Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-10
miscellaneous
THE FRIENDS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND
THE EASTERN WAR.

The following is the address Of British Friends,
10 which Kossuth replied in his exegesis in favor Of
war, which we published week before last:
4 Cb,istian Appeal from The Society Of Friends to
Mtir TtIoto Counfrymen on The present U0.
We would respectfully bespeak the serious alton
tior, of our fcllow-countrymen whilst we earnestly
plead with them, on behalf Of tho claims Of reli-
ligion aud humanity, in reference to the sanguina
~ conflict now raging in the East.
1t is, We revercntly trust, in the love of Christ,
and il is iu tue spirit of true patriotism, that we
make this appeal. Our country is dear to us; we
honour our Sovereign, and prize our free instltu-
tions; and VIC can but desire that our national poll
cy may accord with the spirit and precepts of that
Kedeemer who came mot to destroy mems lives
but to save them" We feel it to be a solemn
thing thus to stand forth as the advocates OF invio-
liable peace; and the events which are passing
around US, and the warlike spirit which meets us
ia every direction, have led us very seriously to
reyio = the grounds Of our Christian testimony in
this matter. But this review has only confirmed
tho conyiction, which we da.e not shrink from
nvowing, however unpopular at a crisis like the
present, that all war, on whatever plea OF policy or
necessity, is unlawful under the Gospel DISPENSE
ton.
Ii will DO admitted ms o truth applicable alike to
individuals and to nations, that it is only III the
use of those means which are sanctioned by the
law of Christ that we can expect the Divine bless
ing upon our efforts. Wnen tneSe means are eA
haustcd, it becomes man, rs a dependant being, to
commit all results unto Coda trust which will
never be COMPOUNDED.
Can it then be that war, with all its attendant
misery and crime, is a means the employment OF
which is sanctioned by Christianity? We unreser-
vedly make our appeal to those inspired records,
which, as Christians, we all profess to accept as a
revelation from Heaven. True it is that in the CID
Testament we find not only war, put retaliation
also, permitted, and, under certain circumstances,
even command. AS regards the command. VIC pre-
sumo that no such commission to wage war against
the Lords enemies, as that given to his chosen
pcople formerly, is pretended, or even expected
now. And in regard to the permission, it is sufi-
Gent to say, that the provisions of the Old Cove
nant, as to the return OF evil for evil, like those
bearing upon the ~coniugal relation, are expressly
coptrasted by our Lord himself with his own pre-
cepts, for the purpose Of showing that that which,
in both these cases, was allowed to them of old
time. by reason of the hardness of their hearts, is
prohibited by the higher and holier morality of the
New Covenant. To the Gospel standard, therefore,
whether exhibited by prophecy, or more fully de-
veloped by Christ himself and his Apostles, must
his protested disciples resort for their practical
guidance. In the face then of all the glorious an
ticipations of prophecy in regard to the peaceable
reign of the Messiah, and of the deep significance
of that name by which He is called "The Prince
of PJace i'm the face of the annunciation of the
Heavenly Host which characterized the new dis
pensation, as that which was to bring GLORY to
God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to-
wards menu in the face of the express commands
of our Redeemer himself, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use
you and prosecute you who will venture to say
that Christianity affords any authority or Justih-
cation for war?
And not alone by precept, but by his example
also, has our Lord and Saviour emphatically taught
us the lesson of forgiveness, forbearance, and love.
How touphinu il his nra yer for his Interest enc
mics! How wondrous the forbearance OF Him
who said, ''Thinkest thou that | cannot now pray
to my Father, and He shall presently give me more
than twelve legions of angelsW What powe,
might he not have commanded, and that not IN an,
doubtful controversy, but in the vindication G
eternal Right! yet he used it not "a forbearanct
exercised not merely with a view to The accom-
plishment of that most precious sacrifice whic
lie made of himself for our sins; but also, as W
learn from the testimony of the Apostle Peter, i
reference to this very subject, as a holy example
for our imitation, an example of abstinence fror
all selfdefensive violence, even in the best c
causes. "For Christ also suffered for us, leavin
Us an example that we should follow his steps; VIII
when he was reviled, reviled not again-when h
suffered he threatened not, but committed himsel
to Him that judgeth righteously."
Now, although it may be admitted that the pre-
cepts and example of our Lord have a primary re
erence to the conduct of individuals, they ca
surely be no less binding upon a nation professin
allegiance 10 CnrlSt Tile supreme RuleT, tlu upo
the individuals of whom it is composed. Let I
never forget the authority of Him who has thu
shown unto man what is good. Let us never 10
get that the Gospel is not a transitory but an abb
ing dispensation that 1t is the dispeLsatlon und'
which we are now actually living; and that the'
blessed principles are among its most glorious an
most essential characteristics. To affirm that the
are impracticable, or not to be prac tised, is TO S
Mt naugnt their supreme authority, and to put dl
honor upon their Divine Author. To postpor
their application until all shall act upon them Ii
in scarcely q less degree, to deny his present a
thority, and involves the practical contradiction
supposing He has prescribed a series of duties IL
things in which the occasion for their exercise sha
have ceased to exist. 1t is now in this still toss'
and tempted world, that the Christian is CALI
upon to act out these lessons. 1t is now that ne
bound to prove his allegiance to his Divine Mastt
and, so far as his influence may extend, to promo
the spreading of His kingdom upon the earth.
That kingdom is one of righteousness and pcac
and all who adopt the petition, "Thy kingde
come" at once confess the duty of their prese
subsection to 1t, and pray tor It's universal est
lishment.
With such precepts, and such an example, WI
have Christians to do with the moral or polite
standards of Greece OIL Rome nations which, wi
all their intellectual refinement, knew not the G'
pei of Christ. Yet must it not be confessed that
is from sources such as these that the maxims
the military code, and the prevailing ideas
glory in connection with successful bloodshed, a
principally drawn? And what are the effects
this heather standard on the practice of the prof
sed followers of the Lord Jesus? Without carr
ing our thoughts back to the miseries of past tint
if we turn to the affecting details of the war
which our country is now engaged, and conte
plate the vast amount of physical and moral stuff
ing inflicted on the dying and wounded, and
innocent widows and children; when we see p
fessed Christians of one nation engaged in deac
conflict with their fellow-Christian of another I
ton, in the presence of the Infinite; and above
when we think of the thousands of immortal bein
believers and unbelievers, hurried into eternit
many of them, we must fear, altogether unprep
ed to meet the righteous Judgment of God, can
believe that these things. at which humanity shl
ders, bring no dishonOr on on the religion of
sus, or that they are not offensive in the sight
Him whose name is love, who hath made of
blood all nations of men, and on whose author
we learn the value of a single immortal soul? {