Delaware journal., 1828-02-26

From the Ne,O Hampshire Journal /
SCRIPTURE VIEW OF POLITICS.
The Methodists are sometimes unjusty accused
of undertaking learning and the sciences Yet they
have produced some of the most learned 4)ivines In
the world. In the last century, JOHN WESLEY i
was as learned in questions relating to his profes-
sion, as the proudest Of his opposcrs and in the
present, Adam Clarke stands at the very head OF all
living commentators on the scriptures. NO man
can read his &c Commentary and Critical Notes on
the Bible, without adding something to his know
ledge of the Scriptures, and few, hope, without
mbbng some portion of the pious spirit OF Its ex-
ceent author. Of his pety and his learning It
would be easy to produce proofs from every part OF
his extensive works. shall conine myself, IN thls
communication, to what is said by him in illustration
of the scripture view Of the lmproprlety and the
danger of advancing military men to ciol stations
and cmploynaents.
| ! begin with the case of David the son OF Jesse
of whom it has been we'll said that he was "ln
youth hero, in manhood monarch, and III age q
saint" (See Clarke on | Chronicles, Chap. 29.)
If any military man could be entitled to peculiar
favour in the sight of heaven, it was surely David
the g. man after Gods own heart But let US see
what the scriptures say on this subject. towards
the close of his life, when the Lord had given HIM
rest round about from all his enemes,' it came
into the heart of David to build house Tor God
a noble undertaking, which he fondly hoped would
crown with peculiar glory, his closing days. lie
consulted God the subject; and this was the just
but mortifying answer which he received - lnou
shalt not build house unto my name, because tno"
hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight,
Chronicles %, 8-or it is recorded,A Chronicles
2s g. 'rhou shalt not build house for my name,
because thou hast been man at a0ar, ana hasf shed
i blood" 1t is here worthy of remark, that GOD
does not object to David that he had waged uyusf
q fsnn NJ 700
in his sight sufficient objection to David, that he
had shed much blood" 1t thus appears, that,
: when God was about to select fitting instrument,
to perform the highest civil function, he passed by
. the warrior. with his ''garments rolled in blood );
and chose Solomon, for this glorious employment
+ because he was &C man of peace" While com
d menting on this instructive transaction, Dr. Clarke
l. Justly remarks, that shedding of human blood but
i'll comports with the benevolence of God, or the
spirit of the gospel" Chronicles 22, g. This is
e said by Dr. Clarke, of shedding the blood of foreign
enemies in open war; was David's case.-What then
l. must be his opinion of a man who is stained with
the blood of his soldiers, shot, by his order In
III time of peace, for mistake in law what would ht
D. say of a man whose hands red with the blood O
is his fellow townsmen, slain in private combatF what
C. finally, of one who, without even the the form OF
of challenge a4tacks his fellow citizen in public house
ar and takes his blood in private brOi Its unneces
de sary to say that refer to the of Andrew Jack
son to the shooting of the six militia men, to NJ
murder of Dickinson and his attempted assassination
of Benton. If God would not permit David, how
ever good in other respects, to build house to hi
he name $ because he had been man Of aOar, an
ng shed blood" shall we permit this rude military chic
to to lay his bloody hand the ark Of our tempors
,a safety to proane the temple of the constitution
es and with the sword of war; the dagger OF assas
ut snaton to cut his way through the charter OF ou
m liberties to the highest civil honours Of the land
or Shall we not rather, in time of rest and tranquil
ty, prefer ''man of peace" to lay deep the four
dations of our civil rights, and erect, on the broa
be basis of civic virtue and pacific wisdom, the endu
.s;. ing Temple of our political Zion.
he. | shall close this communication with Doc'
adj. Clarkes view of the character and the conduct
of Joab, the son Of Zeruah--a military man not Vi
,ds like Gen. Jackson, in his temper and his exploits
ia. Joab's killing Abner, was not perhaps worse thi
md Jackson's murder of Dickinson. Joab killed Abne
in saws DR.. Clarke, "unter pretence of ayenglng tt
,ve death of his brother' Jackson shot Dickinson tc
the calling in question the fairness Of his negro boy
er The circumstances were briefly these: Jackst
ck- was a noted horse jockey. On certain occaslo
er his horse beat Dickersons in race between ther
fer This led to quurrel, in which Jackson challenge
Dickinson and having received his fre, and thu
the for the moment disarmed him, he cooly took aim
let his defenceless opponent, and deliberately sho nj
nil dead on the spot Compare the two cases-ln Il
the one Joabs brother had been killed by Abner al
yes this was his excuse in the other, Jackson's
of der had been accused of unfair play by Dickinson
,tes and this was his excuse. Yet for this transacto
tcc- Dr. Clarke calls Joab "a cool bloodcd finished mu