Page:History of Freedom.djvu/217

 PROTESTANT THEORY OF PERSECUTION 173

would give to the clergy a tyrannical power. 1 It is true that the demoralisation which ensued on the destruction of the old ecclesiastical authority rendered a strict attention on the part of the State to the affairs of religion highly necessary.2 The private and confidential cOffilTIunications of the German reformers give a more hideous picture of the moral condition of the generation which followed the Reformation than they draw in their published writings of that which preceded it. It is on this account that Bucer so strongly insisted on the necessity of the interference of the civil power in support of the discipline of the Church. The Swiss reformers, between whom and the Saxons Bucer forms a connecting link, differ from them in one respect, which greatly influenced their notions of govern- ment. Luther lived under a monarchy which was almost absolute, and in which the common people, who were of Slavonic origin, were in the position of the most abject servitude; but the divines of Zürich and Bern were re- pu blicans. They did not therefore en tertain his exalted views as to the irresistible might of the State; and in- stead of requiring as absolute a theory of the indefecti- bility of the civil power as he did, they were satisfied with obtaining a preponderating influence for themselves. Where the power was in hands less favourable to their cause, they had less inducement to exaggerate its rights. Z\vingli abolishes both the distinction between Church and State and the notion of ecclesiastical authority. In his system the civil rulers possess the spiritual functions; and, as their foremost duty is the preservation and promo- tion of the true religion, it is their business to preach. As magistrates are too much occupied with other things, they must delegate the ministry of the word to preachers, for whose orthodoxy they have to provide. They are bound to establish uniformity of doctrine, and to defend it 1 Baum, p. 492; Erbkam, Protestantische Sekten, p. 5 8 1.
 * a Ursinus writes to Bullinger: .. Liberavit nes Deus ab idolatria: succedit

licentia infinita et horribilis divini nominis, ecc1esiae doctrinae purioris et sacra. mentorum prophanatio et sub pedibus porcorum et canum, conniventibus atque utinam non defendentibus iis qui prohibere suo loco debebant, concu1catio n (Sudhoff, Olevianlts und Ursinus, p, 340).