Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-11-02
S4O53O O3
PEACE DEPARTMENT.
La~fulness OF War for Christians, Exams
tined.


BY wal, laws are compelled to silence;
charity is laughed at; youth is corrupted
by every species of vice; and contempt of
piety and general corruption of principle
and morals, are its attendants. And yet,
wonderful to relate, there are many who
argue with such degree of plausibility,
in favor of what they call defensive war,
that even pious people are led into a per-
suasion that it is justifiable for christians
to engage in it, for the safety and defence
of Themselves their country, liberties, civil
rights, &C., alleging that seIf-defence is the
first law Of nature; and that custom and
the laws Of nations, dictate to repel force
by force; can christianity, therefore, say
they, forbid it? To which let it be re-
piled,
|. That the author Of the christian Re-
ligion fully answered the query, "can
christianity forbid it2" when he said,
" Ye have heard that it hath been said, an
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth !;
but | say unto you, that We resist not evi! :
but whatsoever shall smite thee on thy
right cheek, turn to him the other also"
IF We forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your heavenly Father forgive
your trespasses." How clearly does
Christ here point out the change from
the Jewish law, to his own divine law of
peace and forbearance; and inculcates the
principles offorgivness and non-resstance,
forbidding every kind OF retaliation, or any
thing like repelling force by force!
2. Custom and the laws of nations can
not be a certain criterion by which to
judge of the truth of position; because,
they are fallible. Custom is changeable,
and often erroneous. Professed christian
warriors now detest former customs, of
putting all prisoners of war to the sword,
or making slaves of them: and, had the
laws Of kingdoms or nations always been
consistent with the nature Of christianity,
they would never have condemned the
martyrs 10 the flames, nor the Africans to
cruel slavery. Thus, as laws of nations
as well as custom, appear 10 have been
erroneous, they afford no support to the
advocates Of war.
3. Self-defence, it is said, is the first law
OF nature; but it is of nature only it be-
longs solel y to the animal life and the
brute creation knowing no further, act up to
the perfection of their nature. Had man,
like them, no higher privilege than mortal
existence. he might be right in following
their example: bat man is rational crea-
ture, and has an immortal soul to guard
from every faint of guilt, and disobedience
TO hts Makers will: consequently, if duty
to his God call for it, he is to give up ali,
even his natural life. He that loses his
life for my sake, shall find it." saith the
Saviour. Thus the martyrs yielded their
backs to the scourge, their breasts to the
sword Of the executioner, and their bodies
to the flames, without resistance or a muir.
muir: even praying for their murderers.
And some Of these died for refusing to
fight. But men are not only rational
Creatures: those who lay claim to chris.
tianity, profess to be governed by Chris
tan principles. Yet, let it be remember
ed. that we are no further governed by
christian principles. than as we are influ-
enced by Christ's spirit, follow his exam
pie. and adhere to his precepts Is there
TO be found any thing like self-defence, in
any instance Of his conduct! or, do we
tssdinsnyof ms preOePt,. a command. or