Who Said That?

"[Your letter] illustrates the excellence of a system which, by a due distinction, to which the genius and courage of Luther led the way, between what is due to Caesar and what is due to God, best promotes the discharge of both obligations. The experience of the United States is a happy disproof of the error so long rooted in the unenlightened minds of well-meaning Christians, as well as in the corrupt hearts of persecuting usurpers, that without a legal incorporation of religious and civil polity, neither could be supported.  A mutual independence is found most friendly to practical religion, to social harmony, and to political prosperity."

Please leave your guess in the comments section below.  Please, no google searches or cheating.  Answer to follow next week.

Update on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 08:57AM by Kim Riddlebarger

This is from James Madison in a letter written to P. L. Schaeffer in December of 1821.  Madison praises Luther's two kingdoms doctrine and sees it as the basis for keeping ecclesiastical and civil power distinct in the US Constitution.

Comments

[reg]

John Adams?

[Richard J.]

Thomas Jefferson

[reg]

Richard J., Jefferson was my other thought. I figure it is from one of the many letter exchanges between Adams and Jefferson later in their lives, at a time when the US already had been established. I guessed Adams since Jefferson was the "separation" advocate.and the author seems to be complimenting that view. But it might be either.

[Mark S]

James Madison

[Miguelito]

The great, great, great, grandson of Gustavus Adolphus?? The great, great, great, grandfather of Christopher Hitchens??

[Tim P.]

Thomas Jefferson was my guess as well. The reference to a "letter" made me think of the correspondence where he used the "separation of church and state" language.

[Coyle]

Emerson