I now desire to know whether toleration or non-toleration appears to be of divine prescription? Let those who would resemble Christ be martyrs and not executioners.
CHAPTER XV. TESTIMONIES AGAINST PERSECUTION.
It is an impious act to deprive men of liberty in matters of religion, or prevent them from making choice of a God. No God nor man would be pleased with a forced service.—Apologetic, chap. xxiv.
Were violence to be used in defence of the faith, the bishops would oppose it.—St. Hilarius, lib. i.
Religion when forced ceases to be religion; we should persuade and not compel. Religion cannot be commanded.—Lactantius, lib. iii.
It is detestable heresy to endeavor to bring over by violence, bodily punishments, or imprisonments, those we cannot convince by reasoning.—St. Athanasius, lib. i.
Nothing is more contradictory to true religion than constraint.—St. Justin, Martyr, lib. v.
Is it for us to persecute those whom God tolerates? said St. Augustine, before his dispute with the Donatists had soured his disposition.
Let no violence be done to the Jews.—The 56th Canon of the 4th Council of Toledo.
Advise but compel not.—St. Bernard’s Letters.