Jesus, Prophet of Islam - The Islamic Bulletin

198 Jesus, Prophet ofIslam

John Milton (1608-1674)

Milton, who lived at the same time as Biddle and shared many of

his views, was not as outspoken as Biddle, preferring to lead his

life outside prison. Thus in Volume Two of his Treatise on True Reli­

gion for example, his criticisms are veiled. He says:

'The Arians and Socians are charged to dispute against

Trinity. They affirm to believe the Father, Son and Holy

Chost according to Scripture and the Apostolic Creed.

As for terms of trinity, tri-unity, co-essentiality, tri-per­

sonaIity, they reject them as scholastic notions not to be

found in Scrîpture which by general Protestant maxim

is plain and perspicuous abundantly to express its own

meaning in the properest words belonging to so high a

matter and so necessary to be known, a mystery indeed

in their sophistic subtleties but in scripture a plain doc­

trine.'38

In another of his books Milton was more direct. He said that the

power exercised by Popes, Councils, Bishops and Presbyters was

to be classified as among the rankest and most odious of tyrannies.

He continued, 1 AlI imposition of ordinances, ceremonies and doc­

trines are an unwarranted invasion of liberty.' 39

The poet did not openly defy the civil authority of the country,

but he kept to himself as a protest against the bigotry and intoler­

ance of the established Church. Like a number of leading intellec­

tuaIs, he stopped going to any church. Dr. Johnson said of Milton:

'He hasnot associated with any denomination of Prot­

estants. We know rather what he was not than what he

was. He was not of the Church of Rome. He was not of

the Church of England. Milton grew old without any

visible worship. In his distribution of his hours there

was no hour of prayer - his work and his meditation

were an habitual prayer.' 40

Itisc1earthat Dr.Johnson was not aware ofa bookwrittenby Milton

and discovered nearly a hundred and fifty years after his death in

1823.The manuscript was found in the old State Paper Office in

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