One only petitions one's superior. One never petitions one's equal nor inferior, in power, wealth, and might.
A petition is like a prayer. From these latter two, one's equal or inferior, one simply takes what one wants, whether with or without the tactful observance of formal civility !
That one petitions at all is an explicit concession of one's inferiority, an admission of one's plain dependence.
One must necessarily pray to God. Need one as well pray to man? Is not the latter idolatry or uncivil flattery?
These thoughts occur to me as I read of the failed petitions proffered to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, at various times, and specially on January 13, 1777, by Prince Hall and others, generally seeking in it, that which they already had, and have: "in common with all other men as a natural and unalienable right to that freedom which the general Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally upon all mankind and which they have never forfeited by any compact or agreement whatever..."
Why petition at all?
Why not simply take that which the "Parent of the Universe" has "bestowed equally on all mankind?"
Hence, no favorable action was taken on the eloquent petition, as like prayer, it was seeking the grace and the discretion of the body petitioned.
Is not the mere act of petitioning, itself, an action of benignly forfeiting that very freedom that one already has, in capitulation to those that are, themselves, incapable of delivering what is therein sought? Is not the petition, itself, an open-end compact or agreement for redress to man?
Can another man bestow upon you the breath of life? Then, neither can any man bestow freedom : only God!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h32.html
P. 64-65, "Antislavery and Education" PRINCE HALL LIFE AND LEGACY by Charles H. Wesley (1983)
Sunday, October 12, 2014
PETITION ONLY GOD
PETITION ONLY GOD!
One only petitions one's superior. One never petitions one's equal nor inferior, in power, wealth, and might.
A petition is like a prayer. From these latter two, one's equal or inferior, one simply takes what one wants, whether with or without the tactful observance of formal civility !
That one petitions at all is an explicit concession of one's inferiority, an admission of one's plain dependence.
One must necessarily pray to God. Need one as well pray to man? Is not the latter idolatry or uncivil flattery?
These thoughts occur to me as I read of the failed petitions proffered to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, at various times, and specially on January 13, 1777, by Prince Hall and others, generally seeking in it, that which they already had, and have: "in common with all other men as a natural and unalienable right to that freedom which the general Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally upon all mankind and which they have never forfeited by any compact or agreement whatever..."
Why petition at all?
Why not simply take that which the "Parent of the Universe" has "bestowed equally on all mankind?"
Hence, no favorable action was taken on the eloquent petition, as like prayer, it was seeking the grace and the discretion of the body petitioned.
Is not the mere act of petitioning, itself, an action of benignly forfeiting that very freedom that one already has, in capitulation to those that are, themselves, incapable of delivering what is therein sought? Is not the petition, itself, an open-end compact or agreement for redress to man?
Can another man bestow upon you the breath of life? Then, neither can any man bestow freedom : only God!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h32.html
P. 64-65, "Antislavery and Education" PRINCE HALL LIFE AND LEGACY by Charles H. Wesley (1983)
One only petitions one's superior. One never petitions one's equal nor inferior, in power, wealth, and might.
A petition is like a prayer. From these latter two, one's equal or inferior, one simply takes what one wants, whether with or without the tactful observance of formal civility !
That one petitions at all is an explicit concession of one's inferiority, an admission of one's plain dependence.
One must necessarily pray to God. Need one as well pray to man? Is not the latter idolatry or uncivil flattery?
These thoughts occur to me as I read of the failed petitions proffered to the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, at various times, and specially on January 13, 1777, by Prince Hall and others, generally seeking in it, that which they already had, and have: "in common with all other men as a natural and unalienable right to that freedom which the general Parent of the Universe hath bestowed equally upon all mankind and which they have never forfeited by any compact or agreement whatever..."
Why petition at all?
Why not simply take that which the "Parent of the Universe" has "bestowed equally on all mankind?"
Hence, no favorable action was taken on the eloquent petition, as like prayer, it was seeking the grace and the discretion of the body petitioned.
Is not the mere act of petitioning, itself, an action of benignly forfeiting that very freedom that one already has, in capitulation to those that are, themselves, incapable of delivering what is therein sought? Is not the petition, itself, an open-end compact or agreement for redress to man?
Can another man bestow upon you the breath of life? Then, neither can any man bestow freedom : only God!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2h32.html
P. 64-65, "Antislavery and Education" PRINCE HALL LIFE AND LEGACY by Charles H. Wesley (1983)