The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-04-15
n [For the Literary Echo.
defensive War.

| 'DcIemS1Ve war.
Perhaps the readers of the Echo have
concluded that l was put Aors-du-com5at
in the rencounter, with friend f. D.,
some months since. / then intimated
that thought of showing at some future
time that even defensive war was contra
ry to Christianity. But deeming it pru-
dent well to consider, before pushing
the campaign farther, whether I should be
able with 10000 to meet him who might
come against me with zoe, 900, 1 retired
into winter quarters. But as Pebus is
again driving his fiery steeds towards the
summer solstice, I feel inclined once
more to take the field, and either win q
victory, conquer a peace" suffer
defeat, or fall on the field of battle. And
yet, sound the clarion with a full
knowledge that the enemy is strong and
numerous-that he will be encouraged
by the hosannas of the multitude, and
that he can eutrench himself behind the
picket guard of public opinion and
while his mode of warfare has the sane
ton of past ages, mine may be consider
ed novel, if not despicable. s.a
But, having read, in the Book of the
Wars, that " the race is not always to
the swift, nor the battle to the strong
that it is not by might nor by power that
victory is always gained, that even a horse
is a vain thing for safety and that although
the weapons of a certain kind of warfare
were not carnal, yet they were mighty,
and that cursed is he who trustetb in
man or maketh flesh his arm, but that
blessed is the man that trusteth in tho
Lord, "and many other similar promises
| say, having read these things in the
Book of Wars of the Lord, also, how
little lad with smooth pebble, in con-
nection with the name of the God Of
Israel, slew a mighty giant, though he
wielded.a staff like weaver's beam, and
was armed with coat of mail, felt
encouraged to enter upon another Gnu
paign in defence of the truth. l there
fore send in advance this my herald to
proclaim, that although / am going to
war, Yet it is not of the flesh, that the
weapons Of my warfare will not be car.
nal, that am soldier of the Prince of
Peace-a description of whom may be
found in the 10th chapter of Revelations
and that if any Of the enemy fall in
the combat, they will fall by a sword
whiuil procccdetn out OF the mouth, and
not drawn from the scabhard. -'
Lest any one should conclude fiom
what have said, that my cause will be
sure defeat, l would add that l mean
to have my loins girt about with truth,
to wear breastplate of Righteousness, to
have my feet shod with the preparation
Of the gospel Of peace, to carry before
me the shield of faith, to cover my head
with helmet of salvation, and to WELD
the sword of the Spirit. Having thus
clothed and equipped myself from the
armory of heaven, shall pray always
with all prayer to the God of battles,
that utterance may be given me, and
that l may open my mouth boldly, and
speak as | ought to speak.
But it is time to address myself direct
ly to the subject, which is" That even
defensive war is not in accordance wifi
the spirit of practical Christianity"
BY Christianity, / mean that system of
practical ethics as taught by Jesus of
Nazareth. For whatever might have
been taught as a system or systems Of
practical morality by his predecessors,
they were all superseded by his, as were
only so far obligatory, as Jesus. incor-
porated them into his jurisprudence.
or Moses hixself truly declared, that
the Lord would raise up Prophet (or
Teacher) like him, and to that Prophet
the people were to harken; and Peter
adds fearful penalty to him who should
refuse to listen to him. In explaining