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

132 SXRMCNS.advantage it had loft.—I may add^ that fometlmeswicked minifters of ftate engage their mafter in a warmerely to fcreen themfeives from condign punifhmentj to divert or ftifle the clamour of an injuredpeople againft their covetous and bungling adminiftration,they wilfully involve the nation in all the miferiesof war : This, this, alas ! hath often been done.I might perhaps mention many other particular caufesfrom which wars and fightings come ; fome of themtoo fliameful to be named : But every war is derived,as I have faid, from fome of the general fources alreadyfpoken of." From whence come wars andfightings among you ^ come they not hence, evenfrom your lufts that war in your members ?" —Comethey not from your criminal luft after fenfual pleafure,or from a greedy defire of riches, of pplTeffingyourfelves of that which is the property of your neighbouror from an ambitious defire to appear in.'*fplendour,to be admired for the extent and value of yourpolTdfions, to have great power, and to fee thofe whoare now your equals reduced to the neceflity of bowingand cringing before you ?—Or do not wars andfightings among you arife from a reftlefs implacabletemper, from a fpirit of revenge, from an abiding refentmentof fome perhaps real, perhaps very flight orimaginary affront or injury which you fancy you havefuftained .?—or from the artifices of fome mean-fpiritedand covetous minifter, who, when the cry of animpoverifhed and abufed people grows loud againfthim for his blundering and inglorious adminiftration,adds to all his other crimes that of involving the nationin lafting mifery, that he may keep his lucrativeplace, and ftave off for a while tliat difgrace and puiiilhmentwhich he richly deferves. I will next fliowa little more particularly,2. How and why it is, that lufts, or the gratificationof lufts, is the origin and cauf? of war.—^\ndthis is the cafe, becaufe it commonly happens, that.