of these desiginations was probably given, before that time, to the whole body; but now Duchovnee Christianee appears to be applied exclusively to the latter party, which is the more numerous, and Duehobortzee is applied exclusively to the other.

The only early notice of the Molokanns, with which I am acquainted, is a letter and document, transmitted in 1792, by Gabriel, Metropolitan of Novogorod and St. Petersburg, to the GovernorGeneral of Harkoff, of which the following translation appears in Pinkerton's "Russia."*

"SIB,-Michael Stschireff, and Timothy Suharieff, sent by your Excellency, from the vicinity of Harkoff, have been admonished by Innokentie, Rector of the Nevsky Seminary and Archimandrite. The conversation which took place between them, I forward to you along with this letter.

"I knew the sect as early as 1768. I then admonished them, and succeeded in turning several of them to the church; but on their returning home, they again fell into their former errors. Since I became Archbishop of St. Petersburg I have also spoken to some of the DonCossacks, but they remained obstinate. Their obstinacy is founded on enthusiasm. All the demonstration which is presented to them they despise, saying that God is present in their souls, and he instructs them ;-how shall they then hearken to a man?'-They have such exalted ideas of their own holiness, that they respect that man only, in whom they see the image of God;—that is, perfect holiness. They say, that every one of them may be a prophet, or an apostle ; and therefore they are zealous propagators of their own sect. They make the sacraments consist only in a spiritual reception of them, and therefore reject infant baptism. The opinions held by them not only establish equality, but also exclude the distinction of ruler and subject; such opinions are therefore the more dangerous, because they may become attractive to the peasantry.-The truth of this, Germany has experienced. Their origin is to be sought for among the Anabaptists, or Quakers. I know the course of their opinions; and we can have no hope that they will desist from spreading abroad this evil.

"These are my thoughts, which I have considered it my duty to communicate to your Excellency.

"May 13th, 1792."

"With sincere respect, I am, &c.

"GABRIEL,

"Metropolitan of Novogorod and St. Petersburg.

The document referred to in this letter is as follows:

* pp. 174-185.

A Conversation between the Rector of the Nevsky Seminary of St.

Petersburg, Archimandrite Innokentie, and three of the Sect called Duehobortzee, Michael Stschireff, Anikie and Timothy Suharieff, in May, 1792.

Archimandrite. By what means are you come into this state, that people confine you as men dangerous to society?

Duchobortzee. By the malice of our persecutors.
A. What is the cause of their persecuting you?

D. Because it is said, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

A. Whom do you call your persecutors ?

D. Those who threw me into prison, and bound me in fetters.

A. How dare you in this way speak evil of the established government, founded and acting on principles of Christian piety; which deprives none of their liberty, except such as are disturbers of the public peace and prosperity?

D. There is no higher governor than God, who rules over the hearts of kings and men; but God does not bind in fetters, neither does he command those to be persecuted who will not give his glory to another, and who live in peace, and in perfect love and mutual service to each other.

A. What does that signify, "Who will not give his glory to another?" To whom other?

D. Read the second commandment, and you will know.

A. I perceive then, that you mean to throw censure on those who bow before the images of the Saviour, and of his holy ones.

D. He has placed his image in our souls. Again, it is said, that those who worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.

A. From this it is evident that you have brought yourself into your present condition, by falling into error; by misunderstanding the nature of piety, and entertaining opinions hurtful to the common faith, and to your country.

D. It is not true.

A. How then? Do you not err, when you think that there are powers which exist in opposition to the will of God; whereas there is no power but of God? or that the government, which is appointed to restrain and correct the disobedient and unruly, persecutes piety; whereas he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil?

D. What evil have we done? None.

A. Do you not hurt the faith by your false reasoning concerning her holy ordinances, and by your blind zeal against God; like to the Jews of old, whose zeal was not according to knowledge?

D. Let knowledge remain with you! Only do not molest us who

live in peace, pay the taxes, do harm to no one, and respect and obey earthly governments.

A. But, perhaps, your paying the taxes, harming no one, and obeying earthly governments, is only the effect of necessity, and of the weakness of your power; while your peace and love respect those only who are of your own opinion.

D. Construe our words as you choose.

A. At least, it is far from being disagreeable to you, I suppose, to behold your society increasing.

D. We desire good unto all men, and that all may be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.

A. Leave off your studied secresy, and evasive and dubious answers. Explain and reveal to me your opinions candidly, like men who have nothing in view but to discover truth.

D. I understand you; for that same Spirit of Truth which enlightens us in this respecting faith and life, assists us also to discover affectation and deceit, in any man. Nevertheless, in order to get rid of your importunity, and with boldness to preach the true faith, I shall answer your questions as I am able.

A. By what way-by the assistance of others, or by the aid of your own reasoning powers only-did you obtain this Spirit of Truth?

D. He is near our hearts, and, therefore, no assistance is necessary. A sincere desire and ardent prayers are alone requisite.

A. At least, you ground your opinions on the Word of God; do you not?

D. I do ground myself on it.

A. But the Word of God teaches us, that God has committed the true faith and the dispensing of his ordinances, and of instruction in piety, to certain persons chosen and ordained for this purpose. "According to the grace of God given unto me," says Paul, "as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation.”

D. True; and such were our deputies who were sent hither in 1767 and 1769. But what did the spirit of persecution and of wrath do to them? Some were taken for soldiers, others were sent into exile.

A. You doubtless intend, by these deputies, some well-meaning people like yourself?

D. Yes!

A. But you, and people like you, though well-meaning, cannot be either ministers or teachers of the holy faith.

D. Why not?

A. Because a church cannot be established by individual authority, as is manifest from 1 Cor. iii. 5. Secondly, because special talents and gifts from above are requisite, to make us able ministers of the New Testament, 2 Cor. iii. 6. And, thirdly, it is absolutely necessary to this lawful and gracious calling, that we possess that ordina

tion which has remained in the holy church from the times of the apostles; as it is said, "And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ," Eph. iv. 11, 12.

D. There is no other calling to this office required, than that which crieth in our hearts; neither doth our learning consist in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Are the gifts which you require, such as to be able to gabble Latin?

A. You do not understand the Holy Scriptures, and this is the source of all your errors. The apostle, in the words quoted by you, does not reject the talents and gifts of acquired knowledge, but contrasts the doctrines of Jesus Christ with the wisdom of the heathen, which was in repute at that time. And that the calling of pastors and teachers always depended on the church by which they were chosen, is manifest from the very history of those pastors and teachers of the church, who are eternally glorified.

D. What Holy Scriptures? What church? What do you mean by the Holy Scriptures?

A. Did not yourself say, that you founded your opinions on the Word of God? That is what I mean by the Holy Scriptures.

D. The Word of God is spiritual, and immaterial; it can be written on nothing but on the heart and spirit.

A. Yet when the Saviour saith, "Search the Scriptures," and gives us the reason for this command:-" For in them ye think ye have eternal life," can he really understand thereby anything else than the written Word of God? This is the treasure which he himself bath entrusted to his holy church, as the unalterable rule of faith and life. D. And what do you call a church?

A. An assembly of believers in Jesus Christ, governed by pastors, according to regulations founded on the Word of God, and partakers of the ordinances of faith.

D. Not so there is but one pastor, Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for the sheep; and one church, holy, apostolical, spiritual, invisible, of which it is said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them;" in which no worship is paid to any material object; where those only are teachers, who live virtuous lives; where the Word of God is obeyed in the heart, on which it descends like dew upon the fleece, and out of which it flows as from a spring in the midst of the mountains; where there are no such noisy, ostentatious, offensive, and idolatrous meetings, and vain ceremonies, as with you; no drunken and insulting pastors and teachers like yours; nor such evil dispositions and corruptions as among you.

A. You have here mixed up many things together: let us consider them one by one :

1st. That the Saviour, Christ, is the only chief pastor and head of the church is a truth; for he hath founded it by his own merits; under his almighty providence it exists, is guarded, and protected; and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. Spiritually, Christ is united to it; for, "Behold, I am with you even to the end of the world ;" and by the power of his grace, he helpeth the prayers and petitions of believers. But it does not seem good to the wisdom and majesty of God, that all, without distinction, should be engaged in the external state and service of the church, which is so closely united to the internal; and therefore, from the very first ages, this has been committed unto worthy pastors and teachers, as stewards of the mysteries of God.

2ndly. I said that the external state of the church is very closely united to the internal. Certainly it is so. Who does not know how powerfully the passions and the flesh work in us, both to good and evil, according to the nature of the object presented to them? We have need to recruit the efforts of our minds by such salutary aids; and to stir up the expiring flame of piety within us, by memorials of the goodness of God, and of the example of holy men. Here is the whole of what you so improperly style material and idolatrous worship. So long as we are united to matter, that is, to the body, we can never reach that pure and inward spiritual worship of God which the holy angels present unto him, or such as that of the eternally glorified saints; and on this account, when God requires that we should worship him in spirit and in truth, it is to warn us against shameful hypocrisy, or other dispositions of mind, not corresponding with our external worship.

3dly. With respect to the scandalous lives of some pastors, they can never harm the essence of faith, for that is not the cause of their bad conduct. And that their irregularities can never excuse those who, on this account, leave the church and despise her doctrine, is witnessed by the Saviour himself, in his discourse with the pharisees: "The scribes and pharisees sit in Moses' seat," saith he; "all therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works, for they say and do not." Moreover Christian humility should have deterred you from judging so rashly concerning general corruption and evil dispositions. But I have purposely not yet answered several of your expressions, such as "idolatrous meetings and vain ceremonies," that I might first ask you what you mean by them.

D. You may conjecture that yourself.

A. Well, do not even you show becoming respect for the characters