to burn to death the pious and innocent Joan of Kent, who moreover was as mystical and illogical as heart could wish, was Cranmer not actuated by deep religious convictions?
None question his piety, yet it was an awfully wicked deed.

What shall I say of Calvin, who burned Servetus?
Why have I been so slow to learn, that religion is an impulse which animates us to execute our moral judgments, but an impulse which may be half blind?
These brethren believe that I may cause the eternal ruin of others: how hard then is it for them to abide faithfully by the laws of morality and respect my rights! My rights! They are of course trampled down for the public good, just as a house is blown up to stop a conflagration.

Such is evidently the theory of all persecution;--which is essentially founded on _Hatred_.

As Aristotle says, "He who is angry, desires to punish somebody; but he who hates, desires the hated person not even to exist." Hence they cannot endure to see me face to face.

That I may not infect the rest, they desire my non-existence; by fair means, if fair will succeed; if not, then by foul.