A Memorial and Remonstrance (written 1784-1785; 1828 printing)

Their wordsThe religion, then, of every man, must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man; and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate.

Their wordsIt is unalienable, because the opinions of men, depending only on the evidence contemplated in their own minds, cannot follow the dictates of other men: it is unalienable, also, because what is here a right towards men, is a duty towards the Creator.

Their wordsBefore any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the Universe; and if a member of civil society, who enters into any subordinate association, must always do it with a reservation of his duty to the general authority, much more must every man who becomes a member of any particular civil society do it with the saving his allegiance to the Universal Sovereign.

Their wordsTrue it is, that no other rule exists by which any question which may divide society can be ultimately determined, but the will of the majority; but it is also true that the majority may trespass on the rights of the minority.

Their wordsThe rulers who are guilty of such an encroachment, exceed the commission from which they derive their authority, and are tyrants.

Their wordsBecause it is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties. We hold this prudent jealousy to be the first duty of citizens, and one of the noblest characteristics of the late Revolution.

Their wordsWho does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity, in exclusion of all other religions, may establish, with the same ease, any particular sect of Christians, in exclusion of all other sects?

Their wordsBecause the bill implies, either that the civil magistrate is a competent judge of truth, or that he may employ religion as an engine of civil policy. The first is an arrogant pretension, falsified by the contradictory opinions of rulers in all ages, and throughout the world; the second is an unhallowed perversion of the means of salvation.

Their wordsIt is, moreover, to weaken in those who profess this religion a pious confidence in its innate excellence, and the patronage of its Author; and to foster in those who still reject it, a suspicion that its friends are too conscious of its fallacies to trust it to its own merits.

Their wordsBecause experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of religion, have had a contrary operation.

Their wordsWhat have been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laiety; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.

Their wordsIn some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been seen the guardians of the liberties of the People.

Their wordsSuch a Government will be best supported by protecting every citizen in the enjoyment of his religion, with the same equal hand that protects his person and property; by neither invading the equal rights of any sect, nor suffering any sect to invade those of another.

Their wordsInstead of holding forth an asylum to the persecuted, it is itself a signal of persecution. It degrades from the equal rank of citizens all those whose opinions in religion do not bend to those of the legislative authority.

Their wordsDistant as it may be, in its present form, from the Inquisition, it differs only in degree. The one is the first step, the other the last, in the career of intolerance.

Their wordsThe American theatre has exhibited proofs, that equal and complete liberty, if it does not wholly eradicate it, sufficiently destroys its malignant influence on the health and prosperity of the State.

Their wordsBecause attempts to enforce by legal sanctions, acts obnoxious to so great a proportion of citizens, tend to enervate the laws in general, and to slacken the bands of society.