Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-19

christians, not only insisted that they were 70
hidden to fight-but that they manifested the
sincerity, by offering up their lives. rather tina
violate what they deemed. an injunction Of the
Divine Master. A few cases may here be citet
Macmillan, Roman youth, on being brougf
before tribunal, to be enrolled a soldier, Re
fus.d--saying to the Proconsul." II am Chris
tan, and cannot fight" On being told th'
there was no alternative between bearing arms
and being put to death. he promptly and firrnl
replied-..I cannot fight if / die" He contin
ued firm to his principles, and was led to exc
cuiion.
/ The primitive Christians not only refused
enlist, soldiers, but those in the army who EN-
braced Christianity, Immediately abandoned tn
profession, without regard to consequences,
Marceliue, Roman Centurion, on becomini
a convert to christianity. promptly resigned hi
commission, declaring. that having become
christian, he could serve no longer. at is no
law full - said he, 'for a Christian to bear arm
for any earthly consde ration" He continued
firm in his refusal, and SUITE red death that
count.
Cassian, who was Notary in the lie
commission, and firmly adhering to the senti'
me nts.. avowed by Marcellus-iike him was leo
to execution. Martin, another Roman who wa.
bred to the profession Of arms, on being CONVEX
ted to Christianity, abandoned the army, saying
81 am Christian, and therefore cannot fight
These are not isolated cases--many more
might be adduced if it were necessary-out the
fact we aim to establish will not be denied. Ter
tullian, in speaking Of the Roman armies. after
Christianity had been widely spread over the
world, expressly assures US, that "not Chris
tian could be found among them" Irenus, JUS
tin Martyr, and others, furnish conclusive evil
dence that the Christians Of their day bore the
most ample testimony to the incompatiblity oil
war with the spirit Of Christ aud the religion
of the Gospel-and that many of them sealed
their testimony with their blood. Clemens Of
Alexandria speaks off Christians as the "follow-
of peace and says expressly, that they
'suse none Of the implements Of war; Lactan-
thus, another early Christian, alleges that, Gil
cannot be lawful for righteous man to go to
war"
The evidence upon this point is fully sustain
ed by the early opponents Of Christianity; Gel
sus, who lived towards the close of the second
century, accuses the Christians Of his day. "o
refusing to bear arms even in cases of necessity.
Origen, the defender Of Christianity, does not
deny, but admits the fact, and justifes it, the
ground that unlawful.
II. then. the language of prophecy is clear and
positive that the time will come, when nation
shall not lift up sword against nation, nor the
people learn any more:
in ,..h |,
cepts and commandme nts of our Savior are pa
cific in the fullest degree. strictly enjoining the
forgiveness of injuries; making it the only con-
dition upon which men can hope TO be forgiven
and if He strictly prohibited the indulgence
of spirit of resentment, or retaliation:
If the early converts, under the teaching Of
the Apostles and their immediate successors
were SO solemnly impressed with the belief tina,
war was forbidden by their holy Redeemer, tina,
they could not be induced to "bear arms for any
earthly consideration" many Of them nobly
yielding up their lives in confirmation of the
sincerity Of their faith:
If all this be indisputable, we ask, if the prop
ositon is not fully and clearly established--tha,
is grevous violation Of the principles OF
our holy reIigion7
has taken place in the practice of the professors
of this benign religion in relation to war. The
importance Of the subject, aud the magnitude Of
the evils consequent upon the change, calls for
the earliest evidence Of its propriety, and of its
consistency with the precepts and spirit Of the
Gospel.
The Apostles foretold that after their decea se a
departure from the purity of the Christian faith
would take place--that men would arise speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them,
and that "many would follow their perncous
ways, by reason of whom the way Of tru tn
" Guild be evil spoken off,
That this prediction was strictly fulfilled, will
be generally admitted. The falling away from
the meek and unresisting spirit which SO con-
spicuously marked the primitive Church, was
gra dual, keeping pace with the increase Of the
general profigacy, and was doubtless accelera-
ted by the corrupting influence of union be-
tween the Church and the State.
When princes adopted the Christian religion
from motives of state policy, it is not just cause
of surprise, that courtie should claim to be
verts, nor that more modified and adulterated
system Of religion should ensue, and ultimately
prevail amongst subjects nor that war should cease
to be regarded as violation Of the spirit and
precePts of the Gospel.
1t will not be denied, that the precepts and
lnjunctions of our blessed Lord, are binding up
On individual believers. 1t becomes, then, an
inquiry of the utmost importance, and We COM
mend it to the mature and solemn reflection Of
all, by what human authority-by what human
tribunal, can a community be absolved from the
observance of those Divine laws and injunctions
which are acknowle dyed to be binding upon its
individual members7
If it be said, that christianity exonerates ma
lions from those duties, which she has imposed
upon individuals, We ask for the ground upon
which the assumption is based. II the plea Of
expediency be made, does it not imply distrust
Of Divine protection! And if expediency be
Justification Of violation ofone Divine Law. it
is not perceived why it may not, with equal pro-
priety, be urged injusti6cation of violation of
.verv oth.r n;rn> law II human anfhoy;tv