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A few quotes from
Baptists in America from the 17th to early 19th centuries
For current developments and broader
interpretation on Baptists and Church / State issues, go to the
Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty site.
1612
"If the Kings people be obedient and true subjects, obeying all humane
lawes made by the King, our Lord the King can require no more: for
men’s religion to God is betwixt God and themselves; the King shall
not answer for it, neither may the King be judge between God and man."
— Thomas Helwys (co-founder of First Baptist Church in
the world, in Amsterdam, Holland), A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity
1612
"If our lord the King by his discerning judgment see that as Queen
Mary by her sword of justice had no power over her subjects
consciences (for then had she power to make them all Papists, and all
that resisted her therein suffered justly as evil doers) neither hath
our lord the King by that sword of justice power over his subjects
consciences: for all earthly powers are one and the same in their
several dominions." Thomas Helwys (co-founder of First Baptist Church in
Europe), A Short Declaration of the Mystery of Iniquity
1644
"An enforced uniformity of religion throughout a nation or civil
state, confounds the civil and religious, denies the principles of
Christianity and civility, and that Jesus Christ has come in the
flesh." Roger Williams (founder of First Baptist Church in America),
The Bloody Tenet of Persecution for Cause of Conscience
1644
"When they [the Church]
have opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the
garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever
broke down the wall itself, removed the Candlestick, etc., and made
His Garden a wilderness as it is this day. And that therefore if He
will ever please to restore His garden and Paradise again, it must of
necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world, and all
that be saved out of the world are to be transplanted out of the
wilderness of the World." Roger Williams, "Mr. Cotton's Letter Lately Printed, Examined and
Answered," The Complete Writings of Roger Williams (New York:
Russell & Russell Inc. 1963), Vol.
1, 108.
1773
"Religious matters are to be separated from the jurisdiction of the
state, not because they are beneath the interests of the state but,
quite to the contrary, because they are too high and holy and thus are
beyond the competence of the state."
"God has appointed two kinds of
government in the world, which are distinct in their nature, and ought
never to be confounded together; one of which is called civil, the
other ecclesiastical government."
Isaac Backus, colonial Baptist from New England, An Appeal to
the Public for Religious Liberty.
(available online)
1790
"The notion of a Christian commonwealth should be exploded forever.
... Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking
freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend
for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is
despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest
to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks,
Pagans and Christians." John Leland, "A
Chronicle of His Time in Virginia," The Writings of the Later Elder
John Leland, published in 1845.
1791
"These establishments metamorphose the church into a creature, and
religion into a principle of state, which has a natural tendency to
make men conclude that Bible religion is nothing but a trick of
state." John Leland, "Right of Conscience
Inalienable, and Therefore, Religious Opinions Not Cognizable By The
Law," The Writings of the Later Elder John Leland, published in
1845.
1791
"Is conformity of sentiments in matters of religion essential to the
happiness of civil government? Not at all. Government has no more to
do with the religious opinions of men than it has with the principles
of mathematics. Let every man speak freely without fear--maintain
the principles that he believes--worship according to his own faith,
either one God, three Gods, no God, or twenty Gods; and let government
protect him in so doing, i.e., see that he meets with no personal
abuse or loss of property for his religious opinions. Instead of
discouraging him with proscriptions, fines, confiscation or death, let
him be encouraged, as a free man, to bring forth his arguments and
maintain his points with all boldness; then if his doctrine is false
it will be confuted, and if it is true (though ever so novel) let
others credit it. When every man has this liberty what can he wish for
more? A liberal man asks for nothing more of government." John Leland, "Right of Conscience
Inalienable, and Therefore, Religious Opinions Not Cognizable By The
Law," The Writings of the Later Elder John Leland, published in
1845.
1804
"Experience...has informed us that the fondness of magistrates to
foster Christianity has done it more harm than all the persecutions
ever did." The Writings of the Later
Elder John Leland, published in 1845.
1820
“The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of
toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence
above the rest to grant indulgence; whereas all should be equally
free, Jews, Turks [Muslims], Pagans and Christians. Test oaths and
established creeds should be avoided as the worst of evils.” The Writings of the Later
Elder John Leland, published in 1845.
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