guftus to forbid not only atheism, but alfo all foreign divine-worship, both from religious and political principles. 'Worship,' faid he to him, 'the gods yourself, and compel others to do the fame. Abhor all thofe who would make any innovations in religion, and punish them.-Suffer no atheists, magicians, &c.'-Tiberius expelled from Rome all who were devoted to the Egyptian, Jewish, and in general, to ány foreign divine-worship": four thou fand of thefe men were, merely for the fake of their religion, fent to Sardinia to fight against the robbers, fi ob gra vitatem cœli interiiffent, vile damnum;" and all the reft were chafed out of Italy". I have already spoken of the hard and in part cruel perfecutions of the Chriftians. Even the mild Trajan commanded Pliny to execute the Chrif Dio Caffius, Lib. LIÍ. tians, tians. Not only the Romans, but alfo the Grecians, and in general all idolaters readily adopted foreign idólatrous worship: it was in fact a part of their religion; for they imagined that every nation, and every affair in the world had its peculiar god, and believed themselves to be fafe in proportion to the number of the gods that they worshipped. But with fo much greater feverity did they perfecute all foreign religions not established by the ftate; and more particularly the Chriftian, because it condemned all idolatrous worship, and all flavish adoration of the emperours. The laws, customs, and fentiments of the Egyptians, Grecians, and Romans put this matter beyond all doubt. Plinii Epift. Lib. X. ep. xcvii.-Cornelii van Bynkerfhoek opufcula, De cultu religionis peregrina apud vet. Roman. et Jo. Dan. ab Hoven Compenfia Fafic. I. p. 33 f. SECT. The doctrine of Chriftianity on this fubject. CHRISTIANITY was the very first fyftem of religion which introduced among men an unlimited, enlightened and charitable toleration of all who profeffed religious articles different from its own. It is true, that the Mofaic law tolerated ftrangers, without compelling them to embrace the Ifraelitish religion but they were obliged to renounce the worship of idols; and every idolater was punished with death. A severity which was rendered neceffary by the exifting fituation of the world, and the vices and cruelties and affaffinations, infeparably connected with the idolatrous worship of the times. The New Teftament here alfo extends and exalts virtue. No man, according to its laws, fhall be defpifed on account of his religious opinions, be they ever fo abfurd and injurious; ftill lefs fhall he be ftigmatifed by mortifying and calumniating appellations; and least of all condemned and pronounced incapable of the favour and blifs of God. It commands, further, that Christianity fhall not be preffed on any heretic, and leaft of all through corporeal means. That thofe appointed for that purpose fhall explain the Chriftian religion to him with found arguments and mildnefs; but leave the choice entirely to his own judgement. That above all, the Chriftian fhall defire and hope for the falvation of every man whofe religious fentiments are erroneous, even though he be a contemner of religion or an atheist; love him as cordially as he would a believing brother; act with benevolence and beneficence towards him; and pray to God for his happiness. 6 pinefs". That, in this manner, the Chriftian fhall on the one fide avoid and flee from every error; abominate in particular thofe which are pernicious to the general welfare, confequently moft of all errors in religious concerns: and labour on the contrary with all earneftness and zeal after truth, particularly in religion, the higheft concern of man. On the other fide, he shall be attached with brotherly love to him who errs, is deceived, or led into fin; recommend to him at proper opportunities the truth with firmness and fervency; endeavour to win him by every action of kindness and beneficence: but give up to his own judgement the perfect liberty of choice. Such a tolerance, abfolutely unlimited, and purified from all indifference towards the truth, is taught, and indeed was first taught by Christianity!-In y Matth. x. 13. John vi. 66-68. 2 Cor. i. 24. iv. 2, 3, and other places. BB 3 Rom. xiv. tolerance |