Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-09-05
PEACE DEPARTMENT.
From the Christian Review.
WI G X DNESS OF WAR.

i 0hO CtSll lL1IO Jul Wei
festivals and pomps, that its occasional
recurrence is deemed matter of unavoid.
able necessity. Even the friends of mans
highest welfare seem to regard a general
pacltlcatlon of the world as a mere ITO
plan scheme, and choose to lend their
energies and prayers to obects, which
seem Of more probable attainment. This
apathy and incredibly are only 20 be
overcome by free discussion and forcibIe
appeals. May this humble effort serve
10 excite some minis to further investi-
cation!
1t is not our intention TO enter upon the
question, on which good men may differ
in opinion, whether defensive war may
ia any case be justified, nor upon regu-
lar discussion Of the general subject; but
merel y to offer few Thoughts to show
how utterly at variance the spirit of war
is with truth and righteousness.
1. 1t contradicts the genius and inten-
ton of Christianity.
! Christianity requires US to seek to
amend the condition of man. But war
cannot do this. The world is no better
for all the wars of five thousand years.
Christianity, if it prevailed, would make
the earth paradise. War, where it pre-
walls, makes it slaughter-house, cen of
Thieves, a brotheI, a hell. Christianity
cancels the laws of retaliation. War is
blsed upon that very principle. Chris
tianity is the remedy for all human woes.
War produces every wo known 10 man.
Thn IF u-oII
itself, are contrary to the gospel. 1t orr
ginates in the worst passions and the
worst aims. We may always trace it to
the thirst of revenge, the acquisition OF
territory, the monopoly Of commerce, the
quarreIs of kings, the intrigues Of minis
tiers, the coercion Of religious opinion, the
acquisition of disputed crowns, or some
other source, equally culpable; but never
has any war, devised by man, been found
ed on holy tempers and Christian princi-
pies.
All the features, the concomitants,
all the results of war, are the opposite
of the feature, the concomitants, the re-
suits of Christianity. The two systems
conflict in every point irreconcilably and
-'-'~olly To he more specific, it may
be remarked, that
q War sets at nought the examples Of
Jesus
One of Chlist's primary laws is, "Learn
of me. for am meek" &c. His conduct
was always pacific. He became invisible
when the Nazarites sought to cast him
down from their precipice. When troop
came 10 arrest him, he struck them down,
was that he "came not to destroy mems
lives, but 10 save"
> True, he once instructed his disciples
to buy swords, telling them, that they
were going forth into world Of enemies
, But the whole passage shows he meant
to speak by parable. They answer
there are two swords" He replies in
stantly ut is enough" How could two
swords have been enough for the twelve
apostles, if he had spoken literally! Nay
when Peter used one of these, it was toe
7 much; Christ babe him, put up thy
sword" and healed the wound. He mean
to show the apostles their danger, no
their remedy. For they were going a
"sheep among woIves.'' His metaFho
was indeed misunderstood, as it was Wher
= he said, "beware Of the leaven of tn,
r Pharisees," and they thought he meant It
5 reprove them for having no bread.
5 Once, also, he drove men from the TEN
o pie, but 1t was with "a scourge of SINAI
e cords" and a gentle doom it was, com
pared to their deserts. He expresSIy said
s his servants would not fight, because hi
: kingdom was not of this world. We fin
in his example no instances OF true sever
r itv. His whole life was benevolence per
v sonifed. He was the PRINCE OF PEACE
e Do we forget, that Christ is our exam
= plel Whatever is right for US to dc
/ would, in general, have been right 70
t, him. Imagine the Redeemer, robed il
the trappings of a man of blood, leadln:
d on columns to slaughter, laying countr!
S waste, setting fire to cities, storming for
r tresses, and consigning tens of thousand
l. to wounds and anguish, death and damna
e ton, lust to define some point Of policy
e 10 decide some kingIy quarrel, to enIa'g
l. some boundary, or to avenge some insult
S See him returning from such scenes
e stained with gore, and weary with tn
= work of death. Could "meekness am
d lowIiness" be learned from him thus en-
q gaged2
t. There is no rank or position 10 al
D. armv compatible with the character
:! Christ. 1t is most certain, that we gathe
\ no army lessons from him who "came
Il. bind up the broken-hearted, to Proclaif
10 liberty to the captives, and to comfort a
o. that mourn" 1t is most certain, that n
ut man. who makes fighting his professor
70 can find authority in the example OF on
of Lord.
nd 1t is not necessary to enlarge on tn
d, ooint. Ii will be conceded. No warrlt
= Il making Christ his natteTn.-