Author
Leonard Busher
Leonard Busher was a seventeenth-century English Baptist theologian and advocate for religious toleration whose treatise Religion's Peace (1614) stands as one of the earliest systematic arguments for the separation of church and state and freedom of conscience in English religious thought. Writing during a period of intense religious conflict and persecution, Busher challenged the prevailing assumption that civil magistrates should enforce religious conformity, instead arguing that true faith cannot be coerced and that peaceful coexistence among diverse Christian communities serves both spiritual and social ends. His work anticipated later Enlightenment principles of religious liberty and significantly influenced the development of Baptist theology and the broader intellectual foundations of modern pluralism.
From Religion's Peace
FIrst, because Christ hath not commanded any King, Bishop, or Minister to persequte the people, for difference and judgment in matter of Religion. Secondly, because Christ hath commanded his Bishops and ministers p. 7 to perswade Prince and people to heare and beleeve the gospell, by his◊ word and spirit, and (as Ambassadors for him) to beseech both Prince ād people, [2. Cor. 5. 20] to be reconciled vnto God, and not (as Tyrants) to force and cō strayne them by perseqution. Thirdly, [many thousand Ambassadors & martyr • of Christ hath Bbs • caused to be slaine since Ch • ascended.] because through perseqution it wil come to passe that the Ambassadors of the onely spiritual Lord & King Iesus, may be persequted and inprisoned, burned, haged or bānished, for deliuering the message of their gratious Lord, sentearly and often, both to Prince and people: which to doe, is…
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Works in the Library 1
Passages Leonard Busher cites most
Bible verses most often cited across this work. Each links to everything in the library on that verse.
Revelation 12:63×
Revelation 16:143×
1 Timothy 4:12×
2 Corinthians 10:42×
2 Timothy 3:12×
Matthew 10:112×
Revelation 17:12×
Revelation 17:162×
Romans 13:42×
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