“ The very idea of war and weapons of war, are always revolting to the best feelings of a philanthropic bosom, and when contrasted with wisdom and that meek, and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price, how astonishing that any but carniverous animals, cannibals, or beasts of prey, should for one moment think they did not suffer in comparison with that wisdom which the inspired writers have commended so highly? ”

“ Beasts of prey may be met with weapons of war, and men as wild and uncultivated as they, are sometimes to be brought to yield to the only argument that can be adduced, the last resort of kings. But these few exceptions are far, very far, from weakening the force of the sentiment in our text. In fact we feel that it rather confirms it. It is most assuredly a mark of wisdom to act with that prudence and circumspection that will secure the approbation of a good conscience, and the smiles of approving heaven. ”

“ Knowledge and understanding are generally considered as being synonymous with wisdom, or words of the same import, but we think no two words in our language are exactly synonymous, therefore that such are most accurate in their conception of the term knowledge who consider it as consisting in a stock of judicious and proper ideas and notions of things; and that wisdom consists in reducing these to practice or in conducting any affair with ingenuity and skill. Knowledge has its seat in the speculative understanding, but wisdom in the practical ”

“ And first, weapons of war are always associated with the battle-field; with blood and carnage. Not only so, but with the angry passions, and not unfrequently with all that malice, hatred and revenge that characterize the most depraved and barbarous of the human race, even the demons of the lower regions "grin horribly a ghastly smile" at their use, when "death deputes ambition to do the work of age and toss him twice ten thousand at a meal." Are weapons of war calculated in their nature to produce true converts to the christian faith? ”

“ If the saint, or the minister of Jesus Christ differ in opinion from his fellow clay, he will always bear in mind that wisdom is better than weapons of war; he will never resort to violence to produce conviction or procure converts to his faith. He will never violate the laws of his country, by trespassing on the feelings, the rights, the privileges or persons of others.-He knows and he feels, that wisdom is better than weapons of war. ”

“ Let all the bloody tragedies that have been acted, be chronicled in one black catalogue, and what arguments do they confirm or establish, in favor of that pugnacious disposition which delights in revenge, and deals out liberally "fire-brands, arrows and death?" ”

“ The wicked fear him, the vain shun him, for he commends no man's evil deeds, nor loves his friends for unrighteous acts. He advises with candor, reproves with mildness, and rebukes with a steady, decided, inflexible purpose of heart, that clearly evince his love to his friends and his unshaken confidence in God and his cause. ”

“ We are aware that the sentiment couched in the text is directly at war with the practice and principle of many at the present day, but notwithstanding this discrepancy the principle is no less heavenly, no less divine. In order that we may be distinctly understood, and have no one mistake our meaning, we will state simply the words that are often used for wisdom, but as we think incorrectly. ”

“ Thus said the Savior to the Jews, "If I had not come among you and did the work that none other man did, ye had not had sin but now ye have no cloak for your sins." If they never heard, they certainly could never believe and obey. ”

“ He flatters no man's vanity by indiscriminate, wicked and foolish adulation, nor does he hastily impugn the motives or censure the acts of those who have the misfortune to differ from him in principle or practice. ”

“ And first, of that class of people who know not God nor have ever heard his gospel preached, we say may the Lord have mercy on them and bring them to a knowledge of the truth. We have less fears for them than for the self-righteous professor who has a form of godliness but denies the power thereof. The Judge of all the earth will do right and those who never heard his gospel, cannot be justly condemned for a non-compliance with its requirements. ”

“ Although the author of our text is rather antiquated and some of his practical observations and proverbs have become rather obsolete, still, from the definition we have given of the term wisdom, we think the genuine moral philosopher, although he may be a sceptic as it respects divine revelation, much less the believer in the christian religion, will call in question the truth or practical utility of the sentiment in our text. ”

“ Therefore, in whatever point of light we view the import of the words at the head of this paragraph, whether in the light of inspiration or as the dictates of a sound understanding and a correct taste, enlightened by experience and philosophy, we come to the same inevitable conclusion, it is a fact that no one can gainsay nor resist. ”

“ We are not now aware that we are giving new lessons in ethics; not so, but we would stir up the pure minds of the saints by way of remembrance of those pure and holy principles that are so interwoven and identified with their happiness here and their well-being hereafter.
The great Author of our existence has so diversified the human character, that perhaps, it would be morally impossible to find two individuals who are exactly and in all respects alike ”

“ We are not now writing a political essay, upon the science of our own or any other government, and we do not say a resort to weapons of war in nations or individuals may not be tolerated under certain circumstances. ”

“ He knows that reason and argument are the weapons, the rightful, the legal weapons, to combat the errors and follies of this generation. He "is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, rejoiceth not in iniquity;" ”

“ Why will it?-because a soft answer turns away wrath, and is evincive of a cultivated mind, and a correct taste, while on the other hand, grievous words stir up strife, and engender all the evil passions that dwell in a corrupt heart actuated by motives most foul and impure. ”