Thomas Helwys
in The Mistery of Iniquity
1612
“Our lord the king cannot as a king have any power over this kingdom, temple, tabernacle, house and people of God in respect of the religion to God, because our lord the king’s authority is an earthly kingdom.”
“Further, he has no authority as king but in earthly causes…men’s religion to God is between God and themselves. The king shall not answer for it. Neither may the king be judge between God and man. Let them be heretics, Turks, Jews, or whatsover, it appertains not to the earthly power to punish them in the least measure.”
From the London Confession
Particular Baptist
1644
“That same power that converts to faith in Christ, the same power carries on the soule still through all duties, temptations, conflicts sufferings, and continually whatever a Christian is, he is by grace, and by a constant renewed operation from God, without which he cannot perform any dutie to God or undergoe any temptations from Satan, the world or men”
Obadiah Holmes’
“Last Will and Testament”
c. 1675
“…try what you hear whether it be according to truth, and take nothing from any man until you have tried it and well digested it by a good understanding. Ofen examine yourselves and lean not to other men’s judgements; beware of falls; endeavor and see that your evidence be good, which is alone the Spirit of God with your own spirit according to the Scriptures. Be much in holy meditation; read the Scriptures carefully. Beware of neglecting or slighting any ordinance of Christ; remember His death often, but take heed lest you make an idol of men or ordinances.”
James Manning,
to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia,
1774
“Surely no one whose bosom feels the patriot’s glow in behalf of civil liberty can remain torpid to the more ennobling flame of religious freedom. The free exercise of private judgment, and the unalienable rights of conscience, are of too high a rank and dignity to be subjected to the decrees of councils, or the imperfect laws of fallible legislators…We claim and expect the liberty of worshipping God according to our consciences.”
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