John Clark (October 8, 1609-April 20, 1676) was a medical doctor, Baptist minister and co-founder of the colony of Rhode Island. In 1651, John Clarke wrote "Ill News From New England Or A Narrative Of New England's Persecution," after the whipping of Baptist Obadiah Holmes in Lynn, Massachusetts:
<No such believer, or servant of Christ Jesus, has any liberty, much less authority from his Lord, to smite his fellow servant, nor yet with outward force, or arm of flesh, to constrain or restrain his Conscience, no nor yet his outward man for Conscience sake, or worship of his God, where injury is not offered to the person, name, or estate of others.> 1609JC001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1609JC001. John Clarke, 1651, in his publication "Ill News From New England Or A Narrative Of New England's Persecution."