MR. EDITOR, INTRODUCTION. Finding myself now at leisure, and that there has been but little in your paper on the subject of Peace and War since my last number, I consider it to be my duty to resume my labours. I am encouraged to do this, by information that a fulfilment of my promise has been called for, and from the favourable reception my essays have met with in the Northern and Middle States, where they have been frequently reprinted with marks of approbation; so that I have reason to think that my labours have not been in vain, and that I have not spent my strength for naught. A further inducement for me to continue my lucubrations is the paucity of books and writings, on permanent and universal peace. It is difficult to write on self-evident propositions and generally acknowledged truths; and no truth has been more generally acknowledged, than that a spirit of war is in direct opposition to the spirit of the gospel For this reason the greater part of the Christian world have thought it unnecessary to write or read on the subject. But though they acknowledge our principles, they deny our conclusions, and continue to practise in particular cases what they know to be wrong as a general rule. Much however has been written within a few years, and with great effect, in the cause of Peace. Yet the subject is far from being exhausted. I have not the vanity to suppose that my writings can bear a comparison with those works of genius which have been already published on this subject, and which are periodically ushered into public notice: yet my essays may meet the eye which never rested on any other productions of a similar nature, and may be the means of introducing better works to those who else would never have thought of them. It is an advantage to have truth presented in a variety of ways. What might please one would perhaps disgust another; and a short essay might arrest the attention of him who never thought of reading a treatise on the same subject. I do not know that any other friend of peace, has, in this country, undertaken to write a series of es says for a newspaper, though many excellent communications on that topic, have been, by means of periodical publications and addresses, laid before the public. My first numbers were published in a regular series, for which the plan was arranged in my own mind, but never divulged for fear that I might not be borne along by the approbation of the public; and I thus left myself at liberty to drop the subject, when I should find it no longer useful to continue it. My future communications will have no regular order, and will only appear at intervals, that I may not tire any class of readers. They will consist of such communications and hints as I may receive from respected friends of thoughts, which came into my own mind when the time of their being placed in regular order with the series had elapsed-and such ideas as may yet be suggested by passing circumstances and events. PHILANTHROPOS. NO. 1. THE TESTIMONY OF SCRIPTURE. In the course of my first series of essays, I delayed the consideration of war in a religious point of view, because, being but a layman, I considered myself unable to do justice to the subject, and because I hoped some of our learned divines would take it up. Being however disappointed,I applied to my minister for texts on the subject, but I did not get them for the place allotted to them. I now insert the texts, that so good a labor should not be lost. I omit the chapter and verse, because your readers will probably be sufficiently acquainted with scripture, to make an examination of their correctness by actual inspection unnecessary. 1. Of Precept. Thou shall not kill-I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on one cheek, turn to him the other also.-Love your enemies, bless |