take away their treasure by force of arms. I have seen poverty mocked
by arrogant wealth, and purity deflowered by brute violence, and
gentleness and fair-dealing bruised in the winepress of iniquity and
pride.

"There is no cure for this evil, but by the giving of greater force to
the good hand. The righteous cause must be strengthened with might to
resist the wicked, to defend the helpless, to punish all cruelty and
unfairness, to uphold the right everywhere, and to enforce justice
with unconquerable arms. Oh, that the host of Heaven might be called,
arrayed, and sent to mingle in the wars of men, to make the good
victorious, to destroy all evil, and to make the will of the King
prevail!

"We would shake down the thrones of tyrants, and loose the bands of
the oppressed. We would hold the cruel and violent with the bit of
fear, and drive the greedy and fierce-minded men with the whip of
terror. We would stand guard, with weapons drawn, about the innocent,
the gentle, the kind, and keep the peace of God with the sword of the
angels!"

As he spoke, his hands were lifted to the hilt of his long blade, and
he raised it above him, straight and shining, throwing sparkles of
light around it, like the spray from the sharp prow of a moving ship.
Bright flames of heavenly ardour leaped in the eyes of the listening
angels; a martial air passed over their faces as if they longed for
the call to war.

But no silver trumpet blared from the battlements of the City of God;
no crimson flag was unfurled on those high, secret walls; no thrilling