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Roger Williams Quotes

Theologian

Roger Williams (1603-1683) was an English theologian and political philosopher, known for his contributions to religious freedom and democratic governance. He is recognized as a pioneer in the development of American constitutional and democratic principles.

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All Christ Men Church Conscience Jesus States World Ifs Magistrates May Soul Worship Body Christian Law Lord People Religious Uniformity Witness

Famous Roger Williams Quotes

“When they have opened a gap in the ... wall of separation between the Garden of the Church and the wildernes of the world, God hath ever ... made his Garden a Wildernesse.”

World Made Church Atheism Wall Garden Positive Atheism Separation Gaps

Author:Roger Williams

“The Christian church [in its true identity] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears the wolves, or a turtledove hunts the hawks and eagles, or a chaste and modest virgin fights and scratches like whores and harlots.”

Doe Christian Fighting Church Identity Tears Pursue Modest Virgins Hunts Scratches Eagles Thorns Lambs Lilies Hawks Chaste Christian Church Harlots True Identity

Author:Roger Williams

“Even if the civil magistrate is so gifted as to prophesy in the church, yet in the sphere of his civil duties he is forbidden to call down fire from heaven, that is, to procure or inflict any corporal punishment upon offenders in religious doctrine or practice, remembering Christ's admonition that He came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”

Ifs Men Remember Heaven Christ Church Religious Practice Fire Duty Punishment Doctrine Spheres Gifted Forbidden Offenders Magistrates Admonition Corporal Punishment

Author:Roger Williams

“There is a moral virtue, a moral fidelity, ability and honesty, which other men, besides church members, are, by good nature and education, by good laws and good examples nourished and trained up in; so that civil places and trust and credit need not be monopolized into the hands of church members (who sometimes are not fitted for public office), while all others are deprived and despoiled of their natural and civil rights and liberties.”

“A false religion out of the church will not hurt the church, any more than weeds in the wilderness hurt an enclosed garden, or poisons hurt the body when they are not taken, and antidotes are received against them.”

Body Hurt Church Taken Garden Poison Wilderness Weed Antidote

Author:Roger Williams

“I do not condone hostility toward any church simply to vent personal malice or umbrage.”

Church Hostility Malice

Author:Roger Williams

“When they [the Church] have opened a gap in the hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broke down the wall itself, removed the Candlestick, etc., and made His Garden a wilderness as it is this day. And that therefore if He will ever please to restore His garden and Paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world, and all that be saved out of the world are to be transplanted out of the wilderness of the World.”

Ifs World Made Church Wall Please Garden Saved Separation Broke Paradise Etc Wilderness This Day Gaps Religious Liberty

Author:Roger Williams

“We find not in the Gospel, that Christ hath anywhere provided for the uniformity of churches, but only for their unity.”

Christ Church Unity Uniformity

Author:Roger Williams

“There is no regularly constituted church of Christ on earth, nor any person qualified to administer any church ordinances; nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the Great Head of the Church for whose coming I am seeking.”

Persons Earth Christ Church Seeking Qualified Apostles Ordinances Church Of Christ

Author:Roger Williams

“That cannot be a true religion which needs carnal weapons to uphold it.”

Needs States Church Weapons True Religion

Book:The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience: Discussed in a Conference Between Truth and Peace : Who, in All Tender Affection, Present to the High Court of Parliament, (as the Result of Their Discourse) These, (among Other Passages) of Highest Consideration

Source: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience: Discussed in a Conference Between Truth and Peace : Who, in All Tender Affection, Present to the High Court of Parliament, (as the Result of Their Discourse) These, (among Other Passages) of Highest Consideration