how much it has cost to keep the system in operation, and how many families have suffered under the former laws,we cannot doubt as at present informed, that the law of April 26, 1831, to abolish imprisonment for debt, and to punish fraudulent debtors, is a great and good law, of a great and noble State, in favor of public justice, public morals, liberty, economy, humanity and good will.”

Appendix K.

DISSERTATION XII.

PROMOTION OF PEACE.

"BLESSED are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God." In these words, our Saviour has pronounced a beatitude upon those, who are peaceable in their own demeanor, and labor to promote peace in others. Exalted is the honor of all such as attain unto the character of followers of Him, who is emphatically styled the Prince of Peace; and whose embassy from heaven to earth was announced in seraphic strains, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men." The religion of Jesus Christ is filled with peace. Its whole object is peace,-peace with As there was almost an un

God, and peace with man. interrupted succession of wars for four thousand yearsfrom the creation of man to the advent of the Messiah; so this succession has been continued from Christ's appearance to the present time. This fact is a stigma on human nature. The prevalence of wars between nations professedly Christian, is adapted to excite the astonishment of infidels and heathens. The disposition of man for war, in every age and in every circumstance in life, would seem almost to contradict the characteristics of his being. But, alas, for poor human nature! Its element

is war-war, which is "the pastime of kings," but the grief and ruin of their subjects-war, whose glory is blazoned by the infatuated multitude; but whose principles and effects are detested by the well informed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus. Every judicious effort then should be made for the removal of this evil, until peace, with her olive branch, shall become the emblem of a regenerated world.

I. Why should war be abolished?

1. Because it is opposed to the spirit of the gospel. "War is the law of violence; peace the law of love." The former, therefore, is totally irreconcilable with the Christian spirit. "In all experience and stories," says Lord Bacon, "you shall find but three things, that prepare and dispose an estate for war, the ambition of the gov enors, a state of soldiery professed, and the hard means to live among many subjects; wherefore, the last is the most forcible and the most constant." In perfect accordance with this sentiment are the views of the

apostle James. "From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your members?" "The war spirit," says one, "is not indeed acknowledged by those under its influence to be the inspiration of the devil, but it might be with far less impropriety, than it can be deemed the inspiration of the merciful God."

2. War should be abolished, because it is opposed to the precepts of the gospel.

"Thou shalt not kill." This is one of the permanent laws of God's moral kingdom, binding upon all men.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." This law of love the scribes interpreted as referring to their own family, friends, sect and nation, and maintained the law of retaliation in its full extent. Hence their injunction,

"Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy." But this interpretation of the law of love was not agreeable to the views of Jesus Christ. The spirit and practice of retaliation, he utterly condemned in his reply to the scribes: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye may be the children of your Father

which is in heaven." War is retaliation. The Saviour then, denounces its spirit and practice. The will of Christ may, also, be known from his pronouncing a benediction upon peace-makers.

Says the apostle of the Gentiles, "Follow peace with all men." This exhortation, though addressed to the Hebrews, is applicable both to Jews and Gentiles. It is the incumbent duty of all to avoid discord and resentment, and uniformly to pursue pacific measures. It is predicted as a characteristic of the millennial day, that mankind "shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." War shall no more be a science or occupation, but peace-" abundance of peace shall prevail, so long as the moon endureth." War then is indefensible upon Christian principles; and, therefore, all laws in its favor are unconstitutional, because not agreeable to the statute book of Heaven. The sentiment of a distinguished naval officer, "Our country,—may she be always right; but, right or wrong, may she always be victorious," is inconsistent with the spirit and precepts of Christianity. Every war is anti-christian, because contrary to the Christian code, or the precepts of the gospel. As evidence of this, I insert the following extract from the Report of a Committee appointed by the Massachusetts Peace Society to inquire into this subject. The inquiry, say they, is

"confined to wars in which civilized nations have been engaged since they became Christian, or since Constantine assumed the reins of the Roman empire; omitting a great number of petty wars in small nations of antiquity— temporary insurrections, or trivial hostilities and a multitude of wars which have been carried on between Christian and savage nations, such as the Aborigines of Asia and America. The report relates to two hundred and eighty-six wars of magnitude, in which Christian nations have been engaged. These are divided into the eleven following classes, viz :

44 Wars of ambition, to obtain extent of country. 22 Wars for plunder, tribute, &c.

24 Wars of retaliation or revenge.

8 Wars to settle some question of honor or prerogative 6 Wars arising from disputed claims to some territory. 41 Wars arising from disputed titles to crowns. 30 Wars commenced under pretence of assisting an ally.

23 Wars originating in jealousy of rival greatness. 5 Wars which have grown out of commerce.

55 Civil Wars.

28 Wars on account of religion, including the crusades against the Turks and heretics."

How anti-christian, and, comparatively speaking, how frivolous, the causes of these wars!

3. War should be abolished, because it is opposed to the example of Christ.

As the spirit and precepts of the Founder of Christianity were pacific; so was his example. "Christ also suffered for us," says the apostle, "leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps; who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but