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31 The horse is prepared against the day of battel: but the Lord giueth victorie.
Men make many preparations for the warres, to the end, that by the same, they may compasse their enemies, and obtaine victorie against them, or that if it happen that they be too weake, they may saue themselues. And therefore there is no preparation where∣in man more trusteth, then in the Horse (for a man beeing moun∣ted vppon a light and valiant Horse (as him seemeth) hee may pursue his enemies with more speede, and ouertake them soo∣ner then if hee were on foote: and if hee haue neede to flye, hee shal saue himselfe the better: for this cause, the Scripture making mention of warre, of assault, or of fight, speaketh rather of Horses, * 1.1 then of any other Munitions, blaming and accusing them that trust therein. Wherefore, to the ende wee be not blamed, and accused of vaine confidence, let vs put al the hope of our health, victorie, and deliuerance in the Lorde: as the Scriptures teach vs. And also Solomon nowe admonisheth vs, when hee saieth,
The Horse is prepared for the day of battel. Hee forbid deth not that one should defende himselfe against his enemies, neither to resist them manfully, and to kil and slaie them, if hee cannot o∣therwise discomfite them: but he wil that one haue regarde to the Lorde. And that we knowe that al our preparations, and Muniti∣ons * 1.2 are but vanitie, and serue to no purpose, if God himselfe labour not, defending, deliuering and sauing vs from the violence of our foes. And if we wil feele this aide, let vs not feare men, be they ne∣uer so wel appointed, but let vs feare the Lorde, and cal vppon his name. And as he can wel saue and keepe the faithful, which put their trust in him: so can he easily destroy their foes, as the Scripture wit∣nesseth, whereof the people giue thankes. And thus folowing the promise made to Abraham: and also folowing other promises, hee hath often saued his people, and destroyed their enemies.