Advice to a Desolate France

Introduction and notes by Marius F. Valkhoff; Translated by Wouter Valkhoff; Preface by Albert Geyser Castellio’s arguments . . . are as valid today as four centuries ago. He based them on Scripture, common sense, common law, and natural law. He addresses them to priests, pastors, politicians, princes and the common people. He reminds them of the demonstrable truth that ‘tyranny engenders sedition,’ that a forced and violated conscience turns to hatred, and that the ‘remedial’ suppression of freedom of speech and thought kills, but never cures. He reminds them of the example of prophets and Apostles who persuaded by truth, but never forced, and of Christ who came not to destroy, but to save, and who taught the immutably true: Do unto others, what you want them to do unto you. – Albert Geyser, From the Preface