Indulgence and toleration considered in a letter unto a person of honour

The Case is yet more evidently expressed in the Judgement and Actings of the first Christians. It will be utterly superfluous to show how that for three hundred years, there was not any amongst them who entertained thoughts of Outward Force against those who differed from the Most, in the things of Christian Religion. It hath been done I perceive of late by others, And yet in that space of time, with that Principle, the Power of Religion subdued the World, and brake the force of that Law whereby the Romans through the Instigation of Satan, endeavoured with Force and Cruelty to suppress it. When the Empire became Christian, the same Principle bare sway. For though there were mutual Violences offered by those who differed in great and weighty Fundamental Truths, as the Homousians and Arians; As to those who agreeing in the important Doctrines of the Gospel, took upon themselves a peculiar and separate way of Worship and Discipline of their own, whereby they were exempt from the common Course and Discipline of the Church, then in use, never any thoughts entered into men, to give unto them the least disturbance. The Kingdom of Egypt alone had at the same time above forty thousand Persons, Men and Women, living in their private and separate Way of Worship, without the least control from the Governors of Church or State; yea, with their Approbation and Encouragement.

The Case is yet more evidently expressed in the Judgement and Actings of the first Christians. It will be utterly superfluous to shew how that for three hundred years, there was not any amongst them who entertained thoughts of Outward Force against those who differed from the Most, in the things of Christian Religion. It hath been done I perceive of late by others, And yet in that space of time, with that Principle, the Power of Religion subdued the World, and brake the force of that Law whereby the Romans through the Instigation of Satan, endeavoured with Force and Cruelty to suppress it. When the Empire became Christian, the same Principle bare sway. For though there were mutual Violences offered by those who differed in great and weighty Fundamental Truths, as the Homousians and Arians; As to those who agreeing in the important Doctrines of the Gospel, took upon themselves a peculiar and separate way of Worship and Discipline of their own, whereby they were exempt from the common Course and Discipline of the Church, then in use, never any thoughts entered into men, to give unto them the least disturbance. The Kingdom of Aegypt alone had at the same time above forty thousand Persons, Men and Women, living in their private and separate Way of Worship, without the least controul from the Governours of Church or State; yea, with their Approbation and Incouragement.