wherever your lots may be cast, in whatever remote corner of the earth, in whatever outward communion.

The Lord's sheep are not confined to any one outward fold; but though they all know, and are gathered into the one fold of inward rest, yet outwardly they walk, and are scattered among various denominations. This I firmly believe; and wherever they are, I call them brethren; I own them in the covenant and fellowship of celestial affinity; in the bonds and endearments of a spiritual relationship. And charity obliges me to own some who engage in things that I am persuaded are altogether unlawful for me. Thus, I believe the Lord owns some as in a good degree his servants, who yet have not clearly seen the contrariety of war to the life of a truly humble and dependant Christian, who is thoroughly redeemed from the very occasion of wars, and who lives a life of faith and confidence in God, his only refuge. I feel that flowing of universal love towards some, who, through ignorance, the force of education, or bad instruction, remain in the violation of those holy precepts which are to me as binding, obligatory laws. And I am also fully persuaded and assured that they are so far obligatory upon all, that every soul who violates them merely to secure his outward interest, contrary to what secretly reproves and informs him; and is not blinded by the influence of priest-craft or education; but being able to see beyond the one, and soar above the prejudice of the other, will yet, with his eyes thus open, for the sake of self-preservation, rush violently into the field of war: I say, I firmly believe that every one who thus "killeth with the sword, must be killed with the sword" of the spirit. No matter what dark and carnal, though seemingly plausible reasonings he makes use of to justify his conduct, if his own heart, or the witness of God in his own mind, condemns him; God is greater than his heart, and knoweth all things, knoweth he was not without a condemning witness in that mind, and will ratify and confirm that witness and condemnation. And even though he may rebel against the light, till he comes to know scarce any thing of the ways thereof, and is hardened and darkened to that degree, as to be almost insensible of its impressions, and in presumption

declare he believes it is his duty to war and fight; yea, even though, in the height of extravagance and obduracy, he may venture to preach it up as a duty to others, and strive to give sanction to it by the name of the Lord of Hosts, yet I declare on behalf of him and of his despised testimony, that he will strike up a light in such benighted souls, that shall bring to their remembrance the secret reproofs of instruction that they have stifled and trampled upon. He will turn over the leaves of their lives, and cause them to read in legible characters the impressions once made and written by his eternal finger on the table of their hearts. And then, Oh! how will they wish their lives had been governed by the unerring witness of truth.

Oh! that mankind were wise! that they would timely and aright consider their latter end, and seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God, firmly depending on him for an addition of all things necessary and best for them to enjoy. Then would their lives be comfortable, and their latter end blessed with joy and consolation. Then whatever turnings and overturnings the Lord might suffer to take place in the kingdoms of this world; whatever interruptions to the administration of civil government might happen by the unruly passions of wicked men; those that were thus given up in body, soul, and spirit to the Lord, viewing all these things with a single eye, would see and know that all would work together for their good. And were this the case with an whole nation, they, standing thus in the light of the Lamb, would not fear, but would know that although wars, and rumours of wars, may remain for a time in the earth, and among the earthly minded, yet the captain of their salvation, who has the hearts of kings and tyrants in his hands, would preserve them who thus trust in him, as in the hollow thereof, from suffering aught by the malice of wicked princes, or the cruelty of enraged adversaries, but what would redound to their peace, his own glory, and the furtherance of his blessed work on earth, and among the sons of men. For though the times and seasons might be gloomy, though devastation might spread around, and though the course of civil justice might be obstructed, and anarchy and confusion reign for a sea. son, yet would the strength of Omnipotence be engaged on their VOL. II.-35

behalf; and no doubt he would much sooner restore peace, harmony, and the regular administration of civil justice, to such a nation, so conducting, and out of pure conscience to God, refusing to defend themselves, than if they should revolt from their dependance on the arm of divine strength, and fly to carnal weapons for security. For "cursed is the man who trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord;" but " blessed is the man who trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord alone is."

I have a firm and fixed belief, that should any whole nation be convinced of the peaceable principles of the gospel, and in sincerity endeavour to live up to them, in their full extent; where such a nation was once invaded from abroad, the warring nation would be many times invaded; and where the regular administration of civil justice would be obstructed in such a nation for a month, it would oftener be so in other nations for years. But, alas! how many are like poor unbelieving Peter, when he began to walk on the water, though his Lord commanded it, yet for want of faith he sunk amidst the waves, and lost his resolution: but had he firmly trusted in the Lord that called him, without doubting, he would have been enabled to walk on the watery element, and instead of being reproved with an "O thou of little faith! wherefore didst thou doubt?" he ⚫ might have been received to his master's fond embraces, with an encouraging commendation and testimony," that such faith had not been seen, no, not in Israel." Oh! the multitudes that cannot enter the heavenly Canaan, because of unbelief.

Now, I have no doubt that this may sound very impertinent in the ear of many a carnal Christian, who in the wisdom of this world, may think himself abundantly furnished with unanswerable objections to such a system. But I would once more desire such to remember the example of primitive Christians. How were they preserved? How was civil government maintained? Perhaps it may be said, not by Christians, but by worldly civil magistrates. Perhaps it might be, and I could wish that Christians never had meddled with it, nor attempted to maintain it, any further than they could have done it in agreement with the doctrines of the gospel, and example of the primitive Christians.

If civil government be an ordinance of God, as undoubtedly it is, there can be no doubt that God will enable every true christian magistrate to act his part and do his duty in it, without violation of those precepts, the observance of which distinguish a true peaceable Christian, from a wrathful, warring infidel. Let it also be inquired, how christendom has improved in pure christianity in other respects, since professed Christians. have taken shelter under the sword of war and vengeance, and fled for sanctuary to the protection of carnal, fighting captains and commanders. Has self-denial flourished under the spreading boughs of tall cedars? Has the cross accompanied Christians to the covert of the sturdy oaks of Bashan? Has the love of God and man waxed warm in the field of slaughter? Have your garments been washed white through great tribulations, in the blood of fellow mortals? Has the sound of drums and trumpets prepared your hearts to worship God in reverence and love? I wish these things might be considered; and a calm inquiry entered into, whether Christians in early ages were mistaken in their testimony; and whether latter ages have been more enlightened? Whether the love of the world is less prevalent? love of one another more predominant? Whether charity, benevolence, and fervent devotion are more conspicuous? Is the power of the gospel ministry more efficacious? Are Christians more successful in converting infidels? Is scepticism more extinguished? Are faith and love increased? I believe if impartial answers were given to these queries, each would be negatived with a No, no, the contrary lamentably prevails! I think few are so obdurate, as not to believe that a sad falling short of primitive uprightness, and a great declension from ancient purity, are visibly manifest.

Therefore, O sleeping christendom! awake from thy lethargy, and arise from the dead, that Christ may give thee light; and that thou in his light may see more light, and so the light of the moon become as the light of the sun, and that of the sun as the light of seven days; that so thou mayst reform from thy many evil ways. I am confident that in such abundant light, thou wouldst plainly see that thy teachers have been strengthening the bands of iniquity, and as it were shutting up the king

dom of heaven, neither entering themselves nor suffering those that would. And I also firmly believe that in this light, thus powerfully shining and increasing, thou wouldst not only see that war and fighting are inconsistent with pure christianity; but also would have an eye open to see a way for civil government to be far better maintained, than by the point of the sword. That authority in the life, and power, and efficacy of true religion would be afforded which would an hundred times more effectually awe and dishearten heathen nations, than all military preparations possibly can do; and more effectually tend to harmony and concord within our borders, than all the military laws held up in terror ever did or ever will do.

The Lord is as able now to prevent wicked men from hurting his servants, as ever he was, and if it be in their hearts to do so, he can restrain them, that they shall not fulfil their purpose: yea, he can fill their hearts with terror, that they shall not dare come nigh thy dwelling. And if at any time he should suffer them to enter thy dominions, and to threaten destruction and ruin, and even to execute cruelty, I have no doubt that their angry, and proud assaults and insults would far sooner be restrained, and far fewer lives would be destroyed, than if force was resisted by force. And as it is a principle in natural philosophy, that action and reaction are always equal; so in this case, like begets its likeness; anger begets anger, smiting provokes to smiting.

Thus from the most trifling causes, thousands and millions of lives have been sacrificed to more than brutal barbarity and revenge; and little petty quarrels, scarce worth a serious thought at first, have by mutual aggravation been fomented and increased, till they that were brethren, children of the same parents, as well as professed believers in the same common Redeemer, have basely sheathed their swords and stained their hands in one another's blood.

Oh! the human blood that crieth to the Lord for vengeance, from the carth and also from the seas; blood that was shed in quarrels originally of the most insignificant nature, and of almost no importance. And yet-Oh! wretched apostacy!--the professors of our age are preposterously crowning with laurels, the