The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SERMONSj 129and alfo more commonly called war,"inbre properly,namely, public folemn war, that is, either when twoindependent ftates arm themfelves for mutual deftruction; or dvil war, that is, when two different partsof the fame empire are unfortunately at variance, andgo to war with each other. It is in reference to oneor other, or both of thefe laft mentioned wars, that Idefign this difcourie j and this, I think, is to a£l withpropriety on a day wiien. we aire aiTembled, by lawfulauthority, to confefs our fins, to implore the pardonof them, and to pray that God would give fuecefs inthat war wherein we have already been long engag--ed, and preferve us againfl the violent hoftilities ofFrance, and the unprovoks-d attacks of that^ftrongand perfidious power.From the text, it is manifefh- that there were warsamong thofe to whom St. James addrefi'es this epiftle jand of thefe wars their lulls were indifputably theGaufe. That- there are wars among Chriftians now^is a mournful faft, of which v/e need not take longtime to inveftigate the caufc : Lufts produced Varsformerly, and the fame, or finiilar efFecIs, do now alfofprnig from the fame or from fimilar caufes. " Fromwhence come Vv^ars and fightings among you ? comethey not hence, even from your lulls that war in yourmembers ^"In this difcourfe I intend to do tbe following things i'I.I will mention fome of thefe lulls from whichwars and fightings take their rtfe.2. I will next fhow a little more particularly, whyit is that lull, or the gratification of \n&, is the originand caufcof war.3. I will take fome notice of the mifery of thofenations that are engaged in war.4. I will next (how, which feems to be intimatedin the text, that it is flrange that Chriftians, who havefo much reafon to live in peace,gainft each other..fhould wage war a-»-