ity was under the guidance of the apostles, and those who had conversed with them, and were their immediate successors; while it was a persecuted church; while "the lamp of Christianity burnt bright," Christians refused to commit murder, either public or private. But when the church began to enjoy peace and quiet,—when its revenues were enlarged, it began to be corrupted, and worldly men sought the office of pastor that they might fleece the flock. Hereditary Christians, the descendants of the truly pious-being unwilling to abandon, either their hope of salvation through Christ, or their love of worldly honors and gains, sought, to reconcile a love of God with a love of the world-to unite Christ with Belial. Thence arose a sect of "Christian Casuists," who taught that war, idolatry, sorcery, and many other heathen and anti-christian practices, were consistent with real christianity. From these came fighting Christians, with their consecrated banners,-" booted apostles," knights of the cross, with the image of a crucified Savior in one hand, and a sword in the other; making converts to the religion of the Prince of Peace, by force of arms.

Then, in short, began that mixed medley of war, idolatry, and Christianity, which is, in some measure, yet exhibited in the Church of Rome. They must indeed have been dark ages, when Moloch sat in the chair of St. Peter, when the laity were forbidden to read the Bible,-when the cossack was worn over the coat of mail,-when priest and soldier were united in one person, and the house of God was converted into a den of thieves, filled with images, priests, and soldiers ;-when gangs of highway robbers had their chaplains and confessors, and a share of the booty paid the price of a pardon. But we Protestants profess to be of the reformed religion. True, in some things we are reformed; but in others we are yet in as much darkness as pagan or papist. We have indeed abandoned the practice of idolatry; but we have retained the practice of war, which is as much averse to Christianity as the other. Yet we have idols in our hearts if not in our churches, and while the capital of New-England, with what assistance it can beg from other quarters-is erecting, in her high places, a vast altar to Moloch, we have all the spirit of idolatry, if we have not the name. Oh! "if Christian

nations were nations of Christians," there would be no longer any war, nor monuments of war.

NO. 7.

ON THE RESIGNATION OF A BRITISH OFFICER, FROM A CONVICTION, THAT THE PROFESSION

OF A SOLDIER IS INCOMPATIBLE

CHRISTIANITY.

WITH

It was my intention to follow up the subject of my last essay, viz. "The doctrine and practice of the ancient Christians as they relate to war," by opinions of later christians, philanthropists, and statesmen on the same custom; but, as two recent events have taken place in the British service, which are, in themselves, singular, and which tend to illustrate the same subject, I embraced, the present opportunity of making some remarks on one of them; leaving the other for a fu ture number.

The first I shall notice is the resignation of

Capt. Thomas Thrush, of the navy, on the ground of the unlawfulness of war.

I cannot do better, than to insert extracts from his own letter to the king, accompanying his resignation, which are as follows:

"With much zeal and sincerity, I entered into the Naval service of your Majesty's revered father, and swore allegiance to him. This allegiance is now, of course, due to your Majesty as his lawful successor. When I entered into this solemn contract, I entertained no apprehension that I was acting in opposition to the principles of the Christian religion; nor did any apprehension of this kind ever arise in my mind during the time I was actively employed in the service of my country. Nay, so far from suspecting that I was departing from Christian rectitude, it appeared to me almost certain, if I should lose my life in the service of my king and country, that this would serve as a kind of passport to the favour and acceptance of God. This opinion, which has been frequently inculcated by ministers of the Gospel of Peace, as well as by Pagan writers, is, I believe, generally entertained by those,

who think at all, when they enter the naval or military profession.

"Those, Sire, who live much in the world, are imperceptibly led to think and act upon the principles of those with whom they associate. Though in the busy scenes of naval service, I never entertained an idea of my profession being irreconcilable with the religion of Christ; yet, after passing several years in a retirement bordering on seclusion; and after more closely inspecting the Christian precepts, and reviewing my past life, it appears to me, that' while I have been serving my king and my country, if not brilliantly, yet faithfully, I have been acting in open disobedience to the plain and positive commands of another and a superior Master-a Master whose claims upon my allegiance are prior, and paramount to those of your Majesty, or of any earthly sovereign.

"When the first impressions, Sire, were formed in my mind concerning the unlawfulness of Christians' entering into or remaining in the military profession, I cannot exactly recollect. To my shame, I may, I believe, say, that I never thought seriously on