New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-29

SOlemniy Impressed. as we are with the bellef
that War 10 rreconcilabe with the precep.s and
the spirit Of the Gospel, and prohibited by IT, we
cannot but feel that fearful weight OF responsibil
ty il assumed by Christian nations In its proseco
ton and under this conviction we are constrained
10 invite the professo OF the Christian religion
and especially those who are looked % as its ex
FOUNDERS 10 a very serious aid unbiased considera
tion of this subject.
five advert to the consequences resulting from
Warts tendency TO lower the standard OF public
morals-the slaughter and misery It produces-the
doruest bereavements, anguish, and mourning in
sepsrsble from it-a subject is presented 10
view. possessing the strongest claim to the serious
reflection Of the professors OF the benign religion OF
Jesus Christ
IL has been highly gratifying n observe of latter
wears that the most enlightened nations have tnan-
fested an increasing reluctance TO appeal TO the
sword-that cruel and uncertain arbiterin the set
Element OF national controversies; and that the ei
forts to adjust those controversies by peaceful ne
go,iation, have ia numerous Instances been crowned
with the most Satisfactory resnlis
The hope indeed. had been cherished that in the
present enlightened age of the world, and particu
iarv in this enlightened country, the influence Of
pure elevated moral principles and feelings. had
obtsiued such an ascendency In the minds of the
people as to prevent an appeal to arms but this
pleasing anticipation has not been realized. Our
country for a considerable time, has been engaged
in war--exerting its powerful energies In the work
of human slaughter. The fields Of a neighbOrlHg
nation have been strown with the bodies Of the
slain and it's soil drenched with their blood. Can
il be that this is in accordance with the precepts
and the spirit Of our holy religion
The Prophets in foretelling the coming OF the
Messiah, and describing the nature of his mission,
present him in the character OF the Prince Of Peace
of the increase Of tchOse government and peace,
Aeye shall be no end. IL is declared that He shall
indpe among the nations and shall rebuke many
people and they shall beat their swords into plOw-
shares and their spears into pruning hooks n0tion
shalI mol In MP su0Td against nation netther shall
fh.p learn ,rar any more" This strong and unequiv
ocai language early indicates that IL the Will
and purpose OF the Most high that var Should event
uaIy be abolished.
And in the funess OF time, when an angel wac
commits stoned TO announce the advent OF the prom
ised Saviour, the annuncaton was accompanied
with rapturous song from "a multitude OF the
heavenly host, praising God, and saying glory 10
(;od in the highest, and earth peace, good will
toward men,
La harmonious agreement with the language OF
prophecy and the ecstatic gong the angelic host
was the life aud ministry OF our Lord and Saviour
The law of the preceding dispensation admlttedthe
urinciue of retaliatiOn-"An eve for an eye, tooth
for a tooth He adveTts this for the express
purpose of placing prohibition upon 1t. ." But
say unto you, That ye resist not evil but whose
ever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn 10
him the other also" While those under the Law
were allowed TO hate an enemy, His command Is
al say unto YOU love your enemies, bless them that
curse YOU do good to them that hate you, and pray
for them that despitefully use you, and persecute
you-that " mdV be he children Of your FdtheT
rhich a. an Hcdren.
Now if the followers of Christ are forbidden TO re.
sst evil and 70 hate enemy, II is evident that
the spirit which engenders war caanot be enter
tanned by Them and this conclusion is rendered, II
possibe still stronger, by the high standard, and
holy inducement to which he Immediately directs
their attention,-"That ye may be the children OF
your Father which is in Heaven''
MANY other similar precepts from the same high
.utbori,y could be adduced but they are familiar
70 the class of readers whom we address. They
are Main and positive and they receive additional
force from the accompanying reference 10 the Law
of the preceding dispensatiop. They are the pre-
ceyts and nunctions of Him whom we we call our
Lord and Msster-and whom we profess to love ana
serve.
We ask for no new or strained meaning TO these
precepts we accept the words in their plain, lite.
raj import and 81 they were evidently accepted
by the Apostles and the primitive believers vi
this there can be no doubt. II we recur TO Apostoi
lie language as IL ia presented IN the pstes 10 the
Churches. we shall there meet with injunctlons
and exhortations and entire ates in strict accord
ance with the precepts of their Divine Master BE
NOT overcome with evil, but overcome evil with
good" "See that none render evil for evil, to any
man but ever follow that which is good, both
among Yourselves, and 10 all men Love rs
brethren be pitifu be courteous not rendering
railing for railing but contrariwise, blessing know.
ms that We are thereunto called, that you should M
hsru a Messing" Dearly beloved, dreRge MOI
yonrselres but rather give place unto wrath Tor
it 10 written, Vengeance IS mime rH repay sam
the Lord."
Now let us ask. if language could be framed
mara stronely prohibiting the indulgence OF the
spirt which produces war, than that IN the prece
ding passages ri. ,;e
cally i.terdicted; we reply, neither was suicide
nor many other universally acknowledged crimes
Twas seen fit to forbid them by enforcing those
virtues that must eiiectually exclude them Il
Christianity iorbids those passions which engende
war-which are fed by IT, and without which IN
deed tcanuot exist it follows inevitably that ChFis
tianity iorbids war
IL will be admitted that the views and the prac
tice of the earliest converts TO Chrlstianty-hvlnI
"A they did near the time OF its Founder ana unde
the teaching of the Apostles or their immediate
successors-are entitled to great influence In decl
ding this momentous question; and ecclesiastical
history Of the highest authority establishes the iac
that the early Christians, not only Insisted that they
were forbidden 20 tight-but that they manifested
their sincerity, by Offering up their lives, rsthe
than violate what they deemed an injunction o
their Divine Master. \ few cases may here o'
cited -,
hsfore the tribunal To be enrolled as soldier, re
fosed-saying TO the Proconsul " "a" Chr'sf'a"
md cannot felt" On being told that there wa
mo .lterostive between bearing arms and oein'
mt 10 death, he promptly and firmly replied
ranuof fgAk III del" He continued hrm 10 hi
nr;ncinles. and was lei to execution.
The primitive Christians not only refused 70 t On
LAT "a soldiers but those in the army VINO
Christianity Immediately abandoned the profession
without regard to consequences
Narcellus Roman Centurion, on oecon''us
convert to Christianity, promptly resigned nus oou
mission. declaring that, having become Cnris''S
ne could serve no longer.-"lt is not lawful sa
be for a Christian to bear arms for any carr.
.ons,Aerafioa" lie continued firm In ms reiuss
.nd suffered death ON that account.
Cassisn. who was Notary IN the same Legion
an embracing Christianity, resigned his comm'ss'o'
and firmly sdhering to the sentiments avowed o
Nsrcellos-like him was led to execution Msr1il
Smother Roman, who was bred to the profession
Of arms on being converted TO Chris;an'ty, soan
aoned the army, saying Il am q Chnstisn' d"
therefore cannot light ...o~. mich
These are not isolated cases-many more ms
be sdduced if i. were necessary-bat tue iso1
Aim to establish will not be denied. IerIulilau' |.
speaking OF large portion OF the Roman a''l.9'
siter Christianity had been widely spread over ~
hal n