It is not, however, wished that you should treat military men with contempt or disrespect. This is not the way to convince men of error, but the direct way to inflame their passions, to confirm their prejudices, and to close their eyes against the light. Let our own minds be imbued with the spirit of the gospel, let our conversation in all respects comport with its benevolent precepts, let us treat military men with that respect and tenderness which becomes us as christians; and then we may hope for access to their understandings and their hearts. Many of them perhaps will rejoice in being convinced of their error, and cordially unite their efforts to extend the light and to open the eyes of others.

Shall it be imagined that the day of evil can be avoided by powerful armaments and a passion for military fame? Are these the means of peace and safety? Are they not the means of war and danger? Let the history of nations, ancient and modern, answer the questions, and will it not say, that such means have hitherto operated as provocations and incentives to actual hostilities?

According to what we sow we may expect to reap. If we sow the seeds and cultivate the spirit of war, the horrible fruits of war will be our harvest. But if we sow the seeds of

peace and cultivate the spirit of the gospel, we may expect the fruits of peace in this world, and the blessedness of peacemakers in the world to come.

God has graciously given us an interval of peace, an opportunity for reflection and exertion. Shall we conduct as though nothing were incumbent on us but to prepare for future wars, future devotion to Mahometan principles, and future sacrifices of human victims? Or shall we, as becomes christians, attend to the things which belong to our own peace, to the peace of our children, and the peace of the world?

By what doctrine is christianity more distinguished from Mahometanism, than by that of "PEACE ON EARTH, and GOOD WILL TO MEN?" By what precepts is it more distinguished, than by those which enjoin the spirit of humility, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, and love to enemies? Shall then the

d

ambassadors of Christ forbear to inculcate, in its full extent, the distinguishing spirit of the religion they profess? Shall they in any manner support a custom, which cannot exist for a moment but by a direct violation of gospel principles ? Shall they suffer their hearers to be so deluded, as to think they are following the Messiah, while in fact they are following Mahomet?

Shall christian parents neglect to teach their children the radical difference between the spirit of the gospel and the spirit of war? And shall the want of fidelity on the part of ministers and parents, expose our country to the desolations, the crimes and the horrors of a Russian campaign! AT WHOSE HANDS THEN WILL THE BLOOD BE REQUIRED?

To avoid guilt so awful and calamities so distressing, shall not christians of every name lay aside all party bitterness and alienation, subordinate every inferior topic and consideration, and unite as brethren, as children of the same merciful Father, and as disciples of the benevolent Prince of peace? Let us obey the affectionate exhortation of the Apostle;-" Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering-forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man have a quarrel against any, even as God for Christ's sake forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness, and let the PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS."

In this way more might be done in one year to promote the cause of real religion, to advance and secure the happiness of our country, than has ever yet been done in the course of a century; and more than ever will be done by the spirit of contention and the most formidable preparations for war. In this way christianity would appear in its true light; the reproach of its being of a sanguinary character would be removed; the doubts of many unbelievers would be solved; our children would be trained up in the way they should go ; God would bless and protect us, and peace and salvation would fill the land.

Objection.

""Twere well, could you permit the world to live
As the world pleases. What's the world to you
Answer.

"Much. I was born of woman

Nor can I rest

A silent witness of the headlong rage

Of heedless folly, by which thousands die,
Bone of my bone, and kindred souls to mine."

COWPER.

A MEMORABLE AND AFFECTING CONTRAST. In two former publications, some of the facts were briefly stated which are now to be more fully exhibited. This account will be abridged from the writings of Mr. Clarkson, whose efforts in the cause of humanity will long be remembered with gratitude.

"I apprehend, says Mr. Clarkson, that men as ferocious as any recorded in history, were those found in America, when that continent was discovered. We hear nothing of Africans, or of Asiatics, which would induce us to suppose, that they were as wild and barbarous as these. I shall therefore take these for an example, and show by the opposite conduct of two different communities towards them, that it rests with men to live peaceably or not, as they cultivate the disposition to do it, or as they follow the policy of the gospel in preference to the policy of the world.

"When the English, Dutch, and others, began to people America, they purchased land of the natives. But when they went to that continent, they went with the notions of worldly policy, and did not take with them the Christian wisdom of the unlawfulness of war. They acted on the system of preparation, because there might be danger. They never settled without palisadoes and a fort. They kept nightly watches, though unmolested. They were, in short, in the midst of war, though no injury had been offered them by the natives, and though professedly in the midst of peace.

"In the peopling of Connecticut it was ordered by an Eng

lish court held at Dorchester on the 7th day of June 1736, that every town should keep a watch and be well supplied with ammunition.-Their circumstances were such that it was judged necessary that every man should be a soldier.'

Trumbull's History of Con. p. 56.

"Previous to the order of the court at Dorchester, some of the settlers had been killed by the natives. The provocation which the natives received is not mentioned. But it was probably provocation enough to savage Indians, to see people settle in their country with all the signs and symptoms of war. They could see that these settlers had at least no objection to the use of arms; that these arms could never be intended but against other persons, and there were no other persons but themselves. Judging therefore by outward circumstances, they could draw no inference of a peaceable disposition in their new neighbors.

"War soon followed. The Pequots were attacked. Prisoners were made on both sides. The Indians treated barbarously those who fell into their hands; for on the capture of their own countrymen they did not see any better usage on the part of the settlers themselves.

"Though,' saysTrumbull, 'the first planters of New England were men of eminent piety and strict morals, yet like other good men they were subject to misconception and the influence of passion. Their beheading sachems whom they took in war, killing the male captives and enslaving the women and children, was treating them with a severity, which, on the benevolent principles of christianity it will be difficult to justify. Ibid. p. 112.

"After this treatment, war followed war. As other settlements were made on the same principles, war fell to their portion likewise. And the whole history of the settlements of America, where these principles were followed, is full of the wars between the settlers and the Indians, which have continued more or less nearly up to the present day.

NOW BEHOLD THE CONTRAST!

"But widely different was the situation of the settlers under William Penn. They had to deal with the same savage Indians as the other settlers. They had the same fury to guard against, and were in a situation much more exposed; for they had neither sword nor musket, palisado nor fort.They adopted the policy of the gospel, instead of the policy of the world. They judged it neither necessary to watch nor to be provided with ammunition, nor to become soldiers. They spoke the language of peace to the natives, and proved the sincerity of their language by continuing in a defenceless condition. They held out also that all wars were unlawful, and that whatever injuries were offered them, they would sooner bear them, than gratify the principle of revenge.

"It is quite needless to go farther into the system of this venerable founder of Pennsylvania. But it may be observed, that no quaker settlers, when known to be such, were killed, and whatever attacks were made upon the possessors of lands in their neighborhood,, none was ever made upon those who settled on the lands purchased by William Penn.

"It may not be improper to observe farther, that the harmonious intercourse between the Quakers and the Indians continues uninterrupted to the present day. In matters of great and public concern, it has been usual with the Indians to send deputies to the Quakers for advice, and the former have even been persuaded by the latter to relinquish wars, which they had it in contemplation to undertake. It is also usual for some of these to send their children to the Quakers for education.

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"These facts, when contrasted, speak for themselves. cabinet of Quaker ministers, acting on the policy of the gospel, has been seated in the heart of a savage and warlike nation, and peace has ever been kept with them. A cabinet of other settlers, acting on the policy of the world, has been seated in the heart of nations of a similar description, and they have almost constantly been embroiled in wars."

Portraiture, vol. iii. from p. 81 to 87.