36V W 7^ F : 364 W72 *opy 1 DISCOURSE OCCASIONED BY THE PROCLAMATION OF PEACE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. PREACHED ON LORD'S DAY, 26th FEBRUARY, 1815, AND PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. BY THOMAS WILLIAMS. Minister of ihe Pacifick Congregational Church and Socifty in Providtnce^ PROVIDENCE: PRINTED BY H. MANN AND CO. March, 1815, 1 Co n X-- 4 3 O S * r' A DISCOURSE Isaiah, ii. 4. Theij shall beat their sicords into plough- shares , and their spears into pruning hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against natioriy neither shall they learn war any more. THE prophet declared, that what is foretokl in the text and context, '^ shall come to pass in the last days." Tlie last days signify, without any question, the times of the Messiah. The period, then, which is intended by the last days, began, when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, and was exalted as ^^ the head over all things to the church." Some part of the prediction, which includes our text, was doubtless accomplished in the calling of the Gentiles to the knowledge and worship of the true God, and the great success of the gospel in the days of the apostles. But it has been justly observed — "There needs no other proof, that the grand accomplishment of this prophecy is reserved for some future period, than the consideration, that notliing, in any measure answerable to such forcible expressions, has yet oc- \ curred on earth.''* As yet, events liave been so dif- ferent from what is here foretold, that multitudes, with the scriptures in their hands, hardly imagine, that the joyful scenes described by the prophet, will ever be realized in this evil world. But the God of truth, who speaks and it is done, has said respecting the nations of the earth, "they shall beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pru- ning-hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." This divine declaration places before us the follow- ing sentiment ;— -Though war has existed in past ages, yet, in a future period, it shall wholly cease to exist. To illustrate this sentiment, it is proposed, I. To consider the existence of war in past ages ; II. To enquire how it appears, that war shall, at some future period, wholly cease to exist ; and, III. To show in what way war shall cease to ex- ist among all nations. It is proposed, I. To consider the existence of war in past ages. And respecting its existence, it may be observed, 1. That v/ar has existed in all past ages and among all nations. Concerning the early ages of the world we have no authentick history, but what is contained in the scriptures. Though the scriptu- ral account of events be very concise, yet, from some facts which it records, there is reason to conclude that war existed before the flood. Those persons, who are called giants, and their descendants, who became mighty men and men of renown, were prob- « Scott. ably distinguished by their I exploits as chieftains, warriours and couquerours. Nimrod, who lived soou after the flood, was, without any doubt, a warriour ; and, by his martial achievements, he brought under his subjection an extensive kingdom. In the time of Abraham, many kings were engaged in making war. To d diver Lot, who was taken captive in one of their wars, Abraham " armed his trained servants, born in his own house, tlnee hundred and eighteen." When Esau went to meet Jacob, he took with him four hundred men. These facts afford abundant ev- idence of the existence of war in the early ages of the world. If war had not very commonly existed, and if there had not been constant danger of its ex- istence, it cannot be supposed ,that Esau could have commanded, on such an occasion, an army of four hundred men : nor would the hundreds of Abra- ham's servants, have been trained to bear arms. Since tlie time of the patriarchs, both sacred and profane history are chiefly employed in giving an ac- count of the wars, that have existed among the na- tions of the earth. And it is believed, that tbere has yet been known no nation or people, that was whol- ly unacquainted with the existence and the evils of war. It has existed among such nations, as profes- sed to know and v/orship the true God, as well as among the heathens. It has existed among civiliz- ed nations, as well as among savages. Nor has there often been a period of the smallest duration, in which war did not exist in some part of the earth. In all tables of chronology, it is noted as a remarkable event, that, about the time the Lord Jesue Christ was born. o» tLe temple of Janus was shut by Augustus, as aa emblem of universal peace. This fact shows, that war has generally and almost continually existed amon the nations. At the beginning of the last year, all tha kingdoms and states of Christendom were involved in war. It may, then, be truly asserted, that war has existed in all past ages and among all nations. S. War has generally employed and frequently exhausted the strength of nations. In the policy of all nations, warlike designs and achievements have been a principal object. In many nations all the de- signs and measures of government have been adapt- ed to military purposes. In some states children and youth have been taught the art of war, as the essential and most important article in their educa- tion. Civil governments have frequently required all their subjects, who were capable of the service, to be regularly trained to bear arms. Almost all nations, even in times of peace, have maintained standing armies at an immense expense. Heavier taxes have been imposed, and larger portions of property expended for military purposes, than for all other objects, that have been proposed and pur- sued by civil governments. It has been calculated, that the expenses of existing wars for the year, that ended on the ninth of September 1813, amounted to 1^,260,000,000 of dollars, --''he expenses of Great- Jlritain for that year, on account of war, have been, computed at 440,000,000 of dollars ; and <^f France and her tributaries at 620,000,000 of dollars.* The « For these statements, frrateful acknowledgement is due to a writer i.i the Panoplist, for November 1813, and April 1814 It is to be des.red. that the subject of war may be more largely considered m that usetul pub- lication. expenses of war, during the year in view, were doubtless extraordinary. Yet the expenses of war, in many other years, have been nearly as great. And national expenses for military purposes have always been enormous. Besides the money, that is raised for military purposes, the expenses occasioned by wars in other respects, both to communities and individuals, defy all computation. Nations, then, have generally employed and frequently exhausted the strength of their pecuniary resources for the pur- poses of war. Nor have they less employed and exhausted their strength in other respects for the same purposes. This would be evident from a correct statement res- pecting the vast number of men, who have been for- med into armies and engaged in military expeditions. In the ten tribes of Israel, Jeroboam had an army of 800,000. Zera, the Ethiopean, came against Asa with 1,000,000. Jehosaphat had in his kingdom 1,200,000 warriours. The army, with which Xerxes invaded Greece, according to Herodotus, amounted to 2,100,000. It has been computed, that, for five years, Bonaparte had, on an average, 1,000,000 of men under arms. Besides the men in arms, he must have had a vast number, who were otherwise em- ployed for military purposes. If, then, we consider the number, who have been formed into armies and ensased in martial concerns, it must appear, that war has employed and exhausted the strength of nations. But we must also take into the account, tlie mul- titudes, who have been devoured by the sword. In S 011 837 094 6^ A single engagement ftt Thennopylfc, tlie Persians are said to have lost 20,000. In the battle of Can- nae, 45,000 Romans were left on the field. In the battles between Benjamin and the other tribes of Israel 65,000 men were slain. At Arbela, the Per- sian army was I'outed by Alexander, with the loss of 300,000. In a battle between Jeroboam and Abijah, " there fell down slain of Israel, 500,000 chosen men." Caisar is stated to have slain of his enemies 1,19^,000. Ghengis Khan is supposed to have destroyed 1 ij000,000, in the last twenty years oi his life. During the year preceding the ninth of September 1813, it has been computed, that at least 800,000 men in the prime of life, were destroyed by the war in Europe. By the middle of the year 1812, it was computed, that 10,000,000 of the human race had fallen victims to the wars, that have existed since the commencement of the French revolution. Besides, it must be observed, that war destroys and obstructs whatever is excellent and desirable in the character and condition of nations. Many nations have lost by w ar, their virtue, their honour, their happiness, and even their existence. It is, then, very evident, that in all past ages, nations have generally employ- ed and frequently exhausted their strength, in all respects, by their wars. 3. War has always been occasioned by human wickedness. If mankind were not sinful and guilty creatures, they never would learn and practice the art of war ; nor would they be subjected to its evils. It is true, that God has, in some instances, required -W I'X ^^QOl£Qii_QQ ssBHONoojoABvyan pH83