Page:OntheConductofMantoInferiorAnimals.pdf/65

 settling differences, without resorting to the sword. To what purpose is it to educate a young man in the principles of generosity and humanity; to make him accomplished, enlightened, and virtuous; and to give him ideas of philanthrophy, benevolence, and affection for his species, if they are all to be obliterated by the horrible inconsistency of making him a licensed robber, or a murderer by profession? Such an education ought to tend rather to banish the sentiments of hatred and hostility, and enforce those of peace and benevolence; for surely all these things are not requisite to murder with greater dexterity, or destroy an enemy with a surer and more certain aim. The end of such an education is inconsistent with it's principles; and while the profession of a soldier continues in society, let those, who are intended for it, remain, as they ought to be, savage, ignorant, and uncivilized, for while wars continue, civilization is not complete."—Burdon's Materials for Thinking, p. 264.

Philo, speaking of the Christians of his own time, says, None can be found among them who manufacture darts, arrows, swords, helmets, breast-plates, nor even such weapons as might be converted to bad purposes in the time of peace; much less do any of them engage in those arts which are useful in war." It is evident, then, nay the conviction compels us to acknowledge the fact, that the people who now assume the name of Christians, are generally impostors, possessing scarcely any thing of the spirit and practice of Christianity; nor do some of those professors stop here, they are profound hypocrites; "they profess to know God but in their works deny him."

"A highwayman is as much a robber, when he plunders in a gang, as when single; and a nation, which