eradicate these prejudices, and to accomplish so great a work, as the pacification of a world. But they believe that the cause, in which they have engaged, is not desperate; that it is a cause which God will own and prosper; and that those who are for them are more than those who are against them. If all the ministers of religion, and all the friends of peace in our country, should cordially unite in one vigorous effort, the time may soon come, when the custom of deciding disputes by weapons of death, will be regarded as a savage custom, derived from ages of ignorance and barbarity.

The necessity of the war spirit to the safety of a nation, is the great argument opposed to the friends of peace. But does not this spirit expose a nation to the anger of that God, on whom we are dependent for all our blessings? Can any thing be more offensive to a kind father, than to see his children disposed to murder one another? How abhorrent then must it be in the eyes of our heavenly Father, to behold this temper in nations, professing the peaceful religion of his Son! Nay, to witness in them a disposition to exalt the military profession, as one of the most honorable among men, and to give glory to a warrior in proportion to the slaughter and misery which he has caused among his

In what light must God view the prayers of Christians of different nations in time of war? One class calling on him as the FATHER OF MERCIES, and in the name of his benevolent Son, the PRINCE OF PEACE, to grant success to this army; another class calling on the same Father, and in the same pacific name, to give success to that army, while each is aim ing at the destruction of the other! Can any thing be more shocking, or more antichristian? If such practices in a people, professing a religion which breathes nothing but love, peace, long-suffering and forgiveness, be not offensive to God, in what possible way can they incur his displeasure?

May it not also be said, that the spirit of war endangers the freedom and

liberties of our nation, as it tends to increase the power and patronage of those in authority, and to place at their disposal a body of men, who have lost the character of the citizen in that of the soldier-as it tends to bewilder the minds of the multitude. by the fascinating glare of military exploits, and by extravagant and inhu man exultations for victories, which have involved thousands of their brethren in death or wretchedness-and as it terds, in various ways, to deprave the hearts of men, to corrupt the morals of society, to encourage a blind, unreflecting, ferocious, and unfeeling character, by which men are prepar ed to become the dupes and the slaves of martial and unprincipled leaders?

If we reflect on our local situation, the nature of our government, and the dissentions which exist in our land, will it not be evident that we have far less to fear from the rapacity and injustice of foreign nations, than from the spirit of party and of war among ourselves?

But should there be due exertions to cultivate pacific principles, will they not tend to deprive the ambitious of every prospect of advantage from an attempt to involve the nation in war— make it both the honor and interest, of our rulers to study the things which tend to peace, and thus contribute to the permanency of our Republican Institutions?

Does not the very nature of our institutions afford peculiar encourage. ment to the friends of peace? Is not such the dependence of our rulers on their fellow citizens, and such their connexion and intimacy with them, that the general diffusion of pacific principles must naturally have an im mediate and salutary influence on the government, on its general policy, and its foreign negotiations? May we not rationally hope, that this influence will result in the amicable adjustment of many controversies, and frequently prevent the sanguinary appeal to arms. And shall it be thought im possible or improbable, that pacific principles and a pacific spirit may be communicated from one government to another, and thus produce a benign

effect on the public sentiment of the civilized world?

Can it be denied, that PEACE ON EARTH was one object of our Savior's mission, and of the institution of the Christian ministry? If not, shall this object be any longer neglected by the messengers of the Prince of peace?

But the temporal peace and welfare of mankind are not the only objects of the ministry; the true minis ters of the gospel propose a still nobler end-the everlasting felicity of their fellow beings. When this object is considered, in connexion with the temper and practice which is required of men, as preparatory to the joys of heaven, how infinitely import ant does it appear, that every minis ter should employ his influence to bring warring passions into disrepute, and to excite and cherish the spirit of meekness, love, and peace?

Should it be asked, Why are Peace Societies recommended at this time, when there is so little prospect of another war in our country? The an swer is ready: The time of peace is believed to be more favorable to the proposed design, than a time of war.

There is less danger that benevolent efforts will be regarded as of a party character, and the minds of men are more tranquil and open to receive the light which may be offered on the subject.

There may be some in our country, who will reluctantly part with the delusive pleasure, which they have experienced, in rehearsing their sanguinary deeds of valor. But we should not despair of gaining even these. They are now influenced by opinions, derived from education and military habits. When they shall know that the morality of the spirit of war is called in question by many intelligent and virtuous men, and that multitudes are flocking to the STANDARD OF PEACE, they may be led to pause and reflect; and by reflection, they may become convinced, that the inhuman slaughter of brethren, as blameless as themselves, is not so glorious a thing, as they once imagined. They may also be led to doubt the safety of appearing at the bar of Christ

with the spirit of war in their hearts and with hands defiled by blood.

war.

But however it may be with other classes of society, we cannot but indulge the hope, that there will be a general union of the ministers of the Prince of peace, for the abolition of Will not a moment's reflection convince them, that they cannot preach as Christ preached, without inculcating a temper directly opposed to the spirit with which men fight and kill one another? And that they cannot pray as he prayed, without a temper to love and forgive their enemies?

Will not such considerations be more and more perceived and felt, the more the subject of war shall be examined? It certainly does not require extraordinary powers of mind, nor a learned education, to see that war is not made and carried on by that "love" which "worketh no ill to his neighbor;" nor by men's "doing unto others as they would that others should do unto them;" nor by the "wisdom that is from above, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." Must it not then be evident to all, who duly reflect, that war originates in that wisdom, which is from beneath; and that it is usually conducted on maxims and with a spirit as hostile to the gospel, as they are fatal to the peace and the lives of mankind?

The darkness, the sophistry and the delusion, by which men have been made to believe; that they could be "followers of the LAMB" in making war on each other, is, we trust, rapidly passing away. The time, we hope, is near, when not only ministers, bat all classes of Christians, will be "of one heart and one soul" in ascribing praise to the "God of Peace," that they lived to see the day in which Peace societies were formed in our land.

It is not the wish of the Massachusetts Peace Society, to prescribe the manner in which their respected brethren can best exert their influence in the glorious cause of humanity and peace. But a cooperation in some

form is not only cordially desired, but strongly anticipated.

The Constitution of our society was designed to embrace the friends of peace of every name. The society is accordingly composed of men of different sentiments, both as to politics and religion. It is wished that this amiable and conciliatory principle may be extended throughout Christendom; and that all, who love our Lord Jesus Christ, may become united in one grand and persevering effort to give peace to the world.

Having frankly stated our views and our request, we have, brethren, only to add our fervent prayer, that the God of peace may be with you, and that the spirit of peace may guide ev ery measure which you may adopt in relation to the all important object, which has now been proposed.

By order of the Board of the Massachusetts Peace Society, and with the advice of the Council of Correspondence.

NOAH WORCESTER, Cor. Sec. Boston, March 5, 1816.

Extracts from the Epistle of the Yearly Meeting, held in London, by adjournmenis, from the 24th of the fifth month, to the 2d of the sixth month, inclusive, 1815.

To the Quarterly and Monthly Meet-
ings of Friends, in Great Britain,
Ireland, and elsewhere.
Dear Friends,

Ix offering you the salutation of our love, we believe it right to acknowledge our thankfulness to the Author of all good, that we have been permitted to meet together. We have had again to rejoice in a sense of the goodness of him, who, by his presence, owned us in times past; and, though

sensible of the loss of the labor and counsel of some who have recently been removed from the probations of time, we have felt the consoling assurance that the Divine Power is both ancient and new. It is from this holy

source, that every enjoyment, both spiritual and temporal, flows; it is to the Lord Almighty that we are indebted for the blessing of existence, for the means of redemption, and for that lively hope of immortality, which comes by Jesus Christ. To his ser vice, then, dear Friends, in obedience to the manifestation of his power, let us offer our talents; to the glory of his great and excellent name, let us devote our strength and the residue of our days.

.

The state of our religious society, as transmitted from the several bodies which constitute this Yearly Meeting, has been again brought under our view. Accounts of the sufferings of our members, chiefly for tithes and other ecclesiastical demands, and for claims of a military nature, to the amount of fifteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven pounds, have been reported; and we are informed that ten of our young men have been imprisoned since last year, for refusing to serve in the local militia.

We are encouraged in believing, that our ancient Christian testimony Christ, and to a free gospel ministry, to the inward teaching of the spirit of not only continues to be precious to many, but is gaining ground amongst

us.

The sufferings to which we are exposed, are through the lenity of our government, far less severe than were those of our predecessors. To some, however, we believe that these ope rate at times as a trial of their faith and love to the truth. We are disposed to remind such, that patience and meekness on their part will tend both to exalt the testimony in the view of others, and to promote their own advancement in the Christian

Austria, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of Russia, in consequence of the great events which have distinguished, in Europe, the course of the three last years, and especially of the blessings which it has pleased Divine Providence to shed upon those states, whose governments have placed their confidence and their hope in it alone, having acquired the thorough conviction, that it is necessary for ensuring the continuance of these blessings, that the several powers, in their mutual relations, adopt the sublime truths which are pointed out to us by the eternal religion of the Savior God;

"Declare solemnly, that the present act has no other object than to show in the face of the universe their unwavering determination to adopt for the only rule of their conduct, both in the administration of their respective states, and in their political relations with every other government, the precepts of this holy religion, the précepts of justice, of charity and of peace, which, far from being solely applicable to private life, ought, on the contrary, directly to influence the resolutions of princes, and to guide all their undertakings, as being the only means of giving stability to human institutions, and of remedying their imperfections. "Their majesties have therefore agreed to the following articles:

"ART. I. In conformity with the words of the Holy Scriptures, which command all men to regard one anoth er as brethren, the three contracting monarchs will remain united by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and considering each other as copatriots, they will lend one another on every occasion, and in every place, assistance, aid, and support; and conduct towards their subjects and armies, as fathers towards their families; they will govern them in the spirit of fraternity, with which they are animated, for the protection of religion, peace and justice.

"ART. II. Therefore the only ruling principle between the above mentioned governments and their subjects, shall be that of rendering reciprocal services; of testifying by an unalterable beneficence the mutual affection

with which they ought to be animated of considering all as only the members of one Christian nation, the three allied princes looking upon themselves as delegated by Providence to govern three branches of the same family, to wit, Austria, Prussia, and Russia; confessing likewise, that the Christian nation, of which they and their people form a part, have really no other sovereign than him, to whom alone power belongs of right, because in him alone are found all the treasures of love, of science, and of wisdom; that is to say, God, our divine Savior Jesus Christ, the word of the Most High, the word of life. Their majesties therefore recommend, with the most tender solicitude, to their people, as the only means of enjoying that peace which springs from a good conscience and which alone is durable, to fortify themselves every day more and more in the principles and exercise of the duties which the divine Savior has pointed out to us.

"ART. III All powers, which wish solemnly to profess the sacred principles which have dictated this act, and who shall acknowledge how important it is to the happiness of nations, too long disturbed, that these truths shall henceforth exercise upon human des tinies, all the influence which belongs to them, shall be received with as much readiness as affection, into this holy alliance.

"Made, tripartite, and signed at Paris, in the year of our Lord 1815, on the 14th (26) of September. "FRANCIS,

"FREDERIC WILLIAM, "ALEXANDER.

"A true copy of the original, "ALEXANDER. "St. Petersburgh, the day of the birth of our Savior, the 25th of December 1815.”

Remarks.

Of all the compacts made by the rulers of nations in any age, the one now exhibited has perhaps the highest claims to the title of a TREATY OF PEACE. Those instruments, which have usually borne this pacific namenotwithstanding all the solemn protes tations and promises contained in