The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-12-09
Foa rHr CENTRAL PREsBrrERlAs.
Fear of Persecution Unnecessary.

tians would persecute, if they had the
power. Sometimes this statement is
made as conclusion drawn from the his
tory of what has been done in past ages
At other times it is deduced from the alb
stract proposition, that all men love pow
er, and that none ever give it up who find
themselves in possession of it. In either
case great injustice is done to those who
profess to be the followers of the Saviour
in our country.
1t must be acknowledged, that it is not
very long 2nce all men believed, that it
was right to put obstinate and unreclaim-
able hsretics to death. Such was the
case vheL the great Reformation took
place in the sixteenth century. Shortly
after that event occurred, few learned
men began to advocate the doctrine of
liberation. They maintained that the
right of private judgment ought to be
allowed to all, who were in sincerity seek
ing after the truth. This doctrine was
at first bitterly opposed. The laws of
every country in Europe required that
all should conform 70 the established re
ligion. When any departed from it, they
exposed themselves to the penalty Of
fines, imprisonment, and death itself.
In countries where the Roman Catho-
lie religion prevailed the Church itself
could persecute. II had the power of
condemning heretics, and of handing
them over to the civil authorities for
punishment. In all Protestant countries
the right of prosecuting heretics and
non-conformists belonged to the State,
and laws were passed to prevent persons
from introducing new forms of worship,
or advocating sentiments at variance with
the theological creed, which had been
embraced by the majority of the people.
Consequently We find that the work of
persecution was vigorously carried on in
Europe for many years after the Refor-
nation. Protestants and Roman Catho
lies both prosecuted, but not to the same
extent. Religious intolerance gradually
became more and more odious, and soon
ceased altogether in lands where the Pro-
testant faith prevailed.
The fires of Smith6eld and the hor-
rors of the St. Bartholomew massacre
had great tendency to render persecu
tion for opinions sake hateful and un-
popular with all thinking men. At
Smithfeld, under the reign of the bloody
Mary, some of the most pious men and
eminent scholars in England were burnt
at the stake, and the flames that con-
sumed them cast light over all the hills
and vallies of England that still shines
to warn her people of the evils of intol
erance. The blood of the victims that
was so cruelty shed at Paris, when the
great bell of the cathedral tolled as sig
nal for the work of slaughter to CON-
mence on the eve of St. Bartholomew,
has filled the world with deep adherence
of the bigotry which would employ the
sword to propagate its peculiar faith and
to silence those who are opposed to it.
Is the world never to grow wiser, and
must it be taken for granted, that every
denomination of Christians would perse
cute if they had the power to do so, be-
cause such was the case four centuries
since? That is certainly not very fair
way of arguing. Things cannot stand
still in our world. The march of truth
is onwards, and there is no subject with
reference to which greater changes have
taken place than this whole matter of
prosecuting people on account of the re-
ligiOus sentiments they entertain.
The civil wars that were carried on in
England for so many years after the head
of Charles l. was brought to the block,
and the persecution of Dissenters under
the reign of James H., when Judge
Jeffries became so notorious for his bar
barous cruelty, were chiefly instrumental
in firmly establishing the principles of
civil and religious liberty in the island of
Great Britain. When the act of tol
eratioo was passed on the accession of
William of Orange to the throne, the
work of persecution may be said to have
ceased in our fatherland. The Revolu-
tionary war put an end to it in our coun-
try. Indeed there was not much in it
before, and every year since, the public
mind has become more and more opposed
to bigotry and intolerance of every kind.
1t is especially Odious when it manifests
itself in opposition to any particular sect
or creed. If any sect among us, how
ever small, can only make out to raise
the cry of persecution, it is sure of find
ing many adherents, May we not then
claim the privilege of being considered
sincere, when we professed to be in prin-
ciple opposed to every thing like intOl-
erance, or persecution? In asking to be
so considered, we do not ask for much
In all that we have said on this sub
iect, we desire to be considered as sim