Let us recite them again in your text.--For if any man have not the hearing-'I say unto you,'--these spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' are the words of no fallibie, no merely From these words, I shall observehuman teacher, but of him who died 1. That the disciples of Christ on the cross to save us, and will stand exposed to the hatred and inshortly come in the clouds to judge jurious treatment of their fellow men. ús,I say unto you which hear,' II, I shall explain to you, the all who hear, whatever may be your spirit and conduct which they are character and rank, your office and required, in such circumstances as employment,—to those of you who these, to cultivate and exemplify. may be accustomed to hear with the III. I shall point out the grounds nicest care, and most critical exact- upon which this requisition proceeds ; ness, whose

ear trieth sounds as and, finally, meet some objections the mouth tasteth meat, sift, and which may be raised against this watch, and examine as you may,

Christian doctrine.” Love your enemies, do good to Under the first general division of them which hate you, bless them his subject, Mr. C. accounts for the that curse you, and pray for them hatred and injurious treatment to that despitefully use you.'

which the disciples of Christ are ex“But this is an hård saying, who posed, upon the following grounds :can hear it ?--So opposite to all the The general corruption of human feelings of nature,--so repugnant to nature,-a certain degree of offence what has been termed right reason, inseparable from a marked and deand the alleged fitness of things, --sócided profession of spiritual religion, contradictory to the commonly re- -the indiscretions and faults of the ceived opinions of mankind, — 50 godly themselves,-and the corrective

so remote from the doctrines of philo- discipline of God, which may somesophy, and the practice of the world, times avail itself of the enmity of the --who can patiently receive it? Who world, to accomplish its own gracions dares avow it? Who can pretend to purposes.--He concludes this head act upon it? My brethren, let us not of his discourse, by observing, that deceive ourselves : if it he not our “ The hostility spoken of in the earnest desire, our fixed purpose, text may proceed to the most afand our constant aim to do so, we flictive and outrageous excesses. The have no valid evidence of the genuine- enemies of the Christian may add to ness of our Christianity. Without this, hatred, cursing--to cursing, false acall our lofty and noisy professions, cusation-even to the imputation of though connected with the know- all manner of evil; and to the misledge of apostles, and the zeal of chiefs of the tongue, they may join martyrs, are no better than the injurious, cruel, and despiteful treatsounding brass, and the tinkling ment. They may impugn his dearest cymbal.' Without this, it is too cer- interests, wound his honour and retain that we have no claim to be putation in the tenderest point, waste numbered amongst the children of his goods, insult his relatives, and God, the followers of Christ, the even attempt his life.” family of the redeemed; we have The second general division, which not yet submitted to the yoke of him relates to the spirit and conduct of who is 'meek and lowly of heart ;' a Christian under such circumstances, we are not walking in his footsteps; we shall give more at large, assured we have not traced into our own that those of our readers who may characters, the lines of his fair re- not have heard or seen the discourse, semblance. And this is, or ought to will be gratified by the perusal. We be, matter of the deepest concern to would only remark, that where the all who hear the sentiment of this preacher refers to the rights of self

THE

HERALD OF PEACE.

OCTOBER 1821.

ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PEACE SOCIETIES ADMITTING

THE RIGHT OF DEFENSIVE WAR.

. IT has been alleged by many do evil that good may come, so no persons, who profess to be sincere anticipated success can justify such a

, friends of Peace, that they are pre- deviation from what is right. But cluded from connecting themselves granting that such an union as the with the Peace Societies already esta- one proposed may be carried into blished, because those Societies con- effect, without any derilection of tend against defensive, as well as principle on either side, still perhaps offensive War. They maintain, that it would be found that the differences the cause of Peace would possess a of opinion which exist, would intergreater number of advocates, and rupt the tranquillity of their interobtain far wider support, if the ex- course, and thus defeat the benevotended principle, which strikes at the lent wishes and purposes by which root of all defensive measures, were they are individually animated. to be either abandoned or waived ; While we think Peace Societies, and that the good, which it is pro- established upon certain avowed bable would result, ought to operate principles, would be wholly unjusas a sufficient motive for such an act tifiable in keeping back or abanof compliance with the views and doning those principles, in order to sentiments of others.

obtain an increase of numbers and Were those Friends of Peace, who influence, we see no objection to the have formed themselves into societies, establishment of other Peace Societies publicly avowing that they are prin- by those Christians who differ from cipled against all War, thus to act, us. Nay, we think a solemn nethey would stand exposed, we ap- cessity is laid upon them thus to prehend, to the charge of either associate, in order to pr

ote a hatred inconsistency, or disingenuity; a of War, a love of Peace, and the consideration which constitutes an universal prevalence of those kind insurmountable obstacle to the pro- and lovely feelings and dispositions jected design; and, as we are not to which must be every where diffused,

2 P

VOL. III.

prior to the glorious state of the sured that, while we cannot conMillenium. Affectionately and fer- sistently abandon nor conceal our vently, therefore, do we call upon peculiar views upon the subject, we all Christians, of every name, and of

shall never cease to cultivate towards

them, as fellow-labourers in the same every country, to engage in the blessed employment of scattering all cause, a spirit of affectionate regard; around the seeds of Peace. We ask and shall hope that, in the exercise them not to abandon their own pe

of a spirit of generous emulation, culiar notions, but we urge them to

we may mutually 'provoke one anodemonstrate to the world the im

ther to love and good works.' portance which they attach to this subject. We have no wish to esta- Fifth Annual Report of the Massachublish a party spirit, and to add to

setts Peuce Society. our numbers as an association; but ANNUAL Reports of Philanthropic we earnestly desire that all the fol- Institutions are official records and lowers of the meek and lowly Sa- memorials of divine benignity in faviour may, in some way or other, vouring the exertions of men, for lend their aid for the suppression of advancing the welfare of their spe

cies. When they faithfully exhibit the practice of War, and for the extinction of the War-spirit. With- present aspects of Providence, they

what has already been done, and the out the slightest feeling therefore of furnish incentives to persevering zeal rivalry, we shall rejoice in seeing and activity. With such views of other societies arise, having, with a the design and use of Annual Reproper Christian disposition, these ports, the Executive Committee proimportant ends in view. If the good them.

ceed to the duty now expected of be effected, --if the reign of the Spirit As the great object of the Society of Messiah be proclaimed among is “ Peace on earth,” in a Report for mankind, though by other efforts 1920 it would be ungrateful to overthan ours, we shall nevertheless re- look the mercy of God, in granting joice with unfeigned and disinterested to our country a year of uninterrupted delight. Never, we trust, will any abatement of those party dissensions

peace,_and in causing a remarkable other emotions than those of ge- which, in some former years, were nuine and enlarged Christian phi- not only hostile to the progress of lanthropy, wárm our bosoms.

pacific sentiments, but even threatLet then all those Christians, who ened the ruin of the United States. are the true Friends of Peace, but Such a time of tranquillity is pecuwho cannot satisfactorily join with liarly favourable to the exertions of

Peace Societies. From a season so us in the glorious work of universal

promising, much fruit might natupacification, prove to God and man rally have been expected, and the the sincerity, the purity, and the Committee have occasion to refer to ardour of their wishes for the ter- the scantiness of the funds under their mination or prevention of War, and control-to the embarrassments of for the furtherance of Peace, by im- commerce and the scarcity of money mediately and actively associating furnishing reasons why more has not

in various parts of the country, as for these most benevolent and God- been effected in the course of the like purposes. They may rest as

year. These causes have probably

a

deterred many well-disposed men been impressed with such sentiments,

, from joining the Society, suspended but so indistinct, and so variant from the organization of several societies sentiments that are generally deemed in different States, and in some de- patriotic, that they never ventured gree paralyzed the exertions of So- to express them.” cieties which had been formed. Such On this extract, the Committee obstacles being duly considered, it will only observe, that similar effects is hoped that the following exhibition have occurred in many other parts of facts will be both satisfactory and of the country,—and that these being encouraging

duly multiplied and extended, cannot In the course of the year there fail to excite a universal abhorrence have been distributed in behalf of of war. the Society and its Auxiliaries :-Of Since our last Anniversary three the various Nos. of the Friend of new Auxiliaries have been reportedPeace, 7155 ; of the several smaller Byfield, Boxford, and Andover—and Tracts, 8935; in all 16,080. In ad- a report of one at Sackets Harbour dition to these there have been sold is daily expected. * The East Hadof the Friend of Peace, 2860; In- dam and Billerica Branches have been creasing the aggregate disposed of greatly enlarged; other Branches to 18,940.

have received some additions, and It is also proper to state, that two many members have been added to valuable Addresses have been pub- the orignal Society. In all societies, lished by Branch Societies—one by the individuals are liable to pecuHingham Branch, delivered by the niary embarrassments, and to death. Rev. Daniel Kimball; the other by It is not possible for the Committee East Haddam (Branch, delivered by to state the precise number of memthe Rev. Solomon Blakslee.

bers at the present time, but inIn making the distributions, the cluding the fifteen Auxiliaries, it is Committee have sent upwards of 500 supposed that the present number of copies of the Friend of Peace, and members exceeds one thousand. many smaller tracts, to foreign states Two of the early members of this and countries ;--to the four British Society have in the course of the Provinces in America-to Great Bri- year become life subscribers. Jonatain, France, Germany, and Russia than Thompson, Esq. of Natchez in Europe, and to Calcutta and Cey- in Mississippi, has also presented a lon in Asia. The other distributions life subscription; and J. N. Mooyaart, have extended to the greater number Esq. of Ceylon in India; has preof the United States.

sented a donation of twenty dollars, In regard to the influence of these in addition to his former donation Tracts, and the manner in which they of twenty-five. The value of Mr. have been received, it may be suffi- Mooyaart's donation in Tracts was cient to give an extract from a recent delivered to the Prudential ComReport of the Raleigh Peace Society mittee of the American Board of -in which it is said—“All who Commissioners for Foreign Missions, had an opportunity of reading them, to be forwarded to India, that the seemed to feel the importance of the

cause of the Society might be prosubject. None, we venture to say, moted in that quarter of the world. have attempted a refutation of the The Reports which have been redoctrines or principles therein con

ceived from the independent Societies tained. Aged ministers of the Gospel expressed their astonishment and

* An Association has also been formed regret, that they had never before for Reading Peace Societies, and Tracts

at Stanstead L. C. on the plan proposed viewed the matter in its true light. have been procured for the same purpose Others declared that they had often by a gentleman of Shirley in this state.

in this country, afford evidence that but five years ago with only twentythe cause of peace is advancing in two meinbers, and having the preMaine, Rhode Island, New York, possessions of a world to encounter. North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana. Since the Society was formed, it

The Committee have received no has increased in a ratio greater than accounts from the Societies in Bri- that of doubling its number annutain of later date than the Herald of ally. Were it to advance in the same Peace for March 1820. At that period ratio for ten years to come, it would the principal Society in London had contain more members than there been greatly strengthened by the were of free adults in the United addition of many subscribers, and States during the time of the Revoseveral important Auxiliary Societies. lution. Though such advances in Besides having published more than future are not to be expected, it is 150,000 Tracts in their own lan- reasonable to anticipate an increase guage, that they had caused 5000 of Peace Societies and Peace Chacopies of the Solemn Review to be racters, both in this country and in published in Germany; 5000 copies Great Britain, which will have a

a of another Tract in the Dutch lan- favourable influence on the policy guage, were in the press, for Holland of the two nations, and on the des. and its colonies ; arrangements were

tinies of the world. making for publishing in the Welsh In any Society composed of many language ; and one hundred pounds members, some diversity of opinion sterling had been granted to promote may exist, as to the best means for the objects of the Society in France. attaining its object. If it be so in These facts may dispel all fears that Peace Societies, it is no more than the Peace Societies in this country was anticipated ; and this very cirare too rapid in their advances for cumstance affords opportunity for the public safety

the display of those sentiments of Some of our countrymen probably candour, forbearance and conciliation, imagine that Peace Societies are, and which are eventually to abolish hosever will be, composed only of mem- tilities among men. bers who can have but little influence As war is the genuine fruit of on public opinion and the policy of barbarism, unchristian principles and states. To correct such a misappre- passions, every occurrence indicating hension, it may be proper to observe, the progress of light, civilization and that many important characters be- Christian benevolence, is justly relong to the Peace Societies in Britain, garded as favourable to the objects and also to several of the Societies in of this Society. The extensive interthis country; that the Massachu- change of benefits and expressions setts Peace Society, with its several of gratitude, resulting from thouBranches, contains upwards of 140 sands of moral, religious, and benepublic teachers of religion, and many ficent Institutions, are binding torespectable characters in literary gether the people of different counInstitutions; that it has at the pre- tries with the cords of universal sent time, two members in the Con- philanthropy; and the more there gress of the United States,--and that are of these ties, the more there will in the Convention for revising the be of human agents to exert an inConstitution of this state, the Presi- fluence for the preservation of Peace dent of that venerable body, and and the prevention of War. 33 other delegates, are members To the prevalence of benign and of this Society, or its Auxiliaries.- conciliatory sentiments, may be imThis is perhaps as much as could puted the remarkable tranquillity have been reasonably expected of a which accompanied the separation of Society which commenced its course Maine from Massachusetis. In the