Quote#Politics & Power
All civil states with their officers of justice in their respective…
Quote byRoger Williams · 1603–1683
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution, for Cause of Conscience (1644).
English (original)
All civil states with their officers of justice in their respective constitutions and administrations are proved essentially civil, and therefore not judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual or Christian state and worship.
— Roger Williams
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A civil sword (as woeful experience in all ages has proved) is so far from bringing or helping forward an opposite in religion to repentance that magistrates sin grievously against the work of God and blood of souls by such proceedings... …
God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state; which enforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his …
Men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated, urged, or constrained. And whenever men have attempted any thing by this violent course, whether openly or by secret means, the issue has been pernicious, and the cause of great and …
I was persuaded and am, that God's way is first to turn a soul from its idols, both of heart, worship, and conversation, before it is capable of worship to the true and living God...
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God needeth not the help of a material sword of steel to assist the sword of the Spirit in the affairs of conscience.