LETTERS, &c.

LETTER I.

SIR, A PAMPHLET has lately appeared before the Public, entitled "A solemn Review of the custom of War." This pamphlet has, very recently, been followed by another, from the same author, entitled "The friend of Peace:" comprising a Dialogue and several Letters addressed to the President of the United States. Independent of the importance of the question which these pamphlets agitate, the author has evinced talents, as an essayist, of no common grade; and whatever may be thought of the correctness of his opinions, he has manifested a benevolence of heart, and a zeal for the good of mankind, which would do honour to any cause, and which entitles him to public consideration.

The object of this writer is to show, that war of every description is contrary to the laws of Christ, and, of course, inconsistent with the character of a Christian.-He expresses a belief, that, if Christians, as a body, would withdraw their support from war, and bear a public and united testimony against it, it would go far towards abolishing a custom, on the whole, productive of no good, but of incalculable evil to

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These opinions, Sir, though their seeming novelty gives them an appearance of boldness, and, considering the belief and practice of the Christian world may expose them to the imputation of temity, are by no means new. In various periods of the Church they have been suggested by men of reflection, learning, and philanthropy. Particularly since the revival of letters and the Reformation, they have, at times, been boldly avowed and vigorously maintained by several men, to whom the cause of civilization and religion has been indebted for their more successful exertions in other respects.

The strong current of opinion, prejudice, and passion, however, has borne away, and silenced the few voices which have been lifted on this interesting subject; and I am persuaded has kept a far greater number in silence, who, had they spoken, would have been advocates for peace, on similar grounds. For, Sir, I am induced to believe, that there are few real Christians, who are men of much reflection, and

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are in the habit of examining their opinions in the light of truth and evidence, who have not, at times, entertained some doubts whether war, in any shape whatever, be consistent with the genuine spirit of Christianity.

For myself, I beg leave to say to your Excellency, that my own opinions have long been inclining in that direction: that recent events, considered in connexion with the bloody revolutions in Europe, have led me to a more careful scrutiny of the subject, the result of which has been a full and, unwavering conclusion, that war in every form, is incompatible with the laws of Christ, and, of course, with the Christian character. The pamphlets to which I allude though they presented nothing new of the nature of argument, and though they give but a rapid outline of the subject, disclose the thoughts and feelings of a great and vigorous mind they exhibit a bold and striking contour of that sanguinary monster, war, which has long desolated the earth, which is the genuine offspring of hell, and which makes the two regions resemble each other.

Such, Sir, being my convictions and firm belief relative to this subject; and, perceiving there are many other persons of the same opinion, it is natural for me to ask, and it is important for me to know, what course I ought to take, as a Christian and as an honest man. For, surely, if Christians ought to have no concern with war, but to bear testimony against it; if the view which these pamphlets take of war be correct, and I believe it is; then the visible Church of Christ must be in a state of deep and alarming declension. She must have put off the Spirit of Christ, and put on the spirit of the world; and that in its very worst form, and most virulent character. This declension, also, must have been of long standing, commencing but two or three centuries after Christ it must have resisted the Reformation, and brought down its blood-stained insignia to this day.

Well may every man who feels the conviction of the author of the pamphlets, ask himself, what course he shall take to give his opinions publicity and prevalence. The benefits accruing to the Church and to nations, considered as such, would be truly immense, were they adopted through Christendom. And there are many reasons to believe, that exertions for accomplishing an object so truly grand and glorious, would meet with divine approbation, and be crowned with success. When it is the cause of truth and of God that is pursued, let no man sit down to count upon difficulties, before he do his duty.

Luther encountered the corruptions of Rome, fortified by the wealth and power of Europe. Clarkson, by whose exertions the slave-trade was abolished in Great-Britain, was not appalled by the obvious difficulty and hazard of the enterprise; and let those who would know what the persevering exertions of one man can accomplish, read the life and the benevolent labours of Howard. I mention these men to show, that though a man should find himself standing alone, in a world of error, he is not to be deterred from efforts at reformation, merely by the probability of ill success, or the weakness of the means to be employed.

If the Christian Church in its various sections and members, has long lain under the divine displeasure, for rushing with eagerness into wars, set on foot to gratify pride and ambition; if war in itself adds incalculably to the number and weight of human calamities; and if a due abhorrence of war, and the prevalence of pacific sentiments, would no less benefit nations as bodies politic, than the Church as a religious community, it surely is the duty of every one viewing things in this light, to spare no exertions to effect a change of senti

ment.

Who can see the face of the earth drenched in human blood, under the fatal influence of an error, which Christians and even the ministers of Christ themselves, have long cherished, and not be roused to make at least one exertion in the cause of bleeding, suffering humanity? Dreadful indeed is the account which many professors of Christianity must give, when they shall appear before God, in judgment, with their garments stained with blood. The pure, peaceful, and holy religion, which they absurdly professed, and by which they vainly expected acceptance in the hour of trial, will certainly condemn them, and the Prince of peace will say to them, depart from me, I know you not!" Depart from me, ye bloody men, ye have no interest in my kingdom? ye bear no resemblance to my character?'

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I am, Sir, yours, &c.

SIR,

LETTER II.

THERE is no fact which rests on better historical evidence, than that the members of the Christian Church, during the two first centuries of the Christian era, took no part in the

wars of those times. They refused to fight from scruples of conscience; because their principles were fundamentally pacific and they were subjects of a "kingdom which was not of this world." It is equally evident, that, during the last glorious period of the Church on earth, when Christ shall reign a thousand years, Christians will not fight, and there shall be no wars. I cannot but believe that when the Church threw aside her pacific character, harnessed herself for battle, and rushed into the bloody field, she sealed her apostacy with blood, and from that day to this has worn a garb foreign to her proper character, and derogatory to the honour and interest of her King.

The greatest and most rapid spread of Christianity, was during that period when Christians did not interfere with war, and whilst they would, in fact, suffer death rather than make resistance. But when Constantine professed faith in Christ,when the Church was decorated with the imperial purple,when her coffers were filled with gold,-when armies obeyed her mandate, and war thundered in her voice; she soon became a repudiated harlot, and then the true Church of Christ retired to the wilderness.

The haughty, ambitious, and warlike spirit of the Church has done incalculable mischief in every subsequent age; causing myriads of infidels in her own bossom ;-causing seditions, schisms and apostacies without number;—animosity, turbulence, and confusion without end. And what an impediment Christian wars and bloodshed has ever raised to the conversion of the heathen! "For surely," say the heathen nations," if these Christians conduct agreeably to their religion, that religion must be the worst on earth-must be a system of treachery and blood: but if they who profess, do not obey it, why should we?"

To these just reproaches we can only make the shabby reply, that Christians do not act agreeably to their profession; a reply which, though it may satisfy us, can by no means save our holy religion from the most injurious imputations. Indeed, so closely has Christianity been associated with pride, ambition, revenge, and war, that a far more enlightened, candid, and impartial discrimination, was necessary. than could be hoped for among heathen, to distinguish the character of Christian nations from their profession.

But what is chiefly to be lamented, is, that nations calling themselves Christian, have spent as many millions of money to conquer and enslave, as they have pounds to convert the heathen.

But, alas! was it my object to explore and illustrate causes

for grief connected with the system of war, I might swell these communications into volumes filled with "lamentation, mourning and wo." These, and a thousand similar topics, might be urged as auxiliary arguments against war. But the exigence of the case, which is truly awful, requires that war of every description be shown to be contrary to the laws of Christ, inconsistent with the Christian character,-incompatible with the highest good of nations,-entirely unnecessary and unreasonable.

It is beyond all measure desirable, that Christians, as a body, should be convinced of this; that civil magistrates, legislators, and the rulers of states and nations, should view this subject in its immense importance, and unite their exertions to restore the Christian Church to its primitive order; to restore the world to peace; to restore to man the native beauty and grandeur of his character.

Nor do I believe the abolition of the custom of war, by the consent of nations, an event so improbable as some may imagine; especially when I consider that the reign of the Prince of Peace throughout the earth cannot be far distant: and it is by no means improbable that that glorious day will have a gradual commencement.

And, Sir, if in the comparatively short run of two centuries, the Millennium shall have been fully ushered in, and you well know that all calculation founded on prophecy falls within that limit, are we not authorized to believe that new and great events will tread, as it were, on the heels of each other; and will soon begin to assume an unequivocal complexion? Allow ine to go further, and ask, In what country is it more likely the first symptoms of that grand period will appear than in this?

The unpopularity, nay, the abolition of war, depends on one idea :-The noble, the benevolent, the magnanimous thought, that mun shall cease to kill his brother: and how far that thought corresponds with that grand and perfect law, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," I leave it for every one to judge.

I have no doubt it is a fact, and I hope to make it obvious in the sequel of these letters, that as war originated in the malicious and murderous temper of Cain, so it is perpetuated by the mere tyranny of custom and the indulgence of the worst of passions: and that, on the whole, a liberal and enlightened system of civil policy, no less than the precepts of the gospel, would make the taking of human life, unlawful and odious, in all cases whatever. I am, Sir, &c.