Treatise Doctrine Of Original Sin
| Author | John Wesley |
|---|---|
| Type | treatise |
| Year | None |
| Passage ID | jw-treatise-doctrine-of-original-sin-033 |
| Words | 390 |
O yes: “The causes of war,” as
the same writer observes, “are innumerable. Some of the
chief are these: The ambition of Princes; or the corruption
of their Ministers: Difference of opinion; as, whether flesh
be bread, or bread be flesh; whether the juice of the grape
be blood or wine; what is the best colour for a coat, whether
black, white, or grey; and whether it should be long or short,
whether narrow or wide. Nor are there any wars so furious
as those occasioned by such difference of opinions. “Sometimes two Princes make a war to decide which of
them shall dispossess a third of his dominions. Sometimes
a war is commenced, because another Prince is too strong;
sometimes, because he is too weak. Sometimes our neigh
bours want the things which we have, or have the things
which we want: So both fight, until they take ours, or we
take theirs. It is a reason for invading a country, if the peo
ple have been wasted by famine, destroyed by pestilence, or
embroiled by faction; or to attack our nearest ally, if part of
his land would make our dominions more round and compact. “Another cause of making war is this: A crew are driven
by a storm they know not where; at length they make the
land and go ashore; they are entertained with kindness. They give the country a new name; set up a stone or rotten
plank for a memorial; murder a dozen of the natives, and
bring away a couple by force. Here commences a new right of
dominion : Ships are sent, and the natives driven out or de
stroyed. And this is done to civilize and convert a barbarous
and idolatrous people.”
But, whatever be the cause, let us calmly and impartially
consider the thing itself. Here are forty thousand men
gathered together on this plain. What are they going to do? See, there are thirty or forty thousand more at a little dis
tance. And these are going to shoot them through the head
or body, to stab them, or split their skulls, and send most of
their souls into everlasting fire, as fast as they possibly can. Why so? What harm have they done to them? O none at
all ! They do not so much as know them.