"We cannot acknowledge allegiance to any human government; neither can we oppose any such government by a resort to physical force. We recognize but one KING and LAWGIVER, one JUDGE and RULER of mankind. We are bound by the laws of a kingdom which is not of this world; the subjects of which are forbidden to fight; in which MERCY and TRUTH are met together, and RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE have kissed each other; which has no state lines, no national partitions, no geographical boundaries; in which there is no distinction of rank, or division of caste, or inequality of sex; the officers of which are PEACE, its exactors RIGHTEOUS-NESS, its walls SALVATION, and its gates PRAISE; and which is destined to break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms. Our country is the world, our countrymen are all mankind. We love the land of our nativity only as we love all other lands. The interests, rights, liberties of American citizens are no more dear to us than are those of the whole human race. Hence, we can allow no appeal to patriotism, to revenge any national insult or injury. The PRINCE OF PEACE, under whose stainless banner we rally, came not to destroy, but to save, even the worst of enemies. He has left us an example, that we should follow his steps. GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. We conceive, that if a nation has no right to defend itself against foreign enemies, or to punish its invaders, no individual possesses that right in his own case. The unit cannot be of greater importance than the aggregate. If one man may take life, to obtain or defend his rights, the same license must necessarily be granted to communities, states, and nations. If he may use a dagger or a pistol, they may employ cannon, bomb-shells, land and naval forces. The means of self-preservation must be in proportion to the magnitude of interests at stake and the number of lives exposed to destruction. But if a rapacious and bloodthirsty soldiery, thronging these shores from abroad, with intent to commit rapine and destroy life, may not be resisted by the people or magistracy, then ought no resistance to be offered to domestic troublers of the public peace or of private security. No obligation can rest upon Americans to regard foreigners as more sacred in their persons than themselves, or to give them a monopoly of wrong-doing with impunity."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
William Lloyd Garrison, Declaration of Sentiments Adopted by the Peace Convention, September 28, 1838
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Christian_pacifism
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Christian pacifism
55 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Christian pacifism →
Related Quotes
"Whatever Christians would not wish others to do to them, they do not to others. And they comfort their oppressors and…"
"For since we, a numerous band of men as we are, have learned from His teaching and His laws that evil ought not to be…"
""What do you mean by anarchist-pacifist?" First, I would say that the two words should go together, especially […] wh…"
"Wherefore [Christians] began the battle, not by preparing weapons, nor arms, nor bugles; for such preparation is hate…"
"How many does it take to annul the commandments of God, and render that lawful, which HE has forbidden? How many does…"
"One is called to live non-violently, even if the social or political change one worked for is in fact unlikely or eve…"
"We Christians forget (if we ever learned) that attempts to redress real or imagined injustice by violent means are me…"
"Sons, cease fighting. Lay down your arms, for we are told in Scripture not to render evil for evil but to overcome ev…"
"It was then and there that the net became greatly torn, when the two great whales had entered it, that is, the Suprem…"
"Those soldiers were filled with wonder and admiration at the grandeur of the man's piety and generosity and were stru…"