to cultivate peace with their fellow creatures, they would not likely have enemies, except of bloody religionists.
9th. But says another:—"Suppose savages—Indians—were to attack us, what then?" The nation of innocent Quakers, that settled Pennsylvania, with William Penn at their head, did more to tame the wild man of the forest, than all the Puritans and Romanists that crossed the waters. These wild men of the forest had not the heart to molest a Quaker. They were a people of peaceful life. In seventy years, the savages invaded not the territories of these "Friends." In all this time, but three of them suffered, and history relates, that even these were not molested till they so far lost confidence in their God, as to take arms to defend themselves. At the breaking out of the revolution, the military took possession of Philadelphia, and from that date the untamed Indian had his deadly enmity excited, against the city of Brotherly love.
We express our belief firmly, when we say, doubtless the Lord has protected, and will still sustain his people, if they will manifest greater confidence in him than flaming swords and glittering spears. It is difficult to find human beings sufficiently degraded to slay members of the family of man, who cultivate not a spirit of war.
But be this matter as it may, the whole teaching of the New Testament, is to impress the spirit of long suffering and forbearance; and to sacrifice property and life itself, rather than deny the Savior.
Had we space, we would be pleased to answer all arguments upon the subject of Christian wars; but we must bring our remarks to a close, without recapitulation.
We should like, upon a suitable occasion, to notice some of the evils of war upon what is called, christian society, the education of youth &c., but we leave the statements to speak for themselves. If we have taken the right view, christians are in great error and must reform. If we are mistaken, we would gladly be corrected.
Barton W. Stone, on his dying couch, exclaimed:—"Oh! that I had strength to preach and exhort all around me to live like christians, to adorn their profession. God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."
