to the best Understanding he hath, being obliged so to do, for the
Promoting of what he in Conscience is persuaded to be Truth, will
not this justify all the _Heathen Emperors_ in their Persecutions
against _Christians_? Will not this justify the _Spanish Inquisition_,
which yet is odious, not only to _Protestants_, but to many moderate
_Papists_? How can _Protestants_ in Reason condemn the _Papists_
for persecuting them, seeing they do but exercise a _lawful Power_
according to their _Conscience_ and best Understanding, and do no more
to them than the Sufferers profess they would do to them, if they were
in the like Capacity? Which takes away all Ground of Commiseration
from the Sufferers: Whereas that was the Ground which of old gained
Reputation to the _Christians_, that they being innocent, _suffered_,
who neither had, nor by Principle could, hurt any. But there is
little Reason to pity one that is but dealt by according as he would
deal with others. For to say, _They have no Reason to persecute us,
because they are in the Wrong, and we in the Right_, is but miserably
to beg the Question. Doth not this Doctrine strengthen the Hands of
Persecutors every where, and that rationally, from a Principle of
Self-preservation? For who can blame me for destroying him that I
know waits but for an Occasion to destroy me, if he could? Yea, this
makes all Suffering for _Religion_, which of old was the Glory of
_Christians_, to be but of pure Necessity; whereby they are not led
as _Lambs to the Slaughter_, as was the _Captain of their Salvation_;
but rather as _Wolves_ catched in the Snare, who only bite not again
because they are not able; but could they get Force, would be as ready
to lead those the same Way that led them. Where is the Faith and
Patience of the Saints? For indeed it is but a small Glory to make
a Virtue of Necessity, and suffer because I cannot help it. Every
Thief and Murderer would be a _Martyr_ at that Rate: Experience hath
abundantly proved this in these last _Centuries_; for however each
Party talk of _positively_ obeying the _Magistrate_ in such Cases,
and that the Power resides in him, yet it is apparent, that from this
Principle it naturally follows, That any Party, supposing themselves
right, should, so soon as they are able, endeavour at any Rate to get
uppermost, that they might bring under those of another Opinion, and
force the _Magistrate_ to uphold their Way, to the Ruin of all others.
What Engine the _Pope_ of _Rome_ used to make of his pretended Power
in this Thing, upon any Pretence of Dislike to any Prince or State,
even for very small Heresies in their own Account, to depose Princes,
and set up their Subjects against them, and give their Dominions to
other Princes to serve his Interest, they cannot be ignorant who have
read the Life of _Hildebrand_; and how _Protestants_ have vindicated
the Liberty of their Consciences after this same Manner is apparent.
They suffered much in _France_, to the great Increase and Advantage of
their Party; but as soon as they found themselves considerable, and
had gotten some Princes upon their Side, they began to let the King
know, That they must either have the Liberty of their Consciences, or
else they would purchase it; not by suffering, but by fighting. And
the Experience of other _Protestant States_ shews, That if _Henry_ the
4th, to please the _Papists_, had not quitted his Religion, to get
the Crown the more peaceably, and so the _Protestants_ had prevailed
with the Sword, they would as well have taught the _Papists_ with
the Faggot, and led them to the Stake: So that this Principle of
_Persecution_ on all Hands is the Ground of all those Miseries and
Contentions. For so long as any Party is persuaded that it is both
lawful for them, and their Duty, if in Power, to destroy those that
differ from them, it naturally follows they ought to use all Means
possible to get that Power, whereby they may secure themselves in the
Ruin of their Adversaries. And that _Papists_ judge it not unlawful to
compel the Magistrate, if they be strong enough to do it, to effect
this. Experience shews it to be a known _Popish_ Principle, That _the
Pope may depose an Heretick Prince, and absolve the People from the
Oath of Fidelity_: And the _Pope_, as is above said, hath done so to
divers Princes; and this Doctrine is defended by _Bellarmine_ against
_Barclay_. The _French_ refused _Henry_ the Fourth till he quitted his
Religion. And as for _Protestants_, many of them scruple not to affirm,
_That wicked Kings and Magistrates may be deposed, and killed_: Yea,
our _Scotch Presbyterians_ are as positive in it as any _Jesuits_,
who would not admit King _Charles_ the Second, though otherwise a
_Protestant Prince_, unless he would swear to renounce _Episcopacy_; a
Matter of no great Difference, though contrary to his Conscience. Now
how little Proportion these Things bear with the Primitive Christians,
and the Religion propagated by Christ and his Apostles, needs no
great Demonstration; and it is observable, that notwithstanding many
other Superstitions crept into the Church very early, yet this of
_Persecution_ was so inconsistent with the Nature of the Gospel, and
Liberty of Conscience, as we have asserted it, such an innate and
natural Part of the Christian Religion, that almost all the _Christian
Writers_, for the first three hundred Years, earnestly contended for
it, condemning the contrary Opinion.
§. V. [Sidenote: Athan. _in Epist. ad_ Solit. vit. Ag. _ibid._] Thus
_Athanasius_; “It is the Property of Piety not to force, but to
persuade, in Imitation of our Lord, who forced no Body, but left it
to the Will of every one to follow him, _&c._ But the Devil, because
he hath nothing of Truth, uses Knocks and Axes, to break up the Doors
of such as receive him. But our Saviour is meek, teaching the Truth;
whosoever will come after me, and whosoever will be my Disciple, _&c._
but constraining none; coming to us, and knocking rather, and saying,
My Sister, my Spouse open to me, _&c._ And entereth when he is opened
to, and retires if they delay, and will not open unto him; because it
is not with Swords, nor Darts, nor Soldiers, nor Armour, that Truth is
to be declared, but with Persuasion and Counsel.” And it is observable,
That they were the impious _Arians_ who first of all brought in this
Doctrine, to persecute others among Christians, whose Successors both
_Papists_ and _Protestants_ are in this Matter, whom _Athanasius_
thus reproveth further: [Sidenote: Athan. _Apol. 1 de Fuga Sua, Tom.
1._] “Where (saith he) have they learned to persecute? Certainly they
cannot say they have learned it from the Saints; but this hath been
given them, and taught them of the Devil. The Lord commanded indeed
sometimes to flee, and the Saints sometimes fled; but to persecute
is the Invention and Argument of the Devil, which he seeks against
all.” And after he saith, “In so far as the _Arians_ banish those that
will not subscribe their Decrees, they shew that they are contrary to
Christians, and Friends of the Devil.”
[Sidenote: Hil. _contra_ Aux.] “But now, O lamentable! (saith
_Hilarius_) They are the Suffrages of the Earth that recommend the
Religion of God, and Christ is found naked of his Virtue, while
Ambition must give Credit to his Name. The Church reproves and fights
by Banishment and Prisons, and forceth herself to be believed, which
once was believed because of the Imprisonments and Banishments
herself suffered. She that once was consecrated by the Terrors of her
Persecutors, depends now upon the Dignity of those that are in her
Communion. She that once was propagated by her banished Priests, now
banisheth the Priests. And she boasts now, That she is loved of the
World, who would not have been Christ’s if she had not been hated of
the World.”
[Sidenote: Jerome _Epist._ 62. _ad_ Tire.] “The Church (saith _Jerome_)
was founded by shedding of Blood, and by suffering, and not in doing
of Hurt. The Church increased by Persecutions, and was crowned by
Martyrdom.”
[Sidenote: Amb. _Epist._ 32. _Tom._ 3.] _Ambrose_, speaking of
_Auxentius_, saith thus, “Whom he (viz. _Auxentius_) could not deceive
by Discourse, he thinks ought to be killed with the Sword, making
bloody Laws with his Mouth, writing them with his own Hands, and
imagining that an Edict can command Faith.”
[Sidenote: Amb. _Epist._ 27.] And the same _Ambrose_ saith, “That
going into _France_, he would not communicate with those Bishops that
required that Hereticks should be put to Death.”
[142]The Emperor _Martianus_, who assembled the _Council_ of
_Chalcedon_, protests, [Sidenote: Mon. Eg. _in acta Concil._ Chalced.
_Tom. 2. Conc. gen._] “That he would not force nor constrain any one to
subscribe the Council of _Chalcedon_ against his Will.”
[142] Mart. _Epist. ad_ Archimand, _&c._
[143]_Hosius_ Bishop of _Corduba_ testifies, “That the Emperor
_Constans_ would not constrain any to be Orthodox.”
[143] Hosi. _Epist. ad_--Constit. _apud_ Ath. _in Eph. ad solit. vii.
Tom. 1._
[144]_Hilarius_ saith further, “That God teacheth, rather than
exacteth, the Knowledge of himself, and authorizing his Commandments
by the Miracles of his Heavenly Works; he wills not that any should
confess him with a forced Will, _&c._ He is the God of the whole
Universe, he needs not a forced Obedience, nor requires a constrained
Confession.”
[144] Hil. _L. 1. ad_ Const.
“[145]Christ (saith _Ambrose_) sent his Apostles to sow Faith; not to
constrain, but to teach; not to exercise coercive Power, but to extol
the Doctrine of Humility.”
[145] Ambr. _Comm. in_ Luc. _L. 7._
Hence _Cyprian_,[146] comparing the old Covenant with the new, saith,
“Then were they put to Death with the outward Sword; but now the Proud
and Contumacious are cut off with the spiritual Sword, by being cast
out of the Church.” And this answers very well that _Objection_ before
observed, taken from the Practice of the _Jews_ under the Law.
[146] Cypr. _Epist._ 62.
“[147]See (saith _Tertullian_ to the _Heathens_) if it be not to
contribute to the Renown of Irreligion, to seek to take away the
Liberty of Religion, and to hinder Men their Choice of God, that I may
not be admitted to adore whom I will, but must be constrained to serve
him whom I will not. There is none, nay not a Man, that desires to be
adored by any against their Will.” [148]And again, “It is a Thing that
easily appears to be unjust, to constrain and force Men to sacrifice
against their Wills; seeing to do the Service of God there is required
a willing Heart.” [149]And again, “It is an human Right and natural
Power that every one worship what he esteems; and one Man’s Religion
doth not profit nor hurt another. Neither is it any Piece of Religion
to enforce Religion; which must be undertaken by Consent, and not by
Violence, seeing that the Sacrifices themselves are not required, but
from a willing Mind.”
[147] Tertul. _Apol. C._ 24.
[148] Id. _Apol. C._ 28.
[149] Idem _ad_ Scapul. _C._ 2.
Now how either _Papists_ or _Protestants_, that boast of Antiquity, can
get by these plain Testimonies, let any rational Man judge. And indeed
I much question if in any one Point owned by them, and denied by us,
they can find all the _old Fathers_ and _Writers_ so exactly unanimous.
Which shews how contrary all of them judged this to be to the Nature
of Christianity, and that in the Point of _Persecution_ lay no small
Part of the Apostasy; which, from little to more, came to that, _That
the _Pope_, upon every small Discontent, would excommunicate Princes,
absolve their Subjects from obeying them, and turn them in and out
at his Pleasure_. Now if _Protestants_ do justly abhor these Things
among Papists, is it not sad that they should do the like themselves?
A Thing that at their first Appearance, when they were in their
primitive Innocency, they did not think on, as appears by that Saying
of _Luther_; [150]_Neither Pope nor Bishop, nor any other Man, hath
Power to oblige a Christian to one Syllable, except it be by his own
Consent_. And again, _I call boldly to all Christians, that neither Man
nor Angel can impose any Law upon them, but so far as they will; for we
are free of all_. And when he appeared at the Diet of _Spiers_, before
the Emperor, in a particular Conference he had before the Archbishop
of _Triers_ and _Joachim_ Elector of _Brandenburgh_, when there seemed
no Possibility of agreeing with his Opposers, they asking him, _What
Remedy seemed to him most fit?_ [Sidenote: _History of the Council of
_Trent.] He answered, _The Counsel that _Gamaliel_ proposed to the
Jews, _to wit_, That if this Design was of God, it would stand; if
not, it would vanish; which he said ought to content the Pope_: He did
not say, _Because he was in the Right he ought to be spared_. For this
_Counsel_ supposeth, That those that are tolerated may be wrong; and
yet how soon did the same _Luther_, ere he was well secure himself,
press the Elector of _Saxony_ to banish poor _Carolostadius_, because
he could not in all Things submit to his Judgment? And certainly
it is not without Ground reported, That it smote _Luther_ to the
Heart; so that he needed to be comforted, when he was informed, That
_Carolostadius_, in his Letter to his Congregation, stiled himself, _A
Man banished for Conscience, by the Procurement of_ Martin Luther. And
since both the _Lutherans_ and _Calvinists_ not admitting one another
to worship in those respective Dominions, sheweth how little better
they are than either _Papists_ or _Arians_ in this Particular. [151]And
yet _Calvin_ saith, That _the Conscience is free from the Power of
all Men_: If so, why then did he cause _Castellio_ to be banished
because he could not, for _Conscience Sake_, believe as he did, _That
God had ordained Men to be damned_? And _Servetus_ to be burned for
denying the _Divinity of Christ_? if _Calvin_’s Report of him be to
be credited? Which Opinion, though indeed it was to be abominated,
yet no less was _Calvin_’s Practice in causing him to be burned, and
afterwards defending that it was lawful to burn _Hereticks_; by which
he encouraged the _Papists_ to lead his Followers the more confidently
to the Stake, as having for their Warrant the Doctrine of their own
_Sect-master_; which they omitted not frequently to twit them with,
and indeed it was to them unanswerable. Hence, upon this Occasion,
the judicious Author of the _History of the Council of Trent_, in his
_fifth Book_, where giving an Account of several _Protestants_ that
were burned for their Religion, well and wisely observeth it, _as a
Matter of Astonishment, that those of the New Reformation did offer to
punish in the Case of Religion_. And afterwards, taking Notice that
_Calvin_ justifies the Punishing of _Hereticks_, he adds, _But since
the Name of _Heresy_ may be more or less restricted, yea, or diversly
taken, this Doctrine may be likewise taken in divers Senses, and may at
one Time hurt those, whom at another Time it may have benefited_.
[150] Luth. _Lib. de Captivitate_ Babylon.
[151] Calv. _Inst. L. 3. C. 19. Sect. 14._
[Sidenote: _Protestant Persecution strengthens the Popish
Inquisition._] So that this Doctrine of _Persecution_ cannot be
maintained by _Protestants_, without strengthening the Hands of
_Popish Inqusitors_; and indeed in the End lands in direct _Popery_;
_seeing, if I may not profess and preach that Religion, which I am
persuaded in my own Conscience is true, it is to no Purpose to search
the Scriptures, or to seek to choose my own Faith by Convictions
thence derived; since whatever I there observe, or am persuaded of, I
must either subject to the Judgment of the Magistrate and Church of
that Place I am in, or else resolve to remove, or die_. Yea, doth not
this _Heretical_ and _Antichristian Doctrine_, both of _Papists_ and
_Protestants_, at last resolve into that cursed Policy of _Mahomet_,
_who prohibited all Reason or Discourse about Religion, as occasioning
Factions and Divisions_? And indeed those that press _Persecution_,
and deny _Liberty of Conscience_, do thereby shew themselves more the
Disciples of _Mahomet_ than of _Christ_; and that they are no Ways
Followers of the Apostle’s Doctrine, who desired the _Thessalonians to
prove all Things, and hold fast that which is good_, 1 Thess. v. 21.
And also saith, _Unto such as are otherwise minded, God shall reveal
it_, Phil. iii. 15. not that by Beatings and Banishments it must be
knocked into them.
§. VI. [Sidenote: _The Ground of Persecution._] Now the _Ground of
Persecution_, as hath been above shewn, is an _Unwillingness to
suffer_; for no Man, that will persecute another for his _Conscience_,
would suffer for his own, if he could avoid it, seeing his Principle
obliges him, if he had Power, by Force to establish that which he
judges is the _Truth_, and so to force others to it. Therefore I
judge it meet, for the Information of the Nations, briefly to add
something in this Place concerning the _Nature of true Christian
Sufferings_, whereunto a very faithful Testimony hath been borne by
_God’s Witnesses_, which he hath raised up in this Age, beyond what
hath been generally known or practised for these many Generations, yea,
since the Apostasy took Place. Yet it is not my Design here in any wise
to derogate from the Sufferings of the _Protestant Martyrs_, whom I
believe to have walked in Faithfulness towards God, according to the
Dispensation of _Light_ in that Day appearing, and of which many were
utter Enemies to _Persecution_, as by their Testimonies against it
might be made appear.
[Sidenote: _What true Suffering is._] But the true, faithful and
Christian Suffering is _for Men to profess what they are persuaded is
right, and so practise and perform their Worship towards God, as being
their true Right so to do; and neither to do more in that, because
of outward Encouragement from Men; nor any Whit less, because of the
Fear of their Laws and Acts against it_. Thus for a Christian Man to
vindicate his just Liberty with so much Boldness, and yet Innocency,
will in due Time, though through Blood, purchase Peace; as this Age
hath in some Measure experienced, and many are Witnesses of it; which
yet shall be more apparent to the World, as _Truth_ takes Place in the
Earth. But they greatly sin against this excellent Rule, that in Time
of _Persecution_ do not profess their own Way so much as they would if
it were otherwise; and yet, when they can get the Magistrate upon their
Side, not only stretch their own Liberty to the utmost, but seek to
establish the same by denying it to others.
[Sidenote: _The innocent Sufferings of the People called _Quakers.]
But of this excellent Patience and Sufferings, the Witnesses of God,
in Scorn called _Quakers_, have given a manifest Proof: For so soon as
God revealed his _Truth_ among them, without Regard to any Opposition
whatsoever, or what they might meet with, they went up and down, as
they were moved of the Lord, preaching and propagating the _Truth_ in
Market-places, Highways, Streets, and publick Temples, though daily
beaten, whipped, bruised, haled, and imprisoned therefore. And when
there was any where a Church or Assembly gathered, they taught them
to keep their Meetings openly, and not to shut the Door, nor do it by
Stealth, that all might know it, and those who would might enter. And
as hereby all just Occasion of Fear of Plotting against the Government
was fully removed, so this their Courage and Faithfulness in not
giving over their Meeting together (but more especially the Presence
and Glory of God manifested in the Meeting being terrible to the
Consciences of the Persecutors) did so weary out the Malice of their
Adversaries, that oftentimes they were forced to leave their Work
undone. For when they came to break up a Meeting, they were obliged
to take every Individual out by Force, they not being free to give
up their Liberty by dissolving at their Command: And when they were
haled out, unless they were kept forth by Violence, they presently
returned peaceably to their Place. Yea, when sometimes the Magistrates
have pulled down their Meeting-houses, they have met the next Day
openly upon the Rubbish, and so by Innocency kept their Possession and
Ground, being properly their own, and their Right to meet and worship
God being not forfeited to any. So that when armed Men have come to
dissolve them, it was impossible for them to do it, unless they had
killed every one; for they stood so close together, that no Force could
move any one to stir, until violently pulled thence: So that when the
Malice of their Opposers stirred them to take Shovels, and throw the
Rubbish upon them, there they stood unmoved, being willing, if the
Lord should so permit, to have been there buried alive, witnessing
for him. As this patient but yet courageous Way of Suffering made the
Persecutors Work very heavy and wearisome unto them, so the Courage
and Patience of the Sufferers, using no Resistance, nor bringing any
Weapons to defend themselves, nor seeking any Ways Revenge upon such
Occasions, did secretly smite the Hearts of the Persecutors, and made
their Chariot-wheels go on heavily. Thus after much and many kind
of Sufferings thus patiently borne, which to rehearse would make a
Volume of itself, which may in due Time be published to the Nations
(for we have them upon Record) a Kind of _negative Liberty_ has been
obtained; so that at present, for the most Part, we meet together
without Disturbance from the Magistrate. But on the contrary, most
_Protestants_, when they have not the Allowance and Toleration of the
Magistrate, meet only in Secret, and hide their Testimony; and if they
be discovered, if there be any Probability of making their Escape by
Force (or suppose it were by cutting off those that seek them out) they
will do it; whereby they lose the Glory of their Sufferings, by not
appearing as the innocent Followers of Christ, nor having a Testimony
of their Harmlesness in the Hearts of their Pursuers, their Fury, by
such Resistance, is the more kindled against them. As to this last
Part, of resisting such as persecute them, they can lay Claim to no
Precept from Christ, nor any Example of him or his Apostles approved.
[Sidenote: Object.] But as to the first Part, for fleeing and meeting
secretly, and not openly testifying for the Truth, they usually object
that Saying of Christ, Matt. x. 23. _When they persecute you in this
City, flee ye into another._ And _Acts_ ix. 4. _That the Disciples met
secretly for fear of the Jews._ And _Acts_ ix. 25. _That _Paul_ was let
out of _Damascus_ in a Basket down by the Wall._
[Sidenote: _Answ._] To all which I _answer_, _First_, As to that Saying
of Christ, it is a Question if it had any further Relation than to
that particular Message with which he sent them to the _Jews_; Yea,
the latter End of the Words seems expresly to hold forth so much;
_For ye shall not have gone over the Cities of _Israel_ till the Son
of Man be come_. Now a particular Practice or Command for a particular
Time will not serve for a Precedent to any at this Day to shun the
Cross of Christ. But supposing this Precept to reach farther, it
must be so understood to be made use of only according as the Spirit
giveth Liberty, else no Man that could flee might suffer Persecution.
[Sidenote: _Fleeing in Time of Persecution not allowed_.] How then did
not the Apostles _John_ and _Peter_ flee, when they were the first Time
persecuted at _Jerusalem_? But, on the contrary, went the next Day,
after they were discharged by the Council, and preached boldly to the
People. But indeed many are but too capable to stretch such Sayings as
these for Self-preservation, and therefore have great Ground to fear,
when they interpret them, that they shun to witness for Christ, for
fear of Hurt to themselves, lest they mistake them. As for that private
Meeting of the Disciples, we have only an Account of the Matter of
Fact, but that suffices not to make of it a Precedent for us; and Men’s
Aptness to imitate them in that (which, for aught we know, might have
been an Act of Weakness) and not in other Things of a contrary Nature,
shews that it is not a true Zeal to be like those Disciples, but indeed
a Desire to preserve themselves, which moves them so to do. _Lastly_,
As to that of _Paul_’s being conveyed out of _Damascus_, the Case
was singular, and is not to be doubted but it was done by a special
Allowance from God, who having designed him to be a principal Minister
of his Gospel, saw meet in his Wisdom to disappoint the wicked Counsel
of the _Jews_. But our Adversaries have no such Pretext for _fleeing_,
whose _Fleeing_ proceeds from Self-preservation, not from immediate
Revelation. And that _Paul_ made not this the Method of his Procedure,
appears, in that at another Time, notwithstanding the Persuasion of his
Friends, and certain Prophecies of his Sufferings to come, he would
not be dissuaded from going up to _Jerusalem_, which according to the
forementioned Rule he should have done.