Page:History of Freedom.djvu/214

 170

ESSAYS ON LIBERTY

tradiction with the facts and principles on which the intolerance actually existing among Catholics was founded. Spanish intolerance has been infinitely more sanguinary than Swedish; but in Spain, independently of the interests of religion, there were strong political and social reasons to justify persecution without seeking any theory to prop it up; whilst in Sweden all those practical considerations have either been wanting, or have been opposed to persecution, \vhich has consequently had no justification except the theory of the Reformation. The only instance in which the Protestant theory has been adopted by Catholics is the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Towards the end of his life, Melanchthon, having ceased to be a strict Lutheran, receded some\vhat from his former uncompromising position, and was adverse to a strict scrutiny into minor theological differences. He drew a distinction between errors that required punish- ment and variations that were not of practical importance. 1 The English Calvinists who took refuge in Germany in the reign of Mary Tudor were ungraciously received by those who were stricter Lutherans than Melanchthon. He was consulted concerning the course to be adopted towards the refugees, and he recommended toleration. But both at Wesel and at Frankfort his advice was, to his great disgust, overruled. 2

1 c c If the French and English community at Frankfort shared the errors of Servetus or Thamer, or other enemies of the Symbols, or the errors of the Ana- baptists on infant baptism, against the authority of the State, etc" I should faithfully advise and strongly recommend that they should be soon driven away; (or the civil power is bound to prevent and to punish proved blasphemy and sedition, But I find that this community is orthodox in the symbolical articles on the Son of God, and in other articles of the Symbol. . ., If the faith of the citizens in every town were inquired into, what trouble and confusion would not arise in many countries and towns!" (ix. 179), 2 Schmidt, Philipp Jl,fela11chthon, p. 640. His exhortations to the Landgrave to put down the Zwinglians are characteristic: c. The Zwinglians, without waiting for the Council, persecute the Papists and the Anabaptists; why must it be wrong for others to prohibit their indefensible doctrine independent of the Council?" Philip replied: If Forcibly, to prohibit a doctrine which neither contradicts the articles of faith nor encourages sedition, I do not think right,, , , Vlhen Luther began to write and to preach, he admonished and instructed the Government that it had no right to forbid books or to preyent preaching, and that its office did not extend so far, but that it had only to govern the body and goods, , , , I had not heard before that the Zwinglians persecute the Papists; but if they abolish