Serious Reflections on WAR 2
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Secondly, This subject may naturally lead us to reflect upon the just resentments of God against the sin of man.
War is not only the natural result of the depraved passions of mankind—but a just punishment from God for that depravity. It is at once the natural effect, and the judicial punishment of their lusts. As innocent creatures, under the influence of universal benevolence, would not injure one another, or fly to war—so God would not allow the calamities of war to fall upon them, because they would not have deserved it.
But alas! mankind have revolted from God, and incurred his displeasure; and he employs them to avenge his quarrel and do the part of executioners upon one another! They are fighting his quarrel, even when they least design it. The sword of war—is God's sword; he designs by it to chastise his children; to punish his enemies: and in both, to testify his resentments against sin. It is sin which sets the Omnipotent in arms against this rebellious province of his dominions, and constrains him to let war loose among us, as the executioner of his vengeance!
God is angry with the wicked every day; and hence it is that, according to that striking piece of imagery, he calls for the sword, and says, "Sword, go through the land, cut off man and beast from it." Ezekiel 45:17. If, therefore, we expostulate and pray with Jeremiah, "Oh sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you are quiet? Put up yourself into your scabbard; rest and be still!" we have the same answer, "How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord has given it a charge?" a charge against his enemies; "there has he appointed it." Jeremiah 47:6, 7.
Now if this is the case—is it any wonder that the sword has received a commission against our country and nation—seeing our land is full of sin against the holy One of Israel? The transgressors have come to the full among us; and almost all flesh have corrupted their way. "There is none righteous; no, not one!" Romans 3:10. The fear and love of God—are almost lost among his own creatures, in his own world! This is a subject I have often enlarged upon; but, alas! how much in vain, as to multitudes!
They will sin on still—in spite of warnings and remonstrance. And all the most solemn and serious addresses to them on this head, seem but idle harangues, or fashionable pulpit cant. But I must tell you once more, in serious sadness, whether you hear, or whether you forbear—that our country and nation are likely to sink under the burden of guilt, accumulated from so many quarters, and for so many ages; that without a reformation, we are likely to be an enslaved, ruined people; and that the present calamities of war are the punishments of the divine hand upon an ungrateful, rebellious nation!
Indeed, sirs, we shall find it an evil thing and a bitter—that we have forsaken the Lord our God. Sin will be found in the outcome—to be the bane of society in this world—as well as of souls in the world to come. And unless we learn this by gentler instructions, we are likely to learn it by the painful lessons of experience. And, oh! how just and fit is it, that creatures in rebellion against God, should be left to avenge his quarrel upon one another; that a world of sin—should be made a field of blood!
Indeed, this unavoidably follows according to the course of nature. The love of God, and the love of our fellow-creatures, are thegrand cements of the moral world, and the bonds of social union. And when these are broken, what must follow—but mutual enmity and hostilities? Then the character of mankind is "hateful, and hating one another." Titus 3:3.
Friends, God is proclaiming by the sound of cannons and the martial trumpet, what he has often proclaimed unheard by the gentler voice of his Word, namely, that he has a just controversy with our world for its rebellion. And shall not this make us solicitous to be reconciled to him? Blessed be his name, the quarrel may yet be made up. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. And if we accept of reconciliation in
this way, we shall again be received into favour. We shall be justified by his grace, and so "have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1.
Sinners, what do you think of this proposal? I seriously propose it to you; and it demands your most solemn attention. What do you think of being reconciled to God this day, through Jesus Christ; that he may no longer have any ground of controversy with you, nor with your country on your account. I honestly warn you, that if you still persist in your rebellion, "He will sharpen his sword: he has bent his bow and made it ready. He has prepared for you the instruments of death—he has ordained his arrows against you!" Psalm 7:12, 13. "He has for a long time been silent, and restrained himself." But he will not always bear with you! "The Lord shall go forth as a mighty man; he shall stir up wrath, like a man of war: he shall cry, yes, roar: he shall prevail against his enemies: he will destroy and devour at once." Isaiah 42:13, 14.
O sinners, are you able to engage the Omnipotent in battle? Will you not rather fall at his feet, and submit? Methinks the terror of such declarations as these from his own lips, may confound and overwhelm you. "If I sharpen my glittering sword, and my hand takes hold of judgement, I will render vengeance to my enemies, and will reward those who hate me; I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh!" Deuteronomy 32:41, 42. Oh bring not this intolerable doom upon yourselves! But submit to the overtures of grace now, while you may; while God is reconcilable, and even entreats and beseeches you to be reconciled to him. Then this almighty Enemy will be your almighty Friend; and his protection will render you secure in all the calamities of life, and through all eternity! How happy would it be, if war among the nations—might be the occasion of peace with God! I am sure it is a loud call to this; and oh! that we may listen to it and obey! But,
Thirdly, The consideration of war as proceeding from the lusts of men, may excite us to the most zealous endeavours, in our respective characters, to promote a spiritual reformation.
A thorough reformation would be the most effectual expedient for a lasting peace among mankind, and to put an end to the ravages and devastations of war. Were their tempers formed upon the model of Christianity, that humane, gentle, benevolent religion of the harmless Lamb of God—then they would then live like friends, in the bonds of love; they would observe the rules of justice towards each other; they would naturally care for each other's welfare, and promote it, as that of another self. Therefore, if we would contribute to the peace of the world, let us labour to reform it. It is but little, indeed, that you and I can do, in so narrow a sphere, for a general reformation: but let not that little be undone—at least, let it not be unattempted.
Let us first begin at our own hearts. Let it be our next care to reform our families; then let us extend our endeavours to our neighbourhood , and to our country, as far as our influence can reach. Small and unpromising beginnings have sometimes, under the divine blessing, ripened into a very grand and happy result.
Twelve fishermen, with the power of God along with them, did more to reform and save the world, than was ever done before or since! And who knows what happy effects might follow, if even this small, contemptible company here, should resolutely set themselves upon promoting a spiritual reformation in our country, with a humble dependence upon God for success, and exhibiting an example of it in our own practice. In the name of God, let us unanimously make the attempt. The attempt is glorious and God-like; and if it should fail of success—it will not fail of its reward.
Let our lives be a loud testimony against the wickedness of the times; and a living recommendation of despised religion. Let our children be instructed in the knowledge of Christ; and let us labour to make them sincere, practical Christians; let us exhort each other daily, lest any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, Hebrews 3:13; let us by our conversation and advices endeavour to bring our friends and neighbours in love with true religion, and to be solicitous about the concerns of eternity. Let us zealously concur in every scheme that is likely to have a godly influence upon our country. And oh! let us earnestly pray for our country; for we can never be sufficiently sensible, that the Holy Spirit is the only effectual reformer of the world. And, blessed be God, we are encouraged to hope that he will give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him, Luke 11:13; which leads me to add,
Fourthly, that the consideration of war as proceeding from the lusts of men—may make us sensible of our need of an outpouring of the divine Spirit.
"When He comes—He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgement!" John 16:8. I must repeat it again, that the Holy Spirit is the only effectual reformer of the world! It is He alone who can effectually "reprove the world of sin." If He is absent—legislators may make laws against crime;
philosophers may reason against vice;
ministers may preach against sin;
conscience may remonstrate against evil;
the divine law may prescribe and threaten hell;
the gospel may invite and allure to heaven;
but all will be in vain!
The strongest arguments, the most melting entreaties, the most alarming denunciations from God and man, enforced with the highest authority, or the most compassionate tears—all will have no effect—all will not effectually reclaim one sinner, nor gain one sincere convert to righteousness! Paul, Apollo's, and Peter, with all their apostolic abilities, can do nothing, without the Holy Spirit. Paul may plant the seed—and Apollo's may water it; but God alone can make it grow! "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow!" 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7. He is all in all.
"For your land will be overgrown with thorns and briers," says Isaiah, "until the Spirit is poured down upon us from heaven!" Isaiah 32:13,15; that is, their country shall be laid waste, and made a mere wilderness of briers and thorns, by the ravages of war; or the people themselves shall be like briers and thorns—fruitless, noxious, and troublesome.
In this language the prophet Micah describes the same people: "the best of them is as a brier; the most upright is sharper than a thorn-hedge." Micah 7:4. Such shall they continue, "until the Spirit is poured down upon us from heaven!" But when the happy time comes, "Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will become a lush and fertile forest." Isaiah 32:13-18.
That is—this effusion of the Spirit shall put an end to the desolations of war, and extinguish those flaming passions, from which it proceeds. This shall introduce the blessing of lasting and extensive peace: for, as it is there added, "Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Quietness and confidence will fill the land forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest!" This is the blessed effect of the outpouring of the Spirit; and never will peace and harmony be established in this jangling world—until this Divine Agent takes the work in hand.
It is He alone—who can melt down the obstinate hearts of men into love and peace!
It is He alone—who can soften their rugged and savage tempers, and transform them into mutual benevolence!
It is He alone—who can quench those lusts that set the world on fire, and implant the opposite virtues and graces. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, are mentioned by Paul, as the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, because the Spirit alone is the author of them. And if these dispositions were predominant in the world—what a serene, calm, peaceful region would it be, undisturbed with the hurricanes of human passions!
"If you bite and devour one another," says the apostle, "take heed that you are not consumed by one another: this I say then," as the best preservative from this evil:
"Walk in the Spirit—and you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." Galatians 5:15, 16. O friends! did we all walk in the Spirit—what peace and harmony would reign in families and in neighbourhoods! Were the Spirit of God poured out upon the nations, we would no more hear the sound of the war trumpet, nor see garments rolled in blood; but peace would spring up in every country as its native growth, and allure contending kingdoms into friendship with its fragrance!
Oh, how much do we need the influence of the blessed Spirit to calm the tumult of the world, to restrain the ambition and avarice of princes and their ministers, and to quench the savage thirst of blood! How much do we need him for a purpose more important still; that is, to make this gospel, this neglected, inefficacious gospel, which sinners are now hardy enough to trifle with, to make it powerful to their salvation—to make the weapons of our warfare mighty to the pulling down the strong-holds of Satan, and to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ! How much do we need him to break the heart of stone, to enlighten the dark mind, and to comfort the desponding soul! This kind office, alas! we cannot perform to a dear child or friend. But oh! the joyful thought! He is able!
And how are we to expect this blessing? In what way is it to be obtained? The answer is, Pray for it. Pray frequently, pray fervently, "Lord, your Spirit! Oh give me your Spirit! He is the blessing I need; He is the blessing families, and nations, and the whole race of man, need." Pray in your retirements, pray in your families, pray in warm devotions, pray without ceasing—for this great fundamental blessing. O friends! had many among us done this, the Spirit would not be so much withdrawn; and should many now do this, he would not be long absent.
Hear what encouragement Christ has given to prayer, in this particular: "Ask—and it shall be given you; seek—and you shall find; knock—and it shall be opened unto you. If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children—how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:9-13. Therefore, friends, let us earnestly cry to God for his Spirit. Would you beg for bread—when famishing? Would you beg for life—if condemned to die? Oh then beg for the Spirit: for this gift is of more importance to you and the world, than daily bread, or life itself!
I shall conclude with TWO PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS:
The one is, "humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." 1 Peter 5:6. You have seen that war is both an evidence and effect of the corruption of our nature, and of the righteous indignation of God against us on this account; and in both these views—it loudly calls upon you to humble yourselves.
The other advice is but a repetition of what I have already recommended to you, namely: "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thess. 5:17. No sign could be more encouraging than to see the praying spirit spreading among us; to see those who have any influence in heaven through their divine Mediator, using their interest in behalf of their country. The efficacy of believing prayer is very great. The encouragements to this duty are many; and I am sure our need of it is peculiarly urgent; therefore, "continue instant in prayer." Romans 12:12.
It is but little we can do to promote a national reformation, much less an universal reformation among all nations. The world will sin on still, in spite of all our endeavours; but, if divine grace concurs—we may do much to reform the little spot where we dwell. Every man is of some importance in his family, and perhaps in his neighbourhood; and why should we not begin at home? Why should we not labour to reform the place where we live? Why should we not endeavour to become the salt of the earth—to season the huge mass of corruption—the light of the world, to dart some rays of light through the Egyptian darkness which hangs over our country; and as a city set upon a hill, conspicuous to all around us, for the beauties of holiness? Oh, let us labour to bring about so happy a revolution; let us be ambitious to take the precedence in turning to the Lord, and to be the first fruits of the glorious harvest of righteousness, which we hope for, before the consummation of all things.
To engage you the more, I have the pleasure to inform you, that the synod of New York, and the ministers in Connecticut, have appointed, that on the last Thursday in every month, during these troublesome times, the congregations under their care, should meet together in little societies, and spend a few hours in united prayer to God for our country and nation. And I earnestly recommend it to you, my dear people, to join with your friends in various parts, upon that day, in so seasonable and important a duty; and who knows what extensive advantage thousands may receive from the prayers of a few? They will, at least, return with blessings into your own bosoms!
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