Page:The Complete Works of Lyof N. Tolstoi - 11 (Crowell, 1899).djvu/131

Rh that are God's," would have for them a clear, definite significance.

"To the Tsar or to any one all he wishes," the believing man would say, "but not what is contrary to God."

Cæsar needs my money—take it; my house, my labors—take them; my wife, my children, my life—take them; all these things are not God's. But when Cæsar requires that I apply the rods to my neighbor's back, that is God's affair. My behavior—that is my life for which I must give an account to God; and what God has forbidden me to do that I cannot give to Cæsar. I cannot bind, imprison, whip, kill my fellowmen; all that is my life, and it belongs to God alone, and I may not give it to any one except God.

The words, "To God the things that are God's," for us signify whatever they give to God,—kopeks, candles, prayers, in general everything that is unnecessary to any one, much less to God; but everything else; all one's life, all one's soul which belongs to God, they give to Cæsar; in other words, according to the significance of the word Cæsar as understood by the Jews—to some entire stranger. This is horrible! Let the people remember this.