236 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



therefore deservedly very popular — was raised for the great purpose 

 of introducing the Jewish church to the Saviour of the world; and 

 hence much true gospel light shone round this great Preacher. The 

 answers he gave the question, may be depended on to be sufficient and 

 conclusive. 



But let us hear, what does John say? Does he tell them, to lay down 

 their arms, and throw them by, as there can be no sort of war lawful ? as 

 some would have us believe! No, no, this is not his answer; John 

 knew better; he knew the present state of our depraved world would 

 render war in many cases unavoidable, and even necessary. So that a 

 soldier might serve the end of his being in his place and calling, as well 

 as a plowman or preacher in theirs. 



But then it must be a just war, conducted in a lawful, righteous man- 

 ner; for the legality of the action will never justify the illegality of the 

 manner of prosecution. 



The soldier must do violence to no man — must not accuse any falsely 

 — and must be content with his wages ; leading vices these, for ordinary, 

 among regular troops; but the Cheistian soldier must guard against 

 them, from the genuine principles of true religion, in the heart; and 

 then may hope for heaven, as well from a field of battle, as expiring on 

 his couch in the midst of peace and tranquility. 



I now deduce this doctrine from the text, thus explained • Doctrine. 



That although war is in itself a very great evil, and one of those sore 

 judgments, by which a holy God punishes the world for sin, therefore to 

 be deprecated, and avoided as much as possible ; yet is at times, by rea- 

 son of certain circumstances, so unavoidable, that it is our duty to enter 

 into it. The method I design to pursue, in opening up the doc- 

 trine, for improvement, is the following: 



I. Humbly attempt to shew (with submission to better judgment) 

 when a war is so unavoidable and necessary, that it is our duty to enter 

 into it. 



II. Shew how we should enter into, and prosecute even a just war. 



III. Improve the subject, by the deduction of a few natural inferences 

 from the whole. 



You are sensible, my hearers, that there are some Christian people in 

 the world, and some of them in these parts, who merit the regard of the 

 public, by their general character of industry, inoftensivenes, and so- 

 briety ; yet do maintain it, as a sacred conscientious tenet, not to be dis- 

 pensed with, not to (JO to ivar, or to take up arms on any occasion vjhatso- 

 ever; and charity, the leading grace of the Christian system, will lead us 

 to deal tenderly with such, as far as we have grounds to believe they are 

 sincere in their profession. We ought to pity such for their mistake, 

 and, if possible, to convince them ; but not by any means to urge them 



