[1785 October 28 Isle Of Wight County, Virginia] [transcribed by Audrey Fetterhoff Jan 24, 2003 with many thanks to Mark Murphy] To the Honorable; the Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates. The petition of the Inhabitants of the County humbly Sheweth: That whereas it has pleased your honorable House to Publish a Bill obliging the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth to pay the Teachers of the Christian Religion and have required you their opinions concerning it: your Petitioners do therefore most earnestly Declare against it; believing it to be contrary to the Spirit of the Gospel, and the Bill of Rights. Certain it is that the blessed Author of our Religion supported and maintained his Gospel in the World for several hundred years, not only without Aid of civil power, but against all the powers of the Earth. The excellent purity of its Precepts, and the unblamiable Behavior of its Ministers (with the divine Blessing) made its way through all opposition. Neither was it the better for the Church when Constantine first established Christianity by human Laws,, tho' there was rest from Persecution for some time; but how soon was the Church overrun with Error, Superstition, and Immorality, how unlike were Ministers then to what they were in time past, both in Orthodoxy of principle and purity. But it is Said that Religion has taken it's flight and that Deism with its Baneful Influence is spreading itself over the State; if so, it is owing to other causes, and not for want of religious Establishment. Let your Laws punish the vices and Immoralities of the Times; and let there not be wanting such Men, (placed in Authority) who by their pious Examples, shall Recommend Religion, and by their Faithfulness, Scourge the Vices of the Age. Let Ministers manifest to the World that they are inwardly moved by the holy Ghost to take upon them that Office; that they seek the good of mankind, and not Worldy Interest. Let their Doctrine be Scriptural and their lives upright; then shall Religion, (if departed) speedily Return with it's bright Influence, and Deism put to open Shame, and its dreaded Consequences speedily removed. But what valuable purpose would such Assesment Answer? Would it introduce any more Useful and faithful Men into the Ministerial Office? Surely not! Those whom divine Grace hath called to that Work, will never Esteem it their highest Honour to do his Pleasurte: On the contrary it might call in many hirelings whose chief Motive would be temporal Gain. That Religion, Establishment and Government are linked together, and that the latter cannot stand without the former, is something new. Witness the State of Pennsylvania wherein no such Establishment hath? place; their Government stands firm; and which of the neighboring States has better Members, of Brighter and more upright Characters? That it is against our Bill of Rights, which Says "all Men by nature are born equally free"; so no person in this common Wealth shall Enjoy Exclusive privilagis, or Emmoluments except for services rendered the State; shall not then, those who are not professors of the Christian Religion, who ware in this State at the passing of this Bill, and others who have been invited since by the benefits held out when they shall be obliged to support the Christian Religion, think such obligation to be a departure from the Spirit and meaning of it? Finally, if such Tax is against the Spirit of the Gospel, if Christ for several hundred years, not only without aid of civil Power, but against all the powers of the World supported it, if Establishment has never been a Means of prospering the Gospel, if No more faithful Men would be call'd into the Ministry by it, if it wou'd not revive decayed Religion, and stop the groth of Deism, nor serve the purpose of Government, and if against the Bill of Rights, which your petitioners believe; they trust the Wisdom and Uprightness of your hounerable House, will have them entirely Free in matters of Religion, and the manner of supporting their Ministers. And they shall ever pray. Thomas Mangum David Jansen Wm Barlow John Wimble John Gay James Barlow James Cephas John Williamson Solomon Jam ? Williamson Ben Adking Wm Patterson John Lord B????? Edwards Willis Wills M???lwood Delk/Dolk Jas Pars??l Robert Wall John Allen Samuel Johnson Hugh Montgomery O?son Adkins Josiah Duck James Doford Jesse Croaker Samuel Law??ness Jesse Williamson Micajah Munford Thos Gwin Wm?? Henry Wimble Wm Johnson Wm Jordan? Wm St?li?me Wm Robertson Wm Allison Solloman Gwaltney Solomon Cane Jas/Jos Wimble Edward Gray Lott Griffin James Bedgood Hardy Cane Wm Gay Phillp Thomas? Wm Gunn John Cane Benj Stringfield John Thomas? Wm Parker Rich James? Moody Thomason John Owing Robt Mangum Jesse Thomason Wm Duck Simon Adking Geo Barlor Eliazor Butler Benjamin Jones John Clanke Absolum Birch Wm ? Obediah Johnson Saml Edwards James Laspar Abram Cane Wm Brock ???? scribbled out Thomas B? Rich Bradshaw James Carnell Willis Brantley Thomas Johnson B? Wimble Abram Jones Robert Duck David Thompson Jas B? Robert Tanner ?? Jesse Larson Shadrack Griffin Henry Baker? Wm O?? ??Mill? CaneJames Gwaltney Benj Ward Jacob Duck Benj Goodings Jonathan ? Elias Edwards Benj Bradshaw Wm Moody James Johnson Thomas Bound? Joseph Tamlor James Brett Demsey Cane/Carr Wm Whitley Elisha Carr Robert Edwards John Duck Wm Edwards Elias Owing Thomas Smith Thomas Johnson Brasy Whitley John B?? Jos Powell Philip Moody Geo Mackey Jesse Mackey James Johnson John Philips Wm Gay Jr Jacob Edwards John English Michael Murphey Jas Moody Drury Philips Wm Gay Saml Melsor John Wodkin James ? Thomas Bivel Demsey Marshall James Allwood Nathl Stephenson John Smith Wm Bra?ey ohn Jordan Jas Pope Thomas Daviss Elij Johnson E?a?orsditus But??e Arnold Powell Wm Blunt Back cover: Isle of Wight Pct Oct 28 1785 Ref To whole ??? ?? from the establishment of Isle of Wight