The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-08-19

ms, 10 eStaDllSn new order OF
things, it may be proper and just to
make use Of these same weapons to
defend the right. Christsays: "They
that take the sword shall perish by
the sword" This clearly implies
that the aggressor in the use of such
weapons is the guilty party, and that
he shall meet with condign punish
ment in the use of his own chosen
weapons. War is n terrible evil, but
it always has its origin in wrong, and
those that defend and propagate the
wrong till it ripens into war, must be
responsible for the consequences.
If truth and right were in the as
sendepcy, and error and wrong had
no power, or were crushed out of ex-
istence, then there would be no oc-
casion for conflict, and men might be
patriots without sacrifice, and chris
tians without bearing the cross
But as it is, with covetousness, am
bition, and lust in the hearts of men,
the patriot, to be such, must lay his
life on his country's altar, and the
christian must lay his life on the al
tar of God. In the language of an
other. Every degree of perfection is
the result Of conflict. The re2emp-
ton of the human race was accom-
plished through suffering, and saliva
ton had not been known had not It's
author been wounded, and through
His stripes we are healed. The high
est culture OF the human soul is Sc
cured by conflict and suffering. A
Echaracter may be passive but can
never be perfect unless it has passed
through conflict. This applies with
a striking force to nations. Look at
the depths of slavery and corruption
in those nations that have slept long
in their security without conflict
China has passed centuries in sccu-
rity, yet China is a corrupt and fee
bic nation. Contrast her with Eng
land, England has been deluged
with war three times, yet England to-
day, is one Of the strongest nations
of the earth. Our nation in it's in
fancy was baptized in blood, and af-
ter having vanquished our foes, gain
ed our liberty, and secured the best
government on which the sun ever
shone, we have had period of COM
parative peace, characterized by
great prosperity. But while we
have had elements of prosperity in
our land, we have also had elements
of conflict. Social, moral, and po-
litical corruption have kept pace with
our growing and increasing prosper
ity.
Judge M'Lean, who was we'll ac-
quainted with our national history,
and who had for n long time resided
in the city Of w ashington, once said,
in conversation with Governor
Wright, that our government was
the most corrupt government on the
face of the earth. If this be not
strictly true, yet there are develope-
ments, in the rebellion against which
we are engaged, which indicate the
truthfnlness Of this statement. These
corruptions, call them what we may,
have multiplied in number and in
creased in strength, till, like the pent
up fires Of the volcano, they burst
forth in wrath and fury, threatening
the destruction Of this mighty ma
ton.
But while, to human observation,
the desolating war that is upon us
would seem to threaten our Union as
a nation, yet to the believer, that re-
cognizes the hand of God i'll civil af-
sairs, it may be regarded rs the
chastening Of the Lord for our good,
for the purging of the nation. Idol
atrous nations have in the judgments
of God been destroyed; but when
has christian nation been destroy
ed, till by accumulated corruption, it
has become only nominally christian,
but really heather.
The radical wrong, that which lies
at the foundation of all practical
wrongs, which are the exciting caus-
es of strife, contention, and war, is
the want of a proper recognition and
acknowledgment of God, in the prin-
ciples and the affairs Of q nation.
'"The government" of this world
is "upon the shoulders" Of Imman-
ucl. The earth, with all it bears on
its bosom, has been consecrated to
his rcdceming purposes; its sove-
reignty has been ceded to him rs
the reward of His mediatorial SER
vice and suffering. The crown of
an undivided empire encirclcs the
brow of Messiah King. Byright OF
redemption and right of covenant,