Remembering my Dad, Fred Gindraux (1939-2009)

 

A Critique of the USA in 1820

 

"Who Reads an American Book?" (1820)

BY REVEREND SYDNEY SMITH

Smith was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Review, and his brilliant articles
in that periodical aided greatly in establishing its success. His keen pen and love
of raillery found a good subject in the lack of culture in the United States; and such
was the reputation of the writer and of the magazine in which his articles appeared
that his criticisms touched the pride of Americans more than did any other of the
many reviews written in the same vein. Abuse of America was fashionable in Great
Britain at that time. -- For Smith, see Stuart J. Reid, Life and Times of Sydney
Smith. -- Bibliography: McMaster, History of the United States, V, ch. xlviii; Channing
and Hart, Guide, § 180.

"SUCH is the land of Jonathan -- and thus has it been governed. In his honest endeavours to better his situation, and in his manly purpose of resisting injury and insult, we most cordially sympathize. We hope he will always continue to watch and suspect his Government as he now does -- remembering, that it is the constant tendency of those entrusted with power, to conceive that they enjoy it by their own merits, and for their own use, and not by delegation, and for the benefit of others. Thus far we are the friends and admirers of Jonathan: But he must not grow vain and ambitious; or allow himself to be dazzled by that galaxy of epithets by which his orators and newspaper scribblers endeavour to persuade their supporters that they are the greatest, the most refined, the most enlightened, and the most moral people upon earth. The effect of this is unspeakably ludicrous on this side of the Atlantic -- and, even on the other, we should imagine, must be rather humiliating to the reasonable part of the population. The Americans are a brave, industrious, and acute people; but they have hitherto given no indications of genius, and made no approaches to the heroic, either in their morality or character. They are but a recent offset indeed from England; and should make it their chief boast, for many generations to come, that they are sprung from the same race with Bacon and Shakespeare and Newton. Considering their numbers, indeed, and the favourable circumstances in which they have been placed, they have yet done marvellously little to assert the honour of such a descent, or to show that their English blood has been exalted or refined by their republican training and institutions. Their Franklins and Washingtons, and all the other sages and heroes of their revolution, were born and bred subjects of the King of England, -- and not among the freest or most valued of his subjects: And, since the period of their separation, a far greater proportion of their statesmen and artists and political writers have been foreigners, than ever occurred before in the history of any civilized and educated people. During the thirty or forty years of their independence, they have done absolutely nothing for the Sciences, for the Arts, for Literature, or even for the statesman-like studies of Politics or Political Economy. Confining ourselves to our own country, and to the period that has elapsed since they had an independent existence, we would ask, Where are their Foxes, their Burkes, their Sheridans, their Windhams, their Homers, their Wilberforces? -- where their Arkwrights, their Watts, their Davys? -- their Robertsons, Blairs, Smiths, Stewarts, Paleys and Malthuses? -- their Porsons, Parrs, Burneys, or Blomfields? -- their Scotts, Campbells, Byrons, Moores, or Crabbes? -- their Siddonses, Kembles, Keans, or O'Neils? -- their Wilkies, Laurences, Chantrys? -- or their parallels to the hundred other names that have spread themselves over the world from our little island in the course of the last thirty years, and blest or delighted mankind by their works, inventions, or examples? In so far as we know, there is no such parallel to be produced from the whole annals of this self-adulating race.

In the four quarters of the globe, who reads an American book? or goes to an American play? or looks at an American picture or statue? What does the world yet owe to American physicians or surgeons? What new substances have their chemists discovered? or what old ones have they analyzed? What new constellations have been discovered by the telescopes of Americans? -- what have they done in the mathematics? Who drinks out of American glasses? or eats from American plates? or wears American coats or gowns? or sleeps in American blankets? -- Finally, under which of the old tyrannical governments of Europe is every sixth man a Slave, whom his fellow-creatures may buy and sell and torture? When these questions are fairly and favourably answered, their laudatory epithets may be allowed: But, till that can be done, we would seriously advise them to keep clear of superlatives." 

Smith, Sydney.  Rev. of Statistical Annals of the United States, by Adam Seybert.  The Edinburgh Review 33 (1820): 69-80. 

Sailing history of my Norwegian great-grandfather

https://www.sjohistorie.no/en/sjofolk/222834/

The 1596 Confession of the English Separatists

 

Introduction

 

Originally titled “A True Confession of the Faith, and Humble Acknowledgement of the Allegiance which we her Majesty’s Subjects, falsely called Brownists, do hold towards God”, this document describes the religious convictions of the Ancient Church of English separatists. That church had its roots in early leadership such as Robert Browne, Henry Barrow, and John Greenwood. By 1593, these preachers had been silenced through intimidation or death. Their London congregation was now led by pastor Francis Johnson who was arrested a few years later. The congregation fled to Amsterdam so they could be free to create a congregational English church without interference. In 1596, Francis Johnson wrote A True Confession in a cell of the Clink Prison of London. It was accepted by the church across the Channel, and printed in Amsterdam. This copy was carried in 1597 to Newfoundland in the unsuccessful attempt to start a Separatist colony. Future editions, both English and Latin, were co-authored with Henry Ainsworth.  

 

A TRUE CONFESSION, 1596

 

A True Confession of the Faith, and Humble Acknowledgement of the Allegiance which we her Majesty’s Subjects, falsely called Brownists, do hold towards God, and yield to her Majesty and all other that are over us in the Lord. Set down in Articles or Positions, for the better and more easy understanding of those that shall read it. And published for the clearing of ourselves from those unchristian slanders of heresy, schism, pride, obstinate, disloyalty, sedition, etc. which by our adversaries are in all places given out against us.

 

We believe therefore have we spoken.

2 Cor 4:13

 

But, who hath believed our report, and unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

Isa 53:1

 

A TRUE CONFESSION OF THE FAITH, AND HUMBLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ALLEGIANCE, which we her Majesty’s Subjects, falsely called Brownists, do hold towards God, and yield to her Majesty and all other that are over us in the Lord. Set down in Articles or Positions, for the better & more easy understanding of those that shall read it: And published for the clearing of our selves from those unchristian slanders of heresy, schism, pride, obstinacy, disloyalty, sedition, etc. which by our adversaries are in all places given out against us.

We believe with our hearts & confess with our mouths:

 

ARTICLE 1

That there is but one God, one Christ, one Spirit, one Church, one truth, one Faith, one Rule of obedience to all Christians, in all places.

 

ARTICLE 2

That God is a Spirit, whose being is of himself, and giveth being, moving, and preservation to all other things being himself eternal, most holy, every way infinite, in greatness, wisdom, power, goodness, justice, truth, etc.

And that in this Godhead there be three distinct persons, coeternal, coequal, & co-essential, being every one of the one and same God, & therefore not divided but distinguished one from another by their several & peculiar properties: The Father of none, the Son begotten of the Father from everlasting, the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son before all beginnings.

 

ARTICLE 3

That God hath decreed in himself from everlasting touching all things, and the very least circumstances of everything, effectually to work and dispose them according to the counsel of his own will, to the praise and glory of his great name. And touching his chiefest Creatures that God hath in Christ before the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of his will, ordained some men and Angels, to eternal life to be accomplished through Jesus Christ, to the praise of the glory of his grace. And on the other hand hath likewise, before of old according to his just purpose ordained other both Angels and men, to eternal condemnation, to be accomplished through their own corruption to the praise of his justice.

 

ARTICLE 4

That in the beginning God made all things of nothing very good: and created man after his own image and likeness, in righteousness and holiness of truth. That straight ways after by the subtlety of the Serpent which Satan used as his instrument himself with his Angels having sinned before and not kept their first estate, but justify their own habitation; first Eve, then Adam by her means, did wittingly & willingly fall into disobedience & transgression of the commandment of God. For the which death reigned over all: yea even our infants also, which have not sinned, after the like manner of the transgression of Adam, that is, actually: Yet are all since the fall of Adam begotten in his own likeness after his image, being conceived and born in iniquity, and so by nature the children of wrath and servants of sin, and subject to death, and all other calamities due unto sin in this world and forever.

 

ARTICLE 5

That all mankind being thus fallen and become altogether dead in sin, & subject to the eternal wrath of God both by original and actual corruption: The elect are redeemed, quickened, raised up and saved again, not of themselves, neither by works, lest any man should boast himself; but wholly and only by God of his free grace and mercy through faith in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, & righteousness, & sanctification, & redemption, that according as it is written, He that rejoiceth let him rejoice in the Lord.

 

ARTICLE 6

That this therefore only is life eternal to know the only true God, & whom he hath sent into the world: Jesus Christ. And that on the contrary the Lord will render vengeance in flaming fire unto them that know not God, & which obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

ARTICLE 7

That the rule of this knowledge faith & obedience, Concerning the worship & service of God & all other Christian duties, is not the opinions, devices, laws, or constitutions of men, but the written word of the everliving God, contained in the canonical books of the old and new Testament.

 

ARTICLE 8

That in this word Jesus Christ hath revealed whatsoever his Father thought needful for us to know, believe & obey as touching his person & Offices, in whom all the promises of God are yea, & in whom they are Amen to the praise of God through us.

 

ARTICLE 9

That touching his person, the Lord Jesus, of whom Moses & the Prophets wrote, & whom the Apostles preached, is the everlasting Son of God, by eternal generation, the brightness of his Father’s glory, & the engraven form of his Person; coessential, coequal, & coeternal, God with him & with the holy Ghost, by whom he hath made the worlds, by whom he upholdeth and governeth all the works he hath made; who also when the fulness of time was come, was made man of a woman, of the Tribe of Judah, of the seed of David & Abraham, to wit of Mary that blessed Virgin, by the holy Ghost coming upon her, & the power of the most high overshadowing her; & was also in all things like unto us, sin only excepted.

 

ARTICLE 10

That touching his Office, he only is made the Mediator of the new Testament, even of the everlasting Covenant of grace between God & man, to be perfectly & fully the Prophet, Priest & King of the Church of God for evermore.

 

ARTICLE 11

That he was from everlasting, by the just & sufficient authority of the father, & in respect of his manhood from the womb, called & separated hereunto, & anointed also most fully & abundantly with all necessary gifts, as is written; God hath not measured out the Spirit unto him.

 

ARTICLE 12

That this Office, to be Mediator, that is, Prophet, Priest and King of the Church of God, is so proper to him, as neither in the whole, nor in any part therof, it can be transferred from him to any other.

 

ARTICLE 13

That touching his Prophecy, Christ hath perfectly revealed out of the bosom of his father, the whole word & will of God, that is needful for his servants, either jointly or severally to know, believe & obey: That he hath spoken & doth speak to his Church in his own ordinance, by his own ministers and instruments only, and not by any false ministry at any time.

 

ARTICLE 14

That touching his Priesthood, being consecrated, he hath appeared once to put away sin, by offering & sacrificing of himself; and to this end hath fully performed and suffered all those things, by which God through the blood of that his cross, in an acceptable sacrifice, might be reconciled to his elect; & having broke down the partition wall, & therewith finished & removed all those legal rites, shadows, & ceremonies, is now entered within the veil into the Holy of Holies to the very heaven, and presence of God, where he forever liveth, and sitteth at the right hand of Majesty appearing before the face of his Father, to make intercession for such as come unto the Throne of grace by that new & living way; And not that only, but maketh his people a spiritual house, an holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through him. Neither doth the Father accept, or Christ offer any other sacrifice, worship, or worshippers.

 

ARTICLE 15

That touching Kingdom, being risen, ascended, entered into glory, set at the right hand of God, all power in Heaven and earth give unto him; which power here now exerciseth over all Angels and men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, to the overruling and destruction of the reprobate; communicating and applying the benefits, virtue and fruit of his prophecy and Priesthood unto his elect, namely to the remission, subduing, and taking away of their sins, to their justification, adoption-of-sons, regeneration, sanctification, preservation & strengthening in all their spiritual conflicts against Satan, the world & the flesh & continually dwelling in, governing & keeping their hearts in his true faith and fear by his holy spirit, which having once given it, he never taketh away from them, but by it still begetteth and nourisheth in them repentance, faith, love, obedience, comfort, peace, joy, hope, and all Christian virtues, unto immortality, notwithstanding that it be sometimes through sin and temptation, interrupted, smothered, and as it were overwhelmed for the time. Again on the contrary ruling in the world over his enemies, Satan, and all the vessels of wrath; limiting, using, restraining them by his mighty power, as seemeth good in divine wisdom and justice, to the execution of his determinate counsel, to wit to their seduction, hardening & condemnation, delivering them up to a reprobate mind, to be kept in darkness, sin and sensuality unto judgment.

 

ARTICLE 16

That this Kingdom shall be then fully perfected when he shall the second time come in glory with his mighty Angels unto judgment, to abolish all rule, authority and power, to put all his enemies under his feet, to separate and free all his chosen from them for ever, to punish the wicked with everlasting perdition from his presence, to gather, join, and carry the godly with himself into endless glory, and then to deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, that so the glory of the father may be full and perfect in the Son, the glory of the Son in all his members, and God be all in all.

 

ARTICLE 17

That in the meantime, besides his absolute rule in the world, Christ hath here in earth a spiritual Kingdom and canonical regiment in his Church over his servants, which Church he hath purchased and redeemed to himself, as a peculiar inheritance (notwithstanding many hypocrites do for the time lurk amongst them) calling and winning them by the power of his word unto the faith, separating them from amongst unbelievers, from idolatry, false worship, superstition, vanity, dissolute life, & works of darkness, etc.; making them a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a people set at liberty to show forth the virtues of him that hath called them out of darkness into his marvelous light, gathering and uniting them together as members of one body in his faith, love and holy order, unto all general and mutual duties, instructing & governing them by such officers and laws as he hath prescribed in his word; by which Officers and laws he governeth his Church, and by none other.

 

ARTICLE 18

That to this Church he hath made the promises, and given the seals of his Covenant, presence, love, blessing and protection: Here are the holy Oracles as in the side of the Ark, surely kept & purely taught. Here are all the fountains and springs of his grace continually replenished and flowing forth. Here is he lifted up to all Nations, hither he inviteth all men to his supper, his marriage feast; hither ought all men of all estates and degrees that acknowledge him their Prophet, Priest and King to repair, to be enrolled amongst his household servants, to be under his heavenly conduct and government, to lead their lives in his walled sheepfold, & watered orchard, to have communion here with the Saints, that they may be made meet to be partakers of their inheritance in the kingdom of God.

 

ARTICLE 19

That as all his servants and subjects are called hither, to present their bodies and souls, and to bring the gifts God hath given them; so being come, they are hereby himself bestowed in their several order, peculiar place, due use, being fitly compact and knit together by every joint of help, according to the effectual work in the measure of every part, unto the edification of itself in love; whereunto when he ascended up on high he gave gifts unto men, that he might fill all these things, and hath distributed these gifts unto several functions in his Church, having instituted and ratified to continue unto the world’s end, only this public ordinary Ministry of Pastors, Teachers, Elders, Deacons, Helpers to the instruction, government, and service of his Church.

 

ARTICLE 20

That this ministry is exactly described, distinguished, limited, concerning their office, their calling to their office, ther administration of their office, and their maintenance in their office, by most perfect and plain laws in God’s word, which law it is not lawful for these Ministers, or for the whole Church wittingly to neglect, transgress, or violate in any part; nor yet to receive any other laws brought into the Church by any person whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE 21

That none may usurp or execute a ministry but such as are rightly called by the Church whereof they stand ministers; and that such so called ought to give all diligence to fulfill their ministry, to be found faithful and unblameable in all things.

 

ARTICLE 22

That this ministry is alike given to every Christian congregation, with like power and commission to have and enjoy the same, as God offereth fit men and means, the same rules given to all for the election and execution thereof in all places.

 

 

ARTICLE 23

That as every christian Congregation hath power and commandment to elect and ordain their own ministry according to the rules prescribed, and whilst they shall faithfully execute their office, to have them in superabundant love for their work’s sake, to provide for them, to honour them and reverence them, according to the dignity of the office they execute. So have they also power and commandment when any such default, either in their life, Doctrine, or administration breaketh out, as by the rule of the word debarreth them from, or depriveth them of their ministry, by due order to depose them from the ministry they exercised; yea if the case so require, and they remain obstinate and impenitent, orderly to cut them off by excommunication.

 

ARTICLE 24

That Christ hath given this power to receive in or to cut off any member, to the whole body together of every Christian Congregation, and not to any one member apart, or to more members sequestered from the whole, or to any other Congregation to do it for them: yet that each Congregation ought to use the best help they can hereunto, and the most meet member they have to pronounce the same in their public assembly.

 

ARTICLE 25

That every member of each Christian Congregation, how excellent, great, or learned soever, ought to be subject to this censure & judgment of Christ; Yet ought not the Church without great care & due advice to proceed against such public persons.

 

ARTICLE 26

That for the keeping of this Church in holy & orderly communion, as Christ hath placed some special men over the Church, who by their office are to govern, oversee, visit, watch, etc. So likewise for the better keeping thereof in all places, by all the members, he hath given authority & lay duty upon to all to watch one over another.

 

ARTICLE 27

That whilst the Ministers and people thus remain together in this holy order and christian communion, each one endeavoring to do the will of God in their calling, & thus to walk in the obedience of faith Christ hath promised to be present with them, to bless & defend them against all adversaries’ power, & that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against them.

 

ARTICLE 28

But when & where this holy order & diligent watch was intermitted, neglected, violated… Antichrist, that man of sin, corrupted & altered the holy ordinances, offices, & administrations of the church, brought in & erected a strange new forged ministry, liturgy and government & the Nations, Kingdoms & inhabitants of the earth were made drunken with this cup of fornications & abominations, & all people enforced to receive the Beast’s mark and worship his image & so brought into confusion & Babylonish bondage.

 

ARTICLE 29

That the present ministry retained & used in England of Archbishop, Lord Bishops, Deans, Prebendaries, Canons, Peti-Canons, Arch-Deacons, Chancellors, Commissaries, Priests, Deacons, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, Hireling roving Preachers, Church-wardens, Parish-clerks, their Doctors, Proctors, & whole rabble of those Courts with all from & under them set over these Cathedral & Parishional Assemblies in this confusion, are a strange & Anti-christian ministry & offices; & are not that ministry above named instituted in Christ’s Testament, or allowed in or over his Church.

 

ARTICLE 30

That their Offices, Entrance, Administration and maintenance, with their names, titles, privileges, & prerogatives the power & rule they usurp over and in these Ecclesiastical assemblies over the whole ministry, whole ministration and affairs therof, yea one over another by their making Priests, citing, suspending, silencing, deposing, absolving, excommunicating, etc. Their confounding of Ecclesiastical and Civil jurisdiction, causes & proceedings in their persons, courts, commissions, Visitations, the rest of less rule, taking their ministry from and exercising it under them by their prescription and limitation, swearing Canonical obedience unto them, administering by their devised, imposed, stinted popish Liturgy, etc. are sufficient proofs of the former assertion, the particulars therin being duly examined by and compared to the Rules of Christ’s Testament, or allowed in or over his Church.

 

ARTICLE 31

That these Ecclesiastical Assemblies, remaining in confusion and bondage under this Antichristian Ministry, Courts, Canons, worship, Ordinances, etc. without freedom or power to redress any enormity, have not in this confusion and subjection [honored] Christ their Prophet, Priest, and King, neither can be in this estate (whilst we judge them by the rules of God’s word) esteemed the true, orderly gathered, or constituted churches of Christ, whereof the faithful ought to become or stand Members, or to have any Spiritual communion with them in their public worship and Administration.

 

ARTICLE 32

That by God’s Commandment all that will be saved, must with speed come forth of this Antichristian estate, leaving the suppression of it unto the Magistrate to whom it belongeth. And that both all such as have received or exercised any of these false Offices or any pretended function or Ministry in or to this false and Antichristian constitution, are willingly in God’s fear, to give over and leave those unlawful Offices, and no longer to minister in this manner to these Assemblies in this estate And that none also, of what sort or condition soever, do give any part of their Goods, Lands, Money, or money worth to the maintenance of this false Ministry and worship upon any Commandment, or under any colour whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE 33

That being come forth of this antichristian estate unto the freedom and true profession of Christ, besides the instructing and well guiding of their own Families, they are willingly to join together in christian communion and orderly covenant, and by confession of Faith and obedience of Christ, to unite themselves into peculiar Congregations; wherein, as members of one body whereof Christ is the only head, they are to worship and serve God according to his word, remembering to keep holy the Lord’s day.

 

ARTICLE 34

That such as God hath given gifts to interpret the Scriptures, tried in the exercise of Prophecy, giving attendance to study and learning, may and ought by the appointment of the Congregation, to teach publicly the word, until the people be meet or God manifest men with able gifts and fitness to such Office or Offices as Christ hath appointed to the public ministry of his church; but no Sacraments to be administered until the Pastor or Teachers be chosen and ordained into their Office.

 

ARTICLE 35

That whereas there shall be a people fit, and men furnished with meet and necessary gifts, they do not only still continue the exercise of Prophecy aforesaid, but do also upon due trial, proceed unto choice and ordination of Officers for the ministry and service of the Church, according to the rule of God’s word; And that so they hold on still to walk forward in the ways of Christ for their mutual edification and comfort, as it shall please God to give knowledge and grace thereunto. And particularly, that such as be of the seed, or under the government of any of the Church, be even in their infancy received to Baptism, and made partakers of the sign of God’s Covenant made with the faithful and their seed throughout all Generations. And that all of the Church that are of years, and able to examine themselues, do communicate also in the Lord’s Supper both men and women, and in both kinds bread and wine in which Elements, as also in the water of baptism, even after they are consecrated, there is neither transubstantiation into, nor Consubstantiation with the body and blood of Jesus Christ; whom the Heavens must contain; until the time that all things be restored. But they are in the ordinance of God signs and seals of God’s everlasting covenant, representing and offering to all the receivers, but exhibiting only to the true believers the Lord Jesus Christ and all his benefits unto righteousness, sanctification and eternal life, through faith in his name to the glory and praise of God.

 

ARTICLE 36

That thus being rightly gathered, established, and still proceeding in christian communion & obedience of the Gospel of Christ, none is to separate for faults and corruptions which may and so long as the Church consisteth of mortal men, will fall out & arise among them, even in a true constituted Church, but by due order to seek redress therof.

 

ARTICLE 37

That such as yet see not the truth, may hear the public doctrine and prayers of the church, and with all meekness are to be sought by all means: Yet none who are grown in years to be received into their communion as members, but such as do make confession of their faith, publicly desiring to be received as members, and promising to walk in the obedience of Christ. Neither any Infants, but such as are the seed of the faithful by one of the parents, or under their education and government. And further not any from one Congregation to be received members in another, without bringing certificate of their former estate and present purpose.

 

ARTICLE 38

That though Congregations be thus distinct and several bodies, every one as a compact City in itself, yet are they all to walk by one and the same rule, & by all means convenient to have the counsel and help one of another in all needful affairs of the Church, as members of one body in the common Faith, under Christ their head.

 

ARTICLE 39

That it is the Office and duty of Princes and Magistrates, who by the ordinance of God are supreme Governors under him over all persons and causes within their Realms and Dominions, to suppress and root out by their authority all false ministries, voluntary Religions and counterfeit worship of God, to abolish and destroy the Idol Temples, Images, Altars, Vestments, and all other monuments of Idolatry and superstition and to take and convert to their own civil uses not only the benefit of all such idolatrous buildings & monuments, but also the Revenues, Demesnes, Lordships, Possessions, Glebes and maintenance of any false ministries and unlawful Ecclesiastical functions whatsoever within their Dominions. And on the other hand to establish & maintain by their laws every part of God’s word his pure Religion and true ministry to cherish and protect all such as are carefull to worship God according to his word, and to lead a godly life in all peace and loyalty; yea to enforce all their Subiects whether Ecclesiastical or civil, to do their duties to God and men, protecting & maintaining the good, punishing and restraining the evil according as God hath commanded, whose Lieutenants they are here on earth.

 

ARTICLE 40

That therefore the protection & commandment of the Princes and Magistrates maketh it much more peaceable, though no whit at all more lawful, to walk in the ways and ordinances of Jesus Christ which he hath commanded his church to keep without spot and unrebukable until his appearing in the end of the world. And that in this behalf the brethren thus minded and proceeding as is beforesaid, do both continually supplicate to God, and as they may, to their Princes and Governors that thus and under them they may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

 

ARTICLE 41

That if God incline the Magistrates hearts to the allowance & protection of them then they account it a happy blessing of God who granteth such nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to his Church, & be careful to walk worthy so great a mercy of God in all thankfulness and obedience.

 

ARTICLE 42

That if God withhold the Magistrates’ allowance and furtherance herein, they yet proceed together in christian covenant & communion thus to walk in the obedience of Christ even through the midst of all trials and afflictions, not accounting their goods, Lands, Wives, Children, Fathers, Mothers, brethren, Sisters, no nor their own lives dear unto them, so as they may finish their course with joy, remembering always that we sought to obey God rather than man, & grounding upon the commandment, commission, and promise of our Saviour Christ, who as he hath all power in heaven & in earth, so hath also promised (if we keep his commandments which he hath given without limitation of time, place, Magistrates’ allowance or disallowance) to be with us unto the end of the world: and when we have finished our course and kept the faith, to give us the crown of righteousness which is laid up for all that love his appearing.

 

ARTICLE 43

Unto all men is to be given them whatsoever is due unto them. Tributes, Customs, and all other such lawful & accustomed duties, ought willingly and orderly to be paid and performed. Our lands, goods, and bodies, to be submitted in the Lord to the Magistrates’ pleasure. And the Magistrates themselves every way to be acknowledged, reverenced, and obeyed according to godliness, not because of wrath only but also for conscience’s sake: And finally, all men so to be esteemed and regarded, as is due and meet for their place, age, estate and condition.

 

ARTICLE 44

And thus we labour to give unto God that which is God’s and unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto all men, that which belongeth unto them: Endeavoring ourselves to have only a clear conscience towards God and towards men: And having hope in God that the resurrection of the dead shall be of the just unto life, & of the unjust unto condemnation, everlasting. Now if any take this to be heresy, then do we with the Apostle freely confess that after the way which they call heresy, we worship God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, believing all things that are written in the Law and in the Prophets and Apostles: and whatsoever is according to this rule of truth published in our own country or holden by any reformed Churches in their Confessions abroad in the world. We do also reject and detest all strange and heretical opinions & doctrines of all Heretics both old and new whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE 45

Finally, whereas we are much slandered and traduced as if we denied or misliked that form of prayer commonly called the Lord’s prayer: we thought it needful here also concerning it to make known that we believe and acknowledge it to be a most absolute and most excellent form of prayer, such as no men nor Angels can set down the like. And that it was appointed and taught by the Lord Jesus Christ, not that we should be tied to the use of those very words, but that we should according to that rule make all our requests and thanksgiving unto God, forasmuch as it is a perfect form & pattern, containing in it plain and sufficient directions of prayer, for all occasions and necessities that have been, are, or shall be, to the Church of God, or any member thereof, to the end of the world.

 

CONCLUSION

Now unto him that is able to keep us that we fall not, & to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with joy; that is to God only wise our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, and dominion & power, both now & for ever, Amen.

Memories of the Global Schools500reformation Day!

https://youtu.be/AqhMZfhXkMA

Hello world from Wittenberg!

It has been truly an amazing last few days.

On Tuesday, I flew from Spokane to Munich, Germany, arriving Wednesday morning. Then I spent a good day and a half with my wife's cousin, overcoming physical jetlag as well as spiritual complacency (nothing like a visit to a concentration camp to put things in perspective).

Thursday I flew from Munich to Berlin, and enjoyed navigating the city by bus to the incredible 4-story indoor train station, where I took the train to Wittemberg, which is about 1.5 hours from Berlin. I spent my time reading the Lord of the Rings on a double-decker train.

I was struck immediately upon arriving in Wittemberg Bahnhof (train station) when I saw the giant 5-story tall Bible with a big sign advertising the Reformation jubilee 1517-2017. Everywhere is the hashtag #reformationsommer (summer). From May until September, they are "doing it up big". Everywhere throughout the town there are signs and exhibits and even activities for all ages (like a scavenger hunt). So it's festive here, although as I have learned, Wittemberg was part of the DDR, the Communist East Germany. There were Christians (I met a principal who was converted by Christian friends)... but under atheist communism the churches suffered, then after the Iron Curtain went down and Germany reunified, this area actually became less religious... and is considered the most secular place in Germany.

That irony became super obvious when my ride picked me up and took me to the schools500reformation camp, which is situated in a former primary school, Karl Marx Schule. It closed down a few years after reunification, and was empty for the last 2 decades until it was retrofitted for a refugee camp. So refugees were there for about a year... then moved out in February 2017. That freed it up for our use. Though it was clean, the outside looked pretty run-down. Which didn't matter, except that it was on the edge of town and I didn't have any access to wi-fi. So that evening when I arrived, I was a little out of my element after a lot of travel... and the Schools camp was in full swing already (I was joining a group of educators from Christian schools with their students, from Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe... hosted by the German Evangelical Church (EKG). The high schoolers from Cameroon worked with a German Protestant school to make up their own musical and share it with us. So it was a long day, but I finally was given a bed and tumbled into it, grateful to be at my destination.

Yet my cultural and digital isolation made me feel a little bit like a refugee. What was I doing? What could happen here? Was it worth it?

All these lonesome questions were answered the next day, as I resolved to focus on serving others. I put myself into volunteer work Friday, helping out with setting up for the big 23rd June Global Reformation Day a few blocks away from the Castle Church in Wittenberg. I blew up helium balloons, set up chairs, etc. It was great when the German minister of education addressed us and encouraged our schools from around the world to show solidarity together, and stay true to the thought-provoking role that was true of the Protestant Reformation 500 years ago. We sang songs, and several schools had videos shared, including mine (Northwest Christian School). Then we all got balloons and got ready to march down to the Castle Church to let them all go, symbolizing our hopes and ideas for the future. I wrote down that whoever finds this balloon should consider reading the Bible and learning about the good news of God rescuing sinners from judgment, through His love expressed in Jesus.

The Reformation 500 years ago started as a personal reformation in one man's life, and then as he was renewed by the startling grace of God, he looked at his church through changed eyes. The Bible shaped his vision for the healing of the moral corruption and spiritual hypocrisy of Europe. His first salvo was his "95 Theses" which were written on the 31st October 1517 to the Archbishop of Mainz, protesting the un-Biblical ideas which had crept into the Church (paying money for the forgiveness of sins). While we dont know for sure the circumstances, apparently Luther nailed the Theses to the Castle Church Door.  So after we let the balloons go, out group was given a very special favor, and the normally blocked-off door was opened for us to enter into the church. We had a service with a sermon and worship time (very different from what you may be used to), but it was meaningful. I felt blessed to stand next to the graves of Martin Luther and Philip Melanchton, not in a superstitious way, but simply remembering how God used people to achieve incredible things in history.

Today, I spent the morning at the schools camp, cheering on the kids who were playing Street Football (soccer) in teams. I said goodbye to the handful of kindred spirits I had discovered there (teachers), and left with friend Tomas for Wittenberg city center. I was able to locate a hotel that still had room (unfortunately about 15 blocks from town center). Speaking of town center, here I am with the statue of Martin Luther:

This afternoon I visited the home of Martin & Katie Luther (the former Augustinian monastery), then went to the English service at 5 pm today in the City Church (Stadtkirche). It was great to sing and pray and read the Bible in what is literally the Mother church of the Reformation. This was where the first Reformers effected change in Wittemberg, which spread throughout all of Germany, then Europe, then the Americas. So it is an ancient place that still inspires people. I have a lot of thoughts that I will be writing down as I process over the next few days.

Afterwards I was really dehydrated… I had skipped lunch what with trying to get to town and find a hotel. So I went to the Brauhaus and enjoyed a very good dinner… a giant bratwurst, with sauerkraut and masked potatoes. And possibly a drink made from hops.

Since then, I have been chilling out by myself in the town square and writing this blogpost. I was able to Messenger video my family for the first time since Wednesday! I was so happy.

My plan is to leave Wittemberg tomorrow for Berlin by train… and then spend a few days there. I fly back on Wednesday to Spokane.

Thank you all for your thoughts and support! I can’t wait to put into practice in my classroom the things I’ve learned and the cool historical background for the Reformation (which is background to American colonies).

Gute nacht!

School's Out~ Now for a New Adventure!

https://www.gofundme.com/hjb69-a-teachers-dream

I've reached my goal, and I leave Monday!

In late June 2017, the Christian school network schools500reformation is hosting a very special "World Reformation Exhibition" in Wittenberg, Germany, where students and teachers from several continents will join together to remember the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, especially how it inspired education from a Biblical point of view.

I have been honored this spring to be invited to this event. My dream is to represent Christian schools in North America & what they offer to the world, and make long-lasting connections with others which would help me equip my 5th graders to think globally for the Lord and act locally for the benefit of their community.

I want to spend a week in Germany to gain spiritual insight into the commitments and the historical background of Ground Zero of the Reformation.

Keep checking back here for updates while I'm on the road.

Brian