22

Swartbmore Xecture.

3. The rejection 0f the " World " —the worldof gluttony, drunkenness and harlotry, and theState as an " outward thing " to which the spiritsubmits so long as it does not impose a burden onconscience. But even as to the state there oughtto be no " idolization of the creature." Hence the" Thou " of the Quaker in addressing his worldly" superior," even the earthly king who as unre-generate belongs to the world. Hence the demandfor freedom of conscience and the free practice ofreligion ; if this demand is refused the principlethat prevails is in contrast to the suffering obedi-ence of Lutheranism : " Men must obey God morethan men."

The demand for freedom of conscience findsexpression in the complete severance of Church andState. This principle does not spring from in-difference, but from a high valuation of the religiousdomain which brooks no intermixture withworldly power. " Faith cannot be administered."In this spirit already the Miinster Baptists, accord-ing to their repeated declaration, wanted nothingbut freedom to practise their religion, and thusthe English Baptists (1614) demanded the com-plete separation of Church and State. This prin-ciple became fundamental law in the New World,where the Baptists of Rhode Island were the firstto carry it into practice.

It is a famous word of Roger Williams, Baptistminister and founder of Rhode Island , that he didnot desire any liberty for himself which he shouldnot freely grant to his opponent. This word wascarried into practice at a time when there was out