Locke - A Letter Concerning Toleration

A Letter
Concerning Toleration
and Other Writings
John Lockc
:nv :no:~s noiiis iinv~vv
avid Vomcrslcy, Gcncral ditor
John Lockc:
A Letter
Concerning Toleration
and Other Writings
ditcd and with an !ntroduction

by Mark Goldic
iinvv:v vuxb
Indianapolis
This book is publishcd by Libcrty Fund, !nc., a loundation cstablishcd to
cncouragc study ol thc idcal ol a socicty ol lrcc and rcsponsiblc individuals.
Thc cuncilorm inscription that scrvcs as our logo and as thc dcsign motil lor
our cndpapcrs is thc carlicst known writtcn appcarancc ol thc word lrccdom
(amagi), or libcrty. !t is takcn lrom a clay documcnt writtcn about acc n.c.
in thc Sumcrian city statc ol Lagash.
!ntroduction, cditorial additions, and indcx
ac.c by Libcrty Fund, !nc.
All rights rcscrvcd
Frontispiccc: ngravcd portrait ol John Lockc that prclaccs
Thomas Holliss .,6 cdition ol Letters Concerning Toleration.
Rcproduccd by courtcsy ol thc Thomas Fishcr Rarc 8ook Library,
Univcrsity ol Toronto.
Printcd in thc Unitcd Statcs ol Amcrica
c .c , 6 a .
v .c , 6 a .
Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data
Lockc, John, .6a.,c.
|pistola dc tolcrantia. nglish|
A lcttcr conccrning tolcration and othcr writings/John Lockc,
cditcd by avid Vomcrslcy and with an introduction by Mark Goldic.
p. cm.(Thc Thomas Hollis Library)
!ncludcs bibliographical rclcrcnccs and indcx.
!S8N ,c6,,c, (hc: alk. papcr)
!S8N ,c6,,. (pbk.: alk. papcr)
.. Tolcrationarly works to .cc.
!. Vomcrslcy, avid. !!. Goldic, Mark. !!!. Titlc.
nv.6.c.ia ac.c
a6..,'adcaa ac.ccca6a.
iinvv:v vuxb, ixc.
Allison Pointc Trail, Suitc cc
!ndianapolis, !ndiana 6ac.6
cox:vx:s
Thc Thomas Hollis Library, by avid Vomcrslcy vii
!ntroduction, by Mark Goldic ix
Furthcr Rcading xxv
Notcs on thc Tcxts xxix
Chronology ol Lockcs Lilc xli
Acknowlcdgmcnts xlvii
.. A Letter Concerning Toleration .
a. xccrpts lrom A Third Letter for Toleration 6
. An Essay Concerning Toleration .c
. Fragmcnts on Tolcration ..
!ndcx ..
~
LT TR
Conccrning
:oi v v~:i ox
ii cvxs vb, Octob. . .6.
The Second Edition Corrected
LONDON, Printcd lor Awnsham Churchill
at thc 8lack Swan in Avc Mary Lanc.
:bcxc
:o :nv vv~bvv
!
The Ensuing Lcttcr conccrning Tolcration, rst Printed in Latin this very
Year, in Holland, has already been Translated both into utch and Frcnch.
2

So general and speedy an Approbation may therefore bespeak its favourable
Reception in ngland. I think indeed there is no Nation under Heaven, in
which so much has already been said upon that Subject, as Ours. But yet cer-
tainly there is no People that stand in more need of having something further
both said and done amongst them, in this Point, than We do.
Our Government has not only been partial in Matters of Religion; but those
also who have suered under that Partiality, and have therefore endeavoured
by their Writings to vindicate their own Rights and Liberties, have for the
most part done it upon narrow Principles, suited only to the Interests of their
own Sects.
This narrowness of Spirit on all sides has undoubtedly been the principal
.. Thc prclacc was writtcn by thc translator, Villiam Popplc (.6 .,c), a
Unitarian mcrchant and rcligious writcr. Hc had bccn a winc tradcr at 8ordcaux
bclorc rcturning to ngland in .6. Hc authorcd A Rational Catechism (.6,) and
A Discourse of Humane Reason (.6c), rcissucd as Two Treatises of Rational Religion
(.6a).
a. A utch cdition appcarcd in .6 but no copy has survivcd, a Frcnch cdition
was planncd but did not appcar. Thc rst Frcnch cdition was publishcd in .,.c.
<
To the Reader
. Popplcs rclcrcncc to cclarations ol !ndulgcncc is puzzling. Charlcs !! and
Jamcs !! had issucd cclarations ol !ndulgcncc in .6,a and .6,, rcspcctivcly. Thcsc
grantcd tolcration by prcrogativc cdict, suspcnding thc laws lor Anglican unilor
mity. Yct, by thc timc Popplc wrotc, a statutory tolcration had bccn achicvcd in thc
Tolcration Act (May .6). Howcvcr, contcmporarics somctimcs rclcrrcd to this as
thc Act ol !ndulgcncc: aptly cnough, bccausc, likc carlicr indulgcnccs, it mcrcly sus
pcndcd thc punishmcnts lor nonconlormity but did not rcpcal thc laws rcquiring
conlormity. !t is possiblc, thcrclorc, that Popplc mcans thc rcccnt act. His gcncral
point is that all such indulgcnccs arc insu cicnt, lor thcy lcavc thc old laws in placc,
continuc to cxcludc disscntcrs lrom public o cc, and (in thc casc ol thc act) cxcludc
anti Trinitarians. cspitc thc sobriquct it acquircd, thc Tolcration Act nowhcrc
uscd thc word toleration. Scc notc ., p. .
. !n March .6 a bill lor comprchcnsion was introduccd, which aimcd to mod
ily thc tcrms ol church conlormity in ordcr to rcadmit modcratc disscntcrs. Thc
bill was withdrawn, but at thc timc Popplc wrotc, in autumn .6, thc mattcr was
still cxpcctcd to bc rcconsidcrcd. Popplc objccts to comprchcnsion schcmcs bccausc,
though bascd on a latitudinarian approach to church mcmbcrship, thcy ocrcd no
guarantcc ol libcrty lor thosc who rcmaincd outsidc thc church.
. Thc ringing cry lor absolutc libcrty was latcr uscd as a Lockcan slogan by
authors who did not rcalizc that thc prclacc was not by Lockc. Somc scholars point
out that Lockc rcjccts absolutc libcrty (c.g., Essay, ...), but thc contcxt hcrc is
rcligious tolcration and Popplc is strcssing, with rhctorical cxaggcration, thc inad
cquacy ol thc Tolcration Act. Scc Lockcs usc ol absolute, p. .c,.
Occasion of our Miseries and Confusions. But whatever have been the Occa-
sion, it is now high time to seek for a thorow Cure. We have need of more gen-
erous Remedies than what have yet been made use of in our Distemper. It is
neither cclarations ol !ndulgcncc,
1
nor Acts ol Comprchcnsion,
4
such as
have yet been practised or projected amongst us, that can do the Work. The rst
will but palliate, the second encrease our Evil.
Absolute Liberty,
Just and True Liberty, Equal and Impartial Liberty, is

the thing that we stand in need of. Now tho this has indeed been much talked
of, I doubt it has not been much understood; I am sure not at all practised, either
by our Governours towards the People, in general, or by any dissenting Parties
of the People towards one another.
I cannot therefore but hope that this iscoursc, which treats of that Subject,
however briey, yet more exactly than any we have yet seen, demonstrating
both the Equitableness and Practicableness of the thing, will be esteemed highly
To the Reader
<
seasonable, by all Men that have Souls large enough to prefer the true Interest
of the Publick before that of a Party.
It is for the use of such as are already so spirited, or to inspire that Spirit into
those that are not, that I have Translated it into our Language. But the thing
it self is so short, that it will not bear a longer Preface. I leave it therefore to the
Consideration of my Countrymen, and heartily wish they may make the use of
it that it appears to be designed for.
,
<
A Letter
Concerning
Toleration.
<
Honoured Sir,
Sincc you arc plcascd to inquirc what arc my Thoughts about thc mutual
Tolcration ol Christians in thcir dicrcnt Prolcssions ol Rcligion, ! must
nccds answcr you lrccly, That ! cstccm that Tolcration to bc thc chicl
Charactcristical Mark ol thc Truc Church.
6
For whatsocvcr somc Pcoplc
boast ol thc Antiquity ol Placcs and Namcs, or ol thc Pomp ol thcir ut
ward Vorship, thcrs, ol thc Rclormation ol thcir isciplinc, All, ol
thc rthodoxy ol thcir Faith, (lor cvcry onc is rthodox to himscll ):
thcsc things, and all othcrs ol this naturc, arc much rathcr Marks ol Mcn
6. thc Truc Church: arguably, thc indcnitc articlc would bcttcr rcprcscnt
Lockcs vicw ol churchcs. That tolcration is a mark ol thc church is a strong claim.
Thc Rclormation saw cxtcnsivc thcological dcbatc ovcr which marks or notcs
wcrc thc dcning charactcristics ol thc (or a) truc church.
<
A Letter Concerning Toleration
,. \iccs: altcrnativcly, pridc. Thc appcarancc ol altcrnativcly, addcd by
Popplc, and Popplc omits in thcsc lootnotcs indicatcs placcs whcrc Popplc dcvi
atcs lrom Lockcs Latin. Scc pp. xxxxxxi.
. Thc rst cdition had includcd a lurthcr scriptural quotation, abscnt in Lockcs
Epistola: Lct cvcry onc that namcth thc namc ol Christ dcpart lrom iniquity
(a Timothy a:.). !l its inclusion in thc rst cdition was inauthcntic, what lcd Popplc
to bc morc scrupulous in thc sccond: !t has bccn suggcstcd that this is onc ol two
amcndmcnts that point to Lockcs own hand in thc sccond cdition. Scc notc 6,
p. c.
. Galatians :6.
striving lor Powcr and mpirc ovcr onc anothcr, than ol thc Church ol
Christ. Lct any onc havc ncvcr so truc a Claim to all thcsc things, yct il hc
bc dcstitutc ol Charity, Mcckncss, and Good will in gcncral towards all
Mankind, cvcn to thosc that arc not Christians, hc is ccrtainly yct short
ol bcing a truc Christian himscll. The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lord-
ship over them, said our Saviour to his isciplcs, but ye shall not be so, Lukc
aa:a. Thc 8usincss ol Truc Rcligion is quitc anothcr thing. !t is not insti
tutcd in ordcr to thc crccting ol an cxtcrnal Pomp, nor to thc obtaining
ol cclcsiastical ominion, nor to thc cxcrcising ol Compulsivc Forcc,
but to thc rcgulating ol Mcns Livcs according to thc Rulcs ol \crtuc and
Picty. Vhosocvcr will list himscll undcr thc 8anncr ol Christ, must in thc
rst placc, and abovc all things, makc Var upon his own Lusts and \iccs.
7

!t is in vain lor any Man to usurp thc Namc ol Christian, without Holi
ncss ol Lilc, Purity ol Manncrs, and 8cnignity and Mcckncss ol Spirit.
8
Thou when thou art converted, strengthen thy Brethren, said our Lord
to Peter, Lukc aa:a. !t would indccd bc vcry hard lor onc that appcars
carclcss about his own Salvation, to pcrswadc mc that hc wcrc cxtrcamly
conccrnd lor minc. For it is impossiblc that thosc should sinccrcly and
hcartily apply thcmsclvcs to makc othcr Pcoplc Christians, who havc not
rcally cmbraccd thc Christian Rcligion in thcir own Hcarts. !l thc Gos
pcl and thc Apostlcs may bc crcditcd, no Man can bc a Christian without
Charity, and without that Faith which works, not by Forcc, but by Love.
9

Now ! appcal to thc Conscicnccs ol thosc that pcrsccutc, tormcnt, dcstroy,
and kill othcr Mcn upon prctcncc ol Rcligion, whcthcr thcy do it out ol
Fricndship and Kindncss towards thcm, or no: And ! shall thcn indccd,
and not till thcn, bclicvc thcy do so, whcn ! shall scc thosc cry Zcalots
<
.c. Thc savagcry dcscribcd hcrc points to Louis X!\s pcrsccution ol thc Huguc
nots. Scc notc .,, p. .., and notc .6, p. .
... rellish: smcll.
.a. Popplc omits: howcvcr crroncous.
.. nice: subtlc.
corrccting, in thc samc manncr, thcir Fricnds and lamiliar Acquaintancc,
lor thc manilcst Sins thcy commit against thc Prcccpts ol thc Gospcl,
whcn ! shall scc thcm prosccutc with Firc and Sword thc Mcmbcrs ol
thcir own Communion that arc taintcd with cnormous \iccs, and with
out Amcndmcnt arc in dangcr ol ctcrnal Pcrdition, and whcn ! shall scc
thcm thus cxprcss thcir Lovc and csirc ol thc Salvation ol thcir Souls,
by thc iniction ol Tormcnts, and cxcrcisc ol all manncr ol Crucltics. For
il it bc out ol a Principlc ol Charity, as thcy prctcnd, and Lovc to Mcns
Souls, that thcy dcprivc thcm ol thcir statcs, maim thcm with corporal
Punishmcnts, starvc and tormcnt thcm in noisom Prisons, and in thc cnd
cvcn takc away thcir Livcs,
!0
! say, il all this bc donc mccrly to makc Mcn
Christians, and procurc thcir Salvation, Vhy thcn do thcy sucr Whore-
dom, Fraud, Malice, and such like enormities, Romans ., which (according to
thc Apostlc) manilcstly rcllish
!!
ol Hcathcnish Corruption, to prcdomi
natc so much and abound amongst thcir Flocks and Pcoplc: Thcsc, and
such likc things, arc ccrtainly morc contrary to thc Glory ol God, to thc
Purity ol thc Church, and to thc Salvation ol Souls, than any conscicn
tious isscnt
!2
lrom cclcsiastical ccisions, or Scparation lrom Publick
Vorship, whilst accompanicd with !nnoccncy ol Lilc. Vhy thcn docs
this burning Zcal lor God, lor thc Church, and lor thc Salvation ol Souls,
burning, ! say, litcrally, with Firc and Faggot, pass by thosc moral \iccs
and Vickcdncsscs, without any Chastiscmcnt, which arc acknowlcdgcd
by all Mcn to bc diamctrically oppositc to thc Prolcssion ol Christian
ity, and bcnd all its Ncrvcs cithcr to thc introducing ol Ccrcmonics, or to
thc cstablishmcnt ol pinions, which lor thc most part arc about nicc
!1

and intricatc Mattcrs, that cxcccd thc Capacity ol ordinary Undcrstand
ings: Vhich ol thc Partics contcnding about thcsc things is in thc right,
which ol thcm is guilty ol Schism or Hcrcsic, whcthcr thosc that domi
nccr or thosc that sucr, will thcn at last bc manilcst, whcn thc Causc ol
thcir Scparation comcs to bc judgcd ol. Hc ccrtainly that lollows Christ,
.c
<
.. This passagc, with its insistcncc that it is a lalsc priority to disciplinc wor
ship rathcr than immoral bchavior, is charactcristic ol thc Rclormation ol Manncrs
movcmcnt that dominatcd thc .6cs.
.. anothcr Kingdom: i.c., carthly dominion by pricsts.
cmbraccs his octrinc, and bcars his Yokc, tho hc lorsakc both Fathcr
and Mothcr, scparatc lrom thc Publick Asscmbly and Ccrcmonics ol his
Country, or whomsocvcr, or whatsocvcr clsc hc rclinquishcs, will not thcn
bc judgcd an Hcrctick.
Now, tho thc ivisions that arc amongst Sccts should bc allowcd to
bc ncvcr so obstructivc ol thc Salvation ol Souls, yct ncvcrthclcss Adul-
tery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, and such like things,
cannot be denied to be Works of the Flesh; conccrning which thc Apostlc has
cxprcsly dcclarcd, that they who do them shall not inherit the Kingdom of
God, Galatians . Vhosocvcr thcrclorc is sinccrcly sollicitous about thc
Kingdom ol God, and thinks it his uty to cndcavour thc nlargcmcnt
ol it amongst Mcn, ought to apply himscll with no lcss carc and indus
try to thc rooting out ol thcsc !mmoralitics, than to thc xtirpation ol
Sccts.
!4
8ut il any onc do othcrwisc, and whilst hc is crucl and impla
cablc towards thosc that dicr lrom him in pinion, hc bc indulgcnt to
such !niquitics and !mmoralitics as arc unbccoming thc Namc ol a Chris
tian, lct such a onc talk ncvcr so much ol thc Church, hc plainly dcmon
stratcs by his Actions, that tis anothcr Kingdom
!
hc aims at, and not thc
Advanccmcnt ol thc Kingdom ol God.
That any Man should think t to causc anothcr Man, whosc Salvation
hc hcartily dcsircs, to cxpirc in Tormcnts, and that cvcn in an unconvcrtcd
cstatc, would, ! conlcss, sccm vcry strangc to mc, and, ! think, to any othcr
also. 8ut no body, surcly, will cvcr bclicvc that such a Carriagc can procccd
lrom Charity, Lovc, or Good will. !l any onc maintain that Mcn ought
to bc compcllcd by Firc and Sword to prolcss ccrtain octrincs, and con
lorm to this or that cxtcriour Vorship, without any rcgard had unto thcir
Morals, il any onc cndcavour to convcrt thosc that arc rroncous unto
thc Faith, by lorcing thcm to prolcss things that thcy do not bclicvc, and
allowing thcm to practisc things that thc Gospcl docs not pcrmit, it can
not bc doubtcd indccd but such a onc is dcsirous to havc a numcrous
<
..
.6. a Corinthians .c:.
.,. Dragoons: an allusion to thc Frcnch dragonnades, thc quartcring ol soldicrs on
Hugucnot houscholds to tcrrorizc thcm into convcrsion. Thc Latin has cohortes.
.. as not . . . it: addcd by Popplc, whcrc Lockc has just blind in so clcar a
light.
.. whilst thcy . . . Passions: addcd by Popplc.
Asscmbly joyncd in thc samc Prolcssion with himscll: 8ut that hc prin
cipally intcnds by thosc mcans to composc a truly Christian Church, is
altogcthcr incrcdiblc. !t is not thcrclorc to bc wondrcd at, il thosc who do
not rcally contcnd lor thc Advanccmcnt ol thc truc Rcligion, and ol thc
Church ol Christ, makc usc ol Arms that do not bclong to thc Chris
tian Varlarc.
!6
!l, likc thc Captain ol our Salvation, thcy sinccrcly dcsircd
thc Good ol Souls, thcy would trcad in thc Stcps, and lollow thc pcrlcct
xamplc ol that Princc ol Pcacc, who scnt out his Soldicrs to thc subdu
ing ol Nations, and gathcring thcm into his Church, not armcd with thc
Sword, or othcr !nstrumcnts ol Forcc, but prcparcd with thc Gospcl ol
Pcacc, and with thc xcmplary Holincss ol thcir Convcrsation. This was
his Mcthod. Tho il !ndcls wcrc to bc convcrtcd by lorcc, il thosc that arc
cithcr blind or obstinatc wcrc to bc drawn o lrom thcir rrors by Armcd
Soldicrs, wc know vcry wcll that it was much morc casic lor Him to do it,
with Armics ol Hcavcnly Lcgions, than lor any Son ol thc Church, how
potcnt socvcr, with all his ragoons.
!7
Thc Tolcration ol thosc that dicr lrom othcrs in Mattcrs ol Rcligion,
is so agrccablc to thc Gospcl ol Jcsus Christ, and to thc gcnuinc Rcason
ol Mankind, that it sccms monstrous lor Mcn to bc so blind, as not to
pcrccivc thc Ncccssity and Advantagc ol it,
!8
in so clcar a Light. ! will not
hcrc tax thc Pridc and Ambition ol somc, thc Passion and uncharitablc
Zcal ol othcrs. Thcsc arc Faults lrom which Humanc Aairs can pcrhaps
scarcc cvcr bc pcrlcctly lrccd, but yct such as no body will bcar thc plain
!mputation ol, without covcring thcm with somc spccious Colour, and
so prctcnd to Commcndation, whilst thcy arc carricd away by thcir own
irrcgular Passions.
!9
8ut howcvcr, that somc may not colour thcir spirit ol
Pcrsccution and unchristian Cruclty, with a Prctcncc ol Carc ol thc Pub
lick Vcal, and bscrvation ol thc Laws, and that othcrs, undcr prctcncc
.a
<
ac. !mpunity . . . Liccntiousncss: altcrnativcly, liccncc lor thcir immorality and
impunity lor thcir misdccds.
a.. Civil !ntcrcsts: altcrnativcly, civil goods (bona civilia).
aa. !ndolcncy ol 8ody: altcrnativcly, lrccdom lrom pain.
a. cstablishcd . . . things: addcd by Popplc.
ol Rcligion, may not scck !mpunity lor thcir Libcrtinism and Liccntious
ncss,
20
in a word, that nonc may imposc cithcr upon himscll or othcrs, by
thc Prctcnccs ol Loyalty and bcdicncc to thc Princc, or ol Tcndcrncss
and Sinccrity in thc Vorship ol God, ! cstccm it abovc all things ncccs
sary to distinguish cxactly thc 8usincss ol Civil Govcrnmcnt lrom that ol
Rcligion, and to scttlc thc just 8ounds that lic bctwccn thc onc and thc
othcr. !l this bc not donc, thcrc can bc no cnd put to thc Controvcrsics
that will bc always arising, bctwccn thosc that havc, or at lcast prctcnd to
havc, on thc onc sidc, a Conccrnmcnt lor thc !ntcrcst ol Mcns Souls, and
on thc othcr sidc, a Carc ol thc Commonwcalth.
The Commonwealth sccms to mc to bc a Socicty ol Mcn constitutcd
only lor thc procuring, prcscrving, and advancing ol thcir own Civil
Interests.
2!
Civil Interests ! call Lilc, Libcrty, Hcalth, and !ndolcncy ol 8ody,
22
and
thc Posscssion ol outward things, such as Moncy, Lands, Houscs, Furni
turc, and thc likc.
!t is thc uty ol thc Civil Magistratc, by thc impartial xccution ol
cqual Laws, to sccurc unto all thc Pcoplc in gcncral, and to cvcry onc ol
his Subjccts in particular, thc just Posscssion ol thcsc things bclonging to
this Lilc. !l any onc prcsumc to violatc thc Laws ol Publick Justicc and
quity, cstablishcd lor thc Prcscrvation ol thcsc things,
21
his Prcsump
tion is to bc chcckd by thc lcar ol Punishmcnt, consisting in thc cpri
vation or iminution ol thosc Civil !ntcrcsts, or Goods, which othcrwisc
hc might and ought to cnjoy. 8ut sccing no Man docs willingly sucr
himscll to bc punishcd by thc cprivation ol any part ol his Goods, and
much lcss ol his Libcrty or Lilc, thcrclorc is thc Magistratc armcd with
thc Forcc and Strcngth ol all his Subjccts, in ordcr to thc punishmcnt ol
thosc that violatc any othcr Mans Rights.
Now that thc wholc Jurisdiction ol thc Magistratc rcachcs only to
thcsc civil Conccrnmcnts, and that all Civil Powcr, Right, and ominion,
<
.
a. by thc Conscnt ol thc Pcoplc: altcrnativcly, by mcn (ab hominibus).
a. All thc Lilc . . . bclicving: altcrnativcly, !t is laith that givcs lorcc and c
cacy to thc truc rcligion that brings salvation.
is boundcd and conncd to thc only carc ol promoting thcsc things, and
that it ncithcr can nor ought in any manncr to bc cxtcndcd to thc Salva
tion ol Souls, thcsc lollowing Considcrations sccm unto mc abundantly
to dcmonstratc.
First, 8ccausc thc Carc ol Souls is not committcd to thc Civil Mag
istratc any morc than to othcr Mcn. !t is not committcd unto him, ! say,
by God, bccausc it appcars not that God has cvcr givcn any such Author
ity to onc Man ovcr anothcr, as to compcll any onc to his Rcligion. Nor
can any such Powcr bc vcstcd in thc Magistratc by thc Consent of the
People;
24
bccausc no man can so lar abandon thc carc ol his own Salvation,
as blindly to lcavc it to thc choicc ol any othcr, whcthcr Princc or Sub
jcct, to prcscribc to him what Faith or Vorship hc shall cmbracc. For no
Man can, il hc would, conlorm his Faith to thc ictatcs, ol anothcr. All
thc Lilc and Powcr ol truc Rcligion consists in thc inward and lull pcr
swasion ol thc mind: And Faith is not Faith without bclicving.
2
Vhat
cvcr Prolcssion wc makc, to whatcvcr outward Vorship wc conlorm, il
wc arc not lully satiscd in our mind that thc onc is truc, and thc othcr
wcll plcasing unto God, such Prolcssion and such Practicc, lar lrom bcing
any lurthcrancc, arc indccd grcat bstaclcs to our Salvation. For in this
manncr, instcad ol cxpiating othcr Sins by thc cxcrcisc ol Rcligion, ! say,
in ocring thus unto God Almighty such a Vorship as wc cstccm to bc
displcasing unto him, wc add unto thc numbcr ol our othcr sins thosc also
ol Hypocrisic, and Contcmpt ol his ivinc Majcsty.
In the second place. Thc carc ol Souls cannot bclong to thc Civil Mag
istratc, bccausc his Powcr consists only in outward lorcc: 8ut truc and
saving Rcligion consists in thc inward pcrswasion ol thc Mind, without
which nothing can bc acccptablc to God. And such is thc naturc ol thc
Undcrstanding, that it cannot bc compclld to thc bclicl ol any thing by
outward Forcc. Conscation ol statc, !mprisonmcnt, Tormcnts, noth
ing ol that Naturc can havc any such cacy as to makc Mcn changc thc
inward Judgmcnt that thcy havc lramcd ol things.
!t may indccd bc allcdgcd, that thc Magistratc may makc usc ol Argu
.
<
a6. and Pcnaltics . . . propcr: altcrnativcly, whilc il pcnaltics arc applicd thcy
arc obviously lutilc and inappropriatc.
a,. or any . . . Pcnaltics: addcd by Popplc.
mcnts, and thcrcby draw thc Hctcrodox into thc way ol Truth, and pro
curc thcir Salvation. ! grant it. 8ut this is common to him with othcr
Mcn. !n tcaching, instructing, and rcdrcssing thc rroncous by Rcason,
hc may ccrtainly do what bccomcs any good Man to do. Magistracy docs
not obligc him to put o cithcr Humanity or Christianity. 8ut it is onc
thing to pcrswadc, anothcr to command: nc thing to prcss with Argu
mcnts, anothcr with Pcnaltics. This thc Civil Powcr alonc has a Right to
do: to thc othcr Good will is Authority cnough. vcry Man has Com
mission to admonish, cxhort, convincc anothcr ol rror, and by rcason
ing to draw him into Truth. 8ut to givc Laws, rcccivc bcdicncc, and
compcl with thc Sword, bclongs to nonc but thc Magistratc. And upon
this ground ! a rm, that thc Magistratcs Powcr cxtcnds not to thc cstab
lishing ol any Articlcs ol Faith, or Forms ol Vorship, by thc lorcc ol his
Laws. For Laws arc ol no lorcc at all without Pcnaltics, and Pcnaltics in
this casc arc absolutcly impcrtincnt, bccausc thcy arc not propcr
26
to con
vincc thc mind. Ncithcr thc Prolcssion ol any Articlcs ol Faith, nor thc
Conlormity to any outward Form ol Vorship (as has alrcady bccn said)
can bc availablc to thc Salvation ol Souls, unlcss thc Truth ol thc onc,
and thc acccptablcncss ol thc othcr unto God, bc thoroughly bclicvcd by
thosc that so prolcss and practisc. 8ut Pcnaltics arc no ways capablc to
producc such 8clicl. !t is only Light and vidcncc that can work a changc
in Mcns pinions. And that Light can in no manncr procccd lrom cor
poral Sucrings, or any othcr outward Pcnaltics.
27
In the third place. Thc carc ol thc Salvation ol Mcns Souls cannot
bclong to thc Magistratc, bccausc, though thc rigour ol Laws and thc
lorcc ol Pcnaltics wcrc capablc to convincc and changc Mcns minds, yct
would not that hclp at all to thc Salvation ol thcir Souls. For thcrc bcing
but onc Truth, onc way to hcavcn, what hopcs is thcrc that morc Mcn
would bc lcd into it, il thcy had no othcr Rulc to lollow but thc Rcli
gion ol thc Court, and wcrc put undcr a ncccssity to quit thc Light ol
thcir own Rcason, to opposc thc ictatcs ol thcir own Conscicnccs, and
blindly to rcsign up thcmsclvcs to thc Vill ol thcir Govcrnors, and to thc
<
.
a. which cithcr . . . chanccd to: addcd by Popplc.
a. Matthcw ,:..
c. and all . . . cstruction: addcd by Popplc.
.. voluntary Socicty: altcrnativcly, lrcc socicty (societas libera), thc ncxt para
graph has lrcc and voluntary Socicty (societatem liberam et voluntariam). Lockcs
dcnition is striking, historically, sincc thc lourth ccntury, thc Christian churchcs
had scarccly bccn voluntary socictics.
Rcligion, which cithcr !gnorancc, Ambition, or Supcrstition had chanccd
to
28
cstablish in thc Countrics whcrc thcy wcrc born: !n thc varicty and
contradiction ol pinions in Rcligion, whcrcin thc Princcs ol thc Vorld
arc as much dividcd as in thcir Sccular !ntcrcsts, thc narrow way would
bc much straitncd.
29
nc Country alonc would bc in thc right, and all thc
rcst ol thc Vorld would bc put undcr an bligation ol lollowing thcir
Princcs in thc ways that lcad to cstruction.
10
And that which hcightcns
thc absurdity, and vcry ill suits thc Notion ol a city, Mcn would owc
thcir ctcrnal Happincss or Miscry to thc placcs ol thcir Nativity.
Thcsc Considcrations, to omit many othcrs that might havc bccn
urgcd to thc samc purposc, sccm unto mc su cicnt to concludc that all
thc Powcr ol Civil Govcrnmcnt rclatcs only to Mcns Civil !ntcrcsts, is
conncd to thc carc ol thc things ol this Vorld, and hath nothing to do
with thc Vorld to comc.
Let us now consider what a Church is. A Church thcn ! takc to bc a vol
untary Socicty
1!
ol Mcn, joining thcmsclvcs togcthcr ol thcir own accord,
in ordcr to thc publick worshipping ol God, in such a manncr as thcy
judgc acccptablc to him, and ccctual to thc Salvation ol thcir Souls.
! say it is a lrcc and voluntary Socicty. No body is born a Mcmbcr
ol any Church. thcrwisc thc Rcligion ol Parcnts would dcsccnd unto
Childrcn, by thc samc right ol !nhcritancc as thcir Tcmporal statcs, and
cvcry onc would hold his Faith by thc samc Tcnurc hc docs his Lands,
than which nothing can bc imagincd morc absurd. Thus thcrclorc that
mattcr stands. No Man by naturc is bound unto any particular Church or
Scct, but cvcry onc joins himscll voluntarily to that Socicty in which hc
bclicvcs hc has lound that Prolcssion and Vorship which is truly acccpt
ablc unto God. Thc hopcs ol Salvation, as it was thc only causc ol his
cntrancc into that Communion, so it can bc thc only rcason ol his stay
thcrc. For il altcrwards hc discovcr any thing cithcr crroncous in thc oc
.6
<
a. Presbyter: Lockc mcans thc Calvinist systcm ol church govcrnmcnt by consis
torics ol ministcrs and cldcrs.
. Lockc ignorcs thc locus classicus lor prcciscly this dict, Matthcw .6:. .:
Thou art Pctcr, and upon this rock ! will build my church. . . . And ! will givc unto
thcc thc kcys ol thc kingdom ol hcavcn: and whatsocvcr thou shalt bind on carth
shall bc bound in hcavcn. Scc ncxt notc.
trinc, or incongruous in thc Vorship ol that Socicty to which hc has joind
himscll, Vhy should it not bc as lrcc lor him to go out, as it was to cntcr:
No Mcmbcr ol a Rcligious Socicty can bc ticd with any othcr 8onds but
what procccd lrom thc ccrtain cxpcctation ol ctcrnal Lilc. A Church thcn
is a Socicty ol Mcmbcrs voluntarily uniting to this cnd.
!t lollows now that wc considcr what is thc Powcr ol this Church, and
unto what Laws it is subjcct.
Forasmuch as no Socicty, how lrcc socvcr, or upon whatsocvcr slight
occasion institutcd, (whcthcr ol Philosophcrs lor Lcarning, ol Mcrchants
lor Commcrcc, or ol mcn ol lcisurc lor mutual Convcrsation and is
coursc), No Church or Company, ! say, can in thc lcast subsist and hold
togcthcr, but will prcscntly dissolvc and brcak to picccs, unlcss it bc rcgu
latcd by somc Laws, and thc Mcmbcrs all conscnt to obscrvc somc rdcr.
Placc, and timc ol mccting must bc agrccd on. Rulcs lor admitting and
cxcluding Mcmbcrs must bc cstablisht. istinction ol ccrs, and put
ting things into a rcgular Coursc, and such likc, cannot bc omittcd. 8ut
sincc thc joyning togcthcr ol scvcral Mcmbcrs into this Church Socicty,
as has alrcady bccn dcmonstratcd, is absolutcly lrcc and spontancous, it
ncccssarily lollows, that thc Right ol making its Laws can bclong to nonc
but thc Socicty it scll, or at lcast (which is thc samc thing) to thosc whom
thc Socicty by common conscnt has authoriscd thcrcunto.
Somc pcrhaps may objcct, that no such Socicty can bc said to bc a truc
Church, unlcss it havc in it a 8ishop, or Prcsbytcr,
12
with Ruling Author
ity dcrivcd lrom thc vcry Apostlcs, and continucd down unto thc prcscnt
timcs by an unintcrruptcd Succcssion.
To thcsc ! answcr. In the rst place, Lct thcm shcw mc thc dict by
which Christ has imposcd that Law upon his Church.
11
And lct not any
man think mc impcrtincnt, il in a thing ol this conscqucncc, ! rcquirc that
thc Tcrms ol that dict bc vcry cxprcss and positivc. For thc Promisc hc
<
.,
. piscopalians bclicvcd in thc apostolic succession, namcly that authority was
convcycd to thcm bccausc thcrc was an unbrokcn succcssion ol bishops lrom thc
apostlcs. !n its strongcst lorm, this was thc doctrinc ol thc divinc right ol cpisco
pacy. Catholics additionally bclicvcd in a Pctrinc succcssion ol thc papacy lrom thc
rst popc, St. Pctcr. Givcn Lockcs rcccnt rclcrcncc to prcsbytcrs, his targcts hcrc
also includc thc lurthcr claim that prcsbytcrs havc cxclusivc succcssion lrom thc
apostlcs.
has madc us, that wheresoever two or three are gathered together in his Name,
he will be in the midst of them, Matthcw .:ac, sccms to imply thc contrary.
Vhcthcr such an Asscmbly want any thing ncccssary to a truc Church,
pray do you considcr. Ccrtain ! am, that nothing can bc thcrc wanting
unto thc Salvation ol Souls, Vhich is su cicnt to our purposc.
Next, Pray obscrvc how grcat havc always bccn thc ivisions amongst
cvcn thosc who lay so much strcss upon thc ivinc !nstitution, and con
tinucd Succcssion ol a ccrtain rdcr ol Rulcrs in thc Church.
14
Now thcir
vcry isscntion unavoidably puts us upon a ncccssity ol dclibcrating, and
conscqucntly allows a Libcrty ol choosing that which upon considcration
wc prclcr.
And in the last place, ! conscnt that thcsc mcn havc a Rulcr ol thcir
Church, cstablishcd by such a long Scrics ol Succcssion as thcy judgc
ncccssary, providcd ! may havc libcrty at thc samc timc to join my scll to
that Socicty, in which ! am pcrswadcd thosc things arc to bc lound which
arc ncccssary to thc Salvation ol my Soul. !n this manncr cclcsiastical
Libcrty will bc prcscrvcd on all sidcs, and no man will havc a Lcgislator
imposcd upon him, but whom himscll has choscn.
8ut sincc mcn arc so sollicitous about thc truc Church, ! would only
ask thcm, hcrc by thc way, il it bc not morc agrccablc to thc Church
ol Christ, to makc thc Conditions ol hcr Communion consist in such
things, and such things only, as thc Holy Spirit has in thc Holy Scrip
turcs dcclarcd, in cxprcss Vords, to bc ncccssary to Salvation, ! ask, ! say,
whcthcr this bc not morc agrccablc to thc Church ol Christ, than lor
mcn to imposc thcir own !nvcntions and !ntcrprctations upon othcrs, as
il thcy wcrc ol ivinc Authority, and to cstablish by cclcsiastical Laws,
as absolutcly ncccssary to thc Prolcssion ol Christianity, such things as
thc Holy Scripturcs do cithcr not mcntion, or at lcast not cxprcsly com
.
<
. in order to: lor.
6. Scc notc 6, p. ,.
,. mind: rcmind.
. Acts .. Thc silvcrsmiths livclihood dcpcndcd on thc cult ol iana, and
accordingly thcy wcrc angry at thc arrival ol Christianity. Thc cry Grcat is iana
was commonly takcn to cpitomizc scll intcrcst masqucrading as godlincss. Charlcs
8lounts dcistic tract ol .6c is titlcd Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
mand. Vhosocvcr rcquircs thosc things in ordcr to
1
cclcsiastical Com
munion, which Christ docs not rcquirc in ordcr to lilc tcrnal, hc may
pcrhaps indccd constitutc a Socicty accommodatcd to his own pinion,
and his own Advantagc, but how that can bc callcd thc Church ol Christ,
which is cstablishcd upon Laws that arc not his, and which cxcludcs such
Pcrsons lrom its Communion as hc will onc day rcccivc into thc King
dom ol Hcavcn, ! undcrstand not. 8ut this bcing not a propcr placc to
cnquirc into thc marks ol thc truc Church,
16
! will only mind
17
thosc that
contcnd so carncstly lor thc ccrccs ol thcir own Socicty, and that cry
out continually thc Church, thc Church, with as much noisc, and pcr
haps upon thc samc Principlc, as thc Ephesian Silvcrsmiths did lor thcir
Diana;
18
this, ! say, ! dcsirc to mind thcm ol, That thc Gospcl lrcqucntly
dcclarcs that thc truc isciplcs ol Christ must sucr Pcrsccution, but that
thc Church ol Christ should pcrsccutc othcrs, and lorcc othcrs by Firc
and Sword, to cmbracc hcr Faith and octrinc, ! could ncvcr yct nd in
any ol thc 8ooks ol thc Ncw Tcstamcnt.
Thc cnd ol a Rcligious Socicty (as has alrcady bccn said) is thc Publick
Vorship ol God, and by mcans thcrcol thc acquisition ol tcrnal Lilc.
All isciplinc ought thcrclorc to tcnd to that nd, and all cclcsiastical
Laws to bc thcrcunto conncd. Nothing ought, nor can bc transactcd in
this Socicty, rclating to thc Posscssion ol Civil and Vorldly Goods. No
Forcc is hcrc to bc madc usc ol, upon any occasion whatsocvcr. For Forcc
bclongs wholly to thc Civil Magistratc, and thc Posscssion ol all outward
Goods is subjcct to his Jurisdiction.
8ut it may bc askcd, 8y what mcans thcn shall cclcsiastical Laws
bc cstablishcd, il thcy must bc thus dcstitutc ol all compulsivc Powcr. !
answcr, Thcy must bc cstablishcd by mcans suitablc to thc Naturc ol such
Things, whcrcol thc cxtcrnal Prolcssion and bscrvation, il not procccd
ing lrom a thorow Conviction and Approbation ol thc Mind, is alto
<
.
. This is what churchcs call cxcommunication. Historically, and in Lockcs
timc, cxcommunication by thc cstablishcd church carricd civil pcnaltics. Lockc
argucs that whilc churchcs havc a right to control thcir mcmbcrship, no civil pcnal
tics should bc attachcd to cxcommunication.
c. damnied: injurcd.
gcthcr usclcss and unprotablc. Thc Arms by which thc Mcmbcrs ol this
Socicty arc to bc kcpt within thcir uty, arc xhortations, Admonitions,
and Adviccs. !l by thcsc mcans thc cndcrs will not bc rcclaimcd, and
thc rroncous convinccd, thcrc rcmains nothing larthcr to bc donc, but
that such stubborn and obstinatc Pcrsons, who givc no ground to hopc
lor thcir Rclormation, should bc cast out and scparatcd lrom thc So
cicty.
19
This is thc last and utmost Forcc ol cclcsiastical Authority. No
othcr Punishmcnt can thcrcby bc inictcd, than that thc rclation ccasing
bctwccn thc 8ody and thc Mcmbcr which is cut o, thc Pcrson so con
dcmncd ccascs to bc a part ol that Church.
Thcsc things bcing thus dctcrmincd, lct us inquirc in thc ncxt placc,
how lar thc uty ol Tolcration cxtcnds, and what is rcquircd lrom cvcry
onc by it.
And rst, ! hold, That no Church is bound by thc uty ol Tolcration
to rctain any such Pcrson in hcr 8osom, as, altcr Admonition, continucs
obstinatcly to ocnd against thc Laws ol thc Socicty. For thcsc bcing thc
Condition ol Communion, and thc 8ond ol thc Socicty, !l thc 8rcach
ol thcm wcrc pcrmittcd without any Animadvcrsion, thc Socicty would
immcdiatcly bc thcrcby dissolvcd. 8ut ncvcrthclcss, in all such Cascs, carc
is to bc takcn that thc Scntcncc ol xcommunication, and thc xccu
tion thcrcol, carry with it no rough usagc ol Vord or Action, whcrcby
thc cjcctcd Pcrson may any wisc bc damnicd
40
in 8ody or statc. For all
Forcc (as has oltcn bccn said) bclongs only to thc Magistratc, nor ought
any privatc Pcrsons, at any timc, to usc Forcc, unlcss it bc in Scll dclcncc
against unjust \iolcncc. xcommunication ncithcr docs, nor can dcprivc
thc cxcommunicatcd Pcrson ol any ol thosc Civil Goods that hc lor
mcrly posscsscd. All thosc things bclong to thc Civil Govcrnmcnt, and
arc undcr thc Magistratcs Protcction. Thc wholc Forcc ol xcommu
nication consists only in this, that thc Rcsolution ol thc Socicty in that
rcspcct bcing dcclarcd, thc Union that was bctwccn thc 8ody and somc
ac
<
.. Franchises: libcrtics.
a. cnison: altcrnativcly, citizcn.
Mcmbcr comcs thcrcby to bc dissolvcd, and that Rclation ccasing, thc
participation ol somc ccrtain things, which thc Socicty communicatcd to
its Mcmbcrs, and unto which no Man has any Civil Right, comcs also to
ccasc. For thcrc is no Civil !njury donc unto thc cxcommunicatcd Pcrson,
by thc Church Ministcrs rclusing him that 8rcad and Vinc, in thc Cclc
bration ol thc Lords Suppcr, which was not bought with his, but othcr
mcns Moncy.
Secondly, No privatc Pcrson has any Right, in any manncr, to prcjudicc
anothcr Pcrson in his Civil njoymcnts, bccausc hc is ol anothcr Church
or Rcligion. All thc Rights and Franchiscs
4!
that bclong to him as a Man,
or as a cnison,
42
arc inviolably to bc Prcscrvcd to him. Thcsc arc not
thc 8usincss ol Rcligion. No \iolcncc nor !njury is to bc ocrcd him,
whcthcr hc bc Christian or Pagan. Nay, wc must not contcnt our sclvcs
with thc narrow Mcasurcs ol barc Justicc. Charity, 8ounty, and Libcral
ity must bc addcd to it. This thc Gospcl cnjoyns, this Rcason dirccts, and
this that natural Fcllowship wc arc born into rcquircs ol us. !l any man
crr lrom thc right way, it is his own Mislortunc, no !njury to thcc: Nor
thcrclorc art thou to punish him in thc things ol this Lilc, bccausc thou
supposcst hc will bc miscrablc in that which is to comc.
Vhat ! say conccrning thc mutual Tolcration ol privatc Pcrsons dil
lcring lrom onc anothcr in Rcligion, ! undcrstand also ol particular
Churchcs, which stand as it wcrc in thc samc rclation to cach othcr as
privatc Pcrsons among thcmsclvcs, nor has any onc ol thcm any man
ncr ol Jurisdiction ovcr any othcr, no not cvcn whcn thc Civil Magistratc
(as it somctimcs happcns) comcs to bc ol this or thc othcr Communion.
For thc Civil Govcrnmcnt can givc no ncw Right to thc Church, nor thc
Church to thc Civil Govcrnmcnt. So that whcthcr thc Magistratc joyn
himscll to any Church, or scparatc lrom it, thc Church rcmains always as
it was bclorc, a lrcc and voluntary Socicty. !t ncithcr acquircs thc Powcr
ol thc Sword by thc Magistratcs coming to it, nor docs it losc thc Right
ol !nstruction and xcommunication by his going lrom it. This is thc
lundamcntal and immutablc Right ol a spontancous Socicty, that it has
<
a.
. Arminians and Calvinists: altcrnativcly Rcmonstrants and Anti
Rcmonstrants. Popplc hcrc anglicizcs Lockcs tcxt. Arminians dcrivcd thcir namc
lrom thc utch thcologian Jacob Arminius (.6c .6c), who brokc with thc Cal
vinist doctrinc ol divinc prcdcstination to ctcrnal lilc. 8y Lockcs timc, Arminians
wcrc callcd Rcmonstrants. Thc tcrm Arminian was also rcgularly uscd in ngland
lor thosc who dcpartcd lrom Calvinism. A lcw lincs latcr in this samc paragraph,
Lockcs parcnthctical commcnt as wc scc practiscd clscwhcrc hints at thc pcrsccu
tion ol Arminians by Calvinists in Holland.
. Popplc omits: or punish thcm with cxilc or dcath.
powcr to rcmovc any ol its Mcmbcrs who transgrcss thc Rulcs ol its !nsti
tution. 8ut it cannot, by thc acccssion ol any ncw Mcmbcrs, acquirc any
Right ol Jurisdiction ovcr thosc that arc not joyncd with it. And thcrclorc
Pcacc, quity and Fricndship, arc always mutually to bc obscrvcd by par
ticular Churchcs, in thc samc manncr as by privatc Pcrsons, without any
prctcncc ol Supcriority or Jurisdiction ovcr onc anothcr.
That thc thing may bc madc yct clcarcr by an xamplc, Lct us supposc
two Churchcs, thc onc ol Arminians, thc othcr ol Calvinists,
41
rcsiding in
thc City ol Constantinople; Vill any onc say, that cithcr ol thcsc Churchcs
has Right to dcprivc thc Mcmbcrs ol thc othcr ol thcir statcs and Lib
crty,
44
(as wc scc practiscd clscwhcrc) bccausc ol thcir dicring lrom it
in somc octrincs or Ccrcmonics, whilst thc Turks in thc mcan whilc
silcntly stand by, and laugh to scc with what inhumanc Cruclty Chris
tians thus ragc against Christians: 8ut il onc ol thcsc Churchcs hath this
Powcr ol trcating thc othcr ill, ! ask which ol thcm it is to whom that
Powcr bclongs, and by what Right: !t will bc answcrcd undoubtcdly, That
it is thc rthodox Church which has thc Right ol Authority ovcr thc
rroncous or Hcrctical. This is, in grcat and spccious words, to say just
nothing at all. For cvcry Church is rthodox to it scll, to othcrs, rronc
ous or Hcrctical. Vhatsocvcr any Church bclicvcs, it bclicvcs to bc truc,
and thc contrary thcrcunto it pronounccs to bc rror. So that thc Con
trovcrsic bctwccn thcsc Churchcs about thc Truth ol thcir octrincs, and
thc Purity ol thcir Vorship, is on both sidcs cqual, nor is thcrc any Judg,
cithcr at Constantinople, or clscwhcrc upon arth, by whosc Scntcncc it
can bc dctcrmincd. Thc ccision ol that Qucstion bclongs only to thc
Suprcam Judgc ol all mcn, to whom also alonc bclongs thc Punishmcnt ol
thc rroncous. !n thc mcan whilc, lct thosc mcn considcr how hainously
aa
<
. This would . . . Constantinople: addcd by Popplc.
6. 8ut so soon . . . strongcr: altcrnativcly, 8ut as soon as cvcr thc magistratcs
lavour makcs thcm thc strongcr. Thc colloquial phrasc thc bcttcr cnd ol thc Sta
is Popplcs addition. Lockc hcrc attacks thc alliancc bctwccn pcrsccuting pricsts and
authoritarian govcrnmcnts.
thcy sin, Vho, adding !njusticc, il not to thcir rror, yct ccrtainly to thcir
Pridc, do rashly and arrogantly takc upon thcm to misusc thc Scrvants ol
anothcr Mastcr, who arc not at all accountablc to thcm.
Nay lurthcr: !l it could bc manilcst which ol thcsc two disscnting
Churchcs wcrc in thc right way, thcrc would not accruc thcrcby to thc
rthodox any Right ol dcstroying thc othcr. For Churchcs havc ncithcr
any Jurisdiction in worldly Mattcrs, nor arc Firc and Sword any propcr
!nstrumcnts whcrcwith to convincc mcns Minds ol rror, and inlorm
thcm ol thc Truth. Lct us supposc, ncvcrthclcss, that thc Civil Magistratc
inclincd to lavour onc ol thcm, and to put his Sword into thcir Hands,
that (by his conscnt) thcy might chastisc thc isscntcrs as thcy plcascd.
Vill any man say, that any Right can bc dcrivcd unto a Christian Church
ovcr its 8rcthrcn, lrom a Turkish mpcror: An !ndcl, who has himscll
no Authority to punish Christians lor thc Articlcs ol thcir Faith, cannot
conlcr such an Authority upon any Socicty ol Christians, nor givc unto
thcm a Right, which hc has not himscll. This would bc thc Casc at Con-
stantinople.
4
And thc Rcason ol thc thing is thc samc in any Christian
Kingdom. Thc Civil Powcr is thc samc in cvcry placc, nor can that Powcr,
in thc Hands ol a Christian Princc, conlcr any grcatcr Authority upon thc
Church, than in thc Hands ol a Hcathcn, which is to say, just nonc at all.
Ncvcrthclcss, it is worthy to bc obscrvcd, and lamcntcd, that thc most
violcnt ol thcsc clcndcrs ol thc Truth, thc pposcrs ol rrors, thc
xclaimcrs against Schism, do hardly cvcr lct loosc this thcir Zcal lor
God, with which thcy arc so warmcd and inamcd, unlcss whcrc thcy
havc thc Civil Magistratc on thcir sidc. 8ut so soon as cvcr Court lavour
has givcn thcm thc bcttcr cnd ol thc Sta, and thcy bcgin to lccl thcm
sclvcs thc strongcr,
46
thcn prcscntly Pcacc and Charity arc to bc laid asidc,
othcrwisc, thcy arc rcligiously to bc obscrvcd. Vhcrc thcy havc not thc
Powcr to carry on Pcrsccution, and to bccomc Mastcrs, thcrc thcy dcsirc
<
a
,. Vhcrc thcy . . . Tolcration: addcd by Popplc. Vhilc this passagc has a
gcncral application, it had particular rcsonancc in .6, sincc thc Church ol n
gland had in rcccnt ycars blown hot and cold about tolcrating disscntcrs, dcpcnding
on its own circumstanccs. Undcr thc shock ol Jamcs !!s Catholicizing policics, thc
church had ocrcd to scttlc with disscntcrs, which rcsultcd in thc bcgrudging pas
sagc ol thc Tolcration Act.
. Civility and good Usagc: altcrnativcly, humanity and bcncvolcncc.
. in ne: to concludc.
c. Dominion is founded in Grace: thc doctrinc that thc authority ol govcrnors
dcpcnds upon thcir adhcrcncc to truc rcligion. Vhcn citing (and dcploring) this
dictum, Lockcs contcmporarics somctimcs had radical Puritan zcalots in mind, thc
rulc ol thc saints. 8ut thc doctrinc was also attributcd to Catholics. Thc papacy
claimcd thc powcr to dcposc hcrctical princcs, and Catholic princcs claimcd thc
powcr to cocrcc hcrctical minoritics. Lockc rcgards this doctrinc as antinomian. Scc
notcs .a, and .a, p. c.
to livc upon lair Tcrms, and prcach up Tolcration.
47
Vhcn thcy arc not
strcngthcncd with thc Civil Powcr, thcn thcy can bcar most paticntly and
unmovcdly thc Contagion ol !dolatry, Supcrstition and Hcrcsic in thcir
Ncighbourhood, ol which, in othcr ccasions, thc !ntcrcst ol Rcligion
makcs thcm to bc cxtrcamly apprchcnsivc. Thcy do not lorwardly attack
thosc rrors which arc in lashion at Court, or arc countcnanccd by thc
Govcrnmcnt. Hcrc thcy can bc contcnt to sparc thcir Argumcnts, which
yct (with thcir lcavc) is thc only right Mcthod ol propagating Truth,
which has no such way ol prcvailing, as whcn strong Argumcnts and good
Rcason arc joyncd with thc soltncss ol Civility and good Usagc.
48
No body thcrclorc, in nc,
49
ncithcr singlc Pcrsons, nor Churchcs, nay,
nor cvcn Commonwcalths, havc any just Titlc to invadc thc Civil Rights
and Vorldly Goods ol cach othcr upon prctcncc ol Rcligion. Thosc that
arc ol anothcr pinion, would do wcll to considcr with thcmsclvcs how
pcrnicious a Sccd ol iscord and Var, how powcrlul a Provocation to
cndlcss Hatrcds, Rapincs, and Slaughtcrs, thcy thcrcby lurnish unto Man
kind. No Pcacc and Sccurity, no not so much as common Fricndship, can
cvcr bc cstablishcd or prcscrvcd amongst Mcn, so long as this pinion
prcvails, That Dominion is founded in Grace,
0
and that Rcligion is to bc
propagatcd by lorcc ol Arms.
In the third Place, Lct us scc what thc Duty of Toleration requires lrom
thosc who arc distinguishcd lrom thc rcst ol Mankind, (lrom thc Laity, as
a
<
.. Cralt: Thc word priestcraft bccamc lashionablc in thc .6cs. Lockc uscs it in
his Reasonableness of Christianity (.6).
thcy plcasc to call us) by somc Ecclesiastical Character and O ce; whcthcr
thcy bc 8ishops, Pricsts, Prcsbytcrs, Ministcrs, or howcvcr clsc dignicd
or distinguishcd. !t is not my 8usincss to cnquirc hcrc into thc rigi
nal ol thc Powcr or ignity ol thc Clcrgy. This only ! say, That whcncc
socvcr thcir Authority bc sprung, sincc it is cclcsiastical, it ought to bc
conncd within thc 8ounds ol thc Church, nor can it in any manncr bc
cxtcndcd to Civil Aairs, bccausc thc Church it scll is a thing absolutcly
scparatc and distinct lrom thc Commonwcalth. Thc 8oundarics on both
sidcs arc xcd and immovablc. Hc jumblcs Hcavcn and arth togcthcr,
thc things most rcmotc and oppositc, who mixcs thcsc Socictics, which
arc in thcir riginal, nd, 8usincss, and in cvcry thing, pcrlcctly distinct,
and innitcly dicrcnt lrom cach othcr. No man thcrclorc, with what
socvcr cclcsiastical cc hc bc dignicd, can dcprivc anothcr man, that
is not ol his Church and Faith, cithcr ol Libcrty, or ol any part ol his
Vorldly Goods, upon thc account ol that dicrcncc which is bctwccn
thcm in Rcligion. For whatcvcr is not lawlul to thc wholc Church, cannot,
by any cclcsiastical Right, bccomc lawlul to any ol its Mcmbcrs.
But this is not all. !t is not cnough that cclcsiastical Mcn abstain lrom
\iolcncc and Rapinc, and all manncr ol Pcrsccution. Hc that prctcnds to
bc a Succcssor ol thc Apostlcs, and takcs upon him thc cc ol Tcach
ing, is obligcd also to admonish his Hcarcrs ol thc utics ol Pcacc and
Good will towards all mcn, as wcll towards thc rroncous, as thc rtho
dox, towards thosc that dicr lrom thcm in Faith and Vorship, as wcll
as towards thosc that agrcc with thcm thcrcin. And hc ought industri
ously to cxhort all mcn, whcthcr privatc Pcrsons or Magistratcs, (il any
such thcrc bc in his Church) to Charity, Mcckncss, and Tolcration, and
diligcntly cndcavour to allay and tcmpcr all that Hcat and unrcasonablc
Avcrscncss ol Mind, which cithcr any mans cry Zcal lor his own Scct,
or thc Cralt
!
ol othcrs, has kindlcd against isscntcrs. ! will not undcr
takc to rcprcscnt how happy and how grcat would bc thc Fruit, both in
Church and Statc, il thc Pulpits cvcry whcrc soundcd with this octrinc
ol Pcacc and Tolcration, lcst ! should sccm to rccct too scvcrcly upon
<
a
a. Popplc omits: cvcn until scvcnty timcs scvcn, a quotation lrom Matthcw
.:aa.
. marrying his aughtcr: notc Lockcs patriarchal assumption in rcspcct ol a
daughtcrs marriagc and his placcmcnt ol this mattcr in thc privatc sphcrc.
thosc Mcn whosc ignity ! dcsirc not to dctract lrom, nor would havc
it diminishcd cithcr by othcrs or thcmsclvcs. 8ut this ! say, That thus it
ought to bc. And il any onc that prolcsscs himscll to bc a Ministcr ol
thc Vord ol God, a Prcachcr ol thc Gospcl ol Pcacc, tcach othcrwisc, hc
cithcr undcrstands not, or ncglccts thc 8usincss ol his Calling, and shall
onc day givc account thcrcol unto thc Princc ol Pcacc. !l Christians arc to
bc admonishcd that thcy abstain lrom all manncr ol Rcvcngc, cvcn altcr
rcpcatcd Provocations and multiplicd !njurics,
2
how much morc ought
thcy who sucr nothing, who havc had no harm donc thcm, lorbcar \io
lcncc, and abstain lrom all manncr ol ill usagc towards thosc lrom whom
thcy havc rcccivcd nonc. This Caution and Tcmpcr thcy ought ccrtainly
to usc towards thosc who mind only thcir own 8usincss, and arc sollici
tous lor nothing but that (whatcvcr mcn think ol thcm) thcy may worship
God in that manncr which thcy arc pcrsuadcd is acccptablc to him, and
in which thcy havc thc strongcst hopcs ol tcrnal Salvation. !n privatc
domcstick Aairs, in thc managcmcnt ol statcs, in thc conscrvation ol
8odily Hcalth, cvcry man may considcr what suits his own convcnicncy,
and lollow what coursc hc likcs bcst. No man complains ol thc ill man
agcmcnt ol his Ncighbours Aairs. No man is angry with anothcr lor an
rror committcd in sowing his Land, or in marrying his aughtcr.
1
No
body corrccts a Spcnd thrilt lor consuming his Substancc in Tavcrns. Lct
any man pull down, or build, or makc whatsocvcr xpcnccs hc plcascs, no
body murmurs, no body controuls him, hc has his Libcrty. 8ut il any man
do not lrcqucnt thc Church, il hc do not thcrc conlorm his 8chaviour
cxactly to thc accustomcd Ccrcmonics, or il hc brings not his Childrcn
to bc initiatcd in thc Sacrcd Mystcrics ol this or thc othcr Congrcga
tion, this immcdiatcly causcs an Uproar, and thc Ncighbourhood is llcd
with noisc and clamour. vcry onc is rcady to bc thc Avcngcr ol so grcat
a Crimc. And thc Zcalots hardly havc paticncc to rclrain lrom \iolcncc
and Rapinc so long till thc Causc bc hcard, and thc poor man bc, accord
ing to Form, condcmncd to thc loss ol Libcrty, Goods, or Lilc. h that
a6
<
. Notc thc distinction bctwccn magistcrial and charitablc carc. Lockc docs not
cxcludc thc usc ol nonpcnal prosclytizing.
. Lockcs discussion hcrc suggcsts a limitcd rolc lor govcrnmcnt in managing
thc wcll bcing ol citizcns.
our cclcsiastical rators, ol cvcry Scct, would apply thcmsclvcs with all
thc strcngth ol Argumcnts that thcy arc ablc, to thc conlounding ol mcns
rrors! 8ut lct thcm sparc thcir Pcrsons. Lct thcm not supply thcir want
ol Rcasons with thc !nstrumcnts ol Forcc, which bclong to anothcr Juris
diction, and do ill bccomc a Church mans Hands. Lct thcm not call in
thc Magistratcs Authority to thc aid ol thcir loqucncc or Lcarning, lcst,
pcrhaps, whilst thcy prctcnd only Lovc lor thc Truth, this thcir intcm
pcratc Zcal, brcathing nothing but Firc and Sword, bctray thcir Ambi
tion, and shcw that what thcy dcsirc is Tcmporal ominion. For it will
bc vcry di cult to pcrsuadc mcn ol Scncc, that hc, who with dry ycs,
and satislaction ol Mind, can dclivcr his 8rothcr unto thc xccutioncr,
to bc burnt alivc, docs sinccrcly and hcartily conccrn himscll to savc that
8rothcr lrom thc Flamcs ol Hcll in thc world to comc.
In the last place. Lct us now considcr what is the Magistrates Duty in thc
8usincss ol Tolcration, which ccrtainly is vcry considcrablc.
Vc havc alrcady provcd, That thc Carc ol Souls docs not bclong to
thc Magistratc. Not a Magistcrial Carc, ! mcan, (il ! may so call it) which
consists in prcscribing by Laws, and compclling by Punishmcnts. 8ut a
charitablc Carc,
4
which consists in tcaching, admonishing, and pcrsuad
ing, cannot bc dcnicd unto any man. Thc Carc thcrclorc ol cvcry mans
Soul bclongs unto himscll, and is to bc lclt unto himscll. 8ut what il hc
ncglcct thc Carc ol his Soul: ! answcr, Vhat il hc ncglcct thc Carc ol his
Hcalth, or ol his statc, which things arc ncarlicr rclatcd to thc Govcrn
mcnt ol thc Magistratc than thc othcr: Vill thc Magistratc providc by
an cxprcss Law, That such a onc shall not bccomc poor or sick:
Laws
providc, as much as is possiblc: That thc Goods and Hcalth ol Subjccts
bc not injurcd by thc Fraud or \iolcncc ol othcrs, thcy do not guard thcm
lrom thc Ncgligcncc or ill husbandry ol thc Posscssors thcmsclvcs. No
man can bc lorccd to bc Rich or Hcalthlul whcthcr hc will or no. Nay,
God himscll will not savc mcn against thcir wills. Lct us supposc, how
cvcr, that somc Princc wcrc dcsirous to lorcc his Subjccts to accumulatc
<
a,
6. Geneva: rclcrcnccs to Gcncva rclcr to Calvinism.
,. Thc rclcrcncc to musicians makcs scnsc whcn wc notc that thc scntcncc
should opcn, r, to providc his subjccts with wcalth and comlort at homc.
. Buskins: lashionablc or outlandish lootwcar.
. dipt: baptizcd.
6c. Popplc omits: and lcad in thc samc dircction.
6.. cloathed in White: signilying thc surplicc, to which Puritans objcctcd as pop
ish, prclcrring thc black Gcncva gown, crowned with a Mitre: signilying cpisco
pacy. Scc notc ,, p. .
Richcs, or to prcscrvc thc Hcalth and Strcngth ol thcir 8odics. Shall it bc
providcd by Law, that thcy must consult nonc but Roman Physicians, and
shall cvcry onc bc bound to livc according to thcir Prcscriptions: Vhat,
shall no Potion, no 8roth bc takcn, but what is prcparcd cithcr in thc
Vatican, supposc, or in a Geneva Shop:
6
r, to makc thcsc Subjccts rich,
shall thcy all bc obligcd by Law to bccomc Mcrchants, or Musicians:
7

r, shall cvcry onc turn \ictuallcr, or Smith, bccausc thcrc arc somc that
maintain thcir Familics plcntilully, and grow rich in thosc Prolcssions:
8ut it may bc said, Thcrc arc a thousand ways to Vcalth, but only onc
way to Hcavcn. Tis wcll said indccd, cspccially by thosc that plcad lor
compclling mcn into this or thc othcr Vay. For il thcrc wcrc scvcral ways
that lcad thithcr, thcrc would not bc so much as a prctcncc lclt lor Com
pulsion. 8ut now il ! bc marching on with my utmost vigor, in that way
which, according to thc Sacrcd Gcography, lcads strcight to Jerusalem;
Vhy am ! bcatcn and ill uscd by othcrs, bccausc, pcrhaps, ! wcar not
8uskins,
8
bccausc my Hair is not ol thc right Cut, bccausc pcrhaps !
havc not bccn dipt
9
in thc right Fashion, bccausc ! cat Flcsh upon thc
Road, or somc othcr Food which agrccs with my stomach, bccausc ! avoid
ccrtain 8y ways, which sccm unto mc to lcad into 8riars or Prccipiccs,
bccausc amongst thc scvcral Paths that arc in thc samc Road,
60
! chusc
that to walk in which sccms to bc thc strcightcst and clcancst, bccausc
! avoid to kccp company with somc Travcllcrs that arc lcss gravc, and
othcrs that arc morc sowr than thcy ought to bc, or in nc, bccausc ! lol
low a Guidc that cithcr is, or is not, cloathcd in Vhitc, and crowncd with
a Mitrc:
6!
Ccrtainly, il wc considcr right, wc shall nd that lor thc most
part thcy arc such lrivolous things as thcsc, that (without any prcjudicc to
Rcligion, or thc Salvation ol Souls, il not accompanicd with Supcrstition
a
<
6a. discover: rcvcal.
or Hypocrisic) might cithcr bc obscrvcd or omittcd, ! say thcy arc such
likc things as thcsc, which brccd implacablc nmitics amongst Christian
8rcthrcn, who arc all agrccd in thc substantial and truly lundamcntal part
ol Rcligion.
8ut lct us grant unto thcsc Zcalots, who condcmn all things that arc
not ol thcir Modc, that lrom thcsc Circumstanccs arisc dicrcnt nds.
Vhat shall wc concludc lrom thcncc: Thcrc is only onc ol thcsc which is
thc truc way to tcrnal Happincss. 8ut in this grcat varicty ol ways that
mcn lollow, it is still doubtcd which is this right onc. Now ncithcr thc carc
ol thc Commonwcalth, nor thc Right ol cnacting Laws, docs discovcr
62

this way that lcads to Hcavcn morc ccrtainly to thc Magistratc, than cvcry
privatc mans Scarch and Study discovcrs it unto himscll. ! havc a wcak
8ody, sunk undcr a languishing iscasc, lor which (! supposc) thcrc is onc
only Rcmcdy, but that unknown: ocs it thcrclorc bclong unto thc Mag
istratc to prcscribc mc a Rcmcdy, bccausc thcrc is but onc, and bccausc it
is unknown: 8ccausc thcrc is but onc way lor mc to cscapc cath, will it
thcrclorc bc salc lor mc to do whatsocvcr thc Magistratc ordains: Thosc
things that cvcry man ought sinccrcly to cnquirc into himscll, and by
Mcditation, Study, Scarch, and his own ndcavours, attain thc knowlcdgc
ol, cannot bc lookcd upon as thc pcculiar Posscssion ol any onc sort ol
Mcn. Princcs indccd arc born supcrior unto othcr Mcn in Powcr, but in
Naturc cqual. Ncithcr thc Right, nor thc Art ol Ruling, docs ncccssarily
carry along with it thc ccrtain Knowlcdgc ol othcr things, and lcast ol all
ol thc truc Rcligion. For il it wcrc so, how could it comc to pass that thc
Lords ol thc arth should dicr so vastly as thcy do in Rcligious Mattcrs:
8ut lct us grant that it is probablc thc way to tcrnal Lilc may bc bcttcr
known by a Princc than by his Subjccts, or at lcast, that in this inccrti
tudc ol things, thc salcst and most commodious way lor privatc Pcrsons
is to lollow his ictatcs. You will say, what thcn: !l hc should bid you
lollow Mcrchandisc lor your Livclihood, would you dcclinc that Coursc
lor lcar it should not succccd: ! answcr: ! would turn Mcrchant upon thc
Princcs Command, bccausc in casc ! should havc ill succcss in Tradc, hc
is abundantly ablc to makc up my Loss somc othcr way. !l it bc truc, as
<
a
6. unsucccsslul \oyagcs: altcrnativcly, ill lortunc in tradc. Popplc, thc lormcr
winc mcrchant, thinks in tcrms ol high risk invcstmcnt in ovcrscas tradc.
hc prctcnds, that hc dcsircs ! should thrivc and grow rich, hc can sct mc
up again whcn unsucccsslul \oyagcs
61
havc brokc mc. 8ut this is not thc
Casc in thc things that rcgard thc Lilc to comc. !l thcrc ! takc a wrong
Coursc, il in that rcspcct ! am oncc undonc, it is not in thc Magistratcs
Powcr to rcpair my Loss, to casc my Sucring, or to rcstorc mc in any
mcasurc, much lcss cntircly, to a good statc. Vhat Sccurity can bc givcn
lor thc Kingdom ol Hcavcn:
Pcrhaps somc will say that thcy do not supposc this infallible Judgment,
that all Mcn arc bound to lollow in thc Aairs ol Rcligion to bc in thc
Civil Magistratc, but in the Church. Vhat thc Church has dctcrmincd,
that thc Civil Magistratc ordcrs to bc obscrvcd, and hc providcs by his
Authority that no body shall cithcr act or bclicvc in thc busincss ol Rcli
gion, othcrwisc than thc Church tcachcs. So that thc Judgmcnt ol thosc
things is in thc Church. Thc Magistratc himscll yiclds bcdicncc thcrc
unto, and rcquircs thc likc bcdicncc lrom othcrs. ! answcr, Vho sccs
not how lrcqucntly thc Namc ol thc Church, which was so vcncrablc in
thc timc ol thc Apostlcs, has bccn madc usc ol to throw ust in Pcoplcs
ycs, in lollowing Agcs: 8ut howcvcr, in thc prcscnt casc it hclps us not.
Thc onc only narrow way which lcads to Hcavcn is not bcttcr known to
thc Magistratc than to privatc pcrsons, and thcrclorc ! cannot salcly takc
him lor my Guidc, who may probably bc as ignorant ol thc way as my
scll, and who ccrtainly is lcss conccrncd lor my Salvation than ! my scll
am. Amongst so many Kings ol thc Jews, how many ol thcm wcrc thcrc
whom any Israelite, thus blindly lollowing, had not lallcn into !dolatry,
and thcrcby into cstruction: Yct ncvcrthclcss, you bid mc bc ol good
couragc, and tcll mc that all is now salc and sccurc, bccausc thc Magis
tratc docs not now cnjoyn thc obscrvancc ol his own ccrccs in mattcrs ol
Rcligion, but only thc ccrccs ol thc Church. l what Church ! bcsccch
you: l that ccrtainly which likcs him bcst. As il hc that compcls mc by
Laws and Pcnaltics to cntcr into this or thc othcr Church, did not intcr
posc his own Judgmcnt in thc mattcr. Vhat dicrcncc is thcrc whcthcr
hc lcad mc himscll, or dclivcr mc ovcr to bc lcd by othcrs: ! dcpcnd both
c
<
6. Baal: a Canaanitc dcity, oltcn rclcrrcd to in thc ld Tcstamcnt.
6. Tribe: a disparaging tcrm lor pricsts, Lockc has lollowcrs, pcjorativc also in
thc Latin (asseclae).
66. Socinians: thosc who dcny thc doctrinc ol thc Trinity. Namcd altcr thc !talian
thcologian Fausto Sozzini (Faustus Socinus) (. .6c).
6,. A strikingly anticlcrical rcmark, qucstioning that thc church is to bc cquatcd
with thc clcrgy. Canon law is church law.
6. Arrian Emperors: in thc lourth ccntury largc parts ol Christcndom lollowcd
thc tcachings ol Arius (d. 6), whosc doctrinc, il not cntircly antiTrinitarian, com
promiscd thc divinity ol Christ, such cmpcrors as Constantinc !! and \alcns wcrc
Arians.
6. Thc English History: thc rst cdition has our modcrn English History.
Thc sccond cdition is lcss lclicitous but rcmovcs thc word our, which idcntics thc
author as nglish. !t has bccn suggcstcd that this amcndmcnt indicatcs Lockcs
own intcrvcntion in corrccting thc sccond cdition.
ways upon his Vill: and it is hc that dctcrmincs both ways ol my ctcrnal
Statc. Vould an Israelite, that had worshippcd Baal
64
upon thc Command
ol his King, havc bccn in any bcttcr condition, bccausc somc body had
told him that thc King ordcrcd nothing in Rcligion upon his own Hcad,
nor commandcd any thing to bc donc by his Subjccts in ivinc Vor
ship, but what was approvcd by thc Counscl ol Pricsts, and dcclarcd to bc
ol ivinc Right by thc octors ol thcir Church: !l thc Rcligion ol any
Church bccomc thcrclorc truc and saving, bccausc thc Hcads ol that Scct,
thc Prclatcs and Pricsts, and thosc ol that Tribc,
6
do all ol thcm, with
all thcir might, cxtol and praisc it, what Rcligion can cvcr bc accountcd
crroncous, lalsc and dcstructivc: ! am doubtlul conccrning thc octrinc
ol thc Socinians,
66
! am suspicious ol thc way ol Vorship practiscd by thc
Papists, or Lutherans? Vill it bc cvcr a jot thc salcr lor mc to joyn cithcr
unto thc onc or thc othcr ol thosc Churchcs, upon thc Magistratcs Com
mand, bccausc hc commands nothing in Rcligion but by thc Authority
and Counscl ol thc octors ol that Church:
8ut to spcak thc truth, wc must acknowlcdgc that thc Church (il a
Convcntion ol Clcrgy mcn, making Canons, must bc callcd by that
Namc)
67
is lor thc most part morc apt to bc inucnccd by thc Court, than
thc Court by thc Church. How thc Church was undcr thc \icissitudc ol
rthodox and Arrian mpcrors,
68
is vcry wcll known. r il thosc things
bc too rcmotc, Thc English History
69
aords us lrcshcr xamplcs, in thc
<
.
,c. Hcnry \!!! (r. .c ,) cnlorccd a Rclormation in church govcrnancc,
cxpclling thc papacy, but rcgardcd himscll as an orthodox Catholic in thcology,
dward \! (r. ., ) was a thoroughgoing Protcstant, Mary (r. . ) institutcd
a Countcr Rclormation to rcstorc Catholicism, and lizabcth (r. . .6c) scttlcd
a middlc way Rclormation. Many clcrgy conlormcd to thcsc rcligious rcvolutions,
though Lockc is scarccly lair in ovcrlooking thosc who cndurcd martyrdom lor
thcir bclicls.
,.. Mansions ol thc 8lcsscd: provcrb, associatcd with John .:a.
Rcigns ol Henry thc th, Edward thc 6th, Mary, and Elizabeth, how casily
and smoothly thc Clcrgy changcd thcir ccrccs, thcir Articlcs ol Faith,
thcir Form ol Vorship, cvcry thing, according to thc inclination ol thosc
Kings and Quccns.
70
Yct wcrc thosc Kings and Quccns ol such dicrcnt
minds, in point ol Rcligion, and cnjoyncd thcrcupon such dicrcnt things,
that no man in his Vits (! had almost said nonc but an Athcist) will prc
sumc to say that any sinccrc and upright Vorshippcr ol God could, with
a salc Conscicncc, obcy thcir scvcral ccrccs. To concludc. !t is thc samc
thing whcthcr a King that prcscribcs Laws to anothcr mans Rcligion, prc
tcnd to do it by his own Judgmcnt, or by thc cclcsiastical Authority and
Advicc ol othcrs. Thc ccisions ol Churchmcn, whosc icrcnccs and
isputcs arc su cicntly known, cannot bc any soundcr, or salcr, than his.
Nor can all thcir Suragcs joyncd togcthcr add any ncw strcngth unto thc
Civil Powcr. Tho this also must bc takcn noticc ol, that Princcs scldom
havc any rcgard to thc Suragcs ol cclcsiastics that arc not Favourcrs ol
thcir own Faith and way ol Vorship.
8ut altcr all, Thc Principal Consideration, and which absolutcly dctcr
mincs this Controvcrsic, is this. Although thc Magistratcs pinion in
Rcligion bc sound, and thc way that hc appoints bc truly vangclical, yct
il ! bc not thoroughly pcrswadcd thcrcol in my own mind, thcrc will bc
no salcty lor mc in lollowing it. No way whatsocvcr that ! shall walk in,
against thc ictatcs ol my Conscicncc, will cvcr bring mc to thc Man
sions ol thc 8lcsscd.
7!
! may grow rich by an Art that ! takc not dclight
in, ! may bc curcd ol somc iscasc by Rcmcdics that ! havc not Faith in,
but ! cannot bc savcd by a Rcligion that ! distrust, and by a Vorship that
! abhor. !t is in vain lor an Unbclicvcr to takc up thc outward shcw ol
anothcr Mans Prolcssion. Faith only, and inward Sinccrity, arc thc things
that procurc acccptancc with God. Thc most likcly and most approvcd
a
<
,a. doubtlul: in quoting this in thc Second Letter, Lockc amcnds to doubtcd.
,. National Church: thc tcrm stablishcd Church was not yct in usc.
Rcmcdy can havc no ccct upon thc Paticnt, il his Stomach rcjcct it as
soon as takcn. And you will in vain cram a Mcdicinc down a sick Mans
Throat, which his particular Constitution will bc surc to turn into Poi
son. !n a word. Vhatsocvcr may bc doubtlul
72
in Rcligion, yct this at lcast
is ccrtain, that no Rcligion, which ! bclicvc not to bc truc, can bc cithcr
truc or protablc unto mc. !n vain thcrclorc do Princcs compcl thcir Sub
jccts to comc into thcir Church communion, undcr prctcncc ol saving
thcir Souls. !l thcy bclicvc, thcy will comc ol thcir own accord, il thcy
bclicvc not, thcir coming will nothing avail thcm. How grcat socvcr, in
nc, may bc thc prctcncc ol Good will and Charity, and conccrn lor thc
Salvation ol Mcns Souls, Mcn cannot bc lorccd to bc savcd whcthcr thcy
will or no. And thcrclorc, whcn all is donc, thcy must bc lclt to thcir own
Conscicnccs.
Having thus at lcngth lrccd Mcn lrom all ominion ovcr onc anothcr
in mattcrs ol Rcligion, lct us now considcr what they are to do. All mcn
know and acknowlcdgc that God ought to bc publickly worshippcd. Vhy
othcrwisc do thcy compcl onc anothcr unto thc publick Asscmblics: Mcn
thcrclorc constitutcd in this libcrty arc to cntcr into somc Rcligious So
cicty, that thcy may mcct togcthcr, not only lor mutual dication, but
to own to thc Vorld that thcy worship God, and ocr unto his divinc
Majcsty such scrvicc as thcy thcmsclvcs arc not ashamcd ol, and such as
thcy think not unworthy ol him, nor unacccptablc to him, and nally that
by thc purity ol octrinc, Holincss ol Lilc, and dcccnt Form ol Vor
ship, thcy may draw othcrs unto thc lovc ol thc truc Rcligion, and pcr
lorm such othcr things in Rcligion as cannot bc donc by cach privatc
Man apart.
These Religious Societies I call Churches: and these I say the Magistrate
ought to tolerate. For thc busincss ol thcsc Asscmblics ol thc Pcoplc is
nothing but what is lawlul lor cvcry Man in particular to takc carc ol, !
mcan thc Salvation ol thcir Souls. Nor in this casc is thcrc any dicrcncc
bctwccn thc National Church,
71
and othcr scparatcd Congrcgations.
8ut as in cvcry Church thcrc arc two things cspccially to bc consid
<
,. wcll in it scll : altcrnativcly, lawlul (licitum).

,. !ndicrcnt things: Thc conccpt ol things indicrcnt (to salvation), also
callcd adiaphora, was ccntral to thcological discussion, and was distinguishcd lrom
things ncccssary (to salvation). Vhcrcas thc lattcr wcrc prcscribcd by God in
Scripturc and hcncc could not bc altcrcd by man, thc lormcr wcrc opcn to human
variation and local ordinancc. Thus, it might bc hcld that whilc God rcquircs to bc
worshippcd, hc is indicrcnt as to whcthcr it is donc standing or knccling, or wcar
ing black or whitc garmcnts. Two problcms arosc: what things in lact camc undcr
thc hcading things indicrcnt, and, in thc sphcrc ol things indicrcnt, arc wc
obligcd to acccpt magistcrial ordinanccs: Somc hcld that, cvcn in thc sphcrc ol
things indicrcnt, magistratcs could imposc conlormity, lor thc sakc ol good ordcr
and concord. An adiaphorist was thcologically libcral (a latitudinarian) in strcssing
thc broad ambit ol things indicrcnt but might noncthclcss bc politically illibcral
in cxpccting obcdicncc to human ordinanccs. This was Lockcs own initial position
in his Tracts on Government (.66c 6a), hc had changcd his mind by .66,. !n thc
prcscnt passagc, Lockc makcs clcar that public salcty (and not dcccncy or acsthctic
considcrations) is thc solc critcrion lor magistcrial intcrlcrcncc in worship.
crcd, The outward Form and Rites of Worship; And the Doctrines and Articles
of Faith; Thcsc things must bc handlcd cach distinctly, that so thc wholc
mattcr ol Tolcration may thc morc clcarly bc undcrstood.
Concerning outward Worship, ! say (in thc rst placc) that thc Magis
tratc has no Powcr to cnlorcc by Law, cithcr in his own Church, or much
lcss in anothcr, thc usc ol any Ritcs or Ccrcmonics whatsocvcr in thc
Vorship ol God. And this, not only bccausc thcsc Churchcs arc lrcc So
cictics, but bccausc whatsocvcr is practiccd in thc Vorship ol God, is only
so lar justiablc as it is bclicvcd by thosc that practisc it to bc acccptablc
unto him. Vhatsocvcr is not donc with that Assurancc ol Faith, is ncithcr
wcll in it scll,
74
nor can it bc acccptablc to God. To imposc such things
thcrclorc upon any Pcoplc, contrary to thcir own Judgmcnt, is in ccct
to command thcm to ocnd God, Vhich, considcring that thc cnd ol all
Rcligion is to plcasc him, and that Libcrty is csscntially ncccssary to that
nd, appcars to bc absurd bcyond cxprcssion.
8ut pcrhaps it may bc concludcd lrom hcncc, that ! dcny unto thc
Magistratc all manncr ol Powcr about Indierent things;
7
which il it bc
not grantcd, thc wholc Subjcct mattcr ol Law making is takcn away. No,
! rcadily grant that !ndicrcnt Things, and pcrhaps nonc but such, arc
subjcctcd to thc Lcgislativc Powcr. 8ut it docs not thcrclorc lollow, that
thc Magistratc may ordain whatsocvcr hc plcascs conccrning any thing
<
,6. Scc Two Treatises of Government, !!, .
,,. Popplc omits: r that thcy shall bc initiatcd by any sacrcd ritcs at all:
,. Thc Jcws wcrc rcadmittcd to ngland by livcr Cromwcll in .66, and thcir
protcction was conrmcd by Charlcs !! in .66. !n Holland, Jcwish communitics
wcrc tolcratcd in a numbcr ol towns. Scc p. .
that is indicrcnt. Thc Publick Good is thc Rulc and Mcasurc ol all Law
making.
76
!l a thing bc not usclul to thc Commonwcalth, tho it bc ncvcr
so indicrcnt, it may not prcscntly bc cstablishcd by Law.
But further: Things ncvcr so indicrcnt in thcir own naturc, whcn thcy
arc brought into thc Church and Vorship ol God, arc rcmovcd out ol
thc rcach ol thc Magistratcs Jurisdiction, bccausc in that usc thcy havc
no conncxion at all with Civil Aairs. Thc only busincss ol thc Church is
thc Salvation ol Souls: And it no ways conccrns thc Commonwcalth, or
any Mcmbcr ol it, that this, or thc othcr Ccrcmony bc thcrc madc usc ol.
Ncithcr thc Usc, nor thc mission ol any Ccrcmonics, in thosc Rcligious
Asscmblics, docs cithcr advantagc or prcjudicc thc Lilc, Libcrty, or statc
ol any Man. For xamplc: Lct it bc grantcd, that thc washing ol an !nlant
with Vatcr is in it scll an indicrcnt thing. Lct it bc grantcd also, that il
thc Magistratc undcrstand such washing to bc protablc to thc curing or
prcvcnting ol any iscasc that Childrcn arc subjcct unto, and cstccm thc
mattcr wcighty cnough to bc takcn carc ol by a Law, in that casc hc may
ordcr it to bc donc. 8ut will any onc thcrclorc say, that a Magistratc has
thc samc Right to ordain, by Law, that all Childrcn shall bc baptizcd by
Pricsts, in thc sacrcd Font, in ordcr to thc Purication ol thcir Souls:
77

Thc cxtrcam dicrcncc ol thcsc two Cascs is visiblc to cvcry onc at rst
sight. r lct us apply thc last Casc to thc Child ol a Jew, and thc thing
will spcak it scll. For what hindcrs but a Christian Magistratc may havc
Subjccts that arc Jews?
78
Now il wc acknowlcdgc that such an !njury may
not bc donc unto a Jew, as to compcl him, against his own pinion, to
practicc in his Rcligion a thing that is in its naturc indicrcnt, how can
wc maintain that any thing ol this kind may bc donc to a Christian:
Again: Things in thcir own naturc indicrcnt cannot, by any human
Authority, bc madc any part ol thc Vorship ol God, lor this vcry rcason,
bccausc thcy arc indicrcnt. For sincc indicrcnt things arc not capablc,
by any \irtuc ol thcir own, to propitiatc thc city, no human Powcr or
<
,. !saiah .:.a. Notc that thc parcnthcscs arc in thc original.

Authority can conlcr on thcm so much ignity, and xccllcncy, as to
cnablc thcm to do it. !n thc common Aairs ol Lilc, that usc ol indicr
cnt things which God has not lorbiddcn, is lrcc and lawlul: And thcrclorc
in thosc things human Authority has placc. 8ut it is not so in mattcrs ol
Rcligion. Things indicrcnt arc not othcrwisc lawlul in thc Vorship ol
God than as thcy arc institutcd by God himscll, and as hc, by somc posi
tivc command, has ordaind thcm to bc madc a part ol that Vorship which
hc will vouchsalc to acccpt ol at thc hands ol poor sinlul Mcn. Nor whcn
an inccnscd city shall ask us, (Who has required these, or such like, things at
your hands?)
79
will it bc cnough to answcr him, that thc Magistratc com
mandcd thcm. !l Civil Jurisdiction cxtcndcd thus lar, what might not law
lully bc introduccd into Rcligion: Vhat hodgcpodgc ol Ccrcmonics, what
supcrstitious invcntions, built upon thc Magistratcs Authority, might not
(against Conscicncc) bc imposcd upon thc Vorshippcrs ol God: For thc
grcatcst part ol thcsc Ccrcmonics and Supcrstitions consists in thc Rcli
gious Usc ol such things as arc in thcir own naturc indicrcnt: Nor arc
thcy sinlul upon any othcr account than bccausc God is not thc Author
ol thcm. Thc sprinkling ol Vatcr, and thc usc ol 8rcad and Vinc, arc
both in thcir own naturc, and in thc ordinary occasions ol Lilc, altogcthcr
indicrcnt. Vill any Man thcrclorc say that thcsc things could havc bccn
introduccd into Rcligion, and madc a part ol ivinc Vorship, il not by
ivinc !nstitution: !l any Human Authority or Civil Powcr could havc
donc this, why might it not also injoyn thc cating ol Fish, and drinking
ol Alc, in thc Holy 8anquct, as a part ol ivinc Vorship: Vhy not thc
sprinkling ol thc 8lood ol 8casts in Churchcs, and xpiations by Vatcr
or Firc, and abundancc morc ol this kind: 8ut thcsc things, how indil
lcrcnt socvcr thcy bc in common uscs, whcn thcy comc to bc anncxcd
unto ivinc Vorship, without ivinc Authority, thcy arc as abominablc
to God, as thc Sacricc ol a og. And why a og so abominablc: Vhat
dicrcncc is thcrc bctwccn a og and a Goat, in rcspcct ol thc ivinc
Naturc, cqually and innitcly distant lrom all A nity with Mattcr, unlcss
it bc that God rcquircd thc usc ol thc onc in his Vorship, and not ol thc
othcr: Vc scc thcrclorc that indicrcnt things, how much socvcr thcy
6
<
c. Habit: attirc.
.. Lockc implics that Christian intolcrancc is pharisaical in its lormalistic prc
occupation with ccrcmony.
a. rdcr, cccncy, and dication: . Corinthians .:a6, c.
bc undcr thc Powcr ol thc Civil Magistratc, yct cannot upon that prc
tcncc bc introduccd into Rcligion, and imposcd upon Rcligious Asscm
blics, bccausc in thc Vorship ol God thcy wholly ccasc to bc indicrcnt.
Hc that Vorships God docs it with dcsign to plcasc him, and procurc
his Favour. 8ut that cannot bc donc by him, Vho, upon thc command ol
anothcr, ocrs unto God that which hc knows will bc displcasing to him,
bccausc not commandcd by himscll. This is not to plcasc God, or appcasc
his Vrath, but willingly and knowingly to provokc him, by a manilcst
Contcmpt, Vhich is a thing absolutcly rcpugnant to thc naturc and cnd
ol Vorship.
8ut it will hcrc bc askcd: If nothing belonging to Divine Worship be left to
human Discretion, how is it then that Churches themselves have the Power of
ordering any thing about the Time and Place of Worship, and the like? To this
! answcr, That in Rcligious Vorship wc must distinguish bctwccn what
is part ol thc Vorship it scll, and what is but a Circumstancc. That is a
part ol thc Vorship which is bclicvcd to bc appointcd by God, and to bc
wcll plcasing to him, and thcrclorc that is ncccssary. Circumstanccs arc
such things which, tho in gcncral thcy cannot bc scparatcd lrom Vor
ship, yct thc particular instanccs or modications ol thcm arc not dctcr
mincd, and thcrclorc thcy arc indicrcnt. l this sort arc thc Timc and
Placc ol Vorship, thc Habit
80
and Posturc ol him that worships. Thcsc
arc Circumstanccs, and pcrlcctly indicrcnt, whcrc God has not givcn
any cxprcss Command about thcm. For cxamplc: Amongst thc Jews, thc
Timc and Placc ol thcir Vorship, and thc Habits ol thosc that o ciatcd
in it, wcrc not mccr Circumstanccs, but a part ol thc Vorship it scll, in
which il any thing wcrc dclcctivc, or dicrcnt lrom thc !nstitution, thcy
could not hopc that it would bc acccptcd by God.
8!
8ut thcsc, to Chris
tians undcr thc libcrty ol thc Gospcl, arc mccr Circumstanccs ol Vorship,
which thc Prudcncc ol cvcry Church may bring into such usc as shall bc
judgcd most subscrvicnt to thc cnd ol rdcr, cccncy, and dication.
82

Tho cvcn undcr thc Gospcl also, thosc who bclicvc thc First, or thc Scv
<
,
. Somc sabbatarians hcld that Saturday and not Sunday should bc obscrvcd as
thc Sabbath.
. to impose . . . Powcr: addcd by Popplc.
. such hcinous normitics: altcrnativcly, othcr such practiccs. Primitivc
Christians: thosc ol thc carly church.
6. Lockc takcs lor grantcd that lorbidding scxual immorality is a propcr rolc lor
civil govcrnmcnts.
,. \irgil, Eclogues, iii...
. Ciccro, Catiline, i.a, Milo, ,c, Cacsar, Civil Wars, i..
cnth ay,
81
to bc sct apart by God, and consccratcd still to his Vorship, to
thcm that portion ol Timc is not a simplc Circumstancc, but a rcal Part ol
ivinc Vorship, which can ncithcr bc changcd nor ncglcctcd.
In the next place: As thc Magistratc has no Powcr to impose by his Laws,
thc usc ol any Ritcs and Ccrcmonics in any Church, so ncithcr has hc
any Powcr
84
to forbid thc usc ol such Ritcs and Ccrcmonics as arc alrcady
rcccivcd, approvcd, and practiscd by any Church. 8ccausc il hc did so, hc
would dcstroy thc Church it scll, thc cnd ol whosc !nstitution is only to
worship God with lrccdom, altcr its own manncr.
You will say, by this Rulc, il somc Congrcgations should havc a mind to
sacrice Infants, or (as thc Primitivc Christians wcrc lalsly accuscd) lust-
fully pollute themselves in promiscuous Uncleanness, or practisc any othcr
such hcinous normitics,
8
is the Magistrate obliged to tolerate them, bccausc
thcy arc committcd in a Rcligious Asscmbly: ! answcr, No. Thcsc things
arc not lawlul in thc ordinary coursc ol lilc, nor in any privatc housc, and
thcrclorc ncithcr arc thcy so in thc Vorship ol God, or in any Rcligious
Mccting.
86
8ut indccd il any Pcoplc congrcgatcd upon account ol Rcli
gion, should bc dcsirous to sacricc a Call, ! dcny that That ought to
bc prohibitcd by a Law. Melibaeus, whosc Call it is,
87
may lawlully kill
his own Call at homc, and burn any part ol it that hc thinks t. For no
!njury is thcrcby donc to any onc, no Prcjudicc to anothcr mans Goods.
And lor thc samc rcason hc may kill his Call also in a Rcligious Mccting.
Vhcthcr thc doing so bc wcll plcasing to God, or no, it is thcir part to
considcr that do it. Thc part ol thc Magistratc is only to takc carc that thc
Common wcalth rcccivc no prcjudicc,
88
and that thcrc bc no !njury donc
to any man, cithcr in Lilc or statc. And thus what may bc spcnt on a
Fcast, may bc spcnt on a Sacricc. 8ut il pcradvcnturc such wcrc thc statc
<
. Murrain: loot and mouth discasc.
c. sitting or knccling: Puritans objcctcd to knccling to rcccivc thc ucharist,
lor it involvcd cxccssivc vcncration and thcrcby implicd thc Catholic doctrinc ol
transubstantiation.
.. Popplc omits: Vhat is lawlul in ordinary lilc, and outsidc thc worship ol
God, cannot by civil law bc lorbiddcn in divinc worship or in sacrcd placcs.
ol things, that thc !ntcrcst ol thc Common wcalth rcquircd all slaugh
tcr ol 8casts should bc lorborn lor somc whilc, in ordcr to thc incrcas
ing ol thc Stock ol Cattcl, that had bccn dcstroycd by somc cxtraordinary
Murrain,
89
Vho sccs not that thc Magistratc, in such a casc, may lorbid
all his Subjccts to kill any Calvcs lor any usc whatsocvcr: nly tis to bc
obscrvcd, that in this casc thc Law is not madc about a Rcligious, but a
Political mattcr, nor is thc Sacricc, but thc Slaughtcr ol Calvcs thcrcby
prohibitcd.
8y this wc scc what dicrcncc thcrc is bctwccn thc Church and thc
Common wcalth. Vhatsocvcr is lawlul in thc Common wcalth, cannot
bc prohibitcd by thc Magistratc in thc Church. Vhatsocvcr is pcrmittcd
unto any onc ol his Subjccts lor thcir ordinary usc, ncithcr can, nor ought
to bc lorbiddcn by him to any Scct ol Pcoplc lor thcir Rcligious Uscs. !l
any man may lawlully takc 8rcad or Vinc, cithcr sitting or knccling,
90
in
his own housc, thc Law ought not to abridgc him ol thc samc Libcrty in
his Rcligious Vorship, though in thc Church thc usc ol 8rcad and Vinc
bc vcry dicrcnt, and bc thcrc applicd to thc Mystcrics ol Faith, and Ritcs
ol ivinc Vorship. 8ut thosc things that arc prcjudicial to thc Common
wcal ol a Pcoplc in thcir ordinary usc, and arc thcrclorc lorbiddcn by
Laws, thosc things ought not to bc pcrmittcd to Churchcs in thcir Sacrcd
Ritcs. nly thc Magistratc ought always to bc vcry carclul, that hc do not
misusc his Authority, to thc opprcssion ol any Church, undcr prctcncc ol
publick Good.
9!
!t may bc said, What if a Church be !dolatrous, is that also to be toler-
ated by the Magistrate? !n answcr, ! ask, Vhat Powcr can bc givcn to thc
Magistratc lor thc supprcssion ol an !dolatrous Church, which may not,
in timc and placc, bc madc usc ol to thc ruinc ol an rthodox onc: For it
must bc rcmcmbrcd that thc Civil Powcr is thc samc cvcry whcrc, and thc
Rcligion ol cvcry Princc is rthodox to himscll. !l thcrclorc such a Powcr
<
a. Calvins Gcncva was a thcocracy, and hcncc could bc sccn as parallcl to

Catholicism in its lusion ol civil and ccclcsiastical authority. This passagc indicatcs
Lockcs hostility as much to lull blown Calvinist or Prcsbytcrian ccclcsiology as to
papist or cpiscopalian. Calvins burning ol Michacl Scrvctus lor hcrcsy in . was
notorious.
. Lockc was awarc ol pcrsccutions by thc Mughal cmpcror Aurangzcb (.6.
.,c,).
. Americans: Nativc Amcricans.
. Scc The Constitutions of Carolina, pp. .6.
6. Lct us tracc this mattcr to thc bottom: altcrnativcly, This is how it bcgan
(Rem ab origine retexam). Thc signicancc ol thc lollowing passagc is not quitc
clcar. !t cchocs a convcntional Protcstant dcnunciation ol thc cruclty ol thc Spanish
(Catholic) conqucst ol South and Ccntral Amcrica, but this mcssagc is apparcntly
convcycd analogically in a hypothctical narrativc about thc nglish in North Amcr
ica, who initially had bccn dcpcndcnt on thc good will ol thc nativcs. Thc account
may indccd not bc hypothctical but rccct John Smiths cxpcricnccs in thc carlicst
scttlcmcnt at Jamcstown, \irginia, .6c, . Scc notc .cc in this sclcction.
,. bowcls ol Humanity: altcrnativcly, in thc namc ol common humanity.
bc grantcd unto thc Civil Magistratc in Spirituals, as that at Geneva (lor
xamplc) hc may cxtirpatc, by \iolcncc and 8lood, thc Rcligion which
is thcrc rcputcd !dolatrous,
92
by thc samc Rulc anothcr Magistratc, in
somc ncighbouring Country, may opprcss thc Rclormcd Rcligion, and,
in India,
91
thc Christian. Thc Civil Powcr can cithcr changc cvcry thing
in Rcligion, according to thc Princcs plcasurc, or it can changc noth
ing. !l it bc oncc pcrmittcd to introducc any thing into Rcligion, by thc
mcans ol Laws and Pcnaltics, thcrc can bc no bounds put to it, but it will
in thc samc manncr bc lawlul to altcr cvcry thing, according to that Rulc
ol Truth which thc Magistratc has lramcd unto himscll. No man what
socvcr ought thcrclorc to bc dcprivcd ol his Tcrrcstrial njoymcnts, upon
account ol his Rcligion. Not cvcn Americans,
94
subjcctcd unto a Christian
Princc, arc to bc punishcd cithcr in 8ody or Goods, lor not imbracing
our Faith and Vorship.
9
!l thcy arc pcrswadcd that thcy plcasc God in
obscrving thc Ritcs ol thcir own Country, and that thcy shall obtain Hap
pincss by that mcans, thcy arc to bc lclt unto God and thcmsclvcs. Lct us
tracc this mattcr to thc bottom.
96
Thus it is. An inconsidcrablc and wcak numbcr ol Christians, dcstitutc
ol cvcry thing, arrivc in a Pagan Countrcy. Thcsc Forcigncrs bcsccch thc
!nhabitants, by thc bowcls ol Humanity,
97
that thcy would succour thcm
c
<
. strict bscrvcrs . . . Socicty: altcrnativcly, strict obscrvcrs ol what is right,
and in no way ocnding against good morals and thc civil law.
. Horacc, Satires, i.6 ,c.
.cc. Lockcs rcmarks about Amcrica arc important lor undcrstanding his posi
tion rcgarding thc lcgitimacy ol uropcan colonial scttlcmcnt and thc cxpropriation
ol nativc land. Lockc dcnics any rcligious ground lor intcrlcring with propcrty (a
rulc hc clscwhcrc applics also to dcalings with Jcws and Muslims), lor that would
bc a vcrsion ol thc iniquitous doctrinc that dominion is loundcd in gracc (scc notc
c, p. a): bcing a Christian givcs no right ol dominion. !t is commonly argucd that
whilc thc Two Treatises of Government docs scck to justily thc supcrior propcrty
claims ol uropcan scttlcrs, it docs so on agriculturalist and not missionary grounds,
namcly that, whcrcas scttlcrs cultivatc thc land industriously and rcndcr it lruitlul,
nativcs do not.
with thc ncccssarics ol Lilc. Thosc ncccssarics arc givcn thcm, Habita
tions arc grantcd, and thcy all joyn togcthcr, and grow up into onc 8ody
ol Pcoplc. Thc Christian Rcligion by this mcans takcs root in that Coun
trcy, and sprcads it scll, but docs not suddcnly grow thc strongcst. Vhilc
things arc in this condition, Pcacc, Fricndship, Faith, and cqual Justicc,
arc prcscrvcd amongst thcm. At lcngth thc Magistratc bccomcs a Chris
tian, and by that mcans thcir Party bccomcs thc most powcrlul. Thcn
immcdiatcly all Compacts arc to bc brokcn, all Civil Rights to bc violatcd,
that !dolatry may bc cxtirpatcd, And unlcss thcsc innoccnt Pagans, strict
bscrvcrs ol thc Rulcs ol quity and ol thc Law ol Naturc, & no ways
ocnding against thc Laws ol thc Socicty,
98
! say unlcss thcy will lorsakc
thcir ancicnt Rcligion, and cmbracc a ncw and strangc onc, thcy arc to bc
turncd out ol thc Lands and Posscssions ol thcir Forclathcrs, and pcrhaps
dcprivcd ol Lilc it scll. Thcn at last it appcars what Zcal lor thc Church,
joyncd with thc dcsirc ol ominion, is capablc to producc, and how cas
ily thc prctcncc ol Rcligion, and ol thc carc ol Souls, scrvcs lor a Cloak to
Covctousncss, Rapinc, and Ambition.
Now whosocvcr maintains that !dolatry is to bc rootcd out ol any placc
by Laws, Punishmcnts, Firc, and Sword, may apply this Story to himscll.
99

For thc rcason ol thc thing is cqual, both in America and Europe. And nci
thcr Pagans thcrc, nor any isscnting Christians hcrc, can with any right
bc dcprivcd ol thcir worldly Goods, by thc prcdominating Faction ol a
Court Church: nor arc any Civil Rights to bc cithcr changcd or violatcd
upon account ol Rcligion in onc placc morc than anothcr.
!00
<
.
.c.. Lockc hcrc cmbarks on a prool that Christians arc not bound by thc Jcw
ish law that idolatcrs bc killcd (xodus aa:ac a.). Hc may havc lound hclplul John
Spcnccrs De legibus Hebraeorum (.6), which supports thc answcr hc givcs.
.ca. Thomas Aquinas and Richard Hookcr wcrc among thosc who drcw this tri
partitc distinction. Somc hcld that whilc Christians wcrc cxcmpt lrom Jcwish ccr
cmonial law, thcy rcmaincd bound by thc othcr parts. Lockc hcld that Mosaic law
in toto applicd only to thc !sraclitcs.
.c. cutcronomy :..
8ut Idolatry (say somc) is a Sin, and thcrclorc not to bc tolcratcd. !l
thcy said, it wcrc thcrclorc to bc avoidcd, thc !nlcrcncc wcrc good. 8ut it
docs not lollow, that bccausc it is a Sin, it ought thcrclorc to bc punishcd
by thc Magistratc. For it docs not bclong unto thc Magistratc to makc usc
ol his Sword in Punishing cvcry thing, indicrcntly, that hc takcs to bc
a Sin against God. Covctousncss, Uncharitablcncss, !dlcncss, and many
othcr things arc sins, by thc conscnt ol all mcn, which yct no man cvcr
said wcrc to bc punishcd by thc Magistratc. Thc rcason is, bccausc thcy
arc not prcjudicial to othcr mcns Rights, nor do thcy brcak thc publick
Pcacc ol Socictics. Nay, cvcn thc Sins ol Lying, and Pcrjury, arc no whcrc
punishablc by Laws, unlcss in ccrtain cascs in which thc rcal Turpitudc ol
thc thing, and thc cncc against God, arc not considcrcd, but only thc
!njury donc unto mcns Ncighbours, and to thc Commonwcalth. And what
il in anothcr Country, to a Mahumctan, or a Pagan Princc, thc Christian
Rcligion sccm lalsc and ocnsivc to God, may not thc Christians, lor thc
samc rcason, and altcr thc samc manncr, bc cxtirpatcd thcrc:
8ut it may bc urgcd lurthcr, That by the Law of Moscs, Idolaters were to
be rooted out.
!0!
Truc indccd, by thc Law ol Moses: 8ut that is not obligatory
to us Christians. No body prctcnds that cvcry thing, gcncrally, cnjoyncd
by thc Law ol Moses, ought to bc practiscd by Christians. 8ut thcrc is
nothing morc lrivolous than that common distinction ol Moral, Judicial,
and Ccrcmonial Law,
!02
which mcn ordinarily makc usc ol. For no posi
tivc Law, whatsocvcr, can obligc any Pcoplc, but thosc to whom it is givcn.
Hear O Israel;
!01
su cicntly rcstrains thc bligation ol thc Law ol Moses
only to that Pcoplc: And this Considcration alonc is Answcr cnough unto
thosc that urgc thc Authority ol thc Law ol Moses; lor thc inicting ol
Capital Punishmcnts upon !dolatcrs. 8ut howcvcr, ! will cxaminc this
Argumcnt a littlc morc particularly.
a
<
.c. Lockc puts a biblical casc lor tolcration ol strangcr (lorcign) communitics.
Hc sharcs a contcmporary rcason ol statc argumcnt lor tolcration: that it cncour
agcd inward migration and hcncc dcmographic and cconomic growth. !n spitc ol
nglish laws lor conlormity, thcrc was a strong tradition sincc thc Rclormation
ol allowing strangcr communitics ol Hugucnots to havc thcir own indcpcndcnt
worship.
Thc Casc ol !dolatcrs, in rcspcct ol thc Jewish Common wcalth, lalls
undcr a doublc Considcration. Thc rst is, ol thosc, Vho, bcing initiatcd
in thc Mosaical Ritcs, and madc Citizcns ol that Common wcalth, did
altcrwards apostatizc lrom thc Vorship ol thc God ol Israel. Thcsc wcrc
procccdcd against as Traytors and Rcbcls, guilty ol no lcss than High
Trcason. For thc Common wcalth ol thc Jews, dicrcnt in that lrom
all othcrs, was an absolutc Theocracy; nor was thcrc, or could thcrc bc,
any dicrcncc bctwccn that Commonwcalth and thc Church. Thc Laws
cstablishcd thcrc conccrning thc Vorship ol nc !nvisiblc city, wcrc
thc Civil Laws ol that Pcoplc, and a part ol thcir Political Govcrnmcnt,
in which God himscll was thc Lcgislator. Now il any onc can shcw mc
whcrc thcrc is a Commonwcalth, at this timc, constitutcd upon that Foun
dation, ! will acknowlcdg that thc cclcsiastical Laws do thcrc unavoid
ably bccomc a part ol thc Civil, and that thc Subjccts ol that Govcrnmcnt
both may, and ought to bc kcpt in strict conlormity with that Church, by
thc Civil Powcr. 8ut thcrc is absolutcly no such thing, undcr thc Gospcl,
as a Christian Commonwcalth. Thcrc arc, indccd, many Citics and King
doms that havc cmbraccd thc Faith ol Christ, but thcy havc rctaincd thcir
ancicnt Form ol Govcrnmcnt, with which thc Law ol Christ hath not at
all mcdlcd. Hc, indccd, hath taught mcn how, by Faith and good Vorks,
thcy may attain tcrnal Lilc. 8ut hc institutcd no Commonwcalth. Hc
prcscribcd unto his Followcrs no ncw and pcculiar Form ol Govcrnmcnt,
Nor put hc thc Sword into any Magistratcs Hand, with Commission
to makc usc ol it in lorcing mcn to lorsakc thcir lormcr Rcligion, and
rcccivc his.
Secondly, Forcigncrs, and such as wcrc Strangcrs to thc Commonwealth
ol Israel, wcrc not compclld by lorcc to obscrvc thc Ritcs ol thc Mosa-
ical Law. 8ut, on thc contrary, in thc vcry samc placc, whcrc it is ordcrcd,
that an Israelite, that was an Idolater, should be put to death, thcrc it is pro
vidcd, that Strangers should not be vexed nor oppressed, xodus aa:ac a..
!04

<
.c. Numbcrs :c a, cutcronomy ,:., a:.

.c6. Laws ol mpirc: altcrnativcly, right ol dominion ( jus imperii).
.c,. articlcd: altcrnativcly, madc a pact. Joshua a:.
.c. allowed: rcpricvcd.
.c. without: outsidc.
! conlcss, that thc Scvcn Nations, that posscst thc Land which was prom
iscd to thc Israelites, wcrc uttcrly to bc cut o. 8ut this was not singly
bccausc thcy wcrc !dolatcrs. For, il that had bccn thc Rcason, Vhy wcrc
thc Moabites, and othcr Nations to bc sparcd:
!0
No, thc Rcason is this.
God bcing in a pcculiar manncr thc King ol thc Jews, hc could not sul
lcr thc Adoration ol any othcr city, (which was propcrly an Act ol High
Trcason against himscll ) in thc Land ol Canaan, which was his King
dom. For such a manilcst Rcvolt could no ways consist with his omin
ion, which was pcrlcctly Political, in that Country. All !dolatry was thcrc
lorc to bc rootcd out ol thc 8ounds ol his Kingdom, bccausc it was an
acknowlcdgmcnt ol anothcr God, that is to say, anothcr King, against thc
Laws ol mpirc.
!06
Thc !nhabitants wcrc also to bc drivcn out, that thc
cntirc posscssion ol thc Land might bc givcn to thc Israelites. And lor
thc likc Rcason, thc Emims, and thc Horims wcrc drivcn out ol thcir
Countrics, by thc Childrcn ol Esau and Lot; and thcir Lands, upon thc
samc grounds, givcn by God to thc !nvadcrs, cutcronomy a. 8ut though
all !dolatry was thus rootcd out ol thc Land ol Canaan, yct cvcry !dola
tcr was not brought to xccution. Thc wholc Family ol Rahab, thc wholc
Nation ol thc Gibeonites, articlcd
!07
with Joshuah, and wcrc allowcd
!08
by
Trcaty: and thcrc wcrc many Captivcs amongst thc Jews, who wcrc !dola
tcrs. David and Solomon subducd many Countrics without
!09
thc Conncs
ol thc Land ol Promisc, and carricd thcir Conqucsts as lar as Euphrates.
Amongst so many Captivcs takcn, so many Nations rcduccd undcr thcir
bcdicncc, wc nd not onc man lorccd into thc Jcwish Rcligion, and thc
Vorship ol thc Truc God, and punishcd lor !dolatry, though all ol thcm
wcrc ccrtainly guilty ol it. !l any onc indccd, bccoming a Prosclytc, dcsircd
to bc madc a cnison ol thcir Commonwcalth, hc was obligcd to submit
unto thcir Laws, that is, to cmbracc thcir Rcligion. 8ut this hc did will
ingly, on his own accord, not by constraint. Hc did not unwillingly submit,
to shcw his bcdicncc, 8ut hc sought and sollicitcd lor it, as a Privilcgc,
And as soon as hc was admittcd, hc bccamc subjcct to thc Laws ol thc
<
..c. Articlcs ol Rcligion: altcrnativcly, doctrincs ol churchcs.
.... Roman Catholick: altcrnativcly, papist ( ponticius).
Commonwcalth, by which all !dolatry was lorbiddcn within thc 8ordcrs
ol thc Land ol Canaan. 8ut that Law (as ! havc said) did not rcach to
any ol thosc Rcgions, howcvcr subjcctcd unto thc Jews, that wcrc situatcd
without thosc 8ounds.
Thus lar conccrning outward Vorship. Lct us now considcr Articles
of Faith.
Thc Articles ol Rcligion
!!0
arc somc ol thcm Practical, and somc Specu-
lative. Now, tho both sorts consist in thc Knowlcdgc ol Truth, yct thcsc
tcrminatc simply in thc Undcrstanding, Thosc inucncc thc Vill and
Manncrs. Spcculativc pinions, thcrclorc, and Articles of Faith (as thcy
arc callcd) which arc rcquircd only to bc bclicvcd, cannot bc imposcd on
any Church by thc Law ol thc Land. For it is absurd that things should
bc cnjoyncd by Laws, which arc not in mcns powcr to pcrlorm. And to
bclicvc this or that to bc truc, docs not dcpcnd upon our Vill. 8ut ol this
cnough has bccn said alrcady. 8ut (will somc say) lct mcn at lcast prolcss
that thcy bclicvc. A swcct Rcligion indccd, that obligcs mcn to disscmblc,
and tcll Lycs both to God and Man, lor thc Salvation ol thcir Souls! !l
thc Magistratc thinks to savc mcn thus, hc sccms to undcrstand littlc ol
thc way ol Salvation. And il hc docs it not in ordcr to savc thcm, Vhy
is hc so sollicitous about thc Articlcs ol Faith as to cnact thcm by a Law:
Further, Thc Magistratc ought not to lorbid thc Prcaching or Prolcss
ing ol any Spcculativc pinions in any Church, bccausc thcy havc no
manncr ol rclation to thc Civil Rights ol thc Subjccts. !l a Roman Catho-
lick
!!!
bclicvc that to bc rcally thc 8ody ol Christ, which anothcr man
calls 8rcad, hc docs no injury thcrcby to his Ncighbour. !l a Jew do not
bclicvc thc Ncw Tcstamcnt to bc thc Vord ol God, hc docs not thcrcby
altcr any thing in mcns Civil Rights. !l a Hcathcn doubt ol both Tcsta
mcnts, hc is not thcrclorc to bc punishcd as a pcrnicious Citizcn. Thc
Powcr ol thc Magistratc, and thc statcs ol thc Pcoplc, may bc cqually
sccurc, whcthcr any man bclicvc thcsc things or no. ! rcadily grant, that
thcsc pinions arc lalsc and absurd. 8ut thc busincss ol Laws is not to
providc lor thc Truth ol pinions, but lor thc Salcty and Sccurity ol thc
<
..a. A Good Lilc: altcrnativcly, moral rcctitudc (morum rectitudo).

... outward and inward Court: public jurisdiction and privatc conscicncc ( forum
externum and forum internum).
... least: lcst.
Commonwcalth, and ol cvcry particular mans Goods and Pcrson. And
so it ought to bc. For Truth ccrtainly would do wcll cnough, il shc wcrc
oncc lclt to shilt lor hcr Scll. Shc scldom has rcccivcd, and ! lcar ncvcr
will rcccivc, much Assistancc lrom thc Powcr ol Grcat mcn, to whom shc
is but rarcly known, and morc rarcly wclcomc. Shc is not taught by Laws,
nor has shc any nccd ol Forcc to procurc hcr cntrancc into thc minds ol
mcn. rrors indccd prcvail by thc assistancc ol lorrcign and borrowcd
Succours. 8ut il Truth makcs not hcr way into thc Undcrstanding by hcr
own Light, shc will bc but thc wcakcr lor any borrowcd lorcc \iolcncc
can add to hcr. Thus much lor Spcculativc pinions. Lct us now procccd
to Practical oncs.
A Good Life,
!!2
in which consists not thc lcast part ol Rcligion and truc
Picty, conccrns also thc Civil Govcrnmcnt, and in it lics thc salcty both ol
Mcns Souls, and ol thc Commonwcalth. Moral Actions bclong thcrclorc
to thc Jurisdiction both ol thc outward and inward Court,
!!1
both ol thc
Civil and omcstick Govcrnor, ! mcan, both ol thc Magistratc and Con
scicncc. Hcrc thcrclorc is grcat dangcr, lcast
!!4
onc ol thcsc Jurisdictions
intrcnch upon thc othcr, and iscord arisc bctwccn thc Kccpcr ol thc
publick Pcacc, and thc vcrsccrs ol Souls. 8ut il what has bccn alrcady
said conccrning thc Limits ol both thcsc Govcrnmcnts bc rightly consid
crcd, it will casily rcmovc all di culty in this mattcr.
vcry man has an !mmortal Soul, capablc ol tcrnal Happincss or
Miscry, whosc Happincss dcpcnding upon his bclicving and doing thosc
things in this Lilc, which arc ncccssary to thc obtaining ol Gods Favour,
and arc prcscribcd by God to that cnd, it lollows lrom thcncc, .st, That
thc obscrvancc ol thcsc things is thc highcst bligation that lics upon
Mankind, and that our utmost Carc, Application, and iligcncc, ought
to bc cxcrciscd in thc Scarch and Pcrlormancc ol thcm, 8ccausc thcrc
is nothing in this Vorld that is ol any considcration in comparison with
tcrnity. adly, That sccing onc Man docs not violatc thc Right ol anothcr,
by his rroncous pinions, and unduc manncr ol Vorship, nor is his Pcr
6
<
... and ncccssarily givcs anothcr !mploymcnt: addcd by Popplc.
..6. pravity: dcpravity.
..,. thc ncccssity . . . Lilc: altcrnativcly, to protcct thcir posscssions, thcir wcalth
and propcrty, and also thcir libcrty and bodily strcngth, which arc thcir mcans ol
livclihood, thcy arc obligcd to cntcr into socicty with onc anothcr, so that by mutual
assistancc and combincd lorccs cach man may havc sccurc thc privatc posscssion ol
dition any prcjudicc to anothcr Mans Aairs, thcrclorc thc carc ol cach
Mans Salvation bclongs only to himscll. 8ut ! would not havc this undcr
stood, as il ! mcant hcrcby to condcmn all charitablc Admonitions, and
acctionatc ndcavours to rcducc Mcn lrom rrors, which arc indccd
thc grcatcst uty ol a Christian. Any onc may cmploy as many xhor
tations and Argumcnts as hc plcascs, towards thc promoting ol anothcr
mans Salvation. 8ut all Forcc and Compulsion arc to bc lorborn. Noth
ing is to bc donc impcriously. No body is obligcd in that mattcr to yicld
bcdicncc unto thc Admonitions or !njunctions ol anothcr, lurthcr than
hc himscll is pcrswadcd. vcry man, in that, has thc suprcmc and abso
lutc Authority ol judging lor himscll. And thc Rcason is, bccausc no body
clsc is conccrncd in it, nor can rcccivc any prcjudicc lrom his Conduct
thcrcin.
8ut bcsidcs thcir Souls, which arc !mmortal, Mcn havc also thcir Tcm
poral Livcs hcrc upon arth, thc Statc whcrcol bcing lrail and ccting,
and thc duration unccrtain, thcy havc nccd ol scvcral outward Convc
nicnccs to thc support thcrcol, which arc to bc procurcd or prcscrvcd by
Pains and !ndustry. For thosc things that arc ncccssary to thc comlort
ablc support ol our Livcs, arc not thc spontancous Products ol Naturc,
nor do ocr thcmsclvcs t and prcparcd lor our usc. This part thcrclorc
draws on anothcr carc, and ncccssarily givcs anothcr !mploymcnt.
!!
8ut
thc pravity
!!6
ol Mankind bcing such, that thcy had rathcr injuriously prcy
upon thc Fruits ol othcr Mcns Labours, than takc pains to providc lor
thcmsclvcs, thc ncccssity ol prcscrving Mcn in thc Posscssion ol what
honcst industry has alrcady acquircd, and also ol prcscrving thcir Libcrty
and Strcngth, whcrcby thcy may acquirc what thcy lurthcr want, obligcs
Mcn to cntcr into Socicty with onc anothcr, that by mutual Assistancc,
and joint Forcc, thcy may sccurc unto cach othcr thcir Proprictics, in thc
things that contributc to thc Comlort and Happincss ol this Lilc,
!!7
lcav
<
,
thc things that arc usclul lor lilc. This passagc mirrors thc argumcnt ol thc Two
Treatises of Government: c.g., !!, . For Popplcs phrascs honcst industry and
mutual assistancc, scc Two Treatises, !!, ., a. Proprieties: propcrtics (amcndcd
thus in latcr cditions).
... Arms, Richcs, and Multitudc ol Citizcns: thc phrasc rcccts Lockcs intcrcst
in thc prudcnt cnhanccmcnt ol national powcr, a thcmc occasionally glimpscd in
thc Two Treatises of Government: scc !!, a. Hc was cspccially anxious lor dcmo
graphic growth. Scc notc .c, p. a.
... Scc Two Treatises of Government, !!, ..
.ac. Commoditics: altcrnativcly, intcrcsts.
.a.. to what cnd . . . rcgulatcd: altcrnativcly, thc cnds that dctcrminc thc mag
istratcs prcrogativc ol making laws.
ing in thc mcan whilc to cvcry Man thc carc ol his own tcrnal Happi
ncss, thc attainmcnt whcrcol can ncithcr bc lacilitatcd by anothcr Mans
!ndustry, nor can thc loss ol it turn to anothcr Mans Prcjudicc, nor thc
hopc ol it bc lorccd lrom him by any cxtcrnal \iolcncc. 8ut lorasmuch as
Mcn thus cntring into Socictics, groundcd upon thcir mutual Compacts
ol Assistancc, lor thc clcncc ol thcir Tcmporal Goods, may ncvcrthc
lcss bc dcprivcd ol thcm, cithcr by thc Rapinc and Fraud ol thcir Fcllow
Citizcns, or by thc hostilc \iolcncc ol Forrcigncrs, thc Rcmcdy ol this
vil consists in Arms, Richcs, and Multitudc ol Citizcns,
!!8
thc Rcmcdy
ol thc othcr in Laws, and thc Carc ol all things rclating both to thc onc
and thc othcr, is committcd by thc Socicty to thc Civil Magistratc. This is
thc riginal, this is thc Usc, and thcsc arc thc 8ounds ol thc Lcgislativc
(which is thc Suprcmc) Powcr, in cvcry Commonwcalth.
!!9
! mcan, that
Provision may bc madc lor thc Sccurity ol cach Mans privatc Posscssions,
lor thc Pcacc, Richcs, and publick Commoditics
!20
ol thc wholc Pcoplc,
and, as much as possiblc, lor thc !ncrcasc ol thcir inward Strcngth, against
Forrcign !nvasions.
Thcsc things bcing thus cxplaind, it is casic to undcrstand to what cnd
thc Lcgislativc Powcr ought to bc dircctcd, and by what Mcasurcs rcgu
latcd,
!2!
and that is thc Tcmporal Good and outward Prospcrity ol thc
Socicty, which is thc solc Rcason ol Mcns cntring into Socicty, and thc
only thing thcy scck and aim at in it. And it is also cvidcnt what Libcrty
rcmains to Mcn in rclcrcncc to thcir ctcrnal Salvation, and that is, that
cvcry onc should do what hc in his Conscicncc is pcrswadcd to bc acccpt
<
.aa. Fcllow Subjccts: altcrnativcly, citizcns (civibus).
ablc to thc Almighty, on whosc good plcasurc and acccptancc dcpcnds his
ctcrnal Happincss. For bcdicncc is duc in thc rst placc to God, and
altcrwards to thc Laws.
8ut somc may ask, What if the Magistrate should enjoyn any thing by
his Authority that appears unlawful to the Conscience of a private Person? !
answcr, That il Govcrnmcnt bc laithlully administrcd, and thc Counscls
ol thc Magistratc bc indccd dircctcd to thc publick Good, this will scldom
happcn. 8ut il pcrhaps it do so lall out, ! say, that such a privatc Pcrson is
to abstain lrom thc Action that hc judgcs unlawlul, and hc is to undcrgo
thc Punishmcnt, which it is not unlawlul lor him to bcar. For thc privatc
Judgmcnt ol any Pcrson conccrning a Law cnactcd in Political Mattcrs,
lor thc publick Good, docs not takc away thc bligation ol that Law,
nor dcscrvc a ispcnsation. 8ut il thc Law indccd bc conccrning things
that lic not within thc \crgc ol thc Magistratcs Authority, (as lor x
amplc, that thc Pcoplc, or any Party amongst thcm, should bc compclld
to cmbracc a strangc Rcligion, and join in thc Vorship and Ccrcmo
nics ol anothcr Church), mcn arc not in thcsc cascs obligcd by that Law,
against thcir Conscicnccs. For thc Political Socicty is institutcd lor no
othcr cnd but only to sccurc cvcry mans Posscssion ol thc things ol this
lilc. Thc carc ol cach mans Soul, and ol thc things ol Hcavcn, which nci
thcr docs bclong to thc Commonwcalth, nor can bc subjcctcd to it, is lclt
cntircly to cvcry mans scll. Thus thc salcguard ol mcns livcs, and ol thc
things that bclong unto this lilc, is thc busincss ol thc Commonwcalth,
and thc prcscrving ol thosc things unto thcir wncrs is thc uty ol thc
Magistratc. And thcrclorc thc Magistratc cannot takc away thcsc worldly
things lrom this man, or party, and givc thcm to that, nor changc Propri
cty amongst Fcllow Subjccts, (no not cvcn by a Law) lor a causc that has
no rclation to thc cnd ol Civil Govcrnmcnt, ! mcan, lor thcir Rcligion,
which whcthcr it bc truc or lalsc, docs no prcjudicc to thc worldly con
ccrns ol thcir Fcllow Subjccts,
!22
which arc thc things that only bclong
unto thc carc ol thc Commonwcalth.
But what if the Magistrate believe such a Law as this to be for the pub-
lick Good? ! answcr: As thc privatc Judgmcnt ol any particular Pcrson,
<
.a. Scc Two Treatises of Government, !!, a., .6, a..

.a. whcrc thcy scc all laid wastc: altcrnativcly, whcrc thcy scc a dcscrt madc.
Tacitus, Agricola, xxx.: Thcy makc a dcsolation and thcy call it pcacc.
.a. Scc Two Treatises of Government, !!, aca.
.a6. Thc cdition ol thc Letter publishcd at York in ., supprcsscd thc lollowing
lour paragraphs, in ordcr to tonc down Lockcs objcctions against Roman Catholics.
8y that timc public opinion was morc supportivc ol tolcration lor Catholics, which
was lcgislatcd in .,..
il crroncous, docs not cxcmpt him lrom thc obligation ol Law, so thc
privatc Judgmcnt (as ! may call it) ol thc Magistratc docs not givc him
any ncw Right ol imposing Laws upon his Subjccts, which ncithcr was
in thc Constitution ol thc Govcrnmcnt grantcd him, nor cvcr was in thc
powcr ol thc Pcoplc to grant, and lcast ol all, il hc makc it his busincss to
cnrich and advancc his Followcrs and Fcllow scctarics, with thc Spoils ol
othcrs. But what if the Magistrate believe that he has a Right to make such
Laws, and that they are for the publick Good; and his Subjects believe the con-
trary? Who shall be Judge between them? ! answcr, God alonc. For thcrc is
no Judgc upon carth bctwccn thc Suprcmc Magistratc and thc Pcoplc.
!21

God, ! say, is thc only Judgc in this casc, who will rctributc unto cvcry onc
at thc last day according to his cscrts, that is, according to his sinccrity
and uprightncss, in cndcavouring to promotc Picty, and thc publick Vcal
and Pcacc ol Mankind. But what shall be done in the mean while? ! answcr:
Thc principal and chicl carc ol cvcry onc ought to bc ol his own Soul
rst, and in thc ncxt placc ol thc publick Pcacc: tho yct thcrc arc vcry lcw
will think tis Pcacc thcrc, whcrc thcy scc all laid wastc.
!24
Thcrc arc two sorts ol Contcsts amongst Mcn, thc onc managd by
Law, thc othcr by Forcc: and thcsc arc ol that naturc, that whcrc thc onc
cnds, thc othcr always bcgins.
!2
8ut it is not my busincss to inquirc into
thc Powcr ol thc Magistratc in thc dicrcnt Constitutions ol Nations.
! only know what usually happcns whcrc Controvcrsics arisc, without
a Judgc to dctcrminc thcm. You will say thcn thc Magistratc bcing thc
strongcr will havc his Vill, and carry his point. Vithout doubt. 8ut thc
Qucstion is not hcrc conccrning thc doubtlulncss ol thc vcnt, but
thc Rulc ol Right.
!26
8ut to comc to particulars. ! say, First, No pinions contrary to
human Socicty, or to thosc moral Rulcs which arc ncccssary to thc prcscr
c
<
.a,. Protcstants hcld that Catholics bclicvcd that laith nccd not bc kcpt with
hcrctics, in othcr words (to usc a phrasc a lcw lincs carlicr), mcn arc not obligcd
to kccp thcir promisc (il madc to a hcrctic). Thc classically citcd instancc was that
ol Jan Hus, promiscd a salc passagc to thc Council ol Constancc to put his casc,
but thcn arrcstcd and burnt lor hcrcsy (..). !l such doctrinc wcrc indccd Catholic
tcaching, thcn Catholics wcrc radically antinomian.
.a. Protcstants hcld that this doctrinc was lundamcntal to Catholicism and iniq
uitous. Comparc Hobbcs, Leviathan, chap. a (against thc Countcr Rclormation
thcologian Robcrt 8cllarminc). !n .,c Popc Pius \ cxcommunicatcd and dcposcd
Quccn lizabcth. Thc Spanish Armada, and thc Gunpowdcr Plot against hcr suc
ccssor, wcrc Catholic attcmpts to givc ccct to thc papal dcposition. Howcvcr, somc
vation ol Civil Socicty, arc to bc tolcratcd by thc Magistratc. 8ut ol thcsc
indccd xamplcs in any Church arc rarc. For no Scct can casily arrivc to
such a dcgrcc ol madncss, as that it should think t to tcach, lor oc
trincs ol Rcligion, such things as manilcstly undcrminc thc Foundations
ol Socicty, and arc thcrclorc condcmncd by thc Judgmcnt ol all Man
kind: bccausc thcir own !ntcrcst, Pcacc, Rcputation, cvcry Thing, would
bc thcrcby cndangcrcd.
Anothcr morc sccrct vil, but morc dangcrous to thc Commonwcalth,
is, whcn mcn arrogatc to thcmsclvcs, and to thosc ol thcir own Scct, somc
pcculiar Prcrogativc, covcrcd ovcr with a spccious shcw ol dcccitlul words,
but in ccct oppositc to thc Civil Right ol thc Community. For xamplc:
Vc cannot nd any Scct that tcachcs cxprcsly, and opcnly, that Mcn arc
not obligcd to kccp thcir Promisc, that Princcs may bc dcthroncd by thosc
that dicr lrom thcm in Rcligion, or that thc ominion ol all things
bclongs only to thcmsclvcs. For thcsc things, proposcd thus nakcdly and
plainly, would soon draw on thcm thc yc and Hand ol thc Magistratc,
and awakcn all thc carc ol thc Commonwcalth to a watchlulncss against
thc sprcading ol so dangcrous an vil. 8ut ncvcrthclcss, wc nd thosc
that say thc samc things, in othcr words. Vhat clsc do thcy mcan, who
tcach that Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks?
!27
Thcir mcaning, lorsooth,
is that thc privilcdgc ol brcaking Faith bclongs unto thcmsclvcs: For thcy
dcclarc all that arc not ol thcir Communion to bc Hcrcticks, or at lcast
may dcclarc thcm so whcnsocvcr thcy think t. Vhat can bc thc mcan
ing ol thcir asscrting that Kings excommunicated forfeit their Crowns and
Kingdoms?
!28
!t is cvidcnt that thcy thcrcby arrogatc unto thcmsclvcs thc
<
.
Catholics argucd that thc doctrinc was not csscntial to thcir laith. Thc ath ol
Allcgiancc (.6c6) rcquircd thc takcr to swcar that ! do lrom my hcart abhor, dctcst,
and abjurc as impious and hcrctical this damnablc doctrinc and position that princcs
which bc cxcommunicatcd or dcprivcd by thc popc may bc dcposcd or murdcrcd by
thcir subjccts or any othcr whatsocvcr. Popc Sixtus \ cxcommunicatcd Hcnry ol
Navarrc, thc luturc Hcnry !\ ol Francc, and thc Calvinist thcorist Franois Hot
man publishcd a lamous rctort, Brutum Fulmen (.).
.a. challenge: claim.
.c. Scc notc c, p. a.
... of meer Religion: purcly ol rcligion. Notc that Lockc cxcludcs lrom tolcration
thosc who do not thcmsclvcs conccdc thc principlc ol tolcration.
.a. Lockc alludcs to plcas by Catholics that thcy mcrit tolcration bccausc thcy
arc loyal subjccts. Protcstants commonly bclicvcd that this was a rusc, buying timc
until thcy had thc powcr to turn thc tablcs on thcir cncmics. Thc point applicd to
rcligious minoritics gcncrally, who wcrc apt to call lor tolcration whcn thcy wcrc
wcak but dcny it whcn strong. Thus, altcr thc dcstruction ol Anglicanism in thc
Civil Var, thc Anglican Jcrcmy Taylor callcd lor tolcration in his Liberty of Proph-
esying (.6,), and, altcr thc Rcstoration, Prcsbytcrians callcd lor tolcration, whcrcas
in thc .6cs thcy had spokcn lcrociously against thc radical sccts. !n Holland in thc
.6cs thc cxilcd Hugucnot Picrrc Juricu dcnounccd Frcnch Catholic rcprcssion yct
also uphcld Calvinist cocrcivc disciplinc.
Powcr ol dcposing Kings: bccausc thcy challcngc
!29
thc Powcr ol xcom
munication, as thc pcculiar Right ol thcir Hicrarchy. That Dominion is
founded in Grace,
!10
is also an Asscrtion by which thosc that maintain it do
plainly lay claim to thc posscssion ol all things. For thcy arc not so want
ing to thcmsclvcs as not to bclicvc, or at lcast as not to prolcss, thcmsclvcs
to bc thc truly pious and laithlul. Thcsc thcrclorc, and thc likc, who at
tributc unto thc Faithlul, Rcligious and rthodox, that is, in plain tcrms,
unto thcmsclvcs, any pcculiar Privilcdgc or Powcr abovc othcr Mortals, in
Civil Conccrnmcnts, or who, upon prctcncc ol Rcligion, do challcngc any
manncr ol Authority ovcr such as arc not associatcd with thcm in thcir
cclcsiastical Communion, ! say thcsc havc no right to bc tolcratcd by
thc Magistratc, as ncithcr thosc that will not own and tcach thc uty ol
tolcrating All mcn in mattcrs ol mccr Rcligion.
!1!
For what do all thcsc
and thc likc octrincs signic, but that thosc Mcn may, and arc rcady
upon any occasion to scisc thc Govcrnmcnt, and posscss thcmsclvcs ol
thc statcs and Fortuncs ol thcir Fcllow Subjccts, and that thcy only ask
lcavc to bc tolcratcd by thc Magistratc so long, until thcy nd thcmsclvcs
strong cnough to ccct it:
!12
a
<
.. Protcction: altcrnativcly, allcgiancc (obedientiam). Scc Two Treatises of
Government, !!, a.,.
.. !t was lashionablc among nglish Catholics to distinguish bctwccn thc
Church and thc Court ol Romc, in an cort to show that modcratc Catholicism
could bc dctachcd lrom thc aggrandizing politics ol thc papacy and thc Jcsuits.
.. !t is unclcar whcthcr thc lollowing discussion ol Mahumctans is to bc
takcn litcrally, or as an allcgory lor Catholicism, or both.
.6. Mufti: a Muslim tcachcr, but hcrc spccically thc Grand Multi, thc hcad ol
thc rcligion ol thc ttoman statc.
.,. 8ut this . . . Statc: altcrnativcly, 8ut this Turk among Christians would
cvcn morc obviously rcpudiatc Christian govcrnmcnt il hc acknowlcdgcd thc samc
pcrson to bc thc hcad ol his church and also thc suprcmc magistratc. Notc thc con
ditional if. As in thc casc ol Catholics, Muslims could bc good citizcns providcd
thcy did not hold such a doctrinc.
Again; That Church can havc no right to bc tolcratcd by thc Magis
tratc, which is constitutcd upon such a bottom, that all thosc who cntcr
into it, do thcrcby, ipso facto, dclivcr thcmsclvcs up to thc Protcction
!11
and
Scrvicc ol anothcr Princc. For by this mcans thc Magistratc would givc
way to thc scttling ol a lorcign Jurisdiction in his own Country, and sucr
his own Pcoplc to bc listcd, as it wcrc, lor Soldicrs against his own Gov
crnmcnt. Nor docs thc lrivolous and lallacious distinction bctwccn thc
Court and thc Church
!14
aord any rcmcdy to this !nconvcnicncc, cspc
cially whcn both thc onc and thc othcr arc cqually subjcct to thc absolutc
Authority ol thc samc Pcrson, who has not only powcr to pcrswadc thc
Mcmbcrs ol his Church to whatsocvcr hc lists, (cithcr as purcly Rcligious,
or as in ordcr thcrcunto) but can also cnjoyn it thcm on pain ol tcrnal
Firc. !t is ridiculous lor any onc to prolcss himscll to bc a Mahumetan
!1

only in his Rcligion, but in cvcry thing clsc a laithlul Subjcct to a Chris
tian Magistratc, whilst at thc samc timc hc acknowlcdgcs himscll bound
to yicld blind obcdicncc to thc Mufti
!16
ol Constantinople; who himscll
is intircly obcdicnt to thc Ottoman mpcror, and lramcs thc lcigncd
raclcs ol that Rcligion according to his plcasurc. 8ut this Mahumctan liv
ing amongst Christians, would yct morc apparcntly rcnouncc thcir Gov
crnmcnt, il hc acknowlcdgcd thc samc Pcrson to bc Hcad ol his Church
who is thc Suprcmc Magistratc in thc Statc.
!17
Lastly, Thosc arc not at all to bc tolcratcd who deny the Being of a
God. Promiscs, Covcnants, and aths, which arc thc 8onds ol Humanc
<
.. Lockc holds that athcists arc antinomians. His contcmporarics 8aruch Spi
noza and Picrrc 8aylc did not sharc his vicw that athcists wcrc intolcrablc.
.. thcrc can . . . tolcratcd: altcrnativcly, thcrc can bc no rcason why thc
churchcs in which thcy arc taught should not bc tolcratcd. Popplc givcs a morc
individualist twist to thc scntimcnt. Scc notc .., bclow.
.c. Conventicles: a tcrm givcn widc currcncy by thc Convcnticlc Acts (.66,
.6,c), which madc any gathcring ol vc or morc pcoplc, othcr than a lamily, lor
non Anglican worship a criminal ocnsc. That convcnticlcs wcrc Nurscrics ol Fac
tions and Scditions was common parlancc in Anglican polcmic. Lockcs admission
that somc sccts might indccd havc bccn scditious cchocs his own carlicr vicw in his
antitolcrationist Tracts, but is ncgatcd by his lollowing rcmark that it is only opprcs
sion that makcs disscntcrs scditious. Popplcs convcnticlcs adds topical pcrtincncc:
Lockc has asscmblics (coetibus).
... and tcach that Libcrty ol Conscicncc is cvcry mans natural Right: Lockc
has only thc principlc ol tolcration lor othcrs, whcrc othcrs rclcrs to othcr
churchcs. Thcrc is no mcntion ol natural right, so Popplc turns Lockcs claim
about churchcs into a claim about individual conscicncc.
Socicty, can havc no hold upon an Athcist.
!18
Thc taking away ol God,
though but cvcn in thought, dissolvcs all. 8csidcs also, thosc that by thcir
Athcism undcrminc and dcstroy all Rcligion, can havc no prctcncc ol
Rcligion whcrcupon to challcngc thc Privilcgc ol a Tolcration. As lor
othcr Practical pinions, though not absolutcly lrcc lrom all rror, yct il
thcy do not tcnd to cstablish omination ovcr othcrs, or Civil !mpunity
to thc Church in which thcy arc taught, thcrc can bc no Rcason why thcy
should not bc tolcratcd.
!19
!t rcmains that ! say somcthing conccrning thosc Asscmblics, which
bcing vulgarly callcd, and pcrhaps having somctimcs bccn Conventicles,
!40

and Nurscrics ol Factions and Scditions, arc thought to aord thc stron
gcst mattcr ol bjcction against this octrinc ol Tolcration. 8ut this has
not hapncd by any thing pcculiar unto thc Gcnius ol such Asscmblics,
but by thc unhappy Circumstanccs ol an opprcsscd or ill sctlcd Libcrty.
Thcsc Accusations would soon ccasc, il thc Law ol Tolcration wcrc oncc
so sctlcd, that all Churchcs wcrc obligcd to lay down Tolcration as thc
Foundation ol thcir own Libcrty, and tcach that Libcrty ol Conscicncc is
cvcry mans natural Right,
!4!
cqually bclonging to isscntcrs as to thcm
sclvcs, and that no body ought to bc compcllcd in mattcrs ol Rcligion,
cithcr by Law or Forcc. Thc stablishmcnt ol this onc thing would takc
away all ground ol Complaints and Tumults upon account ol Conscicncc.
<
.a. Thc principal nglish law courts sat in Vcstminstcr Hall, which was con
stantly throngcd with pcoplc.
.. Exchange: thc Royal xchangc in London, or any othcr public markctplacc.
Lockc has corporations or guilds (collegiis).
.. Thc Tolcration Act rcquircd all placcs ol worship to bc unlockcd during
rcligious scrviccs.
.. Popplc omits: lor corporations and thc likc arc not.
And thcsc Causcs ol iscontcnts and Animositics bcing oncc rcmovcd,
thcrc would rcmain nothing in thcsc Asscmblics that wcrc not morc
pcaccablc, and lcss apt to producc isturbancc ol Statc, than in any othcr
Mcctings whatsocvcr. 8ut lct us cxaminc particularly thc Hcads ol thcsc
Accusations.
Youll say, That Assemblies and Meetings endanger the Publick Peace,
and threaten the Commonwealth. ! answcr: !l this bc so, Vhy arc thcrc
daily such numcrous Mcctings in Markcts, and Courts ol Judicaturc:
!42

Vhy arc Crowds upon thc xchangc,
!41
and a Concoursc ol Pcoplc in
Citics sucrcd: Youll rcply, Thcsc arc Civil Asscmblics, but Thosc that
wc objcct against arc cclcsiastical. ! answcr: Tis a likcly thing indccd,
that such Asscmblics as arc altogcthcr rcmotc lrom Civil Aairs, should
bc most apt to cmbroyl thcm. , but Civil Asscmblics arc composcd ol
mcn that dicr lrom onc anothcr in mattcrs ol Rcligion, but thcsc cclc
siastical Mcctings arc ol Pcrsons that arc all ol onc pinion. As il an
Agrccmcnt in mattcrs ol Rcligion, wcrc in ccct a Conspiracy against thc
Commonwcalth, or as il mcn would not bc so much thc morc warmly
unanimous in Rcligion, thc lcss libcrty thcy had ol Asscmbling. 8ut it
will bc urgcd still, That Civil Asscmblics arc opcn, and lrcc lor any onc to
cntcr into, whcrcas Rcligious Convcnticlcs arc morc privatc, and thcrcby
givc opportunity to Clandcstinc Machinations.
!44
! answcr, That this is not
strictly truc: For many Civil Asscmblics arc not opcn to cvcry onc.
!4
And
il somc Rcligious Mcctings bc privatc, Vho arc thcy (! bcsccch you) that
arc to bc blamcd lor it: thosc that dcsirc, or thosc that lorbid thcir bcing
publick: Again, Youll say, That Rcligious Communion docs cxcccdingly
unitc mcns Minds and Acctions to onc anothcr, and is thcrclorc thc
morc dangcrous. 8ut il this bc so, Vhy is not thc Magistratc alraid ol his
own Church, and why docs hc not lorbid thcir Asscmblics, as things dan
<
.6. Gallics: altcrnativcly slavc prisons (ergastulum). Anothcr allusion to thc

Frcnch pcrsccution ol thc Hugucnots, thousands ol whom wcrc scnt to thc gallcys.
.,. that makc . . . thcmsclvcs: addcd by Popplc.
.. 8ut pprcssion . . . Yokc: altcrnativcly, but whcn mcn arc opprcsscd by
injusticc and tyranny thcy arc always rccalcitrant (semper reluctabuntur). Popplcs
strugglc to cast o sccms strongcr.
gcrous to his Govcrnmcnt: Youll say, 8ccausc hc himscll is a Part, and
cvcn thc Hcad ol thcm. As il hc wcrc not also a Part ol thc Common
wcalth, and thc Hcad ol thc wholc Pcoplc.
Lct us thcrclorc dcal plainly. Thc Magistratc is alraid ol othcr
Churchcs, but not ol his own, bccausc hc is kind and lavourablc to thc
onc, but scvcrc and crucl to thc othcr. Thcsc hc trcats likc Childrcn, and
indulgcs thcm cvcn to Vantonncss: Thosc hc uscs as Slavcs, and how
blamclcsly socvcr thcy dcmcan thcmsclvcs, rccompcnscs thcm no othcr
wisc than by Gallics,
!46
Prisons, Conscations, and cath. Thcsc hc chcr
ishcs and dclcnds: Thosc hc continually scourgcs and opprcsscs. Lct
him turn thc Tablcs: r lct thosc isscntcrs cnjoy but thc samc Priv
ilcdgcs in Civils as his othcr Subjccts, and hc will quickly nd that thcsc
Rcligious Mcctings will bc no longcr dangcrous. For il mcn cntcr into
Scditious Conspiracics, tis not Rcligion that inspircs thcm to it in thcir
Mcctings, but thcir Sucrings and pprcssions that makc thcm willing
to casc thcmsclvcs.
!47
Just and Modcratc Govcrnmcnts arc cvcry whcrc
quict, cvcry whcrc salc. 8ut pprcssion raiscs Fcrmcnts, and makcs Mcn
strugglc to cast o an uncasic and tyrannical Yokc.
!48
! know that Scdi
tions arc vcry lrcqucntly raiscd, upon prctcncc ol Rcligion. 8ut tis as truc
that, lor Rcligion, Subjccts arc lrcqucntly ill trcatcd, and livc miscrably.
8clicvc mc, thc Stirs that arc madc procccd not lrom any pcculiar Tcmpcr
ol this or that Church or Rcligious Socicty, but lrom thc common is
position ol all Mankind, who whcn thcy groan undcr any hcavy 8urthcn,
cndcavour naturally to shakc o thc Yokc that galls thcir Nccks. Supposc
this 8usincss ol Rcligion wcrc lct alonc, and that thcrc wcrc somc othcr
istinction madc bctwccn mcn and mcn, upon account ol thcir dicrcnt
Complcxions, Shapcs, and Fcaturcs, so that thosc who havc black Hair
(lor cxamplc) or gray ycs, should not cnjoy thc samc Privilcgcs as othcr
6
<
.. Lockc has in mind Frcnch cdicts against Hugucnots.
.c. thcrs, lor want ol 8usincss, havc thcir Clubs lor Clarrct: Popplcs most
striking cxtrapolation ol Lockcs tcxt, which has othcrs, who arc at lcisurc, lor
amuscmcnt (alios ad hilaritatem otium). Popplc had bccn a tradcr in clarct. Hc had
pcrhaps rcad dward Vhitakcrs Argument for Toleration (.6.), which rcmarks that
! scc no causc ol lcaring any grcatcr inconvcnicncc in thcm |sccts|, to thc church,
or to thc statc, than is in so many scvcral clubs ol lricndship, or companics ol tradc
(p. .). Richard 8axtcr objcctcd to dcnitions ol a church that cquatcd it with a
ship, a company ol Christian mcrchants, or corporation (Answer to Stillingeet, .6.,
p. 6). Altcr Clarrct, Popplc omits: somc mcct lor social intcrcoursc bccausc thcy
livc in thc samc city.
... Popplc omits: and thc disastcr that has lallcn on our cstatc. Livy, History,
xxxix...
.a. Markct: altcrnativcly, racccoursc (circo).
Citizcns, that thcy should not bc pcrmittcd cithcr to buy or scll, or livc by
thcir Callings, that Parcnts should not havc thc Govcrnmcnt and du
cation ol thcir own Childrcn,
!49
that thcy should cithcr bc cxcludcd lrom
thc 8cnct ol thc Laws, or mcct with partial Judgcs, can it bc doubtcd
but thcsc Pcrsons, thus distinguishcd lrom othcrs by thc Colour ol thcir
Hair and ycs, and unitcd togcthcr by onc common Pcrsccution, would
bc as dangcrous to thc Magistratc, as any othcrs that had associatcd
thcmsclvcs mccrly upon thc account ol Rcligion. Somc cntcr into Com
pany lor Tradc and Prot: thcrs, lor want ol 8usincss, havc thcir Clubs
lor Clarrct:
!0
Ncighbourhood joyns somc, and Rcligion othcrs. 8ut thcrc
is onc only thing which gathcrs Pcoplc into Scditious Commotions, and
that is pprcssion.
Youll say, Vhat, will you havc Pcoplc to mcct at ivinc Scrvicc
against the Magistrates Will? ! answcr, Vhy, ! pray, against his Vill: !s it
not both lawlul and ncccssary that thcy should mcct: Against his Vill, do
you say: Thats what ! complain ol. That is thc vcry Root ol all thc Mis
chicl.
!!
Vhy arc Asscmblics lcss sucrablc in a Church than in a Thcatcr
or Markct:
!2
Thosc that mcct thcrc arc not cithcr morc vicious, or morc
turbulcnt, than thosc that mcct clscwhcrc. Thc 8usincss in that is, that
thcy arc ill uscd, and thcrclorc thcy arc not to bc sucrcd. Takc away thc
Partiality that is uscd towards thcm in mattcrs ol common Right, changc
thc Laws, takc away thc Pcnaltics unto which thcy arc subjcctcd, and all
<
,
.. A rcason ol statc argumcnt that a numbcr ol protolcration writcrs uscd: a
plurality ol dcnominations will tcnd to act as mutual chccks and balanccs.
things will immcdiatcly bccomc salc and pcaccablc. Nay, thosc that arc
avcrsc to thc Rcligion ol thc Magistratc, will think thcmsclvcs so much
thc morc bound to maintain thc Pcacc ol thc Commonwcalth, as thcir
Condition is bcttcr in that placc than clscwhcrc, And all thc scvcral scpa
ratc Congrcgations, likc so many Guardians ol thc Publick Pcacc, will
watch onc anothcr,
!1
that nothing may bc innovatcd or changcd in thc
Form ol thc Govcrnmcnt: 8ccausc thcy can hopc lor nothing bcttcr than
what thcy alrcady cnjoy, that is, an cqual Condition with thcir Fcllow
Subjccts, undcr a just and modcratc Govcrnmcnt. Now il that Church,
which agrccs in Rcligion with thc Princc, bc cstccmcd thc chicl Support
ol any Civil Govcrnmcnt, and that lor no othcr Rcason (as has alrcady
bccn shcwn) than bccausc thc Princc is kind, and thc Laws arc lavour
ablc to it, how much grcatcr will bc thc Sccurity ol a Govcrnmcnt, whcrc
all good Subjccts, ol whatsocvcr Church thcy bc, without any istinction
upon account ol Rcligion, cnjoying thc samc Favour ol thc Princc, and
thc samc 8cnct ol thc Laws, shall bccomc thc common Support and
Guard ol it, and whcrc nonc will havc any occasion to lcar thc Scvcrity
ol thc Laws, but thosc that do !njurics to thcir Ncighbours, and ocnd
against thc Civil Pcacc:
That wc may draw towards a Conclusion. Thc Sum of all wc drivc at
is, That every Man may enjoy the same Rights that are granted to others. !s
it pcrmittcd to worship God in thc Roman manncr: Lct it bc pcrmittcd
to do it in thc Geneva Form also. !s it pcrmittcd to spcak Latin in thc
Markct placc: Lct thosc that havc a mind to it, bc pcrmittcd to do it also
in thc Church. !s it lawlul lor any man in his own Housc, to knccl, stand,
sit, or usc any othcr Posturc, and to cloath himscll in Vhitc or 8lack, in
short or in long Garmcnts: Lct it not bc madc unlawlul to cat 8rcad,
drink Vinc, or wash with Vatcr, in thc Church. !n a Vord: Vhatsocvcr
things arc lclt lrcc by Law in thc common occasions ol Lilc, lct thcm
rcmain lrcc unto cvcry Church in ivinc Vorship. Lct no Mans Lilc,
or 8ody, or Housc, or statc, sucr any manncr ol Prcjudicc upon thcsc
Accounts. Can you allow ol thc Presbyterian isciplinc: Vhy should not
<
.. uring thc Civil Vars ol thc .6cs, cpiscopacy was dcstroycd and Prcs
bytcrianism cstablishcd in ngland. A ncw lorm ol Prcsbytcrian dominion was
again cstablishcd in .6, this timc in Scotland. Vhcrcas thc nglish Tolcration
Act allowcd lrccdom ol worship to non Anglicans, thc Scottish parliamcnt in .6
cstablishcd a Prcsbytcrian national church that dcnicd tolcration to piscopalians.
!n Holland, Luthcrans, who had a lorm ol cpiscopacy, wcrc scarccly tolcratcd. Lockc
again shows his hostility to Calvinism.
.. Popplc omits: !l a scrmon in church contains anything scditious, it should
bc punishcd in thc samc way as il it had bccn prcachcd in thc markct placc.
.6. Flagitious: vicious.
.,. This list is Popplcs anglicization ol Lockcs dicrcnt list: Rcmonstrants,
thc Episcopal also havc what thcy likc:
!4
cclcsiastical Authority, whcthcr
it bc administrcd by thc Hands ol a singlc Pcrson, or many, is cvcry whcrc
thc samc, and ncithcr has any Jurisdiction in things Civil, nor any man
ncr ol Powcr ol Compulsion, nor any thing at all to do with Richcs and
Rcvcnucs.
cclcsiastical Asscmblics, and Scrmons, arc justicd by daily cxpcri
cncc, and publick Allowancc. Thcsc arc allowcd to Pcoplc ol somc onc
Pcrswasion: Vhy not to all: !l any thing pass in a Rcligious Mccting
scditiously, and contrary to thc Publick Pcacc, it is to bc punishcd in thc
samc manncr, and no othcrwisc, than as il it had happcncd in a Fair or
Markct.
!
Thcsc Mcctings ought not to bc Sanctuarics lor Factious and
Flagitious
!6
Fcllows, Nor ought it to bc lcss lawlul lor Mcn to mcct in
Churchcs than in Halls, Nor arc onc part ol thc Subjccts to bc cstccmcd
morc blamcablc, lor thcir mccting togcthcr, than othcrs. vcry onc is to
bc accountablc lor his own Actions, and no man is to bc laid undcr a
Suspicion, or dium, lor thc Fault ol anothcr. Thosc that arc Scditious,
Murdcrcrs, Thicvcs, Robbcrs, Adultcrcrs, Slandcrcrs, &c. ol whatsocvcr
Church, whcthcr National, or not, ought to bc punishcd and supprcsscd.
8ut thosc whosc octrinc is pcaccablc, and whosc Manncrs arc purc and
blamclcss, ought to bc upon cqual Tcrms with thcir Fcllow Subjccts. Thus
il Solcmn Asscmblics, bscrvations ol Fcstivals, Publick Vorship, bc pcr
mittcd to any onc sort ol Prolcssors, all thcsc things ought to bc pcrmit
tcd to thc Presbyterians, Independents, Anabaptists, Arminians, Quakers,
!7

and othcrs, with thc samc libcrty. Nay il wc may opcnly spcak thc Truth
and as bccomcs onc Man to anothcr, ncithcr Pagan, nor Mahumetan,
<
Anti Rcmonstrants, Luthcrans, Anabaptists, or Socinians. Anabaptists (oltcn syn

onymous with 8aptists): thosc who rcjcctcd inlant baptism. Popplcs dclction ol
Socinians suggcsts that his chicl objcction to thc Tolcration Act was its maintain
ing civil disabilitics on disscntcrs rathcr than its thcological stricturc against anti
Trinitarianism. Thc Frcnch cdition ol .,.c rcstorcd Lockcs original list.
.. Lockcs tolcration ol Jcws, Muslims, and othcrs is catcgorical, though in
thc Second Letter hc statcs that hc hopcs lor thcir convcrsion. Much contcmporary
Christian philoscmitism was groundcd in apocalyptic aspiration lor convcrsion.
.. indulgcs: altcrnativcly, lavours. Thc mcaning hcrc is a church cstablishcd
or activcly supportcd by thc statc.
nor Jew, ought to bc cxcludcd lrom thc Civil Rights ol thc Common
wcalth, bccausc ol his Rcligion.
!8
Thc Gospcl commands no such thing.
Thc Church, which judges not those that are without, . Corinthians :.a .,
wants it not. And thc Commonwcalth, which cmbraccs indicrcntly all
mcn that arc honcst, pcaccablc, and industrious, rcquircs it not. Shall wc
sucr a Pagan to dcal and tradc with us, and shall wc not sucr him to
pray unto, and worship God: !l wc allow thc Jews to havc privatc Houscs
and wcllings amongst us, Vhy should wc not allow thcm to havc Syna
gogucs: !s thcir octrinc morc lalsc, thcir Vorship morc abominablc,
or is thc Civil Pcacc morc cndangcrcd, by thcir mccting in publick, than
in thcir privatc Houscs: 8ut il thcsc things may bc grantcd to Jews and
Pagans, surcly thc condition ol any Christians ought not to bc worsc than
thcirs in a Christian Commonwcalth.
Youll say, pcrhaps, Ycs, it ought to bc: 8ccausc thcy arc morc inclin
ablc to Factions, Tumults, and Civil Vars. ! answcr: !s this thc lault ol thc
Christian Rcligion: !l it bc so, truly thc Christian Rcligion is thc worst
ol all Rcligions, and ought ncithcr to bc cmbraccd by any particular Pcr
son, nor tolcratcd by any Commonwcalth. For il this bc thc Gcnius, this
thc Naturc ol thc Christian Rcligion, to bc turbulcnt, and dcstructivc to
thc Civil Pcacc, that Church it scll which thc Magistratc indulgcs
!9
will
not always bc innoccnt. 8ut lar bc it lrom us to say any such thing ol that
Rcligion, which carrics thc grcatcst opposition to Covctousncss, Ambi
tion, iscord, Contcntion, and all manncr ol inordinatc csircs, and is
thc most modcst and pcaccablc Rcligion that cvcr was. Vc must thcrc
lorc scck anothcr Causc ol thosc vils that arc chargcd upon Rcligion.
And il wc considcr right, wc shall nd it to consist wholly in thc Subjcct
6c
<
.6c. thc crcdulous Supcrstition ol thc giddy Multitudc: altcrnativcly, thc cmpty
hcadcd pcoplc arc always supcrstitious (populum superstitione semper vanum).
.6.. Lockc may havc in mind thc gangs ol inlormcrs who, undcr thc Convcnticlc
Act, pockctcd ncs lrom disscntcrs whom thcy handcd ovcr to thc authoritics. Scc
Two Treatises of Government, !!, .6, .,, aa.
.6a. Lockcs most lorcclul asscrtion ol a right ol armcd rcsistancc against rcli
gious opprcssion. Popplc has natural Rights, Lockc has rights which God and
naturc havc grantcd him ( jura sibi a Deo et natura concessa).
that ! am trcating ol. !t is not thc ivcrsity ol pinions, (which cannot
bc avoidcd) but thc Rclusal ol Tolcration to thosc that arc ol dicrcnt
pinions, (which might havc bccn grantcd) that has produccd all thc
8ustlcs and Vars that havc bccn in thc Christian Vorld, upon account
ol Rcligion. Thc Hcads and Lcadcrs ol thc Church, movcd by Avaricc
and insatiablc dcsirc ol ominion, making usc ol thc immodcratc Ambi
tion ol Magistratcs, and thc crcdulous Supcrstition ol thc giddy Multi
tudc,
!60
havc inccnscd and animatcd thcm against thosc that disscnt lrom
thcmsclvcs, by prcaching unto thcm, contrary to thc Laws ol thc Gospcl,
and to thc Prcccpts ol Charity, That Schismaticks and Hcrcticks arc to
bc outcd ol thcir Posscssions, and dcstroycd. And thus havc thcy mixcd
togcthcr, and conloundcd two things that arc in thcmsclvcs most dil
lcrcnt, thc Church and thc Commonwcalth. Now as it is vcry di cult
lor mcn paticntly to sucr thcmsclvcs to bc stript ol thc Goods, which
thcy havc got by thcir honcst !ndustry, and contrary to all thc Laws ol
quity, both Humanc and ivinc, to bc dclivcrcd up lor a Prcy to othcr
mcns \iolcncc and Rapinc,
!6!
cspccially whcn thcy arc othcrwisc alto
gcthcr blamclcss, and that thc ccasion lor which thcy arc thus trcatcd,
docs not at all bclong to thc Jurisdiction ol thc Magistratc, but cntircly to
thc Conscicncc ol cvcry particular man, lor thc Conduct ol which hc is
acountablc to God only, Vhat clsc can bc cxpcctcd, but that thcsc mcn,
growing wcary ol thc vils undcr which thcy labour, should in thc cnd
think it lawlul lor thcm to rcsist Forcc with Forcc, and to dclcnd thcir
natural Rights (which arc not lorlcitablc upon account ol Rcligion) with
Arms as wcll as thcy can:
!62
That this has bccn hithcrto thc ordinary
coursc ol things, is abundantly cvidcnt in History: and that it will con
tinuc to bc so hcrcaltcr, is but too apparcnt in Rcason. !t cannot indccd
bc othcrwisc, so long as thc Principlc ol Pcrsccution lor Rcligion shall
<
6.
.6. !t was a common anticlcrical claim that church and statc, clcrgy and princc,
mutually conspircd to support cach othcrs aggrandizcmcnt. Thc Letter to a Person of
Quality (.6,), which Lockc probably had a hand in composing, dcnounccd a rcgimc
in which pricst and princc may, likc Castor and Pollux, bc worshippcd togcthcr as
divinc in thc samc tcmplc by us poor lay subjccts. Thc phrasc Flattcring thc ambi
tion, and lavouring thc dominion ol princcs is an allusion to thc doctrinc ol thc
divinc right ol kings, prcachcd by thc church as a quid pro quo lor rccciving cocrcivc
powcr ovcr rcligious disscntcrs. Scc Two Treatises of Government, !, .
.6. Pudct hacc opprobria nobis / t dici potuissc ct non potuissc rclclli (! am
ashamcd to say somcthing so scandalous and yct which could not bc answcrcd).
vid, Metamorphoses, i., .
prcvail, as it has donc hithcrto, with Magistratc and Pcoplc, and so long
as thosc that ought to bc thc Prcachcrs ol Pcacc and Concord, shall con
tinuc, with all thcir Art and Strcngth, to cxcitc mcn to Arms, and sound
thc Trumpct ol Var. 8ut that Magistratcs should thus sucr thcsc !nccn
diarics, and isturbcrs ol thc Publick Pcacc, might justly bc wondrcd at,
il it did not appcar that thcy havc bccn invitcd by thcm unto a Partici
pation ol thc Spoil, and havc thcrclorc thought t to makc usc ol thcir
Covctousncss and Pridc, as Mcans whcrcby to incrcasc thcir own Powcr.
For who docs not scc that these Good Men arc indccd morc Ministcrs ol
thc Govcrnmcnt, than Ministcrs ol thc Gospcl, and that by attcring thc
Ambition, and lavouring thc ominion ol Princcs and Mcn in Author
ity, thcy cndcavour with all thcir might to promotc that Tyranny in thc
Commonwcalth, which othcrwisc thcy should not bc ablc to cstablish in
thc Church:
!61
This is thc unhappy Agrccmcnt that wc scc bctwccn thc
Church and Statc. Vhcrcas il cach ol thcm would contain it scll within its
own 8ounds, thc onc attcnding to thc worldly wcllarc ol thc Common
wcalth, thc othcr to thc Salvation ol Souls, it is impossiblc that any is
cord should cvcr havc happcncd bctwccn thcm. Sed, pudet haec opprobria,
&c.
!64
God Almighty grant, ! bcsccch him, that thc Gospcl ol Pcacc may
at lcngth bc Prcachcd, and that Civil Magistratcs growing morc carclul
to conlorm thcir own Conscicnccs to thc Law ol God, and lcss solicitous
about thc binding ol othcr mcns Conscicnccs by Humanc Laws, may, likc
Fathcrs ol thcir Countrcy, dircct all thcir Counscls and ndcavours to
promotc univcrsally thc Civil Vcllarc ol all thcir Childrcn, cxccpt only ol
such as arc arrogant, ungovcrnablc, and injurious to thcir 8rcthrcn, and
that all cclcsiastical mcn, who boast thcmsclvcs to bc thc Succcssors ol
6a
<
thc Apostlcs, walking pcaccably and modcstly in thc Apostlcs stcps, with
out intcrmcdling with Statc Aairs, may apply thcmsclvcs wholly to pro
motc thc Salvation ol Souls.
Farewel.
6
vos:scviv:
!6
Pcrhaps it may not bc amiss to add a lcw things conccrning Heresie and
Schism.
!66
A Turk
!67
is not, nor can bc, cithcr Hcrctick, or Schismatick to a
Christian: and il any man lall o lrom thc Christian Faith to Mahumetism,
hc docs not thcrcby bccomc a Hcrctick or Schismatick, but an Apostatc,
and an !ndcl. This no body doubts ol. And by this it appcars that mcn ol
dicrcnt Rcligions cannot bc Hcrcticks or Schismaticks to onc anothcr.
Vc arc to cnquirc thcrclorc, what mcn arc ol thc samc Rcligion. Con
ccrning which, it is manilcst that thosc who havc onc and thc samc Rulc
ol Faith and Vorship, arc ol thc samc Rcligion, and thosc who havc not
thc samc Rulc ol Faith and Vorship, arc ol dicrcnt Rcligions. For sincc
all things that bclong unto that Rcligion, arc containcd in that Rulc, it
.6. Thc hcading docs not occur in thc rst cdition. Thc postscript was pcrhaps
writtcn at a latcr timc than thc main body ol thc work. !t was probably intcndcd to
havc spccial pcrtincncc to thc utch Arminians, undcr prcssurc lrom Calvinists.
.66. Thcrc was an ancicnt distinction bctwccn hcrcsy and schism, thc lormcr
bcing a dcviation in thcological doctrinc and thc lattcr in ccclcsiastical disciplinc.
!n Lockcs timc, somc disscntcrs, though schismatics in Anglican cycs, dcnounccd
Anglicans lor hcrcsy bccausc thcy abandoncd thc Calvinist doctrinc ol prcdcsti
nation. Convcrscly, somc conlorming Anglicans wcrc hcrctical in thcir unitarian
vicws, yct wcrc unintcrcstcd in thc ccrcmonial and jurisdictional issucs which drovc
disscntcrs into schismatic scparation. Again, howcvcr, Lockcs postscript probably
has in mind divisions in thc utch church.
.6,. Turk: Muslim.
6
<
.6. Thc rulc ol rcligion, and traditions: Thcologians dcbatcd thc Rulc ol
Faith: Protcstants hcld that Scripturc alonc was thc Rulc ol Faith, and chargcd
Catholics with corruptly augmcnting Scripturc with tradition, cmbodicd in thco
logical writings and thc dccrccs ol popcs and councils. Catholics rctortcd that Prot
cstants wcrc hcrmcncutically naivc, sincc no tcxt can bc lrcc ol thc nccd lor intcr
prctation, and such intcrprctation cithcr has a cohcrcnt tradition or is an anarchy ol
privatc, unscholarly judgmcnt.
.6. the Christians of St. John: thc Catholic ordcr ol thc Knights ol St. John ol
Malta.
lollows ncccssarily, that thosc who agrcc in onc Rulc, arc ol onc and thc
samc Rcligion: and vice vers. Thus Turks and Christians arc ol dicrcnt
Rcligions, bccausc thcsc takc thc Holy Scriptures to bc thc Rulc ol thcir
Rcligion, and thosc thc Alcoran. And lor thc samc rcason, thcrc may bc
dicrcnt Rcligions also cvcn amongst Christians. Thc Papists and thc
Lutherans, though both ol thcm prolcss Faith in Christ, and arc thcrclorc
callcd Christians, yct arc not both ol thc samc Rcligion, bccausc Thcsc
acknowlcdgc nothing but thc Holy Scriptures to bc thc Rulc and Founda
tion ol thcir Rcligion, Thosc takc in also Traditions
!68
and thc ccrccs
ol Popcs, and ol all thcsc togcthcr makc thc Rulc ol thcir Rcligion. And
thus thc Christians ol St. John
!69
(as thcy arc callcd) and thc Christians
ol Geneva, arc ol dicrcnt Rcligions, bccausc Thcsc also takc only thc
Scripturcs, and Thosc, ! know not what Traditions, lor thc Rulc ol thcir
Rcligion.
This bcing sctlcd, it lollows, First, that Hcrcsic is a Scparation madc
in cclcsiastical Communion bctwccn mcn ol thc samc Rcligion, lor
somc pinions no way containcd in thc Rulc it scll. And Secondly, That
amongst thosc who acknowlcdgc nothing but thc Holy Scripturcs to bc
thcir Rulc ol Faith, Hcrcsic is a Scparation madc in thcir Christian Com
munion, lor pinions not containcd in thc cxprcss words ol Scripturc.
Now this Scparation may bc madc in a twolold manncr.
.. Vhcn thc grcatcr part, or (by thc Magistratcs Patronagc) thc stron
gcr part, ol thc Church scparatcs it scll lrom othcrs, by cxcluding thcm
out ol hcr Communion, bccausc thcy will not prolcss thcir 8clicl ol ccr
tain pinions which arc not to bc lound in thc cxprcss words ol Scrip
turc. For it is not thc paucity ol thosc that arc scparatcd, nor thc Author
ity ol thc Magistratc, that can makc any man guilty ol Hcrcsic. 8ut hc
<
6
.,c. the Analogy of Faith (Romans .a:6): thc notion that an obscurc passagc in
Scripturc should bc intcrprctcd by analogy with a clcar passagc clscwhcrc. Lockc
hcrc rcturns to thc distinction bctwccn things ncccssary and things indicrcnt
(lundamcntals and nonlundamcntals). Consistcnt with his .66, Essay, hc argucs
that thc distinction, though valid (lor hc bclicvcs thcrc arc many incsscntials), is
unhclplul, sincc thcrc is no brooking a pcrson who, or a scct which, insists that an
incsscntial is in lact csscntial.
only is an Hcrctick who dividcs thc Church into parts, introduccs Namcs
and Marks ol istinction, and voluntarily makcs a Scparation bccausc ol
such pinions.
a. Vhcn any onc scparatcs himscll lrom thc Communion ol a Church,
bccausc that Church docs not publickly prolcss somc ccrtain pinions
which thc Holy Scripturcs do not cxprcssly tcach.
8oth thcsc arc Hereticks: because they err in Fundamentals, and they err
obstinately against Knowledge. For whcn thcy havc dctcrmincd thc Holy
Scripturcs to bc thc only Foundation ol Faith, thcy ncvcrthclcss lay down
ccrtain Propositions as lundamcntal, which arc not in thc Scripturc, and
bccausc othcrs will not acknowlcdgc thcsc additional pinions ol thcirs,
nor build upon thcm as il thcy wcrc ncccssary and lundamcntal, thcy
thcrclorc makc a Scparation in thc Church, cithcr by withdrawing thcm
sclvcs lrom thc othcrs, or cxpclling thc othcrs lrom thcm. Nor docs it sig
nic any thing lor thcm to say that thcir Conlcssions and Symbolcs arc
agrccablc to Scripturc, and to thc Analogy ol Faith.
!70
For il thcy bc con
ccivcd in thc cxprcss words ol Scripturc, thcrc can bc no qucstion about
thcm, bccausc thosc arc acknowlcdgcd by all Christians to bc ol ivinc
!nspiration, and thcrclorc lundamcntal. 8ut il thcy say that thc Articlcs
which thcy rcquirc to bc prolcssd, arc Conscqucnccs dcduccd lrom thc
Scripturc, it is undoubtcdly wcll donc ol thcm to bclicvc and prolcss such
things as sccm unto thcm so agrccablc to thc Rulc ol Faith, 8ut it would
bc vcry ill donc to obtrudc thosc things upon othcrs, unto whom thcy do
not sccm to bc thc indubitablc octrincs ol thc Scripturc. And to makc
a Scparation lor such things as thcsc, which ncithcr arc nor can bc lun
damcntal, is to bccomc Hcrcticks. For ! do not think thcrc is any man
arrivcd to that dcgrcc ol madncss, as that hc darc givc out his Consc
qucnccs and !ntcrprctations ol Scripturc as ivinc !nspirations, and com
parc thc Articlcs ol Faith that hc has lramcd according to his own Fancy
66
<
.,.. 8ut . . . Languagc: altcrnativcly, usc, which is thc law that dccidcs what is
corrcct in spccch. Horacc, Art of Poetry, ,. ,a.
with thc Authority ol thc Scripturc. ! know thcrc arc somc Propositions
so cvidcntly agrccablc to Scripturc, that no body can dcny thcm to bc
drawn lrom thcncc, but about thosc thcrclorc thcrc can bc no dicrcncc.
This only ! say, that howcvcr clcarly wc may think this or thc othcr oc
trinc to bc dcduccd lrom Scripturc, wc ought not thcrclorc to imposc it
upon othcrs, as a ncccssary Articlc ol Faith, bccausc wc bclicvc it to bc
agrccablc to thc Rulc ol Faith, unlcss wc would bc contcnt also that othcr
octrincs should bc imposcd upon us in thc samc manncr, and that wc
should bc compclld to rcccivc and prolcss all thc dicrcnt and contra
dictory pinions ol Lutherans, Calvinists, Remonstrants, Anabaptists, and
othcr Sccts, which thc Contrivcrs ol Symbols, Systcms and Conlcssions,
arc accustomcd to dclivcr unto thcir Followcrs as gcnuinc and ncccssary
cductions lrom thc Holy Scripturc. ! cannot but wondcr at thc cxtrava
gant arrogancc ol thosc Mcn who think that thcy thcmsclvcs can cxplain
things ncccssary to Salvation morc clcarly than thc Holy Ghost, thc tcr
nal and !nnitc Visdom ol God.
Thus much conccrning Heresie; which word in common usc is applicd
only to thc octrinal part ol Rcligion. Lct us now considcr Schism, which
is a Crimc ncar akin to it. For both thosc words sccm unto mc to sig
nic an ill- grounded Separation in Ecclesiastical Communion, made about
things not necessary. 8ut sincc Usc, which is thc Suprcmc Law in mattcr ol
Languagc,
!7!
has dctcrmincd that Hcrcsic rclatcs to rrors in Faith, and
Schism to thosc in Vorship or isciplinc, wc must considcr thcm undcr
that istinction.
Schism thcn, lor thc samc rcasons that havc alrcady bccn allcdgcd, is
nothing clsc but a Scparation madc in thc Communion ol thc Church,
upon account ol somcthing in ivinc Vorship, or cclcsiastical isci
plinc, that is not any ncccssary part ol it. Now nothing in Vorship or
isciplinc can bc ncccssary to Christian Communion, but what Christ
our Lcgislator, or thc Apostlcs, by !nspiration ol thc Holy Spirit, havc
commandcd in cxprcss words.
!n a word: Hc that dcnics not any thing that thc Holy Scripturcs tcach
<
6,
in cxprcss words, nor makcs a Scparation upon occasion ol any thing that
is not manilcstly containcd in thc Sacrcd Tcxt, howcvcr hc may bc nick
namcd by any Scct ol Christians, and dcclarcd by somc, or all ol thcm to
bc uttcrly void ol truc Christianity, yct indccd and in truth this Man can
not bc cithcr a Hcrctick or a Schismatick.
Thcsc things might havc bccn cxplaincd morc largcly, and morc advan
tagcously: but it is cnough to havc hintcd at thcm, thus bricy, to a Pcrson
ol your parts.
FINIS.

Locke - A Letter Concerning Toleration

Transféré par

Informations du document

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Locke - A Letter Concerning Toleration

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

A Letter

ditcd and with an !ntroduction

Just and True Liberty, Equal and Impartial Liberty, is

,. wcll in it scll : altcrnativcly, lawlul (licitum).

,. !saiah .:.a. Notc that thc parcnthcscs arc in thc original.

a. Calvins Gcncva was a thcocracy, and hcncc could bc sccn as parallcl to

.c. Numbcrs :c a, cutcronomy ,:., a:.

..a. A Good Lilc: altcrnativcly, moral rcctitudc (morum rectitudo).

.a. Scc Two Treatises of Government, !!, a., .6, a..

.6. Gallics: altcrnativcly slavc prisons (ergastulum). Anothcr allusion to thc

Anti Rcmonstrants, Luthcrans, Anabaptists, or Socinians. Anabaptists (oltcn syn

Vous aimerez peut-être aussi