Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/103

 ir payment of tithes to their prlcjls. - 9t

of a mixed kind firft a theocracy then by nobles, and by kings and at other times by [heir high-prieft, it feems to appear pretty plain, that the Deity raifcd, preferved, and -governed thofe people, to oppofe idolatry, and con tinue, till the fulnefs of time came, the true divine worfliip on earth, under ceremonial dark fhadows, without exhibiting their government in the leaft, as a plan of future imitation. Befides, as Meffiah is come, according to the predictions of the divine oracles, which reprefented him under various ftrong types and ihadows, furely chriftians ought to follow the copy of their humble Mafter and his holy difciples, and leave the fleecing of the flock to the avaricious Jews, whofe religious tenets, and rapacious principles, fup- port them in taking annual tithes from each other-, who affect to believe that all the Mofaic law is perpetually binding, and that the predicted Shilo, who is to be their purifier, king, prophet, and high-prieft, is not yet come. The law of tithing, was calculated only for the religious ceconomy of the Hebrew nation, for as the merciful Deity, who was the immediate head of that ftate, had appropriated the Levites to his fervice, and prohibited them purchafing land, left they fhould be feduced from their religious duties* by worldly cares, He, by a moft bountiful law, ordered the ftate to give them the tithe, and other offerings, for the fupport of themfelves and their numerous families, and alfo of the widow, the fatherlefs, and the itranger.

I fhail infert a dialogue, that formerly pafled between the Chik-* kafah Loache and me, which will illuftrate both this, and other par ticulars of the general fubject ; and alfo fhew the religious advantages and arguments, by which the French ufed to undermine us with the Indians.

We had been fpeaking of trade, which is the ufual topic of difcourfe with thofe craftfmen. I afked him how he could reafonably blame the Englifh traders for cheating Tekape Mmmdh> " the red folks," even al lowing his accufations to be juft ; as he, their divine man, had cheated them out of a great part of their crops, and had the aflurance to claim it as his religious due, when at the fame time, if he had fhaked hands with the ftraight old beloved fpeech, or ftrictly obferved the ancient divine law, his feeling heart would not have allowed him to have done fuch black and crooked things, efpecially to the helplefs, the poor, and the aged;

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