The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
Example and Testimony Of Early
Christians.

"'It is as easy" says learned writer
of the seventeenth century, ''to OBJ
scure the sun at midday, as to deny
that the primitive Christians renounc
ed all revenge and war" Christ and
his apostles delivered general precepts
for the regulation and of our conduct
And to what did their immediate sue
cessors apply the pacific precepts which
had been delivered? They applied
them to war: they were assured thai
the precepts absolutely forbade it
This belief they derived from those
very precepts on which we have in
sisted: they referred expressly to the
same passages in the New Testament
and from the authority and obligation
of those passages, they refused to beal
arms.
II say unto you, that ye resist moi
evil"
aye have heard that it hath been
said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor and
hate thine enemy: but Isay unto you
Love your enemies, bless them thai
curse you, do good to them that hate
you." Matt. v. 80, 43, A.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: fol
they shall be called the children oi
."-Matt. v. 8.
"Have peace with one another."-
Mark tx. so. "See that none render
evil for evil unto any MANI Thess
". Is. "God hath called us to peace
lCor. vii. Is.
''Follow after love, patience, meek
ness. s."-"Be gentle, showing all meek
ness unto all men. n."-"Live in peace u
"Let all bitterness and wrath, and
anger and clamor, and evil speaking
be put away from you with all NAL
iee."
"Avenge not ."-"If thine
enemy hunger, feed him if he thirst
give him drink" k."-"Recompense to nc
man evil for il."-"Overcome evi
with good"
A few examples from their history
will show with what undoubting con
fidence they believed in the unlawful
ness of war, and how much they were
willing to suffer in the cause of peace
Maximilian, as it is related to thu
Acts of Ruinart, was brought before
the tribunal to be enrolled as soldier
On the proconsul's asking his name
Maximilian replied: II am a Chris
tian, and cannot fight" 1t was, how
ever, ordered that he should be enroll
ed, but he refused to serve, still alleg
ing that he aods q Christian. He wa
Immediately told that there was no al
tentative between bearing arms ant
being put to death. But his fidelit.
was not to be shaken. II canno
fight" said he, "if I die" He contin
ued steadfast to his principles, and wa
consigned to the executioner.
The primitive Christians not onl.
refused to be enlisted in the army, bu
when they embraced Christianit.
while enlisted, they abandoned tn
profession at whatever cost. Marcel
lus was centurian in the legion call
ed Trajana. While holding this com
mission, he became Christian ant
believing, in common with his fellow
christians, that war was nolonger pei
united to him, he threw down his bel
.at the head of the legion, declaring
What he had become a Christian, an
that he would serve no longer. H
was committed to prison; but he wa
still faithful to Christianity. sit
not lawful" said he, "for Christia
Ito bear arms for any earthly consider;
Ition - and he was, in consequence
;put to death. Almost Immediately a
:terward, Cassian, who was notary
the same legion, gave up his office
He steadfastly maintained the sent
ments of Marcellus, and, like him, wa
consigned to the exeeutioner. Martir
of whom SO much is said by Sulpiciu
Severus, was bred to the profession
ar,,s xybiob ON bia apppDtanc6 {