In camps and fleets, and in the busy scenes of public life, the awful threats and the cheering hopes of the Gospel do not receive the serious consideration they deserve. Withdrawn from those scenes, my mind has become more and more impressed with the clearest conviction, that for men to devote themselves to the military profession, and to assemble by thousands for the avowed purpose of deliberately shedding human blood, is as clearly contrary to the plain and positive precepts of Jesus, as it is abhorrent to those natural feelings of humanity that, till blunted or perverted by education, are in mercy impressed on our hearts by our wise and benevolent Creator. Entertaining these opinions; believing that they will be approved by my future Judge; and, as a Christian, determined never to draw a sword, or pull a trigger, for the purpose of shedding human blood; nor yet to return a blow for a blow, or an insult for an insult; I feel myself perfectly unfit for Your Majesty's Naval Service, and I think I should not act either honestly or consistently, in retaining my commission.

I am aware, Sire, that the step I have taken might, in times less liberal and enlightened, have subjected me to severe pains and penalties. I am thankful that I live in times when the Christian religion is not only better understood, but when it is considered as forming an essential part of the laws of the most powerful and civilized nations; and I feel much confidence that Your Majesty, though you may condemn the step I have taken, will approve the motive by which it has been dictated. Were the subjects of Your Majesty, and of other sovereigns, to act generally on the principle I have adopted, though some local and temporary inconvenience might be the result, extensive and permanent good must be the consummation: nor is it probable that universal peace will ever be established on any other basis than unconditional obedience to the precepts of Jesus.

Suppose, Sire, that instead of Your Majesty's sub

2

jects adopting this pacific system, the French, whom, al as contrary to the fundamental principles of our religion, we have been trained to regard as our natural enemies, Suppose, Sire, that they should set the glorious example to the world, and "beat their swords into ploughshares ;" would Your Majesty, or would your subjects, or would other nations, regard this as a misfortune? Instead of thus considering it, would it not be hailed by all as a most auspicious event? And, instead of thereby subjecting themselves to insult, would they not command the admiration, the esteem, and the friendship, of every civilized, and even of every savage nation? May it henceforth, Sire, be the ambition of Britain and France, to set to other nations the glorious example of cultivating a Christian instead of a martial spirit.

In withdrawing myself from Your Majesty's Naval Service, I have the consolation of doing it in a time of profound peace, when the least possible objection can be made to such a measure. It is also less repugnant to my feelings to retire from half-pay than from actual service. This pay, I have been led to believe, is not only considered as a reward for past services, but also as a retaining fee for future exertions. Being unwil ling to comply with the terms, I feel that I am not entitled to the fee; and that I ought not to receive it. Did I, on the other hand, regard my half-pay as exclusively a reward for past services; having earned it by what I now consider as a transgression of Christian duty, or as a desertion of my allegiance to God, it appears to me, in receiving it, that I virtually renew, or continue, my disobedience. If I may be allowed to apply to myself the figurative and emphatical language of St. Paul, "I crucify afresh the Lord Jesus Christ," (THE PRINCE OF PEACE,)" and put him and his religion to an open shame."

To enumerate only a few of the evils emanating from war, would swell this letter far beyond the limits to which it is my wish to confine it. Of war it may

safely be affirmed that, if it does not cause, it aggravates every evil, moral or political, by which mankind is assailed. In the Old Testament, war, or the sword, is uniformly spoken of as the instrument whereby God punishes rebellious and idolatrous nations. This ought to be regarded as a warning voice from Heaven, both to nations and individuals, not to engage in it.

I might here, Sire, lay down my pen, trusting that in a situation of considerable difficulty I have acted (at least according to the best of my judgment) on correct Christian principles. It seems necessary, however, upon an occasion like the present, that I should endeavour to prove that I have acted on these principles.

The prophecies of the Old Testament, when taken in connexion with the precepts of the Gospel, appear decisive against the practice of war, under the Christian dispensation. To this evidence 1 appeal with the more satisfaction, as it affords, at the same time, the pleasing and sure testimony, that the degrading and sanguinary scenes of past and present times are not to endure, but, on the contrary, that they will be succeeded by ages of permanent peace and happiness.

I am not, Sire, so great a visionary as to expect that the example of any individual, much less of one so little known to the world as myself, will have the least influence with others; yet I confidently anticipate that a time will arrive, when not only insulated individuals, but when men in great numbers,-when the nations,— when many people will act on the same principles that I have done. I do not entertain this belief, merely because I think the divine precepts of the Christian religion are admirably calculated to produce so glorious an event, or because the "signs of the times" lead reflecting persons to expect it; but chiefly because I am a believer in those prophecies of the Old Testament which speak of this devoutly to be wished for event as a certainty. These prophecies give evidence concerning this triumph of Christianity, with as much

*Isaiah ii. 4.

precision and clearness as they testify the truth of Christianity itself. Their accomplishment, indeed, seems to form a necessary connecting link in the grand chain of the prophecies concerning Christianity: this link wanting, the fortress of Christian truth is rendered assailable, and is exposed to the attacks of Jews and sceptics, who taunt Christians with the remark that their religion cannot be true, inasmuch as THE PRINCE OF PEACE is not yet come into the world. As it was, Sire, the practice of our Saviour and his Apostles to appeal to the prophecies of the Old Testament, it seems wise that Christians of the present day, in examining a disputed point, such as the lawfulness of war, should follow the example of these infallible guides.

However acute and excellent the writings of many learned commentators on the Prophecies, and however decisive the proofs they draw from them of the truth of the Christian revelation, it would seem certain that some of the most important of these prophecies, generally applied to Christianity, are at variance with all history, whether civil or ecclesiastical, of the last fourteen or fifteen centuries. The following prophecies are of this description:

I. Isaiah ii. 2. And it shall come to pass, in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountain and shall be exalted above the hills, and all the nations shall flow unto it.

3. And many people shall go and say, Come ye and let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4. And he will judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruninghooks. Nation shall not rise up against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.-See also Micah iv. 1-4.

II. Isaiah xi. 1. And there shall come forth a rod ́ out of the stem of Jesse.

5. Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

6. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7. And the cow and the bear shall feed: and their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

9. They shall not hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

These prophecies, though couched in language so very dissimilar, are no doubt descriptive of the same event, viz. the great happiness destined for mankind through the medium of the Christian religion. This happiness many of the virtuous, the enlightened, and the philanthropic, in all ages since the Christian era, have ardently, but vainly, wished to see realised. The former prophecy describes this triumph of Christianity in terms so plain and literal, that they cannot be misunderstood. The latter, though couched in symbolical language, is also descriptive of a state of great happiness under the Christian dispensation. In two important particulars these prophesies remain to be yet fulfilled, viz in establishing peace in the world; and in spreading that knowledge of the Lord which is finally to produce this blessed effect.

Should it be asked, Sire, of what use these prophecies are to Christians of the present day,-are they recorded merely to gratify a prying curiosity, and to convey to them information concerning events which are to take place at some future and indefinite period, and