Gradually, the individual has liberated himself, and
century after century, he has extended his domain and the two chains
which once bound him fast to the community, have snapped or been
lightened.
In the first place, public power has ceased to consist of a militia
protecting a cult. In the beginning, through the institution of
Christianity, civil society and religious society have become two
distinct empires, Christ himself having separated the two
jurisdictions;
"Render unto C?sar the things which are C?sar's, and unto God the
things that are God's."
Additionally, through the rise of Protestantism, the great Church is
split into numerous sects which, unable to destroy each other, have
been so compelled to live together and the State, even when preferring
one of them, has found it necessary to tolerate the others. Finally,
through the development of Protestantism, philosophy and the sciences,
speculative beliefs have multiplied. There are almost as many faiths
now-a-days as there are thinking men, and, as thinking men are
becoming daily more numerous, opinions are daily becoming more
numerous. So should the State try to impose any one of these on
society, this would excite opposition from an infinity of others;
hence the wisdom in governing is found, first, in remaining neutral,
and, next, in acknowledging that it is not qualified to interfere.
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