Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-04-24
Vol. 4, No. ~.


nations from thraldom and oppression; n
it would forbid me 10 fight for their free.
dom. when there is no other means TO
make them free, would ahjure the dog
mas Of Christianity openly, for would
hold them TO be compound OF hypocrisy.
But, fortunately, that is not the case.
Christian religion is essentially the re-
ligion Of charity. Wo to them who make
difference between public and private
charity-who restrict their love ~ their
next neighbor. and remain indifferent 10
the public sufFerings of their neighbors-
the nations.
You may, perhaps, say that vou love
them; they have your best wishes and
your fervent prayers for their deliverance;
only you would neither fight yourselves,
nor can approve Of their fighting for !,
You wish them rather TO be oppressed
and content yourself with feeding for an
hour from your abundance one hungry.
and clothe one naked, and comfort one
broken hearted. while you entreat them
to submit quietly to oppression, which
makes millions hungry. and naked, and
broken hearted, for generations to come.
But say unto you. if such be your re-.
ligion, of prayers and of good wishes, it
is not the religion Of Him who WAS sent
"to heal the broken hearted, TO preach
deliverance to the captves, and to set at
liberty them that are bruised" 1t is not
the religion Of Him who left IS the les.
son. that though understand all nv.
teries, and all knowledge. and hare all
faith. so that could remove noun tains,
and though I bestOv all my goods 10 feed
The poor, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY, II
PRoFITETH NE NOTHING"
You say il is written. "Glory 10 God in
the highest, and peace on earth, good will
towards man" But say unto you, your
version of the Gospel is apocryphal The
text runs thus: "Glory to God in the
highest, and peace on earth 10 good iciI :
ling men" (GloriE in ercelsis Dec, et
par in rerrG, homini5us, bona roluntatis. )
Your doctrine Of ''peaee at any price,
and war at no price" is good will to ILL
willing men, and i'll will to good.willing
men.
Bear good will to all men, but when
you see the wolves devouring sheep after
sheep-then if you si.Sad by with indiffer.
er ce, or entrench yourselves behind your
own comfortable security, or behind your
good will towards, all-behind your good
wishes and your prayers-and YOU let the
wolves do and entreat others likewise to
let them do; verify ! say unto YOU your
peace is iniquity, and your religion is not
Christian.
] call on you to be charitable 10 the
just against the unjust, to the oppressed
againstt the oppressor. TO the sheep against
the wolves-to humanity. in word, and
not to some crowned pirates aud PERU
riOus murderers.
| call on you to love your neighbors-
the nations.
call on YOU TO love the moral dignity
Of men; to love the comforts and the tran
gull pursuits Of the passing moment. but
the lasting welfare of your own and OF
foreign nations. Patriotism is the no
best source Of civic virtue, phi anthropy
the noblest source OF private virtue, and
justice the nOblest source Of political vir-
tue. Christian religion unites tn,s all,
because il is charity But "You may
bestow ell your goods TO feed tie poor,
still have no charity SAYS the Lord.
Make despots yield to justice and right.
without having them compelled by force
Of arms, aud We saall be blessed. But
since you cannot do this. preach not i'm
punible security to tyrants, 10y decryins
necessary wars. For these things must
frSt come 10 pass" says the Lord.
As long as there is oppression. wars
must be, or else the ,yrants, delivered
from all fear Of resistance. would soon
reduce all mankind by the sword perman-
-nt'y to the condition of herd of cattle
or a flock OF sheep-nav, TO worse; for il
is better to he dumb brute than to be
man ani not be free. Oppression and
tyranny removed from earth. then comes
the end OF "these things that must first
come to pass" Free nations may enter
\ covenant Of arbitration; tyrants never
will, never can. They rule by the sword
they must b. resisted by the sword, or
else the word peace will be blotted from
the record Of coming events, and "eterRaI
oppres, ion" substituted for IT,
War is a terrible reme1v, bur a remedy
/, il. The FIRE burns some, but il warn.
all. The hurricane unroots trees, and
dashes the ships to fragments. and buriei
men in the deep; but il elesnses the earth
and keeps off stagnation from the air and
the sea. Would you pat out the FIRE. auc
do away with the hurricane7 Thss,
things must be. So il is with just anC
necessary wars. Help to make them sd-
vantagious 10 mankind. but do not shout
Peace" while there is oppression, OF
else you are guilty Of shouting "Tyran
ny"
Ihave seen bust Of wiIlism Penn,