Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.
Ver. 12. Be of good courage, and let us play the men.] A brave speech, and such as than which a better could not have been uttered by any captain, saith Pellican. a That of Hunniades to his soldiers, when ready to join battle with the Turks, b is a very good one. Of them both it may be well said, as one did once of Julius Caesar, Si acta eius penitus ignorasses, per linguam tamen militem esse diceres; Had you never heard of their acts, yet you might have known them to have been good soldiers by their very speeches.
And the Lord do that which seemeth him good.] Det victoriam cui volet. Let him dispose of the victory as he pleaseth; but let us not be wanting in good courage, whose cause is so good. It is an excellent saying of Demosthenes, the Greek orator, Dει μεν τους αγαθους ανδρας, &c. It behoveth good men to make good attempts, and therein to hope the best, but to bear valiantly what event soever God shall order them.
a Non potest vox duce dignior cogitari.
b Turk. Hist., fol. 272.