Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/91

 To counteract this unfriendly public feeling, Mennonites in Pennsylvania in the year 1775 drew up the following short and sincere Declaration:

"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 Savior Jesus Christ who is come to save the Souls of Men, having all Power in Heaven and on Earth.

"Further we find ourselves indebted to be thankful to our late worthy Assembly, for giving so good Advice in these troublesome Times to all Ranks of People in Pennsylvania, particularly in allowing those, who, by the Doctrine of our Savior Jesus 'Christ, are persuaded in their Consciences to love their Enemies, and not to resist Evil, to enjoy the liberty of their Consciences, for which, as also all the good things we enjoyed under their care, we heartily thank that worthy Body of the Assembly, and all high and low in Office who have advised to such a peaceful 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 William Penn, to grant Liberty of Conscience to all its inhabitants, that they in the great and memorable Day of Judgment may 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 unto 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