The Principles of Liberty of Conscience Stated and Defended: In a Letter to a Friend. By Gwitmarpscheldon.

WISHART, William.

Published by Edinburgh: printed by Tho. and Wal. Ruddimans, 1739

About this Item

First edition. Writing under the odd pseudonym Gwitmarpscheldon, William Wishart (1691-1753), a liberal Church of Scotland Minister, provides a defence of religious toleration and liberty of conscience. Arguing from a religious rather than secular basis, Wishart argues that toleration is in the spirit of Christian ethics, that freedom of conscience is an inalienable right which cannot be given up to a civil power, that free thought is a duty and to follow another is an afront to God, and that to use force to compel religious beliefs creates hypocrisy and reinforces the contrarian beliefs. Moreover, he rejects commonly cited historical, legal and theological bases to use force to compel religious belief, and claims that it was not until Augustine's writings that the church claimed a theological basis to use force to enforce dogma. ESTC locates copies in nine institutions. ESTC T103652. Octavo (180 x 111 mm). Recent boards, printed paper label to front cover, edges sprinkled red. Binding fine, a few blemishes and creases to pages. A very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 117451

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Principles of Liberty of Conscience Stated and Defended: In a Letter to a Friend. By Gwitmarpscheldon.
• Publisher: Edinburgh: printed by Tho. and Wal. Ruddimans, 1739
• Edition: 1st Edition