advice to a reviewer, or editor, permit me to take the further liberty of recommending to you the perusal of the Bible, particularly the pages of the New Testament. As long as Christianity is the established religion of our country, a knowledge of the sacred book, containing its precepts, seems not only useful, but necessary, to editors or reviewers: it will, at least, enable them to quote its sacred pages with the correctness to which they are entitled. The passage to which, as I apprehend, you have been so good as to direct my attention is, in the Oxford edition of the Bible, "Do violence to no man*," (in the margin, put no man in fear,) "neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages."

Now, Sir, had you duly considered the import of these admonitions, which you have so strangely and unpardonably misquoted and misapplied, you would have discovered

* μηδενα διασεισητε when rendered do violence to no man, does not convey the correct meaning of the Baptist. The verb diareiw has a specific and different meaning-to terrify and extract money from any one. Whether the admonition of the Baptist was addressed to Jewish or Roman soldiers we know not; but it seems probable that these soldiers were placed in Judea to preserve the peace, and to insure the collection of the taxes, rather than for military operations. In whatever light we consider them, the advice of John appears pertinent and suitable; and if followed, must render soldiers not only incapable of violence and bloodshed, but of every minor act which might lead to the commission of these.-Our Saviour, instead of prohibiting adultery, forbids every disposition that could possibly lead to it. In like manner John, instead of condemning violence and bloodshed, inculcates a disposition and frame of mind, that must necessarily incapacitate men for the atrocities of war. In thus acting, he appears to have approved himself the worthy precursor of the PRINCE OF PEACE, If these remarks are correct Dr. Paley, Bp. Porteus and others, appear to have acted very injudiciously in bringing forward this admonition of John to show the lawfulness of the military profession,-it condemns it in the very same way that our Saviour condemns adultery: Matt. v. 28.

that, instead of giving a sanction to the military profession, they negatively condemn it. Obedience to them would, most certainly, annihilate all military establishments, and convert soldiers into cyphers. Of what use, I would ask you, would military men be, who should conscientiously refrain from doing violence to others? They would be as useless as salt that had lost its saltness, and might be disposed of accordingly.

When you accuse me of not having acted the part of a patriot and a Christian, I feel your censure to be as harsh as I am conscious it is unjust. Your views and mine, concerning Christianity and patriotism, are, I imagine, at variance : you appear to adopt the views of Celsus*, at least you hring against me the very same charge that he brought against the early Christians; and had you lived in the days of Origen, it is probable you would have told him that he was in his dotage, or that he was not acting the part of a Christian and a patriot. You, like Celsus, take expedience for your pilot: I regard implicit obedience to the commands of Christ, and the practice of those virtues which are enjoined by Him, as the best test of a man being at the same time a Christian and a patriot; as the sure foundation for obedience to princes and superiors, and the most certain guides to actions the most noble and heroic.

A casual perusal of the prophecies of the Old Testament, added to a slight knowledge of the Gospel of Peace, will, it is probable, correct an error into which you appear to have fallen. You say, you believe "that the terrible means of destruction by elastic vapour will be a means of terminating the accursed game of war." The study I have recommended to you, will lead you to believe, that an agent more potent than elastic vapour will achieve the desired victory. This agent is the Christian religion. This religion does not address itself exclusively to the patriot or the philanthropist;

* See Letter IX. page 176.

to the rich or the poor; to the learned or the ignorant; to ages of darkness or those illuminated by science or philosophy; to the subject or the prince: it is suited to be a bless ing to all, and to subdue all to its benign dominion; it is suited to fulfil the purpose of the benevolent Creator, which is to establish "peace on earth, and good-will among men." This noble purpose, elastic vapour is not likely to accom plish.

Should it be asked what good the editors of periodical works can do towards the establishing of universal peace, as they possess no political power over nations: I answer, that their power is over public opinion and morals. Let them, as occasions offer, inculcate those virtues which Christ taught, and deprecate those vices which he condemned. Let them also, as opportunities occur, expose the horrors, the crimes, and the folly of war; and they will aid the Gospel, the mighty instrument of Omnipotence, in undermining the inhuman system, which has, for so many ages, deluged the world with blood: they will thus effect more than sovereigns, united in holy alliance, can accomplish by the sword. They will effect more than princes, priests, and statesmen united; for their influence extends to all these; and this influence must progressively increase with the growing influence of the press; and the power of both is daily extending, with the extension of education. From the latter we may anticipate, that in less than a century there will be few men, even among those who are called the vulgar, who will not be able to distinguish between truth and error, between genuine Christianity and sophisticated theology. Then, in the language of prophecy, all shall know the Lord. If knowledge is power, what noble effects may we not expect from it! though slow in its operations, it is gradually changing the minds of men. It is now, and for ages past has been, working like leaven. Princes and editors may hasten or retard its operation; but the ultimate triumph of Christianity over false religions; of knowledge over ignorance; of truth

over error; of virtue over vice; of humanity over cruelty; of peace over war; is guaranteed to us by the sure promises of JEHOVAH.

You ask me, as if you thought the question unanswerable, "What would become of England, if all men and officers should follow my example?" If you will tell me, of what use soldiers will be, when they adhere to the advice of the Baptist? or if you will tell me what will become of England, when, instead of being merely a Christian nation, it shall become a nation of Christians? you will have some right to expect a direct answer. I do not, however, wish to avail myself of this, or of any excuse for giving you such an answer at present; and I will give you one on the very highest authority. When men "shall beat their swords into ploughshares;" when "they shall learn war no more;" then (literally or figuratively) "they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid : for THE MOUTH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS HATH SPOKEN IT*.”

As you have begun, permit me to request that you will continue to animadvert with freedom on what I write; and I make the same request to all editors and reviewers. Whatever literary imperfections my Letters may exhibit, the principle they advocate is immortal. It is "glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace." Convinced of the truth of prophecy, I confidently anticipate, that what I have written, and which has been sneered at by you and others, will be held in honour in future ages, when the savage and sanguinary spirit that has for so many centuries disgraced human beings, shall be banished from the earth by the sunbeams of Christianity. This consoling and glorious truth you cannot doubt, if "thou believest the prophets."

LETTER IX.

ON THE PRACTICE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIANS RELATING TO WAR.

"If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews."-John xviii. 36.

MY DEAR SIR,

NUMEROUS volumes have been written by theologians of different sects of Christians, for the purpose of establishing their peculiar religious tenets, by showing that the early Christians held the same opinions as themselves, and this without producing uniformity of opinion. Notwithstanding this has been the case respecting the religious opinions of the early Christians, I trust more satisfaction and certainty may be derived from inquiries concerning their practices. Opinions may change, and good and conscientious men are the most likely to experience this change; but facts must always remain the same. An inquiry, therefore, into the practices of the early Christians respecting war, will form the chief subject of my present letter. I shall not, however, on an occasion like the present, neglect to notice opinions, particularly those of some of the early Christian Fathers, as these opinions