Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1841-10-13
For the Vermont Telegraph.

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Resistants. Men are sinners, and liable
to iniure each other as individuals and
nations. How shall men adjust lheir diff
6cullies! how treat their enenies2 Where
shall the christian 60 to learn2 TO the
Lawyers2 No. To the Bill of Rights.
the Constitution, or criminal code? No. |
To the constabes, sheriffs, courts. or Ie- |
gislatures2 No. To instinct? No. To |
popular custom and the will of the people!
No. Where? To Jesus, our only Law
giver, Judge and King. AS little children
we will sit at his feet and ask, Lord, how
shall we treat our enemes2 When He
tells us we must abide by his counsel, or
cease TO claim the name of chrisliar.-
How does Christ instruct US 10 treat our
enemies2 -.**. ....-..
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES" This
is the law of Christ's kingdom, and no
man can be christian and not Glove his
enemies" There are no exceptions, no
limitations. in favor of nations or of ex-
IRENE cases-but in all possible cases,
whether they act as individuals OF nations,
men are to "Iove their enemies land to
show that love in appropriate fruits.
What are the appropriate fruits of love
TO enemies! Swords and guns, armies
and navies, battle fields, strown with the
wounded, dying and dead. the shout of
warriors, the pranciug war-hcrse. the can
mons murderous roar and garments rolled
in blood? Love is gentle, easy to be en-
takes offense, soolhes and calms-is not
suspicious, is con6iing. thinks no evil,
does no evil, to those who are loved
LOVE sEEKETH NOT HER owN-looks no,
to her own interest, but 10 the Interests OF
} those who are loved. Jesus showed his
love for his enemies, not by inflicting suf-
fering and death on them, but by suffering
and dying for their good. If the same
mind be in Us that was in Christ Jesus,
and it will be if we are christians) we
shall do to our enemies as he did to his.
Love contends for the right to suffer
never for the right to inRict suffering
Love contends for the right to die never
for the right to kill How earnestly would
father contend for the rig bit to die rather
than kill child!
Suppose you were my enemy. You
have got me into position where / mus
kill you or let you kill ME. There are
two principles. One says, KILL YOUR
y ENEMY.--tbe other says, DIE YOUR
e SELF. All armed resistance, under what
It ever name or form, in individuals or ma
tions, says kill your enemy. Nou-resis,
e ance says, die yourself On which o
d these principles did Jesus act? On which
$ does he require his followers to act
Which is most magnantmoas xii
your enemy, or die YOURSELF Which
principle is safest7
Father, spare my enemy-let me die
says non-resistance. Father, kill mine
enemy-spare me" says armed resistance
> If we love our enemies, as Christ hath
Z loved u.s. in all cases of controversy abou
$ property, we shall contend for the RICH
to give it up rather than fer the right to
= keep it. If a coat, house, or piece oil
land were in dispute between you and me-
= and loved you. should say, "my brother.
keep the Coat house or land; only love
me-give me brothers heart; tina, is oil
more value to me than all The property in
the world" So If life were a, stake be-
: tween US, should say, if loved you,
, any brother, lice, let me die" Love
SEEKETH NOT HER OWN" Can-
ry out this, and where would be the pres
ent system of treating enemies2 Love
is not only just, but generous. She would
} rather suffer and die than be the occasion
ofsufering and death tot those whoare loved
This is n-resistance-aH of it. We
contend that it is our privilege, our right,
our duty. 10 suffer and die rather than
E Cause suffering and death 10 our enemies
3 To kill our enemies in seIf,defence, is to
kill them for our benefit. All military
defence, says it is our right and duty to
kill or enemies for our benefit. Non
: resistan,s think it is impossible to do this,
; if men have the spiri, Of Christ-have put