same opinions, which they universally and openly proclaim: or rather, they call us fanatics, because we do not halt between two opinions, but say, if the Lord is God, serve him; but if Moloch, then follow him.

What then, you say, has there never been a Christian and a warrior united in one person? I grant there has been-and so, many a Christian has been a persecutor, a slave dealer, and a slave owner; but this does not prove, that war, persecution, and slavery, are consistent with the Christian religion. But this proposition I hold to be self-evident -that a person, who believes, that the practices of war and slavery are inconsistent with the Christian religion, and yet continues these practices, can have no rational hope of salvation, founded on that religion.

It is a custom in Europe, and I believe in this country, to have a "dress parade on the Sabbath, at which the soldiers and officers appear in their best clothes, and go through their evolutions with more music than usual, and with great crowds of people, of all ranks, ages, and sexes, to witness "the pomp and circumstance of glorious war." The

horse guards used to parade, in the same manner on the Sabbath, in London. I am sorry to add, that I have been a spectator of these parades; but as I never saw them in the royal parks, near London, nor in this country, I can only say what I have heard from others as I would always be cautious in stating facts. In time of war, there is a plea of necessity, "the Devil's plea," for marching, counter-marching, attacking and defending. But, in time of peace, and when no enemy is near, this Sunday "dress parade," must be considered as a wanton vio

lation of the Sabbath, and a breach of the laws, both of God and man.

Yet without

doubt, should any soldier, from conscientious motives, neglect to appear at his station, on beat of drum, if a commissioned officer, he would be cashiered and disgraced; and if a warrant officer, or private, he would be brought to the halberts, and flogged from one to five hundred lashes. How a Christian soldier can reconcile this violation of the Sabbath, with his duty to God, I am at a loss to conceive. But, if he can reconcile to his conscience the breach of almost all the

other commands of God, such as-thou shalt not steal-thou shalt not lie-thou shalt not covet-thou shalt not kill-thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself-do good unto all men-whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them-resist not evil-return not evil for evil, &c. &c.-I say, if they can reconcile all these commands with the profession of arms, the breach of the Sabbath will be no obstacle to them.

NO. 9.

ON THE OPINIONS OF GREAT MEN AMONG THE HEATHEN ON THE SUBJECT OF WAR.

It is a remarkable fact, that prior to the christian era, there was scarcely an individual, among the prominent characters of ancient history, who condemned the practice of war. Numa Pompilius-"who may be justly denominated one of the founders of the Roman greatness," '-was almost the only ruler of antiquity, who decidedly opposed war.

Xenophon, who commanded the retreat of the 10,000, and Plutarch, the biographer, allowed that war was not to be undertaken for trivial causes ;-remarkable instances of moderation, in ages, when military glory was the only object of ambition, and murder, havoc and desolation the only path to fame, excepting, perhaps, the celebration of such crimes, by the beauties of language and the charms of poetry.

After the advent of our blessed Saviour, a change took place in the opinions of mankind respecting war, especially among his professed followers; who, (as I have shown in a former number) considered the practice of war to be incompatible with the christian religion; so that, for about the three first centuries of the christian era, no christian was found in the profession of arms, and many suffered martyrdom, rather than stain their hands with the blood of their fellow creatures.

Seneca, the Roman moralist, lived in the reign of the bloody Nero, the cruel persecutor of the christians-was his tutor, and was put to death by his orders, A. D. 65. From

the preaching of Paul at Rome and the public execution of the christians, it is not improbable, that Seneca was acquainted with their principles, and that the light of the gospel, thus reflected, had an effect on his mind. Yet he appears to be the only heathen author who has condemned the moral evils attendant on war;-so true it is, that war is a pagan custom, and can only be upheld on heathenish principles.

Seneca thus writes in one of his epistles:

"We punish murders and massacres committed among private persons; what do we respecting wars, and the glorious crime of murdering whole nations ?-Here avarice and cruelty knows no bounds. Barbarities are authorized by decrees of the Senate and the votes of the people; and enormities, forbidden in private persons, are ordered and sanctioned by public legislatures."

"Things, which, if men had done them in their private capacity, they would have paid for with their lives-the very same things we extol to the skies, when they do them in their war accoutrements."

Another question arises: How are we to