tah, though thou be little among the thoufands of Judah (in Comparison of those Cities that have Rulers of Thousands belonging to them) yet out of thee, he shall come forth unto me, that is to be Ruler in Ifrael; whofe goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. So exactly was almost every minute Circumstance relating to the SAVIOUR of Mankind, delineated and foretold by thofe divinely inspired Writers, who liv'd fo many hundred Years before he came into the World.

CHA P. IX.

SECT. I. MILITARY Affairs. Havings hitherto treated of the reli

gious and civil Affairs of those People who are the Hiftorical Subject of the facred Writings, it is reasonable, in like manner, that we fhould trace out fuch Memoirs as are left us of their military Conftitution. In relation to which, the Directions given them by God himself are these which follow,

When

Deut.

XX. I.

When thou goeft out to battle against thine enemies, and feeft horfes and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them; for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And it fall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the Prieft fhall approach and Speak unto the people; and shall say unto them; Hear, O Ifrael! You approach this day unto battle against your enemies; let not your hearts be faint; fear not, and do not tremble; neither be ye terrified because of them: For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to fave you.

"

What noble Spirits, and what an invincible Ardor muft fuch an Exhortation as this infufe into the Hearts of those who were thoroughly prepar'd to receive it, from the Obfervations they must have made of God's providential and protecting Mercies, fo continually attending them! Such a rational, well-grounded Fortitude is indeed infeparable from every true Believer. Whereas thofe, who are not convinc'd of the Truth of a prefent divine Revelation, and a future State of Rewards and Punish

要

ments;

ments; though they may, in Trials of the greatest Danger, appear as high-mettled as the Horse that rusheth into the Battle, cannot, at the fame Time, be fuppos'd to be animated by any more than a brutal Courage. But to proceed.

That we may see what Tenderness was us'd in relation to thofe who were oblig'd to ferve in the Wars; and that none were forc'd, or even decoy'd away from their Families or their domeftick Concerns, in a tyrannical unreasonable Manner; it is further directed thus. And the officers shall Deut.] Speak unto the people, faying; What man is xx. 5. there that hath built a new house, and bath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his houfe, left he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him alfo go and return unto his boufe, left he die in the battle, and another man eat of it. And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his boufe, left he die in battle, and another man take her.

Nay

Deut. xx. 8.

Nay further, if any one fhould have happen'd to be, so vile a Creature, as to want the rational Courage and Confidence in God before-mention'd, it was thought his Company might prove infectious to his Fellow-Soldiers; and therefore, if he would acknowledge himself to be fo execrable a Wretch, he was immediately discharg'd from the Service. And the officers Shall Speak further unto the people, and they fhall Jay, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto bis boufe, left his brethren's heart faint, as well as his heart.

When these Proclamations were made, and every thing was fettled accordingly, then these regulating Officers beforemention'd, (who were either Commiffaries, whose Business it was to mufter and enroll the Men, or those who acted, in a civil Capacity, as Rulers of Thoufands, &c.) proceeded to appoint the

Officers of the And it fhall be XX. 9. when the officers have made an end of Speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.

Deut. Army, properly fo call'd.

Then

XX. 10,

Then follow Inftructions relating to their Conduct before they began any Attack, and to the Treatment of thofe of their Enemies that should be conquer'd by them. When thou comeft nigh unto a city Deut. to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it fhall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be that all the people that is found therein, fhall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall Jerve thee. And, if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt befiege it. And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt fmite every male thereof with the edge of the fword. But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof fhalt thou take unto thy felf; and thou fhalt eat the fpoil of thine enemies which the LORD thy God hath given thee. This was to be the Rule for their Conduct in regard to thofe who did not inhabit the Land of Canaan, and might fome time or other fhew themselves to be their Enemies. Thus fhalt thou do unto all the Deut. cities which are very far off from thee, xx. 15,