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ed, that a society is established in London, on the model of one which was previously formed in America, for the purpose of illuminating the public mind as to the impolicy and criminality of war. And I will not conceal the pleasure I felt on receiving this information: for it is to be conducted with energy and Christian simplicity. I cannot help anticipating the most favourable results. I am not yet sufficiently informed respecting the constitution of this society; but if it be formed on truly philanthropic and evangelical principles, I shall be much pleased to become a member of it.

N.-I am truly astonished, Mr. P. that you should think of enrolling your name among the members of such a society. You do not surely mean to say, that war is unlawful: it has been waged ever since men were formed into societies; good men have engaged in it, and the divine Being has given it his sanction.

this reason, "Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars; thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth, in my sight." 1 Chron. xxii. 8. The divine Being commanded the Israelites to make war upon the Canaanites: but before we can be justified in making war upon our neighbours, it is necessary that we should produce the same authority under which we act. Where is the individual, where the community, that can offer evidence that God sends them forth to destroy and to exterminate. God has an unquestionable right over the lives of his creatures, and he can employ what instruments he pleases to take them away: the famine, the pestilence, the earthquake, and the sword, are equally his servants. The iniquity of the Canaanites was fully ripe, therefore they were to be exterminated. This furnishes no precedent for us in ordinary warfare.

N.-But do you really think that national warfare, as it is conducted by Christian nations, is inconsistent with Christianity? Could you establish the affirmative of this question by satisfactory evidence, I have no doubt but very many who are trained to the profession of arms would immediately abandon it; and that others, who lend to schemes of warfare their advice and support in the senate and cabinet, would use their utmost endea vours to prevent the renewal of hostilities.

P. You will allow me to express equal surprise, that you should plead for the lawfulness of a custom because of its antiquity. Murder can boast of more ancient date than national warfare, yet every person holds it in abhorrence. Good men have occasionally engaged in warfare, but good men have their imperfections, and we should be careful to avoid copying their errors. There have been some eminently pious men who were also eminent warriors; but that their military spirit was displeasing in the sight of God may be P. This is an object devoutfairly inferred from the circum-ly to be wished; and as the prostance, that David, "the man position, that the genius of war after God's own heart," was re- is incompatible with Christianity, fused the honour and pleasure of is capable of satisfactory proof, I building the temple for which he am glad that institutions are had provided the materials, for formed with the design to cir

culate papers to inform the pub-eternity! How many poor suf

lic mind on this very important subject.

N.-I should be glad to know, what arguments can be adduced in support of this position.

ferers are left lying upon the cold ground, the life blood flowing by degrees, without a friend to administer a drop of water to their parched lips, or wipe away the cold P. With your permission, I sweat from their pallid cheek, till, will state a few particulars which at the close of two or three days, have long had considerable weight the hand of death releases them with me, and which I should be from misery. How many are glad you would consider, viz. rudely conveyed to some crowdChristianity admonishes us to do ed receptacle for the wounded, to our fellow creatures all the good where the mangled members are which it is in our power to do, severed from the body, which but the system of warfare in- they leave to linger for a few days, flicts the greatest miseries which and then expire, or drag out a human nature is capable of en- protracted existence in mendicity during. War, therefore, abstract- and helplessness! Think of the ly considered, is as hostile to the trembling anxiety, the paroxysms gospel of Jesus as it is possible of grief, distraction, and despair, for any thing to be. Contem- which take possession of the plate for a moment the miseries hearts of thousands of mothers, inflicted by war. See an invad-wives,children, and friends, when, ing army enter a country with after what is called a glorious fire and sword: all before it is victory, the black catalogue of a paradise, all behind it is a bar- the dying and the wounded is ren wilderness. Think of the furnished in the Gazette. But terror which seizes the breasts of it is impossible to conceive of the helpless mothers and children, horrors produced by a sanguiwho are driven from their ha-nary conflict. If a single indibitations to seek for shelter invidual meet with a robber, or a woods and caves of the rock. murderer, who spoils him of his Think of the indescribable anguish property, or takes away his life, which rend the hearts of a be- our sympathies are strongly exloved wife and affectionate chil- cited; but how much more dren, who are taking a last adieu strongly should they be excited, of a husband and a father, who is by the consideration of such afputting on his armour to go and flictions meeting with thousands fight the battles of his country. and tens of thousands in one Think of the abundant harvests day! And is it possible, that a that are wasted, thetowns and vil-system, which sanctions such outlages that are burnt, and the help-rages, can be consistent with the less peasants that are butchered at gospel of Christ? the door of their own habitations. Think of that scene of carnage, when two powerful armies meet on the field of battle under the direction of the most comprehensive and mighty genius; how many thousands, who were nursed upon the lap of tenderness, are hurried, by a single stroke, into

N.-I confess, I have been frequently so affected by these considerations, that I could hardly participate in the general sentiment of joy and exultation at the news of a recent victory, by which all were animated.

P. My dear neighbour, did we feel as we ought, we should

retire on such occasions into our closets, and pour out a flood of tears for the miseries with which the blessed God suffers his creatures to be afflicted. It is said, that Buonaparte took with him to Russia not less than 500,000 men, few of whom returned to their native country to tell their tale of woe. It is, perhaps, a moderate calculation which states, that half a million of men perished annually during the late war in which the powers of Europe have been engaged: thus a number of lives, equal to the whole population of Great Britain, have been immolated to this barbarous divinity.

N.-There is something very horrible in the idea, that human life should be so needlessly and prodigally lavished away. Life is the gift of God; nor has any one a right to take it away. He who puts his finger on a fly, or his foot upon a worm, extinguishes a flame which the whole creation cannot rekindle.

"I would not rank among my list of friends.

The man who needlessly sets foot upon a worm."

But how much more precious is the life of an intelligent accountable creature? The promoters of war must have very different feelings on this subject from him who said, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save." But you were proceeding to advance another reason to shew, that war is incompatible with Christianity.

P.-Yes; it is this: Christianity requires, that we should use every means for the moral and religious improvement of our fellow creatures; but the system of war has a most demoralizing and irreligious tendency. Trace its operations from their commencement to their close, and you will

find a tissue of vice as well as misery. The recruiting party enter the city, or the town, and the unwary are ensnared by the noise and the glitter. Is there a youth who is inclined rather to be idle than to work? He will be furnished with money to relieve his present wants. Is he inclined to drink more than is meet of the intoxicating bowl? His propensity is readily indulged; but, alas! in these unguarded moments, he receives the royal money, and he must be a soldier. Thus idleness is cherished, fraud and intemperance are encouraged, and all the obligations devolving upon a son or a servant are unnaturally` and violently trampled upon. No matter if an aged widow is looking forward to the day when this, her only son, shall be her stay and support: or if affectionate sisters are filled with inconsolable distress at the prospect of parting with a beloved brother, he is pledged, and he cannot recede. Behold a youth thus torn from his connections and his home, exposed to powerful temptations, without the eye of authority to watch, or the voice of friendship to

warn him of the dangers to which he is exposed. Is it to be wondered at, that he should soon become an adept in vice and crime? Men of this description, by mingling their sentiments, corrupt one another; and when they are billetted among the labouring classes of the community, are more injurious to them than the pestilence.

N. But though much depravity results from the military system, there is surely nothing in the profession itself which is inconsistent with theChristian spirit.

P.-I am of a different opinion. It appears to me, that vice and crime are intimately and

N. As to duelling, it manifestly originates in pride and revenge; is a direct violation of the laws of civil society; and to be held in abhorrence by every good man; and it is equally manifest, that meekness, patience, submission, forgiveness, &c. are inculcated in the Christian scriptures, and binding upon individuals, but not on communities, for nations should be ready to maintain at all times their dignity and honour.

essentially connected with the | In no class of the community do spirit of war, so that the complete we observe such readiness to soldier must necessarily have a shed blood. Witness the duels spirit very opposite to the spirit that are fought between military of the gospel. Between the two men to settle the most trivial afthere is a perfect contrast. The fairs; and this in direct violaChristian code says, "Love your tion of the laws of civil society, enemies;" the martial spirit is and the commands of their chief. full of hatred to the foe. The Christian precepts say, "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink:" the martial spirit thrusts a sword through the heart of his enemy. The Christian spirit is meek and forbearing; the martial spirit is proud and insulting. The Christian system requires a readiness to forgive, even until seventy times seven; the martial spirit is revengeful, and will retaliate for the slightest affront. The Christian genius is full of gentleness, goodness, charity; the martial spirit is ferocious and sanguinary. There is not a greater contrast between the lamb and the leopard, than between the dispositions inspired by Christianity and the system of warfare. Hence, when the scriptures speak of Christians, it is under the emblem of sheep, lambs, or doves; but when they speak of warriors, it is under the emblem of leopards, bears, or other ravenous beasts, who go forth to worry, trample, and destroy. Nor is this disposition, inspired by the military profession, accidental; it is essential to the system. It has been very justly remarked, that persons engaged in the slave trade were rendered more savage and inhuman by witnessing the scenes presented in this abominable traffic: and surely the trade of war, which is fostered by pride, and waged with cruelty, must have a tendency to strengthen those dispositions in the mind.

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P.-I cannot comprehend upon what principle a distinction is attempted to be established between the obligations of men in their individual and collective capacities. Nations are composed of individuals, nor is the individual character so merged in the national, as to impose upon him a new rule of duty: every individual remains under obligations to love his enemy at all times; and, consequently, the obligation devolves upon the nation at large.

Our blessed Lord has very explicitly prohibited his disciples from using the sword." My kingdom is not of this world, else would my servants fight." "He that useth the sword shall perish by the sword." It is generally admitted, that Christians should not take up the sword to pro- : tect themselves from persecution; but our religious privileges are the

most valuable we enjoy: if, therefore, we are forbidden to use the sword to defend our dearest rights, shall we, be allowed to use it on

casions of infinitely inferior mo. | had an ordinance among them, ment ? We despair of seeing which required their males to happiness restored to a miserable appear at Jerusalem three times world, till nations shall renounce in the year; thus leaving their their antichristian policy, and con- frontier exposed to the attacks of fess that the same precepts which their surrounding foes. But are binding upon individuals are though they were frequently in a binding upon the community. state of warfare, there is no instance on record of their suffer

N.-But it is quite impossible for a nation to exist and maintaining by obedience to the divine its independence, without occa- command. Similar protection sionally asserting its rights by the may be expected by the nation, sword. So very unreasonable and who, out of regard to the will of wicked are men, that if it were God, shall abstain from war. once known that a nation would not fight, they would immediately become the prey of daring and cruel usurpers.

P. So it is generally supposed, but there are certain considerations that ought to be maturely weighed before it be fully admitted; the following may be mentioned.

4. Attempts to illuminate the public mind on the subject of war should not be confined to one nation, but be extended to surrounding countries. Thus we may hope, that the same sentiments will be received by the na tions at large, so that they may be disposed to dwell together in peace. Indeed, I am ready to hope, that the nations of Europe may look forward to a better state of things than what has heretofore existed. The Emperor Alexander, the King of Prussia, and others, have entered into what is

1. So far as experiment exists, it is decidedly opposed to the assumption. The government of Pennsylvania was in the hands of the Quakers for 70 years; during which time, they maintained their independence, though surround-called The Holy League, by which

ed by hostile tribes, without a single appeal to arms.

2. Those individuals who cultivate the spirit of meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, &c. are much less exposed to insult and injury, than those persons who are remarkable for pride, resentment, &c. and if it be so with individuals, why not with whole nations?

3. A due stress ought to be placed on the superintendence of divine Providence. If a nation should refrain, conscientiously, from the use of arms, may not such a nation rely upon the protection of Heaven? He has the hearts of all in his hands, and he will defend those who humbly put their trust in him. The Jews

VOL. X.

they voluntarily bind themselves to govern their subjects, and manage their relations, according to the principles of the Christian religion; and as this religion is opposed to aggression, ambition, worldly glory, conquest, &e. those fruitful sources of war, we may expect that every thing will be done to prevent the renewal of hostilities. The Prince Regent has, it is true, declined entering into this holy league, on account of the nature of the British constitution, but he has professed his approbation of its principles, and his determination to pursue a similar line of conduct. If you consider these things fully, perhaps it may appear, that no great danger is likely to result from that nation

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