end was among fools. What was Pompey? One of the greatest generals that ever directed the Roman legions. He rose to power and fame by the success of battles, and sunk by the very means of his former aggrandizement-became a fugitive from the sword-was assassinated by those on whom he had thrown himself for safety--and finally, his body, left unburied on the sands, was burned by an old fisherman, on a pile of rubbish. And what better was Cæsar, who overthrew him?-He became a great man, (if power could make him great,) at the expense of millions of human lives. He rioted a while in the sunshine of prosperity, if prosperity it might be called, and died by the hands of his friends.

And thus we might trace the pages of historydescending from age to age, we find neither happiness nor safety obtained by the sword.

Nor are there less striking instances in modern, than in ancient times. And through all, we shall find these bold adventurers, who feared not God, nor regarded man, though nations had trembled at their displeasure, were as much the victims of their own madness, as the humblest soldier that perished in their battles. "Action and re-action," said a modern writer, “are equal in the moral, as in the natural world."* And when we injure a fellow creature, we invariably injure ourselves. This is one of the laws, decreed by the Great Ruler of the universe, and which we can no more annul, than we can suspend the succession of day and night, or stop the planets in their courses. Whoever, therefore, is an enemy to man, is, in the same proportion, an enemy to himself. Nor are these injuries of a temporary nature. For the feelings of strife and ill will, cannot consist with love to God. We cannot be the disciples of Christ, without charity and love

*Thomas Clarkson.

to one another. We cannot love God, while our feelings towards each other, are those which lead to violence. So that whatever excites those passions, which dissolve the bonds of fellowship, and separate man from man, does, at the same time, separate man from his Maker: and thus, not only involve present, but eternal consequences.

But if we leave the interposition of a Providence out of the question, and consider war as proceeding entirely on its own principles, the justice of a cause is no criterion to judge of the result of a battle. The contest then of two nations, is at once resolved into the question of respective powers. It is not who is right, but who is strongest? But this has nothing to do with the original question. How monstrously absurd is it then, to appeal to the sword, in questions of right and wrong! The result is understood to depend on which possesses the most power, or the most skill in the work of destruction. To decide which, wealth, lives, and happiness, are squandered with a demoniac prodigality! If power and right are inseparably connected, why not let the parties count their men and resources, and let the aggregate, upon paper, test the justice of their respective claims? If this idea is preposterous, if the principle on which the decision is to rest, is obviously absurd, as totally unconnected with the merits of the case in dispute, the same may be said of every principle and contingency, which can be assumed in the case of war. The advocates for war, have no right to claim the intervention of an over-ruling Providence, controling the natural operation of physical causes, in cases of war, since they deny the agency of that Providence, in the preservation of peace, and the protection of those who endeavor to serve him.

On those who direct the measures of governments,

and put in operation the dreaful machines, which manufacture guilt and misery on the large scale, an awful responsibility must rest. They are called upon by reason and religion-by the sympathies of our nature, and the laws of God-to make a solemn pause. The christian, however humble may be the sphere in which he is placed, is entrusted with an important charge-"Ye are the light of the world." The light afforded is not designed for your direction alone, but to dispel the darkness which involves those around you. Should you extinguish or conceal this, through motives of ease or interest, how will you be able to answer for the consequences? Or what will you do in the day of solemn investigation, if the blood of slaughtered thousands-the guilt, and agonies of millions, should rise in judgment against you? And let the ministers of the gospel, take heed to the ministry they have received. Let those who name the name of Christ, and profess to be embassadors for him, consider what was the sentence (Gal. 1. 8, 9,) pronounced on those who preached any other doctrine, than that which was preached by Christ and his apostles, which was the gospel of Peace and Salvation.

The Conclusion.

ON looking over the foregoing pages, it will not be difficult to discover, that many striking arguments, which have been already advanced, in support of particular doctrines, are omitted. It has not been intended to say all that has been said by others, nor all that might be said. The mind, sincerely disposed to come to the knowledge of the truth, will rarely, if ever, require the whole body of evidence. which might be produced.

The object of all arguments-of all the labors of instruments, should be, to bring mankind to that divine principle, which was promised-"to lead us into all truth." When men are thus brought to an acquaintance with this divine Intelligence, they can adopt the language that was used to the woman of Samaria: "Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." John, 4. 42. Hence, the messengers of the gospel have nothing to claim to themselves, and their only rejoicing is in the prevalence of that power, which will be exalted over all.

I am aware that nothing can be written to meet the views of all. And consequently, objections from some quarter or other, are to be expected, against whatever may appear, on doctrinal subjects. But though I anticipate this result-though in the present state of the world, it is next to an impossibility to be otherwise--yet I have felt, and still feel, an earnest desire, to cut off all occasion of offence. I

intreat the forbearance of those, who at first view, may not see the propriety of the course I have taken, or the doctrines I have vindicated. All the advantages of that patient and candid examination of the subject, will be their own.

Should any have remarked that I have not made the Trinity nor the Atonement, subjects of distinct articles, and be dissatisfied with the supposed omission, I would observe: that a belief in God, and his divine attributes, is evident throughout the whole work; and did not appear to me to require a particular article; seeing also, that this first principle of religion, is universally believed. The Divinity of Jesus Christ, together with his appearance in the flesh-and the benefits which all men have derived from what he did outwardly, and may derive from what he does inwardly, is fully acknowledged in an article devoted to that purpose; and also in several other articles, which are nominally on other subjects. The Holy Spirit, and its presence and operation in the hearts of man, according to the precious promises of our blessed Lord, are acknowledged in the article on Immediate Revelation, and in divers other parts of the work. I have therefore chosen to follow the example of the Holy Scriptures, or the holy men who were inspired to write them, in leaving the subject on this general ground, rather than to imitate those speculative theologists, who, attempting to explain the Divine Nature and its mode of subsistence, have involved themselves in endless difficulties.

In relation to the Atonement, I have been governed by similar feelings. Having stated our belief, that Jesus Christ, by his coming, and what he did and suffered, HAS placed all men in a capacity to be saved, and that by his Spirit and power in