answered by the laws and customs ordained at Sinai, than is now possessed by any human being. It would therefore be both folly and arrogance in me, to pretend to a perfect knowledge of the case, or to attempt an explanation of all the difficulties it may involve. I may however suggest some thoughts, which may be useful to those who have not examined the subject, and who shall be disposed to pursue the inquiry.

First. There is a striking contrast between the laws of Moses and the precepts of the Messiah, as to the mode of enforcing obedience. Promises of temporal good, and threatenings of temporal evils, were continually employed by Moses, as motives to obedience; and seldom if ever did he urge the retributions of a future state. The Messiah, on the contrary, almost uniformly enforced his precepts by the retributions of eternity.

If we could clearly discern all the reasons, why God, at different periods, adopted such different modes of enforcing obedience, we should perhaps be able to account for the laws of Moses, which appear to Christians of a severe and sanguinary character. But if the change in the manner of enforcing obedience, does not imply that "God, the Lawgiver, has undergone mutation both of nature and of will," neither does the doctrine that making war is prohibited to Christians by the precepts of the gospel.

Second That the gospel covenant is more perfect than the Mosaic, no intelligent Christian will deny. "For if the first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for the second." "But Christ is a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." He was emphatically the LIGHT of the world; and the light by him as far surpasses the light by Moses, as the light of the sun exceeds that of the moon. Yet all the light by Moses, and by the Messiah, proceeded from the same source." The Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning."

Third. It was the duty of the Israelites to walk before God, according to the light and precepts by Moses; and Christians are under as great obligations to walk ac

rding to the light and the precepts by Jesus Christ. d we may as rationally ask, why God did not send

the Messiah as early as he sent Moses, as why retaliation of injuries was permitted to the Israelites, and prohibited to Christians. Let it then be granted, that "Man is essentially the same through all generations"-and that "God is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever;" still it is a fact, that the state of society has been changed, the Mosaic covenant has been abolished. Christians are blessed with a more mild and gracious dispensation, and the light which now prevails, far transcends all that was enjoyed prior to the advent of the Messiah. By all that is dreadful in the future punishment of the wicked, and by all that is desirable in a state of endless love and harmony in heaven, Christians are called upon to deny themselves, to subdue every warring and revengeful passion, to exercise one towards another the spirit of. meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, and benignity-to be in word and deed, in temper and in practice, the FOL LOWERS of the PRINCE OF PEACE.

As all Christians profess adherence to him as the "Light of the world," "the way, the truth, and the life,' let them "so walk even as he walked," and love one another as he has loved them. Then will Christianity appear in its true light, the havoc and horrors of war will be banished from Christendom, and the hands of Christians will no more be stained with human blood.

A SERIOUS QUESTION PROPOSED.

SUPPOSE the slaves in our southern states should thoroughly imbibe Dr. M'Leod's principles of the lawfulness of making a "defensive war," for any "violation of right,” or "actual injury inflicted or about to be inflicted," when it can be done "with a rational prospect of success;" what shall hinder them from slaughtering the whites as soon as "the force to be applied" shall, in their view, "be adequate to the object ?"

If it be right for white men, to adopt such sanguinary principles, why may not black men imitate their example? If it be right to encourage and excite white men so to do, and to support them in such a course of conduct, why may not the MILLION of blacks, who are held in

slavery, be lawfully encouraged and excited to assert their rights by the sword, and be supported in an attempt to emancipate themselves, by murdering those who hold them in bondage? What war has been waged within a thousand years, which was more just, than would be a war of the southern slaves to obtain their freedom?

Do the feelings of our advocates for war revolt at the thought of a St. Domingo Revolution in this country? Then let them cease to propagate such murderous principles as would justify such a revolution; lest God should cause them to "eat of the fruit of their own way, and to be filled with their own devices."

As much as I lament the condition of the slaves, and as much as I abhor the inhuman principles by which their rights have been violated, I should shudder at the thought of exciting them to adopt the principles of war and revenge. I should advise them still "to suffer wrong, rather than to do wrong." I would advise them to follow the instructions and example of Jesus Christ, rather than to become the disciples of Dr. M'Leod. But if the principles and spirit of war and revenge are still to be cultivated in our land, what better can we reasonably expect, than that the blacks who are held in slavery among a free people, will be formed into a terrific army by the permission and providence of that "God, to whom vengeance belongeth," and be suffered to distress and destroy their oppressors ?

No other means would, in my opinion, be so likely to prevent such an awful calamity, as faithfully to cultivate, both among whites and blacks, the heavenly principles of "peace on earth, and good will toward men." this way the condition of the slaves might be meliorated, and their emancipation gradually and safely effected.

In

But if the Christians of this country will persist in upholding the bloody principles and malevolent spirit of war, alas! for the slave-holding States; the day of retribution will assuredly come, and they will be made to feel the enormity of those principles of oppression, retaliation, and revenge, which they have cherished, cultivated, and reduced to practice.

A MINIATURE PICTURE OF WAR.

COLONEL A. and Major B. assumed the rank of gen. tlemen of honor. Each of them had parents living, a wife, several children, and a numerous train of relations and friends. They had dealings by which Colonel A. became indebted to the Major, and was under promise to pay in sixty days. The time expired, and the payment was neglected. The Major sent for his money, in a tone of complaint and menace. The Colonel was offended, and his honor was impeached, and demanded satisfaction. The Major said he had given no just cause of offence, and would make no concession. The Colo

nel immediately sent a challenge for a duel, which the Major accepted. The parties met according to appointment, took distance, and fired. The Major fell dead on the spot, and the Colonel was severely wounded. Each was carried home to his family, and their respective connexions came together. The family of the Major was in deep distress and affliction; the family of the Colonel held a feast, and drank toasts in honor of the glorious victory.

Now what shall be said of human beings, with the name of Christians, who can conduct in this savage manner? Are they sane or insane? But this is war in miniature, excepting that those who made the war fought their own battle, instead of instigating or compelling others to fight for them. Nine tenths of the wars of Christendom have been as perfectly needless, wanton, and unjustifiable, as the duel between the Colonel and the Major. Yet ministers of religion on both sides of a contest could preach, exhort, and pray in support of such murderous insanity, and employ their influence for the destruction of their brethren! What can be more wonderful, more shocking, or more to be deplored! May God grant that the reign of darkness may speedily come to an end, and that all who name the name of Christ, may depart from such abominable iniquity.

revive and disseminate the genuine spirit of the gospel, take the liberty of addressing their fellow christians of all denominations, and their fellow-citizens of every description, on the subject of public war. In their estimation, no other subject has been more extensively or more radically misapprehended.

The history of past ages combines with the language and practice of modern times, to prove that public war has too commonly been viewed mnch in the same light, as the unavoidable convulsions of the natural world, and resorted to with little more conviction of responsibility for its tremendous ravages, than if they were occasioned by hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Is there not, however, an immense difference in the two cases? Are not the convulsions of the natural world beyond the control of mortal power? And is not war, with all its horrors, the proper fruit of human choice and agency? This difference shows the absolute futility of what is of ten alleged in vindication of the sanguinary custom,— That, while it sweeps the worthless and vile from the stage of life, it calls dormant genius and enterprise into action, unites divided kingdoms and states, and ends, like the tempest, in a calm, rendered more grateful and salutary by the general agitation. What right has man, a moral being, amenable at the tribunal of heaven for the rectitude of his intentions and pursuits, to " do evil, that good may come ?" To hurry thousands of his fellowcreatures into untimely graves, and send them, unprepared, to their last account, under pretence of benefiting survivors? Vain pretence: "for the sword devoureth one as well as another;" and the experience of ages testifies, that the tendency of war is, not to diminish, but to increase the aggregate amount, both of vice and misery.

But were it otherwise; were war productive of all the advantages, which its advocates allege, the question, whether it be compatible with the requisitions of Christianity, would still remain to be solved, before we could have recourse to it, without a crime. And "what saith the scripture" to this question? How do the sacred writers of the Old and New Testaments represent the obli gations and the effects of our holy religion, in relation to war? Let them speak for themselves: "In the last