The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-02-04
From he american Manufacturer.
WAp


I WAR.
i Let thGe who maintain that wars are
! necessary,an that it is impossible for anv
government TO exist without them. remem-
her they ale furnishing strong argument
IN favor ofinfdelity. For why, it might be
asked, arewe commanded to do that which
is IN its nature impracticable? If the scrip
lures are hally what we believe them to
be, and by those scriptures war on any oc-
casion is strictly forbidden, then it should
follow that we have at least the power to
regard this prohibition. Have Christians
considered his? Would they have it I'M
derstood that the volume of their religion,
written und'r the immediate inspiration of
the Most High God, and bearing on its every
page the visible evidence of his surprising
wisdom, contains such self evident and
glarlng absurdity? Would they hken its
Divine Author to an Egyptian task-master!
Go, Christian! spread the doctrines of
the Redeener wherever the keel of the
adventurer has ploughed, and plant the
of the ocean. Go, teach the blind and de-
luded pagan the arts-the blessings of civ
ilization. He has bowed down to idols-he
has worshipped the storm, the earthquake,
been WdY 8aifap Ge His IDEAS SS Of G9d have
of human beings, has mingled with his
sacrifices. But place in his hands the scrip
lures Of truth. Convince him of thy own
belief therein; and picture to his magma
ton the sublime and glorious spectacle of
mighty nation yielding the spontaneous trib
ute of It's prayer and alteration to the only
true God. Bid him cast down his idols; to
lay aside the splendor and the cruelty Of
his sacrifices, ard in meekness and in qui-
etness of spirit submit to the doctrines of
peace When he has become fully ac-
quainted with the pure and blessed princi
pies of our religion, carry him to the abodes
of civilized, Christian man. Let him there
behold his beautiful system reduced to prac-
tice. Let him witness the strife and tdIbu-
lence of those pretended believers in the
gospel Of peace. Let him behold the gath
enng of hosts to battle-the sanguinary
struggle, and the desolation which marks
the path Of the conqueror. Let him hear
the song of thanksgiving go up, for the
overthrow and destruction of nation. Lei
him hear those, who stand forth as the mes
sengers of God-as the teachers of his ever
lasting gospel, consigning their enemies to
| the wrath and vengeance of Heaven
I breathing curses on one hand, and blessings
on the other, and blending the sacred prin-
! ciples of truth and religion with the I'M
ha!lowed purpose of ambition, and the in
ordinate lust of power.
| Christian! in the view of all, would not
thy convert turn and reproaeh thee ? Would
he not he ready to eXclaim-' Are these
! the fruits Of thy religion-of that religion
which thou hast represented as exercising
so happy an influence over thy hrethren-a
religion which was to unite the world in
| love?" Thou couldst not answer him; and
he would turn from thee, and seek the
home Of his fathers, IN doubt, in darkness,
and despair.
| There is a strange delusion among the
protesting Christians of modern days with
/ regard to the nature OF warfare. lndvid-
Ials, who would shudder at deed of blood,
committed by a single assassin, upon sim
gle victim, are heard to lavish their praises
on the remorseless leader of a remorseless
band, who, sanctioned by kingly authorities
or popular enthusiasm, goes forth like the
angel of desolation, to pollute the sanctuary
ot home, and trample on the image of his
Maker. But the time ,ciN come when this
ielusion shall vanish; and the paltry dis
lnction which has been drawn between in
1iyidual crime and public iniqulty, shall
Forget to wake at the last trumpet's voice
Uncurrent is eternity, and base"
! How TO HAVE GOOD MEMORY. To some
one who was complaining of his memory,
Dr.. johnson said-" Pray, sir, do you ever
Drget what money you are worth, or who
gave you the last kick on the shins that you
had +? Now, if you pay the same attention
to what you read, as you do to your tempo
raj concerns, and your bodily feelings, you
would impress it as deeply upon your mem
ory."
| Never Judge from manners, (says Lord By
ron,) Tor | once had my pockets picked by the
ciriiest gentleman ! ever met with and one
of the miidsst persons ever saw was Ali Pa
cha,