John Loche's Toleration Definition

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In John Loches, “Toleration”, Loche is concerned with this outside force of civil magistrate, interfering with the human mind that cannot be compelled by an outside source. A magistrate, used in early modem history, can be defined as something or someone that enforces a law. Loche continues, explaining that men constitute only for the purpose of public good, concerning the civil magistrate. (Loche, 6) Because a “magistrate” is someone or something that enforces the law, it can only be done for purposes outside sources. A person cannot be enforced through law because controlling a person cannot change the way they believe about something, therefore, confirming that the human mind cannot be compelled by outside sources or controlled be a magistrate. Because a person cannot be controlled by outside sources, a person cannot be forced to go to church. By definition, the church is a voluntary place to come to publicly worship God to free one 's soul, …show more content…

Speculative relates to the beliefs of the church. The civil law doesn’t relate to the truth but only really about the good and safety of the people. Practical laws relate to the “living well” of a person. Through this, obedience to God is first, then to the law of the land. Because eternal happiness is wanted, people should do what makes them happy and acceptable to God as well. Loche brings up the point; what if the magistrate commands something that an individual thinks is wrong. Loche says that this won’t happen because the civil magistrate is concerned with the public good. This only is not concerned until the last day with God of judgment so if one does not think the magistrate is right then they should do what their conscience believes to be right without destructing others. Loche believes that anyone would do not believe in the existence of God should be