Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-02-28
PEACE...NO. XIV.

Iregard all persons as friendly to the
cause of Peace who are willing to labor
IN any way for the abolition of war; and
ma jori,y of these in our own country
admit, while increasing numbers deny,
that tie GOSPEL iust6es wars strictly defen-
sive. This is the only point of difference
among US on the subject of Peace whatev-
er NAV be the diversity Of our views on
kindred topics; and think this difference
among those who agree on so many points
OF practical importance, need not, and
should not prevent their cordial co-opera-
ton in efforts to Danish the custom Of war
from Christendom and the world.
should like to state at length my rea-
sons for believing ALL acar contrary to The
gospel; but will barely hint at fewtop-
les of argument, and reserve full discus
sion Of the subject for more favorable
opportunity.
/. The SPIRIT of 4oar IN all ITS forms
Is confessedty at rartance ooith the spirit
of the gospel; and It is vain to think of
having war without its spirit. Can the
spirit which brought the Son of God from
heaven to the cross, which actuated apos-
ry page of the New Testament, be recon-
ciIed with the spirit inseperabIe from war?
Even a war purely defensive goes upon
the principle Of saving ourselves by the
= destruction of others, and of doing them
il, the very injury which we fear they will
e do US, Where does the gospel teach or
sanction such a principle as this? Give
= us the cha Dter and verse.
r 2. Christianity seems nerer to haze con-
t templated ocGr, any more than piracy it.
+ SELF as a condition Of its cotarles. Proph-
h cts, in foreteling its reign, represent war
f as ceasing from the whole earth neither
: Christ nor his apostles ever taught Christ
y ians how 10 fight according to the gospel {;
II there is not in all the New Testament a
$, solitary precept adapted specifically to the
e profession of soldier; and warning
t. disciple OF the Prince of Peace is con-
- cep,ion as foreign from, the gospel as would
IL be that of Christian pirate.
s. 8 The duties and graceS Of the Christ
n, IAN are incompatible aoith ecar. l will
- not enumerate them but the slightest &C
y quantance with the gospel must convince
any candid mird, that the qualities requir
S, ed 10 the Christian, are the very reverse
c. of those demanded of the soldier. He is
a. living contradiction Of Christianity. /
er is absolutely impossible for the soldier tc
lie do what the gospel requires, and still con
c. tnue his work of violence, his trade O
or r.bbery and murder. Indeed, the advo
ne Gates of war suppose he can and will burr
c. villages, and plumber cities, an ravoge
it empires, and butcher men, women anC
children by thousands, and fill the eart
DIS with lamentation and war, all from mo
)" tives of benevolence: from the dictates o
as al enlightened conscience Strange sup
nd position; and yet without it, the whoIear
al gument for war falls to the ground.
- 4. The Bible expressly prohibits AL
'Ie THE MORAL ELEMENTS ON WAR. nigh
on safely challenge any man to specify sin
~ gle thing peculiar to war, whic h the boo|
ey of God does not condemn. Thou shaI
of not steal. Thou shalt not kill. Tho
- shalt not bear false witness. Avenge no
an yourselves. Resist not evil Lay asid
* all malice" The Bible is full of precept
nd and prohibitions like these; and you will
E." find it both directly and indirectly con
nd demning every thing which goes to max
Ike war what it is.
We The absurdity of supposing any specie
- Of war consistent with tie gospel, wou|
les be very obvious to any one who Shout
,e) attempt barrel Y to conceive the Prince {
nd Peace, or one of his apostles, at the hea
Ia Of an army, or war waged from Chris
he ian motives. on Christian principles, an
,g, with Christian feelings The Prince {
M Peace leading forth men to plumber, bur
cir and massacre! Christians, in the spir
of of forgiveness, from love to their enemie:
for on the principle of doing as they wouI
. be done by, sending thousands of soul
co. into the bottomIess pit! perpetrating a
it, the atrocities of war, and entailing all il
- woes for two worlds, in a Christian wa,
- in the very spirit that carried Paul fror
- continent to continent and brought the Sa
vior from heaven to the manger and tn
ere crossI! Yet it comes to this, or all war
al forbidden in the gospel.
led have no space TO examine objections
en- but will just say that the usual reptile
nd the best | have ever seen from the able
en-, minds, do not reach the point This a.
md gument from the Bible never has bee
the met, and, believe, it never can be me
M from Scripture; and the only answers a
IL. tempted, virtually concede the point in di
ler pa,e by leouiag the BIBLE, and appealin
er. solely to prejudice and perverted reaso,
In cannot admit the validity of such replie
'ess1 God is not to. be thus contradi{ted to h
er- face Idemand q better warrant for, tt
er. Wholesale butsheries Of war than the G