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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

“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

“If the civil magistrate be a Christian, a disciple or follower of the meek Lamb of God, he is bound to be far from destroying the bodies of men for refusing to receive the Lord Jesus Christ: for otherwise he would be ignorant of the sweet end of Christ's coming, which was to save the bodies and souls of men.”

Ifs Men Soul Ends Body Would Be Christian Jesus Christ Lord Sweet Jesus Christ Bounds Ignorant Followers Destroying Disciple Lambs Meek Lord Jesus Christ Magistrates Lamb Of God

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.”

“'Tis but worldly policy and compliance with men and times (God's mercy overruling) that holds your hands from the murdering of thousands and ten thousands, were your power and command as great as the bloody Roman emperors' formerly was.”

Men Hands Policy Ten Mercy Command Bloody Worldly Emperor Compliance Roman Emperor

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.”

“It is less hurtful to compel a man to marry someone whom he does not love than to follow a religion in which he does not believe.”

Men Believe Doe Hurtful

Author:Roger Williams

“How frequent, how constant ought we to be, like Christ Jesus our example, in doing good, especially to the souls of men and especially to the household of faith (yea, even to our enemies), when we remember that this is our seed time, of which every minute is precious, and that as our sowing is, so shall be our eternal harvest.”

Men Soul Remember Jesus Christ Enemy Minutes Example Ought Eternal Constant Seeds Household Harvest Doing Good Sowing

Author:Roger Williams

“No man ever did, nor ever shall, truly go forth to convert the nations, nor to prophesy in the present state of witnesses against Antichrist, but by the gracious inspiration and instigation of the Holy Spirit of God.... I know no other True Sender, but the most Holy Spirit.”

Knows Men States Inspiration Spirit Nations Holy Witness Holy Spirit Gracious Spirit Of God Antichrist Anti Christ

Book:On Religious Liberty: Selections from the Works of Roger Williams

Source: On Religious Liberty: Selections from the Works of 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