Yet we should not be unjust, or fanatical, even in our opposition to war; for there may be fanaticism even in so good a cause as the advocacy of peace. We cannot agree with those, who, in their extreme zeal, term all war "wholesale murder." This is a confounding both of terms and of ideas. The essential character of an act is not to be judged of from its form or appearance, but from its motive. Murder is the deliberate destruction of human life, from the motive of malice and revenge, or of cupidity. It is therefore a deadly sin, because the mind of such a person is in a state of the completest opposition to the great law of love, which proceeds from Him who is Love itself,—and which is the bond of heaven, and the very essence of goodness. Now a state of opposition to the nature and laws of the Divine Creator is what we call sin; and the greater and more complete the opposition, the deeper is the sin. The spirit of Murder is the very opposite, because it is the nature of Divine love to give life and joy, while the murderer seeks to destroy life and its joys. Deliberate murder, therefore, is the direst of sins: consequently, Hell itself is called murderous: "the devil," it is declared, "was a murderer from the beginning."[1] Now, wars do not in general proceed from, nor are they carried on with, such a spirit as this. In most wars, indeed, the greater part of those actually engaged in the work, both officers and soldiers, are free from feelings of personal malice and hostility. They are doing what they believe to be their duty to their country, not pretending to judge of the right or wrong of the cause, but simply obeying orders. A great stimulant, no doubt, in most cases, is the hope
- ↑ John viii. 44.
