other. The hawk, vulture, eagle, and every thing possessing wings, contend and devour. The lion, tiger, wolf, and all else of the kind, live in spite, tear and kill. The domestic animals brought up under the hand of man, scratch and bite. The flocks and herds have no peace—we pass to our fields and cattle-yards, and there all is discord; we perceive the disposition to be to kick and gore. The toad, serpent, and the like, possess their venom, and are well disposed to throw it out. In the sea, the whale pitches battle with his fellow until his jaws are broken, and his monstrous bulk mangled to an extreme degree. Besides him, the shark, sword-fish, and others of the watery tribes, live following the trade of death. Thus it is the whole round of being: "Pursuing and pursued, each others prey," is the melancholy picture, look where we will. Why, it does seem that the devil when he broke into Paradise and seized upon this fair creation, infused his own infernal nature into every thing in which was the breath of life! Surely our blessed Creator when he made and finished his works, did not leave them in that tainted, malignant state in which they now are seen! Sin and the fall must be the cause of this strange derangement. Ah! the evil nature of the evil one is found everywhere; it inhabits the lower species; the spirit of the pit breathes in all living existences upon earth; the whole creation is inclined to war!

How dismal a place is the earth, by reason of its hatred, discord and violence! It is a wretched, miserable scene indeed! Great, truly, have

been the sufferings caused by its strife and war! They are measureless. So bad has this world been made to be by the malignity of its spirit, and so unpleasant a place to be in, that the pious, the people of God, have longed to be away from it; they have wanted wings so as to escape from the evil spot, and go to some other abode and find rest. To such it is a most animating reflection, that a world of so much malignity and unkindness one of so much animosity-of so much violence and blood, is soon to come to a close, and be succeeded by another altogether dissimilar. Blessed be God for the heart-refreshing word of promise in reference to this!

Thoughts Addressed to Christians in view of their Connection with War.

In closing the present chapter some thoughts are presented to Christians-those who profess to be followers of the Prince of Peace, in view of the fact that they connect themselves more or less with war; the importance of the subject seeming to call for it.

We have seen that the spirit which will reign in the coming state of being, is the opposite of harshness and violence. And is not Christianity, the institution under which we live, as much in opposition to it-to every thing of the nature of war? Will it admit of the striving of the servants of the Redeemer? Let us see.

What are the precepts of the Gospel respecting this matter? "But I say unto you that ye

resist not evil; but whosoever will smite you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat; let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. But 1 say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you." "Put up thy sword again into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. For in

so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but to the froward. For this is thankworthy if a man for conscience towards God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For hereunto we are called, because Christ suffered also for us, leav. ing us an example, that we should follow his steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Matt. 5: 39-41; 26: 52; Rom. 12: 17, 19-21; I. Pet. 2: 18-23. Much more of like import might be produced, but it is unnecessary-these quotations are sufficient. Is not the case plain? But if any are disposed to doubt,

let us turn again to the New Testament, and see what construction is put on such precepts by primitive practice.

What are the examples of the Gospel? How did our Lord treat those who came to apprehend him? He healed the ear which Peter in his fiery zeal had cut off, as see Luke 22: 51. He was mild and unresisting all the while he was on trial. When mocked, scourged, spit upon, and crowned with thorns, he bore it like a lamb. But lest any might mistake, and say that this was not intended as an illustration of the nature of the Gospel kingdom-that the peculiar circumstances of our Savior who came to be an atoning sacrifice, required that he should do as he did, and that therefore in all this he is no pattern for us-lest this should be thought and said, we have the express assurance of an inspired Apostle, as we have it in the passage just now quoted, that he conducted in the manner he did under abuse on purpose to leave his followers an example. When the Redeemer had endured meekly and unresistingly every other indignity, he was at last cruelly suspended upon the cross. Then he cried, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Luke 23: 34. Similar to this was the spirit of the martyr Stephen, when the infatuated multitude were stoning him to death, as see Acts 7: 60. The example of the Apostle Paul is the same as the others already named. He says, "Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place; and labor working

with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat." I. Cor. 4: 11-13. Does not all this confirm the precepts, and enjoin it upon the followers of the Lord that they always are mild, and never forcibly contend? Does it not pointedly admonish them not to let the biases of their education give a false gloss to the New Testament precepts on the subject?

Thus we see what are the injunctions of the Gospel, and what its examples, as relates to the matter in question: does not its entire nature and genius agree with this? Is not the whole breathing of the New Testament institution that of benevolence, kindness and love? Is not its spirit mildness, and only mildness? It speaks good will to man, and nothing else: how striking to trace it through, and see its spirit in this thing! Do we not at once perceive how perfectly its disposition resembles that of the world to come in tenderness, kindness, and affectionate feeling, as has been portrayed on the preceding pages of this work? That, as has been shown, has nothing harsh, or that works mischief.

Again, look at the Gospel doctrine of self-denial, how far it calls upon people to go. We see how it requires the followers of the Redeemer, that they seize hold upon the reins and draw them close upon the appetites and passions, and that they subdue every carnal feeling. Are we not taught that, as Christians, we must struggle and make strong efforts to keep under that which is fleshly, resisting the natural, sinful inclination