The object of this work, is to give a brief history of persecution7 since the first introduction of christianity, till the present time. In doing this, we have commenced with the martyrdom of Stephen, and following the course of events, have brought the History of persecution down to the year 1830. In all ages, we find that a disposition9 to persecute10 for opinion's sake, has been manifested by wicked men, whatever may have been their opinions or sentiments on religious subjects. The intolerant jew, and the bigoted11 pagan, have exhibited no more of a persecuting12 spirit, than the nominal13 professor of christianity, and the infidel and the avowed14 atheist15. Indeed, it seems to be an "inherent vice," in unsanctified nature to endeavour by the pressure of physical force, to restrain obnoxious16 sentiments, and to propagate favourite opinions. It is only when the heart has been renewed and sanctified by divine grace, that men have rightly understood and practised the true principles of toleration. We do not say that none but real christians17 have adopted correct views respecting civil and religious liberty;—but we affirm that these views owe their origin entirely18 to christianity and its genuine disciples19.
Though nearly all sects20 have persecuted21 their opponents, during a brief season, when men's passions were highly excited, and true religion had mournfully declined, yet no denomination22 except the papal hierarchy23, has adopted as an article of religious belief, and a principle of practical observance, the right to destroy heretics for opinion's sake. The decrees of councils, and the bulls of popes, issued in conformity24 with those decrees, place this matter beyond a doubt. Persecution, therefore, and popery, are inseparably connected; because claiming infallibility, what she has once done is right for her to do again; yea, must be done under similar circumstances, or the claims of infallibility[vi] given up. There is no escaping this conclusion. It is right, therefore, to charge upon popery, all the persecutions and horrid25 cruelties which have stained the annals of the papal church during her long and bloody26 career of darkness and crime. Every sigh which has been heaved in the dungeons27 of the Inquisition—every groan28 which has been extorted29 by the racks and instruments of torture, which the malice30 of her bigoted votaries31, stimulated32 by infernal wisdom, ever invented, has witnessed in the ear of God, against the "Mother of Harlots;" and those kings of the earth, who giving their power to the "Beast" have aided her in the cruel work of desolation and death. The valleys of Piedmont, the mountains of Switzerland, the vine crowned hills of Italy and France—and all parts of Germany and the low countries, have by turns, been lighted by the fires of burning victims, or crimsoned33 with the blood of those who have suffered death at the hands of the cruel emissaries of popery. England too, has drunken deep of the "wine of the fierceness of her wrath," as the blood of Cobham, and the ashes of the Smithfield martyrs can testify. Ireland and Scotland, likewise, have each been made the theatre of her atrocities34. But no where has the system been exhibited in its native unalleviated deformity, as in Spain, Portugal and their South American dependencies. For centuries, such a system of police was established by the Holy Inquisitors, that these countries resembled a vast whispering gallery, where the slightest murmur35 of discontent could be heard and punished. Such has been the effect of superstition36 and the terror of the Holy Office, upon the mind, as completely to break the pride of the Castillian noble, and make him the unresisting victim of every mendicant37 friar and "hemp-sandaled monk38."
Moreover, the papal system has opposed the march of civilization and liberty throughout the world, by denouncing the circulation of the Bible, and the general diffusion39 of knowledge. Turn to every land where popery predominates, and you will find an ignorant and debased peasantry, a profligate40 nobility, and a priesthood, licentious41, avaricious42, domineering and cruel.
But it may be asked, is popery the same system now as in the days of Cardinal43 Bonner and the "Bloody Mary." We answer yes. It is the boast of all catholics that their church never varies, either in spirit or in practice. For evidence of this, look at the demonstrations44 of her spirit in the persecutions in the south of France, for several years after the restoration of the Bourbons, in 1814. All have witnessed with feelings of detestation, the recent efforts of the apostolicals in Spain and Portugal, to crush the friends of civil and religious liberty in those[vii] ill-fated countries. The narrative45 of Asaad Shidiak, clearly indicates that the spirit of popery, has lost none of its ferocity and bloodthirstiness since the Piedmontese war, and the Bartholomew massacre46. Where it has power, its victims are still crushed by the same means which filled the dungeons of the inquisition, and fed the fires of the auto47 de fe.
This is the religion, to diffuse48 which, strenuous49 efforts are now making in this country. Already the papal church numbers more than half a million of communicants. This number is rapidly augmenting50 by emigration from catholic countries, and by the conversion51 of protestant children who are placed in their schools for instruction. The recent events in Europe, will, no doubt, send to our shores hundreds of jesuit priests, with a portion of that immense revenue which the papal church has hitherto enjoyed. Another thing, which will, no doubt, favour their views, is the disposition manifested among some who style themselves liberalists, to aid catholics in the erection of mass houses, colleges, convents and theological seminaries. This has been done in numerous instances; and when a note of warning is raised by the true friends of civil and religious liberty, they are treated as bigots by those very men who are contributing of their substance to diffuse and foster the most intolerant system of bigotry52, and cruel, unrelenting despotism, the world has ever seen. Other sects have persecuted during some periods of their history; but all now deny the right, and reprobate53 the practice except catholics. The right to destroy heretics, is a fundamental article in the creed54 of the papal church. And wherever her power is not cramped55, she still exercises that power to the destruction of all who oppose her unrighteous usurpation56. All the blood shed by all other christian8 sects, is no more in comparison to that shed by the papacy, than the short lived flow of a feeble rill, raised by the passing tempest, to the deep overwhelming tide of a mighty57 river, which receives as tributaries58, the waters of a thousand streams.
We trust the present work, therefore, will prove a salutary check to the progress of that system whose practical effects have ever been, and ever must be, licentiousness59, cruelty, and blood.
The narratives60 of Asaad Shidiak, Mrs. Judson, the persecutions in the West Indies, and in Switzerland, have never before been incorporated in any book of Martyrs. They serve to show the hideous61 nature of persecution, and the benefit of christian missions.
At the close of this volume will be found a sketch62 of the French revolution of 1789, as connected with persecution. It has long[viii] been the practice of infidels to sneer63 at christianity, because some of its nominal followers64 have exhibited a persecuting spirit. And although they knew that christianity condemns65 persecution in the most pointed66 manner, yet they have never had the generosity67 to discriminate68 between the system, and the abuse of the system by wicked men. Infidelity on the other hand, has nothing to redeem69 it. It imposes no restraint on the violent and lifelong passions of men. Coming to men with the Circean torch of licentiousness in her hand, with fair promises of freedom, she first stupefies the conscience, and brutifies the affections; and then renders her votaries the most abject70 slaves of guilt71 and crime. This was exemplified in the French revolution. For centuries, the bible had been taken away, and the key of knowledge wrested72 from the people. For a little moment, France broke the chains which superstition had flung around her. Not content, however, with this, she attempted to break the yoke73 of God: she stamped the bible in the dust, and proclaimed the jubilee74 of licentiousness, unvisited, either by present or future retribution. Mark the consequence. Anarchy75 broke in like a flood, from whose boiling surge blood spouted76 up in living streams, and on whose troubled waves floated the headless bodies of the learned, the good, the beautiful and the brave. The most merciless proscription77 for opinion's sake, followed. A word, a sigh, or a look supposed inimical to the ruling powers, was followed with instant death. The calm which succeeded, was only the less dreaded78, because it presented fewer objects of terrific interest, as the shock of the earthquake creates more instant alarm, than the midnight pestilence79, when it walks unseen, unknown amidst the habitations of a populous80 city.
The infidel persecutions in France and Switzerland, afford a solemn lesson to the people of this country. We have men among us now, most of them it is true, vagabond foreigners, who are attempting to propagate the same sentiments which produced such terrible consequences in France. Under various names they are scattering81 their pestilent doctrines82 through the country. As in France, they have commenced their attacks upon the bible, the Sabbath, marriage, and all the social and domestic relations of life. With flatteries and lies, they are attempting to sow the seeds of discontent and future rebellion among the people. The ferocity of their attacks upon those who differ from them, even while restrained by public opinion, shews what they would do, provided they could pull down our institutions and introduce disorder83 and wild misrule. We trust, therefore, that the article on the revolution in France, will be found highly instructive and useful.
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1 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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2 compilation | |
n.编译,编辑 | |
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3 martyrs | |
n.martyr的复数形式;烈士( martyr的名词复数 );殉道者;殉教者;乞怜者(向人诉苦以博取同情) | |
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4 abridge | |
v.删减,删节,节略,缩短 | |
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5 antiquated | |
adj.陈旧的,过时的 | |
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6 investigation | |
n.调查,调查研究 | |
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7 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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8 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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9 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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10 persecute | |
vt.迫害,虐待;纠缠,骚扰 | |
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11 bigoted | |
adj.固执己见的,心胸狭窄的 | |
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12 persecuting | |
(尤指宗教或政治信仰的)迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的现在分词 ); 烦扰,困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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13 nominal | |
adj.名义上的;(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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14 avowed | |
adj.公开声明的,承认的v.公开声明,承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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15 atheist | |
n.无神论者 | |
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16 obnoxious | |
adj.极恼人的,讨人厌的,可憎的 | |
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17 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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18 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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19 disciples | |
n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 );门徒;耶稣的信徒;(尤指)耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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20 sects | |
n.宗派,教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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21 persecuted | |
(尤指宗教或政治信仰的)迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 ); 烦扰,困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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22 denomination | |
n.命名,取名,(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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23 hierarchy | |
n.等级制度;统治集团,领导层 | |
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24 conformity | |
n.一致,遵从,顺从 | |
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25 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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26 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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27 dungeons | |
n.地牢( dungeon的名词复数 ) | |
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28 groan | |
vi./n.呻吟,抱怨;(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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29 extorted | |
v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 );曲解 | |
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30 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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31 votaries | |
n.信徒( votary的名词复数 );追随者;(天主教)修士;修女 | |
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32 stimulated | |
a.刺激的 | |
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33 crimsoned | |
变为深红色(crimson的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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34 atrocities | |
n.邪恶,暴行( atrocity的名词复数 );滔天大罪 | |
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35 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
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36 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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37 mendicant | |
n.乞丐;adj.行乞的 | |
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38 monk | |
n.和尚,僧侣,修道士 | |
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39 diffusion | |
n.流布;普及;散漫 | |
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40 profligate | |
adj.行为不检的;n.放荡的人,浪子,肆意挥霍者 | |
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41 licentious | |
adj.放纵的,淫乱的 | |
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42 avaricious | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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43 cardinal | |
n.(天主教的)红衣主教;adj.首要的,基本的 | |
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44 demonstrations | |
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威 | |
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45 narrative | |
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的 | |
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46 massacre | |
n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀 | |
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47 auto | |
n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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48 diffuse | |
v.扩散;传播;adj.冗长的;四散的,弥漫的 | |
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49 strenuous | |
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
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50 augmenting | |
使扩张 | |
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51 conversion | |
n.转化,转换,转变 | |
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52 bigotry | |
n.偏见,偏执,持偏见的行为[态度]等 | |
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53 reprobate | |
n.无赖汉;堕落的人 | |
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54 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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55 cramped | |
a.狭窄的 | |
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56 usurpation | |
n.篡位;霸占 | |
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57 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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58 tributaries | |
n. 支流 | |
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59 licentiousness | |
n.放肆,无法无天 | |
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60 narratives | |
记叙文( narrative的名词复数 ); 故事; 叙述; 叙述部分 | |
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61 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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62 sketch | |
n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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63 sneer | |
v.轻蔑;嘲笑;n.嘲笑,讥讽的言语 | |
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64 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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65 condemns | |
v.(通常因道义上的原因而)谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 );宣判;宣布…不能使用;迫使…陷于不幸的境地 | |
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66 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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67 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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68 discriminate | |
v.区别,辨别,区分;有区别地对待 | |
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69 redeem | |
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等) | |
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70 abject | |
adj.极可怜的,卑屈的 | |
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71 guilt | |
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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72 wrested | |
(用力)拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 ); 费力取得; (从…)攫取; ( 从… ) 强行取去… | |
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73 yoke | |
n.轭;支配;v.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶 | |
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74 jubilee | |
n.周年纪念;欢乐 | |
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75 anarchy | |
n.无政府状态;社会秩序混乱,无秩序 | |
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76 spouted | |
adj.装有嘴的v.(指液体)喷出( spout的过去式和过去分词 );滔滔不绝地讲;喋喋不休地说;喷水 | |
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77 proscription | |
n.禁止,剥夺权利 | |
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78 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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79 pestilence | |
n.瘟疫 | |
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80 populous | |
adj.人口稠密的,人口众多的 | |
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81 scattering | |
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散 | |
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82 doctrines | |
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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83 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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