“But what are the means we shall use?  The same by which the commerce in human beings was destroyed, and which are now driving intemperance from the earth—­voluntary associations and the press.

“Let the friends of peace concentrate their exertions in Peace Societies; and let the press proclaim throughout our land, in all its length and breadth, the folly, the wickedness, and the horrors of war; and call on our rulers to provide for the amicable adjustment of national differences.  In the first treaty that shall be formed for this purpose we shall behold the dawn of that glorious day, the theme of prophets and the aspirations of saints, when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

“The present age is propitious to the enterprise.  It is an age of energy and of freedom.  All the powers of mind are in full activity, and every eye and every ear is open to the reception of new truths.  Science and philanthropy are daily achieving triumphs which the past century dared not imagine.  The world is no longer governed by princes and senates, but by public opinion, and at the fiat of this mighty potentate, ancient institutions are levelled in the dust.  Let this despot wield only a delegated authority, and each individual, however humble, can enhance or diminish his power.  Who, then, will refuse to lend his assistance to enable public opinion to say to the troubled nations, ‘peace—­be still;’ and to compel the rulers of the earth to refer their disputes to another tribunal than the sword.

“In this cause every man can labor, and it is a cause in which every man is called to labor, by interest and by duty.  But it is a cause that peculiarly claims the zeal and devotion of Christians.  They are the servants of Him who is not only the mighty God and the everlasting Father, but the Prince of Peace.  They know that war is opposed to all his attributes, and contradicts the precepts of his word.  Conscience gives her sanction to the means we have proposed, and prophecy assures us of the accomplishment of the object to which they are directed.  Why, then, will not Christians use the talents and influence given them from above to effect this consummation?  Let them not plead, in excuse for listlessness and indifference, that it is God alone who ‘maketh wars to cease to the end of the earth.’  In the moral government of the world, the purposes of its Almighty Ruler are accomplished by his blessing upon human means.  He has promised that righteousness shall cover the whole earth; and in reliance on this promise, his servants are now bearing the everlasting Gospel to every nation and kindred, and tongue and people.  He has also promised that nations shall learn war no more, and in his faithfulness we have all the incentive which certainty of ultimate success can give to human