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sion ? There is no medium in the case 5 I must either surrender . myself to their claims , or refuse to acknowledge them . But at the same time I must add , that this delusion was innocent , and led to nothing criminal or
wicked ; or even dangerous to civil society , except in the case of the prohibition of defensive war . But here Robert Barclay makes a very candid concession , which in justice to his memory and the civil community , I find myself obliged to quote at full length .
" But lastly , as to what relates to this thing , siqce nothing seems more contrary to man ' s nature , and seeiag of all things the defence of one ' s self seems most tolerable , as it is most hard to men , so it is the most perfect part of the Christian religion as that
wherein the denial of self , and entire confidence in Godf doth most appear , and therefore Christ and his apostles left us hereof a most perfect example . As to what relates to the present magistrates of the Christian world s albeit we deny them not altogether the name of Christians , because of the public
profession they make of Christ ' s name ; yet we may boldly affirm , that they are far from the perfection of the Christian religion : because in the state in which they are , ( as in many places before i have largely observed , )
they have not come to the pure dispensation of the gospel . And , therefore , while they are in that condition , we shall not say that war , undertaken upon a just occasion , is altogether unlawful to them . For even as
circumcision , and the other ceremonies , were for a season permitted to the Jews , not because they were either necessary of themselves , or lawful at that time , after the resurrection of Christ ; but because that spirit was not yet raised up in them , whereby they could be delivered from such
rudiments : so the present confessors of the Christian name , who are yet in the mixture , and not in the patient suffering spirit , are not yet fitted for this form of Christianity , and , therefore , cannot be undefending
themselves , until they attain that perfection . But for such , whom Christ has brought hither , it is not Jawful to defend themselves by arms , but they ought over all to trust to the Lord . ** 1 thank thee friend Robert for this
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concession 5 it affords a proof , among others , of thy good sense , candour , Christian charity , and compassion for the present state and circumstances of the world . I also thank a venerable
person and friend of civil and religious liberty , for having referred me to this passage , which , though in my younger days , I had several copies of Barclay ' s Apology in various languages , in my
possession , always , as far as I can recollect , escaped my notice and observation . 1 must further add , that I incline to agree with the same worthy person in the sublime idea , that " there is a communication between
the human mind and the Deity . " I think , I have myself felt something very like this , at some happy times , though transient and evanescent , but I may also be influenced by self-deception .
Before I take my leave of Robert Barclay , I shall introduce one more brief quotation from his book . —** 2 . That neither defensive nor offensive war was lawful to the Israelites , of their own will , or by their own counsel or conduct ; but they were
obliged at all times , if they would be successful , first to inquire the oracle of God . " This observation is true , but makes nothing for Robert Barclay ' s cause , and may be turned against him with decisive force . It appears that the Jews had the sanction of the
oracle of God himself for going to war . The Almighty could have saved them by miracle , or turned the hearts of their enemies , but he inclined to do neither . He authorized them by his
priests or ptophets to defend themselves , and to fight for their rights and liberties * When this is duly considered , who can truly say , that defensive war is unlawful ? The
Almighty is an unchangeable Being ; the great and just Judge of the whole earth has ever done , and ever will do , what is right . Under the Christian dispensation we have , at present , no
divine oracle to apply to ; no prophet to give answers in the name of God . We may fast , pray and ask counsel and direction from God ; and this is all we can do . In our final
determination respecting war or peace , we must be guided by our reason , enlightened by the Scriptures of truth . The Messiah has not yet taken possession of his kingdom ; for " his
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15 O Lawfulness of Defensive War amongst Christians *
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1819, page 150, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1770/page/14/
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