The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-10-22

Forgive the sn und make me Thine.
Prayer FOR Our Enemies.
An enemy il one who is crdtuvorng TO iujuro
us. lie may be private enemy, or personal,
or national. An enemy may consist of an in.
dividual or multitude, a coniederacy or n
nation. r..
But whether an enemy consists of individuals
or of a combined multitude, whether their en-
dcavors be to injure us personally OF AZ COM
munity, we are in duty bound to love and pray
for them. The Savior requires this. His com.
mand il, "hove your enemies, bless them that
curse you do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them thit dispitctully use you" This
command OF our Savior snd Iawgivor should
determine our duty toward our enemies in the
civil war now going on in ihcsn United Stalca
This war should not be conducted in the spirit
of revenge, but with the spirit of love and
prayer.
We cannot love our enemies ns we do our
lends, that s, with the love of compacency;
but we can love them with love of piety, some
what as God loves our sinful world. We cap
bless them that Is, wish them well chat curse us
We can do good TO them that hate rs, aud We
can "pray for them that dc5ptcfully nae us
For these wo eau pray, although we may be
under the painful necessity of killing them to
lug the Constitution and laws of the beat govern
rnent on earth, and utterly running tho nation
In our religious assenblies we hear prayers
offered Cor our rulers that they may be endowed
with wisdom from above, thnt our national
government may be enabled TO enact good and
wholesome laws and administer them in right
cousncss; and that our soldiers in the field Of
battle may be- inspired with patriotism and
courage, and that success may be given to our
arms for the entire conquest of our enemies
who havo rson ur ~ rnh"t;"r against tho g"v-
erumcnt OF tho United States .
Itis certainly desirable that we obtain victory
over rebels who have risen up against the best
government on this globe, whose rebellion has
no lust cause for its foundation; rebels VIII"
had never been injured by any act at the gov
ernment aud who are not Mt oil likely 10 be;
rebels who have wrought themselves up to u
they belong to their political party aud will ap
prove of thirr measure; whose mode OF warfare
,s not circumscribed by the common usages OF
civilized nations Certainly when such men rise
up against such government and tramplc Oh
its Constitution and defy its laws, which many
Of them had soerlnl, sworn to maintain, they
must br put down. IL there be no other way 10
put down such enemies, whether they he Tor
eigncrs or our fellow citizens; it ia our duiy to
meet them face TO iNce on the field OF battle
Although many of them may be proicSscd
Christians and members with us in our respect
i've denominations, they had better lose THEN
lives than that our national existence ha de-
stroycd when Il comcs 10 THE we must kit
or bc killed, as it ia the duty of every man,
Christian AS well Ms others, TO defend our liberty
enemies place themselyca in the Ottitndc OF
beasts OF prey in order TO aeatroy us without
any Just cause, aud they tall in battle, the DiaIue
lies upon themselves. They have chosen death
in the error of thcir ways, ard il is our duty 10
inNict il in the field OF battle it in our power,
is in accordance with Coda commands to his au
ccut people Israel, which in numerous instance,
are recorded In sacred history.
But il is our duty TO use every means ia our
power to prcveuta fatal coudict with our enemies.
Especially is it our duty to pray ,hat God would
iulerposc in mercy that he would prevent our
taking II wrong view of the cause and the cou-
tcntion, shat be would 1nllghten oar minds
and give us a broader sense OF oGr duty aud dis
pose Us 10 do it, aud that he would defend Us
from tho wrath of our enemies We should
prsy that he would dispose them to peace, tina,
no would convince th,m of their folly Snd
wiokedness in commencing wsr with their
brethren wi;hop, just cause, that itihoy hp in
hAt,ic they may have space gwen thcm to re-
peut before they die, and that God woGld have
mercy ON thcm aud save their souls
In answer to prayer God may even now con.
vince our leNow.eitscns who have risen up in
rebellion IN the South lie may convince then,
OF their great sin and dispose their hearts to
rc,racc their steps aud return Qojeuy 10 their
homes and a. peace with tEoir brethren, submit
again contribute 10 the prosperity of the nation
"Tbe hearts OF kiugs are in the hands Of the
Lord, he turncth them as the rivers of water
are turned" And We are told that "Ihe effect
ual feryent prayer Of the righteous availeth
much" When rebellion shall cease the war
will cease, aud no, ill then, 4. SPICER.
wHEN see how much mas been written OF