Read A Letter Concerning Toleration Online

Honoured Sir, 

Since you are pleased to inquire what are my thoughts about the mutual 
toleration of Christians in their different professions of religion, I must 
needs answer you freely that I esteem that toleration to be the chief 
characteristic mark of the true Church. For whatsoever some people 
boast of the antiquity of places and names, or of the pomp of their 
outward worship; others, of the reformation of their discipline; all, of 
the orthodoxy of their faith — for everyone is orthodox to himself — these 
things, and all others of this nature, are much rather marks of men striv- 
ing for power and empire over one another than of the Church of Christ. 
Let anyone have never so true a claim to all these things, yet if he be 
destitute of charity, meekness, and good-will in general towards all man- 
kind, even to those that are not Christians, he is certainly yet short of 
being a true Christian himself. “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lead- 
ership over them,” said our Saviour to his disciples, “but ye shall not be 
so .” 1 The business of true religion is quite another thing. It is not insti- 
tuted in order to the erecting of an external pomp, nor to the obtaining of 
ecclesiastical dominion, nor to the exercising of compulsive force, but 
to the regulating of men’s lives, according to the rules of virtue and 
piety. Whosoever will list himself under the banner of Christ, must, in 
the first place and above all things, make war - upon his own lusts and 
vices. It is in vain for any man to unsurp the name of Christian, without 
holiness of life, purity of manners, benignity and meekness of spirit. 
“Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity .” 2 
“Thou, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren,” said our Lord 
to Peter . 3 It would, indeed, be very hard for one that appears careless 
about his own salvation to persuade me that he were extremely con- 
cerned for mine. For it is impossible that those should sincerely and