The toleration of those that differ from others in matters of religion is so agreeable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to the genuine reason of mankind, that it seems monstrous for men to be so blind as not to perceive the necessity and advantage of it in so clear a light.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

[N]o man can so far abandon the care of his own salvation as blindly to leave to the choice of any other, whether prince or subject, to prescribe to him what faith or worship he shall embrace. For no man can, if he would, conform his faith to the dictates of anther. All the life and power of true religion consist in the inward and full persuasion of the mind; and faith is not faith without believing. Whatever profession we make, to whatever outward worship we conform, if we are not fully satisfied in our own mind that the one is true and the other well pleasing unto God, such profession and such practice, far from being any furtherance, are indeed great obstacles to our salvation. For in this manner, instead of expiating other sins by the exercise of religion, I say, in offering thus unto God Almighty such a worship as we esteem to be displeasing unto Him, we add unto the number of our other sins those also of hypocrisy and contempt of His Divine Majesty.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

[T]rue and saving religion consists in the inward persuasion of the mind, without which nothing can be acceptable to God.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

[B]ut how that can be called the church of Christ which is established upon laws that are not His, and which excludes such persons from its communion as he will one day receive into the Kingdom of Heaven, I understand not.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

The arms by which the members of [a religious] society are to be kept within their duty are exhortations, admonitions, and advices.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

For every church is orthodox to itself; to others, erroneous or heretical.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

Who sees not how frequently the name of the Church, which was venerable in time of the apostles, has been made use of to throw dust in the people’s eyes in the following ages?

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

Although the magistrate’s opinion in religion be sound, and the way that he appoints be truly Evangelical, yet, if I be not thoroughly persuaded thereof in my own mind, there will be no safety for me in following it. No way whatsoever that I shall walk in against the dictates of my conscience will ever bring me to the mansions of the blessed. I may grow rich by an art that I take not delight in; I may be cured of some disease by remedies that I have not faith in; but I cannot be saved by a religion that I distrust and by a worship that I abhor.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

For obedience is due, in the first place, to God and, afterwards to the laws.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

It is not the diversity of opinions (which cannot be avoided), but the refusal of toleration to those that are of different opinions (which might have been grated), that has produced all the bustles and wars that have been in the Christian world upon account of religion.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

I cannot but wonder at the extravagant arrogance of those men who think that they themselves can explain things necessary to salvation more clearly than the Holy Ghost, the eternal and infinite wisdom of God.

a letter concerning toleration

Source needs verification

Wherever law ends, tyranny begins.

great books of the western world syntopicon vol 1, p. 996

Source needs verification