Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-04-20

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which is IN Heaven"
Many other similar preceps from the same
high authority could be adduced, but they are
familiar TO The class of readers whom we ad-
dress. They are plain and positive and they
receiv9q qaddiuonal force from The accompanying
reference to the Law of the preceding dispen-
salion. They are The precepts and in uncnons
Of Him whom we call our Lord and Master
and whom We profess 10 love and serve.
We ask for no new, or strained meaning to
these precepS; We accept he words In their
PLAIN literal import and so they were evident
ly accepted by The Apostles, and The primitive
believers. OF this ,ae9e eau be no doub'. II
we recur 10 Apostolic language as II Is present.
ed in the Eplses to the Churches, We shall
there meet with In unctions, and exhortaiions,
and entrealies ia strict accordance with he pre-
cepts of their Divine Master " Be not over
come of evil, but overcome evil with good. p
" See that none render evil for evil, 10 any man;
but ever follow that which Is good, both among
yourselves, and to all men," Love As breih-
rem, be piiul. be courteous, not rendering rail-
ing for railing, bot conrarlwl,e. blessing; know
ing that ye are ,hereuno called, that ye should
inherit blessing" Dearly beloved, aUenge
not yOurSeiueS; but rather give place unto wrath;
Tor II Is written. Vengeance IS nine; [ cUlN repay,
saith The Lord"
Now lie, US ask. if language could he framed,
more strongly prohibiting The Indulgence OF the
spirit which produces wdr, than that IN the pre-
ceding passages.
Ii i, be said that war is moi directly, and
specifically 1nerdicred we reply, neither was
suicide nor many other acknowledged crimes.
IL was seen fl, to forbid them by enforcing
those virtues that must effeclualy exclude them.
IL Christianity foIblds those passions which en-
gender war-whch are fed by it, and without
which, indeed, il cannot exist, il follows inev-
ilshly that Christianity forbids war.
Ii will he admitted that The views and the
practice OF The earlies. converts to Christianity
living as they did near the time OF lis Found
er, and under the. teaching of the Apostles, or
their immediate successOrs-are entitled 10
great influence, in deciding this momenous
question; and ecclesiastical history of the high
est authority establishes The fact that The early
Christians not only insisted that they were for
hidden 10 fght-but that they manifested their
sincerity. by offering up their lives rather than
violate, what hey deemed. an injunction Of
their Divine Master. A few cases may here
! DE cited:
| Macmillan, a Roman youth. on being brought
before the tribunal, To be enrolled as soldier,
refused ed-saying to The Proconsul, 81 am q
! Christian and cannot fight" On being told that
there was no al,ernau.e between bearing arms,
and being put To dea'h, he promptly and firmly
replied" I cannot fight, if l die" He con-
tuued firm TO his principles, and was led 10 ex-
ecurion.
| The primitive Christian, not only refused
10 enlist, as soldiers, but those IN The army who
embraced Christianity, Immediately abandoned
I,he profession, without regard 10 consequences.
MarcelIus, Roman Centurion on becoming
convert 10 Christianity, promptly resigned his
commission. declaring, that having become a
Christian. he could serve no longer" 1t is
not la wful," said he, Tor Christian 10 bear arms
for anu earthly considerat,on' He continued
firm m his refusal, and suffered death on that
! account.
Cassian, who was No'arv IN the same le-
eon, on embracing Christianity, resigned his
commission, and firmly adherng 10 The senn-
ments avowed by MarceIlus---lIke him was led
to execution. Masun, another Roman, who
was DreQ 10 tne p1oltSaIoh vi dtiHS, oh o0iHS
converted TO Christianity, abandoned The army.
saving, =" | am Christian and therefore can
not fight"
THESE are not isolated cases---many more
miphl be adduCed if II were necessary---but The
la,t we aim 10 establish will not be denied.
Tef,uIlan. IN speaking of large portion OF the
R,uan armies, after Christianity had been
widely spread over me world, expressly assures
US, that nol Christian could be found among
Them" Ireueus. Justin Martyr. and others,
furnish conclusive evidence tha, the Christians
OF ,heit day bore the nDst ample testimony TO
the ncompaubilily Of war with +he religion OF
,hr Gospel.--and lha. many of them sealed their
testimony with their blood. Clemens o Alex
audris. speaks of Christians as The . followers
of peace" and says expressIy,,hat they used
non. OF The implements of war" Laclanilus,
ano her early Christian, alleges that, 1t can
never os lawful for righteous man TO 60 10
wsr"
i The evidence upon this point is fully sos-
tanned by The early opponents of Christianity :
C.ls.s, who lived towards The close of The
second cen,ury, accuses The Christians OF his
dsy. OF refusing TO bear arms, even in cases
of necessity" Ongen. the defender OF Chris
usn,ry, doe. no, deny. bu. admits the fact. and
iu.,,fss it on The ground that war was unlawful