HISTORY

OF THE

RISE AND INFLUENCE

OF THE SPIRIT OF

RATIONALISM IN EUROPE.

BY

W. E. H. LECKY, M. A.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

NEW YORK

D. APPLETON AND COMPANY,

443 & 445 BROADWAY.

1866.

Men who believe the Doctrine of Salvation in the Church alone will always persccute-
Success of Persecution shown in the Cases of the Japanese Christians, the Albigenses,
the Spanish Protestants, the Massacre of St. Bartholomew, and the Laws of Eliza-
beth-Weakness of the Objection derived from the History of Ireland-And from
that of the English Dissenters--True Causes of Opinions-Influence of the Levitical
Laws on Persecution-Opinions of the Fathers determined chiefly by their Circum-
stances-Uncompromising Tolerance of Lactantius-Constantine persecutes the
Jews-And the Heretics-And the Pagans-Review of their Condition before Theo-
dosius-Destruction of the Temples in the Country Districts-Libanius-Even in
the Days of Persecution Cyprian regarded the Levitical System as the foundation of
dealings with Heretics-Theology of Persecution systematised by Augustine-His
Character and Influence-Aversion to the Effusion of Blood-St. Martin and Am-
brose-Opinion that Ecclesiastics should under no circumstances cause the Death of
Men-Increase of the Corporate Action of the Church stimulates Persecution-The
first Monks-Ruin of Paganism-The Church was then for several Centuries an al-
most unmixed Blessing-Decomposition of the Medieval Society renews Heresies-
Which are encountered by Persecution-Innocent III.-Unparalleled Magnitude and
Atrocity of the Persecution perpetrated by Catholicism-Protestants persecuted not
so atrociously, but quite as generally, as Catholics-Examples in Germany, England,
Ireland, Scotland, France, Sweden, America, and Holland-Persecution advocated or
practised by Luther, Calvin, Beza, Jurieu, Knox, Cranmer, Ridley, Melanchthon, etc.
-Socinus and Zuinglius tolerant-Castellio, his Life and Writings-Answered by

Calvin and Beza-Persecution by Protestants peculiarly inexcusable-Comparativo

liberality of Erasmus, Hôpital, and More-Position assigned by Bossuet to Socinians

and Anabaptists-Persecution a positive Dogma among Protestants-Toleration fa-

voured by the Mingling of Religions produced by the Reformation-And by the

Marriage of the Clergy-And by the greater flexibility of Protestantism-Proof of this

is in a comparison of Tolerance in France and England-French Tolerance based on

three forms of Scepticism-Montaigne, the Sceptical Man of the World-Descartes,

the Sceptical Philosopher-Bayle, the Sceptical Scholar-The Compelle intrare —

Political circumstances favourable to Toleration-Comparison of the Regency and the

Restoration-Influence of Vice on Historic Development-Voltaire-Intolerance of

Rousseau-Revolution removes all Civil Disabilities from Jews and Protestants-

Catholicism incapable of adopting Religious Liberty-Bull of Gregory XVI.—In

Protestant Countries, Tolerance the result and measure of the advance of Rationalism

-Writings of the great Divines of the seventeenth century lead to it--First Move-

ment during the Rebellion-Policy of Cromwell-Contrast between the Independ-

ents and Presbyterians-Harrington-Milton-Jeremy Taylor-Repeal of the writ

'De Hæretico comburendo'-Intolerance of Hobbes-Attitude of the Clergy during

the Revolution-Toleration Act-Abrogation of the Censorship--Establishment of

the Scottish Kirk-Complete Tolerance of Protestantism-Review of the influence

of Rationalism on the Method of Enquiry

CHAPTER V.

ON THE SECULARISATION OF POLITICS.

Page 11

The Secularisation of Politics consists of two parts: the elimination of Theological In-
terests from the Motives of Policy, and the substitution of a Secular for a Theologi-
cal Principle as the Basis of Authority-Religion and Patriotism the chief Moral
Principles of Society-The First the Moral Principle of Antiquity-Type of Charac-
ter it formed-Patriotism the Moral Principle of Judaism-Corresponds to the Spirit
of Sect in Religion-Christianity in the Roman Empire triumphed on the condition
of transforming itself under the influence of the Spirit of Sect--Complete ascendency
of Theology-The Crusades-The Church replaced the Civil Government when the
latter proved inefficient-The Truce of God-Contest between the Regal and Eccle-
siastical Power-A Comparison of the Crusades and the Religious Wars shows the
declining influence of Theology-Alliances of Francis I. and Richelieu-Close of Re-
ligious Wars-The Inquisition separates Religious Questions from Politics-Sketch
of its Constitution and Progress-The Doctrine of the Incapacity of the Magistrate
to decide Religious Questions, which is the Basis of Modern Tolerance, first advo-
cated in favour of the Inquisition-Collisions with the Civil Power-Difficulty of De
fining Ecclesiastical Offences-Unpopularity attaching to the Inquisition-Decline of
Persecution-Suppression of Heretical Books still continued-Its prevalence in the
Early Church-Reuchlin-System of Religious Disabilities next abolished-Change
in France effected in 1830-That in England accelerated by Irish Policy-The Irish