CONTRA FATUM

“Perhaps, however, someone will think there is not objection to gathering these riches thus for oneself from the mines in the earth. But when to this sentence is added the peculiar treasure of kings and of the countries, the meaning of 'gathering' no longer admits of an innocent interpretation. For as it is possible for royal power to gather an abundance of riches from countries – that means, to impose tribute, to exact tithes, to compel their subjects to pay taxes – just so, he says, he has collected silver and gold.” (Eccl. 339,12)

Robert Barclay. In his doctoral thesis from April 2011, Yasuharu Nakano offers a compelling reading of Robert Barclay's thinking and its implications for contemporary theology (get it here ). Nakano discusses Barclay's historical background from Augustine to the reformers, and the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism, as well as his later reception in Evangelical and Liberal Quakerism. He also relates aspects of Barclay's thought to contemporary debates on pacifism and ecclesiology, e.g. Yoder and Hauerwas.