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"own safeties, you have undertaken to defend, I am assured, you will find these tronbles at "the last, not ordained for your ruine, but for your praise and eternal glory. We know by " infinite examples of all ages, how many sieges have been withstood and rendred vain, by " a few, though the besiegers were very numerous. Constant worth, and a noble resolution "of undaunted mind being sufficient to stave off great dangers. But as for such, whom God "hath taken into His particular custody, no powers of man hath been able to prejudice them; "nay, nature's self, the very Heavens and Elements have been subservient to them. The "waters stood still, and made a safe passage to the Jewes, through the midst of the sea; the "most scorched grounds afforded them fountains of clear water, to refresh them withall, and " the Heavens gave them Manna, a miraculous food, to nourish them. We are to hope for "these, or the like assistances, fi "om the hand of God, for SELINO OTT AHA Κ is a no lesse " wicked and cruell persecutor of the faithfnil, than was that antient PHARAOH. Noi1 are we " Christians, who are bought with the blood of His Sou, lesse dear to God, or lesse beloved by " Him, than any others have formerly been, of which future miracle we have an evident late " example, which may perswade ns to believe we may share of. Do yon know in what "condition the Island of Malta was, this time five years? begirt by so long and so sore "a siege, oppugned by so many sonldiers, defended by so lew, void of all hopes of help, and "in all sorts of wants and necessities. Yet the defendants, no whit lessening their valour nor " loyalty, for whatsoever adverse fortune, the Barbarians power was rendred vain and uselesse, "and they were laught at, for their over-daring attempt. And that the power of divine "providence might the more appear, the Fort, when reduced to the last extremity, was freed "from the siege by the enemy, before it was relieved by friends. Yon are to imitate those "stout and valiant men, by exposing your selves willingly to all the labours and dangers of "war, nay yon mnst exceed them: for those knights, being forraiuers, of severall nations, "fought for religion, and glory; you do not ouely defend these, bnt also your wives,children, "aud estates; so as all things, both human and divine, invite you to shew invincible valour; "and that the more readily and boldly, as that yon being free men, and generous, are to "fight against slaves, base aud unarmed people, wont to overcome more by their numbers, "than their valour. Which advantage they at the present want, this City being defended " by streng walls, and by so many great guns, as this alone will be sufficient to repulse the "enemy, who if they shall dare to assanlt us, you are sure of the victory, if you can but "withstand their first brunt. For it cannot be long ere the succour come, which you have "heard our common wealth is sending ns, with a powerfull Fleet, which will never refuse to "expose all her forces readily, for the preservation of this kingdom, which she esteems, as " a noble member of her state, and loves so well. These humane provisions being of them-11 selves sufficient to deliver us, will, through yonr prayers, faith, and firm resolution to forego "your sins, make yon invincible; when your sins being punished more by fear then pain, "yon shall have time and reason, to honour and praise the All-glorious God, Who shewing " you only the face of His anger, in the fury of this barbarous OTTAMAN, will have provided "for your souls health, and for your atchieving of heavenly blessings, together with the "preservation of JOUI* lives, country, and estates; to the end that you may use all these "hereafter, to His glory, Who is the true and liberali Lord, and the free giver of all grace." The whole auditory seemed much affected by these words, so as they cheerfully comforted one another; and preparing couragiously to defend themselves, they betook themselves solicitously to all military actions, to secure their parapets, to bestow their companies in places of greatest danger, and to guard their bui works carefully. The danger encreased daily, as the enemy drew nearer; for the Turks wanting neither for diligence nor industry, 102 EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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