Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-05-04

since received small pamphlet, addressed 10
teachers and professors Of ofchristianity entitled
" considerations respecting the lawfulness OF
war, under the gospel dispensation." For va
rious reasons we have omitted to notice it un-
til the present time. The whole work is well
written and contains much that should be read
and pondcred upon by every one. Its length
precludes its entire insertion in our columns
We however, make the following extract from
the work.
1t is not unusual to attempt justification of
war under the Gospel dispensation, by refer
ring to the wars ofthe Jews, under the dispen-
sation of the Law. 1t is conceded that many
of these wars were authorized by the Supreme
Ruler of the Universe, for purposes Of his own
inscrutable wisdom; but this high authority
cannot be claimed by Christian nations; and il
has been shown that the two dispensations are
essentially differentiated holy men during the
continuance of the legal dispensation, predicted
under the influence of the spirit of prophecy,
and that the time would come when nation
should cease to lift up sword against nation, or
to learn war any more. We have seen that
the Divine Author and Founder of the exist
ing dspensation, called the attention of his fol-
lowers to those violent and yindictive passions,
the indulgence of which were allowed under
the Law, for the express purpose of excluding
them from the code ofmorals which it was His
purpose to establish and that His immediate
followers, and their successors for nearly two
centuries, firmly believed that war was forbid
den by their Divine Master. We have shown
that the conviction was so sOlemnly sealed up
OH their consciences, that when called by the
rulers of that day to serve as soldiers, no earth
ly consideration or suffering could induce them
to swerve from this article of primitive Christ
ain faith.
And the early writers, Ireneus, Justin Mar
tyr, and Tertullian, affirm as their belief, that
the prophecy which declares that men should
turn their swords into ploughshares, and their
spears into pruning-hoo was then fulfilled.
With the hope of enforcing our views upon
this subject, and for the purpose of showing
that they are neither wild nor visionary, we
here offer the sentiments of persons respecting
it, who lived at different periods of time, and
were eminen. for their pety or learning.
WAR;" says Erasmus, " does more harm
to the morals of men, than even to their prop
erty and persons and again, "They who
defend war, must defend the dispositions which
lead to war and these dispositions are absO-
lutely forbidden by the Gospel"
Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, asserts
that " War has practices ard principles pecu-
liar to itself, which but i'll quadrate with the
rules of moral rectitude, and are quite abhor-
rent to the benignity of Christianity"
Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon and Lord
High Chancellor of England, says, that "War
introduces and propagaies opinions and prac-
tees as much against Heaven as against earth;
it lays our nature and our manners as waste as
our gardens and habitatons and we can as
easily preserve the beauty of the one, as the
integrity OF the other, under the cursed juris-
dicton of drums and trumpets."
William Law, piOus minister Of the church
of England, and well known as the author Of
" A Practical Treatise on Christianity" AYERS
that "There is not virtue Of Gospel good
ness, but has its death-blow from war;
The eminent DR.. V. Knox, after remarking
that almost all the professions have some char
acteristic manner, observes, 1t happens, un-
fortunately, that profgacy, libertinism, and in
fidelity, are thought by weaker minds, almost
as necessary part of soldiers uniform, as
his shoulder-knot. To hesitate at an oath, to
decline intoxication, to profess regard for re-
ligion, wonld be almost as ignominious as to
refuse challenge"
The British poet, Southey, notwiths tandng
he had eulogized the heroes of his native land,
was constrained to speak in terms of high com
mendation of those who refuse to fight and
he declares that "The prohibition of war by
our Divine Master, is plain, literal, and unde-
niable.
The Bishop of Landaff, says, 81 am per-
suadcd that when the spirit of Christianity
shall exert its proper influence over the minds
of individuals, and especially over the minds of
public men in their public capacities, over the
minds of men constituting the councils of Prin-
ces,-when this happy period shall arrive, war
will cease throughout the whole Christian
world ("
Now, if it be true that" The dispositions
which lead to war are absolutely forbidden by
the Gospel ;''-if they "are quite abhorrent
to the bengnity of Christianity ;"-if war
introduces and propagates opinions and prac-
tices as much against Heaven as against
earth ;''.if it "lays our natures and our man.
ners as waste as our gardens and habitations,"
and renders it as difficult to preserve the
beauty of the one, as the integrity of the 9TH
er: :"
If "therc is not a virtue ofGospel goodness,
but has its death-blow from war If it is pro-
ductive of profigacy, hbertanism, and inf
deity ;''-if all this be true, should not every
wise and good man-shoud not all who are
seeking to promote the present and eternal
welfare of their fellow-men, unite in one great
and untiring effort to abolish, to Danish from
the earth this cruel, demoralizing, and destruc-
tive scourge
MURDER IN JEST. On last Thursday
week, young man named Norman Bemis was
shot down, in the town of Liverpool, ILL.,, on
the evening of his marriage, while walking to-
wards the house Of relation. AS Bems APP
preached the house, he observed a person, in
female attire, carrying two guns, and saluting
the figure, he stepped towards it, and was i'm
mediately shot dead. The figure proved to be
a Mr.. Nehemiah Nor,hrop, an acquaintance Of
Bemis, who, with others, was engaged in get
ling up a charirari on the occasion Of Bemis'
marriage. lie declared that it was an acci-
dent, and that he did not know the gun was
loaded. 1t is said, that no unkind feelings ex-
listed between the parties.
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