Miscellanea philo-theologica, or, God, & man A treatise compendiously describing the nature of God in his attributes, with a lively pourtraiture of his wisedome in ordering, and disposing of the celestiall, and terrestriall bodies. Containing much variety of matter ... and apt applications singular for brevity, and perspicuity. By Henry Church.

[Sect. 4] Fourthly, Questions resolved.

[Quest. 1] WHich is the chiefe hoast of God?

[Answ.] The Angels, these are his royall hoast; one of them in a night slew 185000 men. 1. Kings 19.35. Wisedome and strength are for the warre: and these sol∣diers are admirable for wisedome, 2. Sam. 14.20. and ex∣cellent for strength. Psal. 103.20. God hath of these two myriades: twice ten thousand. Psal. 68.17. Twice tenne thousand thousands. Dan. 7.10. For number they are numberlesse. Heb. 12.22.

[Quest. 2] God is said to be the God of peace: Heb. 13.20. Rom. 16.20. how is he then the Lord of hoasts?

[Answ.] He is the God of peace to his Church, yet the Lord of hoasts for his Church. A Prince may be at peace with his owne subjects, yet at warre with his and their ene∣mies: Hee is the Lord of Hoasts, yet with us, Psalme 46.7.

[Quest. 3] Is warre lawfull, or no?

[Answ.] Yea, it is lawfull; for God directs them concerning warre: Deut. 20. and approved a Stratagem of warre. Iosuah 8.4, 5, 6. compared with verse 18. Abraham re∣scued Lot by warre; and the Judges of Israel saved the people often by war: God is stiled a man of war. Exod. 15.3. Iohn Baptist taught souldiers to cast away their violence, not their weapons: there are the Lords battells, 1. Sam. 18.17. therefore warre is lawfull.

[Quest. 4] How came warres first into the world?

[Answ.] By the fall of Adam corruption came into our hearts, and from mens lusts came warres. Jam. 4.1. Caine was the first builder of Cities: Gen. 4.17. and no doubt the wicked would not onely defend themselves, but offend the godly; and the godly must labour to defend them∣selves from Nimrod and his fellow hunters: and after the flood the sword was put into the hand of the Magi∣strate

to shed the blood of the murtherer: and as he must looke to the Fold within, so he must looke to the Wolfe without, and as a nursing father, preserve his people from forraigne invasion. We ghesse thus warres begunne.

[Quest. 5] What is required of us as we are Christian Souldiers?

[Answ.] 1. That we put on the whole armour of God.

2. That we prepare to be assaulted.

3. That we turne not our backes on Sathan, for there is no armour for the backe.

4. We should be couragious; it is for the Lord, and for our salvation that we fight for.

[Quest. 6] How must I fight with my enemies?

[Answ.] With the flesh and the world I must fight flying. 2. Tim. 2.22. Flie the lusts of youth, 2. Pet. 1.4. flye the corruptions of the world: but with Sathan I must fight with resistance: James 4.7. 1. Pet. 5.8. with both e∣nemies I must fight praying. Ephes. 6.18.

[Quest. 7] What may I learne from this, that a Christian is a sol∣dier?

[Answ.] 1. That our whole life is a warrefare.

2. Idle and delicate persons are no good Christians.

3. We should not be entangled in our affections with earthly contentments.

4. He that flyes at scoffes and reproaches will never fight to blood.

5. Ignorant persons are untrained, and unfit for ser∣vice.

6. We must walke in our places and keepe ranke and order.

7. We must labour for unity, for united forces are strong.

8. We must follow our leader and great Captaine, Je∣sus Christ.