John Leland (1754-1841), a Baptist preacher whose life involved writing and preaching aboutthe gospel of Jesus Christ and about the proper relationship between religion and government. In the latter passion, Leland agreed with the position of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, both of whom he knew personally. In the following statements from Elder John Leland you will enjoy reading a summary of his views (in chronological order) about religion, politics, and American history. As you read Leland's comments, you will notice word for word statements and related ideas which can also be found in the writings of Jefferson and Madison, including the words "between church and state."The below quotations are excerpted from L. F. Greene ed., The Writings of John Leland, reprint edition, New York: Arno Press & The New York Times, 1969:
In early life I had a thirst for learning. At five years old, by the instruction of a school dame, I could read the Bible currently, and afterwards, in the branches of learning, taught in common schools, I made as good proficiency as
common. ...Deism and Universalism I never heard of, and of course was what is called a believer in revelation. ...
In the summer of 1772, ... the following words would sound from the skies, "You are not about the work which you have got to do [p. 10]."
Reading the Bible and meditating on the shortness of time, and the importance of being prepared for death and judgment, occupied the chiefest of my time. ...
From this, I began to pray, but was hard put to it to find a place secret enough [p. 11].
There are four principles contended for, as the foundation of civil government, viz., birth, property, grace, and compact. The first of these is ... hereditary .... The second is ... aristocratical ... where rich landholders have the sole rule .... The third ... a religious test to qualify an officer of the state, proscribing [prohibiting] all nonconformists from civil and religious liberty. ... The fourth principle, (compact,) is adopted in the American states, as the basis of civil government [1791, p. 179].
... law should rule over rulers, and not rulers over the law.
... government is founded on compact. ... every law made by legislators, inconsistent with the compact, modernly called a constitution, is usurping in the legislators, and not binding on the people [p. 180].... religion is a matter between God and individuals: the religious opinions of men not being the objects of civil government, nor in any way under its control.
It has often been observed by the friends of religion established by human laws, that no state can long continue without it; that religion will perish, and nothing but infidelity and atheism prevail.
Are these things facts? Did not the Christian religion prevail during the first three centuries, in a more glorious manner than ever it has since, not only without the aid of law, but in opposition to all the laws of haughty monarchs? And did not religion receive a deadly wound by being fostered in the arms of civil power and regulated by law? These things are so.
... in almost all states, civil rulers, by the investigation of covetous priests, have undertaken to steady the ark of religion by human laws; but yet we have a few of them without leaving our own land [pp. 181-182].
... all the states now in union, saving two or three in New England, have no legal force used about religion, .... And, moreover, the federal government is forbidden by the constitution, to make any laws, establishing any kind of religion. If religion cannot stand, therefore, without the aid of law, it is likely to fall soon, in our nation, except in Connecticut and Massachusetts. ...
... Such are the natural evils of the establishment of religion by human laws [p. 182].
... And if there is no difference between Bible religion and state religion, I shall soon fall into infidelity [p. 183].
... Government has no more to do with the religious opinions of men, than it has with the principles of mathematics. Let every man speak freely without fear, maintain the principles that he believes, worship according to his own faith, either one God, three Gods, no God, or twenty Gods; and let government protect him in so doing. ...
The duty of magistrates is, not to judge of the divinity or tendency of doctrines; but when those principles break out into overt acts of violence, then to use the civil sword and punish the vagrant for what he has done, and not for the religious phrenzy that he acted from [p. 184].
... It is error, and error alone, that needs human support; and whenever men fly to the law or sword to protect their system of religion, and force it upon others, it is evident that they have something in their system that will not bear the light, and stand upon the basis of truth. ...
... The groundwork of these establishments of religion is, clerical influence. Rulers, being persuaded by the clergy that an establishment of religion by human laws, would ... be advantageous to the state; ... [p. 185].
What stimulates the clergy to recommend this mode of reasoning is: ... Ignorance, ... Indolence, ... but chiefly covetousness, to get money [p. 186].
... Ministers should share the same protection of the law that other men do, and no more. To proscribe [prohibit] them from seats of legislation, etc., is cruel. To indulge them with an exemption from taxes and bearing arms is a tempting emolument [benefit]. The law should be silent about them; protect them as citizens, not as sacred officers, for the civil law knows no sacred religious officers. ...
The principle of the law, is, that the gospel is not to be supported by law; that civil rulers have nothing to do with religion, in their civil capacities;.... The evil seemed to arise from blending religious right and religious opinions together. Religious right should be protected to all men, religious opinion to none; ... each individual having a right to differ from all others in opinion ... [p. 188].
... The federal constitution certainly had the advantage of any of the state constitutions, in being made by the wisest men in the whole nation, ... and that constitution forbids Congress ever to establish any kind of religion, or require any religious test to qualify any officer in any department of federal government. Let a man be Pagan, Turk, Jew or Christian, he is eligible to any post in that government. So that if the principles of religious liberty, ... are supposed to be fraught [heavy] with Deism, fourteen states in the union are now ... [p. 191].
... What a scandal it is to the Christian name to see church discipline executed in a court-house, before the judges of the police--to see censures given at the whipping-post, and excommunications at the gallows;* ...The Baptists and Newlights have been imprisoned, fined, and whipped, and witches and Quakers have been hung in Massachusetts [p. 217].
Q. What have you to say about the Federal constitution of America?
A. It is a novelty in the world: ... but one of the great excellencies of the Constitution is, that no religious test is ever to be required to qualify any officer in any part of the government [p. 219].
... Why should a man be proscribed, or any wife disgraced, for being a Jew, a Turk, a Pagan, or a Christian of any denomination, when his talents and veracity as a civilian, entitles him to the confidence of the public [p. 224].
... The rights of conscience should always be considered inalienable--religious opinions as not the objects of civil government, nor any way under its jurisdiction. Laws should only respect civil society; then if men are disturbers they ought to be punished [p. 228].
The constitutional test of Massachusetts is, protestant Christianity. Every denomination of christians peaceably demeaning themselves, shall be protected by law; and provision is to be made for protestant teachers. Jews, Turks, Pagans and Deists, are not to be protected by law, and no kind of Christian teachers can have legal provision made for them, except they are protestants. From this we learn that the government of Massachusetts, is a protestant Christian government. The same cannot be said of our national government; nor of several of the state governments; and it is a pity that it should be said of any of them, for no body politic can form a Christian government and administer the same, without breaking the rules of pure Christianity [p. 253-254].
... man has no right which stands in opposition to his social duties; no right to exercise his liberty to destroy the right and property of his neighbor; no right that frees him from his proportionable part of the burdens of government, and the restraints of just laws [1802, p. 266].
... Never promote men who seek after a state-established religion; .... It converts religion into a principle of state policy, and the gospel into merchandise. Heaven forbids the bands of marriage between church and state; their embraces, therefore, must be unlawful. Guard against those men who make a great noise about religion, in choosing representatives. It is electioneering intrigue. If they knew the nature and worth of religion, they would not debauch it to such shameful purposes. If pure religion is the criterion to denominate candidates, those who make a noise about it must be rejected; for their wrangle about it, proves that they are void of it. Let honesty, talents and quick despatch, characterise the men of your choice [p. 267].
... I shall now express a number of wishes, ....
... The people of the United States. May they be virtuous, industrious and wise; free from the intrigues of lawyers, the deception of doctors, the holy fraud of priests, and the imposition of lying printers [p. 269].
... May the debt of the United States be discharged with speed and punctuality; and let not the people be deceived, by having the funds, established for that purpose, put to other uses.
... May our exports be so great, and our imports so small, that the balance of trade may be in our favor. ...
... May the combination of rulers and priests, church and state, be dissolved, and never re-unite [p. 270].
The question then arises, whether the establishment of religion is friendly to piety, morality, and religion, or whether it is not rather, in its nature and tendency, sapping the foundation of all of them? ...
To myself, there remains no doubt, that the religious establishments of Massachusetts, and all state establishments of Christianity in the world, are all of them, ANTI-CHRISTOCRACIES [p. 281].
The two chaplains to congress, .... This money they receive for religious services, by the force of the laws of the national legislature. That a legal compensation for religious services is a species of religious establishment, will not be denied, ... [p. 293].
The evil of blending religion and property--religion and education--religion and commissions--religion and politics together, has been abundantly exposed, but not yet forsaken. ...
... Bible Christians, and Deists, have an equal plea against self-named Christians, who (because they are void of the spirit, and ignorant of the precepts of the gospel) tyranize over the consciences of others, under the specious garb of religion and good order.
... On the same foundation crusades have been formed (i.e., armies raised under the cross of Christ,) to kill and take possession of all the property of ungodly infidels. And I appeal to experience, if any of the governments of the United States are so cruel, in matters of conscience, as these eastern states, where there is the greatest noise made about religious qualifications for rulers [p. 294].
... In Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, of the old colonies, and in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio, the new states, there has never been any legal establishment of religion, nor any assessment to support Protestant Christianity, for the good of the states, and yet, sir, these states have stood and flourished as well as Massachusetts [1811, p. 355].
... The interference of legislatures and magistrates, in the faith, worship, or support of religious worship, is the first step in the case, which leads in regular progression to inquisition; the principle is the same, the only difference is in the degree of usurpation [p. 357].
Government should be so fixed, that Pagans, Turks, Jews and Christians, should be equally protected in their rights [p. 358].
Should any of you, young patriots, enter the army in defence of your country's rights, ... "my sons, let me never hear that you are shot through the back [1813, p. 375]."
... Nothing is more plain, than that the Almighty has set up the government of the United States .... Had such a government existed, from the beginning of the Christian era, what rivers of blood--what shocking havoc--how much imprisonment, confiscation, exile, torture and burning, would have been prevented! ... The notion of excluding religion from legislation, first arose in Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, in their colonial capacities; and has, since the revolution, been interwoven in the government of the United States [p. 410].
It is become fashionable to consider the body politic under the emblem of a sow; the lucrative offices of state, as teats; and place-men, who hold those offices, to be pigs. ... The truth is, pigs had rather live on the milk of the sow, than root the clods for a living [p. 425].
... Christianity being established in the empire, it opened a large door for Christian officers: to fill the civil offices, the ambitious would be Christians; and to get a fat living, many would be called to preach.
... It was left for the United States of North America, to give the example to the world; to draw the proper line between church and state, religion and politics. ... To say that the government of the United States is perfect, would be arrogant; but I have no hesitancy in saying, that the Constitution has left religion infallibly where it should be left in all government, viz: in the hands of its author, as a matter between God and individuals; leaving an open door for Pagans, Turks, Jews or Christians, to fill any office in the government, without any religious test, to make them hypocrites; securing to every man his right of argument and free debate: not considering religious opinions objects of civil government, or any ways under its control: duly appreciating that Christianity is not a scheme of coercion ... [p. 428].
... The work of the legislature is to make laws for the security of life, liberty and property, and leave religion to the consciences of individuals [p. 441].
... Where legal force, and carnal weapons are used among nominal Christians, to convert heathen, punish heretics, establish creeds of faith and forms of worship, collect money, compel attendance on worship, etc. under a religious covert [disguise], the commands of Christ to his disciples are broken. If they think they are serving God in it, they know not what manner of spirit they are of [1815, p. 459].
... How undeniable the fact, that civil government is not founded on Christianity [p. 474].
... How improper, how unjust, how anti-Christian it must be, for one man or one party of men to get that kind of religion interwoven into the civil constitution, which they believe is best, under the pretence that their consciences are wounded if others do not believe like themselves. The plea of conscience, in such cases, is the art of ill design, or the effect of imposition, which none but tyrants or bigoted enthusiasts will make [p. 475].
Government is the formation of an association of individuals, by mutual agreement, for mutual defence and advantage; to be governed by specific rules. And, when rightly formed, it embraces Pagans, Jews, Mahometans and Christians, within its fostering arms--prescribes no creed of faith for either of them--proscribes none of them for being heretics, promotes the man of talents and integrity, without inquiring after his religion--impartially protects all of them--punishes the man who works ill to his neighbor, let his faith and motives be what they may. Who, but tyrants, knaves and devils, can object to such government [p. 476]?
It is the glory of the United States, that, after Christian tyranny had raged withsavage fury for fifteen hundred years, its progress should be arrested in this land of liberty [p. 477].
In the tenth century, an opinion prevailed all over Christendom, that with the close of that century, the world would be burnt up; which the crafty priests worked to their own advantage. Near the close of the century, men would give first all their money, and then all their land to the priests for a single prayer. At length the century closed; the world still continued: but the money and the land were in the hands of the priests [p. 486].
... all the difference that exists between a papal church, with a pope at the head, and a prelatical [hierarchical] church, with a king or legislature at the head, lies in this, viz: the first is infallible, and the last is always right [p. 487].
... Moral precepts of right, whether they are found in the golden verses of Pythagoras, the maxims of Socrates, the sayings of Seneca, or in the Bible, are essential to the peace and good order of society. But to suppose that Christianity must put on a legal robe, and dictate either by a pope, a king, a prelate, a kirk or a major-vote, as essential to good government, is far, very far, from being true. ...
Granting Christianity all its merit, ... still the question returns, "ought all men be compelled by law, to support it by tax [p. 489]."
In the United States, ... the number of Pagans, Jews, and Mahometans is so small; but there are thousands of Deists, who cannot be convinced of any revelation from God to man, except that of nature; and a thousand thousand who cannot conscientiously join with any religious society, from an honest conviction ... [p. 490].
... The want of efficacy [effectiveness] in the confederation, left the states in a languid [weak] condition: to remedy which evil, the sages of the states assembled in convention, and framed a Constitution of government, which, being submitted to, and ratified by the people, became the supreme law of the land [1824, p. 501].
... And all classes of Christians, Papists and Protestants--Calvinists and Arminians--Trinitarians and Socinians, have all become one. The principles of civil government--the rights of man--liberty of conscience--creeds of faith and modes of worship, which men have heretofore been so tenacious about ... only giddy chimeras [dreams] of the dark ages that are past! Now the true light shines [p. 522]!
Government should defend the rights of the religionists, as citizens, but the religious opinions of none [1830, p. 561].
Admit of the principle that religion is an institute of state policy, and the people hold their liberty by the tenure of the will of the legislature, .... Admit of the principle, and you approve of that which has reared an inquisition, and drenched the earth with blood [p. 562].
Those who wish to call in the strong arm of law to defend their opinions, give evidence that they have not logical reasoning, on moral and religious subjects, to support their weak dogmas.
I am sorry that Congress have committed themselves by a precedent of giving their chaplains a legal reward for religious services [p. 563].
Civil government is rightly founded, neither in birth, in power, in wealth, nor in grace, but in compact. Individuals unite together, not for the aggrandizement of a few, but to protect the life, liberty and property of the whole body. A charter of powers granted and rights retained is the platform by which they are to be governed, and all are to be subject to the public will [pp. 578-579].
It is not designed to defend the religious opinions of any,but the persons and rights of all; so that Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians, with all their subdivided opinions, may peaceably live together in the same domain-- each one enjoying the free exercise of his religious opinions, and all impartially protected by the law. ...
When Constantine took the church into his own hands, he established Christianity by law, and provided fat livings for the preachers. ... The contest of the bishops for mastery lasted until A.D. 606, when the Emperor Phocus conferred the title Universal Father, or Pope, on the bishop of Rome. Popes advanced from one step of power to another, until they kept standing armies, and crowned and dethroned kings at pleasure.
The marriage of church and state together was unnatural; of course a monstrous offspring followed [p. 579].
... Our government is formed on another principle. Our institutions recognise the sovereignty of the people [p. 597].
... The lot assigned me, seems to be, to watch and check clerical hierarchy, which assumes as many shades as a chameleon, sometimes requesting the civil law to support it; and, when that fails, denouncing the vengeance of God against all who will not support their dogmas. If this does not frighten the people into their service, good words, and fair speeches are resorted to, in order to deceive the hearts of the simple; and all advisable arts are practiced to make a gain of the populace, gain them to their party to make it strong, and gain their money to support them in ease and splendor [pp. 601- 602].
It was but a partial reform, when England protested against the encroachments of the Roman Pontiffs; many, therefore, were non-conformists to the Episcopal establishment; some of whom crossed the Atlantic, and settled in New-England. These pilgrims, with all their good views, brought some of the drugs of the cup of the whore of Babylon with them; and soon religious parishes were incorporated. Every parish was forced to have a preacher--all within the parish were forced to pay the preacher--Sunday was established as holy time--all must go to meeting or be fined. ... When will this great truth be acknowledged, that neither the legislative, executive, nor judicial arms of government, in their official capacities, have anything to do with the souls of men, conscience, or eternity? That the whole design of civil government is to protect the lives, liberties, and property, of all the citizens [p. 604]? ...
Yes, Mr. President [Andrew Jackson], kind Providence has hitherto been gracious to the United States in war and in peace; and our hope is strong that he will yet save us from civil tyranny--religious hierarchy--sword, famine and pestilence, and that from the school of America many Lafayett's may rise, and spread light and freedom throughout the world [p. 606].
I was a man grown when the grand dramma opened at Lexington, and lived through the revolutionary war. The most prominent defeats and victories are yet fresh in my mind. At the close of the war, the confederation was found insufficient to protect the states from anarchy. A more energetic government superseded. Under the new government, I have witnessed eleven presidential elections, and twenty-two elections for member of Congress. And now ..., I would say to the people of the United States, "Let no man deceive you. ... Shun that rock of considering religious opinions objects of civil government. Believe and act for yourselves, and guarantee the same to your neighbors.
"Remember that Christianity is of divine origin--the only religion that ever brought pardon to a guilty world; but, it has suffered more injury by its pretended friends, who have undertaken to regulate it by law, than it has from all its enemies [pp. 606-607]."
The kind of Christianity which calls in the aid of law, sword, or the college for its support; ... that forces its dogmas on others, ... I do renounce .... The laws of men should recognize every man as a citizen, but none as religionists--should protect the rights of all, the opinions of none. If any, under a pretence of religion, commit overt acts, punish them for their crimes, and pity them for their delusion [pp. 609-610].
... How it may appear to the solemn line of spectators, on the banks of the water, to see an old man, whose locks have been frosted with seventy-seven winters, baptizing without any inconvenience, I cannot say; .... I have baptized one thousand five hundred and twelve in all, I judge that I have been in the water for baptism more times than any man in the United States [1831, p. 616].
The wife of my youth is yet living; we have lived together in the connubial relation fifty-five years. We have nine children, seven of whom have made a profession of religion.
I try to preach about four times a week in average. ... In this course of life I have been announcing Christianity for more than fifty-seven years, ... [p. 617].
As for those men who wish ... to have Christianity established by law, ... from such turn away [p. 637].
When Mr. Jefferson was elected president, the pulpits rang with alarms, and the presses groaned with predictions, that the Bibles would all be burned; meeting-houses destroyed; the marriage bonds dissolved, and anarchy, infidelity and licentiousness would fill the land. These clerical warnings and editorial prophecies all failed. Instead thereof, during his administration, the national debt was reduced $40,000,000; the internal taxes taken off; the vast territory of the west was added to the United States, and every man sat quietly under his vine and fig tree, enjoying the freedom of his religion and the attachment of his wife and children.
So with respect to Gen. Jackson. Before he came into office, the alarm guns were fired in every direction. ...
During his administration, the national debt has been reduced to a mere fraction; duties lessened; ... vast tracts of land purchased of the Indians, &c. For more than sixty years I have been old enough to observe the state of things, and can honestly say, that as far as I can judge, I have never seen a time of greater prosperity, among every class of citizens, than the present: ... [p. 652].
Compare the condition of the citizens of the United States with that of the subjects of European monarchs, and you will felicitate [make happy or congratulate] yourselves and bless God that you are Americans [p. 655].
... The origin, design and boundaries of civil government I have studied; its interference with religion I have opposed; the equal rights of all I have plead for; ... [p. 657].
I have lived under the administration of seven presidents, and was never better pleased with the measures of government than I now am [p. 658].
As citizens, it is our joy and boast, that the government of the United States proscribes [prohibits] all religious tests, and guarantees unto every citizen his religious opinions, with the freedom of the tongue and the press to support them. As John Wickliff began the reformation from popery, so the banished Roger Williams began the reformation from hierarchy: he established the first form of government ever known in Rhode Island, which excluded religious opinions from the civil code, on the true maxim, "That legal rewards should never be given for religious services." This novel nest-egg was soon followed by the illustrious William Penn, in the government of Pennsylvania, and the inhabitants of New York pursued the track. The principle which at that time was considered so dangerous, immoral and anti-christian, is now interwoven as an integral part of the constitution of the government of the United States [p. 666].
... the present scheme seems to be, for each society to sacrifice its peculiar characteristics, and all unite to form a Christian Phalanx [Coalition] to be established by Congress as the religion of the United States. If my painful fears, on this head are ever realized, the glory of America will depart ... [p. 670].
... Some men among us profess to be greatly alarmed at the spread of the Roman Catholicks. They say there are six hundred thousand with the limits of the United States; ...no man who has the soul of an American and the heart of affection for our democratic institutions, will either fear or wish to injure the papists. ... Their freedom of religion is guaranteed to them in our constitution of government, and no benevolent man can wish to have them oppressed as they are in Ireland. In the American Revolution, and in the formation of the Constitution under which we live and prosper, the tocsin sounded loud, "America shall be an asylum for the distressed of every nation to flee to," and who can wish to subvert that freedom? The French Catholicks were great helpers to Americans in their struggles for independence, ... . If any of them commit overt acts, punish them; but let them have free scope to publish their religion. [p. 671].
The world is gorged with school, creed, and ceremonial religion; action and money are enlisted in the cause. But after all the institutions of men, "Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, which is, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep unspotted from the world," is but little seen and practiced [p. 716].
... But yet, the treatment of our government with all other nations, has been concilatory, and morally just. The United States are setting the example that moral honesty, and good faith, is as sacred among nations, as it is among individuals. And will the supreme governor of all worlds suffer the nations who feel power and forget right, to crush us? I hope not [p. 740].
Copyright 1998 Gene Garman