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have been worse men than they themselves are； ought to remember that
one of those persecutors was Saint Paul。
Let us add one more example； the most striking of all； if the
impressiveness of an error is measured by the wisdom and virtue of him
who falls into it。 If ever any one； possessed of power； had grounds
for thinking himself the best and most enlightened among his
contemporaries； it was the Emperor Marcus Aurelius。 Absolute monarch
of the whole civilised world； he preserved through life not only the
most unblemished justice； but what was less to be expected from his
Stoical breeding； the tenderest heart。 The few failings which are
attributed to him were all on the side of indulgence： while his
writings； the highest ethical product of the ancient mind； differ
scarcely perceptibly； if they differ at all； from the most
characteristic teachings of Christ。 This man； a better Christian in
all but the dogmatic sense of the word than almost any of the
ostensibly Christian sovereigns who have since reigned； persecuted
Christianity。 Placed at the summit of all the previous attainments
of humanity； with an open； unfettered intellect； and a character which
led him of himself to embody in his moral writings the Christian
ideal； he yet failed to see that Christianity was to be a good and not
an evil to the world； with his duties to which he was so deeply
penetrated。 Existing society he knew to be in a deplorable state。
But such as it was； he saw； or thought he saw； that it was held
together； and prevented from being worse； by belief and reverence of
the received divinities。 As a ruler of mankind； he deemed it his
duty not to suffer society to fall in pieces； and saw not how； if
its existing ties were removed； any others could be formed which could
again knit it together。 The new religion openly aimed at dissolving
these ties： unless； therefore； it was his duty to adopt that religion；
it seemed to be his duty to put it down。 Inasmuch then as the theology
of Christianity did not appear to him true or of divine origin；
inasmuch as this strange history of a crucified God was not credible
to him； and a system which purported to rest entirely upon a
foundation to him so wholly unbelievable； could not be foreseen by him
to be that renovating agency which； after all abatements； it has in
fact proved to be； the gentlest and most amiable of philosophers and
rulers； under a solemn sense of duty； authorised the persecution of
Christianity。
To my mind this is one of the most tragical facts in all history。 It
is a bitter thought； how different a thing the Christianity of the
world might have been； if the Christian faith had been adopted as
the religion of the empire under the auspices of Marcus Aurelius
instead of those of Constantine。 But it would be equally unjust to him
and false to truth to deny； that no one plea which can be urged for
punishing anti…Christian teaching was wanting to Marcus Aurelius for
punishing； as he did； the propagation of Christianity。 No Christian
more firmly believes that Atheism is false； and tends to the
dissolution of society； than Marcus Aurelius believed the same
things of Christianity； he who； of all men then living； might have
been thought the most capable of appreciating it。 Unless any one who
approves of punishment for the promulgation of opinions； flatters
himself that he is a wiser and better man than Marcus Aurelius… more
deeply versed in the wisdom of his time； more elevated in his
intellect above it… more earnest in his search for truth； or more
single…minded in his devotion to it when found； let him abstain from
that assumption of the joint infallibility of himself and the
multitude； which the great Antoninus made with so unfortunate a
result。
Aware of the impossibility of defending the use of punishment for
restraining irreligious opinions by any argument which will not
justify Marcus Antoninus； the enemies of religious freedom； when
hard pressed； occasionally accept this consequence； and say； with
Dr。 Johnson； that the persecutors of Christianity were in the right；
that persecution is an ordeal through which truth ought to pass； and
always passes successfully； legal penalties being； in the end；
powerless against truth； though sometimes beneficially effective
against mischievous errors。 This is a form of the argument for
religious intolerance sufficiently remarkable not to be passed without
notice。
A theory which maintains that truth may justifiably be persecuted
because persecution cannot possibly do it any harm； cannot be
charged with being intentionally hostile to the reception of new
truths； but we cannot commend the generosity of its dealing with the
persons to whom mankind are indebted for them。 To discover to the
world something which deeply concerns it； and of which it was
previously ignorant； to prove to it that it had been mistaken on
some vital point of temporal or spiritual interest； is as important
a service as a human being can render to his fellow creatures； and
in certain cases； as in those of the early Christians and of the
Reformers； those who think with Dr。 Johnson believe it to have been
the most precious gift which could be bestowed on mankind。 That the
authors of such splendid benefits should be requited by martyrdom；
that their reward should be to be dealt with as the vilest of
criminals； is not； upon this theory； a deplorable error and
misfortune； for which humanity should mourn in sackcloth and ashes；
but the normal and justifiable state of things。 The propounder of a
new truth； according to this doctrine； should stand as stood； in the
legislation of the Locrians； the proposer of a new law； with a
halter round his neck； to be instantly tightened if the public
assembly did not； on hearing his reasons； then and there adopt his
proposition。 People who defend this mode of treating benefactors
cannot be supposed to set much value on the benefit； and I believe
this view of the subject is mostly confined to the sort of persons who
think that new truths may have been desirable once； but that we have
had enough of them now。
But； indeed； the dictum that truth always triumphs over
persecution is one of those pleasant falsehoods which men repeat after
one another till they pass into commonplaces； but which all experience
refutes。 History teems with instances of truth put down by
persecution。 If not suppressed for ever； it may be thrown back for
centuries。 To speak only of religious opinions： the Reformation
broke out at least twenty times before Luther； and was put down。
Arnold of Brescia was put down。 Fra Dolcino was put down。 Savonarola
was put down。 The Albigeois were put down。 The Vaudois were put
down。 The Lollards were put down。 The Hussites were put down。 Even
after the era of Luther； wherever persecution was persisted in； it was
successful。 In Spain； Italy； Flanders； the Austrian empire；
Protestantism was rooted out； and； most likely； would have been so
in England； had Queen Mary lived； or Queen Elizabeth died。 Persecution
has always succeeded； save where the heretics were too strong a
party to be effectually persecuted。 No reasonable person can doubt
that Christianity might have been extirpated in the Roman Empire。 It
spread； and became predominant； because the persecutions were only
occasional； lasting but a short time； and separated by long
intervals of almost undisturbed propagandism。 It is a piece of idle
sentimentality that truth； merely as truth； has any inherent power
denied to error of prevailing against the dungeon and the stake。 Men
are not more zealous for truth than they often are for error； and a
sufficient application of legal or even of social penalties will
generally succeed in stopping the propagation of either。 The real
advantage which truth has consists in this； that when an opinion is
true； it may be extinguished once； twice； or many times； but in the
course of ages there will generally be found persons to rediscover it；
until some one of its reappearances falls on a time when from
favourable circumstances it escapes persecution until it has made such
head as to withstand all subsequent attempts to suppress it。
It will be said； that we do not now put to death the introducers
of new opinions： we are not like our fathers who slew the prophets； we
even build sepulchres to them。 It is true we no longer put heretics to
death； and the amount of penal infliction which modern feeling would
probably tolerate； even against the most obnoxious opinions； is not
sufficient to extirpate them。 But let us not flatter ourselves that we
are yet free from the stain even of legal persecution。 Penalties for
opinion； or at least for