and inimicus for the Moral; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and hostis for the military Enemy. Other Opponents are most properly called Adversaries, as a Term of a more comprehensive Latitude, reaching to the general Nature of all sorts of Contention, seri∣ous, or sportive, good, or bad.
Fourthly, We are to examin the importance of Vanquishing, and Victory. For this indeed seems to admit a far greater, and benigner La∣titude of signification, than you in your Reflexi∣on seem to allow. For you seem to apprehend no Victory but in Butcheries, Ruines, and Deso∣lations. Whereas many successful Expeditions, (as that of General Monk) have been victorious without Hurt; since simply, and in general to overcome is no more than to prevail against any Opponents, or Oppositions, whatsoever fort they are of, even where there is no Enmity, as in Games, Wagers, Votes, and Competitions. And there is one sort of Victory more noble than any other, the overcoming Evil with Good, which is God's especial way of vanquishing the Powers of Evil. And even in War those Victories are most noble, where least Hurt is done, and most Mercy shewed; and thereupon the best and most noble Desires of Victory are those, whereby we wish to prevail against our Enemy, if it be possible, without hurting him, or his Party at all, and more than this we are not absolutely to wish, or pray for, even against the greatest Enemies, by the Laws of our most compassionate and ho∣ly Religion, which allows Wars only to be waged against our Will, not with delight and bloody Affectations.
Fifthly, We are to consider against what Ene∣mies it is lawful to pray for even the gentlest Victories. First, then it is not lawful to pray for any Victory against the Innocent, in the Inno∣cency of his Cause; no, tho' when he stan•• 〈…〉〈…〉