was spoken to in such phrases as these: ‘I
love thee,’ ‘I beseech thee,’ ‘I
thank thee;’ but he did not allow any person
to call him ‘Domine,’ sir. It was
not till many ages after that men would have the word
‘you,’ as though they were double, instead
of ‘thou’ employed in speaking to them;
and usurped the flattering titles of lordship, of
eminence, and of holiness, which mere worms bestow
on other worms by assuring them that they are with
a most profound respect, and an infamous falsehood,
their most obedient humble servants. It is to
secure ourselves more strongly from such a shameless
traffic of lies and flattery, that we ‘thee’
and ‘thou’ a king with the same freedom
as we do a beggar, and salute no person; we owing nothing
to mankind but charity, and to the laws respect and
obedience.
“Our apparel is also somewhat different from
that of others, and this purely, that it may be a
perpetual warning to us not to imitate them.
Others wear the badges and marks of their several dignities,
and we those of Christian humility. We fly from
all assemblies of pleasure, from diversions of every
kind, and from places where gaming is practised; and
indeed our case would be very deplorable, should we
fill with such levities as those I have mentioned
the heart which ought to be the habitation of God.
We never swear, not even in a court of justice, being
of opinion that the most holy name of God ought not
to be prostituted in the miserable contests betwixt
man and man. When we are obliged to appear before
a magistrate upon other people’s account (for
law-suits are unknown among the Friends), we give
evidence to the truth by sealing it with our yea or
nay; and the judges believe us on our bare affirmation,
whilst so many other Christians forswear themselves
on the holy Gospels. We never war or fight in
any case; but it is not that we are afraid, for so
far from shuddering at the thoughts of death, we on
the contrary bless the moment which unites us with
the Being of Beings; but the reason of our not using
the outward sword is, that we are neither wolves, tigers,
nor mastiffs, but men and Christians. Our God,
who has commanded us to love our enemies, and to suffer
without repining, would certainly not permit us to
cross the seas, merely because murderers clothed in
scarlet, and wearing caps two foot high, enlist citizens
by a noise made with two little sticks on an ass’s
skin extended. And when, after a victory is
gained, the whole city of London is illuminated; when
the sky is in a blaze with fireworks, and a noise
is heard in the air, of thanksgivings, of bells, of
organs, and of the cannon, we groan in silence, and
are deeply affected with sadness of spirit and brokenness
of heart, for the sad havoc which is the occasion
of those public rejoicings.”
Print
Word
PDF
