An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty, against the Oppressions of the Present Day

In this treatise, Isaac Backus, an important voice in the “pulpit of the American Revolution,” discusses the problems of church-state relations, rallying the cry for religious liberty. Noting the unique roles of ecclesiastical and civil government, Backus argues for their separation and the protection of freedom of conscience. Backus argues that the “true liberty of man is, to know, obey, and enjoy his Creator, and to do all the good unto, and enjoy all the happiness with and in his fellow creatures that he is capable of.” This work was originally preached as a sermon in 1773.