Duke University Libraries 
 
 Proclamation of 
 Conf Pam 12mo #587 
 
ffo. 68. 
 
 PROCLAMATION OF PEACE. 
 
 J.T RiV. .1. L. DAGG, D. I). 
 
 In less tlian two years, war has inflicted on our country, 
 before prosperons and happy, evils so many, and so great, 
 that the heart sickens in contemplating them. Millions of 
 property ha\e been (fonsumed, and millions of del t have been 
 accumulated, to Oppress unboru generations.. Extensive re- 
 gions of our territory have Wen ravaged and desolated, and 
 the inhabitants have been driven into exile, or subjected to 
 tyranny and iftsulf. Many thousands of our citizens have 
 perished in battle, or by dieea*# originating from the hard- 
 ships of military service ; firiA other thousands have been so 
 maimed and enfeebled, as to be unfitted for-. the duties and on 
 joyments of life. The land Is filled with widows and orphans; 
 and mourning, lamentation and woe, have spread through 
 all its extent.' Oh! for a return < f peace ! When will the 
 calamity "be past? If some envoy from European power 
 would lift up his voice, and in the name of humanity protest 
 against the wrongs which we suffer, what relief would it 
 afford ! And if our enemy, whether yielding to necessity, or 
 a sense of justice, should authorize a proclamation of peace 
 to go through the land, how would our hearts leap for joy ! 
 But gloom, anxiety, and terror still prevail. Where shall 
 we look for help ? Ye men of piety, who, like Israel of old.* 
 have power with God, why do you not besiege the throue ot 
 grace, and give the Almighty no rest until he interposes m 
 
our behalf? Ye tell ub that he is merciful, and hears pray- 
 er, and that he governs the universe, having all hearts in his „ 
 band. If ten righteous men could have saved Sodom, why 
 do not ye ^ save our land ? Why has not some angel been 
 sent to drive back our invading foe, and to fly through the 
 midst .'f heaven with a proclamation of peace? Have ye 
 ceased to pray, or has God forgotten to be gracious ? 
 
 Alas! No relief appears from this quarter. Although men 
 of piety have prayed, and incessant, fervent, importunate pe- 
 titions have gone forth from thousands of hearts, yet the aw- 
 ful Sovereign still holds in his hands the two divisions of our 
 once happy union, and dashes them against each other like 
 two vessels of the potter, breaking them into shivers. Is God 
 our enemy ? Does he muster the hosts for the battle ? And 
 is he unwilling to bo at peace with us? Shall we charge 
 him with cruelty, or entertain a momentary doubt that the 
 judge, of all the cart*, will do right? 
 
 God reigns, and justice and judgment are the habitation of 
 his throne, though clouds and darkness are round about him. 
 Our feeble minds fail to penetrate his designs, and comprehend 
 his ways. But onc«thing is clear* that when his judgments 
 are abroad in the earth, the inhabitants of the world should 
 learn righteousness. We are assured that if a man's ways 
 please the Lord, he niaketh even his enemies to be at peace 
 with him : and the present awful outpouring of divine judg- 
 ments, ought to bring our iniquities before our face, and pros- 
 trate us before God in deep humility and sincere penitence. 
 If it has this effect, t^ very evils which we suffer may become 
 our richest blessings^ 
 
 But who is he that dares charge God with cruelty, or com- 
 plain because he does not put an end to our troubles? It. 
 cannot be justly alledged that he delights to torture men with 
 the miseries of war. He is pleased to be called (t the God. of 
 peace ;" and he sent his Son, " the Prince of Peace," into our 
 world on an errand of peace and mercy ; and at his entrance, 
 a multitude of the heavenly host, in a song of joy proclaimed, 
 '^G lory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will 
 toward men/' When this messenger of peace was about to 
 
leave the world, be said to his dieciples, ." Peace I leave with 
 you, my peace I give unto you :" and then gave himself a 
 sacrifice, that he might effect our reconciliation with God. 
 Raving risen from the dead, he asc.ended bis throne on high, 
 and sent his proclamation, " the gospel of peace," through 
 the world. His heralds hi 1 the j >yft»l aews, and it 
 
 is our privilege to welcome them with the exclamation, 
 14 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet <-i him thai 
 bringethgood tidings, that re blishi in ibh r.: that briugeth good 
 tidings of good, that publish eth salvation; that paith unto 
 Zion, thy God reigneth.' 'through nil the clangor of arms 
 and uproar of battle, this proclamation of peace sounds in our 
 ears. Why, then is it that the war still rages, and that men 
 still imbrue their hands in each other's blood ? 
 
 Heaven, where God has fixed his throne, is a realm of peace 
 and love: and the great Sovereign has formed the gracious 
 design of extending his peaceful reign over this wretched world 
 which we inhabit: hut men oppose this gracious design. In 
 heaven God is the centre uf all attraction and tnc source from 
 which all derive bliss ; fan on earth men make themselves 
 their own centre, and selfishly gather to themselves all the 
 enjoyments which they can grasp. Jn this selfishness the 
 wars originate in which men oppose and destroy One another. 
 "Were men's hearts right towards GocJ, wars would cease, and 
 the peace and bliss ot heaven would come down to dwell on 
 earth; and God would reign unopposed below, as he does in 
 his high and holy place. Because men oppose God's gracious 
 design to extend trie empire of peace and love, he permits 
 their evil passions to manifest their malignity, in bloody wars 
 and cruel oppressions. That men are at war with one another 
 is terrible; but that they are at war with God is more terrible. 
 Because they fight against him, he leaves them to fight against 
 one another, that they may see the evil of their ways, and 
 turn away from their wickedness. Let us, then, even amidst 
 the roar of cannon and tumult of battle, listen to God's pro- 
 clamation of peace; and if men will not put an end to the 
 cruel war whioh they wage against us, let us take hold of 
 God's «ovenant, and be at peace with him. His peace the 
 
world caunot give, cannot take away, cannot prevent, cannot 
 disturb. We need not wait for. it until the war is over, and 
 its calamities past. We may find it on the wearisome march, 
 or in the very presence of the ruthless foe; and we may enjoy 
 it in the camp and in the field, in perils and in suffering, in 
 triumph or in defeat. Far better would it -be to bo crushed 
 beneath the heel of our enemies, with the'peace of God in our 
 hearts, than to triurhph over them, and be at war with God. 
 
 Such is the delightful effect of the gospel, that it enables 
 me£ to rejoice even in tribulation. Every one can conceive 
 what joy would thrill the hearts of all who dwell throughout 
 the land, if peace we/e proclaimed, and the assurance giyen 
 that, wc have nothing more to fear from the foes that assail 
 us on earth. But far gi eater joy ought we to derive from the 
 gospel proclamation which gives assurance of peace w r ith 
 heaven. " Blessed is the peophf that know the joyful sound : 
 they shall walk. Lord, iu the light of thy countenance. " 
 
 All ye who read this little tract, listen \o the news with 
 exulting joy. Lay down your arms; cease your war against 
 God ; accept the grace which he freely bestows, and the peace 
 of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your 
 hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
 
 Jesus, lover of my soul ! 
 
 Let me to thy bosom fly. 
 While the billows near me roll, 
 
 While the tempest still is nigh; 
 Hide me, O my Saviour hide, 
 
 Till the storm of life is past; 
 Safe into the haven guide,* 
 
 O receive my soul at last ! 
 
Hollinger Corp. 
 pH8.5