[7] If the permission given to the church under the Mosaic dispensation to engage in war has not been disannulled by the gospel dispensation (which is by no means granted), it is thought that it does not admit of the consequences which are generally drawn. The Israelites were God's covenant people and were utterly prohibited from making any covenant with the nations around them, or engaging with them in their wars. It must therefore be totally improper for God's covenant people now to unite with those who are strangers to the covenant of promise, and engage with them in their tumult and fightings. It is presumed that no one who has ever read our Constitution will pretend that the American nation has, in the Scriptural sense, made a covenant with God. If the analogy holds good in one point, it must in another; and in that case there is no alternative left for God's covenant people but either to withdraw from those who are not in covenant with God, or adopt a national religion which must be defended by the weapons of the nation. It is believed that those who will not admit that the permission granted to the Israelites to engage in war was abrogated by the gospel dispensation can never fully answer the arguments in favor of a national religion. [8] Four things are noticeable from this history. _First_, That the subjects of the Mediator's kingdom have no right to use carnal weapons for defense, in the most trying situation possible. _Secondly_, The promulgation of a decree of heaven; that all they (whether states, churches, or kingdoms) who take the sword shall perish with the sword. Every political or ecclesiastical body which is defended with the sword will by the sword be destroyed. In confirmation of this sentiment, we see while the great destroying powers were represented to St. John in the symbols of ferocious beasts, it was added, "If any man have an ear to hear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword"; but in opposition to this it is said, "Here is the faith and the patience of the saints." We would inquire how the faith and the patience of the saints appear, if they, like the nations of the earth, lead into captivity and kill with the sword? _Thirdly_, The weapon which the subjects of the Redeemer are to use for defense is here brought into view, viz., Prayer. Nothing which appears prevented our Lord from using this weapon when he was betrayed, but the necessity of the Scriptures being fulfilled. Had he prayed to his Father, more than twelve legions of ministering spirits would have appeared swift as lightning to discharge his will. At the time he shall come in all the glory of his Father the holy angels will be with him. He will break through the heavens in flaming fire and descend with the shout of the Archangel and the trump of God, and cleave asunder the earth beneath; and send forth