english church, has had the boldness and virtue to espouse the cause of Christ, by preaching at St. James's Church, Bath, on May 25th, 1804, (being the day of the general fast,) a Sermon on the Inconsistency of War with Christianity. Published by Robinson, London. The following is an extract.
Put up again thy sword, into it's place; for all they who take the sword, shall perish with the sword.—Matt, xxvi, 52.
"However specious thesophistry may be, which stimulates nations to plunge into the horrors of warfare, or induces them to protract their hostilities against each other; however brilliant the successes are with which their arms shall be crowned; whatever acquisitions of territory conquest may unite to their ancient empire; whatever new triumphs shall swell their former fame, or victories enlarge the list of their heroes; it may, notwithstanding, be considered as an incontrovertible axiom, (an axiom confirmed by the history of past ages, and the events of modern times: by the sad appearances of Christendom, and the rueful experience of ourselves,) that war is the greatest curse with which a nation can be afflicted; and that in comparison with the ills and sufferings, the dangers and distresses, the difficulties and privations, which it heaps upon the great mass of the society of a country, all it's imaginary present advantages, or future contingent benefits, are but as "dust in the balance," and as "chaff before the wind."
"If we view this "foul fiend," as trenching apon the rights and claims of humanity; as obliterating, on the one hand, all the lovely charities of natural feeling, and dissipating, on the other, all the felicities of private life; we shall regard the scourge with increased disgust and confirmed abhorrence. Man,
