A Letter Concerning TolerationWord格式.docx

A Letter Concerning TolerationWord格式.docx

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（InternetEncyclopediaofPhilosophy）ALetterConcerningTolerationbyJohnLockeHONOUREDSIR,SinceyouarepleasedtoinquirewhataremythoughtsaboutthemutualtolerationofChristiansintheirdifferentprofessionsofreligion,I

mustneedsansweryoufreelythatIesteemthattolerationtobethechiefcharacteristicmarkofthetrueChurch.Forwhatsoeversomepeopleboastoftheantiquityofplacesandnames,orofthepompoftheiroutwardworship;

others,ofthereformationoftheirdiscipline;

all,oftheorthodoxyoftheirfaith-foreveryoneisorthodoxtohimself-thesethings,andallothersofthisnature,aremuchrathermarksofmenstrivingforpowerandempireoveroneanotherthanoftheChurchofChrist.Letanyonehaveneversotrueaclaimtoallthesethings,yetifhebedestituteofcharity,meekness,andgood-willingeneraltowardsallmankind,eventothosethatarenotChristians,heiscertainlyyetshortofbeingatrueChristianhimself."

ThekingsoftheGentilesexerciseleadershipoverthem,"

saidourSaviourtohisdisciples,"

butyeshallnotbeso"

（Luke22.25）.Thebusinessoftruereligionisquiteanotherthing.Itisnotinstitutedinordertotheerectingofanexternalpomp,nortotheobtainingofecclesiasticaldominion,nortotheexercisingofcompulsiveforce,buttotheregulatingofmen'

slives,accordingtotherulesofvirtueandpiety.WhosoeverwilllisthimselfunderthebannerofChrist,must,inthefirstplaceandaboveallthings,makewaruponhisownlustsandvices.ItisinvainforanymantounsurpthenameofChristian,withoutholinessoflife,purityofmanners,benignityandmeeknessofspirit."

LeteveryonethatnameththenameofChrist,departfrominiquity"

（IITim.2.19）."

Thou,whenthouartconverted,strengthenthybrethren,"

saidourLordtoPeter（Luke22.

32）.Itwould,indeed,beveryhardforonethatappearscarelessabouthisownsalvationtopersuademethathewereextremelyconcernedformine.

ForitisimpossiblethatthoseshouldsincerelyandheartilyapplythemselvestomakeotherpeopleChristians,whohavenotreallyembracedtheChristianreligionintheirownhearts.IftheGospelandtheapostlesmaybecredited,nomancanbeaChristianwithoutcharityandwithoutthatfaithwhichworks,notbyforce,butbylove.Now,Iappealtotheconsciencesofthosethatpersecute,torment,destroy,andkillothermenuponpretenceofreligion,whethertheydoitoutoffriendshipandkindnesstowardsthemorno?

AndIshallthenindeed,andnotuntilthen,believetheydoso,whenIshallseethosefieryzealotscorrecting,inthesamemanner,theirfriendsandfamiliaracquaintanceforthemanifestsinstheycommitagainstthepreceptsoftheGospel;

whenIshallseethempersecutewithfireandswordthemembersoftheirowncommunionthataretaintedwithenormousvicesandwithoutamendmentareindangerofeternalperdition;

andwhenIshallseethemthusexpresstheirloveanddesireofthesalvationoftheirsoulsbytheinflictionoftormentsandexerciseofallmannerofcruelties.

Forifitbeoutofaprincipleofcharity,astheypretend,andlovetomen'

ssoulsthattheydeprivethemoftheirestates,maimthemwithcorporalpunishments,starveandtormenttheminnoisomeprisons,andintheendeventakeawaytheirlives-Isay,ifallthisbedonemerelytomakemenChristiansandprocuretheirsalvation,whythendotheysufferwhoredom,fraud,malice,andsuch-likeenormities,which（accordingtotheapostle;

Rom.I）.manifestlyrelishofheathenishcorruption,topredominatesomuchandaboundamongsttheirflocksandpeople?

These,andsuch-likethings,arecertainlymorecontrarytothegloryofGod,tothepurityoftheChurch,andtothesalvationofsouls,thananyconscientiousdissentfromecclesiasticaldecisions,orseparationfrompublicworship,whilstaccompaniedwithinnocenceoflife.Why,then,doesthisburningzealforGod,fortheChurch,andforthesalvationofsouls-burningIsay,literally,withfireandfaggot-

passbythosemoralvicesandwickednesses,withoutanychastisement,whichareacknowledgedbyallmentobediametricallyoppositetotheprofessionofChristianity,andbendallitsnerveseithertotheintroducingofceremonies,ortotheestablishmentofopinions,whichforthemostpartareaboutniceandintricatematters,thatexceedthecapacityofordinaryunderstandings?

Whichofthepartiescontendingaboutthesethingsisintheright,whichofthemisguiltyofschismorheresy,whetherthosethatdomineerorthosethatsuffer,willthenatlastbemanifestwhenthecausesoftheirseparationcomestobejudgedofHe,certainly,thatfollowsChrist,embracesHisdoctrine,andbearsHisyoke,thoughheforsakebothfatherandmother,separatefromthepublicassembliesan