith: and) that love his appearing; and that be would so come quickly (O come quickly) is the Prayer of

The least of thy Fellow Souldiers, desirous to serve under the Royal Standard of the Lord Jesus, Thomas Shepard.