Anthony Benezet to John Jay, 2 February 1779
Chesnut Street the 2 nd Feb y . 1779
With affectionate respect, I hereby salute thee, & take the freedom to send thee the inclosed Pamphlet, containing Some Thoughts on War, Slavery &c. of which I earnestly request thy serious perusal. Indeed the subject is of the greatest weight to All, even as Human-Beings; but much more so to those who, indeed believe the great truths of the Christian Religion, God becoming Man, & dying for Mankind, even for his Enemies. –Leaving us, says the Apostle, an example, that we should follow his footsteps .– This & other arguments therein deduced, from the doctrines & nature of the Gospel, will I trust tend to soften, if not remove, any offence which The Friends– refusal to take part in matters of a military nature may have raised in thy mind; and induce thee to distinguish between such who are active in opposition, & those who have been restrained from an apprehension of duty, & a persuasion that our common beneficent Father, who has the hearts of all men in his power, & has ^ in former times ^ so eminently displayed his goodness in favour of these countries, if properly sought unto, would, in his love & mercy, have averted the evil effects of any attempt which might have been made to impede our real welfare. By the deplorable effects which attends on these dreadful contests, it is evident, that it cannot be agreable to God who the Apostles denominates under the appelation of Love, as thereby every noxious passions of the human mind, instead of being calmed by the benign influences of Grace, the end & aim of Christianity, are thereby inflamed into greater wrath & evil of every kind; as has been verified in that destruction of morals, that waste of substance; but more particularly in the hasty death of so vast a number of our Fellowmen hurried into eternity; many it is to be feared in that distracted frame of mind which generally attends on war. These are considerations which cannot but strike every thoughtful mind with awe, and which, from the kindness & considerateness of thy disposition, will, I trust, incite thee to advocate the cause of a number of innocent people, of different Religious Persuasions, who from the above mentioned view of things, have not dared to give life or support to military operations; yet at the same time are, indeed, friends to, & really concerned for the true welfare of America, but willing to sacrifice their all, rather than do–that whereby they apprehend they may offend that great & good Being, from, whom alone, they look for any permanent happiness for themselves or their afflicted country. With affectionate desires, that the bless ing of the Peace-Maker, the peculiar favorite of heaven may be thine I remain, thy friend 1
Anth y . Benezet
To J Jay President of the Congress