PART II.

THE SUCCESS OF THE ISRAELITES IN WAR NOT DEPENDENT ON THEIR MILITARY FORCES, BUT ON THE FAVOR OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh.-Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is: for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters. Jer. xvii. 5—8.

THE PRINCIPLES OF WAR DELUSIVE.

So great is the popular delusion, and so inveterate the force of prejudice on the subject of war, that notwithstanding all the facts which have been stated in the preceding pages, probably very few will readily be persuaded to relinquish those delusive maxims which have so long prevailed in the world, and which are still so artfully and strenuously advocated and maintained by ambitious statesmen and warriors.

These maxims teach that, "As wars always have existed, so they always must exist ;" and that, "there is no security to any state or nation without military preparations for defence and protection ;" or in other words, that there is no security without trusting in "an arm of flesh." The plain language of this is, that there is no safety in putting our trust in God, and submitting our lives, liberties and property to his protection, who alone is able to preserve them; and therefore we must be prepared to defend ourselves by the strength of our own arms, and put ourselves in a position to destroy the lives of our fellow creatures, at the risk of an equal destruction of our own, as the only means of safety! And this we must do at the expense of violating the express command of God, "Thou shalt not kill." This is considered by the deluded sons of war as the only path of safety, glory and honor, and is the clear import, the very spirit of their military principles and maxims. By this they evidently show that they "put their trust in man, and make flesh their arm;" therefore, instead of being under the blessing and protection of God, they are under the curse; and hence they see not when good cometh."

When nations are so far removed from God by their pride and wickedness, as to be conscious of having no just right to look to him for his blessing and protection, they are natural

For

ly led to put their trust in an arm of flesh; because they have no other resource. They are "like the heath in the desert," and do not see the good that comes from God, to those who justly and confidently put their trust in him. It is not a matter of surprise, that those who distrust the protection of God, should believe that their only safety is in an arm of flesh; nor is it strange that, when they are at war with others of the same principle, they should sometimes appear to be protected and defended by the arms of war. when both parties trust solely to their military power and skill for success, if there should be any victory in the issue, one or the other must be victorious. But an impartial history of wars, and warring nations, will show that this seeming protection has seldom, if ever, been any thing more than appearance; not any thing real and substantial: and it often happens that the victors suffer as much as the vanquished; and great loss of life and treasure is, most generally, the fate of both parties.

The most powerful armies ever raised, and the most impregnable fortifications ever erected, have often been overthrown and destroyed by means comparatively small and insignificant. This clearly proves that, "the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." From the history of wars and military establishments and preparations, in all ages, together with their nature and effects, it appears evident that, altho they have been maintained under the impression that they were honorable to the nation, and the only sure means of its protection; yet they have often had a very different effect, and not unfrequently proved the nation's ruin.

It is well known, tho not duly considered, that wars produce the most demoralizing effects upon nations and individuals. They excite and call into action the most ignoble passions of human nature. It is often said by the advocates of war, that it takes off the refuse of mankind, and renders a nation more moral. But facts prove the contrary, and clearly show that where it takes off one such, it makes ten. As war usually calls forth the young men of a nation; so a protracted war generally corrupts almost the whole rising generation. War is truly a school of vice and immorality; it is a nursery for thieves, robbers and murderers. In short, it is attended with the production and growth of every vice that ever contaminated the nature of man. These effects of war cannot be denied by any rational person, who is acquainted with the history of war, and has traced its conse

quences. Indeed, the real character and conduct of many of the most successful, and highly celebrated military chiefs, whose conquering fame and bloody exploits have been emblazoned on the pages of history, were they generally known and properly appreciated, would degrade them to the lowest rank of infamy.

Hence a bloody battle, instead of being celebrated as the glorious victory of a distinguished chief, ought to be considered, as it is in fact, the most infamous, the most degrading, the most horrid and detestable transaction that can possibly mark the character of a rational being. Fallen and degraded as mankind are, by their wicked works, nothing sinks them so far below the most ferocious beasts of the forest, as the barbarous practice of destroying the lives of their own species, and inflicting upon them the usual horrid calamities and depredations of war. These worse than beastly transactions may indeed be the work of common soldiers; but they are not committed with a view to avenge their own wrongs; that is quite out of the question. It is presumed that common soldiers, especially those who are drawn into the army against their own inclinations, seldom think of gratifying private ambition, or of getting themselves a name by their barbarous exploits; but being under martial law, they must obey the ambitious and tyrannical mandates of an aspiring chief, who seeks for deathless fame through deeds of death.

But the modern plea in favor of war is national defence. A pitiful and delusive plea! With much more ease, and vastly less expense, might any country be defended by the principles of peace than by those of war. The experience of all ages has abundantly proved that public wars, instead of defending or benefitting a nation, have ever been the cause of calamity and destruction, misery and ruin to mankind. Indeed it is the opinion of many, that the aggregate amount of misery to the human race, occasioned by war, has exceeded that of all the plagues, and awful visitations of Divine Providence, that ever took place since man existed on earth. Who then, that has a heart of humanity in his bosom, can avoid deploring the existence of that infatuated spirit, that impels so many civilized nations, and so many millions of rational beings, into the horrors of war.

Since wars have been invariably attended with more loss than gain, why should such miserable means of defence be continued any longer? Can any but madmen hesitate to renounce these barbarous principles, and adopt principles

E

better calculated to insure success? Do not better principles exist? and have they not been sufficiently proved? Are not the principles of peace more conducive to the happiness of a nation? and do they not afford a greater security against violence and aggression? Have they ever failed of success when fairly tested? And in this enlightened age, wherein we are so highly favored with the boasted reign of reason, and the mild influence of civilization, will any person of candor pretend to deny, that pacific principles would eventually redound more to the honor and glory of a nation, than the most successful war possibly could do, in the present state of the world?

Altho the experience of ages has proved that the science of war, with all its preparations, cannot be relied upon for protection and defence; yet the fatal delusion is still kept up. Military fame is counted a glorious object of pursuit, and the deluded multitude are enchained in the foolish belief, that these things are unavoidable and absolutely necessary. But let the eyes of mankind be fairly opened-let them have a clear view of the real nature and effects of war, when divested of all its delusive glare, and they will at once see the astonishing contrast between the principles of war and peace. They will then see that on the former there can be no safe dependence for protection; and that the latter is the only wise policy that any nation can reasonably pursue.

The ambitious pride and corrupt passions of man, have been so long nourished and strengthened by the principles of war, that pacific principles have not had so extensive a trial as those of war; yet so far as they have been fairly proved, they have never failed of success, in maintaining peace and happiness, and preserving the honor and prosperity of the nation or people who adopted them. And let any nation fully adopt the principles of peace, and conduct with justice and fairness in all their transactions with others, and put their trust in the protection of Divine Providence, and they will have nothing to fear from the arms of war. To show that this has been sufficiently proved, we will take a view of the effects of pacific principles, in various ages of the world, as we find them recorded in history, and let them stand in contrast with the principles of war. We shall begin with the Israelites, the once covenant people of God.

THE ISRAELITES.

It is well known that when this chosen people were under bondage in Egypt, they were not delivered by the arms of war, but by the mighty hand of Omnipotent Power.Surely none will pretend that their numbers were not sufficient to accomplish their deliverance by an arm of flesh.— Nor would it have been so extraordinary for them to have effected their deliverance by war, as many war events that have taken place between contending nations. Why then were they not directed to deliver themselves by war? It seems however that God, in his wisdom, saw fit to prepare a way by which their enemies were totally destroyed; and they were delivered from their bondage, without the use of sword or spear. It may be said, truly, that these things were designed and brought about, to show the mighty power of God. But can it be denied that God is the same God now that he was then?

It may be said that warriors have often obtained their object and come off victorious. The same may also be said of robbers and murderers; but this cannot justify acts of robbery and murder, nor screen the perpetrators from deserved punishment. We feel no hesitation in asserting that, without the Divine approbation, or the express command of God, clearly manifested, no advantages have ever been gained by war, which might not have been more easily gained under the influence of pacific principles. And, generally speaking, the benefits resulting from successful wars, have been counterbalanced by a much greater portion of sufferings and loss, on the part of the victorious nation, exclusive of the disasters suffered by the vanquished.

After the Israelites were delivered from their Egyptian bondage, Amalek made war upon them. And altho they were then under the necessity of fighting in their own defence; yet it appears evident that the victory did not depend on the force of arms, but upon the operations of Divine Providence: as may be seen in Exodus xvii. 8, and onward. The wars of the Israelites against the Midianites, and the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, were evidently undertaken by Divine authority. But in searching the characters of those nations, we find sufficient evidence that it was in consequence of their abominable wickedness, that God gave the Israelites power and authority to destroy them. These nations, by their abominations, had become a curse to the earth; and as the law knew no mercy, and