deeply in their propery while the conflict continued: and it was much more severe in some parts of the nation than others.

"A considerable sum was raised, which, under the direction and management of a National Committee, was administered to the relief of the sufferers in such proportion, as, from the accounts transmitted of their loss and circumstances, they appeared to require. When these wants were supplied, there was a redundancy, which was directed to be returned to the subscribers; so that we do not at present stand in need of making any further use of your brotherly intimation of affording assistance, than that of expressing a grateful sense thereof."

Without question, it must afford a pleasing reflection to every humane mind, that a Religious Society, conformably to the analogy of the outward body, should, in this way, suffer and sympathize in the sufferings of all its members; and, though dispersed over a nation, should constitute, as it were, but a single family, bound together by common interests.

Viewed abstractedly as the effect of a benevolent Christian economy, practised in a particular Society, the fact must also be a source of gratification, that strangers, even in distant countries, should offer their kind assistance to those in need. For, we are told that the Friends in England, and even in America, requested permission to send their contributions, should they be required.

But, contemplating the fact, as if the same principles of conduct might be made applicable to the whole Christian community, how consoling and animating would be the prospect of all the members of the Christian Church, however scattered, and however divided, by minute shades of opinion, being brought to unite in the bond of Peace, in a common desire to do each other good, to obey the same rule, and to adopt in their practice the same principles !

It would require no great stretch of faith to believe, that conduct like this would lead them to a union which no earthly power could shake, and that Jews, Mahometans, and Pagans, would bow down with reverence to the spirit of Christianity, and surrender their might before the excellency of such a peaceful dominion. Because, these, constituting part of the human family, and therefore objects of this Catholic benevolence, would receive from their Christian neighbours such lessons of peace and good-will, as would imbue

them with kind dispositions, and take away all evil intentions from their minds.

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It could not injure any, whatever might be their opinions with regard to the necessity of War, to study with deep attention the moral effect of this Christian spirit of universal charity; which has thus a tendency to unite together nations, kindreds, and people, as children of one parent, and servants of one Lord," thinking no evil," "forbearing one another," "loving one another," "preferring one another,' seeking the good of all;"-and to compare it with the opposite spirit, which is ever busy in discovering faults, in awakening evil surmisings, in sowing the seeds of contention, and setting man at variance with man, in kindling the flame of War, and promoting the misery, demoralization, and destruction of the human How can we conceive it possible that these opposite disposìtions should ever be brought to coincide in the perfect character— the true disciple of Jesus Christ?

race.

Is it possible that the same individual can be actuated at the same time by the maxims and principles of Peace, and the maxims and principles of War? But if these are incompatible, and War could be tolerated under the Christian code; then the maxims and principles of Peace might be dispensed with under the same code. Where shall we find the authority for thus stripping off the distinguishing badge of the Christian, that he may be fitted for the field of battle? There is no such authority: it is opposed by every rule and maxim: by every law and principle, in the New Testament. Consequently, the maxims and principles of Peace cannot, under any circumstances, be dispensed with; and warlike habits and dispositions are entirely incompatible with the meek and forgiving spirit of Christianity. The rule of expediency, as it is called, may promise much: and men may employ their sophistry in attempting to reconcile the two characters. But calculations of present advantage, can never be admitted to form a part of the motives by which a Christian should be governed; nor will he, who, in simplicity of heart, wishes to follow the example of a meek and forgiving Saviour, with faithful obedience to his laws, and humble confidence in his divine protection, ever be justified in forsaking the direct and straight-forward course of integrity, to preserve life or property, for the serpentine mazes of a

wily policy, by which he might bring himself to think that he could secure these transitory blessings.

CHAP. VIII.

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

SOME observations naturally present themselves to the mind on reading the foregoing narrative.

We have seen that in a time of civil commotion, in which it would be difficult to conceive a state of things attended in some places with more aggravated circumstances, a number of individuals, following the benevolent precepts of the Gospel, were enabled to keep themselves free from party-feelings, to open their houses and to lend their assistance to the distressed, whatever their denomination; and that, finally, they were permitted to experience preservation in the midst of a most barbarous and destructive warfare. This exemplary humanity, and this remarkable preservation, were not confined to one or a few individuals in a particular spot; but were common to a considerable number of persons, in different parts of an extensive country, professing and following the same principles. And when they were threatened with the burning of their habitations, the destruction of their families, and the loss of their own lives, if they persisted in acts denounced by their enemies; they were favoured with fortitude, notwithstanding, to pursue that line of conduct, which they believed to be consistent with their duty, fearlessly and faithfully, in the presence of armed multitudes, who seemed even to be kept in awe by their Christian magnanimity.

We have seen that the signal preservation which the members of the Society were favoured to experience, was marked by one excep tion, in the case of a young man who fell a victim to his own temerity; and that the peculiar circumstances, under which this apparent exception took place, serve rather to illustrate and establish, than to invalidate, the principles by which the Society was governed.

In addition to these things, we have to notice, in the economy of the Society itself, the sympathy and brotherly kindness manifested not only by their countrymen, but by Friends at a distance; by the first, in coming forward to relieve their suffering brethren, and by the last, in offers of assistance, should it be required,

Upon a consideration of all these things, a number of reflections offer themselves to our notice.

In the first place, we naturally feel a desire that principles, like those, by which this body of Christians were actuated, should prevail more generally in the world; and we are led to inquire, if it be not possible, that moral effects which took place on a small scale, should take place also on a larger; that a beginning might thus be made for that glorious consummation, when men shall learn

war no more.

We must be satisfied that what is wanting, in the first instance, is courage to maintain the self-denying and peaceable principles of the Gospel; and if examples be required, then, by the facts recorded, we give the advocates of war decisive proofs that these principles are not visionary and inapplicable to the state of civil society; but that they are substantial and efficient when brought into operation, contributing to the preservation of individuals, and to the general good of the human family.

Can we reasonably doubt, if the numbers of those, who, amidst the horrors of this rebellion, acted upon these principles, and endeavoured thus to fulfil their duties to their fellow-creatures, had been still greater, that the triumph of humanity, or of peaceable practices over warlike, would also have been greater, and that many, who fell victims, would have been spared?

In proportion as the elements of Peace encroach upon and displace the elements of War, the force of the latter must become weaker in other words, in proportion to the numbers of those, who lift up the standard of Peace in any country, Peace is diligently pursued, and religiously preserved; and the sparks of contention, whenever they appear, are, as when water is cast upon fire, stifled and extinguished.

For, as this devouring element only spreads among combustible materials, when these are wanting, it must cease; so the passions of revenge and cruelty, when they are opposed by meekness and benevolence, having no food for the flame, must of necessity be calmed and appeased.

Were a whole nation to act upon these principles, what an example it would be to the world! and is there any wrath or violence of man it could have cause to fear?

If the life of one man is preserved, who, in time of imminent peril, conscientiously displays the mark of true discipleship, in love to his enemy as well as to his brother, we rejoice at the event, though, as an isolated example, we might not perhaps be induced to build upon it in our future conduct. But if a number, acting upon the same principles, under very various circumstances, are found to experience preservation, we have then something like the proofs afforded by matter of fact, to lead us to entertain a question upon the possibility of the same effects resulting from the same causes, on a still larger scale, if men would only have courage to make the experiment.

If, in addition to the evidence, derived from experience, of the efficacy of peaceable conduct, we have the precept and example of Him who pronounced his blessing upon the peace-maker, what stronger sanction can a sincere Christian look for, to determine him to renounce the the spirit and the trade of war, and to enlist himself under the banner of the Prince of Peace?

And as we could not rationally, and certainly not as Christians, contend that a lengthened existence was a proof of peculiar favour in a pilgrimage like that of the present life, in which some of the best of men have been permitted to run but a short career, before they were summoned to their reward; we are called upon religiously to adhere to our principles in times of outward extremity, without any prospective view to a limited or a protracted duration. The Supreme Being is surely not less merciful to his creatures, because he permits some of them to fall a sacrifice to the sword of the cruel, in order that they may be translated a little sooner, than would otherwise be their lot, to the regions of bliss and immortality.

The sword of the cruel, we cannot for a moment doubt, has never been permitted to cut off the innocent, without a merciful design to the sufferer, and a gracious purpose of watering and multiplying the seed of the true church with the martyrs' blood. For, whosoever has died in the faithful support of his Christian testimonies, has, in all ages, been a martyr; and we may confidently say, that his blood has not been shed upon the earth in vain.

Whenever violence, therefore, has been permitted to gain, as it were, a temporary advantage over the meek and unresisting spirit of Christianity which is the spirit of Peace we are warranted in