Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-18
PEACE DEPARTMENT.
Lawfulness of War for Christians, Exam
ined.

Lawfulness of War for Christians, Exam
ined.
APPENDIX.-TertulI in his "sol-
der's garland" says, that many in his
time Immediately on their conversion,
! quilted the military SERVICE" We are al
so told by Archelaus, who fourished I'M
der Probus, that many Roman soldiers,
after having witnessed the pety and gen.
crosby of MarcelIus, and having embra-
ced christianity, Immediately torsook the
profession of arms. We are also told by
Eusebus, that about the same time, mum
bers laid aside military life, and became
private persons, la;her than inJure their
religion.' And Martin, of whom Sutpi-
cius says 50 much, had been bred to the
profession ofarmS, but on his conversion
to christianity, declined it, saying, " am
christian, and therefore | cannot fig ht ~
CELSIUS, who lived at the end Of the Sc
cond century, attacked the christian reli-
9ion charging its followers, among other
things, with refusing TO bear arms for the
Emperor, even IN cases OF necessity; say
ing, that if the rest of the empire were OF
their opinion, it would soon be overrun by
the barbarians. Origen, who lived in the
third century, admits in his answer to
CELSIUS, that the christians should not bea r
arms, and justifies them for refusing, on
the principle Of the unIawfuness Of war
These early writer's COnsideIe ed the
prophecy that swords should be turned in
to pIou9 hshares, &c. was in the act OF
completion in individuals of those times.
lrenaus, about the year $50, SAYS,
1.-The christians have changed their swords
and their Iances into instruments of peace,
and they know not how to foht'
Justin Martyr, contemporary with Iren-
Rus asserts, that the prophecy is fulfill
ed, you have good reason to believe, for
we, who in times past killed one another
do not now fight with our enemies"
That there were no christian soldiers
IN the first and second century, is evident
and that christianity was then in its purest
state will, trust, be granted by all.
Let US now trace their character, as
given by Athanagorus, Justin Martyr
MlnuCius Felix, and others and See how
1t squares with their principles and prac-
tlce. "Ihey were, say the writer's, plain
and frugal in their apparel and furniture,
temperate IN their eating and drinking
remQulshed all the diversions ofthe times
which they saw had any tendency TO evil
punctual to their words and ENGAGEMENTS
lovers oftruth, and of one another kind,
courteous and chartablet to others, beyond
example; abStaintd from all manner oil
violence, prayed for their enemies who
prosecuted them ere patterns OF humiIi
! ~ and patience; made no sacrifices of con.
science, even to save their lives"
But IN the third Century, the christian
. discipline began to relax and degener.
acy took lace, Corruptions are noticed
IN this century by various writer's; Cvp-
: ran complains of them in the midd ie, and
> Eusebus at the end of it, The lautr
gives melancholy account of their
/ change: that they INDUCED in uxuries
> began to be envious, and quarreIsome. and
to dlssemble, and taIsify their words -
> That such as these should be found in the
| army, IS not to be marvelIed at
? But the professors of christianity were
still more degenerate in the fourth cen,r.
. ~. Lactanuus, in his d" death of the n4r.
SeC u|eu' says, mere were christians
who assisted at soEe of the heather sacr;.
t fees. Abundance of evils sprung nm IN
| the church in this century. Constantine
Z the Emperor protesting to embrace the
= christian religion, it became the re(ioior
D Of the state: but he Introduced into The
e church, many pagan ceremonies and sn
r perstNlons, to It's great detriment Anc
e what e Sc could be expected, when he dir
: not dispense with the bIasphemous title,
;. that had been given to his predecessors o
r Eternity, Divinity, and Pontifex Maxi
it mus. But the christians, pleased with
n having an Emperor oftheir own persua
r sion, submitted to his idoIatrous customs
b opinions, and innovations upon their reli
$ gion, sacrificing their consciences to thei
v ease and safety. Thus their scruple,
Il against war relaxed, and the unlawful
d ness Oft was given up And no marve
e lift was, when such mixture of chris
: tianity and paganism had taken place il
r the church.
J. Now, seeing that the early christians
e who lived in the time Immediately follow
: ing that Of the apostles. uniformly refused
to fight, even in national contents anc
: those Of the present day plead the lawful