The illustrious Hugo Grotius Of the law of warre and peace with annotations, III parts, and memorials of the author's life and death.

LVIII. Admonitions touching Faith and Peace. The Conclusion.

AS when I treated of undertaking War, I annexed some Admonitions about declining War, as much as is pos∣sible: So will I now also, before I dismiss the Reader, adde a few Advisoes, which are useful both in war and after war, •…•…on∣ding to the care of Faith and Peace; and first of Faith, both for other reasons, and for this especially, that the hope of Peace may not be lost. For, by Faith, not only every Commonwealth is conserved, as Cicero saith, but also that greater society of * 1.1 Nations. This being taken away as Ari∣stotle * 1.2 truly, Commerce is taken away from among men. Therefore the same Cicero saith, It is a wicked thing, to break ones Faith, without which there is no life. It is (as Seneca speaks) the most sacred thing * 1.3 that is seated in the breast of Man. And this Faith is so much more religiously to be kept by the supreme Rulers of the world, by how much more they are exemp∣ted from the punishment of their sins here, than other men. Take away Faith, * 1.4 they will be like unto wild beasts, whose violence all are afraid of. And Justice tru∣ly, in its other parts, hath oft-times somewhat of obscurity: but the bond of Faith is manifest by it self, yea is therfore

used that all obscurities may be cleared. The more are Kings to embrace it; First, for Conscience sake, and then for their Credit sake and Reputation, upon which depends the Authority of their govern∣ment. Wherefore, let them be assured, that such as instill into them the arts of deceiving, do that very thing which they teach. That doctrin cannot long be pro∣fitable, which maketh man insociable with man; add also, odious to God. Next, in the whole administration of War, the mind cannot be kept serene and confident in God, unless it always make a prospect toward Peace. For it is most truly said by * 1.5 Sallust: Wise men make war, to obt•…•…in Peace. Wherewith agrees that sentence of S. Augustin: Peace is not sought, th•…•… * 1.6 war may be exercis'd; but War is waged, that Peace may be acquir'd. Aristotle * 1.7 himself, more than once, accuses the Na∣tions, that proposed to themselves actions of War, as their ultimate end. Force is a thing that belongs to wild beasts: an•…•… this, in War, is most eminent: the m•…•… diligent care must be us'd, to temper 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with humanity, lest by too neer imi•…•…∣tion of those beasts, we forget that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 are men, and lose the softness of our na∣ture † 1.8. If then a safe Peace may be had

it is well worth the forgiveness of injuries, and losses, and charges: especially among Christians, to whom their Master hath bequeath'd his Peace. Whose best Inter∣preter * 1.9 will have us, as far as is possible, and as much as in us syeth, live peaceably with all men. It is the property of a good man, as we read in Sallust, to begin war with an unwilling mind, and to prosecute it no farther than he needs must. This one consideration may be enough, but for the most part also mens Interest and pro∣fit carryes them to this end: first them, who are inferiour in strength; because long strife with one more mighty is full of dan∣ger; And, as on shipboard, a greater calamity is to be redeemed with some loss; leaving off anger and hope, deceitful coun∣sellers, as Livy rightly call'd them. This sense is thus exprest by Aristotle: Better it is, to yield some of our goods to those that are more potent, than to contend with them and lose all * 1.10. And as to the more potent, Peace is for their Interest too: because, while their affairs are prosperous (as the now-cited Livy saith no less tru∣ly) Peace is honorable to those that give it; and better and safer than the victory hoped for. For the Common Chances of

War must be considered. So saith Ari∣stotle, We must think how many and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 unexpected alterations do happen in war. And in Diodorus, in a certain Oration for Peace, they are censur'd, who glory in the greatness of their actions, as if it were not Fortunes custom, to dispense her fa∣vours, and successes, by turnes. And be∣sides, there is one thing more, which may be feared most, the Boldness of desperate men, like unto the fiercest biting of dying beasts † 1.11. But, if both Parties seem to themselves equal, that indeed, in Casa•…•… judgment, is the best time to treat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 peace. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est they have Both some con∣fidence in their own strength. And, whe•…•… Peace is made, on whatsoever terms, it is by all means to be preserved by reason 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that sanctimony of Faith aforesaid: and with all care must be avoided, not only perfidiousness, but also whatever exasp•…•… rates the mind. For, what Cicero said 〈◊〉〈◊〉 private, you may apply as well to the•…•… publick friendships, As they are all to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maintained with exact fidelity and Re•…•…∣gion, so those especially which after c•…•…∣mities are made up again and restored.

GOd (who alone can do it) inscribe these things in their hearts, who have the Affairs of Chri∣stendom in their hands; and grant them a Mind intelligent of Divine and Human Right, and ever remembring that she is ele∣cted by God to govern man, a creature most dear unto himself † 1.12.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cicero Offic. 3.
• * 1.2

  Aristoteles Rhetor ad Theodect. 1. 15.
• * 1.3

  Seneca epist. 88.
• * 1.4

  Cic. pro Q. Rosc.
• * 1.5

  Sallust. Orat. ad Caes.
• * 1.6

  Augustin. epist. ad Bonifac.
• * 1.7

  Arist. 7. pol. 2. & 14.
• † 1.8

  The Embas∣sadors of Justi∣nian in Proco∣pius (Persic. 2.) address their speech to Chosroes after this manner: Did we not see you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with our own eyes, and pronounce these words in your ears, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should never have believed that Chosroes the son of Caba•…•… would bring his Army, and enter forcibly into the Roman 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ontrary to his Oath; the firmest bond of Truth among men; contrary to his League, the only hope left to those that are af∣flicted with war: For what is this, but to change the life of men into the life of wild beasts. Take away Leagues, there will be e∣ternal Wars. And Wars without end have this effect, to put men beside themselves, and devest them of their nature.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 12. 18.
• * 1.10

  Philo de con∣stitutione principis: Pax, quamvis cum magno detri∣mento, bello uti∣lior. Communis Mars.
• † 1.11

  Quippe timen∣da etiam me riem•…•…s lustra Leonis.
• † 1.12

  Chrysost. serm. de Elec∣mosyna; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.