S. I would instruct them in the great principles of natural justice.
C. Thou hast well said. When thou seest thy enemy come against thee to wrong thee of thy rights, instruct him in the great principles of natural justice, and when thou hast instructed him, he will not trespass against thee. We saw thee afraid of thy rights; but thou knowest that, when, we offered thee our weapons, thou didst refuse, because thou hadst no enemy to fight. So, when thy enemies make war on thee, go, and meet them, and say unto them, we are friends, take our weapons; and they will say unto thee, we have no use for them, for we are brethren.
S. The wisdom of my companions agrees with me, that thy doctrine would be well, if all would practice it. But thou seest that such is the ignorance of some minds, that compulsory measures must be resorted to, in order to restrain their acts of injustice.
C. Compulsory measures are dangerous weapons. When a mind is restrained, it is not free; and when it is not free, it hates the oppressor. That which it hates, it seeks an opportunity to overcome, and circumstances may so change as to gratify its wish. The time will come when war will be no more; but it never will come so long as compulsory measures are employed to restrain minds. I have seen war. I have seen the causes of war. I never saw a cause of war equal in wrong to the war. No cause, which has hitherto produced war, has ever been so wretched for minds to bear, as the evils of war. What are a few insults, or wrongs of dishonor, when compared to the wretchedness of whole nations, engaged in mortal combat? Would not the wrongs of injury be abated by the forgiveness of thy Savior? Would he wound to redress his wounds? Why did he not call the legions of heaven to fight with the legions of earth? When thou shalt have full confidence in the righteousness of his conduct, and when thou shalt follow his example, thy honor will not tarnish, though thou forgivest thy enemy even seventy times seven. And when thou shalt do the works of thy Master, the cause of thy Master will be honored in thee.
S. Thy wisdom will not allow sincere minds to call themselves Christians, because they would defend their own rights.
C. Thou hast no right to wrong thy neighbor, even though he may be thy enemy. Thou hast no right to do wrong. War is a wrong. It is an evil, as thou hast said. Thy enemy will not be made thy friend by thy wrong; neither can thy mind be satisfied with the wretchedness of thy wrong. It is not war which bears the name in the rudimental sphere, which we have undertaken to overcome in our visit to this castle. We have not come here to do away with that which does not exist among thy companions, but to instruct them in principles of everlasting peace to thy mind. Thou hast not yet forgotten the wrongs of thy education, and those wrongs have made thee suspicious of thy friends. Thou wouldst now repel words and facts which will be of more value to thee than many rubies. If thou wouldst heed our advice, we would say to thee, and thy companions with thee, come with us, and we will do thee good.
S. Thou mayest stay with us.
C. We have been where thou art, but now we have a more beautiful mansion, where the pure current of life rolls down from the throne of mercy, and all who will, may come and drink of the water of life freely. Thou wilt not return to this castle to tarry, when thou shalt participate in the blessedness we share. We are now ready to receive thy reply.
S. I should be willing to try the experiment, if my companions would go with me.
C. Thy companions will rejoice at the opportunity. I see they are willing and hoping that thy answer will be yea.