The Virginia Gazette

That Politeness and Humanity are not always inseparable, we have a glaring Instance in the French Court's Proceedings against her Protestant Subjects.

Under Louis the XIV. Dissenters from his Religion were treated with almost as much Barbarity as the Christians were under the Tyrants of Heathen Rome; and the same cruel Spirit still prevails under the Government of Louis le bien Aime.

Nothing can be more civil and complaisant, more polite and seemingly benevolent, than French Courtiers and Statesmen.

How then comes it to pass, that they are so severe and implacable to their Fellow-Subjects that differ from them in religious Matters?----The Answer is obvious.

Error cannot bear Contradiction, especially when Interest goes Hand in Hand with It.

The Clergy stimulate the Government against the Calvinists, by representing them as secret Enemies to Monarchy, though they have shown themselves as dutiful Subjects as any, while they were used with Justice and Lenity.

But the Bishops and other Church Dignitaries in France, like Demetrius and his Craftsmen, are apprehensive that the Growth of these Sectaries might in Time send them all a-begging.

They make a mighty Sputter about their Infallibility, and seem to lay great Stress on the Promise that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against the Church; and yet they dare not take Gamaliel's Counsel to the Jewish Sanhedrin, but plainly discover a Distrust of the Goodness of their Cause, and a fixed Resolution to maintain their Church by other Arms than those which the Gospel prescribes.

If they were Members of Christ's Flock, they would be humane and charitable to those that are not of their Fold, as the most effectual Way to bring them in.

But the Advocates for Persecution will say, that the Protestants of France are not imprisoned, tortured, and killed, on Account of their religious Opinions only, which they are allowed to keep privately to themselves, but for assembling to preach and pray, which is forbid by the King's Edicts: and so they are persecuted only for Disobedience to the Sovereign's Orders.--A pretty Quibble indeed!

The Civil Magistrate's Power reaches only to the punishing of Men, for Actions detrimental to Civil Society, not for Opinions.

Whilst Men desire only Liberty to worship God according to the Dictates of their Conscience, and in all other Matters are willing to submit to the known Laws of the Land, no Prince that values his Reputation for Sense, Equity and Humanity, will make a new Law, to entrap such Men, and bring them under the Denomination of Rebels, to glut the Cruelty of furious Bigots, and dissipate the Fears of ambitious, rapacious Churchmen.