out threatenings and slaughter, is making war and killing our fellow men following the example which Christ gave under his sufferings? Is such the way to "commit the keeping of our souls in well doing to God, as unto a faithful Creator?" Is this the way that our Lord "committed himself to him who judgeth righteously?"

Those who are acquainted with the history of our Saviour can be at no loss for the proper answers to the questions now proposed; and every one who is convinced that he cannot imitate the example of Christ by indulging the war spirit, must be sensible that war is prohibited by the exhortations of Peter.

John is not less decided than the other apostles on this subject. Thus he writes-"He that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself so to walk even as he walked -He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes." 1 John ii. 6, 9, 10, 11.

Do men "walk even as Christ walked" while they indulge the war spirit, and meet each other for mortal combat? If any one can suppose war to be consistent with Christianity, must it not be that "he walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes?"

Again, "In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil: whosoever doth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye have heard from the begin ning, that ye should love one another. Not as Cain who was of that wicked one and slew his brother.-We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in,death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer,

and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." iii. 10-15.

By the term "brother” we may here understand any of the human family for whom Christ died, and not merely a professed Christian; and whether he be a friend or an enemy we are bound to love him with the same kind affections which Christ exercised when he died for the ungodly. If we love only those who love us, what do we more than others? By love to all, or that benignant and forbearing temper which disposes them to do good to all, and restrains them from destroying or injuring any, the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil. By this we are to know whether we have passed from death unto life. "He that loveth not his brother abideth in death." Not only so, but "whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." What then must be the fate of those who fall into the arms of death indulging a temper to kill their fellow men ?

It is believed that no intelligent Christian can impartially examine the passages which have been quoted-without being convinced, that the apostles to ally misapprehended the nature of Christianity, or that the Christian spirit and the war spirit are as perfectly opposed to each other, as light and darkness, or virtue and vice.

Who then that has a spark of Christian love in his breast, can fail of being shocked at the thought, that a custom so repugnant to the gospel, so destructive to mankind, and so perfectly diabolical, should have been for ages supported with enthusiasm by Christians, as a just, necessary and honourable mode of deciding controversies! It may be seriously doubted whether any thing more abominable in its nature, or more dishonorary to Christ, is to be found either on earth or in hell.

THE CAUSES AND AGENTS OF WAR

BY AN ENGlish writer.

As long ago as 1763, a pamphlet was published in London, entitled "The Case of going to War for the sake of procuring, enlarging, or securing of trade, considered in a new light." The following account of the causes of war, and of the agents by whom nations are involved in sanguinary contests, is worthy of serious consideration.

"In ancient times," says this writer, "men went to war without much ceremony or pretence. It was thought reason good enough to justify the deed, if one man liked what another man had; and war and robbery were the honour. able professions. Nothing was judged dishonourable but the arts of peace and industry. This is Herodotus's account of the manner of living of the barbarians of Thrace; and this, with very small alterations, might serve to characterize all other barbarians, either of ancient or modern times.

"But at present we, who choose to call ourselves civilized nations, generally affect a more ceremonious parade, and many pretences. Complaints are first made of some inju ry received, some right violated, some incroachment, detention, or usurpation, and none will acknowledge theme selves the first aggressor. Nay, a solemn appeal is made to heaven for the truth of each assertion. Thus it is with both parties; and while neither of them will own the true motives, perhaps it is apparent to all the world that on one side if not on both, a thirst for glory, a lust of dominion, the cabal of statesmen, or the ravenous appetites of individuals for power or plunder, for wealth without industry, or greatness without merit, were the only real and genuiné springs of action.

"As to those who are always clamouring for war and sounding the alarm of battle, let us consider who they are and what are their motives; then it will be no difficult

matter to determine the degree of deference that ought to be paid to their opinions, and the merit of their patriotic zeal.

"1. The first on the list here in Britain is the mockpatriot, and furious anti-courtier. He always begins with schemes of economy and is a zealous promoter of national frugality. Every popular topic and every inflammatory harangue is immediately put in rehearsal; and O LIBERTr! O MY COUNTRY! is the continual theme. The fire then spreads; the souls of the noble Britons are enkindled at it, and vengeance and war are immediately resolved upon.

"2. The next in this list is the hungry pamphleteer who writes for bread. The ministry will not retain him on their side; therefore he must write against them, and do as much mischief as he can, in order to be bought off.

"3. Near a kin to this man is that other monster of modern times, who is perpetually declaiming against peace, viz. the broker and the gambler of Change-Alley.

4. The news-writer is a fourth species of political firebrand a species which abound in this country more than in any other on the face of the globe. For as here men are allowed great liberty to say, or write what they please; so likewise is the abuse of that blessing carried to a higher pitch. In fact these people may be truly said to trade in blood; for a war is their harvest."

"5. The jobbers and contractors of all kinds and of all degrees for our fleets and armies,-the clerks and paymasters in the several departments belonging to war; and every other agent who has the fingering of the public money, may be said to constitute a distinct brood of vultures, who prey upon their own species and fatten upon, human gore.

"6. Many of the dealers in exports and imports and several of the traders in the colonies, are too often found to be assistants in promoting the cry for every new war: and when war is undertaken, in preventing any overtures towards a peace."

This account of the causes of war, and of the agents by which a war fever is excited, was written in England while the now United States were colonies of Great Britain. How far the account is applicable to what has occurred in our own country, since we became an independent people, must be left for the reader to determine.

What this writer observed of the state of things among "barbarians" is lamentably true among the nations which "choose to call themselves civilized." They indeed "affect a more ceremonious parade and many pretences," but still "war and robbery are the honourable professions ;" and many of the modern wars have been made on no better ground, than that "one man liked what another man had." If such conduct constitutes men "barbarians," or is proof that they are of this character, those who choose to "call themselves civilized nations," have made but little advance from the savage state.

In the wars of nations called civilized, there may be more of the "strange chequer of motley strife, urbanity and battle, manners smooth and ruffian actions." Nay with them the murderous act may be

"done

With all its tinsel on it, with its pomp

And robe about it ;"

bat the Ethiopian is black, when clothed in white, and war is murder with whatever "tinsel" and "pomp" it may be arrayed. Each of two contending nations has called it so in the other, and in this particular, both parties have generally spoken the truth.

VIEWS OF AN ENGLISH WRITER RESPECTING THE WARS OF GREAT BRITAIN.

"I may well strike every one of us, when we hear that scarcely is there a single war in which this country has