The Rights of War and Peace (Volume 1); Including the Law of Nature and of Nations (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1814. Excerpt: ... p CHAP. II, INQUIRY Ijjiwfujlness OF WAIL Reasons proving the lawfulness of War--Proofs from History --Proofs from general consent--The Law of Nature proved not repugnant to War--War not condemned by the voluntary Divine Law preceding the Gospel--Objection* answered--Review of the Question whether War be contrary to the Law of the Gospel--Arguments from Scripture for the negative Opinions--Answer to the Arguments taken from Scripture for the affirmative--The opinions of the primitive Christians on the subject examined. i. After examining the sources of right, the first and most general question that occurs, is whether any war is just, or if it is ever lawful to make war. But this que*tion like many others that follow, must in the first place be compared with the rights of nature. Cicero in the third book of his Bounds of Good and Evil, and in other parts of his works, proves with great erudition from the writings of the Stoics, that there are certain first principles of nature, called by the Greeks the first natural impressions, which are succeeded by other principles of obligation superior even to the first impressions themselves. He calls the care, which every animal, from the moment of its birth, feels for itself and the preservation of its condition, its abhorrence of destruction, and of every thing that threatens death, a principle of nature. Hence, he says, it happens, that if left to his own choice. every man would prefer a sound and perfect to a mutilated and deformed body. So that preserving ourselves in a natural state, and holding to every thing conformable, and averting every thing repugnant to nature is the first duty. But from the knowledge of these principles, a notion arises of their being agreeable to reason, that part of man, which is superior to the body. Now that...