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Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History
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Historical SummaryIt is impossible within brief space to select from journals and diaries a reading that adequately sets forth the manner in which the Moravians conducted their Indian missions. The following show their ideals and distinctive features.
Religion VI. THE MORAVIANS
A Candid Declaration of the Church Known by the Name of the Unitas Fratrum, Relative to Their Labour Among the Heathens. (Published 1740).
"We will not decline to give the public once more an opportunity of getting a more clear insight into the nature of our labour among the Heathen, by publishing the following concise points:
I. We never enter into controversy with any other denomination; nor do we endeavour to draw their members over to us.
II. Much less do we attempt to win over to our church any of the Heathen who are already in connexion with those of any other church;
III. Or to stand in the way of the missionaries of any other church.
IV. We are very attentive that the bond between the government and the Heathen may not in the least suffer by means of the evangelical tenets; for, should this appear unavoidable in any place, through the nature of things, we should, in that case, rather chuse to retire from thence.
V. We never attempt, by means of our missions, to obtain the least influence in civil or commercial affairs; but are contented with what we can earn by our own industry in useful employments for our support, to the satisfaction of the government.
VI. As to the rights of the sovereign and of the magistracy, we require no farther insight into them, than to know what is commanded, and what is prohibited, that we may act conformably thereunto, as loyal and obedient subjects. Least of all would we act out of any other principle, than that of being, with our whole heart, subject to all magistrates who have the rule over us, and gladly exert ourselves to the utmost to maintain the best understanding between the government and the converted Heathen; yea, to be as instrumental as possible in establishing the same good principles even among the unconverted.
VII. We carefully avoid intermeddling with any thing that can increase the wrong and prejudicial ideas, which the Heathen, savages, or slaves, have imbibed against the Christian religion.
VIII. We confess, and preach to the Heathen; Jesus Christ, and him crucified, as the Saviour of the world, because there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ; and we seek, as far as in us lies, to keep them ignorant of the many divisions in Christendom: but, if they happen to have been informed thereof by others, we endeavour, with great precaution, to approve ourselves impartial, speak of the several divisions with much tenderness, and to extenuate, and not exaggerate, the differences; that thus the knowledge of the mystery of Christ may be increased, and misapprehensions diminished."
Text—Crantz: The Ancient and Modern History of the Brethren. . . . La Trobe’s translation, pp. 579–580.
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Chicago: "A Candid Declaration of the Church Known by the Name of the Unitas Fratrum, Relative to Their Labour Among the Heathens. (Published 1740).," Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History in Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History 534. Original Sources, accessed January 15, 2025, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DDJT3F8T1775E5L.
MLA: . "A Candid Declaration of the Church Known by the Name of the Unitas Fratrum, Relative to Their Labour Among the Heathens. (Published 1740)." Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History, in Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History, page 534. Original Sources. 15 Jan. 2025. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DDJT3F8T1775E5L.
Harvard: , 'A Candid Declaration of the Church Known by the Name of the Unitas Fratrum, Relative to Their Labour Among the Heathens. (Published 1740).' in Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History. cited in , Source Book and Bibliographical Guide for American Church History, pp.534. Original Sources, retrieved 15 January 2025, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=DDJT3F8T1775E5L.
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