Leonard Busher

Leonard Busher (fl. 1614) was an English pioneer writer on religious toleration, known as an early advocate of full liberty of conscience.


 * Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, therefore may it not be purchased nor defended with the weapons of this world, but by his word and Spirit.
 * But as in the church of Rome, people of all sorts are by persecution forced thereinto by the bishops and ministers thereof; so it is in the church of England also.
 * Wherefore in all humility and Christian modesty, I do affirm, that through the unlawful weed-hook of persecution, which your predecessors have used, and by your majesty and parliament is still continued, there is such a quantity of wheat plucked up, and such a multitude of tares left behind, that the wheat which remains cannot yet appear in any right visible congregation.
 * —Because if freedom of conscience be not set up, and persecution laid down, then all the king’s subjects, and all strangers inhabiting the land, that shall believe the apostolic faith, must depart the land to some free country; or else abide the danger of burning, banishing, hanging, and imprisoning.
 * Ninthly—because if persecution continue, then the king and state shall have, against their will, many dissemblers in authority and office, both in court, city, and country. . ..
 * Therefore his majesty and parliament may please to consider, that so long as persecution continue, so long will the apostolic church continue scattered and persecuted into the secret places of this world.
 * That for the more peace and quietness, and for the satisfying of the weak and simple, among so many persons differing in religion, it be lawful for every person or persons, yea, Jews and papists, to write, dispute, confer and reason, print and publish any matter touching religion, either for or against whomsoever; always provided they allege no fathers for proof of any point of religion, but only the holy scriptures.
 * Why, then, should those that have the truth, and those that would have the truth, be afraid of error?
 * Therefore as the king would not have his subjects to take away his life, because he is contrary to them in religion; so let not the king take away his subjects’ lives, because they are contrary to the king in religion.