Checks and balances, or the separation of powers, is based upon the philosophy of Baron de Montesquieau.
Locke also taught the necessity of checks and balances and he preceded Montesquieau and influenced him. Montesquieau wrote of the concept but certainly didn't originate it.
Locke was from another era. I don't think the FF chose checks and balances from a religious perspective. I know Jefferson and Madison didn't:
Representative government, Jefferson knew, still filled the Capitol with something less than a flock of saints, something more like a collection of men who, no matter how pure their motives at first, will be tempted to exercise unrighteous dominion at last.
Thus, the democratic form, in and of itself, is no security against tyranny.
“One hundred and seventy-three despots would surely be as oppressive as one. ... As little will it avail us that they are chosen by ourselves. An elective despotism was not the government we fought for,” he wrote. (2)
He was referring to the tyranny of the majority.
“The concentrating [of the legislative, executive and judicial powers] in the same hands is precisely the definition of despotic government. It will be no alleviation that these powers will be exercised by a plurality of hands, and not by a single one.” (3)
It is not good enough to say we are free, not good enough to merely have government by consent. The people need to understand “the principles of free government,” and a successful experiment in government by consent will abide by those principles. Near the top of the list is this principle:
“The powers of government should be so divided and balanced among several bodies of magistracy, as that no one could transcend their legal limits, without being effectually checked and restrained by the others.”" (4)
geocities.com
James Madison was another strong proponent for checks and balances as well as separation of church and state. I doubt he saw checks and balances as a religious issue:
<i"In 1784, Madison persuaded the Virginia legislature to enact Jefferson's “Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom.” He defeated Patrick Henry's proposal that the state subsidize the Anglican church. Madison declared government money corrupts. Christianity, he noted, “flourished, not only without the support of human laws, but in spite of every opposition to them. . . .”"
fee.org
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