30. Consequences of these principles There is nothing in the sanctions of Christianity which implies that obedience to her moral law is of less consequence than an adherence to her faith; nor, as it respects the welfare of the world, does the consequence appear to be less, for he who, by his fidelity to Christianity, promotes the diffusion of Christian

31. Unconditional reliance upon Providence on the subject of defence What then is the principle for which we contend? An unquestioning reliance upon Providence for defence in all those cases in which we should violate His laws by defending ourselves. The principle can claim a species of merit that must at least be denied to some systems of morality: that

32. Safety of this reliance – Evidence by private and natural experience We have seen that the duties of the religion which God has imparted to mankind require non- resistance; and surely it is reasonable to believe, even without a reference to experience, that he will make our non-resistance subservient to our interests – that if, for the purpose of

33. General observations If the evidence that we possess does not satisfy us of the expediency of confiding in God, what evidence do we ask, or what can we receive? We have his promise that he will protect those who abandon their seeming interests in the performance of his will, and we have the testimony of those who have confided

1. Social consequences There are few maxims of more unfailing truth than that “ A tree is known by its fruits ;” and I will acknowledge that if the lawfulness of war were to be determined by a reference to its consequences, I should willingly consign it to this test, in the belief that if popular impressions were suspended, a

2. Political consequences Since the last war, we have heard much of the distresses of the country, and whatever may be the opinion whether they have been brought upon us by the peace, none will question whether they have been brought upon us by war: The peace may be the occasion of them, but war has been the cause. I

3. Moral consequences “ These are the men who, without virtue, labour, or hazard, are growing rich as their country is impoverished: They rejoice when obstinacy or ambition adds another year to slaughter and devastation, and laugh from their desks at bravery and science while they are adding figure to figure, and cipher to cipher, hoping for a new contract

4. Familiarity with human destruction – with plunder If the soldier engages in the destruction of his species, he should at least engage in it with reluctance, and abandon it with joy. The slaughter of his fellow men should be dreadful in execution and in thought: But what is his aversion or reluctance? He feels none; it is not even

5. Incapacity for regular pursuits – half-pay Another means by which war becomes pernicious to the moral character of the soldier is the incapacity that the profession occasions for the sober pursuits of life: “ The profession of a soldier ,” says Dr. Paley, “ almost always unfits men for the business of regular occupations. ” On the question of