[Church Petition to the Legislature, Southampton Co. VA, 29 Nov 1785] [transcribed by Mark A. Murphy, 22 Jan 2003] To the Hounerable[sic], the Speaker & Gentlemen of the House of Delegates~ The Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Southampton humbly sheweth That whereas it has pleased your hounerable House to publish "A Bill obliging the Inhabitants of this common Wealth to pay the Teachers of the christian Religion, and have required their Opinion conserning it, we your Petitioners therefore, do most earnestly declare against it; believing it to be contrary to the Spirit of the Gospel & the Bill of Rights. Certain it is, that the bleSsed Author of our Religion supported & Maintained his Gospel in the World for several hundred years, not only without the Aid of civil Power, but against all the powers of the Earth; the excellent purity of its precepts, & the unblamable behaviour of its Ministers, (with the divine BleSsing,) made its way through all Opposition; nor was it the better for the Church, when Constantine first Established Christianity by human Laws, tho' there was Rest awhile from Prosecution. But how soon was the Church overrun with Error, Superstition, & Immorality? How unlike were Ministers then, to what they were in Times past, both in Orthodoxy of Principle & purity of Life? But i is Said that Religion has taken its Rights and that Derision, with its baneful Influence is spreading itself over the State; if so, it must be owing to other Causes, and not for want of Religious Establishment.~ Let your Laws punish the Vices of Immoralities of the Times, & let there not be wanting such Men placed in Authority, who by their pious Examples shall recommend Religion; & by their FaithfulneSs, shall Scurge the growing Vices of the Age.- Let Ministers manifest to their Hearers, that they are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost, to take them that savord[?] Office; that they seek the good of Mankind, & not Worldly Interest; let their Doctrine be TeriSstrial, & their Lives upright; then Shall Religion (if [next page] depicted[?]) speedily[?] return, and Deism[?] be part to open Shrine, and its dreaded Consequences removed. - But what unleashable passion won't such ASsignment Answer? Won't it introduce any more useful & faithful Men into the Ministry: surely not; these whom divine grace hath called to that Work will esteem it their highest Honour to do his Pleasure; On the contrary it may call in many Hirelings whose chief motive is temporal Interest. That religious Establishment and Government are linked together & that the latter cannot Stand without the former, is something new. WitneSs the State of Pennsylvania wherein no such Establishment has taken place; their Government stands Firm; and which of the neighbouring States, have better Members, of brighter Morals, and more upright Characters: That it is against our Bill of Rights, which says "All Men by Nature are equally Free, &c, And "That no Man, or set of Men, are intitled to Exclusive or separate Enrolements or Privileges from the Community, but in consideration of Publick Services.- Will not those then who are not profeSsors of the Christian Religion, who were in the State at the paSsing the Bill of Rights, and others who have been Invited since by the Benefits held out in that Bill, (where they shall be obliged to Support a Religion they do not Believe) think such Obligation, or Departure from the Spirit & meaning of it? - Finally if such Tax is against the Spirit of the Gospel, if Christ for several hundred years; not only without the aid of civil Power, but against all the Powers of the World supported it. If Establishment Law has never been a means of prospering the Gospel; if no more faithful Men would be called into the Ministry by it; if it would not Revive decayed Religion and stop the Growth of Deism, or serve the purpose of Government; and if against the Bill of Rights? which you Petitioners believe; they Trust the Wisdom and UprightneSs of your honourable House, will leave them entirely free in Matters of Religion, & the manner of Supporting its Ministers. - and they shall ever pray. &c. - [next page] David Barrow Jerimiah Summerall Shadrach Lewis William Stepheson John Bowers William Joyner John Council Drewry Joyner Henry Jones Richard Beal Toomer Joyner Asa Beal Stephen Lankford William Williams Carr. Doyel William Beal Benjamin Beal James Wright Giles Johnson Joshua Thymer Giles Joyner John Beal John Johnson Drewry Williams John Luter William Williams Jnr West Tynes Thomas Love John Oblenry Scion Williams William Barrett Henry Obenry Joshua Turner Kinchin Edwards Joshua Joyner William Edwards James Wilson Abia Beal Henry Joyner James Johnson Joseph Turner Arther Williams Moses Joyner Benjamin Beal Samuel Roe Daniel Johnson Cordal Roe William Barnes Burwell Burn John Bryant Simon Johnson John Carstarpher Burwell Williams Giles Wester Joshua Whitney Simon Murfee Willis Jones Joshua Beal Amos Council John Turner Ephraim Turner Ephraim Beal Shadrack Beal [next page] Wm. Pope James Jarmon James Edwards Jordan Williford John Bryant senr Joseph Atkinson Wilson Wade Johnson Williford Benjamin Beal sen James Lancaster John Joyner John Cocks John Blythe sen Arther Crocker JeSse DoughlaSs Belah Willeford Samuel Turner John Clayton John Crumpler William Holloman Richard Doyel Stephen Handcock Jacob Summerell Harmon HarriSs James Chapell Wm. Clark William Mackey Absalom Williamson Matthew Charles Edward Walfield JeSse Gardner William Waters[?] Jethro Joyner Richard Markes Joseph Bradshaw Randolph Newman[?] David Denson Joseph Markes Joshua Minyard William Brett John Worrell John Brett Joel Barham Edmon Stephenson snr[?] Elisha Milton Isom Burn James Barnes Joseph Wright John Martin Stephen Crumpler Arthur Doles William Crumpler Benjamin Crumpler senr John Wright junr John Wright Richard Bailey Jordan Jenkins [next page] Jethro Joyner Britain Travis Joseph Philips Edwin Davis Marks Judkins Howel Janes Henery Coker Eustace Windham Hartwell Bailey Benj.m Sebril Jordan Jones Anselon Jones Archer Davis Arther Booth Daniel Pond Aaron Booth John Bailey Lemuel Philips Peter Bailey John Windham se.r Stephen Summerall Benjamin Oney George Summerall Nathenel Kitchen Thomas Oney James Oney Wm. Oney Edward Marks Franklin Clark Edward Ficher [end of file]