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Roger Williams

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

“God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted 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 servants, and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls.”

War Soul States Jesus Christ Millions Civilization Conscience Destruction Occasions Servant Civil War Hypocrisy Sooner Or Later Persecution Uniformity

Book:The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience Discussed: And Mr. Cotton's Letter Examined and Answered

Source: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience Discussed: And Mr. Cotton's Letter Examined and Answered

“Men's consciences ought in no sort to be violated, urged, or constrained.”

Men Ought Conscience Isolation

Book:The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience Discussed: And Mr. Cotton's Letter Examined and Answered

Source: The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience Discussed: And Mr. Cotton's Letter Examined and Answered

“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 wonderful innovations in the principallest and mightiest kingdoms and countries.”

Men Mean Has Beens Country Courses Causes Secret Issues Wonderful Ought Conscience Innovation Violent Kingdoms Pernicious

Author:Roger Williams

“There goes many a ship to sea, with many hundred souls in one ship, whose weal and woe is common, and is a true picture of a commonwealth or a human combination or society. It hath fallen out sometimes that Papists, Protestants, Jews, and Turks may be embarked in one ship; upon which supposal I affirm that all the liberty of conscience that ever I pleaded for turns upon these two hinges: that none of the Papists, Protestants, Jews, or Turks be forced to come to the ships prayers or worship, nor be compelled [restrained] from their own particular prayers or worship, if they practice any.”

Ifs Humans May Two Soul Sometimes Turns Prayer Common Liberty Practice Sea Particular Worship Hundred Conscience Jew Ships Combination Fallen Woe Compelled Protestants Commonwealth Hinges

Author:Roger Williams

“Is it possible that since I hunt, I may be hunting for the life of my Savior and the blood of the Lamb of God? I have fought against many differing sorts of conscience. Is it beyond all possibility and hazard that I have not fought against God, and that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them?”

May Jesus Blood Possibility Conscience Savior Hunting Hunts Lambs Hazards Persecuted Lamb Of God

Author:Roger Williams

“My aim is to lay bare and proclaim the crying and horrible guilt of the bloody doctrine of persecution as one of the most seditious, destructive, blasphemous, and bloodiest in any or all the nations of the world, notwithstanding the many fine veils, pretenses, and colors of not persecuting Christ Jesus, but heretics; not God's truth or servants, but blasphemers and seducers; not persecuting men for their conscience, but for sinning against their conscience; and like specious reasonings to justify the cruelty of intolerance.”

“Whatever tumults and strifes await God's witnesses, it remains clear that the doctrine of persecution for the sake of conscience is most evidently and lamentably contrary to the doctrine of Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace.”

Jesus Christ Clear Conscience Remains Sake Contrary Doctrine Witness Persecution Tumult Prince Of Peace

Author:Roger Williams

“In my plea for freedom to all consciences in matters merely of worship, I have impartially pleaded for freedom of the consciences of the Papists themselves, the greatest enemies and persecutors in Europe of the saints and truths of Jesus; yet I have pleaded for no more than is their due and right. Whatever else shall be the consequence of this plea, it shall stand for a monument and testimony against them and be an aggravation of their former, present, and future cruelties against Christ Jesus the Head, and all that uprightly love Him, His true disciples and followers.”

Matter Jesus Christ Enemy Worship Conscience Consequence Europe Saint Dues Cruelty Former Followers Disciple Testimony Monument Aggravation

Author:Roger Williams

“But who is to decide who truly fears the Lord? The magistrate has no power to enforce religious demands. The laws of the First Table of the Ten Commandments are not regulations for a civil society or a political order. They belong to the realm of religion, not politics.”

Firsts Law Political Order Religious Lord Ten Demand Conscience Tables Realms Regulation Commandments Civil Society Ten Commandments Magistrates

Author:Roger Williams

“All men of conscience or prudence ply to windward, to maintain their wars to be defensive.”

Men War Conscience Prudence Plies

Book:Complete Writings

Source: Complete Writings