8. The universal forbearance and failure to resist evil amongst the first christians, is clear proof, that they did not feel themselves at liberty to fight and destroy the Almighty's creatures. Jesus said, he "could call twelve legions of angels to his assistance," but by such means christianity could receive no assistance. Jehovah could have enabled Peter, and Paul to have raised up armies, that would have crushed all opposition; but such a policy would have defeated the whole design of christianity.
We read no place in scripture, or in history, of General Peter, Col. Paul, Capt. John, or even Ensign Luke; and had they engaged in the conflicts of surrounding nations, Christ's religion would have proved worse than useless to the world.
9. Christians during the first and second centuries, presumed not to take the least part in civil governments, or thought of engaging in war. Even the very calm and moderate author, Doctor Paley, says:—"Christianity, soliciting admission into all nations of the world, abstained, as behoved it, from intermeddling with the civil institutions of any."
The first remarkable war after Christ, was that of the Romans against the Jews, when Jerusalem was destroyed in the year 70. The possessions of Christians were invaded, and their property confiscated, but neither Josephus, or any other historian, mentions resistance amongst them. There were some forty thousand Christians, at Jerusalem, when the siege was commenced by Titus; but they took no apparent interest in the war; and yet, marvelous to relate, they perished not. God supported them, and in obedience to the commands of Christ, they "Fled to the mountains," and Eusebies plainly tells us (Book 3: ch. 5:)—"That a great body of them, resorted to a village called Pella, beyond Jordan, and by their pacific principles, were preserved safe, amid the desolations and blood shed around them."
Do not all men of information know that Celsus, the arch enemy of the christian religion, accused Christians in the second century, of refusing to bear arms for the Emporer. His declaration was,—"If others entertained the same opinions, the empire would soon be overrun by barbarians."
Maximilian, suffered martyrdom, for saying to the Proconsul Dion:—"I am a christian and cannot bear arms."
Scores of others suffered upon the same ground.
