great proportion of the cases of litigation to the bar of the judge? What engenders the quarrels existing in every community ?-REVENGE! Hideous principle, murderous passion, which slew the Saviour, and martyred the sainted Stephen.

To point out the consequences which have flowed from the practice of the law of revenge, is but to insure its condemnation in every reflecting mind. And if we consider for a moment, how many communities which have been desolated, might have been the abodes of happiness; how many dwellings which have been filled with the fury of unhallowed passions, might now be echoing with songs of salvation and virtue, were it not for the law of revenge; surely, the desire must be strong, and the prayer ardent, that the olive-branch of overcoming evil with good, may take the place of the deadly night-shade of retaliation.

It may be said, however, that some of the principles of the Mosaic Law sanction the spirit of retaliation, in the requisition of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But it must be remembered that the Mosaic Law, rich as it is in its provisions for the widow and the orphan, for hospitality and for other excellent precepts, introduced the law of retaliation into its statutes only as the preventive of an evil which already

existed; the same as the lancet and the probe of the surgeon are necessary for the cure of a diseased limb. The Jews had been thoroughly debased in the Egyptian brick-yards, and the foul airs of idolatry; they had been degraded by ignorance; they were a headstrong, wicked people; they were morally sick; and it was necessary to apply the lancet of fear to them. But this retaliatory principle was not instituted as a universal rule of action. For when the world was properly fitted and prepared, then a nobler law was given in a system which is superior to all other systems in its doctrine and morality.

That system is CHRISTIANITY. While the ablest philosophers, at the period of its establishment, were, among many excellent principles, advocating some of the worst features of revenge, Christianity, the child of heaven and the friend of man, lifted up its voice and proclaimed the divine law, "OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD." A comment on this law was given by the Friend of sinners and the Saviour of the world. What was that comment? Was it like the conduct of David, who stole the beloved wife of his bravest general, yet whose justice compelled him to indignantly condemn that rich man, who, with great flocks around him, took by force the only lamb of his poor neigh

bor? Was it like the kiss of Judas, the smile of treachery, the sting of ingratitude? Very far from it. Throughout all his ministry, he met his foes with benevolence. And when, by the influence of perjured witnesses, his condemnation was effected; when he had endured the nailing to the cross; when his enemies were adding insult to murder, by mocking and jeering him in his agonies; then it was he prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This was the Saviour's illustration of the law, "Love your enemies." And the illustration is more sublime, if possible, than the law itself-more glorious in practice than in theory. For who can remember that this prayer was uttered by the Saviour for his foes, when enduring the excruciating pangs of a crucifixion which those very foes had brought upon him, without admitting, not only that he was the "Son of God," but that his conduct was the perfection of kindness?

The interesting question now arises, What influence has this law and its comment upon us? Brought up and educated in the school of our Saviour; living in a land, which, above all others, calls itself Christianized; existing beneath the banners of the Gospel, incomparably the most noble system of doctrine and moral ethics extant; how are we influenced by the

for a tooth.'

are spent in

law of kindness? Do we love our enemies, and overcome evil with good? Far from it! We deliberately fold up the banner of Christ, put aside the laws which God has made for us, voluntarily submit ourselves to the requirements. of the Mosaic Law, and are governed by the principle of an eye for an eye, and a tooth How many thousands of dollars our halls of litigation simply to satisfy revenge! How many individuals will pursue, with untiring industry, the most questionable means to compass the destruction of another person, against whom a grudge is cherished! And how many persons there are, who subscribe to the law of revenge written in the code of duelling, and demand blood as a satisfaction for a real or supposed injury! Some of these instances are most horrible in their consequences, developing blight and misery, sacrificing useful lives, and throwing helpless widows and orphans upon society without a supporter or protector. Let the following facts demonstrate this dreadful position. In the early part of March, in 1803, a duel was fought, for a very trivial affair, in Hyde Park, England, between a lieutenant in the navy and a military officer. The distance was six paces. The third and fourth fingers of the right hand of the naval officer were torn off by the first fire. Wrapping

a handkerchief around it, he grasped his pistol in his left hand. At the second fire, both fell. The military officer was shot through the head, and instantly expired. The lieutenant was shot through the breast. On being told that the wound of his opponent was mortal, he thanked Heaven that he had lived thus long. And a few minutes before he died, he requested that a mourning ring on his finger should be given to his sister, with the assurance that the present was the happiest moment in his life. In 1806, Mr. Colclough, of Wexford, Ireland, offered himself to the electors of that county for a seat in Parliament. Some dispute occurred between him and Mr. Alcock, the opposing candidate, concerning a few votes, which Mr. Alcock insisted Mr. Colclough should not receive. Mr. Colclough refused to reject them, and a duel was the consequence. At the first fire, Mr. Alcock shot his opponent, who had been his former intimate friend and companion, through the heart, and he died instantly. This result so operated on Mr. Alcock, that he ended his days in insanity-while his sister, who had been well acquainted with Mr. Colclough, soon went to her grave, a maniac.* In 1804, the

*See "Progress of Duelling in the 19th Century," in the New York Albion, for 1839, Nos. 6 and 7.