We acknowledge that we owe Obedience either Active or Passive unto this Magistracy; and that such obedience is as well grounded in the Light of Christ within, as warrantable from the Scriptures of Truth without; for when the Magistrate doth command Obedience unto any Law, which is agreeable to the Law of God (as indeed no Laws of England according to the Constitution of its Government, and those maxims which are declared for Law, ought to be contrary thereto) then we ought to yield Active Obedience; and whilst the Magistrates are in Execution of such Laws, they are (as occasion requires) Punishers of those that do Evil, and a Praise unto them that do well[1]; which is agreeable unto the testimony of the Apostle's touching Magistracy, unto whom in such cases Active Obedience is to be given for the Lord's sake.
Obj. You speak very well so far as you have limited your Obedience to Good Laws; but what if those in power should make such Laws, which you account bad, and not grounded on the Law of God, but directly against those whom you term God's People; dare you then say that 'tis agreeable unto the Light of Christ within, and Scriptures of Truth without, to yield Obedience in such cases?
To this we answer, 'tis agreeable to the Light within, and the Scriptures of Truth without, that a Christian yield Passive Obedience, since for Conscience sake (chusing rather to obey God than man, which was the Apostle's Case)[2] he cannot yield_ Active Obedience: For we find the Counsel of Christ to be on this wise;_Resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other[3]; which clearly shews 'tis against the Doctrine of Christ to resist; and so consequently we ought to be Passive; and therefore, since we have not at any time pleaded for any other Light within, save the Light of Christ; it is as well agreeable unto the Light of Christ within, as with the Counsel of Christ in the Scriptures of truth without, that men, under the profession of _Christianity, put in practice that wholsom Counsel, which was given by Christ the Son of God, whose ways are unchangeable, _viz.
Resist not evil.
The Christian Quaker ... William Rogers, published 1680. Second Part pg. 30, 31
The Outward Government is represented by Visible Persons, invested with Power to execute Outward laws, visible by our carnal Eyes, and is suffered by Almightly God, to be executed under variety of Forms, and diversified of Laws, and for divers ends, which we do not now pretend to be reveal'd to us; but yet we believe it to be our duty either actively or passively to submit unto the Outward Government, under which we live, without designing to work our own deliverance (from under such Laws which we have or may account oppressive) by outward force or Violence, which is as much as is with us to say on this occasion, with respect of Outward Government.
The Inward Government chiefly designed to be treated upon is, the Government of Christ, which we do not believe to be represented by visible persons, certainly known by outward Names, distinguish'd by outward marks and tokens, and invested with Power form him to execute Outward Laws, in a Outward Form of Government, visible by our Carnal Eyes, as aforesaid.
The Christian Quaker ... William Rogers, published 1680. Third Part pgs. 3,4.
----------
I appreciate the use of "Passive Obedience" in Rogers quote above. He does not use "Passive Resistance." He, in fact, goes so far as to highlight Christ's words "resist not evil." In Passive Obedience, the focus is on obeying the appearance of the inshining Light in our conscious and conscience. The focus is not on resistance to anything. Instead, the focus is on obedience to the inshining impulse of the Light of Christ. This shift in mind or conscious is the difference between trampling over the prerogative of Christ's rule in our conscience and giving the prerogative to Christ's inshining impulse.
If we as Quakers are engaged in "passive resistance" **against** a government or government leader we have labeled (demonized or villainized) as, for example, Fascist, we are not of the mind of Christ and have trodden upon the prerogative of the inshining Light itself in itself
to rule our minds and hearts. When our minds and hearts are settled down into the foundation of Christ's inshining Impulse onto our conscious and conscience and **embrace** Passive Obedience to that impulse then we know a Pure Mind in the rule and government of the Light itself in itself ... that knowing is the coming of Heaven on Earth.
[1]: 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14.
[2]: Act. 5. 28, 29.
[3]: Mat. 5. 39.
No comments:
Post a Comment