Boardman, Benjamin, 1731-1802. Sermons, 1769-1797. The Gallant Joab animating his Army in the Defence of the People and Cities of God. bMS 730/1 (2), Andover-Harvard Theological Library, Harvard Divinity School.

J 2.Saml [Samuel]{Be of good Courage, and let us play {the Men for our People, and for 10:12 {the Cities of our God: and the Lord _______ {do that which seemeth him good. [flourish] In this Chapt [Chapter] we have an account of a peculiar War David had with the Ammonites, & Assyrians; & the Conquest he obtained over them. - The [?] of this War was somewhat singular; Nahash, King of the Amonites being dead; his son Hanun reigned in his Stead. Soon upon Hanun's ariving to the Throne David remembering some former Kindness, that his Father Nahash had shewn him, resolves to return the kindness to his Son. Accordingly he sends a Number of honourable Servts [Servants] to Hanun to console his Fathers Death, & to comfort him. But very unhappy for Hanun, he had a number of evil Minded Persons as his Counsellers & Ministers of State, who falsely suggested to him that David was not cordial, nor friendly to him in this thing; and they suggested to his Majesty that King David had rather sent his Servts [Servants] to search the City, to spy it out, & to overthrow it. And having persuaded King Hanun of this; he takes Davids Ambassadors and treats them with the utmost Indignity & Reproach. He shaves off the one Half of their beards & cut off their Garments to their Buttocks & sent them away. - This Conduct of Hanun made the Amonites stink in the Sight of David; whence we may see how very unhappy it is for a King to have evil Counsellors, and how wretched it soon makes him & his people

to hearken to their [evil?] [?]. This hurried on a war [?] speedily ; and the Amonites hired Assyrians to join them & carry on a war against David ; and [we?] find them very busy in this Matter, while David & Israel were still, & quiet, Amnon went & hired the Syrians of Beth Rehob ; & the Syrians of Zoba, 20,000 footmen, & of King Maacah a 1.000 Men ; & of Ishtob 12,000 Men ; & prepared for war against Israel ; and all this was done by their Craft, Instigation & Subtility of [Honoured ?] Counsellers, and without any just Provocation from David or the People of Israel. But when David heard of it, finding himself under a necessity to make ready for a just Defence, He directly commissions the Gallant Joab to go forth with an Host of Mighty Men in the De-fence of their Country's Cause against the Ammonites ; and Joab as a faithful Man undertakes, & con-ducts the whole affair, with Valour & Bravery. And what noble Motives, & godlike sentiments fired his Breast, and pushed him forward for the Defence of Israel, & the [?] of God ! And how did he animate his Brother Abishai, and the whole Army with these invincible sentiments ; directing their Minds to the publik welfare & safety of the People ; in [which ?] the Glory of God was deeply Interested, and their Religion at stake. Be of good Courage, says he, as in the Text, & let us play the Men, for what ? for Money ? for Honors ? for Preferment ? No, But for our People, & for these Cities of our God. [Mr?] Henry [Notes?] : That [God?] & our Country was the word. Let us be Valiant from a Principle fo Love to

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Israel, {that} are our People, descended from {the} same stock, in whose Peace we shall have Peace: & from a Principle of Love to G, for {they} are his Cities {that} we are fighting in {the} Defence of." - It may have be noted {that} {the} Amonites were first in Injuring Israel, & {they} were first in raising forces to defend & justify {them}selves in it. It ergo became a Duty for Israel to defend {their} People, {the} [chh's] of {God}; {their} Religion, {their} precious & valuable Constitution, {their} Lives, Families, {their} Children, {their} Estates, {their} Property, {their} All. - And viewing {their} Cause as just, {they} resolved to defend it, at All Events, Sword in Hand, to {the} utmost of {their} Ability; and in {the} Way of Duty, piously to [leave?] {the} Event with God: The Lord do {that} {which} seemeth him Good. - From all {which} we may gather this general Truth: Viz. That {the} Case may be so circumstanced with a People; as to be an incumbent Duty for {them} to rise up, and Unite in {the} Defence of {their} Country, & Religion, Sword in Hand, trusting in {God} to succeed & prosper {them}. Here Note a few Things. As I. When {the} Case may call a People to such a Defence as is here spoken of. II. The Principles & Motives {that} should engage {them} in such an Alarming Duty III. How {God} is to be relied on, for success, or the Manner of leaving {the} Issue, & Event with {God}.

(4) Be of good Courage, & let us play {the} Men for our People & for {the} Cities of our {God}: & {the} Lord do {that} {which} seemeth him Good. I. Then consider when it becomes a Duty for a People to rise up & defend {their} Country & Religion Sword in Hand. - And have let it suffice to mention in two Instances only, and {that} somewhat briefly. As - I. When a {Christian} Country is invaded by an Antechristian Nation or Enemy. - This has been the Case repeatedly in this Land; & {the} People of {God} have been called to Arms for {the} Defence of {their} Country, and {the} Lord has wonderfully succeeded {them} in many & repeated woes. - The great {God} has never yet suffered his Heritage in this Land to be laid waste, neither has it been given up to {the} Reproach of its Enemies, tho often attacked by {them}. And when {they} have roared {against} it, with a Blood thirsty fury, and laboured to rase it, to rase it, to {the} very foundation, by executing {their} deep laid Schemes {against} us, yet {the} Lord has evermore given us a Spirit of Valour, and Engagedness to defend these Cities of our {God}; & has always put our foes to shame. War is a calamity to be dreaded by all, & is ever to be viewed as a sore {Judgment} of {Heaven}, yet nevertheless when it cant be avoided by any just Measures, People must cheerfully engage in it, & fight {the} Battles of {the} Lord, defend his {Religion} & {the} Honor of his Name.