SERMON I.

LUKE ii. 14.

On earth, peace; good will towards men.

JESUS CHRIST is the Prince of peace, the light of the world, the Saviour of man. Other benefactors have been useful. They have civilized savage tribes; they have extended science and commerce, and established empires. They have founded churches, banished idols from their temples, and extinguished the fire on the altars of human sacrifice. But these benevolent efforts are limited, partial, and transient in their effects. While one side of the globe enjoys the sunshine of science and civilization, the other may be wrapped in darkness and barbarism. Where are the empires, which once promised to be as lasting as their mountains?

The pacific reign of Jesus Christ will be as extensive, as the world, and continue as long, as the sun and moon shall endure. Long ages before the advent of the Messiah, patriarchs rejoiced in his day. Prophets and poets foretold, that the iron age of crimes and

tears was passing away, that the golden era was advancing, when peace would descend from heaven, the lion sport with the lamb, and the child play with the serpent.

Sages admonished their disciples, to wait the coming of a superiour teacher. Historians announced his expected approach. Angels came down from the throne of God, with the news of his birth. The shepherds heard the music of their song, "Peace on earth, and good will towards men."

Doctrine; It is the design of God, by the gospel of Christ, to establish lasting peace through the world. I. I presume, that God determines to establish universal peace, because he has promised, that the holiness of the gospel shall be universal.

"All flesh shall come and worship before me, saith the Lord." "The Lord shall be king over all the earth." "Upon the bells of the horses shall be holiness to the Lord." Such extensive piety has not been known. This improvement of mankind will be effected by the gospel. "Grace and truth come by Jesus Christ," and "in him shall all the families be blest." The gospel is a system of morals and religion, designed to render men moral and religious. But war annuls the precepts of religion, repeals the statutes of morality, confounds right and wrong. While war prevails, the gospel cannot have its full effect.

The gospel requires men to do good. business of war is mischief and damage.

requires men to forgive their enemies. often the chief design of war.

The very

The gospel

Revenge is The gospel commands

men to feed the poor and comfort the afflicted. The

sword drinks the blood of the afflicted, robs and plunders the poor, covers him with wounds, and leaves him half dead. Truth and sincerity are precepts of the gospel, and are reputable in the dwellings of peace ; but the warriour glories in executing the work of destruction by artifice, by delusion, and stratagem.

While the devout Christian sits pondering how he may comfort the sorrowful, enlighten the ignorant, and reform the wicked, the man of blood is contriving and plotting, to vanquish yonder army, to ravage the country, covering the fields with the wounded and the dead.

The gospel forbids murder. Yes, it does. But is not this the grand purpose of war? Why else all the swords, and balls, and engines of death? The combination of ten thousand men, to slay ten thousand, is not less murderous, than the resolution of one man to slay one man. Had Cain been a king, and marched an army to destroy his brother, would this have lessened his guilt?

Did God not include kings, when he said, "Thou shalt not kill?" Did he not include their victorious legions? If one man may not commit murder, how many must unite to make it innocent and glorious? May two, two hundred,-two million? Two million have no more right to murder and destroy, than two individuals.

When pure Christianity shall cover the earth, avarice and revenge will be extinguished; ambition will be dethroned, and war expire. The acknowledged design of the Christian religion is to induce men to love their enemies, to be like Jesus Christ, who re

sisted not evil. Is it possible for such a man, to seize his sword, and rush to the hill of battle? Can he bid the artillery blaze? Can he become the angel of death, and scatter plague and pestilence round the globe? When all rulers possess this benevolence, who will proclaim the war? When commanders have this spirit, who will order the battle? When the mass of mankind have the spirit of Christ, where will soldiers be found? Where will you find a man to slay his neighbour?

The rendezvous is forsaken. The shrill piercing, hoarse rattling instruments, the harsh clattering sounds of martial bands, are silent, as the deserted field of battle, where death riots in dismal solitude. All are gone to the house of worship, to celebrate the jubilee of peace, to join in the song of angels. Will they ever again carry fire, famine, and destruction into peaceful countries, the dwellings of helpless women, the mothers in Israel, the daughters of Jerusalem? For such a barbarous invasion, they must tear the last fibre of benevolence from their hearts, quench the last spark of humanity, kindle the flame of malice and revenge. These are the passions, which push men on in the trade of war; these are the furies, which rule the man, in the rage of battle. Will not Christianity, when it shall become universal, arrest the ravages of war, and establish lasting peace?

II. From the benevolent efforts, now made in the Christian world, I infer the entire suppression of

war.

I do not mean, that any thing absolutely new is taking place. Somewhat of this kind has been done in almost every age of the Christian church. But

present exertions are probably more extensive and better directed, than in any former time.

The exertions of Christian philanthropy are not confined to a sect, or a country. To the Protestant nations, and to the Greek church, a mighty impulse has been given. Many members of the Latin church, and some of them dignitaries, are coming forward to reform the world. Children and matrons, who receive charity themselves, bring their offerings to the treasury of the Lord. Ministers of religion and officers of government, rich men and nobles, suspend their own pursuits; princes leave their palaces, and kings come down from their thrones, to assist the corporations of benevolence. These societies, though by different paths, are all marching to the same point, the peace of the world.

If the Bible Societies obtain their object, peace will follow; for peace is commanded in their sacred volume. If the Missionary Societies succeed, peace will follow; for the gospel requires peace. If the Education or Literary Societies accomplish their hopes, peace will triumph; for the great object of education is to enlighten the mind and direct the life. If religion or science gain the empire of the human mind, the reign of peace is established; for all rational religion and useful science breathe the spirit of peace.

If twelve fishermen changed the moral complexion of the world, in spite of the laws, the religion, and the vices of paganism, what may we not expect from the present movement of the Christian world!

Christianity was a helpless babe, slumbering in a manger of Bethlehem; she is now a giant, rejoicing