which war has inflicted, has been the work of crime; that men, whose great law is love, have been one another's butchers; that God's children have stained his beautiful earth, made beautiful for their home, with one another's blood; that the shriek which comes to us from all regions and ages, has been extorted by human cruelty; that man has been a demon, and has turned earth into hell."*

Yes! war is chiefly a moral evil, in origin, in nature, and in fruits.

It is the offspring of our basest passions, unillumined by one single ray of reason, unrelieved by one principle of justice. "From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" This is their source. They come from those degrading propensities which reason was given to check, which free-will was allotted to guide, but, above all, which Christianity was sent to counteract.

War is one grand crime. It is the concentration of all crime, enlisting under its ensanguined banners, murder, rapine, revenge, hatred, lust, cruelty, avarice, injustice and treachery. It is not only a violation of the decrees of Heaven, but it absolutely repeals every Divine law. There is not a commandment in the whole Decalogue, that * Channing on War.

James iv. 1.

it does not infringe. "War," says Dr. Chalmers, "reverses, with respect to its objects, all the rules of morality. It is nothing less than a temporary repeal of all the principles of virtue. It is a system out of which almost all the virtues are excluded, and in which nearly all the vices are included."

The consequences of war are not only opposed to the life and happiness of man, but are also destructive to the soul, by scorching every pure fountain, repressing every good emotion, inflaming the worst qualities, and exciting the most evil tendencies.

By the existence of this curse, the reign of passion is perpetuated; for every survivor in a conquered country feels revenge and hatred against the conquerors, and he probably leaves these unchristian qualities as an inheritance to his children. The world, by such ingredients, is formed into one vast theatre for the exhibition of human infamy, and human suffering.

35

CHAPTER IV.

ANSWER TO OBJECTIONS FROM THE OLD

TESTAMENT.

Ir is difficult to discover why so extraordinary a preference has been shown for war by those who derive a plea for its continuance from the example of the Israelites, as polygamy and circumcision might be supported by a parity of reasoning.

SECTION 1.-To answer at any length the objections which are drawn from this source, would be only a waste of time and space.* Were we addressing a nation of Jews, we should probably rely on that law which they would consider binding; but no Christian can regard any authority of equal obligation with the Gospel. And were this not the case, the arguments drawn from the Old Testament are of such a nature that they would require but very little attention. It is sufficient for us to say, first, that the patriarchs evidently are not to be considered as perfect models for our imitation; and secondly, that the wars of the Jews were by no means of an ordinary nature; that they were undertaken under special circumstances, and attended by incidents peculiar to themselves. Any reader of their venerable history will at once *See Note B, in Appendix.

admit that the Israelites received, or professed to receive (and either admission is sufficient for this purpose) an express command from Heaven to slay certain nations celebrated for their impiety,-that religious ceremonies were mixed up with these wars, - and that invariable success awaited the children of Israel.

SECTION 2. The clearest distinction, therefore, prevails between the battles of the Israelites, and those of modern date; but even were they parallel, the rule to be applied to them is expressly changed by the words of Jesus himself, who, in his most conclusive precepts against all war, has drawn a marked contrast between his rule of conduct and that delivered by Moses.

Many relaxations in discipline had been allowed to the Jews "for the hardness of their hearts;" but the Almighty now condescended to bless man with a surer guide and a less erring rule of life.

The prophet Isaiah described this alteration when he gave as the words of the Almighty— "Behold I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind."* Moses had been a wise legislator and a skilful leader, but a far more perfect example was presented by Jesus. "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."+

One charge against Stephen was, that he had said, "Jesus would change the customs which Moses had delivered."* Paul declares "there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."+

In few instances is the superiority of the second dispensation more clearly shown than in the abrogation of those laws which had sanctioned revenge and aggression under the specious names of retaliation and resistance.

CHAPTER V.

PROPHECIES AND EVENTS PREVIOUS TO THE
COMING OF JESUS.

WE shall now endeavour to prove that all war, both offensive and defensive, is opposed to the Christian religion. In support of this proposition, we shall adduce, first, the prophecies relating to peace, in connection with the kingdom of Jesus;

*Acts vi. 14.

† Hebrews vii. 18, 19; and see ibid. viii. 6, 7, 13; and ibid. x. 1, 16; and Gal. iii. 24.