66 in distributing tracts among the prisoners in the jails, the military in the islands, and the sick in the hospitals. He gives the following account of the hopeful change in the character and conduct of a dissipated man (not a West Indian, however), through the tract entitled, "A Word to a Drunkard." A person of respectable connexions was educated in England, but afterwards returned to his inheritance in Antigua. All was well until he yielded himself to excess in the use of spirits. This, as most persons know, is the road to ruin, and few have travelled on it faster, or more nearly reached its termination, than himself. In a word, he was a sottish outcast from his family circle and the dread of a peaceable neighbourhood, up to the time of his having the Word of a Drunkard' put into his hands. He read it, and as he read, his stupefied and sleeping conscience awoke, and charged home upon him his guilt and condemnation. He could get no rest. His soul's distraction was like a troubled sea. The house of God, so often neglected, was now resorted to, and the word of reconciliation gladly received. In every respect he brought forth fruits meet for repentance, and a few weeks since came to beg admission to that section of the Christian church to which I am more nearly attached. Such was his emotion on this occasion, that his very legs trembled beneath him, while his lips seemed to refuse distinct articulation. Hitherto he has walked worthily, and I commend him to your prayers." THOUGHTS FOR THE REFLECTIVE. (Continued from page 100.) “WELL, Henry," said Mr. Mintford to his son, when shall we resume our conversation on war?" "Whenever you please, father, and it is convenient to you," replied the sou. Then suppose we say the time present," said the father. 66 "It may be best," added the son, as we are now quite at liberty; and with fresh thoughts, from the morning's reanimating influence, we may give the subject our best attention to view it calmly and justly, in all its bearings and results." 66 “I spoke of our discussion on war," resumed the father; "but, perhaps, more strictly speaking, it is now on peace. And that, not as to whether Jesus Christ taught peace, for that is a question which can never for a moment be entertained by any sincere. Christian, as it would cast reproach on the character of the Saviour, or set his doctrines and precepts, in many respects, at variance with each other. Undoubtedly he did teach peace."no" a 2 Yes, undoubtedly," interrupted Henry; "for even the advocates of war say so. That is not at all denied. But then, the question is, say they, In what sense?'" There is no sense in that, Henry, at all events," said the father. Why, there is only one sense in which peace can be taught:in the spirit of peace; in the absence of evil, and the presence of good; in the absence of violence, and the presence of gentleness; in the absence of hatred and malice, and the presence of love and forgiveness. It should be taught as war, to suit the advocates of war; and that would be a contradiction and absurdity too glaring, one would suppose, for any rational man to maintain. Jesus, then, taught peace. That is not, and cannot be questioned. Still, however, it may be well to affirm it as fully and completely as possible." And it is, besides, good at all times," said the son, to consider the teachings of Jesus Christ. They are all interesting and edifying: and his precepts of peace deserve the particular attention of all who would live peaceably with their fellow-creatures, and promote peace and good will in the earth.” 66 66 "In my mind," said the father, "they are admirably calculated to promote the purest social spirit; and they are, at the same time, to me at least, powerful and irresistible. With great wisdom, Jesus has destroyed, at the outset, the very foundation of war, as he has destroyed pride and ambition, and all those worldly aspirings, which are as baneful to individual peace and comfort, as they are to the order and harmony of society at large. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted; while he that exalteth himself, shall be abased. The poor in spirit, or the lowly and humble in spirit, are blessed. The princes of the Gentiles exercise authority and lordship over those whom they rule. But it is not to be so among Christians; for the least are to be as the greatest, and the greatest as the least; in imitation of their Lord and Master, who came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many; that is, for all who would come to him and be saved, Now, where this spirit exists in its pure vital influence, there cannot possibly be any war; every cause is taken away, and every motive and incentive to excite it. There must naturally be peace there, because the pervading influence is the spirit of peace." "The argument," said Henry, "cannot, I think, be refuted; and the conclusion is still stronger, from the peculiar circumstances of the case, as well as of others of a similar nature. There had been some worldly aspirings among the disciples of Jesus; but he no sooner say them, than he rebuked them. They were not to cherish such feelings they were not to suffer them to have a place in their minds. There was to be no strife among them which should be the greatest. It should be, which should be the most kind and condescending to each other; which should do each other the most good, and promote the greatest sum of happiness among them. War could not find a place under the influence of such dispositions. And, therefore, obedience to the Saviour is the same thing as the work of peace, and the spirit of peace. "Jesus taught his disciples," said the father, "a similar lesson, on another occasion; when there had been also a strife which should be the greatest. This feeling rose up very early amongst them; but Jesus never failed to check it. In this instance, He set a little child in the midst of them, and said, Verily, I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the king-dom of heaven.' This is the lesson of peace, and should be made by Christians a practical lesson." 66 In the same spirit," said Henry, was the reproof of Jesus to the two disciples, who would have had him call down fire from heaven, to destroy certain inhospitable Samaritans, for their rude and harsh behaviour to him," He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.' What an opportunity here presented itself to him, to encourage the war spirit! or, at least, to shew his forbearance and tolerance towards it. But he at once condemned it, and in a way which left not the least doubt on the minds of any that were present, as to what was his meaning. He evidently forbade violence and revenge in cases of outrage and wrong, as contrary to his divine mission, and his heavenly kingdom. He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Peace, therefore-and not war-is the spirit of his holy religion." 1 "And our Saviour," added the father, "has here in particular illustrated his own words on another occasion, Resist not evil,' but love your e enemies. For he would not at this time, though urged to do so, resist, or retaliate evil on the ill-behaved, rude, and inhospitable Samaritans; but was even anxious to save them. His whole conduct showed the same pacific spirit towards that people. And, in the parable of The Good Samaritan,' he has held up one of them to the praise of the whole world. For where is not that philanthropist known and admired?" 6 All that Jesus did and said," rejoined the son, "breathed the same spirit. Not a single instance can be found to the contrary. He had plenty of occasions to vent the angry passions-plenty of provocations to fire revenge, if that had been in his nature, or in accordance with his religion. But never did he return evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing.' His kingdom was not of this world; or else would his disciples fight,' that he should not be delivered to the Romans to be put to death. This was a plain and positive assertion that it was contrary to the nature and spirit of his religion, that his disciples should engage in war. And it was uttered at a time when, of all others, the principle of self-defence might have been acted upon, if he had regarded it as just and right. But his whole conduct was pacific, like his words. And his example condemns this self-defence, in repaying evil with evil, when wrong or outrage is committed." He "Yes," said the father, "he did indeed verify the prophecy of old,—that he was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.' could only be led to utter a prayer for his very murderers,-"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' Well did he enjoin his disciples to love their enemies, and be merciful, as their Father also was merciful. Well did he bless them as the peace-makers, and, on that account, as the children of their Father. Well did he leave them the legacy of peace, when he ascended up on high,— 'Peace I leave with you-my peace I give unto you: not as the His two great commandments were And by this spirit of love, were disciples. And what can be more world giveth, give I unto you.' "And, They cannot possibly exist together," said Henry. therefore, Jesus inculcated only the spirit of peace. His apostles also followed strictly in his steps: they taught peace-they lived peace and rather than violate it, they suffered persecution and death." "They suffered and obeyed with their Lord," said the father; "and in this they were worthy disciples of such a Master. We also are to obey with him, if we would be his disciples indeed. And his authority is great in his church, beyond compare; greater than any other authority, under heaven, among men. He was exalted above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; highly exalted, and a name given him which is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He is the appointed judge of all mankind; for all are to stand before his judgment-seat, and receive according to their works." "How amazing is that authority!" exclaimed the son. "Nothing can equal it on earth. Nothing can equal it in heaven, save the blessed and only Potentate. And as it is higher, immeasurably higher, than that of any other authority among the creatures of God; so it is to be obeyed before all others. That is, as I conceive it, in all things relating to his holy religion. For as he is thus preeminent over all, and the head over all, he is to be obeyed before all; and no one, in this respect, is to withhold allegiance from bim, or in the least to infringe his authority, or to set it aside.” (To be continued.)} Consider man's whole life, and you'll confess, Is when the worst Of human life is placed the first; And when the soul's correction proves to be COWLEY. |