accompanied that discovery, were deferred, until, by an easy gradation of Dispensations, their minds were prepared for the important event. And here it may be remarked, that every discovery of Truth carries with it a proportionate obligation on the life and conduct of him to whom the revelation is made. Hence the gradual development of Truth through early ages, because mankind were not prepared to come under the requisitions or obligations that would necessarily have followed; nor indeed were they prepared for that enlargement of views itself. In all this we discover the wisdom and condescending goodness of God, to deal with mankind according to their weakness and capacity. Continuing the retrospective view, we find a course of instruction was instituted, through the medium of the Law and the prophets, and many striking events that were calculated to make a strong impression. In this course of instruction were to be noticed particularly, the clear, impressive evidences of Divine Power and Provis dence the incapacity of man to command the smallest blessing by his own unassisted efforts the omnipotence of the Divine Being, and his interposition in human affairs, both to protect his dependent servants, and to overrule the schemes and malevolent designs of those who were disposed to disregard his Divine will. It also pleased Him, who thus instituted this school of instruction, to give mankind, through the medium of prophecy, some clear views of the Dispensation that was ultimately to be introduced. The New Covenant Dispensation was introduced by the Son of God, in a personal appearance on earth; who explained it by precept, and illustrated it by exam◄ new ple. That Dispensation was designed to restore man to a state of acceptance, by bringing him into a participation of the Divine nature. This constitutes the " creature," in which "old things are passed away, and all things become new;" 2 Cor. v. 17;-"new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Pet. iii. 13. Here all the corrupt and malevolent passions are subjugated, and the Spirit of Jesus Christ becomes the Ruling Principle in us. The feelings and temper thus produced, being a preparation for, and a foretaste of heaven. In the precepts and example of our Lord, no trace of the war spirit or policy could be found. On the contrary, the practice of forbearance, non-resistance, and forgiveness of injuries, was enforced in the most explicit manner; and every feeling that could possibly lead to violence between man and man, was as clearly prohibited. It was the design of our Divine Lawgiver to lay the axe to the root of the corrupt tree; and this was in no case more obvious than in relation to war: every feeling that could lead to strife, discord, or violence, being interdicted. If these are eradicated, the fruit cannot be produced. When we contemplate the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, forming a perfect contrast to the war character, and remember that this was designed as a pattern for our conduct-when we consider his precepts, and reflect that these are of perpetual obligation; and further bring to mind, that his followers took no part in wars for more than two hundred years after his personal appearance on earth, can we entertain a doubt of the incompatibility of war with the duties of a Christian? Can we draw any other conclusion, than that, in adopting the spirit and practice of war, we must act with such inconsistency with the precepts and example of Jesus Christ, and the example of his followers, as amounts to a dereliction of Christianity itself! We cannot be actuated by the Spirit that was in Christ, nor walk by the rules which He laid down, nor maintain any thing like the character of his followers, during the purity of the Church. If these positions be true, (and even the advocates for war will be bound to admit that they are,) will it not follow, as an undeniable conclusion, that no man can maintain two characters so totally different from each other, at the same time? masters." Matt. vi. 24. "Doth a fountain send forth, at the same place, sweet water and bitter?" James iii. 11. "Ye cannot serve two "By their fruits ye shall know them," said our Lord, Matt. vii. 16, 20; and the rule remains good to the present day. Who can be at a loss, in fixing the character of the work of death and desolation? Can we hesitate a moment, in ascribing it to the influence of him who "was a murderer from the beginning?" "The works of your father ye will do," said our Lord to the Pharisees. John viii. 44. And from whose works can be the destruction of human happiness, and the devastation of the works of God? However the feelings of charity may prompt us to draw a veil over the infirmities and deformities of human nature, the cause of humanity and religion has too long and too deeply suffered by War, to permit any part of its character to be concealed, through motives of delicacy or tenderness towards those who are in this practice. It cannot escape the notice of those who reflect on the subject, that the appendages of military parade, the hilarity and various gratifications associated with such parade, and the emoluments and the applause that are frequently obtained by war, are so many causes actively operating to keep alive the war spirit, and of course actually producing war. Those who contend that war is unavoidable in the present state of society, and therefore take an active part in thus keeping alive the war spirit, are chargeable with perpetuating that insuperable obstaele to the establishment of peace on earth. If war is an evil, as all rational men must confess, how can any re concile to themselves the idea of perpetuating that evil So great is the magnitude of the evils; so horrible the scenes inseparably connected with war, that, independent of all arguments drawn from the impiety of the practice, we should think that men could hardly feel so little repugnance at producing those calamities, as they do. The prospect presented by the world around us, seems too fully to justify the reflections of the poet Cowper: "There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart That falls asunder at the touch of fire." Indeed, when we consider the enormous mass of misery and of guilt that has been produced by war, it becomes an enquiry of no. ordinary consequence, how far we are individually chargeable with that guilt. But, after all the calamity and guilt which have thus deformed the human character, we may ask the question, What has been obtained? Not safety-not hap piness-not liberty-not virtue! Look round over the nations of the earth, both ancient and modern, and say, where is that people who, placing their dependence on the sword, remained half a century without being invol yed in calamities of the most afflictive nature-the sacrifice of immense treasure, and of human life and happiness? No nation upon earth has ever attained to safety by the war policy. Danger, though sometimes concealed, was still lurking near. When the alarm of war or the spirit of retaliation spreads over a nation, ask then if they are happy. Ask the soldier, torn from the bosom of his family,-Ask the disconsolate wife and children left behind, who listen to every passing wind, as bearing the messages of death-if they are happy. Ask the widow and the orphan, after the contest is over-ask the veteran, who has met his brother in the field of battle, and seen him mix in the mangled mass of mortality. Happiness is a stranger to these conditions. Of all abridgments of natural rights, none is so great as that produced by War. Military government is perfectly despotic. Ask the conqueror, who has risen to the summit of his ambition-who has ridden triumphant over slaughtered thousands, wrapped cities in flames, and hurled empires into ruins-ask him if he is happy; ask him what he has gained by conquest. Let the characters of the greatest heroes of ancient or modern times be consulted. What was Alexander the Great? He carried his arms and his conquests wherever he thought there was an object worth his notice; and wept because he could not find another world to conquer. He was tossed by every tempest of passions, and died in the midst of his days; and his end was among fools! What was Pompey? One of the greatest generals that ever directed the Roman FF |