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OUGHT CHRISTIANS GO TO WAR?

Messrs. Editors :The following query has been submitted for ourconsideration: If Christians are protected by the civil authority, as well as thesinners, is it just to require the sinners to do all the fighting to maintain civilgovernment ?

Allow me to answer this question in the language of one who has writtenrecently on this subject:

Is it wicked for a Christian to be a ruler?If it is, then it is wicked for a Christian to be a minister of God; for the

Ruleris Gods minister. But if it is not wicked to be Gods minister, then it is notwicked to participate in the use of the sword for he bears not the sword invain. It is not wicked to be an avenger to execute wrath on him who doesevil ;for this is the duty of Gods minister. On this account Christians arerequired to fear the power or authority in the hands of this minister. But he is

not to be feared on this account only, but also for conscience sake, It is nota mere matter of expediency, but a matter of conscience also; yes, a matterof Christian conscience; for Christians are addressed in this law. The Epistle isaddressed, not to the Romans, but to the saints in Rome. When peoplebecome too religious to obey God, they are a little too religious.

As to the fact that Christians refused to do military duty for threehundred years after the Christian era, what of that, suppose it to beadmitted? They may have been right or they may have been wrong in sodoing. If the government was administered as a terror to evil doers and apraise to them who do well, and they refused to support it, then theyabandoned Gods minister and the ordinance of God. But if thegovernment not only refused to protect them, but became a terror to good

works and a praise to evil-doers, then they were not only not bound tosustain it by their arms and their money, but the laws of Christ would forbidthem though threatened with confiscation and death, to give any support tosuch rule. To give service or money to support such rule, would be treasonagainst God. It would be to give support to a usurpation, the object of whichwould be to overthrow the government of God; for his government isestablished on exactly the opposite principles, It is a terror to evil-doers but apraise to them who do well. No matter whether such a government as thistakes the form of a Democracy, a Republic, a limited or absolute Monarchywhether it be a constitutional government or a government without aconstitution so long as it is administered on, such principles as aboveapproved, it is from God, and Christians have no right to oppose it. To resist it

is to resist the ordinance of God; and he who resists shall receivedamnation. It is no matter what form of government Christians live under, solong as it protects the good and punishes the bad. They have no right torevolutionize it. But when it protects the bad and maltreats the good, itceases to be the ordinance of God; and all good men have the right ofrevolution. For there is no authority except from God;and such governmentnot being from God, is not an authority, and is therefore to be opposed,and, if possible, to be destroyed, that it may give place to the ordinance ofGod, which may be lawfully defended by the sword. Though good men are

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not permitted to defend their religion by the sword, nor to redress theirown personal wrongs, yet they are permitted to bear the sword in defense ofcivil government; andto refer their personal grievances to God, to whom vengeance belongs, andwho will certainly repay. Rom. xii. 19.

JUSTUS.