what will be the consequences, should it be continued for ages to come. If an attempt to abolish war will not involve greater calamities, than a continuance of the custom, the attempt should certainly be made; because war cannot possibly be continued but by a constant course of the most egregious wicked

ness.

The history of Christendom incontestably proves that the custom of war does not secure a people from invasion, calamity and ruin. On the contrary, this custom has been almost perpetually inflicting on one nation after another, convulsion, misery, and death. Suppose that 50 years ago all the nations of Christendom had united in a solemn league for the abolition of war: Is there the least probability, that they would have suffered greater calamities from the injustice and ferocity of other nations, than they have inflicted on each other by continuing the dreadful custom? Is there any reason to suppose that a twentieth part of the number of lives would have been sacrificed on the plan of peace, that have been sacrificed in supporting war? Could the most savage people have dealt worse with the nations of Christendom, than they have dealt with each other? And would not a fifth part of the property, which has been expended and destroyed by their murderous wars, have been sufficient to preserve peace with every nation on earth? It is presumed that no intelligent and candid person will say, that the nations of Christendom would have probably suffered greater calamities had they unitedly renounced the custom of war 50 years ago, than they have actually suffered in supporting the

custom.

If we now bring to view the enormous amount of moral evil, guilt and depravity, which has resulted from continuing the custom for the last 50 years, who in his senses would dare to say, that peace would have been worse than war? Will any one say this, who has the least claim to be considered as a disciple of the Prince of peace?

Should the nations of Christendom agree to abolish the custom of war, it may be thought that the people of the United States, would be exposed to the ferocity of the Indian tribes. But would it not be a hundred fold less expensive to preserve

peace with the Indians than to support the custom of war? The Indians generally make war for revenge, and not for conquest or glory like their more bloody brethren, called Christians. Let the Indians be treated with truly Christian kindness -let a just and pacific spirit be uniformly manifested towards them-let suitable efforts be made to change their opinions in regard to war, and let them in all respects be treated as brethren and friends; then we shall have but little to fear from their ferocity. From the experiment which was actually made by William Penn, as governor of Pennsylvania-and the seventy years' peace which resulted from his benevolent and pacific principles we are entitled to this conclusion;-that the Indians are a people who may be won by kindness, and with whom peace may be maintained on Christian principles.

Had all the first settlers of these states possessed the pacific principles and spirit of William Penn, and had such principles been maintained by all their successors, the disgraceful history of murderous wars between Christians and Indians would never have been written. Nay on such principles, access might probably have been had to the minds of the savages, and much more done in converting them to Christianity. But while professed Christians are more blood-thirsty than the savages themselves, what ground have they to hope for success in their attempts to propagate the gospel among the Indian tribes. Every page in their history as warring Christians, is a contradiction to the religion they profess, and goes to prove, that however excellent the gospel may be in itself, it has failed of producing in them the spirit of peace and love.

If all the nations of Europe should adopt pacific principles, they would probably be as secure in respect to other nations, as we should be in respect to the Indians. And if this be true, their security would be far greater than it now is, with all their warring disposition and warring apparatus.

But it may be said that there will always be ambitious individuals in Christendom, who will disturb the peace of nations in pursuit of military fame; and that there can be no security against such men, but by supporting the custom of war.

To this we answer, that the custom of war depends entirely

en popular opinion; and it will of course cease when it ceases to be popular. Strip this abominable custom of its false and delusive glory-let it be exhibited in all its murderous and desolating deformities, as a custom which involves every thing hateful and wicked-let such abhorrence be excited against it, as is now felt for the less odious "slave trade:"-then there will be no more opportunity to acquire fame by military conquests, than there now is by highway robbery. Of course the most common and most powerful motive to military exploits will cease to operate; and ambitious men will be constrained to adopt some other road to fame.

When private wars among noblemen were popular, they were frequent, and threatened to depopulate Europe. They have lost their popularity and the custom is dead. Indeed it died a natural death, by losing its breath of popular applause. In the same manner the custom of public war will die, when its popularity is destroyed. For breath is not more necessary to the continuance of animal life, than popularity is to the continuance of national wars. And when war shall have lost its imaginary glory, ambitious men will cease in this way to disturb the tranquillity of the world. For such men will not fight for glory, when it shall cease to be glory to fight.

But suppose that in the attempt to abolish the custom of war, there should be many instances of carnage among those of a peaceful character: Still there is no reason to believe that the amount would be a twentieth part so great, as must result from continuing the custom. Professed duellists fall by the hand of violence, while men of peaceful character are unmolested. So nations which glory in war, will often be engaged in the dreadful work. But let them adopt pacific principles, and avow a decided abhorrence of war, and they will seldom be disturbed. If a duellist should send a challenge to a man whom he knew to be of the society of Friends, or of the society of Shakers, his conduct would be despised even by gentlemen of his own class. On the same general principle, warring nations would forbear to make war on a people who had renounced the fighting character, and were disposed to suffer wrong, rather than to do wrong, or to render evil for evil.

The things which have been already mentioned, may be regarded as in some measure an answer to the question-What security would a peaceful nation have against those of a warring, savage character? But, as a Christian, I may addThere is ground to hope that if a nation should adopt the pacific principles of the gospel, the "GOD OF PEACE" would befriend and protect them. By this, however, is not intended, that we are to expect miraculous interference for the protec tion of a peaceful nation. But when the ways of a nation are such as to please the Lord, he can without recourse to miracles, so order events, that even their enemies shall be at peace with them. And in general, nothing has a greater tendency to disarm malevolence and turn away wrath, than the proper display of a pacific spirit.

Lord Kames supposed that a peaceful people would have no greater security against savage nations, than "timid sheep have against hungry wolves." But men do not make war for the sake of drinking each other's blood, as wolves make war on sheep. In men, the thirst for blood in a great measure depends on a thirst for fame. By the diffusion of Christian principles, and by well conducted efforts to excite an abhorrence of war, the number of military "wolves" will be diminished, and the thirst for blood will abate. War for glory will fall into disrepute, and war for plunder will be placed as it ought to be, on the ground of highway robbery and piratical depredations.

But to those who profess allegiance to the Prince of peace, I would here address some serious questions:-Shall we, my brethren, uphold a diabolical and murderous custom, which converts professed Christians into "wolves," through fear that if we become truly Christ's "sheep" we shall be devoured? Shall we thus proclaim to the world that we have “not the spirit of Christ," and that we have no confidence in the good Shepherd, nor in the God of our salvation? Is it better for Christians to support the character of "wolves," than to risk the consequences of becoming truly Christ's sheep? Must the professed sheep of Christ forever bear the character of "wolves," because there are "wolves" in the world? Shall they

support the character of "wolves" till other "wolves" shall cease to exist? If so, when or how will wars cease, to the ends of the earth? Must Christians renounce all trust in God and act the part of bloody men, lest they should be destroyed by other people? Must they be rivals to bloody men in wickedness, lest they perish by bloody hands? If this be the path of duty and of safety, let us renounce the gospel, and become in profession as well as practice, Pagans or Mahometans. But if we wish to retain the profession and the hope of Christians, let us become Christians in deed and in truth-in temper and in practice-by renouncing war and violence, and by following the Prince of peace." For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." "Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it."—" And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell-yea, I say unto you, FEAR HIM.”

PREPARATORY EVENTS, AND ENCOURAGING FACTS.

WHEN any important object is proposed to be pursued, we naturally look around and ask, what preparations have been made by Providence? Is there any thing already in existence which is calculated to encourage and favor the enterprize? or any thing which may easily be made subservient, and readily called into operation?

By careful inquiry it may perhaps be found, that God has long been preparing the way for the proposition which is now distinctly made—the abolition of war. The rapid progress of knowledge and the tremendous calamities of war, in the last 50 years, may have been designed to prepare the minds of men for what is now proposed. But this is not all; within that period a vast number of religious, moral, charitable and humane societies have been formed in Great Britain and America.