State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-13
COMMUNICATIONS
For the State Journal.
THE CAUSE OF PEACE DESERVES
ATTENTION.-No |.


We rejoice in the growing attention paid ia
this subject; but we will state a few reasons
to show, that it demands, especially from
Christians, tenfold more than it is even now
receiving.
l. It's nature as a matter Of moral obhga-
tion.-It is question that concerns subjects
and rulers, individuals and nations, invov-
ing their duty to themselves, to one another
md to God. To him they are all response
BILE; and one day will he call the warrior
and the statesman, the monarch and the
peasant, male and female, to a strict account
for the part they take in the wholesale
butcheiy of his creatures 1t is question
of awful and universal concern. Not one
of us can avoid taking sides; and it is high
time for eUery man to determine what stand
God requires him to take. We may never
be summoned TO the field of battle; but we
shall be tempted, in one way or another, to
encourage the custom of war This we
may do by the votes we cast, the measures
we support, or the principles we advocate,
whether in religion, morals, or politics.
Neutral we cannot be and, if responsible
10 the Judge of all for whatever influence
we exert here, we are solemnly bound TO
examine this great question of duty to God
and man.
.. It's peculiar Importance. 1t involves
the duty, rights and interests Of all mankind.
There is not Oh this side of eternity another
topic of vaster magnitude. 1t is big with
the veal or woe, temporal and eternal, OF
unborn myriads. Had it been at first deci-
ded Alright, it would have prevented an in
calculable amount of sin and misery, saved
lives enough TO re-poople many world
like our own, and staid torrents Of blood
sufficien, to crimson The surface Of the
Whole globe.
.. Ertem Of its connexions and bearings.
1t pervades the world, and touches all its
anainsprngs of duty and interest. 1t infu-
ses more or less of its influence into nearly
every thing that concerns mankind in time
or eternity. 1t affects agriculture and man
ulactures, commerce and the arts, literature
and science, liberty, morals, and religion E;
the forms of government, the institutions of
society, the character of every people; So
cial order, domestic Happiness, and the
prosperity, political, moral, and religious,
of all nations. Shall such subject be neg
lected?
A. Circumstances Of The age. A cri is is
approaching which calls upon us to decide
Ibis great question. The state of civilized,
nominally Christian, natons the CONNER
cial and literary intercourse between differ
ent parts of the globe; the growth of man
mixtures and the arts; the progress ofknowl-
edge, and the rise of popular governments ,
the various cflorts1o diliiiae Christianity
over the whole earth the creation ofnunIer-
Gus interests, feelings, and habits, that shrink
from war us their deadlicst foe ;-these and
many other circumstances demand gener-
nj and earnest consideration of n subject so
essential 10 the great aims and enterprises
of the age.
s. Necessity OF increased attention. Wars
we know, must cease, for God has promised
it; but how? Not by supernatural inter-
positions of Providence not by the agency
of special messengers from heaven not by
miracle or magic--not by any sudden or
unaccountabie change in human nature
but by the right use of those means which
God has appointed to hush n warning world
into perfect aud perpetual peace.
How then shall we be reused to the use
of such means? We must thoroughly ex-
anime the subject. This is the first step
and without it, nothing will ever be done
or attempted to any purpose. We must
consider well the claims ofthis cause We
must look in detail at the guilt aud evils of
war. We must strip it Of all DISCUSSES, and
see its own horrid form and features. We
must fill our minds with the subject, and
thus acquire an interest sufficient to make
us do all that is requisite on our part to
abolish war in every Christian country.
6. Present prospect Of the cause. We
cannot now dwell upon these but we can
truly say, and it may well suffice TO say,
that the cause Of peace LAS never, since the
age Of primitive Christianity, been in II con
diuon SO prosperous variety of circunl-
stances nro cousprins TO render its pros
poets peculiarly auspicioss, calling aloud Oh