John Leland (Baptist) Quotes (7 quotes)

John Leland (Baptist): 7 quotes 0 likes

Famous John Leland (Baptist) Quotes

“Truth disdains the aid of the law for its defence–it will stand upon its own merit.”

John Leland (Baptist)

The Rights of Conscience Inalienable (1791)
Context: Truth disdains the aid of the law for its defence–it will stand upon its own merit. … It is error, and error alone, that needs human support; and whenever men fly to the law or sword to protect their system of religion, and force it upon others, it is evident that they have something in their system that will not bear the light, and stand upon the basis of truth. (p. 185)

“Persecution, like a lion, tears the saints to death, but leaves Christianity pure: state establishment of religion, like a bear, hugs the saints, but corrupts Christianity,”

John Leland (Baptist)

The Government of Christ a Christocracy (1804)
Context: The fondness of magistrates to foster Christianity, has done it more harm than all the persecutions ever did. Persecution, like a lion, tears the saints to death, but leaves Christianity pure: state establishment of religion, like a bear, hugs the saints, but corrupts Christianity, and reduces it to a level with state policy. (p. 278)

“Government has no more to do with the religions opinions of men, than it has with the principles of mathematics.”

John Leland (Baptist)

The Rights of Conscience Inalienable (1791)
Context: Government has no more to do with the religions opinions of men, than it has with the principles of mathematics. Let every man speak freely without fear, maintain the principles that he believes, worship according to his own faith, either one God, three Gods, no God, or twenty Gods; and let government protect him in so doing, i. e., see that he meets with no personal abuse, or loss of property, from his religious opinions. (p. 184)

“The notion of a Christian commonwealth, should be exploded forever.”

John Leland (Baptist)

The Virginia Chronicle (1790)
Context: A national church takes in the whole nation, and no more; whereas, the Gospel Church, takes in no nation, but those who fear God, and work righteousness in every nation. The notion of a Christian commonwealth, should be exploded forever. (p. 107)

“The very idea of toleration is despicable;”

John Leland (Baptist)

The Virginia Chronicle (1790)
Context: Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty that I contend for, is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest, to grant indulgence; whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians. (p. 118)