Page:History of Freedom.djvu/241

 POLITICAL THOUGHTS ON THE CHURCH 197

to be incompatible with its spirit and with its interest as well. U Religion," says Lactantius (Inst, Div. v. 19), "is to be defended by exhorting, not by slaying, not by severity, but by patience; not by crime, but by faith: . . . 1zihil enÙn est ta11t volu1ltariu11Z qua1/t religio." 1 U Deus," says St. Hilary of Poi tiers (U ad Constantium," Opp. i. p. 122 I c)," obsequio non eget necessario, non requirit coactam confessionem." 2 St. Athanasius and St. John Chrysostom protest in like manner against the intemperate proselytism of the day.s For the result which followed the general adoption of Christianity threw an unfavourable light on the motives which had caused it. I t became evident that the heathen world was incapable of being regenerated, that the weeds were choking the good seed. The corruption increased in the Church to such a degree that the Christians, unable to divest themselves of the Roman notion of the orbis terraru1Jz, deemed the end of the world at hand. St. Augustine (serlJZo cv.) rebukes this superstitious fear: "Si non manet civitas quae nos carnaliter genuit, manet quae nos spiritualiter genu it. Numquid (Dominus) dormitando aedificium suum perdidit, aut non custo- diendo hostes admisit? . . . Quid expavescis quia pereunt regna terrena? Ideo tibi coeleste promissum est, ne cum terrenis perires. . . . Transient quae fecit ipse Deus; quanto citius quod condidit Romulus. . . . Non ergo deficiamus, fratres: finis erit terrenis omnibus regnis. JJ4 But even some of the fathers themselves \vere filled \vith despair at the spectacle of the universal demoralisation: U Totius mundi una vox Christus est. Horret animus temporum nostrorum ruinas persequi. . . . Romanus orbis 1 II There is nothing so voluntary as religion." 2 II God does not want unwilling worship. nor does he require a forced repentance, .. 3 Athanas, i. 363 Band 384 C }J.1] civa'}'Ká,{'E'Lv dXXå. 7rd8E'LJI U not compulsion. but persuasion" (Chrysost. ii. 540 A and c), 4 .. If the State of which we are the secular children passes away, that of which we are spiritual children passes not. Has God gone to sleep and let the house be destroyed, or let in the enemy through want of watchfulness? v"hy fearest thou when earthly kingdoms fall ? H ven is promised thee, that thou mightest not fall 'With them, The works of God Himself shall pass: how much sooner the works of Romulus I Let us not quail, my brethren; all earthly kingdoms must come to an end."