Page:Christian Review - War.djvu/4

76 its causes, we will notice something of its history. The first war of which we have any account, was that of Arioch, king of Ellassar, Chedorlanmer, king of Elam; and Tidal, king of nations, with Bera, king of Sodom.—Gen. 14: 1, 2. The second war was fourteen years after, when Lot—Abraham's nephew—was taken prisoner, whereupon, Abraham "armed his trained servants, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan," and discomfited the five kings. For this deed, "Melchizedek, priest of the most high God, blessed Abraham, and gave him tithes of all."

When Joshua crossed the Jordan, with the hosts of Israel, the seven nations of Canaan manifested such total depravity, that the Lord thought them unfit to live; and, hence, wars of extermination were commenced, and carried on till the nations were destroyed. These were called—"The wars of the Lord."—Nu. 21: 14.

For fifteen hundred years, the Lord—for a very special purpose—supported the family of Abraham, both in peace and in war. The promise was:—"In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." But after the coming of Messiah, God gave the Jews over to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind. Their depravity was such, that they were only fit to be slain. They were once a brave and mighty people, striking terror into the hearts of surrounding nations; but according to prediction, their valor left them so soon as the Lord withdrew his hand:—"And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest; but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life; in the morning thou shalt say,—Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say,—Would God it were morning! for the fear of thy heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see."—Deut. 28: 65, 66, 67. They now have no powers of resistance, but are a proverb for cowardice, and degradation, throughout the world. "How are the mighty fallen!"

A few reflections in reference to the designs of the wars which God sustained with the Jewish nation, will be in place.

First:—As before intimated great corruption existed, before war