The Bloody Tenent of Persecution, Roger Williams | The Reformed Reader

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TH E BLO U D Y TEN EN T O F PERSECU TIO N

Roger W ilam s (Jul 15, 1644) li y Fi , t rst hat t bl he ood of so m any hundred t housand soul of Prot ant and Papi s, spit i t w ars of present and f s est s st l n he orm er ages, f t r or hei respect ve consci i ences, i not requi s red nor accept by Jesus C hri t Pri ed st he nce of Peace. Secondl pregnant scri ures and argum ent are t y, pt s hroughout t w ork proposed agai he nst t doct ne of persecut on f cause of consci he ri i or ence. Thi y, sat sf ory answ ers are gi rdl i act ven t scri ures, and obj i o pt ect ons produced by M r. Cal n, Beza, M r. C ot on, and t m i st vi t he ni ers of t N ew he Englsh churches and ot i hers f orm er and l er, t at endi t prove t doct ne of persecut on f cause of consci ng o he ri i or ence. Fourt y, t doct ne of persecut on f cause of consci hl he ri i or ence i proved guit of al t bl s ly l he ood of t soul cryi f vengeance under t al ar. he s ng or he t Fit y, al ci l st es w i h t r of i f hl l vi at t hei fcers of j i i t r respect ve const t i ust ce n hei i i ut ons and adm i st i ni rat ons are proved essent aly ci l and i l vi, t heref ore not j udges, governors, or def enders of t spi t he ri ualor C hri i st e and w orshi st an at p. Si hl i i t xt y, t s he w il and com m and of G od t l hat (si nce t he com i of hi Son t ng s he Lord Jesus) a perm i on of t ssi he m ost pagani sh, Jew i sh, Turki sh, or ant chri i consci i st an ences and w orshi ps, be grant t al m en i al nat ons and count es; and t ed o l n l i ri hey are onl t be f y o ought agai nst w ih t t hat sw ord w hi i onl (i soulm at ers) abl t conquer, t w i , t sw ord of G od' Spi t t W ord of G od. ch s y n t e o o t he s ri , he Sevent y, t st e of t Land of Israel t ki hl he at he , he ngs and peopl t e hereof i peace and w ar, i proved fgurat ve and cerem oni , and no pat ern n s i i al t nor presi dent f any ki or ngdom or ci lst e i t w orl t f l . vi at n he d o olow Ei hl G od requi h not a uniorm i y of relgi t be enact and enf ght y, ret f t i on o ed orced i any ci l st e; w hi enf n vi at ch orced uniorm i y (sooner or l er) i f t at s t great he est occasi of ci l w ar, ravi ng of consci on vi shi ence, persecut on of Chri Jesus i hi servant and of t hypocri and dest i st n s s, he sy ruct on of i m ilons of soul li s. N i hl i hol ng an enf nt y, n di orced uniorm i y of relgi i a ci l st e, w e m ust necessariy di ai our desi f t i on n vi at l scl m res and hopes of t he Jew ' s conversi t C hri . on o st orced uniorm i y of relgi t f t i on hroughout a nat on or ci l st e, conf i vi at ounds t he ci l and relgi vi i ous, deni t es he pri pl of nci es Tent y, an enf hl Chri i t and ci lt and t st ani y vii y, hat Jesus C hri i com e i t fesh. st s n he l El event y, t perm i on of ot hl he ssi her consci ences and w orshi t ps han a st e prof at esset onl can (accordi t G od) procure a frm and l i h y ng o i ast ng peace (good assurance bei t ng aken accordi t t w i ng o he sdom of t ci lst e f uniorm i y of ci lobedi he vi at or f t vi ence f rom al f s). l ort Tw elt y, l l t f hl ast y, rue ci lt and Chri i t m ay bot fouri i a st e or ki vii y st ani y h l sh n at ngdom , not i hst w t andi t perm i on of di ng he ssi vers and cont rary consci ences, ei her of Jew or G ent l . . t ie. . TRU TH . I acknow l edge t hat t m ol o est any person, Jew or G ent l f ei her prof ie, or t essi doct ne, or pract ci w orshi m erel relgi ng ri i ng p y i ous or spi t , i i t persecut hi , and such a person (w hat ri ual t s o e m ever hi doct ne or pract ce be, t s ri i rue or f se) suf eret persecut on f consci al f h i or ence. But w i hal I desi i m ay be w el observed t t re t l hat t s di i i i not f l and com pl e: f besi t s t hi st nct on s ul et or de hi hat a m an m ay be persecut ed because he hol or pract ces w hat he beleves i consci ds i i n ence t be a t h (as D ani di f w hi he w as cast i o t lons' den, D an. 6), o rut el d, or ch nt he i and m any t housands of Chri i st ans, because t hey durst not cease t preach and pract ce w hat t o i hey beleved w as by G od com m anded, as t i he des t s a m an m ay al be persecut hi so ed, because he dares not be const ned t yi d obedi rai o el ence t o Apost es answ ered (Act 4 & 5), I say besi l s such doct nes and w orshi as are by m en i ri ps nvent and appoi ed. . ed nt . . D ear TRU TH , I have t o sad com pl nt w ai s: Fi , t rst he m ost sober of t he w i nesses, t t hat dare t pl o ead t hy cause, how are t hey charged t be m i enem i o ne es, cont i ent ous, t urbul , ent sedi i t ous? Secondl shi enem i y, ne es, t hough t hey speak and rai agai l nst t hee, t hough t hey out rageousl pursue, i pri y m son, bani sh, kil t l hy f t ul ai hf w i nesses, yet how i al verm ii d o' f j i agai t s l lon' er or ust ce nst t heret cs? Yea, i t he i f hey ki e coal and bl t fam es of devouri w ars, t ndl s, ow he l ng hat l eave nei her spi t t ri ual nor ci l st e, but burn up branch and root yet how do al pret vi at , l end an hol w ar? H e t y hat kil and he t ' kil ls, hat s led, t hey bot cry out "It i f G od, and f t r consci h : s or or hei ence. " ' st Ti rue, nor one nor ot her sel dom dare t pl o ead t m i y Pri he ght nce Chri Jesus f t r aut st or hei hor, yet (bot Prot ant and Papi ) pret h est st end t hey have spoke w i h M oses and t t he Prophet w ho al, say t s l hey (bef ore Chri cam e), alow ed such hol persecut ons, hol w ars agai st l y i y nst t he enem i of hol church. es y

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TRU TH . D ear PEAC E (t ease t frst com pl nt ' i t o hy i ai ), t s rue, t dearest sons, m ost lke t r m ot hy i hei her, peacekeepi ng, peacem aki sons of G od, ng have borne and st l m ust bear t bl il he urs of t roubl ers of Israel and t , urners of t w orl upsi dow n. And ' i t he d de t s rue agai w hat Sol on once n, om spake: "The begi ng of st f i as w hen one l t h out w at nni rie s et et er, t heref ore (sai h he) l t eave of cont i bef f ent on ore i be m eddl w i h. Thi t ed t s caveat shoul keep t banks and sl ces frm and st d he ui i rong, t hat st f lke a breach of w at rie, i ers, break not i upon t sons of m en. n he " Yet st f m ust be di i rie st ngui shed: It i necessary or unnecessary, godl or U ngodl C hri i or unchri i s y y, st an st an, et c. It i unnecessary, unl f , di s aw ul shonorabl ungodl unchri i e, y, st an, i m ost cases i t w orl f t n n he d, or here i a possi lt of keepi sw eet peace i s bii y ng n m ost cases, and, i i be possi e, i i t express com m and of G od t ft bl t s he hat peace be kept (Rom . 13). e, y, c. t vi hl o end t i he nnocent and t rescue t oppressed f o he rom t he Agai i i necessary, honorabl godl et , w i h ci l and eart y w eapons t def n, t s vi ent paw s and j s of oppressi persecut ng N i rods (Psal 73; Job 29). ol aw ng i m . It i as necessary, yea m ore honorabl godl and C hri i s e, y, st an, t fght t f ght of f t w i h relgi o i he i ai h, t i ous and spi t ri ual art lery, and t cont il o end i o he nt nst al opposers, and t gat of eart and hel, m en or devis, yea agai l he es h l l nst earnest y f t f t of Jesus, once delvered t t sai s agai l or he ai h Paulhi sel, or an angelf m f rom heaven, i he bri any ot f ng her f t or doct ne. . ai h ri . . PEAC E. I add t hat a ci l sw ord (as w oef experi vi ul ence i al ages has proved) i so f f n l s ar rom bri ng or hel ng f ngi pi orw ard an opposi e i relgi t n i on y nst t w ork of G od and bl he ood of soul by such proceedi s ngs. Because as (com m onl t y) he t repent o ance t hat m agi rat si gri st es n evousl agai hi oned t t bl i o t di ch of o um e nt he t suf eri f ngs of f se and ant chri i t al i st an eachers harden t r f l ers, w ho bei blnd, by t s m eans are occasi hei olow ng i hel af er t r blnd l l t hei i eaders, w i h m ore i l ed zeal of l ng confdence. So, secondl vi ence and a sw ord of st t nfam yi i y, ol eel beget such an s i pressi i t suf erers t m on n he f hat cert nl t ai y hey concl ude (as i ndeed t hat relgi cannot be t i on rue w hi needs such i rum ent of vi ence t ch nst s ol o uphol i so) t d t hat persecut ors are f f ar rom sof and gent e com m i t l serat on of t blndness of ot i he i hers. . .. For (t keep t t si ii ude w hi t Spi t uset f i ance) t bat er dow n a st o o he m lt ch he ri h, or nst o t ronghol hi w al, f , t er, or cast e, m en bri not d, gh l ort ow l ng a frst and second adm oni i i t on, and af er obst nacy, excom m uni i t i cat on, w hi are spi t ch ri ual w eapons concerni t ng hem t hat be i t church: nor n he exhort i t repent and be bapt zed, t beleve i t Lord Jesus, et , w hi are proper w eapons t t at on o i o i n he c. ch o hem t hat be w i hout et But t t t , c. o ake a st ronghol m en bri cannons, cul d, ng veri ns, saker, bulet pow der, m usket sw ords, pi l s, s, kes, et , and t c. hese t t s end are w eapons ef ect o hi f ual and proport onabl i e. O n t ot he her si de, t bat er dow n i at o t dol ry, f se w orshi heresy, schi , blndness, hardness, out of t soul and spi t i i vai i proper, al p, sm i he ri , t s n, m and unsui abl t bri t t e o ng hose w eapons w hi are used by persecut ch ors, st ocks, w hi ps, pri sons, sw ords, gi bbet st s, akes, et (w here t c. hese seem t prevai w i h som e ci i or ki o l t t es ngdom s, a st ronger f orce set up agai w hat a w eaker pul' dow n), but agai s n, ld nst t hese spi t ri ual st ronghol i t soul of m en, spi t ds n he s ri ual art lery and w eapons are proper, w hi are m i y t il ch ght hrough G od t subdue and bri under t very o ng he t hought t obedi o ence, or el t bi f se o nd ast t soulw i h chai of darkness, and l he t ns ock i up i t pri t n he son of unbelef and hardness t et i o erni y. . t .. PEAC E. I pray descend now t t second evi w hi you observe i t answ erer' posi i o he l ch n he s t on, vi , t z. hat i w oul be evi t t erat not ous t d l o ol e ori evidoers, seduci t l ng eachers, et c. TRU TH . I say t evi i t he l s hat he m ost i properl and conf m y usedl j ns and coupl seduci t y oi es ng eachers w i h scandal t ous lvers. i PEAC E. But i i not t s t rue t hat t w orl i f lof seduci t he d s ul ng eachers, and i i not t s t rue t hat seduci t ng eachers are not ous evidoers? ori l TRU TH . I answ er, f be i f ar t rom m e t deny ei her, and yet i t o t ngs I shal di o t n w hi l scover t great evi of t s j ni and couplng seduci he l hi oi ng i ng t eachers, and scandal ous lvers as one adequat or proper obj i e ect of t m agi rat s care and w ork t suppress and puni he st e' o sh. Fi , i i not an hom ogeneal (as w e speak) but an het rst t s ergeneal com m i ure or j ni t xt oi ng oget her of t ngs m ost dif hi f erent i ki n nds and nat ures, as i t f hey w ere bot of one consi h derat on. . i .. TRU TH . I answ er, i grant ng w i h Brent us t n i t i hat m an hat not pow er t m ake l s t bi consci h o aw o nd ence, he overt hrow s such hi t s enent and pract ce as rest n m en f i rai rom t r w orshi accordi t t r consci hei p, ng o hei ence and belef and const n t i , rai hem t such w orshi (t o ps hough i be out of t a pret ense t hat t hey are convi nced) w hi t r ow n soul t lt ch hei s el hem t hey have no sat sf i nor f t i i act on ai h n. Secondl w hereas he af i s t y, frm hat m en m ay m ake l s t see t l s of G od observed. aw o he aw I answ er, G od needet not t hel of a m at al sw ord of st h he p eri eel t assi t sw ord of t Spi t i t af ai of consci o st he he ri n he f rs ence, t t o hose m en, t hose m agi rat st es, yea t hat com m onw eal h w hi m akes such m agi rat t ch st es, m ust needs have pow er and aut hori y f t rom C hri Jesus t ft st o i j udge and t det o erm i i al t great cont ne n l he roversi concerni doct ne, di plne, governm ent et es ng ri sci i , c. And t hen I ask w het her upon t s ground i m ust not evi hi t dent y f l t : l olow hat Ei her t t here i no l f com m onw eart nor ci l st e of m en i t w orl w hi i not qualfed w i h t s spi t s aw ul h vi at n he d, ch s ii t hi ri ual di scerni (and t ng hen al so t hat t very com m onw ealhat m ore lght concerni t church of C hri t he h i ng he st han t church i sel). he t f O r, t hat t com m onw eal and m agi rat t he st es hereof m ust j udge and puni as t sh hey are persuaded i t r ow n belef and consci n hei i ence (be t r hei consci ence pagani sh, Turki sh, or ant chri i i st an) w hat i t s but t conf s hi o ound heaven and eart t h oget her, and not onl t t y o ake aw ay t bei of he ng Chri i t out of t w orl but t t st ani y he d, o ake aw ay al ci lt and t w orl out of t w orl and t l al upon heaps of conf on? . . l vii y, he d he d, o ay l usi . PEAC E. The f ourt head i t proper m eans of bot t h s he h hese pow ers t at ai t r ends. o t n hei First, t proper m eans w hereby t ci lpow er m ay and shoul at ai i s end are onl polt cal and pri paly t he he vi d t n t y ii , nci l hese fve. i Fi , t erect ng and est i ng w hat f rst he i ablshi orm of ci l governm ent m ay seem i w i vi n sdom m ost m eet accordi t general rul of , ng o es t w orl and st e of t peopl he d, at he e. Secondl t m aki y, he ng, publshi i ng, and est i ng of w hol ablshi esom e ci ll s, not onl such as concern ci l j i vi aw y vi ust ce, but al t f so he ree passage of t rue relgi i on; f out ard ci l peace ari h and i m ai ai or w vi set s nt ned f rom t hem bot f h, rom t l t as w el as f he at er l rom t he

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f orm er. C i l peace cannot st vi and ent re, w here relgi i corrupt i i on s ed (2 C hron. 15. 3. 5. 6; and Judges 8). And yet such l s, t aw hough conversant about relgi i on, m ay st l be count il ed ci l l s, as, on t vi aw he cont rary, an oat cl h st l rem ai relgi h ot il n i ous t hough conversant about ci lm at ers. vi t Thi y, el i and appoi m ent of ci lof i rdl ect on nt vi fcers t see execut on t t o i o hose l s. aw Fourt y, ci lpuni hl vi shm ent and rew ards of t s ransgressors and observers of t hese l s. aw Fi t y, t ng up arm s agai f hl aki nst t enem i of ci lpeace. he es vi

Secondly, t m eans w hereby t church m ay and shoul at ai her ends are onl eccl ast cal w hi are chi l fve. he he d t n y esi i , ch efy i Fi , set i up t rst t ng hat f orm of church governm ent onl of w hi Chri hat gi y ch st h ven t hem a pat ern i hi W ord. t n s Secondl acknow l y, edgi and adm i t ng of no l gi ng ti aw ver i t church but Chri and t publshi of H i l s. n he st he i ng s aw Thi y, el i and ordai ng of such of i rdl ect ng ni fcers onl as C hri hat appoi ed i hi W ord. y, st h nt n s Fourt y, t recei i o t r f l shi t hl o ve nt hei elow p hem t hat are approved and i lct ng spi t nfi i ri ualcensures agai nst t hem t hat o end. Fi t y, prayer and pat ence i suf eri any evi f f hl i n f ng l rom t hem t hat be w i hout w ho di urb t r peace. t , st hei So t hat m agi rat st es, as m agi rat st es, have no pow er of set i up t f t ng he orm of church governm ent el i church of i , ect ng fcers, puni ng w i h shi t church censures, but t see t o hat t church does her dut herei And on t ot he y n. he her si de, t churches as churches, have no pow er (t he hough as m em bers of t com m onw eal t he hey m ay have pow er) of erect ng or al eri f i t ng orm s of ci l governm ent el i of ci l of i vi , ect ng vi fcers, i lct ng ci l nfi i vi puni shm ent (no not on persons excom m uni e) as by deposi m agi rat f s cat ng st es rom t r ci l aut hei vi hori y, or w i hdraw i t t t ng he heart of t s he peopl agai e nst t hem , t t r l s, no m ore t o hei aw han t di o scharge w i ves, or chidren, or servant f l s, rom due obedi ence t t r husbands, parent o hei s, or m ast ers; or by t ng up arm s agai aki nst t r m agi rat hei st es, t hough he persecut t e hem f consci or ence: f t or hough m em bers of churches w ho orce t vi ence of usurpers, as Iehoi he ol ada di At i d halah, yet t s t hi hey do not as are publc of i i fcers al of t ci l st e m ay suppress by f so he vi at m em bers of t church but as of i he f cers of t ci lst e. he vi at TRU TH . H ere are di vers consi derabl passages w hi I shal bri l exam i e ch l ef y ne, so f as concerns our cont ar roversy. Fi , w hereas t rst hey say t hat t he ci l pow er m ay erect and est i w hat f vi ablsh orm of ci l governm ent m ay seem i w i vi n sdom m ost m eet I , acknow l edge t proposi i t be m ost t he t on o rue, bot i i sel and al consi h n t f so dered w i h t end of i , t t he t hat a ci l governm ent i an ordi vi s nance of G od, t conserve t ci lpeace of peopl so f as concerns t r bodi and goods, as f o he vi e, ar hei es orm erl hat been sai y h d. But f rom t s grant I i er (as bef hi nf ore hat been t h ouched) t hat t soverei he gn, ori nal and f gi , oundat on of ci l pow er les i t peopl (w hom i vi i n he e t hey m ust needs m ean by t ci l pow er di i he vi st nct f rom t governm ent set up). And, i so, t he f hat a peopl m ay erect and est i w hat f e ablsh orm of governm ent seem s t t o hem m ost m eet f t r ci l condi i or hei vi t on; i i evi t s dent t hat such governm ent as are by t s hem erect and est i ed ablshed have no m ore pow er, nor f no l or onger t m e, t i han t ci l pow er or peopl consent ng and agreei shal bet he vi e i ng l rust t hem w i h. Thi i cl t s s ear not onl i reason but i t experi y n n he ence of al com m onw eal w here t peopl are not depri l s, he e ved of t r nat hei uralf reedom by t pow er of t he yrant s. And, i so, t f hat t m agi rat recei t r pow er of governi t church f he st es ve hei ng he rom t peopl undeni y i f l s t he e, abl t olow hat a peopl as a peopl e, e, nat uraly consi l der (of w hat nat ure or nat on soever i Europe, Asi Af ca, or Am eri i n a, ri ca), have f undam ent l and ori naly, as m en, a pow er aly gi l t govern t church, t see her do her dut t correct her, t redress, ref o he o y, o o orm , est i ablsh, et And i t s be not t pul G od and Chri and c. f hi o l st an hi sel, by w hom al peopl m f l es Spi t out of heaven, and subj ri ect t hem unt nat o ural si ul i , nf , nconst ant m en, and so consequent y t Sat l o nat uraly are gui l ded, l heaven and eart j et h udge. . .. PEAC E. Som e w ilhere ask: W hat m ay t m agi rat t l he st e hen l f l do w i h hi ci lhorn or pow er i m at ers of relgi aw uly t s vi n t i on? TRU TH . H i horn not bei t horn of t s ng he hat uni corn or rhi noceros, t pow er of t Lord Jesus i spi t he he n ri ual cases, hi sw ord not t t o-edged s he w sw ord of t spi t t w ord of G od (hangi not about t l ns or si he ri , he ng he oi de, but at t lps. and proceedi out of t m out of hi m i st he i ng he h s ni ers) but of an hum ane and ci l nat vi ure and const t i i ut on, i m ust consequent y be of a hum ane and ci l operat on, f w ho know s not t t l vi i or hat operat on i f l s const t i olow i ut on; And t heref ore I shal end t s passage w i h t s consi l hi t hi derat on: i s The ci l m agi rat ei her respect h t vi st e t et hat relgi and w orshi w hi hi consci i on p ch s ence i persuaded i t s s rue, and upon w hi he vent ch ures hi soul or el t ; se hat and t hose w hi he i persuaded are f se. ch s al Concerni t frst i t ng he i , f hat w hi t m agi rat belevet t be t ch he st e i h o rue, be t rue, I say he ow es a t hreef d dut unt i : ol y o t Fi , approbat on and count rst i enance, a reverent est eem and honorabl t i ony, accordi t Isa. 49, and Revel 21, w i h a e est m ng o . t t ender respect of t h, and t prof rut he essors of i . t Secondl personal subm i on of hi ow n soul t t pow er of t Lord Jesus i t y, ssi s o he he n hat spi t ri ual governm ent and ki ngdom , accordi ng t M at . 18 and 1 Cor. 5. o t Thi y, prot i of such t rdl ect on rue prof essors of Chri , w het st her apart or m et t , oget her, as al of t r est es f so hei at rom vi ence and ol i ury, accordi t Rom . 13. nj ng o N ow , secondl i i be a f se relgi (unt w hi t ci lm agi rat dare not adj n, yet he ow es: y, f t al i on o ch he vi st e oi )

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Fi , perm i on (f approbat on he ow es not w hat i evi) and t s accordi t M at hew 13. 30 f publc peace and qui ' sake. rst ssi or i s l hi ng o t or i et s Secondl he ow es prot i t t persons of hi subj s (t y, ect on o he s ect hough of a f se w orshi al p), t hat no i ury be of ered ei her t t persons or nj f t o he goods of any. . .. .. . The G od of Peace, t G od of Trut w il short y seal t s t h, and confrm t s w i ness, and m ake i evi he h l l hi rut i hi t t dent t t w hol w orl t o he e d, hat t he doct ne of persecut on f cause of consci ri i or ence, i m ost evi s dent y and l ent y cont l am abl rary t t doct ne of Chri Jesus t Pri o he ri st he nce of Peace. Am en.

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