Objections Answered | 17

17. It Is Our Duty to Preserve Life and Liberty

Objection.

It is the duty of mankind to use the necessary means for the preservation of life and liberty; we must till the ground, if we expect a crop.

It would be presumptuous for us to pray for and to expect our daily bread without using such means as God has put in our power to obtain it,

and it would be equally presumptuous to expect the preservation of our lives and liberties without using such means to preserve and defend them as God has put into our hands.

We must act as well as pray.

Answer.

That using the necessary means is the duty of Christians, there can be no doubt; but they must be such as God has appointed, and not such as human wisdom may dictate.

There is no dispute as to the propriety of using necessary means, but only as to the kind of means that Christians ought to use.

The weapons of their warfare are not carnal, but spiritual, and they are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and Satan.

It is often said,
“If you wish to put a stop to war, spread the gospel through the world.”

We would inquire,
“If the gospel tolerates war, how will its universal diffusion put a stop to war?”

As has already been observed, it would be open rebellion to do what God has forbidden, and high- handed presumption to ask his aid in the things which he has prohibited.