The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-30 00:00:00

rri
Fp' -ON.
.11v
kr(-2
• "

I they cite the frequent repetition in the New Testament
of the precept, " Do not kill ;" the sublime prophecy
concerning the "last days," " that the people shall beat
their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into prun-
ing-hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against na-
tion, neither shall they learn war any more." The various
annunciations of peace connected with the advent of
the Messiah, the " Prince of Peace"—the example of
non-resistance even unto death, contained in the closing
scenes of his own history upon earth—his rebuke of the
disciple who drew his sword and wounded the servant of
the High Priest—his answer to Pilate, " My kingdom
is not of this world ; if my kingdom were of this world,
then would my servants fight that I should not be de-
, livered to the Jews"—the injunction, " Let none render
evil for evil, but rather overcome evil with good," and
" Resist not evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also," with others of
similar import ishich it would be out of place here to
enumerate.
There is, we confess, something grand in this idea of
abstinence from the use of force as an element of
human society, and of a patient and abiding faith in
the good principles of human nature alone, as being
capable of working out a better and happier result of
social well-being, by the moral influences of truth and
love, that can ever be produced by the action of the
element of coercive force on its bad principles. The
idea is, we repeat, a sublime one, however flippantly the
superficial thinker may pronounce it ridiculous. And, in-
deed, the element of force has been so sadly perverted
and abused to the worst of purposes in all human so-
cieties that have ever existed, and so deep and per-
wading has been the moral as well as physical mischief
growing out of its abuse, that it is not surprising
that the minds of men, by long dwelling on this single
idea, should carry it beyond the proper limits, within
which every truth is regulated by its relation with all
other truths, into the fanaticism of maintaining that all
force is to be abjured, as essentially and eternally evil,
and the parent of evil. It is one of those prophetic
presentiments of a higher and better state of being of
which human nature, even in its present condition, is
capable, from the elements of good which lie at the
heart of its constitution. It is even somewhat akin
to the democratic spirit of the age, being a diffe-
rence of degree rather than of kind, in its
confidence in human nature, and in the principle
of perfect liberty as a better principle than that of
strong law. We have no doubt that a great many of
the existing restraints upon the freedom of private action,
in the forms of prohibitions and punishments, which are
intended to force men to be good and happy, are, in
truth pernicious in their operation, doing more harm in
in one way than they do good in another. But still the
doctrine of non-resistance, or the utter and total repu-
diation of force, is an ultraism in the opposite direction,
entirely inconsistent with the actual imperfection of
human nature, which would probably be still more mis-
chievous in its practical operation, supposing the possi-
bility of its ever being seriously applied to practice isy
any community of men.
Without going elaborately into an analysis of tha
Scriptural arguments adduced in its favour, of which the
leading passages are above referred to, it will be suffi-
cient for the purpose of satisfying those minds which
would rest the solution of the question on that ground
alone, to remark, that an enlightened criticism, view-
ing the meaning of these and similar passages in the
light of the general principles both of Christianity and of
human nature, and in comparison with other passages of
a different import and nearing, can find in them no
support for the extravagant ultraism into which this
new-light school of non-resistance would push the peace
principle, the spirit of which is, in truth, transparent,
throughout every part of the Christian Scripture. On the
contrary, the language, and on more than one occasion
the personal exampl, of the Founder of our religion
himself, directly or implicitly sanction the use of force
for the maintenance of right, and even for the punish-
ment of wrong. And if the ultimate tendency of the
reform which he introduced is to such a state of things—
of absolute and universal peace—it is a result to be
brought about only by the operation of the great moral
principles of his reform, to remove the causes which, as
long as they exist in human injustice and sin, render
the moderate use of coercive force not only justifiable,
but indispensable to the cohesion of human society.
We may safely, then, assume it as proved, that this
non-resistance theory is not borne out by the Christian
Scriptures, neither by special precepts, nor by the au-
thority of example ; although undoubtedly they do con-
demn the use of physical force against rightful autho-
rity. or for the promotion of truth and counteraction of
error of opinion, and generally enjoin a pacific, conci-
liatory, and benevolent spirit.

The aspiring propensities of the late Chancellor
of the Exchequer are equally developed by the title he has
chosen, as, by his family name, Mount Eagle, is but an
Irish synonyme of Spring, Rice

Lord Lichfield is, according to the newspapers
at his seat in Staffordshire, and German Cottage, Chel-
tenham, is just now the residence of Colonel Moberly.
We are not aware that the business of the Post-office suffers
in any degree from the absence of these distinguished
functionaries. The question however arises whether they
may not be dispensed with altogether ? Either they arc
neglecting their duty, or their offices are sinecures. In
either case the country can spare their services ; and in
the latter case the working functionaries may as well have
their salaries. On the eve of so large a change as the
penny.postage, their absence is a strong proof how little
these officers are wanted.—Cheltenham Examiner.

GRAND CRICKET MATCH.—A grand cricket
match between the County of Kent and All England
has just terminated, after three days' play, in favour of
Kent, by a majority of two, the numbers scored being__
fur Kent, 209 ; all England, 207. A considerable sum,
it is said, has changed hands on this occasion, one of the
backers of All England being reported to have lost
1,500/., and another 500/., while there were hundreds of
bets to a similar amount. The Earl of Thanet acted as
manager on the part of the County of Kent, and the vete-
ran Lord F. Beauclerk on the part of All England. The
Hon. F. Ponsonby and the Hon. H. Grimston were among
the players on the side of All England.