"The fondness of magistrates to foster Christianity, has done it more harm than all the persecutions ever did. Persecution, like a lion, tears the saints to death, but leaves Christianity pure: state establishment of religion, like a bear, hugs the saints, but corrupts Christianity, and reduces it to a level with state policy. (p. 278)"

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Added on April 10, 2026
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Original Language: English

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https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Leland_(Baptist)