The  song  of  the  angels  is  taken  fairly  to  express
the  hope  and  aim  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  He
has  no  title  more  tender  and  true  than  that  of  "  the
Prince  of  Peace,"  though  he  himself  said  so  sadly,
"  Think  not  that  I  have  come  to  bring  peace,  but
a  sword,"  though  his  triumph  was  to  be  won  when
the  blood  flowed  from  his  side,  drawn  by  the  spear
of  a  Roman  soldier.
In  our  great  festivals,  as  on  Christmas  morning
or  on  Easter  Day,  if  we  dare,  we  are  glad  to  sing
Milton's  hymn.
"  Nor  war  or  battle  sound
Was  heard  the  world  around.
No  hostile  chiefs  to  mutual  conflict  ran."

And  our  prayer  to  God  is  always  that  the  sword
may  be  sheathed,  and  men  need  study  war  no
more.
But,  in  face  of  this  hope,  —  yes,  and  prophecy, —
we  have  to  own  that  even  in  Christendom  the  gen-


The  Peace  Circular  475

eral  belief  and  practice  is  the  other  way.  Men
will  laugh  in  your  face  when  you  say,  "  The  lion
shall  lie  down  with  the  lamb."  They  will  repeat
the  old  jest  that  the  lamb  will  be  inside  the  lion.
