Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-29
PEACE DEPARTMENT.
From the Herald Of Peace.

" sar From the Herald Of Peace
upehod bring you good things Of great Joy which
shsH BE- To all peopIe-OD EARTH peace good will to-
ward meu."-Luke u. 10. -
I. War Is contrary 10 tie sptrIt Of ch-ts-
fiaRify.
The belief is perhaps general among
Christians, that time will come when vice
shall be eradicated from the world, when
the pure benignity OF Christianity shall be
universally diffused. That such period
will come, we indeed know assuredly, for
God has promised It.
Ofthe many prophecies ofthe Old Tes-
lament respecting it, will refer only to
few from the writings Of Isaiah. In his
predictions respecting the I" last times" by
which il is not disputed that he referred 10
the prevalence Of the Christian religion,
the prophet says" They shall beat their
swords into plough-shares, and their
spears into pruning hooks; nation shall
not lift the sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more"' Again,
referring to the same period, he says
"They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my
holy mountain, for the knowledge Of the
Lord shall cover the earth as the waters
cover the seat And again, respecting
the same era" Violence shall be no
more heard in thy land, wasting nor des-
truction within thy borders"t
Two things are to be observed in rela'
ton To these prophecies: FIRST, that it is
the will Of God that war should eventual
" Be abolished. This consideration is o.
importance, for Il war be not accordan
with His viii, wa. ca mot be accordan
with Christianity. which is the revelation
Of His will My business, however, i
principally with the second consideration
---tAat Ckristiaxiiy t0iH be the moons 0
Introducing this period Of peace. From
those who say that our religion sanctions
war, an answer must be expected to ques
lions such as these BY what instrumen
tality and BY the diffusion Of what princi
ples will the prophecies Of Isaiah BE- ful
filed. Are we to expect some new sys
TEN ofreligion by which the imperfection
Of Christianity shall be removed, and it
Deficiencies supplied7-Are we 20 beliey
that God sent his only Son into the wor
to institute a religion such as this-a rel
Rion. that in few centuries, would requir
10 be altered and amended AZ Christ
anity allows war. they must tell US wha
Il Is to extirpate war. If she allows "v
olence, and wasting and destruction,
they must tell Us what are the princi pie
that are tn produce gentleness, and beneN
olence. and forbearance.-I know ne
what answer such inquiries will receiv
from the advocate OF war. but know thu
Isaiah saws the charge will be effected b
Christianity: And If any one still choose
toexpect another and purer system, a
apostle may perhaps, repress his hopes
-"Hwe, or an angel from heaven" say
which zoe have preached unto you, let biz
o be accursed."S
Whatever the principles of Christianit
vii. require hereafer, they require nov
Christianity, With its present principl
and ALLEGATIONS, is to produce universe
peace. Il becomes therefore, an absu
aity, q simple contradiction. to maintsi
that the principles Of Christianity allo
= ofwar. when they, and they only are
eradicate 1t. II we have no other qua
: antee ofpeace, than the existence Of our r
ligion. and no other hone of peace tina
In its diffusion, how can that religion sant
ton waf2 The, conclusion that it doc
not sanction itappears strictly logical:
do not perceive that a demonstration froI
Euclid can be-clearer; and think tn;
il we possessed no other evidence of II
unlawfulness Of war, there is contained
this proof which prejudice cannot den
and which sophistry cannot evade
. The case rs clear. A more perfect OBJ
dience to that same gospel, which we al
told sanctions slaughter, will be the mean
and the only means, Of eSterminatin
slaughter from the world Il is not fro
an alteration Of Christianity, But from 9
assimilation Of Christians to It's natur
that We are to hope II is because "
violate the principles OF our religion. b
cause we are not what they require rs
= be. that wars are continued. II we wi
not be peaceable, let US then. at least
honest, and acknowledge that we continr
70 slaughter one another. not becaui
Christianity permits it, but besanse we T
iect her laws.
q The practice ofsedr By Ctristsndom
one Of the gredfesf obstacles to tie era,
gsiisdfi0p Of hhe tcorId.
aThe simple conclusion natural
drawn from the percepts Of Christianit
4. that violence, and devastation, and hi
sL.isA L. 4. ffsia. ma ibid IL. 10. sGal l. 9.