Читать книгу Mennonites in the World War - Jonas Smucker Hartzler - Страница 41

These trials brought the Church very close together. Old and young were knit together as one man. The young appreciated the help of the older and the older appreciated the attitude of the young. Trials from without can not greatly harm if there is the right spirit within. In some communities there was much ill feeling because of these exemptions. There were those who did not want to go to war, and who even believed that war was wrong, but they were not members of any Church which held nonresistance as a tenet of their creed. They felt that it was unjust to grant such privileges to some and not to others. Mobs were not an uncommon thing, and in a few localities there was some blood shed. Nonresistance costs; sometimes the price is exorbitant, but, "There is no man that hath left houses. .. .for my sake and the Gospel's but shall receive an hundred fold now in this time, houses. .. .with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life."

A Short and Sincere DECLARATION,

To our Honorable Assembly, and all others in high or low Station of Administration, and to all Friends and Inhabitants of this Country, to whose Sight this may come, be they ENGLISH or GERMANS.

In the first Place we acknowledge us indebted to the most high God, who created Heaven and Earth, the only good Being, to thank him for all his great Goodness and manifold Mercies and Love through our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, who is come to save the Souls of Men, having all Power in Heaven and on Earth.

Further we find ourfelves indebted to be thankfull to our late worthy Assembly, for their giving so good an Advice In thefe troublesome Times to all Ranks of People in Pennsilvania, particularly in allowing those, who, by the Doctrine of our Saviour JESUS CHRIST, are persuaded in their Conferences to love their Enemies, and not to resist Evil to enjoy the Liberty of their Conscience, for which, as also for all the good Things we enjoyed under their Care, we heartily thank that worthy Body-of Assembly, and all high and low in Office, who have advised to such a peacefull Measure, hoping and confiding that they, and all others entrusted with Power in this hitherto blessed Province, may be moved by the same Spirit of Grace, which animated the first Founder of this Province, our late worthy Proprietor Wiliam Penn, to grant Liberty of Conscience to all its Inhabitants, that they may in the great and memorable Day of Judgment be put on the right Hand of the just Judge, who judgeth without Respect of Person, and hear of him these blessed Words. Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you, etc. What ye have done into one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done unto me, among which Number (i.e. the least of Christ's Brethren) we by his Grace hope to be ranked; and every Lenity and Favour shewn to such tender conscienced, although weak Followers of this our blessed Saviour, will not be forgotten by him in that great Day.

The Advice to those who do not find Freedom of Conscience to take up Arms, that they ought to be helpfull to those who are in Need and distressed Circumstances, we receive with Chearfulness towards all Men of what Station they may be––it being our Principle to feed the Hungry and give the Thirsty Drink;–– we have dedicated ourselves to serve all Men, in every Thing that can be helpful to in Preservation of Men's Lives, but we find no Freedom in giving, or doing, or assiting in any Thing by which Men's Lives are destroyed or hurt.–– We beg the Patience of all those who believe we err in this Point.

We are alwavs ready, according to CHRIST's Command to refer, to pay the Tribute, that we may offend no Man, and so we are willing to pay Taxes, and to render unto Caesar those Things that are Caesar's, and to God those Things that are God's, although we think ourselves very weak to give GOD his due Honour, he being a Spirit and Life, and we only Dust and Ashes.

We are also willing to be subject to the higher Powers, and to give in the manner Paid directs us; for he beareth the Sword not in vain, for he is the Minister of God, a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doeth Evil.

This Testimony we lay down before our worthy Assembly, and all other Persons in Government, letting them know, that we are thankfull as above-mentioned, and that we are not at Liberty in Conscience to take up Arms to conquer our Enemies, but rather to pray to GOD, who has Power in Heaven and on Earth, for US and THEM.

We also crave the Patience of all the Inhabitants of this Country,–– what they think to see clearer in the Doctrine of the blessed JESUS CHRIST, we will leave to them and GOD, finding ourselves very poor; for Faith is to proceed out of the Word of GOD, which is life and Spirit, and a Power of GOD, aod our Conscience is to be instructed by the same, therefore we beg for Patience.

Our small Gift, which we have given, we. gave to those who have Power over us, that we may not offend them, as CHRIST taught us by the Tribute Penny.

We heartily pray that GOD would govern all Hearts of our Rulers, be they high or low, to meditate those good Things which will pertain to OUR and. THEIR Happiness."

The above Declaration, signed by a Number of Elders and Teachers of the Society of Mennonotes, and same of the German Baptists, presented to the Honorable House of Assembly on the 7th Day of November 1775, was graciously received.

1. See "A Short and Sincire Declaration."