a Puritan, an English Reformed theologian and later a Reformed Baptist, who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
A member of the first Baptist church in America
Arguably the first abolitionist in North America, having organized the first attempt to prohibit slavery in any of the British American colonies.
Secondly, as to the Labourer worthy of his Reward, I answer, we find no other patterne in the Testament of Christ Jesus, but that both the Converting (or Apostolicall Ministry) and the Feed (or Pastorall Ministry) did freely serve or minister, and yet were freely supported by the Saints and Churches, and that not in stinted Wages, Tithes, Stipends, Sallaries, &c. but with larger or lesser supplies, as the Hand of the Lord was more or lesse extended in his weekly blessings on them.