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0/ War, and of lAiiita,., E!tablizhmtnis. 4i'
CH.4PTER XII.
OF WAR, AND OF ~II!.:I·rARY
l\iEN'!'S.
ESTABLISI-I.
BECAUSE. the Christian Scriptures d~;.
scribe wars, as what they are, as crinles or judgments,
some have been led to believE that it is unlawful
for a Christian to bear arms. But it should be
remembered, that it may be necessary for individuals
to unite their force, atld for thi~ end to resl~n themselves
to the direction of a common will; cu~i yet it
may be true that that will is often actuated ~y criminal
moti;Tes, and often determined to destructive
purposes. Hence, although the origin of war's be'
ascribed in Scripture to the operatiorl of la\vless and
malignant passions;· and though war itself be enufiJerated
among the sorest calanlities with which a
land can be visited, the profession of a soldier is nowhere
forbidden or condemned. When the soldiers
demanded of JOlln the Baptist what they sllould do,
he said unto thein, " ])0 v~olence to no man, neither
accuse any falsely, and be contp,nt with your wages."t
In which answer we do not find. that, in ordf'r to
prepare themselves for the reception of the kingdom
of God, it was required of ~oIdiers to relinquish their
profession,. but only that they should beware of the
vices of which that prfession was accused. The pre ..
cept which fol!ow~., G' Be content with your wages,"
snpposed them to contilll1e in their situation. It was
of a Roman centurion that Chri~t pr"lnonnced that
memorable eulogv} " I have not found so hf~at faith,
no not in bra~l/'t The first Gentile convertS who
\vas received irltf) the ("~~!ri~ti(jn chllrch-,
an(} to \VhOln
the gospel was imparted by the immediate and, e~pe ..