On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
arms , and fighting in person , as inconsistent ( wie think ) with tba rules of the gospel of Christ , yet we can , and do by hfe example , readily and cheerfully pay unto every government where
we happen to be subject , such sums and assessments as are required of us , by the respective laws under which we live . For when a general tax was laid by the Roman Czar upon his extensive empire , and the time of payment came , the X < ord Jesus Christ ,
whose kingdom is not of this world , demanded of Peter , — 'Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute ? Of their own children , or of strangers ? Peter saith unto him , Of strangers . Jesus saith unto him , Then are the children free .
Notwithstanding , lest we should offend them , go thou to the sea , and cast an hook , and take up the fish that first couieth up ; and when thou hast opened his mouth , thou shalt find a piece of money ; that take , and give unto them ( the tribute-gatherers ) for me and
thee : * thus working a miracle to pay a tax , where it was not strictly due . We , by so great an example , do freely pay out taxes to Caesar , who , of right , hath the direction and application of them , to the various ends of government , to peace or to war , as it
pleaseth him , or as need may be , according t& the constitution or laws of his kingdom ; and in which we , as subjects , kmve no direction or share . For it is Caesar ' s part to rule in justice and in truth ; but ours , to be subject , and mind our own business , and not to meddle with his /
" After this I said to the interpreter , that we understood there was a person of great dignity and distinction in that place , a stranger very inspectiouB into the state of affairs and things in general ; and might be also inquisitive into the state of religion ;
and we , le « t that great prinee should he misinformed concerning u « and our reli g ion , had brought him some books dedicated to the sovereign of our own eottrrtry ; by which he mi ^ ht please to sfce a full account of our principles . We then produced two of the Apologies in Latin .
"The Ccar then talked again with the interpreter , who asked n » f * Were not these bpoks writ by a Jetmit i It ib said there are Jesuits among-you . ' To which Gflberc Moflyson i ^ tied ,
Untitled Article
' That is a calumny , and proves t $ necessity of our endeavours in that respect at thte time . We have & 0 Jesuits among us . Our Hsligion a » d theirs differ very widely . €
** This book was writ by & ^ ar relation of mine who was not a Jesuit , but sincerely of those principles a& serted and maintained in the book , as our whole community is / " Then the Czar and interpreter
talked together again ; after which , the latter offered us some gold for the books ; but I told them , they were a present to that great prince ; all we desired was , that they might be acceptable ; and that in case any of our Friends should come into his
country and preach those principles , and meet with opposition , and be persecuted by any officers or persons in power under him for the same , he would please to afford them protection and relief . Then they talked together again , the interpreter kept the books , and the Czar and Prince Menzicoff
retired into the room from whence they came . " The interpreter afterwards told m , the Czar did not understand the Latin tongue , but only his own laniniare and high Dutch . This was about the beginning of the week , and the next first day ( Sunday ) the Czar , the prince ,
and a great company ot his other attendants , came in the morning to our meeting in Grace-church Street , all in English habits , like English gentlemen , and the same interpreter with him . I happened to be tnere in the [ preachers'J gallery , and the first 1 Knew was Prince Menzicoff . Robert
Haddock had begun to preach a little before they came in , upon the subject of Naaman , the captain-general of th £ host of the Assyrians , going to the prophet for cure of his leprosy ; wbo directing him to dip himself seven
times in the river Jordan , the general , cfespising the means , was about to return without a £ u * e , till being persuaded , by his o \ vn servant , to make a trial orf the mettns prescribed , he fydnd the end accomplished by happy
expeence . " * Tbe rtationa of thjs worM , ' aai * the preacher , being defiled and < ft * j tempered , as with a lepro ^ r of si » •>» uncfennne ^ s , no cure or feeftri could ^ found until thef Alirightjr , Jn M * & *" nite goodnffea , stnt Mi Son ***
Untitled Article
# 0 Conference of Peter the Great with torn English Quakers .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1822, page 80, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2509/page/16/
-