登陆注册
5210200000050

第50章

From this he shall give to the pastor, elected by the whole community, a decent and sufficient maintenance for him and his, as shall seem right to the whole community (or, with the knowledge of the community).What remains over shall be given to the poor of the place, as the circumstances and the general opinion demand.Should anything farther remain, let it be kept, lest any one should have to leave the country from poverty.Provision should also be made from this surplus to avoid laying any land tax on the poor.In case one or more villages themselves have sold their tithes on account of want, and each village has taken action as a whole, the buyer should not suffer loss, but we will that some proper agreement be reached with him for the repayment of the sum by the village with due interest.

But those who have tithes which they have not purchased from a village, but which were appropriated by their ancestors, should not, and ought not, to be paid anything farther by the village which shall apply its tithes to the support of the pastors elected as above indicated, or to solace the poor as is taught by the Scriptures.The small tithes, whether ecclesiastical or lay, we will not pay at an, for the Lord God created cattle for the free use of man.We will not, therefore, pay farther an unseemly tithe which is of man's invention.

The Third Article.-- It has been the custom hitherto for men to bold us as their own property, which is pitiable enough, considering that Christ has delivered and redeemed us all, without exception, by the shedding of His precious blood, the lowly as well as the great.Accordingly, it is consistent with Scripture that we should be free and wish to be so.

Not that we would wish to be absolutely free and under no authority.God does not teach us that we should lead a disorderly life in the lusts of the flesh, but that we should love the Lord our God and our neighbour.

We would gladly observe all this as God has commanded us in the celebration of the communion.He has not commanded us not to obey the authorities, but rather that we should be humble, not only towards those in authority, but towards every one.We are thus ready to yield obedience according to God's law to our elected and regular authorities in all proper things becoming to a Christian.We, therefore, take it for granted that you will release us from serfdom as true Christians, unless it should be shown us from the Gospel that we are serfs.

The Fourth Article.-- In the fourth place it has been the custom heretofore, that no poor man should be allowed to catch venison or wild fowl or fish in flowing water, which seems to us quite unseemly and unbrotherly as well as selfish and not agreeable to the word of God.

In some places the authorities preserve the game to our great annoyance and loss, recklessly permitting the unreasoning animals to destroy to no purpose our crops which God Suffers to grow for the use of man, and yet we must remain quiet.This is neither godly or neighbourly.For when God created man he gave him dominion over all the animals, over the birds of the air and over the fish in the water.Accordingly it is our desire if a man holds possession of waters that he should prove from satisfactory documents that his right has been unwittingly acquired by purchase.We do not wish to take it from him by force, but his rights should be exercised in a Christian and brotherly fashion.But whosoever cannot produce such evidence should surrender his claim with good grace.

The Fifth Article.-- In the fifth place we are aggrieved in the matter of wood-cutting, for the noble folk have appropriated all the woods to themselves alone.If a poor man requires wood he must pay double for it (or, perhaps, two pieces of money).It is our opinion in regard to wood which has fallen into the hands of a lord whether spiritual or temporal, that unless it was duly purchased it should revert again to the community.It should, moreover, be free to every member of the community to help himself to such fire-wood as he needs in his home.Also, if a man requires wood for carpenter's purposes he should have it free, but with the knowledge of a person appointed by the community for that purpose.

Should, however, no such forest be at the disposal of the community let that which has been duly bought be administered in a brotherly and Christian manner.If the forest, although unfairly appropriated in the first instance, was later duly sold let the matter be adjusted in a friendly spirit and according to the Scriptures.

The Sixth Article.-- Our sixth complaint is in regard the excessive services demanded of us which are increase from day to day.

We ask that this matter be properly looked into so that we shall not continue to be oppressed in this way, but that some gracious consideration be given us, since our forefathers were required only to serve according to the word of God.

The Seventh Article.-- Seventh, we will not hereafter allow ourselves to be farther oppressed by our lords, but will let them demand only what is just and proper according to the word of the agreement between the lord and the peasant.The lord should no longer try to force more services or other dues from the peasant without payment, but permit the peasant to enjoy his holding in peace and quiet.The peasant should, however, help the lord when it is necessary, and at proper times when it will not be disadvantageous to the peasant and for a suitable payment.

The Eighth Article.-- In the eighth place, we are greatly burdened by holdings which cannot support the rent exacted from them.The peasants suffer loss in this way and are ruined, and we ask that the lords may appoint persons of honour to inspect these holdings, and fix a rent in accordance with justice, so that the peasants shall not work for nothing, since the labourer is worthy of his hire.

同类推荐
  • 佛说文陀竭王经

    佛说文陀竭王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 沙门日用

    沙门日用

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海印昭如禅师语录

    海印昭如禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禅真后史

    禅真后史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华岳寺

    华岳寺

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 重生之扶摇直上

    重生之扶摇直上

    上辈子贺爽挖空心思和觊觎家产的小姨勾心斗角,憋屈了好些年不说,最后还棋差一招被活活弄死,白窝囊了那些年重活一回,她要换个法子斗,待她扶摇直上,还不是怎么爽怎么来。至于夫郎,只要那拈酸吃醋的皇子一个就够了,可助她青云直上,保家宅安宁。
  • 白银术士

    白银术士

    咆哮世间的恐怖凶兽,主宰大地,撕裂天空的骑士,高高在上,将脚踩在巨蛇头上,冷漠俯瞰世间的圣者,无尽诡异神秘、阴狠毒辣的术士,以及传说中窃取了神灵力量的白银术士……安列尔:“我穿越到的这个世界,还真是奇特啊。”于是他开始一步一步的走向永恒。
  • 古老的密码下(破解人类文明与科学之谜)

    古老的密码下(破解人类文明与科学之谜)

    揭示人类文明之谜,需要科学严肃的态度,需要建立在丰富的知识与缜密的思维的基础上。如果只是对科学一知半解就断然下结论,那将是幼稚可笑的。我们希望更多的人、尤其是广大的青少年读者,以严谨、求实的科学态度,对待种种神秘现象。只有这样,才能更接近真理,查清真伪,破解宇宙间未知现象的真实本质。
  • 生死博弈(连载六)

    生死博弈(连载六)

    刘秀英听了如同晴天一声霹雳,顿时吓蒙了,她咆哮道:“不可能,这决不可能,刘跃进浑是浑,说他赌博嫖娼我都相信,爆炸杀人这也太离谱了!我自己的兄弟我还不知道吗?他怎么会干这样的事情呢?一定是公安局搞错了!”陈建波道:“他自己都承认了,你还说什么不可能呀?苏俊华讲得很清楚,他卷入爆炸杀人案件也有受别人蒙骗利用的因素。”刘秀英道:“既然苏俊华知道刘跃进是受别人蒙骗被别人利用的,那她为什么不放过他还要抓他呀?”
  • 娇妻快跑:总裁逼上门

    娇妻快跑:总裁逼上门

    欠下赌债,强抢角色,国民千金“宁君雅”陷入最大危机!怎料角色还没夺回,就误骂千亿总裁,而且还被对方抓个正着!一场阴差阳错的意外,两个相看生厌的人却误滚床单。被人打压,为了攀上顶端,和他签订契约,本以为只是一场交易,没想到他却上了瘾。
  • 庶女凶猛:纨绔太子妃

    庶女凶猛:纨绔太子妃

    十年前,她惨遭主母凌虐,亲眼看着主母杀了她母亲与弟弟,一尸两命。乱葬岗内爬出,她发誓……若他日猛虎归山,必要将这相府血染半边天。十年后,清秀女子轻佻柳眉的对着躺在床上的主母说:“母亲,你可要好好养身体,不然还怎么来找我报仇呢?哦,对了。有件事情忘了告诉你,你刘家因为涉嫌私通敌国,皇上已下旨明日午时,满门抄斩。还有大姐,堂堂龙啸国第一美人儿,如今已沦为了青楼女子。还是最下等的那种……”活生生气死主母。斗主母,斗姨娘,斗嫡姐,斗庶姐。原本以为只要报了相府的仇便能逍遥自在,却不料丞相爷竟将她当成礼物献给皇子。哼!她不招惹别人,别人偏要来招惹她,既然如此……那就来个天翻地覆,改朝换代可好?他,司无邪、江湖上头号杀人魔王。外号索命阎王,无情、无心、无爱。“诗儿,听说今日太子想轻薄你?明日,我便杀了他。敢动我家诗儿,简直找死。”谁说司无邪无爱?谁说司无邪无情……给老娘站出来。他明明就很有爱!
  • 骗妻成婚

    骗妻成婚

    她在相亲那天跑去国外旅游,还和刚在国外认识不久的人成了男女朋友。她瞒着家里人交往了一个多月后,自信满满地把他带回家,想向老妈证明自己的眼光。结果发现,他就是她之前要相亲的对象。“地球真的这么小?!”“傻女人,还好我先遇到你!”不然被人骗走了还得了。
  • 穿越古代成贤妻

    穿越古代成贤妻

    我以为我是他的第一次,就为成为他的唯一,哪里知道,他竟然对我如此无情,此生如此,穿越而来,重新开始,一改往日懒惰,发家致富,遇见爱我之人,成为他之贤妻。
  • 做事做到位的九大绝学

    做事做到位的九大绝学

    开始做一件事情,需要的是决心和热诚.而完成一件事情需要的是恒心和毅力。缺乏热诚,事情无法开展,而只有热诚却无恒心和毅力,事情就无法完成。把事情做好、做到位是我们身在职场的人所必须的。本书从明确目标。计划时间,追求卓越等九个方面讲述怎样才能更好地把事情做好,做到位。
  • 都市神级强者

    都市神级强者

    新书(天界打工皇帝)已经发布,请大家来爽! 从仙魔世界穿越而来的超级强者,降临到了病秧子富二代身上。兵王回归,修真者出山,贴身保安,这样的戏码你是不是看腻了?2017劲爆爽文,武力值突破天际,拳拳到肉,震撼来袭!书友一群已经成立,群号,272257674,欢迎大家来群里聊天打屁。