Christianity and War / 409

let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." Chapter 4:15, 16.-"Let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." ver. 19.

By searching the scriptures and the history of the churches, we will find that God's people have always been a suffering people, from righteous Abel down to the present time. Moses "chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."-Yea, David says: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous;" and Paul declares: "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake." And take, my brethren, as another example of suffering, affliction, and patience, the Prophets. Yea, suffering and affliction seems to be the lot of God's people upon the earth; as Peter says in the verse of which our text is a part: "For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps."

We find nothing in all this Epistle, commanding, directing, or enjoining, or exhorting, or advising, or in any way recommending, or even yet allowing, or indicating in the remotest sense, the ideas that these suffering Christians might resent the persecutions, and sufferings, and afflictions, which were thus laid upon them; or that they might defend themselves against their enemies, or that they might rise up in arms and repel and destroy their persecutors; but rather the reverse by setting forth Christ as an example of suffering; "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously;" and if they thus suffered as Christians, they need not be ashamed.

But why is it that Christians must thus suffer? Surely, it is not for any evil that they have done, but, "for righteousness' sake:" as righteous Abel had to suffer because his works were righteous and his brother's evil.-Because they "are not of this world," and stand aloof from all its wicked practices, therefore the "world hateth them;" for light and darkness have no communion with each other, and Christians have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them; therefore they must suffer of the children of darkness. -Because the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil is so great, that the one can have no part, no agreement with the other. Christians can never unite with the children of sin, nor take part with them in their evil works; therefore, again, must they suffer the reproaches of the children of sin.-Such has always been the case since sin entered into the world.

"Now, whereas, the present time is a time of war and bloodshed?" "Or may a Christian take up the weapons of death, go forth to war, and destroy the lives of his enemies; and at the same time obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and be justifiable in the sight of God?" That this is, surely, a fair and reasonable question, all must admit; and of so great importance, that it demands the most serious consideration of all who profess to be Christians. To answer this question is my present design; but before I proceed, I will first endeavor to show the origin, and import of the name Christian, and what