lawful and contrary to the commands of Christ to the ignorance and barbarity of the dark ages, in which war was most unnaturally united to religion, was gradual; and it was, therefore, to be expected, that the restoration of the Church to primitive innocence and simplicity, would be also gradual. As we advance in time, however, we find the testimony of eminent Christians, against war, to thicken, until they become a "cloud of witnesses;" and we have reason to believe, that light on this subject will increase, with the progress of improvement, the march of intellect, and the diffusion of the gospel, until the majority of mankind in all countries-at least in all Christian coun tries will be found on the side of peace;until the custom of war will pass away like other barbarous customs;-until mankind, or at least the Christian community, will be induced to enter into one great social compact, and all disputes between nations be settled by reason and not by the sword. It is the duty, therefore, of every individual, who wishes and prays for so joyful a consummation, to do something towards its advance ment. NO. 17. SENTIMENTS OF PIOUS OR EMINENT MODERN WRITERS AGAINST WAR. I think I shall be able to prove, that, as mankind have advanced in knowledge and religion, the most eminent for wisdom and piety have been more and more convinced of the iniquity, sinfulness and impolicy of war; and that the sentiments now promulgated by peace societies, are, by no means, new, but are as old as the Gospel ; and that eminently pious and good men have heretofore given their testimony against war, but, unhappily, with little effect; owing to a want of that system and co-operation, which have been partially adopted by peace societies, but which are far from being matured. Had these deceased worthies concentrated their energies, by an union into a society for the express purpose of promulgating their pacific sentiments, there is reason to believe, that much of the havoc and bloodshed, which have desolated the world for the last thirty years, would have been prevented, much misery and anguish avoided, and many souls saved, of whom it would be the utmost temerity to say, we have now any hope. It cannot, however, be expected, that all the testimony of modern writers, of piety and distinction, against the custom of war, has ever met my eye, or that it would be expedient to republish all that I have seen; for this would require volumes. I shall, therefore, only take an instance here and there from authors generally known and respected in this country. I commence with Jeremy Taylor, A. D. 1642.-As contrary as cruelty is to mercy, tyranny to charity, so is war and bloodshed to the meekness and gentleness of the Christian religion. I had often thought of the prophecy, that in the Gospel, our swords shall be turned into plough-shares, and our spears into pruninghooks. I knew that no tittle spoken by God's spirit, could return unperformed and ineffectual, and I was certain, that such was the excellency of Christ's doctrine, if men would obey it. Christians should never war one against another." Grotius, 1645.-"If, by the Jewish law, an involuntary murderer was obliged to fles to a place of refuge,-if God prohibited David from building a temple to him, because his hands were defiled with blood, though his wars might be called religious contests,if, among the ancient Greeks, persons who had defiled themselves with slaughter, without any fault of theirs, required expiation,who does not see, especially a Christian man, how wretched and ill-fated a thing war is, and how earnestly even a just war should be avoided.' on. Fenelon, 1715.-"War never fails to exhaust the State and endanger its destruction, with whatever success it is carried Though it may be commenced with advantage, it can never be finished without danger of the most fatal reverse of fortune. * * * * Nor can a nation that should be always victorious, prosper; it would destroy itself by destroying others; the country would be depopulated, the soil untilled, and trade interrupted, and what is still worse, the best laws would lose their force, and a corruption of manners insensibly take place. Literature will be neglected among the youth the, troops, conscious of their own importance, will indulge themselves in the most pernicious li eentiousness, with impunity, and the disorder will necessarily spread through all' the branches of government. Rollin, 1742.-" It is related that Alexander, upon Araxarchus the philosopher, telling him that there was an infinite number of worlds, wept to think that it would be impossible for him to conquer them all, since he had not yet conquered one. Is it wrong in Seneca, to compare these pretended heroes, who have gained renown, no otherwise than by the ruin of nations, to a conflagration and a flood which lay waste and destroy all things; or to wild beasts, who live merely by blood and slaughter ?" ** We can Thomas Hartley, 1756.-" How long, ye potentates, will ye continue to lay heavy burdens on your people, and add poverty to war? How long will ye give cause to Turks and Indians to say, Fie on these Christians, how do they delight in blood! not be unacquainted with the of certain potentates, now living, who would hang a poor man for stealing a cow, whilst they themselves share a kingdom amongst them, acquired by rank usurpation. O for a Na names |