Page:Christian Review - War.djvu/14

86 war. "Indeed, we are persuaded, the education and habits of the times are such, as to permit few to see the transcendent beauties of the kingdom of peace. Neither are we prepared to say, that there are not some apparent arguemtns, which might be offered against these views. We have heard many things said by the advocates of christians wars, and if the reader will bear with us, we will notice one or two christian arguments in favor of them.

7th. From the declaration of the Savior,—"He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one." (Luke 22: 36;) some have concluded, that the Lord intended to teach his Apostles, to defend themselves by the sword. Let us examine the connection. Suppose we admit, that he intended them to defend him or themselves, in the trials close at hand, he would have had all the eleven, at least, weaponed; but they said:—"Here are two swords;" and he replied:—"It is enough."—Enough for what? To defend themsleves and their Master against their enemies? Not at all; but enough to show the use of swords so far as christians are concerned. Shortly after, the Savior was taken prisoner, and the disciples said:—"Lord shall we smite with the sword," and no sooner said, than Peter had stricken off the high priest's servant's ear. But Jesus said:-- "Suffer ye thus far;" or in other words, I have suffered you to go thus far, to teach you that you must not use the sword; "and he touched his ear and healed him."—Luke 22: 51. Matthew adds:—"Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"—Mat. 26: 32, 33. Then, so far from the passage showing that the disciples were to use violence, the very reverse is most obvious.

8th. We are asked the question, "suppose the territory of christians were invaded, and the enemy were about to destroy their property; must they not defend themselves?" The Romans came against the christians in Jerusalem, and in obedience to the Lord, they "fled to the mountains." The innocent Waldenses, often forsook their homes to escape the sword of the bloodthirsty Roman Catholics, yet by this course they maintained their purity, and honored their immaculate Redeemer. Were christians