that did so long pride themselves in the justice of their Quarrels, as the Romans did. The Romans, saith Polybius, took very great care not to begin a war with their Neighbours; and would have all men believe that they never made war but to repel Injuries. This Dion testifies in that notable comparison he makes between the Romans, and Philip of Macedon, and Antiochus. And elsewhere he tells us, That the Romans took special care that their Wars should be just, nor did they ever decree a War rashly, or without just cause. In the same sence doth Aelian call the Causes of War, the beginnings of War: And Diodorus discoursing of the war between the Lacedemonians and the Aelians, makes the pretences and the be∣ginnings of the War to be the same. These justifying Causes of War are the proper Ar∣gument of our present discourse, whereunto that of Coriolanus in Halicarnassensis is perti∣nent, Let your first and principal care be, that the ground of all your Wars be pious and just. So is that likewise of Demosthenes, As in the building of houses, Ships, and such like, the Foundation or Ground-work should be firm and lasting, (otherwise the Superstructures will soon de∣cay and totter:) So in all our Enterprizes, Justice and Truth should lay (as it were) the first stone, if we expect that the success should be honourable. No less pertinent to this purpose is that also of Dion Cassius, In all our Wars let our chief regard be to Justice; for if she lead up the Van, true valour may bid fair for the victory: But if she be wanting, though our first at∣tempts flatter us, yet will the end prove inglorious. And that also of Cicero, Those wars are unjust that are undertaken without cause. And therefore in another place he sharply reproves Cassius for passing with his Army over Euphrates, when there was no just cause of War given, which holds true no less in publick wars than it doth in private. Hence ariseth that complaint of Seneca, Do we restrain Homicides, and punish Murderers, and yet esteem the depopulation of whole Nations glorious? Covetousness and Cruelty know no moderation, Com∣missions are every day sent out by the Senate and People to execute Acts of Cruelty, and what we privately forbid, we publickly commend. Homicidium cum admittant singuli, crimen est; virtus vo∣catur, cum publice geritur; When a private man commits a murder he is punished as a Crimi∣nal, but when thousands are publickly taken away and destroyed, it is instantly canonized for vir∣tue and valour. It is true indeed, That War being undertaken by publick Authority, like the definitive Sentence of a Judge, hath some effects of R••ght (whereof more anon:) But yet are they not altogether blameless, unless there be a just cause to warrant it. Thus was Alexander for invading the Persians and other Nations without cause given, deserv∣edly censured by the Scythians in Curtius, and elsewhere by Seneca, for a Robber, and by Lucan for a Thief, by the wise men of India as a Scourge to all Nations, and the common pest of mankind; and before that by a Pirate, for the greater Pirate of the two. So Justin speaking of his Father Philip, saith, That two Kings of Thrace were thrust out, and deprived of their Kingdoms through the fraud and villany of a Thief: Whereunto we may likewise refer that of St. Augustin, Remotâ Justitiâ, quid sunt Regna nisi magna Latro∣cinia; Take away Justice, and what are Kingdoms but great Robberies. With whom accords that of Lactantius, Inanis gloriae specie capti, sceleribus suis virtutis nomen imponunt, Being blinded with self-love and vain glory, they miscal all their vices vertues. Nor was Justin Mar∣tyr much amiss, when he said, What Thieves do in desert places, the very same do such Princes who prefer Opinion before Truth. Now other just causes of making war there can be none, but injuries: So St. Augustin, The wrongs done on the one side, make the war done on the other side just. So also saith the Roman Herald, I do testifie and declare, that such a people are un∣just and have not done us right; thereby intimating, that the people of Rome might justly make war upon them.