We are bound to regard them as intimations of our want of benevolence, and to reward the aggressors for the intimations! Is it true, that in this world the wicked only are oppressed, and that the good are always the prospered and happy?
Even suppose this true, and that I, as a sinful man, deserve God's anger, is this any reason why I should not resist the assassin, and seek to bring him to punishment?
The whole of this argument of Dr.Wayland applies with much greater force to municipal courts than to war.
V."Let us suppose a nation to abandon all means both of offence and of defence, to lay aside all power of inflicting injury, and to rely for self-preservation solely upon the justice of its own conduct, and the moral effect which such a course of conduct would produce upon the consciences of men.

* * * * How would such a nation be protected from external attack, and entire subjugation?
I answer, by adopting the law of benevolence, a nation would render such an event in the highest degree improbable.

The causes of national war are, most commonly, the love of plunder and the love of glory.

The first of these is rarely, if ever, sufficient to stimulate men to the _ferocity necessary to war_, unless when assisted by the second.

And by adopting as the rule of our conduct the law of benevolence, all motive arising from the second cause is taken away.