Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-05-12
N u M B E R 80.

for direction from the professed teachers
ofmorality, finds his mind bewildered in
conflicting theories, and his Judgment
by contradictory instructions.
B ut Wisdom is justified by all her chill
dren:'' and she is justified, perhaps, by
nothing more evidently than by the laws
which she has imposed; for all who have
proposed any standard of rectitude, other
than that which Christianity has laid
down, or who have admixed any foreign
principles with the principles which she
teaches, have hitherto proved that they
have only been "sporting themselves with
their own deceivingsH
tits remarkable fact, that the laws of
the Mosaic Dispensation, which, confess
eddy, was an, imperfect system, are laid
down clearly and specifically in the form
of an express code; whilst those of that
purer religion which Jesus Christ into
duced into the world, are only to be fourd,
casually and incidentally scattered, as it
were, through volumc-intermixed with
other subjects-elcited by unconnected
evcnts-delivered at distant periods, and
for distant purposes, IN narratives, in dis
courses, in conversations, in letters. Into
the final purpose of such an ordination,
(for an ordination it must be supposed to
be,) it is not our present business to in
quire. One importent TRUTH however, re-
suits from the fact as it exlsts:-Th hat those
who would form general estimate of the
moral obligations of Christianity, must de-
rive it, not from Codes but from Primci-
pies; not from multiplicity of directions
in what manner we are to act, but from
instructions respecting the motives and
! dispositions by which all actions are to be
regulated.
Itappears, therefore, to follow, that in
the inquiry whether war is sanctioned bv
Christianity, specific declaration of it's
decision is not ikel y to be found. If,
then, we be asked for a prohibition of war
by Jesus Christ, in the express terms of a
| command, IN the manner in which 7H0u
shalt not kill is directed TO murder, we
willingly answer that no such prohibition
exsts-and it Is not necessary to the argu-
ment Even those who would REQUIRE
such prohibition, are themselves satisfied
respecting the obligation ofmanv negative
duties, on which there has been no spe-
cifc decision in the New testament
They believe that suicide is not lawful.
Yet Christianity never forbade it. 1t can
be shown, indeed, by implication and in
ference, that suicide could not have been
allowed, and with this they are satisfed.--
Yet there is, probably, in the Christian
Scriptures, not twentieth part ofas much
indirect evidence against the lawfulness of
suicide as there is against the lawfulncss
of war. To those who require such a
command as Thou Shaltu0t en- gage in uar,
it is therefore sufficient to reply, that thew
require that, which upon this and upon
many other subjects, Christianity has not
chosen to give.
We refer then, first TO the general ma.
: turc of Christianity; because We think that
if there were no other evidence against the
= lawtulness of war we should possess, in
that general nature sufficient proof that it
is virtually forbidden.
That the whole character and spirit of
> our religion are eninently and peculiarly
peaceful, and that it is opposed, in all its
= principles TO carnage and devastation, can
not be disputed.
2 Hare peace one eciM another Bg this
shall all men kmoar that yc are my disci-
S pies, If vc hare lore one to another
y Wa1Iuih ell louIiucss and mcszuese
= ,rjh long-sufcriug, forLcorin~ one onot1'
ry IN lore VIC ""'''''
Re n,e 0U orone ,o;0d 6o,,;n o,a..
son o,s of onotIer. 1ore o ~. is., iomp4S,
nfI be- c0urtrouf not reuJ 5 U.Sr"' ,.J t Ss
r,j o. ro;J;n I far rn ~; o""'' '"6 ''''J0'
$ r. ~ msnss ~, n~s'a'6 s,o,u.zn
Mat ,,oro ~SI " a g"J'S % ose
God h0I ro11rd 1e tn J nrorc ~ "'9 man,
: E.Us.D rC'' ~ 80
D. 800 49, r. 49,. >,
, LIZ Se"tte' "OU ing ~ Mte"Ht'o UHIO 6tt