The Library
1577 works catalogued century by century, from the literature the Bible was written among to the present — each with a note on what it is, why it lasted, and where to read it.
301–400
1 work
384
Latin
Relatio III
Quintus Aurelius Symmachus · c. 345 – c. 402
A prefect of Rome petitions the emperor to restore the altar of Victory to the senate house, speaking in the voice of Rome herself: this worship brought the world under our laws, and one road alone cannot lead to so great a mystery.
1501–1600
8 works
1516
Latin
Thomas More · 1478–1535
A traveller describes an island commonwealth with no private property, six-hour working days, married priests, euthanasia, and toleration of every religion but atheism.
1523
German
Martin Luther · 1483–1546
An early argument that Jews have been treated so badly by Christians that conversion was never a real possibility, and that they should be dealt with kindly.
1524
German
Balthasar Hubmaier · c. 1480–1528
Thirty-six short theses arguing that heretics are to be won by argument and not by fire, and that those who burn them are the greater heretics.
1531
German
Sebastian Franck · c. 1499–c. 1543
A world history sympathetic to heretics, arguing that the true church has been invisible since the apostles and that God speaks in every age and nation.
1554
Latin
Sebastian Castellio · 1515–1563
An anthology of passages against persecution — from the fathers, from Luther, even from Calvin's own early work — published under a pseudonym after Servetus was burned.
c. 1563; published 1937
Latin
Sebastian Castellio · 1515–1563
An argument that many scriptural questions are genuinely obscure, that certainty is not required for salvation, and that doubt is a discipline rather than a sin.
28 January 1573
Latin
The Polish nobility
A sworn agreement among nobles of differing religions that they will not shed blood over faith, made a condition of every subsequent royal election.
13 April 1598
French
Henry IV of France · 1553–1610
A settlement granting Huguenots freedom of conscience, limited public worship, civil equality, and fortified towns, after thirty-six years of religious war.
1601–1700
6 works
1612
English
Thomas Helwys · c. 1575–c. 1616
An argument that the king has no authority over conscience, and that heretics, Turks, Jews, and whomsoever ought not to be punished for their religion.
1644
English
Roger Williams · c. 1603–1683
An argument for a wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world, and for liberty of conscience for pagans, Jews, and Turks alike.
1647
English
Jeremy Taylor · 1613–1667
An argument that few doctrines are clear enough to justify coercion, that the Apostles' Creed suffices for communion, and that error held honestly is not damnable.
1670
Latin
Tractatus Theologico-Politicus
Baruch Spinoza · 1632–1677
An argument that scripture must be interpreted by its own history and language alone, that Moses did not write the Pentateuch, and that the state should leave belief free.
1686–1688
French
Pierre Bayle · 1647–1706
A refutation of the text used to justify forced conversion, arguing that an erring conscience binds as much as a correct one and must therefore be left free.
1689
Latin
John Locke · 1632–1704
The care of souls cannot belong to the magistrate, because belief cannot be compelled and a forced profession saves nobody — with atheists and Catholics excepted.
15 of 1577 works