"Good-will to men," in celebrating the nativity of our Emmanuel!

They sang also "Peace on earth." They had witnessed the fatal effects of the creature's venturing to oppose the Creator's will, and become his enemies. They had seen angels, as it were, declare war against the Almighty; and even when cast out of heaven, employing all their liberty in carrying on the same desperate and ruinous hostilities. They beheld man seduced to join the apostate rebels, and become enemies to God by wicked works; and then, instigated by enmity to increasing iniquity. The earth filled with tears, groans, and miseries; the universal victory and triumph of death and the grave, and the subsequent doom of impenitent and unreconciled sinners, were the consequences which angels had witnessed of man's infatuated contest against his omnipotent Creator. They had been spectators likewise of all the cruel wars, which men in every age had waged against each other and of all the dire effects of ambition, envy, revenge, and insatiable rapacity or cruelty, from the day when Cain, the first murderer, embru. ed his hands in his brother's blood. What then must have been the sentiments and feelings of these benevolent spirits, while witnessing the murders, massacres, battles, sieges, and persecutions, which have wasted the human species, and increased the miseries of the world to a degree that exceeds all calculation? What did they think of the lavish encomiums, bestowed, almost unanimously, on the most skilful, prosperous, and unfeeling of these butchers of mankind? What estimate did they form of man's heart,

and of the vaunted dignity of human nature, the milk of human kindness, and the sufficiency of reason to guide us to virtue and happiness? Beholding incessantly these horrid spectacles, what could holy angels think of man, but that he was, as it were, a younger brother of the original murderer, delighting in the same work, and deeming no other employment so honourable? What could they think of the earth, but that it was in many respects a counterpart of hell; and that it would have been so more entirely, had it not been for the good-will of God to men?

I mean not, my brethren, to declaim against the profession of arms, or to condemn all rulers and nations that engage in war. Some soldiers have been, and some are, Christians: but their profession is their cross, and its duties their self-denial; they would not willingly engage in any war of ambition, rapacity, or revenge; but they readily face danger, and endure hardship, in defence of their country. The more we hate war and long for peace, the greater are our obligations to such men, as thus expose themselves to guard us against injurious assailants; and the more fervently we ought to pray for their protection and success. In the present state of the world, war is a necessary evil, and often quite unavoidable: and that not merely when a nation is directly attacked; for there are many other ways, by which the rapacious and ambitious may render a neighbouring country incapable of defending its liberties and possessions; and these can only be counteracted by vigorous opposition. Nor are private individuals generally compe tent to decide what wars are necessary and justifiable,

or the contrary: in this respect rulers must give an account to God for their conduct. But wars proceed originally from the lusts of men's hearts,* and from the wicked one: God employs them, as he does hurricanes, earthquakes, or pestilences, as executioners of his vengeance on guilty nations and ambitious conquerors, however accomplished or illustrious, are the most hateful and tremendous scourges of our apostate race. We may therefore deprecate and denounce war itself, as the most horrid and atrocious evil, consistently with the obedience and honour due to our rulers, and the most sincere prayers for the success of their measures, as far as they tend to the protection and welfare of our beloved country. But we must also maintain, that all the blood shed in war is murder, chargeable on them, whose criminal projects and politicks render such dreadful methods of resisting them necessary; and that it will certainly be required at their hands, on which side soever the victims were slaughtered.

But to return from this digression; when Christ was born, angels sang, "Peace on earth." Peace between God and sinners; peace between a man and his neighbour; peace between contending nations; in heart and conscience; and peace throughout peace the earth. The Saviour is "the Prince of peace;" the true "Melchisedeck king of Salem, the King of "righteousness, and the King of peace:" "and of his government and peace there shall be no end." The

* James, iv. 1.

gospel is "the word of reconciliation," ministers are ambassadors of peace, through the great Mediator between God and man. Into whatever house the apostles entered, they were directed to say, "Peace be to this "house :" and wherever we are sent, we go " preach

ing peace by "Jesus Christ." "He is our Peace, " he hath made peace by the blood of his cross;" and he hath pronounced a blessing on "peace-makers, as "the children of God."

When we embrace his Gospel, "being justified by "faith we have peace with God;" he imputes not to us our trespasses, but admits us into a state of reconciliation, and a covenant of friendship with himself; and, by the Spirit of sanctification and adoption, teaches and inclines us cordially to love him, and delight in his perfections, service, and salvation. Peace is the legacy Christ hath left his disciples. "Peace I "leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as "the world giveth, give I unto you.*" When our hearts are stayed on the Lord in faith and hope, he keeps them in perfect peace," and he imparts a of God which passeth all understanding," to peace possess and confirm "our hearts and minds by Christ "Jesus." A stable peace of conscience, in reliance on the immense and everlasting mercy of God, through the all-sufficient atonement and mediation of Christ; which will bear investigation, and flourish in connexion with deep humility, holy abhorrence of sin, and the strictest conscientiousness in all things; and an inward serenity and tranquillity of mind, in submis

John, xiv. 27.

sion to the will of God and confidence in him, constitute this inestimable blessing.

The Lord hath also assured us, that "when our

ways please him, he maketh even our enemies to "be at peace with us:" and his peace ruling in our hearts disposes us to follow peace with all men. The precepts, as well as the promises of Christ, ensure peace to all his true disciples. The most sincere, upright, disinterested, and harmless conduct, united with tender compassion, courteousness, and universal benevolence; a disposition to make concessions and reparations for all injuries, and to forgive and love our enemies in the most unwearied and generous manner, are expressly commanded by the Redeemer; and these are also "the fruits of the Spirit," who dwells in all true believers. The most exact attention to all relative duties, according to the regular subordination of families and communities, is also effectually provided for. If therefore, all men should at once be made true Christians, answerable to the specimen shewn to the world after the day of Pentecost; nay, according to that lower measure of bestowed on grace thousands in this land at present: the effect upon human affairs would be as stupendous, as that produced on the boisterous winds and stormy waves, when the incarnate Son of God said, " Peace, be still, and there "was a great calm!" Wars and all concurrent and similar evils must instantaneously cease; and peace, equity, purity, truth, and love universally prevail; if all men were partakers of the Spirit of Christ, and obedient to his commandments.