Read A Letter Concerning Toleration Online

First Letter Concerning Toleration/5 


ther and mother, separate from the public assemblies and ceremonies of 
his country, or whomsoever or whatsoever else he relinquishes, will not 
then be judged a heretic. 

Now, though the divisions that are amongst sects should be allowed 
to be never so obstructive of the salvation of souls; yet, nevertheless, 
adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lasciviousness, idolatry, and such- 
like things, cannot be denied to be works of the flesh, concerning which 
the apostle has expressly declared that “they who do them shall not 
inherit the kingdom of God.” 5 Whosoever, therefore, is sincerely solici- 
tous about the kingdom of God and thinks it his duty to endeavour the 
enlargement of it amongst men, ought to apply himself with no less care 
and industry to the rooting out of these immoralities than to the extirpa- 
tion of sects. But if anyone do otherwise, and whilst he is cruel and 
implacable towards those that differ from him in opinion, he be indul- 
gent to such iniquities and immoralities as are unbecoming the name of 
a Christian, let such a one talk never so much of the Church, he plainly 
demonstrates by his actions that it is another kingdom he aims at and 
not the advancement of the kingdom of God. 

That any man should think fit to cause another man — whose salva- 
tion he heartily desires — to expire in torments, and that even in an un- 
converted state, would, I confess, seem very strange to me, and I think, 
to any other also. But nobody, surely, will ever believe that such a car- 
riage can proceed from charity, love, or goodwill. If anyone maintain 
that men ought to be compelled by fire and sword to profess certain 
doctrines, and conform to this or that exterior worship, without any 
regal'd had unto their morals; if anyone endeavour to convert those that 
are erroneous unto the faith, by forcing them to profess things that they 
do not believe and allowing them to practise things that the Gospel does 
not permit, it cannot be doubted indeed but such a one is desirous to 
have a numerous assembly joined in the same profession with himself; 
but that he principally intends by those means to compose a truly Chris- 
tian Church is altogether incredible. It is not, therefore, to be wondered 
at if those who do not really contend for the advancement of the true 
religion, and of the Church of Christ, make use of arms that do not 
belong to the Christian warfare. If, like the Captain of our salvation, 
they sincerely desired the good of souls, they would tread in the steps 
and follow the perfect example of that Prince of Peace, who sent out His 
soldiers to the subduing of nations, and gathering them into His Church, 
not armed with the sword, or other instruments of force, but prepared