any active part in the civil administration, or military defence of the empire." Vol. I. p. 24. "The humble Christians were sent into the world as sheep among wolves, and since they were not permitted to employ force, even in the defence of their religion, they deemed that they should be still more criminal, if they were tempted to shed the blood of their fellow creatures, in disputing the vain privileges, or the sordid possessions of this transitory life. Faithful to the doctrine of the apostle, who in the reign of Nero had preached the duty of unconditional submission, the Christians of the three first centuries preserved their conscience pure and innocent of the guilt of secret conspiracy, or open rebellion. While they experienced the rigor of persecution, they were never provoked either to meet their tyrants in the field, or indignantly to withdraw themselves into some remote and sequestered corner of the globe." Vol. II. p. 200.

Can there be any doubt that Jesus Christ, his apostles, and the primitive Christians held, taught, and exemplified the doctrine for which I am contending? Is not the scriptural proof of its truth abundant, positive, unequivocal and irresistible? It seems to me that it is. I therefore commend what has been submitted to the deliberate consideration of all candid minds, whose veneration for and attachment to the Scriptures give their testimony the least weight in determining such a question.

CHAPTER III.

SCRIPTURAL OBJECTIONS ANSWERED.

Obj. 1. You throw away the Old Testament-Voice of the New Testament-Voice of the Old Testament-Obj. 2. The scourge of small cords-Obj. 3. The two swords-Obj. 4. The death of Ananias and Sapphira—Obj. 5. Human government—Thirteenth of Romans-How the apostles viewed the then existing governments-Submission to, not participation in governments enjoined on Christians-In what sense the powers that be are ordained of God-Pharaoh God's minister"-Also the monarch of Assyria-Also Nebuchadnezzar-The Roman government-Respects wherein government is ordained of God-Paul's conduct in relation to government-Conclusion.

I devote the present chapter to the consideration of Scriptural Objections. Our doctrine is obviously sustained by the most abundant and convincing proofs from the scriptures of the New Testament. It forces a degree of conviction on many minds by no means prepared for the great practical change involved, or even for a cordial assent to the doctrine itself. Hence they fall back behind certain apparently formidable objections, urged by more determined opponents, from the scriptures. They demand that these should be satisfactorily answered. It is only fair that it should be done.

OBJECTION I.-YOU THROW AWAY THE OLD TESTAMENT.

"You quote exclusively from the scriptures of the New Testament, to prove the non-resistance doctrine. Those of the Old Testament are unequivocally against it. They afford abundant precepts and examples in justification of war, capital punishment, and various forms of penal restraint on criminals. Is not the whole Bible the word of God? Do you throw away and trample under foot the Old Testament? If your doctrine were of God, it would be equally proveable from both Testaments."

ANSWER. It is true that I have quoted exclusively from the scriptures of the New Testament, to prove the doctrine of Christian non-resistance. And I grant that those of the Old Testament, with a few unimportant exceptions, are unequivocally against it, i. e., taken independently of the Christian revelation. I also admit the whole Bible, properly considered and interpreted, to be in a general sense the word of God. But I do not admit the Old Testament to be as clearly, fully and perfectly the word of God as the New Testament; nor to be of equal authority with the latter, on questions of doctrine and duty; nor to be the rule of faith and practice for Christians. It is to be held in reverence as the prophecy and preparative of the New Testament-the fore-shadow of better things to come. If I can prove this to be the true character and office of the Old Testament, I shall thereby silence the objection before us. Not only so, I shall demonstrate that I pay the highest respect to both Testaments; and that those who claim for the Old an equal authority with the New, discredit both. Let us settle this point. The scriptures of the two Testaments

shall speak for themselves. What they say of each other must determine the matter.

VOICE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.

God,

We will commence with the New Testament. 66 who at sundry times, and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Heb. 1: 1, 2. "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he that builded the house, hath more honor than the house." "Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after. But Christ as a Son over his own house, whose house are we, &c., Ib. 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. "For if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change of the law." "There is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before, for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh to God." "By so much was Jesus made the surety of a better Testament." Ib. 7: 11, 12, 18, 19, 22. "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry than they, by how much also he is the mediator of a

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better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first Covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For, finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah; not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt, &c.* * * After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people," &c. "In that he saith, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." Ib. 8: 6, 13. See Ib. 10: 1, 2. "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made." "But before faith came we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a school-master." Gal. 3: 19, 23, 25. " Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit." Ephes. 3:4, 5. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration