now an object of envy to surrounding nations.

If the people of our country wish to maintain a rivalry with Great Britain, let it be in an effort to see which can do the most good, and not which can do the most mischief. If one tenth of the amount we now have to pay as "the price of blood," could be annually expended in

diffusing the principles and spirit of peace, we should probably never be again subjected to the curse of war. But so long as we cherish the principles and spirit of war, we may expect to bear the burden of a heavy bloodtax, and that the number of our paupers will be continually aug menting,

THE Committee appointed the last year, "to consider whether it be expedient for this Convention to adopt any measures, and if any, what, to correct the publick mind on the subject of war," have attended that service, and beg leave to report,

That, as war is one of the greatest of human evils, and the popular opinions respecting it are among the most pernicious of human errours, it highly becomes the ministers of the Prince of Peace, and the religious instructors of mankind, to employ their united influence and endeavours for its prevention and abolition. Your Committee have great pleasure in stating, that, since the last meeting of the Convention, an Association has been formed, which takes the name of the Massachusetts Peace Society, and which is already very respectable in numbers and in weight of character. They would, therefore, respectfully recommend, that the members of this Convention should become members of that society; and that they severally use their influence to induce others to be come members, and to promote the formation of Auxiliary Peace Societies, in their respective towns or

vicinities. Your Committee also beg leave to submit to the Convention an Address to the community at large, on the subject of war, which they have seen fit to prepare for consideration.

By order of the Committee,
S. WORCESTER, Chairman,
BOSTON, May 29, 1816.

The Address reported by the above named Committee, and accepted by the Convention.

The Convention of Congregational Ministers in Massachusetts, impel. led by a sense of duty, and solicitous to revive and disseminate the

genuine spirit of the gospel, take the liberty of addressing their fellow christians of all denominations, and their fellow-citizens of every description, on the subject of publick war.

In their estimation, no other subject has been more extensively or more radically misapprehended.

The history of past ages combines with the language and practice of modern times, to prove that publick war has too commonly been viewed much in the same light, as the unavoidable convulsions of the natural world, and resorted to with little more conviction of responsi

bility for its tremendous ravages, than if they were occasioned by hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Is there not, however, an immense difference in the two cases? Are not the convulsions of the natural world beyond the control of mortal power? And is not war, with all its horrours, the proper fruit of human choice and agency? This difference shows the absolute futility of what is often alleged in vindication of the sanguinary custom,-That, while it sweeps the worthless and vile from the stage of life, it calls dormant genius and enterprise into action, unites divided kingdoms and states, and ends, like the tempest, in a calm, rendered more grateful and salutary by the general agitation. What right has man, a moral being, amenable at the tribunal of heaven for the rectitude of his intentions and pursuits, to " do evil, that good may come?" To hurry thousands of his fellow-creatures into untimely graves, and send them, unprepared, to their last account, under pretence of benefiting survivors? Vain pretence: "for the sword devoureth one as well as another ;" and the experience of ages testifies, that the tendency of war is, not to diminish, but to increase the aggregate amount, both of vice and misery.

But were it otherwise; were war productive of all the advantages, which its advocates allege, the question, whether it be compatible with the requisitions of Christianity would still remain to be solved, before we could have recourse to it, without a crime. And "what saith the scripture" to this question? How do the sacred writers of the Old and New Testaments represent the obligations and the effects of our holy religion, in relation to war? Let them speak for themselves "In the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established upon the top of the mountains, and

it shall be exalted above the hills; and all people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Such is the style in which "holy men of old, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost," predicted the nature, tendency, and operation of Messiah's reign. Of the like import was the celestial anthem, at the annunciation of his birth: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Of the same spirit were his personal instructions. "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you: that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." His instructions were illustrated and enforced by his example. "When he was reviled, be reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." With his dying breath he interceded for the most impious and cruel of murderers: murderers, whose hands were imbrued in his own blood: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

In exact accordance with these sentiments, instructions and examples, were the lessons inculcated by his inspired apostles: "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance, is mine, and I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him, if he thirst, give him drink. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." "If ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also."

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From whence then come wars and fightings among you? Come they not bence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" Pause, brethren, and decide. Is not the true source of war here disclosed? Does not war always spring from the worst passions of our nature? And in its whole progress is it not unfriendly to the meekness, benevolence, and charity, which characterize the heirs of eternal life, and perilous to the souls of men? Surely then, you will not deny your obligations to make every effort in your power, to prevent its recurrence, and to perpetuate the repose and harmony of your country, and of the world.

Have not the people, in every realm of christendom, seen and felt enough to know, that they are sure always to lose by this desperate game? The immediate privations and sufferings of war, numerous and deplorable as they confessedly are, compose but a part of the evils with which it is fraught. Its pernicious consequences are durable. Men, familiarized with the weapons of destruction, and accustomed to assail the persons and possessions of others, do not readily relinquish the impressions and habits of such a career. Cherishing the notions of honour, and the principles of retaliation, by which they have long been governed, they necessarily bring many vices of the camp into the ordinary walks of society.

Hence the frequency of duels, with other disgraceful collisions, which commonly succeed, as well as accompany publick hostilities; and hence, too, the civil commotions and fatal revolutions which sometimes ensue. There is reason to think that the harshness of behaviour, defect of sympathy and propensity to give and to take offence, which often mark the intercourse, and impair the satisfaction and benefit of private and domestick life, are promoted by the spirit and temper generated by wars.

Could all the attendant and consequent mischiefs of any one of the countless wars, which blacken the page of history, be concentred to a point, were it possible, at the same moment, to behold, not only the mangled dead and the writhing tortures of the dying; but to witness the bitter weeping and lamentation of the thousands bereaved of husbands, fathers, brothers, and friends; and to survey the wretched multitudes crippled by the loss of limbs, tormented by incurable wounds and diseases, reduced to abject poverty, subjected to uninterrupted discord, plunged into vice, and exposed to

endless perdition ;-instead of contemplating the event with complacency, or its authors with admiration, you would turn from the one with horrour, and from the other with heartfelt grief. Penetrated with a lively sense of the guilt and misery of war, you would incessantly strive for deliverance from the desolating scourge, under which "the whole creation has groaned and travailed in pain together until now." Unquestionably there is a wide difference between offensive and defensive war. But every war is offensive, at least on one part; and if offensive war can be prevented, defensive war will of course be superseded.

'But what,' you exclaim, 'can we do, in aid of an achievement so arduous?' You can reprobate and discourage that rancorous animosity, prejudice and jealousy, which are the fuel of war; and without which its destructive flames never were, and never will be enkindled. You can accustom yourselves, and incite others to view the whole human race as brethren, bound to the constant exercise of mutual kindness, forbearance, and love. You can perceive and expose the wickedness imputable to the children of the same divine and beneficent parent, when they envy, provoke, and destroy one another. You can appreciate and portray the many and great advantages, which would flow from the universal observance of that golden rule. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." In a word, you can 'study the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another;"-and these are the most natural and efficient means of accomplishing the design proposed. By these means, you will contribute to diffuse through your respective circles of intercourse, whether more or less extended, that concili

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atory disposition which tends, above all things else, to put an end to "the confused noise of battles," and to the agonizing spectacle of "garments rolled in blood:" a disposition, which, spreading in every direction, may, at length, reach and meliorate the policy and condition of all mankind. Yes, brethren; your exertions, however unpromising at their commencement, may eventually extend their benign influence to "principalities and powers," and induce stipulations among them, which shall bring all their differences to an amicable adjustment, without resorting to arms and bloodshed. It is possible that “this generation may not pass away, till all these things shall be fulfilled :" till a new law of nations shall give an opening to better times. Something analagous to such a law of nations, is found in the treaty, which has recently restored tranquillity to our country. In case of disagreement between the parties, the boundary line is to be determined by referring the merits of the cause to an impartial umpire; and his decision is to be final. Now if questions about territory; questions, which as frequently and as justly generate war, as any other, may be honourably settled in this way, where is the impracticability of constituting, by general consent, a Grand Tribunal of Umpires, to pass sentence upon all matters in dispute between particular governments.

Another signal event of this auspicious era, adapted to arouse attention, and stimulate activity, is the unexampled compact lately formed between three of the greatest monarchs of Europe, the Russian, Austrian, and Prussian : a compact, which they solemnly declare has no other object, than "to show, in the face of the universe, their unwavering determination to adopt for the only rule of their conduct, both in the administration of

their respective states, and in their political relations with every other government, the precepts of the christian religion, the precepts of justice, of charity, and of peace; which, far from being applicable solely to private life, ought, on the contrary, to influence the resolutions of princes, and to guide all their undertakings, as being the best means of giving stability to human institutions, and of remedying their imperfections." Mean

while, they invite "all powers, who shall wish to profess the sacred principles" which dictated the measure, "and to acknowledge how important it is to the happiness of nations, too long disturbed, that these truths should henceforth exercise upon human destinies all the influence which belongs to them," to join in "this holy alliance." Thus, in the face of the universe, have these three mighty potentates erected the standard of peace, and invited all nations and all people to rally round it, and combine their influence for the permanent tranquillity and happiness of the world. Only let the principles here solemnly proclaimed be universally adopted, and carried into effect; and wars will cease unto the end of the earth, the spear will be cut in sunder, and the chariot will be burned in the fire.

The late tremendous series of conflicts and calamities which have desolated Europe, and terrified the world, seem to have produced an extensive conviction, not only of the direful effects and consequences of war, but also of the unsoundness and iniquity of its principles and maxims. The signs of the times, indeed, seem clearly to indicate the approach of the long looked for period, foretold by prophets and sung by poets, when "the wolf'shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and there shall be none to hurt or destroy." When "the spirit from on high,

shall be poured out, and the wilderness shall become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest; and judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and in the fruitful field shall reside righteousness; and the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, perpetual quiet and security." The felicities of such a period will be realized; for the word of Jehovah is sure. But before they can be realized, the long nurtured errours in regard to war, must be corrected, the passions and the spirit of war must be counteracted and suppressed; and the principles and the spirit of peace must be imbibed and diffused. It is hoped, and with good reason, that, by the blessing of Heaven, the societies instituted in this, and other countries, for the purpose, will gradually diffuse the purifying light of revelation throughout the earth: And is there less ground to hope, that universal and perpetual peace might be the ultimate effect of similar Associations for the abolition of war? Blessed be God, similar Associations for the abolition of war are already in existence and operation. Beside other movements of the kind in America and Europe, a “Peace Society," to which, among many others, a considerable number of our most enlightened and virtuous civilians belong, has been organized in this Commonwealth; and impressive* publications, tending to illustrate and enforce the subject now submitted to your deliberation, have simultaneously issued from numerous pens, on both sides the Atlantick; a subject, to which interest, as well as duty, humanity, as well as religion, urges your most serious attention. "Consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds."

In Convention of Ministers, 29th May, 1816, Dr. Worcester, from the Committee, appointed last year, to