Read A Letter Concerning Toleration Online

6/John Locke 


with the Gospel of peace and with the exemplary holiness of their con- 
versation. This was His method. Though if infidels were to be converted 
by force, if those that are either blind or obstinate were to be drawn off 
from their errors by armed soldiers, we know very well that it was much 
more easy for Him to do it with armies of heavenly legions than for any 
son of the Church, how potent soever, with all his dragoons. 

The toleration of those that differ from others in matters of religion 
is so agreeable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to the genuine reason 
of mankind, that it seems monstrous for men to be so blind as not to 
perceive the necessity and advantage of it in so clear' a light. I will not 
here tax the pride and ambition of some, the passion and uncharitable 
zeal of others. These are faults from which human affairs can perhaps 
scarce ever be perfectly freed; but yet such as nobody will bear the plain 
imputation of, without covering them with some specious colour; and so 
pretend to commendation, whilst they are carried away by their own 
irregular passions. But, however, that some may not colour their spirit 
of persecution and unchristian cruelty with a pretence of care of the 
public weal and observation of the laws; and that others, under pretence 
of religion, may not seek impunity for their libertinism and licentious- 
ness; in a word, that none may impose either upon himself or others, by 
the pretences of loyalty and obedience to the prince, or of tenderness 
and sincerity in the worship of God; I esteem it above all things neces- 
sary to distinguish exactly the business of civil government from that of 
religion and to settle the just bounds that lie between the one and the 
other. If this be not done, there can be no end put to the controversies 
that will be always arising between those that have, or at least pretend 
to have, on the one side, a concernment for the interest of men’s souls, 
and, on the other side, a care of the commonwealth. 

The commonwealth seems to me to be a society of men constituted 
only for the procuring, preserving, and advancing their own civil inter- 
ests. 

Civil interests I call life, liberty, health, and indolency of body; and 
the possession of outward things, such as money, lands, houses, furni- 
ture, and the like. 

It is the duty of the civil magistrate, by the impartial execution of 
equal laws, to secure unto all the people in general and to every one of 
his subjects in particular - the just possession of these things belonging to 
this life. If anyone presume to violate the laws of public justice and 
equity, established for the preservation of those things, his presumption