The ancient contest between theHomoousians and the Arians, — the first controversy the churches were agitated withal afttn- they enjoyed
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a Christian magistrate (and may justly be supposed to be carried on to the advantage of error beyond all that went before it, because of the civil magistrates interesting themselves in the quarrel), — was not carried out to violence and blood before the several jaersuasions lighted on several dominions and state interests : as between the Goths, Van- dals, and the rest of their companions on one side, who were Arians ; and the Romans on the other. In all whose bickerings, notwithstand- ing, the honoiu" of severity did still attend the Arians, especially in Africk, where they persecuted the Catholics -with horrible outrage and fury : — five thousand at one time were barbarously exposed to all man- ner of cruel villany. Some eruptions of passion had been before among emper-ors themselves; but still with this difference, that they who Arianized carried the bell for zeal against dissenters. Witness Valens, who gave place in persecution to none of his pagan predeces- sors, killing, burning, slaying, making havoc of all orthodox professors ; yea, perhaps that which he did — at least was done by the countenance of his authority — at Alexandria, upon the placing in of Lucius an Arian in the room of Athanasius, thrusting Peter beside the chair, who was rightly placed according to the custom of those times; perhaps, I say, the tumults, rapes, murders, then and there acted, did outgo what before had been done by the Pagans. See Theodoret, Eccles. Hist., lib. iv. cap. 19. It were tedious to pursue the lying, slandering invectives, banishments, deaths, tumults, murders, which attend this council all along, after once they began to invoke the help of the emperors one against another; yet in this space some magistrates, weary with persecuting ways, did not only abstain practically from force and violence, — as most of the orthodox emperors did, — but also enacted laws for the freedom of such as dissented from them. Jovi- anus, a pious man, grants all peace that will be peaceable ; offended only with them who would offer violence to others, Socrates Eccles. Hist., lib. iii. cap. 25. Gratianus makes a law, whereby he granted liberty to all sects, but Manichees, Photinians, and Eunomians, So- zom. Eccles. Hist., lib. vii. cap. 1. Many more the lilce examples might be produced.
The next difference about the worship of God, to the Arian and its branches, that was controverted in letters of blood, was about images and their worship ; in which, though some furious princes — in opposi- tion to that growing idolatry which, by popes, bishops, priests, and especially monks, was in those days violently urged — did mingle some of their blood with their sacrifices; yet not to the tithe almost of what thelconolatras, getting uppermost, returned upon them and their adherents.
This, if occasion were, might be easily demonstrated from Paulus Diaconus, and others. After this, about the year 850, — about which
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time the Iconolatrse having ensnared the west by polity (the posterity of Charles the Great, who had stoutly opposed the worship of images, complying with the popes, the fathers of that worship, for their own ends), and wearied the east by cruelty, — that contest growing towards an end, the whole power of punishing for religion became subservient to the dictates of the pope, the kings of the earth giving their power to the beast ; unto which point things had been working all along ; — from thence, I say, until the death of Servetus in Geneva, the pur- suit of Gentilis, Blandrata, and some other madmen in Helvetia, for the space well-nigh of seven hundred years, — the chiefest season of the reign of Satan and Antichrist, — all punishing for religion was managed by the authority of Rome, and against the poor witnesses of Jesus, prophesying in sackcloth in the several regions of the west. And what streams of blood were poured out, what millions of mart}Ts slain in that space, is known to all. Hence Bellarmine boasteth that the Albigenses were extinguished by the sword, De Laic. cap. xxii. It is true, there were laws enacted of old by Theodosius, Valentinian, Martian, — as C. De. haBreticis, 1 ; Manichffiis, 1 ; Arianis, 1 ; Unicui- que, which last provideth for the death of seducers; but yet, tnily, though they were made by Catholics, and in the favour of Catholics, considering to what end they were used, I can look upon them no otherwise but as very bottom-stones of the tower of Babel.
This, then, in its latitude proving so pernicious to the profession of the gospel, — having for so long driven the woman into the wilderness and truth into corners, — being the main engine whereby the tower of Babel was built, and that which at this day they cr}'- gxace unto, as the foundation-stone of the whole antichristian fabric,^ — we had need be cautious what use we make (as one terms it well) of the broom of Antichrist, to sweep the church of Christ. Whether that we are in the truth, and they blinded with error of whom we have spoken, be a sufficient plea, we shall see anon. In the meantime we may do well to remember what Louis XII. of France said, yea, swore, con- cerning the inhabitants of Mirindol, whom, by the instigation of his prelates, he had ordered to be slain, when news was brought him what was their conversation and way of life : " Let them be heretics if you please," saith he, " but assuredly they ai-e better than I and my Catholics." Take heed lest the punisheil be better than the punishers.