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What do we find to have been the mind of Christ as to this subject ? Would such retaliation of an injury comport with the temper of the gospel, and the spirit of the christian religion ? To such questions, I believe, our text will furnish sufficient answers. " Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for *' an eye, and a tooth for a tooth ; but I say unto " you, that ye resist not evil.'* • , . , Here we have, what may be considered, a new law, for surely the word and command of Christ is a law, and ought to be considered, by all who call Jesus their master, a law, which they are bound to obey. Here we find a new law opposed to that old law of retaliation, which was given by Moses. That old law, therefore, however it might have been understood and expounded by the Jewish doctors, seems to have been repealed and done away, by the command of the Son of God, expres- sed in the last clause of our text. ; . > ; 8 V '),■ The expounders of the law, wliich we have been considering, agree, that the injured person might, if he were so inclined, demand retaliation in kind ; that is, he might demand, that the person, who had maimed him, or deprived him of an eye or a tooth, ahould be maimed in the same way, aod be obliged to suffer the same kind of loss and pain. It seems to have been left to the injured person to- choose, whether he should be compensated with money, or have the law executed literally. It is said, how- ever, that few people among the Jews were so cruel, as to demand " eye for eye, or tooth for tooth ;*' and as learned expounders of the kiw gave their judgment that retaliation in kind and degree, might be dispensed with, in most cases a pecuniary com- pensation was preferred. It was in the power of the injured person, however, to demand " eye for *^ eye, and tooth for tooth ;" and this kind of punisl^ ment, this retaliation of evil for evil, seems to have been the very thing forbidden by our great master. To demand retaliation in kind would have been, ** to resist evil :" it would have been contrary to the conainand of Clirist ; and contrary to the spirit of the cbrbtian religion. '• It is to be observed, that the law under con- aeration, never gave liberty to any individual sv>l>. ject, to retaliate his own wrongs. If a man, by an act of violence, were maimed, or deprived of an eye^ or a tooth, the law did not give him liberty to in- flict a like injury in a sudden manner, and in his own way. He must make his complaint to the judge, and the assault being proved, he was. then at liberty, either to receive the awarded compensation, or require the law to be executed in all its severity. 9 But this kind of severity, in retaliating an injury, was not allowed by the Son of God ; a punishment so severe and cruel, those who professed subjection to him, must not require. The Icamed com- mentator before mentioned (Dr. Whitby) observes, *' Christ forbids the christian something which was permitted to the Jew.'* The thing permitted to the Jew, when injured in any of the ways men- tioned in the passage where the law is recited, was, that, if he saw fit, he might demand retaliation in kind ; but Mw, which would be to " resist evil," is absolutely forbidden the christian, in the words which make the closing part of our text. We have now, perhaps, said as much as may be necessary in answer to the questions proposed at the beginning of this discourse ; and I believe we are now able to understand, what was the mind of Christ, with respect to the law of retaliation. You will please to attend to such remarks and observa- tions, as may naturally rise from the subject, and from the thoughts which have already been sug- gested. And, 1. The subject and the thoughts, which have been suggested, lead us to admire and to love the christian religion. This religion is mild and gen- tle, as was its author. It may be supposed, that the men of the world, men of fashion and gaiety, will not be pleased with this religion, because it brings restraints with it, and will not allow them to resent injuries in their own way, and render evil for evil. Men of high spirits, when injured in person, in property or character, are in haste to avenge themselves. They cannot be pleased with a relig- ion, which requires them to suppress their resent- 2 / IP" '■?'VB.r.«"«f^* M.»' 10 lii if. *. 1 « ^ I i! 'II t .til Hi 11 I «'?; in ments, and commit their cause to a well regulated tribunal. And if they cannot be easily persuaded to wait until the judge shall declare what compen- sation they shall receive for the injuries, which they have suffered, it can hardly be supposed they will be willing to forgive their enemies, and pray for those, who have spoken evil of them, and persecu- ted them. •- -' ■■"' -'^ ' r- -• - ^'^ :.--^^- But the effects of this religion, although despised by the high-minded children of men, would be in- expressibly beneficial to mankind, were it univer- sally received. This religion breathes nothing but peace and good will. The spirit of this religion is opposed to violence and strife, and every species of warfare, except that which is necessary to defence. 2. As the spirit of the christian religion is mild and gentle, those, who sincerely embrace this reli- gion, will resemble iheir Lord and Master in their temper and conduct. " If it be possible, as "much as lieth in them, they will live peaceably " with all men." The true subjects of the Prince of Peace will be the last men on earth to blow the trumpet of war. They will never take the sword but in defence of rights highly important, and such as are essential to their safety and happiness. Men, therefore, M'ho are in haste to make war, and are among the first to excite^ their brethren to deeds of violence and blood, arc not true subjects of the Prince of Peace ; but are in subjection to him, who first excited rebellion and war among the crea- tures of God. 3. It will follow, as a just inference from what has been said, that the practice of retaliating inju- rieSf which has been too long tolerated, even in ^ 11 christian countries, is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, and the express prohibition of Jesus, who came to teach the perfect will of the Father, both by word and by example. We need no farther ev- idence, than is found in the text, which we have been considering, to prove, that the Son of God will not allow the subjects of his government to retaliate injuries. " Ye have heard that it hath ** been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a " tooth ; but I say unto you, that ye resist not *'evil." . Under the Jewish dispensation, a man who had been injured, and by an act of violence had lost an eye or a tooth, might not take satisfaction in his own way by inflicting a like injury. He must sub- mit his cause to the judge, and, when the fact was proved, he might choose whether to receive com- pensation in money, or require, according to the phrase in common use, " eye for eye, and tooth for " tooth.*' But this part of the law appears to have been done away by the prohibition in the text. The Son of God would not allow the subjects of his government to indulge a spirit of revenge : he would not permit his disciples to do what had been tolerated under the Jewish law. 4. If private christians may not retaliate injuries by rendering evil for evil, christian rulers arc no doubt under the same restraint. Rulers of chris- tian countries, of nations and kingdoms, where the christian religion is generally jM-ofessed, ought to examme the subject, which wc have been consider- ing, with care, and be extremely cautious lest they offend the Son of God, by setting up a rule in the 12 i1 I;' I I i u 'I \ I ,;i l!( .'i infliction of punishment, contrary to his positive order. When one nation, for no just cause, makes in^. roads on the rights of another, the injured nation may, no doubt, take up arms in its own defence. There is nothing, in the religion of the Prince of Peace, which forbids such kind of warfare. Our Lord let his disciples know the time might come, when they would need, and of consequence might make use of swords, and therefore gave the following direction, (Luke xxii) " He that hath no sword, *' let him sell his garment and buy one." But that kind of warfare, which is tolerated by the gos- pel, is altogether defensive^ and is as different, as can be, from the warfare which is carried on by the sons of pride and ambition for purposes of con- quest and fame. But if christian nations may take the sword, only in defence of their persons, their rights, and their country, when invaded, they are not permitted to retaliate, according to the common meaning of the term. If one nation invades anoth- er, and lays waste by fire and sword ; and the in- jured nation, to retaliate its wrongs, invades in turn, and burns and destroys, the countries in which such savage warfare is prosecuted, must, in the end, be depopulated. This is the worst kind of warfare ; it is the warfare of barbarians ; and those, who begin it, in any country, deserve the execration of mankind, and will sooner or later meet the vengeance of heaven. «; . 5. If it be contrary to the spirit of the gospel for christian rulers to carry on a war of retaliation against a nation which has made war upon them, wmm' 13 it will be plain, that christiati rulers may not retali- ate on innocent subjects of an enemy nation inju- ries, which the rulers of that enemy nation may have exercised on captives cr other subjects, which such enemy nation may have in his power. This is the most cruel sort of retaliation ever threatened by civilized man ; and happy is it for the world, that so many good men have remonstrated against it, that few, who have had it in their power, were sufficiently hard-hearted to execute what they have sometimes threatened. For nation to retaliate on nation^ in open war, burning for burning, and devastation for devastation, is too bad for christian rulers to encourage, and is a kind of warfare, which one would suppose must make a barbarian shudder. But if such kind of warfare is too bad for any christian rulers to encourage, what must we think of die kind of retaliation which was last mentioned ? What must we think of the rulers of any nation, who, in cool blood, can take the innocent subjects of another nation, and put them to death, to retali- ate the supposed wrongs, which that other nation may have committed ? What must all good men think of such retaliation ? I will not express my own thoughts, for I am not master of language strong enough, were I to make the attempt.* You will recollect, that at the beginning of this discourse I observed, — " It is not so much my in- tention to show what opinions moral writers, and writers on the law of nature and of nations have expressed concerning the doctrine of retaliation, as to show what appears to have been the mind of • See Note A. ▼ i I 14 Christ, and what comports with the religion which he founded, and which we profess." If, on inquiry, we should find, that the best of those writers were in favour of the doctrine in question, and find, also, that Christ expressed him- self strongly against it, we should think ourselves bound to submit to the authority of Christ, rather than to tlie authority of men, however learned and wise, and however much their opinions may have been respected ; and I am very much mistaken, if it has not been made to api^ear, that retaliation^ as commonly understood, is directly contrary to the doctrine of Christ, and the spirit of his gospel. We may, therefore, conclude, that were the Son of God now in the world, and to give his opinion on the subject, which we have been considering, it would be similar to that which he gave about eighteen hundred years ago. We may conceive that he would speak to a multitude convened to hear him, as he spake to his disciples and the mul- titude, seated at the foot of the mount. " Yc have heard that it hath been said, by the expounders of your laws, — ^ye may retaliate the injuries, which ye sufier from one another in times of war, — ^ye may render evil for evil, burning for burning, devastation for devastation ; and, in some eases, ye may take away the lives of innocent sub- jects of an enemy nation, when such are in your power, to retaliate (or wrongs done to your nation, or to the subjects of it ; but I say unto you, that ye resist not evil in any of those ways. If your enemies liave acted like savages, take heed that ye do not as they have done. If your enemies have IS been cruel in the treatment which they have show- ed to you or to your brethren, take heed that ye be not cruel also. If your enemy have shed the blood of prisoners and captives unjustly, take heed that ye be not guilty of the same abominable wicked- ness." In some such language, but in a manner infinitely more pointed and impressive, we may suppose, were the Son of God now on- earth, he would give his opinion on the subjcct^of retaliation'. The mind of Christ is the same now that it was eighteen hundred years ago. He then abhorred in- justice and cruelty, he now abhors them. He then forbade his disciples and those, who attended on his preaching, the retaliating of evils, and were he now in the world he would forbid the same thing. I have now said what I proposed to say ; and if it be made plain, that the mind of Christ, and the spirit of his religion be against the retaliation of in- juries, as understood and practised by thq men of the world, serious christians are bound, by the re- gard which they have for their Lord and Master, to bear their testimony against a practice so inhuman and cruel. y ' . Let as now turn our eyes from the awful scenes, which a country presents, where war has raged, and where contending armies have retaliated injuries on each other. Let us turn from burning towns, from, countries laid waste, women and children driven from the comforts, which the labours of the sum- mer season had provided for them, and perishing in want.* Let us turn from an unrighteous, an unnecessary and ruinous war,t and pray, that he. • See Note B^ t NoteC. ■I 16 who ruleth in the heavens, would have mercy upon us ; that he, who loveth righteousness would pro- tect and save us ; and grant, that being delivered from our enemies, and from all, who in any ways obstruct our prosperity and happiness, we may serve the Lord without fear, in peace and *' in ho- ** liness all the days of our life' ^f* A T- upon pro- ^rered ways may n ho- ,.^% APPENDIX. T I >r 't* * ,3) " NOTE A. PAGE 13. THE "war between Great Britain and the Unit- ed States of America seems to be taking a character, which threatens uncommon distress, not only to such as may be in ac- tual service, but to the innocent subjects of both nations. When nations at war adopt a ruinous system of retaliation, and return not only slaughter for slaughter, but burning for burning, the war is no longer honourable, whatever the object at first may have been ; it assumes a savage character, and becomes a war of barbarians. It is not for me to say, which of the present contending powers gave the first olFence, and provoked the other to retaliat{• it he saj s ' Tables," another's with him, e institute Lome." jsfy our- States, or innocent prisoned, mtry has, id put to , and who imns and country, where is ? Where eat inte'- innocent izcd, and KOTE B. PACK 15. OUR compassion has lately been called into painful exercise, by the suflerings of many innocent people, whose houses have been burnt, by what I fear w ill be found, a wanton exercise of military power on one side, and by retaliating ven- geance on the other. By (juotingfrom a proclamation of the commander of the Bri- tish forces ill IS'orth America, I sliall not be underbtood as acced- ing in the smallest degree to his reasoning ; for I condemn the practice of retuliatiiig injuries altogether, as immoral, aud con- trary to the command of Christ. I therefore quote the words of Lieut. General Provost, merely as reasons which he offers for a painful act of retaliation. " The complete success which has attended his majesty's "arms on the Niagara frontier having placed in our possession "the whole of the enemy's posts on that line, it became a mat- " ter of imperious duty to retaliate on America the miseries, '• whicli the unfortunate inhabitants of Newark had been made " to suflcr upon the evacuation of Fort George. " The villages of Lewistown, Black Rock, and Buffalo have " accordingly been burned. " At the same time that his excellency the commander of the " forces sincerely deprecates this mode of warfare, he trusts that " it will be suflicicnt to call the attention of every candid and " impartial jurson, both amongst ourselves aud the enemy, to " the ciicuniHtances from which it has arisen, to satisfy them, that " this departure from the established usages of war has origina- " ted w Uh America herself, and to her alone are justly chargea- *-ble all the awful and unhappy consequencea, which have " hilhevlo llowed, and are likely to result from it." From sources of the bcist information, the author of the pre- ceding disconise is able to lay before the publick the follow- lowing account of the proceedhigs of tlie Americau and the Bri- tish governments on the system of retaliation which has lately been adopted. It appears, that 23 American prisoners were arrested, as Biitish subjects, by the English government in Canada. That 23 British prisoners, in retaliation, were confined by the American government. That 46 Americans, in retaliation, were confined by the English government. That 46 British subjects, in retaliation, were confined by the Amer- ican government. That, after this, orders were issued for the confinement of 92 American prisoners. " Seventy were actually confined at fTalifax, on board the prison ship Success : that as soon as SQ ■J f m r: f hu a Buflicicnt number of either govemment, privateer, or letter of marque priHOuers should be taken, the number vioulA be completed : that the ofiicera aud ov nen of the -whale ships, M-hich sailed before Uie declaration of war, urould be exceptions, and on that account a part of the sev* eoty had been released ; but that the order was actual!}' is- sued, and would be put into execution !" • .'*»i .ft NOTE C. PAO£ 15. If we may judge from what we cxpeiicnce, from what uur eyes b«hold, and from the memorials of a sufrering peo* pie, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the United States, we shall be bold to say, the present war, in which our country is oi^agud, is tmnccessary and ruinous. Wc need uo pther evidence, than the objects continually before us, to prove, that the war, with its extraordinary accompaniments, has ruined our commerce ; and if the prosperity of the cabteru slates de- pend on commeixe, the ruin of commerce must be the ruin of this section of the union. The commerce of tlie American States, it is confessed, was greatly injured by the orders and decrees of the great European belligerents : it was still more injured by ceirtaiQ restrictive measures, such as a non-iuterccurse and em- bargo before the war. The living pn'nciple of commerce, how- ever, remained after the war was declared, aud, by a little at- tention, might have been preserved, and kept in action ; but the late embargo act was like a fatal stroke of the palsy ; it has de- stroyed all motion, and put a stop to the pulse of litie. . Look at your harbour, and you will scarcely see a sail spread to the wind of your own canvass. Look at your slilpb, which ought to be employed in bringing weakh from every quarter of the world, perishing with the weather, and rotting in the docks. Look at your wharves, where you have been accustomed to be- hold enterprise and activity, now wholly forsaken, unless here and ther^ a wanderer, to gaze at fallen greatness, and sigh for better time-j! Look every vheie, and your eyes will witness, Ibat the war has iutherto been ruinous ; and if ruibous, certain- ly unnicessary ; for surely no people are bound to min them- selves. And, in addition to the ruin of commerce, and the otli- er calamities attending the war, a debt is accumulating upon us, beyoud all example. Under the intolerable burden, our chil- dren and children's children will groan, and call each one to his fellow, (' TKUL VS WHAT MIGHTY BOON WAS PUROUASKO FOR VS, AT SVCB VAST ESr^N^S ?" '/. .»•'• 'j'tn-k !Ut:^fjn fn'i^7' ■■jT"*"" •'"■ ■'^v'^'"^J .-i''^r-'^:,f ',9 / .4' /