Locke Toleration.doc

7/27/2019 Locke Toleration.doc

1/37

http://www.constitution.org/jl/tolerati.txt

A Letter Concerning Toleration, John Locke (16!" # Classic state$ent o% the case %ortoleration o% those hol&ing &i%%erent 'iews.

A Letter Concerning Toleration

) John Locke

16!

Translate& ) *illia$ +opple


2/37

onoure& -ir,

-ince )ou are please& to inuire what are $) thoughts aout the $utual toleration o%Christians in their &i%%erent pro%essions o% religion, $ust nee&s answer )ou %reel) that

estee$ that toleration to e the chie% characteristic $ark o% the true Church. 0or

whatsoe'er so$e people oast o% the antiuit) o% places an& na$es, or o% the po$p o%their outwar& worship others, o% the re%or$ation o% their &iscipline all, o% the ortho&ox)

o% their %aith 22 %or e'er)one is ortho&ox to hi$sel% 22 these things, an& all others o% this

nature, are $uch rather $arks o% $en stri'ing %or power an& e$pire o'er one anotherthan o% the Church o% Christ. Let an)one ha'e ne'er so true a clai$ to all these things, )et

i% he e &estitute o% charit), $eekness, an& goo&2will in general towar&s all $ankin&,

e'en to those that are not Christians, he is certainl) )et short o% eing a true Christian

hi$sel%. 3The kings o% the 4entiles exercise lea&ership o'er the$,3 sai& our -a'iour tohis &isciples, 3ut )e shall not e so.351 The usiness o% true religion is uite another

thing. t is not institute& in or&er to the erecting o% an external po$p, nor to the otaining

o% ecclesiastical &o$inion, nor to the exercising o% co$pulsi'e %orce, ut to the regulating

o% $en7s li'es, accor&ing to the rules o% 'irtue an& piet). *hosoe'er will list hi$sel%un&er the anner o% Christ, $ust, in the %irst place an& ao'e all things, $ake war upon

his own lusts an& 'ices. t is in 'ain %or an) $an to unsurp the na$e o% Christian, withoutholiness o% li%e, purit) o% $anners, enignit) an& $eekness o% spirit. 3Let e'er)one that

na$eth the na$e o% Christ, &epart %ro$ iniuit).358 3Thou, when thou art con'erte&,

strengthen th) rethren,3 sai& our Lor& to +eter.59 t woul&, in&ee&, e 'er) har& %or onethat appears careless aout his own sal'ation to persua&e $e that he were extre$el)

concerne& %or $ine. 0or it is i$possile that those shoul& sincerel) an& heartil) appl)

the$sel'es to $ake other people Christians, who ha'e not reall) e$race& the Christian

religion in their own hearts. % the 4ospel an& the apostles $a) e cre&ite&, no $an cane a Christian without charit) an& without that %aith which works, not ) %orce, ut )

lo'e. ow, appeal to the consciences o% those that persecute, tor$ent, &estro), an& kill

other $en upon pretence o% religion, whether the) &o it out o% %rien&ship an& kin&nesstowar&s the$ or no; An& shall then in&ee&, an& not until then, elie'e the) &o so, when

shall see those %ier)


3/37

the Church, an& %or the sal'ation o% souls 22 urning sa), literall), with %ire an& %aggot 22

pass ) those $oral 'ices an& wicke&nesses, without an) chastise$ent, which are

acknowle&ge& ) all $en to e &ia$etricall) opposite to the pro%ession o% Christianit),an& en& all its ner'es either to the intro&ucing o% cere$onies, or to the estalish$ent o%

opinions, which %or the $ost part are aout nice an& intricate $atters, that excee& the

capacit) o% or&inar) un&erstan&ings; *hich o% the parties conten&ing aout these thingsis in the right, which o% the$ is guilt) o% schis$ or heres), whether those that &o$ineer

or those that su%%er, will then at last e $ani%est when the causes o% their separation

co$es to e ju&ge& o% e, certainl), that %ollows Christ, e$races is &octrine, an& earsis )oke, though he %orsake oth %ather an& $other, separate %ro$ the pulic asse$lies

an& cere$onies o% his countr), or who$soe'er or whatsoe'er else he relinuishes, will

not then e ju&ge& a heretic.

ow, though the &i'isions that are a$ongst sects shoul& e allowe& to e ne'er so

ostructi'e o% the sal'ation o% souls )et, ne'ertheless, a&ulter), %ornication,uncleanliness, lasci'iousness, i&olatr), an& such2like things, cannot e &enie& to e works

o% the %lesh, concerning which the apostle has expressl) &eclare& that 3the) who &o the$shall not inherit the king&o$ o% 4o&.35> *hosoe'er, there%ore, is sincerel) solicitous

aout the king&o$ o% 4o& an& thinks it his &ut) to en&ea'our the enlarge$ent o% it

a$ongst $en, ought to appl) hi$sel% with no less care an& in&ustr) to the rooting out o%these i$$oralities than to the extirpation o% sects. ?ut i% an)one &o otherwise, an& whilst

he is cruel an& i$placale towar&s those that &i%%er %ro$ hi$ in opinion, he e in&ulgent

to such iniuities an& i$$oralities as are uneco$ing the na$e o% a Christian, let such a

one talk ne'er so $uch o% the Church, he plainl) &e$onstrates ) his actions that it isanother king&o$ he ai$s at an& not the a&'ance$ent o% the king&o$ o% 4o&.

That an) $an shoul& think %it to cause another $an 22 whose sal'ation he heartil) &esires

22 to expire in tor$ents, an& that e'en in an uncon'erte& state, woul&, con%ess, see$'er) strange to $e, an& think, to an) other also. ?ut noo&), surel), will e'er elie'e

that such a carriage can procee& %ro$ charit), lo'e, or goo&will. % an)one $aintain that

$en ought to e co$pelle& ) %ire an& swor& to pro%ess certain &octrines, an& con%or$ to

this or that exterior worship, without an) regar& ha& unto their $orals i% an)oneen&ea'our to con'ert those that are erroneous unto the %aith, ) %orcing the$ to pro%ess

things that the) &o not elie'e an& allowing the$ to practise things that the 4ospel &oes

not per$it, it cannot e &oute& in&ee& ut such a one is &esirous to ha'e a nu$erousasse$l) joine& in the sa$e pro%ession with hi$sel% ut that he principall) inten&s )

those $eans to co$pose a trul) Christian Church is altogether incre&ile. t is not,

there%ore, to e won&ere& at i% those who &o not reall) conten& %or the a&'ance$ent o%the true religion, an& o% the Church o% Christ, $ake use o% ar$s that &o not elong to the

Christian war%are. %, like the Captain o% our sal'ation, the) sincerel) &esire& the goo& o%

souls, the) woul& trea& in the steps an& %ollow the per%ect exa$ple o% that +rince o%

+eace, who sent out is sol&iers to the su&uing o% nations, an& gathering the$ into is


4/37

Church, not ar$e& with the swor&, or other instru$ents o% %orce, ut prepare& with the

4ospel o% peace an& with the exe$plar) holiness o% their con'ersation. This was is

$etho&. Though i% in%i&els were to e con'erte& ) %orce, i% those that are either lin& orostinate were to e &rawn o%% %ro$ their errors ) ar$e& sol&iers, we know 'er) well

that it was $uch $ore eas) %or i$ to &o it with ar$ies o% hea'enl) legions than %or an)

son o% the Church, how potent soe'er, with all his &ragoons.

The toleration o% those that &i%%er %ro$ others in $atters o% religion is so agreeale to the

4ospel o% Jesus Christ, an& to the genuine reason o% $ankin&, that it see$s $onstrous %or

$en to e so lin& as not to percei'e the necessit) an& a&'antage o% it in so clear a light.

will not here tax the pri&e an& a$ition o% so$e, the passion an& uncharitale


5/37

%orce an& strength o% all his sujects, in or&er to the punish$ent o% those that 'iolate an)

other $an7s rights.

ow that the whole juris&iction o% the $agistrate reaches onl) to these ci'ilconcern$ents, an& that all ci'il power, right an& &o$inion, is oun&e& an& con%ine& to

the onl) care o% pro$oting these things an& that it neither can nor ought in an) $anner to

e exten&e& to the sal'ation o% souls, these %ollowing consi&erations see$ unto $eaun&antl) to &e$onstrate.

0irst, ecause the care o% souls is not co$$itte& to the ci'il $agistrate, an) $ore than to

other $en. t is not co$$itte& unto hi$, sa), ) 4o& ecause it appears not that 4o&

has e'er gi'en an) such authorit) to one $an o'er another as to co$pel an)one to his

religion. or can an) such power e 'este& in the $agistrate ) the consent o% the people,ecause no $an can so %ar aan&on the care o% his own sal'ation as lin&l) to lea'e to the

choice o% an) other, whether prince or suject, to prescrie to hi$ what %aith or worshiphe shall e$race. 0or no $an can, i% he woul&, con%or$ his %aith to the &ictates o%

another. All the li%e an& power o% true religion consist in the inwar& an& %ull persuasion

o% the $in& an& %aith is not %aith without elie'ing. *hate'er pro%ession we $ake, towhate'er outwar& worship we con%or$, i% we are not %ull) satis%ie& in our own $in& that

the one is true an& the other well pleasing unto 4o&, such pro%ession an& such practice,

%ar %ro$ eing an) %urtherance, are in&ee& great ostacles to our sal'ation. 0or in this

$anner, instea& o% expiating other sins ) the exercise o% religion, sa), in o%%ering thusunto 4o& Al$ight) such a worship as we estee$ to e &ispleasing unto i$, we a&&

unto the nu$er o% our other sins those also o% h)pocris) an& conte$pt o% is @i'ine

ajest).

n the secon& place, the care o% souls cannot elong to the ci'il $agistrate, ecause his

power consists onl) in outwar& %orce ut true an& sa'ing religion consists in the inwar&

persuasion o% the $in&, without which nothing can e acceptale to 4o&. An& such is the

nature o% the un&erstan&ing, that it cannot e co$pelle& to the elie% o% an)thing )outwar& %orce. Con%iscation o% estate, i$prison$ent, tor$ents, nothing o% that nature can

ha'e an) such e%%icac) as to $ake $en change the inwar& ju&ge$ent that the) ha'e

%ra$e& o% things.

t $a) in&ee& e allege& that the $agistrate $a) $ake use o% argu$ents, an&, there)

&raw the hetero&ox into the wa) o% truth, an& procure their sal'ation. grant it ut this is

co$$on to hi$ with other $en. n teaching, instructing, an& re&ressing the erroneous )

reason, he $a) certainl) &o what eco$es an) goo& $an to &o. agistrac) &oes not


6/37

olige hi$ to put o%% either hu$anit) or Christianit) ut it is one thing to persua&e,

another to co$$an& one thing to press with argu$ents, another with penalties. This ci'il

power alone has a right to &o to the other, goo&will is authorit) enough. B'er) $an hasco$$ission to a&$onish, exhort, con'ince another o% error, an&, ) reasoning, to &raw

hi$ into truth ut to gi'e laws, recei'e oe&ience, an& co$pel with the swor&, elongs

to none ut the $agistrate. An&, upon this groun&, a%%ir$ that the $agistrate7s powerexten&s not to the estalishing o% an) articles o% %aith, or %or$s o% worship, ) the %orce

o% his laws. 0or laws are o% no %orce at all without penalties, an& penalties in this case are

asolutel) i$pertinent, ecause the) are not proper to con'ince the $in&. either thepro%ession o% an) articles o% %aith, nor the con%or$it) to an) outwar& %or$ o% worship (as

has een alrea&) sai&", can e a'ailale to the sal'ation o% souls, unless the truth o% the

one an& the acceptaleness o% the other unto 4o& e thoroughl) elie'e& ) those that so

pro%ess an& practise. ?ut penalties are no wa) capale to pro&uce such elie%. t is onl)light an& e'i&ence that can work a change in $en7s opinions which light can in no

$anner procee& %ro$ corporal su%%erings, or an) other outwar& penalties.

n the thir& place, the care o% the sal'ation o% $en7s souls cannot elong to the $agistrateecause, though the rigour o% laws an& the %orce o% penalties were capale to con'ince

an& change $en7s $in&s, )et woul& not that help at all to the sal'ation o% their souls. 0or

there eing ut one truth, one wa) to hea'en, what hope is there that $ore $en woul& ele& into it i% the) ha& no rule ut the religion o% the court an& were put un&er the necessit)

to uit the light o% their own reason, an& oppose the &ictates o% their own consciences,

an& lin&l) to resign the$sel'es up to the will o% their go'ernors an& to the religion

which either ignorance, a$ition, or superstition ha& chance& to estalish in the countrieswhere the) were orn; n the 'ariet) an& contra&iction o% opinions in religion, wherein

the princes o% the worl& are as $uch &i'i&e& as in their secular interests, the narrow wa)

woul& e $uch straitene& one countr) alone woul& e in the right, an& all the rest o% theworl& put un&er an oligation o% %ollowing their princes in the wa)s that lea& to

&estruction an& that which heightens the asur&it), an& 'er) ill suits the notion o% a

@eit), $en woul& owe their eternal happiness or $iser) to the places o% their nati'it).

These consi&erations, to o$it $an) others that $ight ha'e een urge& to the sa$epurpose, see$ unto $e su%%icient to conclu&e that all the power o% ci'il go'ern$ent

relates onl) to $en7s ci'il interests, is con%ine& to the care o% the things o% this worl&, an&

hath nothing to &o with the worl& to co$e.

Let us now consi&er what a church is. A church, then, take to e a 'oluntar) societ) o%

$en, joining the$sel'es together o% their own accor& in or&er to the pulic worshipping

o% 4o& in such $anner as the) ju&ge acceptale to i$, an& e%%ectual to the sal'ation o%

their souls.


7/37

sa) it is a %ree an& 'oluntar) societ). oo&) is orn a $e$er o% an) church

otherwise the religion o% parents woul& &escen& unto chil&ren ) the sa$e right o%

inheritance as their te$poral estates, an& e'er)one woul& hol& his %aith ) the sa$etenure he &oes his lan&s, than which nothing can e i$agine& $ore asur&. Thus,

there%ore, that $atter stan&s. o $an ) nature is oun& unto an) particular church or

sect, ut e'er)one joins hi$sel% 'oluntaril) to that societ) in which he elie'es he has%oun& that pro%ession an& worship which is trul) acceptale to 4o&. The hope o%

sal'ation, as it was the onl) cause o% his entrance into that co$$union, so it can e the

onl) reason o% his sta) there. 0or i% a%terwar&s he &isco'er an)thing either erroneous in

the &octrine or incongruous in the worship o% that societ) to which he has joine& hi$sel%,wh) shoul& it not e as %ree %or hi$ to go out as it was to enter; o $e$er o% a

religious societ) can e tie& with an) other on&s ut what procee& %ro$ the certain

expectation o% eternal li%e. A church, then, is a societ) o% $e$ers 'oluntaril) uniting to

that en&.

t %ollows now that we consi&er what is the power o% this church an& unto what laws it is

suject.

0oras$uch as no societ), how %ree soe'er, or upon whatsoe'er slight occasion institute&,whether o% philosophers %or learning, o% $erchants %or co$$erce, or o% $en o% leisure %or

$utual con'ersation an& &iscourse, no church or co$pan), sa), can in the least susist

an& hol& together, ut will presentl) &issol'e an& reak in pieces, unless it e regulate&) so$e laws, an& the $e$ers all consent to oser'e so$e or&er. +lace an& ti$e o%

$eeting $ust e agree& on rules %or a&$itting an& exclu&ing $e$ers $ust e

estalishe& &istinction o% o%%icers, an& putting things into a regular course, an& suchlike,cannot e o$itte&. ?ut since the joining together o% se'eral $e$ers into this church2

societ), as has alrea&) een &e$onstrate&, is asolutel) %ree an& spontaneous, it

necessaril) %ollows that the right o% $aking its laws can elong to none ut the societ)

itsel% or, at least (which is the sa$e thing", to those who$ the societ) ) co$$onconsent has authorise& thereunto.

-o$e, perhaps, $a) oject that no such societ) can e sai& to e a true church unless it

ha'e in it a ishop or pres)ter, with ruling authorit) &eri'e& %ro$ the 'er) apostles, an&continue& &own to the present ti$es ) an uninterrupte& succession.


8/37

To these answer: n the %irst place, let the$ show $e the e&ict ) which Christ has

i$pose& that law upon is Church. An& let not an) $an think $e i$pertinent, i% in a

thing o% this conseuence reuire that the ter$s o% that e&ict e 'er) express an&positi'e %or the pro$ise e has $a&e us,56 that 3wheresoe'er two or three are gathere&

together3 in is na$e, e will e in the $i&st o% the$, see$s to i$pl) the contrar).

*hether such an asse$l) want an)thing necessar) to a true church, pra) &o )ouconsi&er. Certain a$ that nothing can e there wanting unto the sal'ation o% souls,

which is su%%icient to our purpose.

ext, pra) oser'e how great ha'e alwa)s een the &i'isions a$ongst e'en those who

la) so $uch stress upon the @i'ine institution an& continue& succession o% a certain or&ero% rulers in the Church. ow, their 'er) &issension una'oi&al) puts us upon a necessit)

o% &elierating an&, conseuentl), allows a liert) o% choosing that which upon

consi&eration we pre%er.

An&, in the last place, consent that these $en ha'e a ruler in their church, estalishe& )

such a long series o% succession as the) ju&ge necessar), pro'i&e& $a) ha'e liert) at

the sa$e ti$e to join $)sel% to that societ) in which a$ persua&e& those things are toe %oun& which are necessar) to the sal'ation o% $) soul. n this $anner ecclesiastical

liert) will e preser'e& on all si&es, an& no $an will ha'e a legislator i$pose& upon hi$

ut who$ hi$sel% has chosen.

?ut since $en are so solicitous aout the true church, woul& onl) ask the$ here, ) thewa), i% it e not $ore agreeale to the Church o% Christ to $ake the con&itions o% her

co$$union consist in such things, an& such things onl), as the ol) -pirit has in the

ol) -criptures &eclare&, in express wor&s, to e necessar) to sal'ation ask, sa),whether this e not $ore agreeale to the Church o% Christ than %or $en to i$pose their

own in'entions an& interpretations upon others as i% the) were o% @i'ine authorit), an& to

estalish ) ecclesiastical laws, as asolutel) necessar) to the pro%ession o% Christianit),

such things as the ol) -criptures &o either not $ention, or at least not expressl)co$$an&; *hosoe'er reuires those things in or&er to ecclesiastical co$$union, which

Christ &oes not reuire in or&er to li%e eternal, he $a), perhaps, in&ee& constitute a

societ) acco$$o&ate& to his own opinion an& his own a&'antage ut how that can ecalle& the Church o% Christ which is estalishe& upon laws that are not is, an& which

exclu&es such persons %ro$ its co$$union as e will one &a) recei'e into the ing&o$

o% ea'en, un&erstan& not. ?ut this eing not a proper place to inuire into the $arks o%the true church, will onl) $in& those that conten& so earnestl) %or the &ecrees o% their

own societ), an& that cr) out continuall), 3The ChurchD the ChurchD3 with as $uch noise,

an& perhaps upon the sa$e principle, as the Bphesian sil'ers$iths &i& %or their @iana

this, sa), &esire to $in& the$ o%, that the 4ospel %reuentl) &eclares that the true


9/37

&isciples o% Christ $ust su%%er persecution ut that the Church o% Christ shoul& persecute

others, an& %orce others ) %ire an& swor& to e$race her %aith an& &octrine, coul& ne'er

)et %in& in an) o% the ooks o% the ew Testa$ent.

The en& o% a religious societ) (as has alrea&) een sai&" is the pulic worship o% 4o& an&,

) $eans thereo%, the acuisition o% eternal li%e. All &iscipline ought, there%ore, to ten& to

that en&, an& all ecclesiastical laws to e thereunto con%ine&. othing ought nor can etransacte& in this societ) relating to the possession o% ci'il an& worl&l) goo&s. o %orce is

here to e $a&e use o% upon an) occasion whatsoe'er. 0or %orce elongs wholl) to the

ci'il $agistrate, an& the possession o% all outwar& goo&s is suject to his juris&iction.

?ut, it $a) e aske&, ) what $eans then shall ecclesiastical laws e estalishe&, i% the)

$ust e thus &estitute o% all co$pulsi'e power; answer: The) $ust e estalishe& )$eans suitale to the nature o% such things, whereo% the external pro%ession an&

oser'ation 22 i% not procee&ing %ro$ a thorough con'iction an& approation o% the $in&22 is altogether useless an& unpro%itale. The ar$s ) which the $e$ers o% this societ)

are to e kept within their &ut) are exhortations, a&$onitions, an& a&'ices. % ) these

$eans the o%%en&ers will not e reclai$e&, an& the erroneous con'ince&, there re$ainsnothing %urther to e &one ut that such stuorn an& ostinate persons, who gi'e no

groun& to hope %or their re%or$ation, shoul& e cast out an& separate& %ro$ the societ).

This is the last an& ut$ost %orce o% ecclesiastical authorit). o other punish$ent can

there) e in%licte& than that, the relation ceasing etween the o&) an& the $e$erwhich is cut o%%. The person so con&e$ne& ceases to e a part o% that church.

These things eing thus &eter$ine&, let us inuire, in the next place: ow %ar the &ut) o%

toleration exten&s, an& what is reuire& %ro$ e'er)one ) it; An&, %irst, hol& that nochurch is oun&, ) the &ut) o% toleration, to retain an) such person in her oso$ as, a%ter

a&$onition, continues ostinatel) to o%%en& against the laws o% the societ). 0or, these

eing the con&ition o% co$$union an& the on& o% the societ), i% the reach o% the$ were

per$itte& without an) ani$a&'ersion the societ) woul& i$$e&iatel) e there)&issol'e&. ?ut, ne'ertheless, in all such cases care is to e taken that the sentence o%

exco$$unication, an& the execution thereo%, carr) with it no rough usage o% wor& or

action where) the ejecte& person $a) an) wise e &a$ni%ie& in o&) or estate. 0or all%orce (as has o%ten een sai&" elongs onl) to the $agistrate, nor ought an) pri'ate

persons at an) ti$e to use %orce, unless it e in sel%2&e%ence against unjust 'iolence.

Bxco$$unication neither &oes, nor can, &epri'e the exco$$unicate& person o% an) o%those ci'il goo&s that he %or$erl) possesse&. All those things elong to the ci'il

go'ern$ent an& are un&er the $agistrate7s protection. The whole %orce o%

exco$$unication consists onl) in this: that, the resolution o% the societ) in that respect

eing &eclare&, the union that was etween the o&) an& so$e $e$er co$es there) to


10/37

e &issol'e& an&, that relation ceasing, the participation o% so$e certain things which the

societ) co$$unicate& to its $e$ers, an& unto which no $an has an) ci'il right, co$es

also to cease. 0or there is no ci'il injur) &one unto the exco$$unicate& person ) thechurch $inister7s re%using hi$ that rea& an& wine, in the celeration o% the Lor&7s

-upper, which was not ought with his ut other $en7s $one).

-econ&l), no pri'ate person has an) right in an) $anner to preju&ice another person inhis ci'il enjo)$ents ecause he is o% another church or religion. All the rights an&

%ranchises that elong to hi$ as a $an, or as a &eni


11/37

i% one o% these churches hath this power o% treating the other ill, ask which o% the$ it is

to who$ that power elongs, an& ) what right; t will e answere&, un&oute&l), that it

is the ortho&ox church which has the right o% authorit) o'er the erroneous or heretical.This is, in great an& specious wor&s, to sa) just nothing at all. 0or e'er) church is

ortho&ox to itsel% to others, erroneous or heretical. 0or whatsoe'er an) church elie'es,

it elie'es to e true an& the contrar) unto those things it pronounce to e error. -o thatthe contro'ers) etween these churches aout the truth o% their &octrines an& the purit) o%

their worship is on oth si&es eual nor is there an) ju&ge, either at Constantinople or

elsewhere upon earth, ) whose sentence it can e &eter$ine&. The &ecision o% thatuestion elongs onl) to the -upre$e ju&ge o% all $en, to who$ also alone elongs the

punish$ent o% the erroneous. n the $eanwhile, let those $en consi&er how heinousl)

the) sin, who, a&&ing injustice, i% not to their error, )et certainl) to their pri&e, &o rashl)

an& arrogantl) take upon the$ to $isuse the ser'ants o% another $aster, who are not at allaccountale to the$.

a), %urther: i% it coul& e $ani%est which o% these two &issenting churches were in the

right, there woul& not accrue there) unto the ortho&ox an) right o% &estro)ing the other.0or churches ha'e neither an) juris&iction in worl&l) $atters, nor are %ire an& swor& an)

proper instru$ents wherewith to con'ince $en7s $in&s o% error, an& in%or$ the$ o% the

truth. Let us suppose, ne'ertheless, that the ci'il $agistrate incline& to %a'our one o%the$ an& to put his swor& into their han&s that () his consent" the) $ight chastise the

&issenters as the) please&. *ill an) $an sa) that an) right can e &eri'e& unto a

Christian church o'er its rethren %ro$ a Turkish e$peror; An in%i&el, who has hi$sel%

no authorit) to punish Christians %or the articles o% their %aith, cannot con%er such anauthorit) upon an) societ) o% Christians, nor gi'e unto the$ a right which he has not

hi$sel%. This woul& e the case at Constantinople an& the reason o% the thing is the sa$e

in an) Christian king&o$. The ci'il power is the sa$e in e'er) place. or can thatpower, in the han&s o% a Christian prince, con%er an) greater authorit) upon the Church

than in the han&s o% a heathen which is to sa), just none at all.

e'ertheless, it is worth) to e oser'e& an& la$ente& that the $ost 'iolent o% these

&e%en&ers o% the truth, the opposers o% errors, the exclai$ers against schis$ &o har&l)e'er let loose this their


12/37

go'ern$ent. ere the) can e content to spare their argu$ents which )et (with their

lea'e" is the onl) right $etho& o% propagating truth, which has no such wa) o% pre'ailing

as when strong argu$ents an& goo& reason are joine& with the so%tness o% ci'ilit) an&goo& usage.

oo&), there%ore, in %ine, neither single persons nor churches, na), nor e'en

co$$onwealths, ha'e an) just title to in'a&e the ci'il rights an& worl&l) goo&s o% eachother upon pretence o% religion. Those that are o% another opinion woul& &o well to

consi&er with the$sel'es how pernicious a see& o% &iscor& an& war, how power%ul a

pro'ocation to en&less hatre&s, rapines, an& slaughters the) there) %urnish unto

$ankin&. o peace an& securit), no, not so $uch as co$$on %rien&ship, can e'er eestalishe& or preser'e& a$ongst $en so long as this opinion pre'ails, that &o$inion is

%oun&e& in grace an& that religion is to e propagate& ) %orce o% ar$s.

n the thir& place, let us see what the &ut) o% toleration reuires %ro$ those who are&istinguishe& %ro$ the rest o% $ankin& (%ro$ the lait), as the) please to call us" ) so$e

ecclesiastical character an& o%%ice whether the) e ishops, priests, pres)ters, $inisters,

or howe'er else &igni%ie& or &istinguishe&. t is not $) usiness to inuire here into theoriginal o% the power or &ignit) o% the clerg). This onl) sa), that, whencesoe'er their

authorit) e sprung, since it is ecclesiastical, it ought to e con%ine& within the oun&s o%

the Church, nor can it in an) $anner e exten&e& to ci'il a%%airs, ecause the Church

itsel% is a thing asolutel) separate an& &istinct %ro$ the co$$onwealth. The oun&arieson oth si&es are %ixe& an& i$$o'ale. e ju$les hea'en an& earth together, the things

$ost re$ote an& opposite, who $ixes these two societies, which are in their original, en&,

usiness, an& in e'er)thing per%ectl) &istinct an& in%initel) &i%%erent %ro$ each other. o$an, there%ore, with whatsoe'er ecclesiastical o%%ice he e &igni%ie&, can &epri'e another

$an that is not o% his church an& %aith either o% liert) or o% an) part o% his worl&l) goo&s

upon the account o% that &i%%erence etween the$ in religion. 0or whatsoe'er is notlaw%ul to the whole Church cannot ) an) ecclesiastical right eco$e law%ul to an) o% its

$e$ers.

?ut this is not all. t is not enough that ecclesiastical $en astain %ro$ 'iolence an&

rapine an& all $anner o% persecution. e that preten&s to e a successor o% the apostles,an& takes upon hi$ the o%%ice o% teaching, is olige& also to a&$onish his hearers o% the

&uties o% peace an& goo&will towar&s all $en, as well towar&s the erroneous as the

ortho&ox towar&s those that &i%%er %ro$ the$ in %aith an& worship as well as towar&sthose that agree with the$ therein. An& he ought in&ustriousl) to exhort all $en, whether

pri'ate persons or $agistrates (i% an) such there e in his church", to charit), $eekness,

an& toleration, an& &iligentl) en&ea'our to all) an& te$per all that heat an& unreasonale

a'erseness o% $in& which either an) $an7s %ier)


13/37

others has kin&le& against &issenters. will not un&ertake to represent how happ) an&

how great woul& e the %ruit, oth in Church an& -tate, i% the pulpits e'er)where soun&e&

with this &octrine o% peace an& toleration, lest shoul& see$ to re%lect too se'erel) uponthose $en whose &ignit) &esire not to &etract %ro$, nor woul& ha'e it &i$inishe& either

) others or the$sel'es. ?ut this sa), that thus it ought to e. An& i% an)one that

pro%esses hi$sel% to e a $inister o% the *or& o% 4o&, a preacher o% the gospel o% peace,teach otherwise, he either un&erstan&s not or neglects the usiness o% his calling an& shall

one &a) gi'e account thereo% unto the +rince o% +eace. % Christians are to e a&$onishe&

that the) astain %ro$ all $anner o% re'enge, e'en a%ter repeate& pro'ocations an&$ultiplie& injuries, how $uch $ore ought the) who su%%er nothing, who ha'e ha& no

har$ &one the$, %orear 'iolence an& astain %ro$ all $anner o% ill2usage towar&s those

%ro$ who$ the) ha'e recei'e& noneD This caution an& te$per the) ought certainl) to use

towar&s those. who $in& onl) their own usiness an& are solicitous %or nothing ut that(whate'er $en think o% the$" the) $a) worship 4o& in that $anner which the) are

persua&e& is acceptale to i$ an& in which the) ha'e the strongest hopes o% eternal

sal'ation. n pri'ate &o$estic a%%airs, in the $anage$ent o% estates, in the conser'ation o%

o&il) health, e'er) $an $a) consi&er what suits his own con'enience an& %ollow whatcourse he likes est. o $an co$plains o% the ill2$anage$ent o% his neighour7s a%%airs.

o $an is angr) with another %or an error co$$itte& in sowing his lan& or in $arr)inghis &aughter. oo&) corrects a spen&thri%t %or consu$ing his sustance in ta'erns. Let

an) $an pull &own, or uil&, or $ake whatsoe'er expenses he pleases, noo&) $ur$urs,

noo&) controls hi$ he has his liert). ?ut i% an) $an &o not %reuent the church, i% he&o not there con%or$ his eha'iour exactl) to the accusto$e& cere$onies, or i% he rings

not his chil&ren to e initiate& in the sacre& $)steries o% this or the other congregation,

this i$$e&iatel) causes an uproar. The neighourhoo& is %ille& with noise an& cla$our.

B'er)one is rea&) to e the a'enger o% so great a cri$e, an& the


14/37

*e ha'e alrea&) pro'e& that the care o% souls &oes not elong to the $agistrate. ot a

$agisterial care, $ean (i% $a) so call it", which consists in prescriing ) laws an&co$pelling ) punish$ents. ?ut a charitale care, which consists in teaching,

a&$onishing, an& persua&ing, cannot e &enie& unto an) $an. The care, there%ore, o%

e'er) $an7s soul elongs unto hi$sel% an& is to e le%t unto hi$sel%. ?ut what i% heneglect the care o% his soul; answer: *hat i% he neglect the care o% his health or o% his

estate, which things are nearlier relate& to the go'ern$ent o% the $agistrate than the

other; *ill the $agistrate pro'i&e ) an express law that such a one shall not eco$epoor or sick; Laws pro'i&e, as $uch as is possile, that the goo&s an& health o% sujects

e not injure& ) the %rau& an& 'iolence o% others the) &o not guar& the$ %ro$ the

negligence or ill2husan&r) o% the possessors the$sel'es. o $an can e %orce& to e

rich or health%ul whether he will or no. a), 4o& i$sel% will not sa'e $en against theirwills. Let us suppose, howe'er, that so$e prince were &esirous to %orce his sujects to

accu$ulate riches, or to preser'e the health an& strength o% their o&ies. -hall it e

pro'i&e& ) law that the) $ust consult none ut Fo$an ph)sicians, an& shall e'er)one

e oun& to li'e accor&ing to their prescriptions; *hat, shall no potion, no roth, etaken, ut what is prepare& either in the Gatican, suppose, or in a 4ene'a shop; Er, to

$ake these sujects rich, shall the) all e olige& ) law to eco$e $erchants or$usicians; Er, shall e'er)one turn 'ictualler, or s$ith, ecause there are so$e that

$aintain their %a$ilies plenti%ull) an& grow rich in those pro%essions; ?ut, it $a) e sai&,

there are a thousan& wa)s to wealth, ut one onl) wa) to hea'en. t is well sai&, in&ee&,especiall) ) those that plea& %or co$pelling $en into this or the other wa). 0or i% there

were se'eral wa)s that le& thither, there woul& not e so $uch as a pretence le%t %or

co$pulsion. ?ut now, i% e $arching on with $) ut$ost 'igour in that wa) which,

accor&ing to the sacre& geograph), lea&s straight to Jerusale$, wh) a$ eaten an& ill2use& ) others ecause, perhaps, wear not uskins ecause $) hair is not o% the right

cut ecause, perhaps, ha'e not een &ippe& in the right %ashion ecause eat %lesh

upon the roa&, or so$e other %oo& which agrees with $) sto$ach ecause a'oi& certain)2wa)s, which see$ unto $e to lea& into riars or precipices ecause, a$ongst the

se'eral paths that are in the sa$e roa&, choose that to walk in which see$s to e the

straightest an& cleanest ecause a'oi& to keep co$pan) with so$e tra'ellers that areless gra'e an& others that are $ore sour than the) ought to e or, in %ine, ecause

%ollow a gui&e that either is, or is not, clothe& in white, or crowne& with a $itre;

Certainl), i% we consi&er right, we shall %in& that, %or the $ost part, the) are such

%ri'olous things as these that (without an) preju&ice to religion or the sal'ation o% souls,i% not acco$panie& with superstition or h)pocris)" $ight either e oser'e& or o$itte&.

sa) the) are such2like things as these which ree& i$placale en$ities a$ongst Christian

rethren, who are all agree& in the sustantial an& trul) %un&a$ental part o% religion.

?ut let us grant unto these


15/37

the co$$onwealth, nor the right enacting o% laws, &oes &isco'er this wa) that lea&s to

hea'en $ore certainl) to the $agistrate than e'er) pri'ate $an7s search an& stu&)

&isco'ers it unto hi$sel%. ha'e a weak o&), sunk un&er a languishing &isease, %orwhich ( suppose" there is one onl) re$e&), ut that unknown. @oes it there%ore elong

unto the $agistrate to prescrie $e a re$e&), ecause there is ut one, an& ecause it is

unknown; ?ecause there is ut one wa) %or $e to escape &eath, will it there%ore e sa%e%or $e to &o whatsoe'er the $agistrate or&ains; Those things that e'er) $an ought

sincerel) to inuire into hi$sel%, an& ) $e&itation, stu&), search, an& his own

en&ea'ours, attain the knowle&ge o%, cannot e looke& upon as the peculiar possession o%an) sort o% $en. +rinces, in&ee&, are orn superior unto other $en in power, ut in nature

eual. either the right nor the art o% ruling &oes necessaril) carr) along with it the

certain knowle&ge o% other things, an& least o% all o% true religion. 0or i% it were so, how

coul& it co$e to pass that the lor&s o% the earth shoul& &i%%er so 'astl) as the) &o inreligious $atters; ?ut let us grant that it is proale the wa) to eternal li%e $a) e etter

known ) a prince than ) his sujects, or at least that in this incertitu&e o% things the

sa%est an& $ost co$$o&ious wa) %or pri'ate persons is to %ollow his &ictates. Hou will

sa): 3*hat then;3 % he shoul& i& )ou %ollow $erchan&ise %or )our li'elihoo&, woul&)ou &ecline that course %or %ear it shoul& not succee&; answer: woul& turn $erchant

upon the prince7s co$$an&, ecause, in case shoul& ha'e ill2success in tra&e, he isaun&antl) ale to $ake up $) loss so$e other wa). % it e true, as he preten&s, that he

&esires shoul& thri'e an& grow rich, he can set $e up again when unsuccess%ul 'o)ages

ha'e roken $e. ?ut this is not the case in the things that regar& the li%e to co$e i% there take a wrong course, i% in that respect a$ once un&one, it is not in the $agistrate7s

power to repair $) loss, to ease $) su%%ering, nor to restore $e in an) $easure, $uch

less entirel), to a goo& estate. *hat securit) can e gi'en %or the ing&o$ o% ea'en;

+erhaps so$e will sa) that the) &o not suppose this in%allile ju&ge$ent, that all $en areoun& to %ollow in the a%%airs o% religion, to e in the ci'il $agistrate, ut in the Church.

*hat the Church has &eter$ine&, that the ci'il $agistrate or&ers to e oser'e& an& he

pro'i&es ) his authorit) that noo&) shall either act or elie'e in the usiness o% religionotherwise than the Church teaches. -o that the ju&ge$ent o% those things is in the Church

the $agistrate hi$sel% )iel&s oe&ience thereunto an& reuires the like oe&ience %ro$

others. answer: *ho sees not how %reuentl) the na$e o% the Church, which was

'enerale in ti$e o% the apostles, has een $a&e use o% to throw &ust in the people7s e)esin the %ollowing ages; ?ut, howe'er, in the present case it helps us not. The one onl)

narrow wa) which lea&s to hea'en is not etter known to the $agistrate than to pri'ate

persons, an& there%ore cannot sa%el) take hi$ %or $) gui&e, who $a) proal) e asignorant o% the wa) as $)sel%, an& who certainl) is less concerne& %or $) sal'ation than

$)sel% a$. A$ongst so $an) kings o% the Jews, how $an) o% the$ were there who$

an) sraelite, thus lin&l) %ollowing, ha& not %allen into i&olatr) an& there) into&estruction; Het, ne'ertheless, )ou i& $e e o% goo& courage an& tell $e that all is now

sa%e an& secure, ecause the $agistrate &oes not now enjoin the oser'ance o% his own

&ecrees in $atters o% religion, ut onl) the &ecrees o% the Church. E% what Church,

eseech )ou; o% that, certainl), which likes hi$ est. As i% he that co$pels $e ) laws


16/37

an& penalties to enter into this or the other Church, &i& not interpose his own ju&ge$ent

in the $atter. *hat &i%%erence is there whether he lea& $e hi$sel%, or &eli'er $e o'er to

e le& ) others; &epen& oth wa)s upon his will, an& it is he that &eter$ines oth wa)so% $) eternal state. *oul& an sraelite that ha& worshippe& ?aal upon the co$$an& o%

his king ha'e een in an) etter con&ition ecause so$eo&) ha& tol& hi$ that the king

or&ere& nothing in religion upon his own hea&, nor co$$an&e& an)thing to e &one )his sujects in &i'ine worship ut what was appro'e& ) the counsel o% priests, an&

&eclare& to e o% &i'ine right ) the &octors o% their Church; % the religion o% an)

Church eco$e, there%ore, true an& sa'ing, ecause the hea& o% that sect, the prelates an&priests, an& those o% that trie, &o all o% the$, with all their $ight, extol an& praise it,

what religion can e'er e accounte& erroneous, %alse, an& &estructi'e; a$ &out%ul

concerning the &octrine o% the -ocinians, a$ suspicious o% the wa) o% worship practise&

) the +apists, or Lutherans will it e e'er a jot sa%er %or $e to join either unto the one orthe other o% those Churches, upon the $agistrate7s co$$an&, ecause he co$$an&s

nothing in religion ut ) the authorit) an& counsel o% the &octors o% that Church;

?ut, to speak the truth, we $ust acknowle&ge that the Church (i% a con'ention o%clerg)$en, $aking canons, $ust e calle& ) that na$e" is %or the $ost part $ore apt to

e in%luence& ) the Court than the Court ) the Church. ow the Church was un&er the

'icissitu&e o% ortho&ox an& Arian e$perors is 'er) well known. Er i% those things e toore$ote, our $o&ern Bnglish histor) a%%or&s us %resh exa$ples in the reigns o% enr) G,

B&war& G, ar), an& Bli


17/37

&istrust an& ) a worship that ahor. t is in 'ain %or an unelie'er to take up the

outwar& show o% another $an7s pro%ession. 0aith onl) an& inwar& sincerit) are the things

that procure acceptance with 4o&. The $ost likel) an& $ost appro'e& re$e&) can ha'eno e%%ect upon the patient, i% his sto$ach reject it as soon as taken an& )ou will in 'ain

cra$ a $e&icine &own a sick $an7s throat, which his particular constitution will e sure

to turn into poison. n a wor&, whatsoe'er $a) e &out%ul in religion, )et this at least iscertain, that no religion which elie'e not to e true can e either true or pro%itale unto

$e. n 'ain, there%ore, &o princes co$pel their sujects to co$e into their Church

co$$union, un&er pretence o% sa'ing their souls. % the) elie'e, the) will co$e o% theirown accor&, i% the) elie'e not, their co$ing will nothing a'ail the$. ow great soe'er,

in %ine, $a) e the pretence o% goo&2will an& charit), an& concern %or the sal'ation o%

$en7s souls, $en cannot e %orce& to e sa'e& whether the) will or no. An& there%ore,

when all is &one, the) $ust e le%t to their own consciences.

a'ing thus at length %ree& $en %ro$ all &o$inion o'er one another in $atters o%religion, let us now consi&er what the) are to &o. All $en know an& acknowle&ge that

4o& ought to e pulicl) worshippe& wh) otherwise &o the) co$pel one another untothe pulic asse$lies; en, there%ore, constitute& in this liert) are to enter into so$e

religious societ), that the) $eet together, not onl) %or $utual e&i%ication, ut to own to

the worl& that the) worship 4o& an& o%%er unto is @i'ine ajest) such ser'ice as the)the$sel'es are not asha$e& o% an& such as the) think not unworth) o% i$, nor

unacceptale to i$ an&, %inall), that ) the purit) o% &octrine, holiness o% li%e, an&

&ecent %or$ o% worship, the) $a) &raw others unto the lo'e o% the true religion, an&

per%or$ such other things in religion as cannot e &one ) each pri'ate $an apart.

These religious societies call Churches an& these, sa), the $agistrate ought to

tolerate, %or the usiness o% these asse$lies o% the people is nothing ut what is law%ul

%or e'er) $an in particular to take care o% 22 $ean the sal'ation o% their souls nor in thiscase is there an) &i%%erence etween the ational Church an& other separate&

congregations.

?ut as in e'er) Church there are two things especiall) to e consi&ere& 22 the outwar&

%or$ an& rites o% worship, an& the &octrines an& articles o% things $ust e han&le& each&istinctl) that so the whole $atter o% toleration $a) the $ore clearl) e un&erstoo&.

Concerning outwar& worship, sa), in the %irst place, that the $agistrate has no power to

en%orce ) law, either in his own Church, or $uch less in another, the use o% an) rites or

cere$onies whatsoe'er in the worship o% 4o&. An& this, not onl) ecause these Churches


18/37

are %ree societies, ut ecause whatsoe'er is practise& in the worship o% 4o& is onl) so %ar

justi%iale as it is elie'e& ) those that practise it to e acceptale unto i$. *hatsoe'er

is not &one with that assurance o% %aith is neither well in itsel%, nor can it e acceptale to4o&. To i$pose such things, there%ore, upon an) people, contrar) to their own ju&g$ent,

is in e%%ect to co$$an& the$ to o%%en& 4o&, which, consi&ering that the en& o% all

religion is to please i$, an& that liert) is essentiall) necessar) to that en&, appears toe asur& e)on& expression.

?ut perhaps it $a) e conclu&e& %ro$ hence that &en) unto the $agistrate all $anner o%

power aout in&i%%erent things, which, i% it e not grante&, the whole suject2$atter o%

law2$aking is taken awa). o, rea&il) grant that in&i%%erent things, an& perhaps noneut such, are sujecte& to the legislati'e power. ?ut it &oes not there%ore %ollow that the

$agistrate $a) or&ain whatsoe'er he pleases concerning an)thing that is in&i%%erent. The

pulic goo& is the rule an& $easure o% all law2$aking. % a thing e not use%ul to the

co$$onwealth, though it e ne'er so in&i%%erent, it $a) not presentl) e estalishe& )law.

An& %urther, things ne'er so in&i%%erent in their own nature, when the) are rought intothe Church an& worship o% 4o&, are re$o'e& out o% the reach o% the $agistrate7s

juris&iction, ecause in that use the) ha'e no connection at all with ci'il a%%airs. The onl)

usiness o% the Church is the sal'ation o% souls, an& it no wa) concerns the

co$$onwealth, or an) $e$er o% it, that this or the other cere$on) e there $a&e useo%. either the use nor the o$ission o% an) cere$onies in those religious asse$lies &oes

either a&'antage or preju&ice the li%e, liert), or estate o% an) $an. 0or exa$ple, let it e

grante& that the washing o% an in%ant with water is in itsel% an in&i%%erent thing, let it egrante& also that the $agistrate un&erstan& such washing to e pro%itale to the curing or

pre'enting o% an) &isease the chil&ren are suject unto, an& estee$ the $atter weight)

enough to e taken care o% ) a law. n that case he $a) or&er it to e &one. ?ut will an)one there%ore sa) that a $agistrate has the sa$e right to or&ain ) law that all chil&ren

shall e aptise& ) priests in the sacre& %ont in or&er to the puri%ication o% their souls;

The extre$e &i%%erence o% these two cases is 'isile to e'er) one at %irst sight. Er let us

appl) the last case to the chil& o% a Jew, an& the thing speaks itsel%. 0or what hin&ers uta Christian $agistrate $a) ha'e sujects that are Jews; ow, i% we acknowle&ge that

such an injur) $a) not e &one unto a Jew as to co$pel hi$, against his own opinion, to

practise in his religion a thing that is in its nature in&i%%erent, how can we $aintain thatan)thing o% this kin& $a) e &one to a Christian;

Again, things in their own nature in&i%%erent cannot, ) an) hu$an authorit), e $a&e

an) part o% the worship o% 4o& 22 %or this 'er) reason: ecause the) are in&i%%erent. 0or,

since in&i%%erent things are not capale, ) an) 'irtue o% their own, to propitiate the @eit),


19/37

no hu$an power or authorit) can con%er on the$ so $uch &ignit) an& excellenc) as to

enale the$ to &o it. n the co$$on a%%airs o% li%e that use o% in&i%%erent things which

4o& has not %ori&&en is %ree an& law%ul, an& there%ore in those things hu$an authorit)has place. ?ut it is not so in $atters o% religion. Things in&i%%erent are not otherwise

law%ul in the worship o% 4o& than as the) are institute& ) 4o& i$sel% an& as e, )

so$e positi'e co$$an&, has or&aine& the$ to e $a&e a part o% that worship which ewill 'ouchsa%e to accept at the han&s o% poor sin%ul $en. or, when an incense& @eit)

shall ask us, 3*ho has reuire& these, or such2like things at )our han&s;3 will it e

enough to answer i$ that the $agistrate co$$an&e& the$. % ci'il juris&iction exten&thus %ar, what $ight not law%ull) e intro&uce& into religion; *hat ho&gepo&ge o%

cere$onies, what superstitious in'entions, uilt upon the $agistrate7s authorit), $ight not

(against conscience" e i$pose& upon the worshippers o% 4o&; 0or the greatest part o%

these cere$onies an& superstitions consists in the religious use o% such things as are intheir own nature in&i%%erent nor are the) sin%ul upon an) other account than ecause 4o&

is not the author o% the$. The sprinkling o% water an& the use o% rea& an& wine are oth

in their own nature an& in the or&inar) occasions o% li%e altogether in&i%%erent. *ill an)

$an, there%ore, sa) that these things coul& ha'e een intro&uce& into religion an& $a&e apart o% &i'ine worship i% not ) &i'ine institution; % an) hu$an authorit) or ci'il power

coul& ha'e &one this, wh) $ight it not also enjoin the eating o% %ish an& &rinking o% ale inthe hol) anuet as a part o% &i'ine worship; *h) not the sprinkling o% the loo& o%

easts in churches, an& expiations ) water or %ire, an& aun&ance $ore o% this kin&; ?ut

these things, how in&i%%erent soe'er the) e in co$$on uses, when the) co$e to eannexe& unto &i'ine worship, without &i'ine authorit), the) are as ao$inale to 4o& as

the sacri%ice o% a &og. An& wh) is a &og so ao$inale; *hat &i%%erence is there etween

a &og an& a goat, in respect o% the &i'ine nature, euall) an& in%initel) &istant %ro$ all

a%%init) with $atter, unless it e that 4o& reuire& the use o% one in is worship an& noto% the other; *e see, there%ore, that in&i%%erent things, how $uch soe'er the) e un&er

the power o% the ci'il $agistrate, )et cannot, upon that pretence, e intro&uce& into

religion an& i$pose& upon religious asse$lies, ecause, in the worship o% 4o&, the)wholl) cease to e in&i%%erent. e that worships 4o& &oes it with &esign to please i$

an& procure is %a'our. ?ut that cannot e &one ) hi$ who, upon the co$$an& o%

another, o%%ers unto 4o& that which he knows will e &ispleasing to i$, ecause notco$$an&e& ) i$sel%. This is not to please 4o&, or appease his wrath, ut willingl)

an& knowingl) to pro'oke i$ ) a $ani%est conte$pt, which is a thing asolutel)

repugnant to the nature an& en& o% worship.

?ut it will e here aske&: 3% nothing elonging to &i'ine worship e le%t to hu$an&iscretion, how is it then that Churches the$sel'es ha'e the power o% or&ering an)thing

aout the ti$e an& place o% worship an& the like;3 To this answer that in religious

worship we $ust &istinguish etween what is part o% the worship itsel% an& what is ut acircu$stance. That is a part o% the worship which is elie'e& to e appointe& ) 4o& an&

to e well2pleasing to i$, an& there%ore that is necessar). Circu$stances are such things

which, though in general the) cannot e separate& %ro$ worship, )et the particular

instances or $o&i%ications o% the$ are not &eter$ine&, an& there%ore the) are in&i%%erent.


20/37

E% this sort are the ti$e an& place o% worship, hait an& posture o% hi$ that worships.

These are circu$stances, an& per%ectl) in&i%%erent, where 4o& has not gi'en an) express

co$$an& aout the$. 0or exa$ple: a$ongst the Jews the ti$e an& place o% their worshipan& the haits o% those that o%%iciate& in it were not $ere circu$stances, ut a part o% the

worship itsel%, in which, i% an)thing were &e%ecti'e, or &i%%erent %ro$ the institution, the)

coul& not hope that it woul& e accepte& ) 4o&. ?ut these, to Christians un&er theliert) o% the 4ospel, are $ere circu$stances o% worship, which the pru&ence o% e'er)

Church $a) ring into such use as shall e ju&ge& $ost suser'ient to the en& o% or&er,

&ecenc), an& e&i%ication. ?ut, e'en un&er the 4ospel, those who elie'e the %irst or these'enth &a) to e set apart ) 4o&, an& consecrate& still to is worship, to the$ that

portion o% ti$e is not a si$ple circu$stance, ut a real part o% @i'ine worship, which can

neither e change& nor neglecte&.

n the next place: As the $agistrate has no power to i$pose ) his laws the use o% an)

rites an& cere$onies in an) Church, so neither has he an) power to %ori& the use o% suchrites an& cere$onies as are alrea&) recei'e&, appro'e&, an& practise& ) an) Church

ecause, i% he &i& so, he woul& &estro) the Church itsel%: the en& o% whose institution isonl) to worship 4o& with %ree&o$ a%ter its own $anner.

Hou will sa), ) this rule, i% so$e congregations shoul& ha'e a $in& to sacri%ice in%ants,

or (as the pri$iti'e Christians were %alsel) accuse&" lust%ull) pollute the$sel'es in

pro$iscuous uncleanness, or practise an) other such heinous enor$ities, is the $agistrateolige& to tolerate the$, ecause the) are co$$itte& in a religious asse$l); answer:

o. These things are not law%ul in the or&inar) course o% li%e, nor in an) pri'ate house

an& there%ore neither are the) so in the worship o% 4o&, or in an) religious $eeting. ?ut,in&ee&, i% an) people congregate& upon account o% religion shoul& e &esirous to sacri%ice

a cal%, &en) that that ought to e prohiite& ) a law. elioeus, whose cal% it is, $a)

law%ull) kill his cal% at ho$e, an& urn an) part o% it that he thinks %it. 0or no injur) isthere) &one to an) one, no preju&ice to another $an7s goo&s. An& %or the sa$e reason

he $a) kill his cal% also in a religious $eeting. *hether the &oing so e well2pleasing to

4o& or no, it is their part to consi&er that &o it. The part o% the $agistrate is onl) to take

care that the co$$onwealth recei'e no preju&ice, an& that there e no injur) &one to an)$an, either in li%e or estate. An& thus what $a) e spent on a %east $a) e spent on a

sacri%ice. ?ut i% pera&'enture such were the state o% things that the interest o% the

co$$onwealth reuire& all slaughter o% easts shoul& e %ororne %or so$e while, inor&er to the increasing o% the stock o% cattle that ha& een &estro)e& ) so$e

extraor&inar) $urrain, who sees not that the $agistrate, in such a case, $a) %ori& all his

sujects to kill an) cal'es %or an) use whatsoe'er; Enl) it is to e oser'e& that, in thiscase, the law is not $a&e aout a religious, ut a political $atter nor is the sacri%ice, ut

the slaughter o% cal'es, there) prohiite&.


21/37

?) this we see what &i%%erence there is etween the Church an& the Co$$onwealth.

*hatsoe'er is law%ul in the Co$$onwealth cannot e prohiite& ) the $agistrate in theChurch. *hatsoe'er is per$itte& unto an) o% his sujects %or their or&inar) use, neither

can nor ought to e %ori&&en ) hi$ to an) sect o% people %or their religious uses. % an)

$an $a) law%ull) take rea& or wine, either sitting or kneeling in his own house, the lawought not to ari&ge hi$ o% the sa$e liert) in his religious worship though in the

Church the use o% rea& an& wine e 'er) &i%%erent an& e there applie& to the $)steries

o% %aith an& rites o% @i'ine worship. ?ut those things that are preju&icial to theco$$onweal o% a people in their or&inar) use an& are, there%ore, %ori&&en ) laws,

those things ought not to e per$itte& to Churches in their sacre& rites. Enl) the

$agistrate ought alwa)s to e 'er) care%ul that he &o not $isuse his authorit) to the

oppression o% an) Church, un&er pretence o% pulic goo&.

t $a) e sai&: 3*hat i% a Church e i&olatrous, is that also to e tolerate& ) the$agistrate;3 answer: *hat power can e gi'en to the $agistrate %or the suppression o%

an i&olatrous Church, which $a) not in ti$e an& place e $a&e use o% to the ruin o% anortho&ox one; 0or it $ust e re$e$ere& that the ci'il power is the sa$e e'er)where,

an& the religion o% e'er) prince is ortho&ox to hi$sel%. %, there%ore, such a power e

grante& unto the ci'il $agistrate in spirituals as that at 4ene'a, %or exa$ple, he $a)extirpate, ) 'iolence an& loo&, the religion which is there repute& i&olatrous, ) the

sa$e rule another $agistrate, in so$e neighouring countr), $a) oppress the re%or$e&

religion an&, in n&ia, the Christian. The ci'il power can either change e'er)thing in

religion, accor&ing to the prince7s pleasure, or it can change nothing. % it e onceper$itte& to intro&uce an)thing into religion ) the $eans o% laws an& penalties, there

can e no oun&s put to it ut it will in the sa$e $anner e law%ul to alter e'er)thing,

accor&ing to that rule o% truth which the $agistrate has %ra$e& unto hi$sel%. o $anwhatsoe'er ought, there%ore, to e &epri'e& o% his terrestrial enjo)$ents upon account o%

his religion. ot e'en A$ericans, sujecte& unto a Christian prince, are to e punishe&

either in o&) or goo&s %or not e$racing our %aith an& worship. % the) are persua&e&that the) please 4o& in oser'ing the rites o% their own countr) an& that the) shall otain

happiness ) that $eans, the) are to e le%t unto 4o& an& the$sel'es. Let us trace this

$atter to the otto$. Thus it is: An inconsi&erale an& weak nu$er o% Christians,

&estitute o% e'er)thing, arri'e in a +agan countr) these %oreigners eseech theinhaitants, ) the owels o% hu$anit), that the) woul& succour the$ with the

necessaries o% li%e those necessaries are gi'en the$, haitations are grante&, an& the) all

join together, an& grow up into one o&) o% people. The Christian religion ) this $eanstakes root in that countr) an& sprea&s itsel%, ut &oes not su&&enl) grow the strongest.

*hile things are in this con&ition peace, %rien&ship, %aith, an& eual justice are preser'e&

a$ongst the$. At length the $agistrate eco$es a Christian, an& ) that $eans theirpart) eco$es the $ost power%ul. Then i$$e&iatel) all co$pacts are to e roken, all

ci'il rights to e 'iolate&, that i&olatr) $a) e extirpate& an& unless these innocent

+agans, strict oser'ers o% the rules o% euit) an& the law o% ature an& no wa)s

o%%en&ing against the laws o% the societ), sa), unless the) will %orsake their ancient


22/37

religion an& e$race a new an& strange one, the) are to e turne& out o% the lan&s an&

possessions o% their %ore%athers an& perhaps &epri'e& o% li%e itsel%. Then, at last, it appears

what


23/37

treason. 0or the co$$onwealth o% the Jews, &i%%erent in that %ro$ all others, was an

asolute theocrac) nor was there, or coul& there e, an) &i%%erence etween that

co$$onwealth an& the Church. The laws estalishe& there concerning the worship o%Ene n'isile @eit) were the ci'il laws o% that people an& a part o% their political

go'ern$ent, in which 4o& i$sel% was the legislator. ow, i% an) one can shew $e

where there is a co$$onwealth at this ti$e, constitute& upon that %oun&ation, willacknowle&ge that the ecclesiastical laws &o there una'oi&al) eco$e a part o% the ci'il,

an& that the sujects o% that go'ern$ent oth $a) an& ought to e kept in strict

con%or$it) with that Church ) the ci'il power. ?ut there is asolutel) no such thingun&er the 4ospel as a Christian co$$onwealth. There are, in&ee&, $an) cities an&

king&o$s that ha'e e$race& the %aith o% Christ, ut the) ha'e retaine& their ancient

%or$ o% go'ern$ent, with which the law o% Christ hath not at all $e&&le&. e, in&ee&,

hath taught $en how, ) %aith an& goo& works, the) $a) otain eternal li%e ut einstitute& no co$$onwealth. e prescrie& unto is %ollowers no new an& peculiar %or$

o% go'ern$ent, nor put e the swor& into an) $agistrate7s han&, with co$$ission to

$ake use o% it in %orcing $en to %orsake their %or$er religion an& recei'e is.

-econ&l), %oreigners an& such as were strangers to the co$$onwealth o% srael were not

co$pelle& ) %orce to oser'e the rites o% the osaical law ut, on the contrar), in the

'er) sa$e place where it is or&ere& that an sraelite that was an i&olater shoul& e put to&eath,5I there it is pro'i&e& that strangers shoul& not e 'exe& nor oppresse&. con%ess

that the se'en nations that possesse& the lan& which was pro$ise& to the sraelites were

utterl) to e cut o%% ut this was not singl) ecause the) were i&olaters. 0or i% that ha&

een the reason, wh) were the oaites an& other nations to e spare&; o: the reason isthis. 4o& eing in a peculiar $anner the ing o% the Jews, e coul& not su%%er the

a&oration o% an) other &eit) (which was properl) an act o% high treason against i$sel%"

in the lan& o% Canaan, which was is king&o$. 0or such a $ani%est re'olt coul& no wa)sconsist with is &o$inion, which was per%ectl) political in that countr). All i&olatr) was,

there%ore, to e roote& out o% the oun&s o% is king&o$ ecause it was an

acknowle&g$ent o% another go&, that is sa), another king, against the laws o% B$pire.The inhaitants were also to e &ri'en out, that the entire possession o% the lan& $ight e

gi'en to the sraelites. An& %or the like reason the B$i$s an& the ori$s were &ri'en out

o% their countries ) the chil&ren o% Bsau an& Lot an& their lan&s, upon the sa$e

groun&s, gi'en ) 4o& to the in'a&ers.5 ?ut, though all i&olatr) was thus roote& out o%the lan& o% Canaan, )et e'er) i&olater was not rought to execution. The whole %a$il) o%

Faha, the whole nation o% the 4ieonites, article& with Joshua, an& were allowe& )

treat) an& there were $an) capti'es a$ongst the Jews who were i&olaters. @a'i& an&-olo$on su&ue& $an) countries without the con%ines o% the Lan& o% +ro$ise an&

carrie& their conuests as %ar as Buphrates. A$ongst so $an) capti'es taken, so $an)

nations re&uce& un&er their oe&ience, we %in& not one $an %orce& into the Jewishreligion an& the worship o% the true 4o& an& punishe& %or i&olatr), though all o% the$

were certainl) guilt) o% it. % an) one, in&ee&, eco$ing a prosel)te, &esire& to e $a&e a

&eni


24/37

&i& not unwillingl) su$it, to show his oe&ience, ut he sought an& solicite& %or it as a

pri'ilege. An&, as soon as he was a&$itte&, he eca$e suject to the laws o% the

co$$onwealth, ) which all i&olatr) was %ori&&en within the or&ers o% the lan& o%Canaan. ?ut that law (as ha'e sai&" &i& not reach to an) o% those regions, howe'er

sujecte& unto the Jews, that were situate& without those oun&s.

Thus %ar concerning outwar& worship. Let us now consi&er articles o% %aith. The articleso% religion are so$e o% the$ practical an& so$e speculati'e. ow, though oth sorts

consist in the knowle&ge o% truth, )et these ter$inate si$pl) in the un&erstan&ing, those

in%luence the will an& $anners. -peculati'e opinions, there%ore, an& articles o% %aith (as

the) are calle&" which are reuire& onl) to e elie'e&, cannot e i$pose& on an) Church) the law o% the lan&. 0or it is asur& that things shoul& e enjoine& ) laws which are

not in $en7s power to per%or$. An& to elie'e this or that to e true &oes not &epen&

upon our will. ?ut o% this enough has een sai& alrea&). 3?ut.3 will so$e sa) 3let $en at

least pro%ess that the) elie'e.3 A sweet religion, in&ee&, that oliges $en to &isse$lean& tell lies, oth to 4o& an& $an, %or the sal'ation o% their soulsD % the $agistrate thinks

to sa'e $en thus, he see$s to un&erstan& little o% the wa) o% sal'ation. An& i% he &oes itnot in or&er to sa'e the$, wh) is he so solicitous aout the articles o% %aith as to enact

the$ ) a law;

0urther, the $agistrate ought not to %ori& the preaching or pro%essing o% an) speculati'e

opinions in an) Church ecause the) ha'e no $anner o% relation to the ci'il rights o% thesujects. % a Fo$an Catholic elie'e that to e reall) the o&) o% Christ which another

$an calls rea&, he &oes no injur) there) to his neighour. % a Jew &o not elie'e the

ew Testa$ent to e the *or& o% 4o&, he &oes not there) alter an)thing in $en7s ci'ilrights. % a heathen &out o% oth Testa$ents, he is not there%ore to e punishe& as a

pernicious citi


25/37

A goo& li%e, in which consist not the least part o% religion an& true piet), concerns also

the ci'il go'ern$ent an& in it lies the sa%et) oth o% $en7s souls an& o% the

co$$onwealth. oral actions elong, there%ore, to the juris&iction oth o% the outwar&an& inwar& court oth o% the ci'il an& &o$estic go'ernor $ean oth o% the $agistrate

an& conscience. ere, there%ore, is great &anger, lest one o% these juris&ictions intrench

upon the other, an& &iscor& arise etween the keeper o% the pulic peace an& theo'erseers o% souls. ?ut i% what has een alrea&) sai& concerning the li$its o% oth these

go'ern$ents e rightl) consi&ere&, it will easil) re$o'e all &i%%icult) in this $atter.

B'er) $an has an i$$ortal soul, capale o% eternal happiness or $iser) whose

happiness &epen&ing upon his elie'ing an& &oing those things in this li%e which arenecessar) to the otaining o% 4o&7s %a'our, an& are prescrie& ) 4o& to that en&. t

%ollows %ro$ thence, %irst, that the oser'ance o% these things is the highest oligation

that lies upon $ankin& an& that our ut$ost care, application, an& &iligence ought to e

exercise& in the search an& per%or$ance o% the$ ecause there is nothing in this worl&that is o% an) consi&eration in co$parison with eternit). -econ&l), that seeing one $an

&oes not 'iolate the right o% another ) his erroneous opinions an& un&ue $anner o%worship, nor is his per&ition an) preju&ice to another $an7s a%%airs, there%ore, the care o%

each $an7s sal'ation elongs onl) to hi$sel%. ?ut woul& not ha'e this un&erstoo& as i%

$eant here) to con&e$n all charitale a&$onitions an& a%%ectionate en&ea'ours tore&uce $en %ro$ errors, which are in&ee& the greatest &ut) o% a Christian. An) one $a)

e$plo) as $an) exhortations an& argu$ents as he pleases, towar&s the pro$oting o%

another $an7s sal'ation. ?ut all %orce an& co$pulsion are to e %ororne. othing is to e

&one i$periousl). oo&) is olige& in that $atter to )iel& oe&ience unto thea&$onitions or injunctions o% another, %urther than he hi$sel% is persua&e&. B'er) $an in

that has the supre$e an& asolute authorit) o% ju&ging %or hi$sel%. An& the reason is

ecause noo&) else is concerne& in it, nor can recei'e an) preju&ice %ro$ his con&ucttherein.

?ut esi&es their souls, which are i$$ortal, $en ha'e also their te$poral li'es here upon

earth the state whereo% eing %rail an& %leeting, an& the &uration uncertain, the) ha'e

nee& o% se'eral outwar& con'eniences to the support thereo%, which are to e procure& orpreser'e& ) pains an& in&ustr). 0or those things that are necessar) to the co$%ortale

support o% our li'es are not the spontaneous pro&ucts o% nature, nor &o o%%er the$sel'es

%it an& prepare& %or our use. This part, there%ore, &raws on another care an& necessaril)gi'es another e$plo)$ent. ?ut the pra'it) o% $ankin& eing such that the) ha& rather

injuriousl) pre) upon the %ruits o% other $en7s laours than take pains to pro'i&e %or

the$sel'es, the necessit) o% preser'ing $en in the possession o% what honest in&ustr) hasalrea&) acuire& an& also o% preser'ing their liert) an& strength, where) the) $a)

acuire what the) %arther want, oliges $en to enter into societ) with one another, that )

$utual assistance an& joint %orce the) $a) secure unto each other their properties, in the

things that contriute to the co$%ort an& happiness o% this li%e, lea'ing in the $eanwhile


26/37

to e'er) $an the care o% his own eternal happiness, the attain$ent whereo% can neither e

%acilitate& ) another $an7s in&ustr), nor can the loss o% it turn to another $an7s

preju&ice, nor the hope o% it e %orce& %ro$ hi$ ) an) external 'iolence. ?ut, %oras$uchas $en thus entering into societies, groun&e& upon their $utual co$pacts o% assistance

%or the &e%ence o% their te$poral goo&s, $a), ne'ertheless, e &epri'e& o% the$, either )

the rapine an& %rau& o% their %ellow citi


27/37

e'en ) a law", %or a cause that has no relation to the en& o% ci'il go'ern$ent, $ean %or

their religion, which whether it e true or %alse &oes no preju&ice to the worl&l) concerns

o% their %ellow sujects, which are the things that onl) elong unto the care o% theco$$onwealth.

?ut what i% the $agistrate elie'e such a law as this to e %or the pulic goo&; answer:

As the pri'ate ju&ge$ent o% an) particular person, i% erroneous, &oes not exe$pt hi$%ro$ the oligation o% law, so the pri'ate ju&ge$ent (as $a) call it" o% the $agistrate

&oes not gi'e hi$ an) new right o% i$posing laws upon his sujects, which neither was in

the constitution o% the go'ern$ent grante& hi$, nor e'er was in the power o% the people

to grant, $uch less i% he $ake it his usiness to enrich an& a&'ance his %ollowers an&%ellow2sectaries with the spoils o% others. ?ut what i% the $agistrate elie'e that he has a

right to $ake such laws an& that the) are %or the pulic goo&, an& his sujects elie'e the

contrar); *ho shall e ju&ge etween the$; answer: 4o& alone. 0or there is no ju&ge

upon earth etween the supre$e $agistrate an& the people. 4o&, sa), is the onl) ju&gein this case, who will retriute unto e'er) one at the last &a) accor&ing to his &eserts that

is, accor&ing to his sincerit) an& uprightness in en&ea'ouring to pro$ote piet), an& thepulic weal, an& peace o% $ankin&. ?ut *hat shall e &one in the $eanwhile; answer:

The principal an& chie% care o% e'er) one ought to e o% his own soul %irst, an&, in the

next place, o% the pulic peace though )et there are 'er) %ew will think it is peace there,where the) see all lai& waste. There are two sorts o% contests a$ongst $en, the one

$anage& ) law, the other ) %orce an& these are o% that nature that where the one en&s,

the other alwa)s egins. ?ut it is not $) usiness to inuire into the power o% the

$agistrate in the &i%%erent constitutions o% nations. onl) know what usuall) happenswhere contro'ersies arise without a ju&ge to &eter$ine the$. Hou will sa), then, the

$agistrate eing the stronger will ha'e his will an& carr) his point. *ithout &out ut

the uestion is not here concerning the &out%ulness o% the e'ent, ut the rule o% right.

?ut to co$e to particulars. sa), %irst, no opinions contrar) to hu$an societ), or to those

$oral rules which are necessar) to the preser'ation o% ci'il societ), are to e tolerate& )

the $agistrate. ?ut o% these, in&ee&, exa$ples in an) Church are rare. 0or no sect can

easil) arri'e to such a &egree o% $a&ness as that it shoul& think %it to teach, %or &octrineso% religion, such things as $ani%estl) un&er$ine the %oun&ations o% societ) an& are,

there%ore, con&e$ne& ) the ju&ge$ent o% all $ankin& ecause their own interest, peace,

reputation, e'er)thing woul& e there) en&angere&.

Another $ore secret e'il, ut $ore &angerous to the co$$onwealth, is when $en

arrogate to the$sel'es, an& to those o% their own sect, so$e peculiar prerogati'e co'ere&

o'er with a specious show o% &eceit%ul wor&s, ut in e%%ect opposite to the ci'il right o%

the co$$unit). 0or exa$ple: we cannot %in& an) sect that teaches, expressl) an& openl),


28/37

that $en are not olige& to keep their pro$ise that princes $a) e &ethrone& ) those

that &i%%er %ro$ the$ in religion or that the &o$inion o% all things elongs onl) to

the$sel'es. 0or these things, propose& thus nake&l) an& plainl), woul& soon &raw onthe$ the e)e an& han& o% the $agistrate an& awaken all the care o% the co$$onwealth to

a watch%ulness against the sprea&ing o% so &angerous an e'il. ?ut, ne'ertheless, we %in&

those that sa) the sa$e things in other wor&s. *hat else &o the) $ean who teach that%aith is not to e kept with heretics; Their $eaning, %orsooth, is that the pri'ilege o%

reaking %aith elongs unto the$sel'es %or the) &eclare all that are not o% their

co$$union to e heretics, or at least $a) &eclare the$ so whensoe'er the) think %it.*hat can e the $eaning o% their asserting that kings exco$$unicate& %or%eit their

crowns an& king&o$s; t is e'i&ent that the) there) arrogate unto the$sel'es the power

o% &eposing kings, ecause the) challenge the power o% exco$$unication, as the peculiar

right o% their hierarch). That &o$inion is %oun&e& in grace is also an assertion ) whichthose that $aintain it &o plainl) la) clai$ to the possession o% all things. 0or the) are not

so wanting to the$sel'es as not to elie'e, or at least as not to pro%ess the$sel'es to e

the trul) pious an& %aith%ul. These, there%ore, an& the like, who attriute unto the %aith%ul,

religious, an& ortho&ox, that is, in plain ter$s, unto the$sel'es, an) peculiar pri'ilege orpower ao'e other $ortals, in ci'il concern$ents or who upon pretence o% religion &o

challenge an) $anner o% authorit) o'er such as are not associate& with the$ in theirecclesiastical co$$union, sa) these ha'e no right to e tolerate& ) the $agistrate as

neither those that will not own an& teach the &ut) o% tolerating all $en in $atters o% $ere

religion. 0or what &o all these an& the like &octrines signi%), ut that the) $a) an& arerea&) upon an) occasion to sei


29/37

Lastl), those are not at all to e tolerate& who &en) the eing o% a 4o&. +ro$ises,co'enants, an& oaths, which are the on&s o% hu$an societ), can ha'e no hol& upon an

atheist. The taking awa) o% 4o&, though ut e'en in thought, &issol'es all esi&es also,

those that ) their atheis$ un&er$ine an& &estro) all religion, can ha'e no pretence o%religion whereupon to challenge the pri'ilege o% a toleration. As %or other practical

opinions, though not asolutel) %ree %ro$ all error, i% the) &o not ten& to estalish

&o$ination o'er others, or ci'il i$punit) to the Church in which the) are taught, therecan e no reason wh) the) shoul& not e tolerate&.

t re$ains that sa) so$ething concerning those asse$lies which, eing 'ulgarl) calle&

an& perhaps ha'ing so$eti$es een con'enticles an& nurseries o% %actions an& se&itions,

are thought to a%%or& against this &octrine o% toleration. ?ut this has not happene& )

an)thing peculiar unto the genius o% such asse$lies, ut ) the unhapp) circu$stanceso% an oppresse& or ill2settle& liert). These accusations woul& soon cease i% the law o%

toleration were once so settle& that all Churches were olige& to la) &own toleration asthe %oun&ation o% their own liert), an& teach that liert) o% conscience is e'er) $an7s

natural right, euall) elonging to &issenters as to the$sel'es an& that noo&) ought to

e co$pelle& in $atters o% religion either ) law or %orce. The estalish$ent o% this onething woul& take awa) all groun& o% co$plaints an& tu$ults upon account o% conscience

an& these causes o% &iscontents an& ani$osities eing once re$o'e&, there woul& re$ain

nothing in these asse$lies that were not $ore peaceale an& less apt to pro&uce

&isturance o% state than in an) other $eetings whatsoe'er. ?ut let us exa$ineparticularl) the hea&s o% these accusations.

Hou will sa) that asse$lies an& $eetings en&anger the pulic peace an& threaten the

co$$onwealth. answer: % this e so, wh) are there &ail) such nu$erous $eetings in$arkets an& Courts o% Ju&icature; *h) are crow&s upon the Bxchange an& a concourse

o% people in cities su%%ere&; Hou will repl): 3Those are ci'il asse$lies, ut these we

oject against are ecclesiastical.3 answer: t is a likel) thing, in&ee&, that such

asse$lies as are altogether re$ote %ro$ ci'il a%%airs shoul& e $ost apt to e$roil the$.Eh, ut ci'il asse$lies are co$pose& o% $en that &i%%er %ro$ one another in $atters o%

religion, ut these ecclesiastical $eetings are o% persons that are all o% one opinion. As i%

an agree$ent in $atters o% religion were in e%%ect a conspirac) against theco$$onwealth or as i% $en woul& not e so $uch the $ore war$l) unani$ous in

religion the less liert) the) ha& o% asse$ling. ?ut it will e urge& still that ci'il

asse$lies are open an& %ree %or an) one to enter into, whereas religious con'enticles are$ore pri'ate an& there) gi'e opportunit) to clan&estine $achinations. answer that this

is not strictl) true, %or $an) ci'il asse$lies are not open to e'er)one. An& i% so$e

religious $eetings e pri'ate, who are the) ( eseech )ou" that are to e la$e& %or it,

those that &esire, or those that %ori& their eing pulicD Again, )ou will sa) that religious


30/37

co$$union &oes excee&ingl) unite $en7s $in&s an& a%%ections to one another an& is

there%ore the $ore &angerous. ?ut i% this e so, wh) is not the $agistrate a%rai& o% his

own Church an& wh) &oes he not %ori& their asse$lies as things &angerous to his4o'ern$ent; Hou will sa) ecause he hi$sel% is a part an& e'en the hea& o% the$. As i%

he were not also a part o% the co$$onwealth, an& the hea& o% the whole peopleD

Let us there%ore &eal plainl). The $agistrate is a%rai& o% other Churches, ut not o% hisown, ecause he is kin& an& %a'ourale to the one, ut se'ere an& cruel to the other.

These he treats like chil&ren, an& in&ulges the$ e'en to wantonness. Those he uses as

sla'es an&, how la$elessl) soe'er the) &e$ean the$sel'es, reco$penses the$ no

otherwise than ) galle)s, prisons, con%iscations, an& &eath. These he cherishes an&&e%en&s those he continuall) scourges an& oppresses. Let hi$ turn the tales. Er let those

&issenters enjo) ut the sa$e pri'ileges in ci'ils as his other sujects, an& he will uickl)

%in& that these religious $eetings will e no longer &angerous. 0or i% $en enter into

se&itious conspiracies, it is not religion inspires the$ to it in their $eetings, ut theirsu%%erings an& oppressions that $ake the$ willing to ease the$sel'es. Just an& $o&erate

go'ern$ents are e'er)where uiet, e'er)where sa%e ut oppression raises %er$ents an&$akes $en struggle to cast o%% an uneas) an& t)rannical )oke. know that se&itions are

'er) %reuentl) raise& upon pretence o% religion, ut it is as true that %or religion sujects

are %reuentl) ill treate& an& li'e $iseral). ?elie'e $e, the stirs that are $a&e procee&not %ro$ an) peculiar te$per o% this or that Church or religious societ), ut %ro$ the

co$$on &isposition o% all $ankin&, who when the) groan un&er an) hea') urthen

en&ea'our naturall) to shake o%% the )oke that galls their necks. -uppose this usiness o%

religion were let alone, an& that there were so$e other &istinction $a&e etween $en an&$en upon account o% their &i%%erent co$plexions, shapes, an& %eatures, so that those who

ha'e lack hair (%or exa$ple" or gre) e)es shoul& not enjo) the sa$e pri'ileges as other

citi


31/37

there%ore the) are not to e su%%ere&. Take awa) the partialit) that is use& towar&s the$ in

$atters o% co$$on right change the laws, take awa) the penalties unto which the) are

sujecte&, an& all things will i$$e&iatel) eco$e sa%e an& peaceale na), those that area'erse to the religion o% the $agistrate will think the$sel'es so $uch the $ore oun& to

$aintain the peace o% the co$$onwealth as their con&ition is etter in that place than

elsewhere an& all the se'eral separate congregations, like so $an) guar&ians o% thepulic peace, will watch one another, that nothing $a) e inno'ate& or change& in the

%or$ o% the go'ern$ent, ecause the) can hope %or nothing etter than what the) alrea&)

enjo) 22 that is, an eual con&ition with their %ellow2sujects un&er a just an& $o&eratego'ern$ent. ow i% that Church which agrees in religion with the prince e estee$e& the

chie% support o% an) ci'il go'ern$ent, an& that %or no other reason (as has alrea&) een

shown" than ecause the prince is kin& an& the laws are %a'ourale to it, how $uch

greater will e the securit) o% go'ern$ent where all goo& sujects, o% whatsoe'er Churchthe) e, without an) &istinction upon account o% religion, enjo)ing the sa$e %a'our o% the

prince an& the sa$e ene%it o% the laws, shall eco$e the co$$on support an& guar& o%

it, an& where none will ha'e an) occasion to %ear the se'erit) o% the laws ut those that

&o injuries to their neighours an& o%%en& against the ci'il peace;

That we $a) &raw towar&s a conclusion. The su$ o% all we &ri'e at is that e'er) $an

$a) enjo) the sa$e rights that are grante& to others. s it per$itte& to worship 4o& in theFo$an $anner; Let it e per$itte& to &o it in the 4ene'a %or$ also. s it per$itte& to

speak Latin in the $arket2place; Let those that ha'e a $in& to it e per$itte& to &o it also

in the Church. s it law%ul %or an) $an in his own

Locke Toleration.doc

Documents

Locke Toleration.doc