PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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we see at length, forbids these innovations, as so many
trallsgressions of a l1encficia I gel1eral rule actually subr
sistin 0·.
(')
The 1icen~e of war then acknowledg~s two limita-·
tions: it ~lutll0rjzes no hostilities whicll have not an
apparent tendenc)~
to effectuate the object of the
Vv·ar; it respect, those positive la\vs \Vllicli the custom
of nations h~th sanctified, and which, whilst they arc
mutually conformed to, tnitigate the calamities of
\var, \vithout ,':eakcning its operations, or dilninish.
ing the power or safety of belligerent states.
Long and ,"arious c:\:pcriencc seems to have con­
\~iIICed the nations f)j· J:urope, that nottJing but a
sta/zi/illg ar};lY can oppose a standing arnl)T, \\T}lere the
nunlb,~~rs un each side bear any moderate proportion
to on'~ another. 1"nc first standing army that appeared
in EilrC)pe aft~~ tl1€ fall of tIle Ronlan legion, was
th~:.[ \vhich \vas erected in France bv Charles VII.
J
about the n1iddle of tI~e fifteenth century: and that
the in~titution hath since beconle gerleral, can only
be attributed to the superiority and success whicll
are ever)- \vhcre observed to attend it.
rl'he truth is,
the closeness~ regularity, and quickne~s of ttleir movement,;
the unreserved, instantalleous, and almost
mechar.~cal obedience to oruers; tIle sel1se (:f personal
110nour!t a11d tIle fanliliarity \\~ith danger, Wllich
be!r)n~ t: a discipline{l, ,reteran, and embodied sol.
diery, ~i\"e such firmrless and il1trepidity to fheir approach,
~uch weight and execution to their attack,
as ~~t·c 110t to be witl1~~()od by loose ranks of occa­
~io1al and newly-levied troop~, who (1re liable by
tl1:~·ir iI1{~X11{:ricnce to disorder and c()nfu~iol1, and in
,,,hOIn fear is constantly augnL'nt('d by novelty Clud
S~! i"I)ri~)f-'. 1 t is po~~il)le [flat a JJlilitil1, \vith a great ex-
0''''; rJ numhcri', and a n'ady supply of recrui~s, may
s~i(tain a defl'llsivE' or a i1yin~ war against regular
tf(\f,):)S; it is als() true tl1at a.il)' service, Wllich keeps
s (,1 ( Ii, ~ r s fl) raw 11 i 1 e t ( l g e l11 c r , an d in u res t 11 enl by 1 i t -
ti" ~~nd little t:) the habits of war and the dang('rs of
a~ tiiJIl, tr,lllsforl11s tllCI11 ill effect illtO a stal1dil1g ar ...