areopagitica-第13章
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Not that I can think well of every light separation; or that all
in a Church is to be expected gold and silver and precious
stones: it is not possible for man to sever the wheat from the
tares; the good fish from the other fry; that must be the Angels'
ministry at the end of mortal things。 Yet if all cannot be of one
mindas who looks they should be?this doubtless is more
wholesome; more prudent; and more Christian; that many be
tolerated; rather than all compelled。 I mean not tolerated popery;
and open superstition; which; as it extirpates all religions and
civil supremacies; so itself should be extirpate; provided first
that all charitable and compassionate means be used to win and
regain the weak and the misled: that also which is impious or evil
absolutely either against faith or manners no law can possibly
permit; that intends not to unlaw itself: but those neighbouring
differences; or rather indifferences; are what I speak of; whether
in some point of doctrine or of discipline; which; though they may
be many; yet need not interrupt THE UNITY OF SPIRIT; if we
could but find among us THE BOND OF PEACE。
In the meanwhile if any one would write; and bring his helpful
hand to the slow…moving Reformation which we labour under; if Truth
have spoken to him before others; or but seemed at least to speak;
who hath so bejesuited us that we should trouble that man with
asking license to do so worthy a deed? and not consider this; that
if it come to prohibiting; there is not aught more likely to be
prohibited than truth itself; whose first appearance to our eyes;
bleared and dimmed with prejudice and custom; is more unsightly and
unplausible than many errors; even as the person is of many a great
man slight and contemptuous to see to。 And what do they tell us
vainly of new opinions; when this very opinion of theirs; that none
must be heard but whom they like; is the worst and newest opinion
of all others; and is the chief cause why sects and schisms do so
much abound; and true knowledge is kept at distance from us;
besides yet a greater danger which is in it。
For when God shakes a kingdom with strong and healthful
commotions to a general reforming; 'tis not untrue that many
sectaries and false teachers are then busiest in seducing; but yet
more true it is; that God then raises to his own work men of rare
abilities; and more than common industry; not only to look back and
revise what hath been taught heretofore; but to gain further and go
on some new enlightened steps in the discovery of truth。 For such
is the order of God's enlightening his Church; to dispense and deal
out by degrees his beam; so as our earthly eyes may best sustain
it。
Neither is God appointed and confined; where and out of what
place these his chosen shall be first heard to speak; for he sees
not as man sees; chooses not as man chooses; lest we should devote
ourselves again to set places; and assemblies; and outward callings
of men; planting our faith one while in the old Convocation house;
and another while in the Chapel at Westminster; when all the faith
and religion that shall be there canonized is not sufficient
without plain convincement; and the charity of patient instruction
to supple the least bruise of conscience; to edify the meanest
Christian; who desires to walk in the Spirit; and not in the letter
of human trust; for all the number of voices that can be there
made; no; though Harry VII himself there; with all his liege tombs
about him; should lend them voices from the dead; to swell their
number。
And if the men be erroneous who appear to be the leading
schismatics; what withholds us but our sloth; our self…will; and
distrust in the right cause; that we do not give them gentle
meetings and gentle dismissions; that we debate not and examine the
matter thoroughly with liberal and frequent audience; if not for
their sakes; yet for our own? seeing no man who hath tasted
learning; but will confess the many ways of profiting by those who;
not contented with stale receipts; are able to manage and set forth
new positions to the world。 And were they but as the dust and
cinders of our feet; so long as in that notion they may yet serve
to polish and brighten the armoury of Truth; even for that respect
they were not utterly to be cast away。 But if they be of those
whom God hath fitted for the special use of these times with
eminent and ample gifts; and those perhaps neither among the
priests nor among the Pharisees; and we in the haste of a
precipitant zeal shall make no distinction; but resolve to stop
their mouths; because we fear they come with new and dangerous
opinions; as we commonly forejudge them ere we understand them; no
less than woe to us; while; thinking thus to defend the Gospel; we
are found the persecutors。
There have been not a few since the beginning of this Parliament;
both of the presbytery and others; who by their unlicensed books;
to the contempt of an Imprimatur; first broke that triple ice clung
about our hearts; and taught the people to see day: I hope that
none of those were the persuaders to renew upon us this bondage
which they themselves have wrought so much good by contemning。 But
if neither the check that Moses gave to young Joshua; nor the
countermand which our Saviour gave to young John; who was so ready
to prohibit those whom he thought unlicensed; be not enough to
admonish our elders how unacceptable to God their testy mood of
prohibiting is; if neither their own remembrance what evil hath
abounded in the Church by this set of licensing; and what good they
themselves have begun by transgressing it; be not enough; but that
they will persuade and execute the most Dominican part of the
Inquisition over us; and are already with one foot in the stirrup
so active at suppressing; it would be no unequal distribution in
the first place to suppress the suppressors themselves: whom the
change of their condition hath puffed up; more than their late
experience of harder times hath made wise。
And as for regulating the press; let no man think to have the
honour of advising ye better than yourselves have done in that
Order published next before this; 〃that no book be printed; unless
the printer's and the author's name; or at least the printer's; be
registered。〃 Those which otherwise come forth; if they be found
mischievous and libellous; the fire and the executioner will be the
timeliest and the most effectual remedy that man's prevention can
use。 For this authentic Spanish policy of licensing books; if I
have said aught; will prove the most unlicensed book itself within
a short while; and was the immediate image of a Star Chamber decree
to that purpose made in those very times when that Court did the
rest of those her pious works; for which she is now fallen from the
stars with Lucifer。 Whereby ye may guess what kind of state
prudence; what love of the people; what care of religion or good
manners there was at the contriving; although with singular
hypocrisy it pretended to bind books to their good behaviour。 And
how it got the upper hand of your precedent Order so well
constituted before; if we may believe those men whose profession
gives them cause to inquire most; it may be doubted there was in it
the fraud of some old patentees and monopolizers in the trade of
bookselling; who under pretence of the poor in their Company not to
be defrauded; and the just retaining of each man his several copy;
which God forbid should be gainsaid; brought divers glossing
colours to the House; which were indeed but colours; and serving to
no end except it be to exercise a superiority over their
neighbours; men who do not therefore labour in an honest profession
to which learning is indebted; that they should be made other men's
vassals。 Another end is thought was aimed at by some of them in
procuring by petition this Order; that; having power in their
hands;