Author
Thomas Helwys
Thomas Helwys (c. 1575–c. 1616) was an English Separatist minister and theologian who played a foundational role in establishing early Baptist ecclesiology and advocating for religious liberty in early modern England. A former associate of John Smyth, Helwys distinguished himself through his theological writings, including A Short and Plain Proof by the Word and Works of God and Objections Answered by Way of Dialogue, which articulated principles of believer's baptism, congregational autonomy, and the separation of church and state. His courageous defense of conscience rights and his insistence that temporal authorities should not compel religious conformity positioned him as a pioneering voice for religious toleration during a period of intense ecclesiastical conformity and persecution.
From A Short and Plain Proof by the Word and Works of God
AMonge the rest of the fearefull works of the misterie of iniquitie, this is not the least (if not the greatest) that men seduced by Sathan, & sinne (through ignorance) are growne to that hight off evil, as they do call the Creator (who is a Spirit) to accōpt: & they wil have a natural reason off al his works. And to come to one particuler, they will have a reason how sinne came, & who or what was the first cause thereoff? the word off God cannot restraine these men, they will not be kept within the bounds thereoff: But they will enter into the secret counsels off God, & by their vanie Philosophy, measuring Gods thoughts by their thoughts & his wayes by their wayes, they wil find out a cause off sin before the World was: & finding that the Almightie hath decreed al thinges that come…
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Works in the Library 2
A Short and Plain Proof by the Word and Works of God 1611
Helwys defends God's universal redemptive will and denies predestinarian condemnation, while arguing against infant damnation.
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Objections Answered by Way of Dialogue 1615
Helwys argues against religious persecution through biblical, legal, and royal authority, defending conscience and allegiance as separable.
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Passages Thomas Helwys cites most
Bible verses most often cited across these 2 works. Each links to everything in the library on that verse.
2 Timothy 2:243×
Romans 14:233×
1 Corinthians 4:62×
1 Corinthians 12:52×
2 Corinthians 10:42×
Galatians 1:82×
Matthew 10:142×
Psalm 110:32×
Romans 10:172×
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