partiality the bloody doctrine of persebution Great shifting â—o â—sâ—â—â— Christs cross Christian weapons Christ Jesus betwen two Thieves The horible Hypocrisie of all persecutors Christs charge to Pergamus and Thiatira against Tolleration examined False Excommunication one kinde of persecution The word Persecution how ordinarily it is taken Persecution ordinarily implies corporall violence Speeches of Princes against Persecution No Civill Christian State Christs Sword Nurcing Fathers-dealt withall as children Active obedience cannot be given but to a competent Judge Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all Consciences and Religions in the World All persecutors hould the Popes trayterous Doctrine of deposing haereticall Princes The Popish and Protestant Clergie set the Popish and Protestant World on fire for their Maintenance The Dutch device to winne their Clergie to Tolleration of other Religions All that professe to be Christs Ministers must Dig or Beg or Steale All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus Touching the Tares Policie store but Pietie rare in Princes A Speech of King James considered No Man to he forced from his owne worship 〈…〉 c. Touching compelling to come to Church and to heare A second Speech of King James Papists may yeeld Civill obedience The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned Bookes and Tenents against Civill obedience All England Papists and yet the Pope renounced A twofold holding the Pope as Head The two Sisters Lawes concerning Conscience Ceales of moderation and kindnesse may melt an Enemie as David melted Saul c. Cautions for preventing of disturbance by Papists c. Sufficient Provisions are made in other Nations against Distractions and Tumults from opposite Consciences and Worships Nâ—erâ—â— Comâ—â—tition home-bred oppositions most of all exâ—sperate c. The admired Prudence of the Parliament in preserving Civill Peace Increase of Papists unlikely in England M r John Robinson deceased his Testimonie in a Manus from Holland A third Speech of King James considered Persecution ordinarily the marke of a False Church Stephen King Poland his 〈…〉 The Spirituall Power of Christ Jesus betrusted not with Civill but spirituall Ministers An Argument used in Parliament against the Persecuting Bishops Of disturbance of Religion The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from Heaven Daniells Counsel to Bel-shazzar preserveth Parliaments Kingdomes Touching the Nationall Church of Israell Israell a miraculous Nation Two sorts of the Nations of the World Touching the true and false Christs King of Bohemia his Speech Spirituall Rapes All persecutours contumeliously object against Conscience Amnon his ravishing of Tamar a Type A Query who shall judge whether Conscience be convict Church Papists and Protestants also ravished Wars for Religion The bloudie Tenent Guiltie of all the bloud of Papists and Protestants lately spilt The strongest Arme sword the ordinarie Judge of the Conviction of Conscience Touching the Nationall Church of England Reall denying the greatest denying of Christ Jesus Two high Transgressions objected against M r Cotton Touching the Romane Emperours practices in Religious Affaires Christs Garden gaines by violent Stormes and looseth by sweete Sun-shines The Romane Emperours The Arrians persecuted and persecuting The great Difference between this World and Christ A Christianitie strange from Christ Antichristian Christianitie The bloudie Tenent tends to an universall Conquest of the whole World The bloudie Tenent in its colours No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing Scripture of God is The Language of persecutours Julian his Tolleration Touching Infection of false Doctrine c. Hypocrites tollerated in the Church but not in the World Touching the Persecution of K James and Q Elizabeth Touching the Qualification of Princes Touching Magistrates suspending from acting in matters of Religion Monstrous partialitie Constantines Edict Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus Vnchristian Tribunalls Dent. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. Vnchristianly conjoyned Touching Excommunication in Israel Ans Spirituall Blessings and Curses the Antitypes of Corporall before Christ Great oversight imputed to Christ Jesus If civill punishments for spirituall offences they must be inflicted by holy and Christian Instruments and Officers A true Christ a true Sword a false Christ a false Sword Q Elizabeth her wars against the Papists The Warres of the Waldenses Acts 8. 11. Christian weapons Christs Sword Christs Warres and Victories Revel 17. Gideons Army typicall The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church The sins of Gods children Christs Witnesses A true Wife of Christ no persecutour Touching persecution what it is Difference between a civill and spirituall State The nature of spirituall punishment The nature of Christs spirituall Government The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Executioners Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ then corporall before his coming The cutting off or Excommunicating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall A twofold wâ—y of constraint What it is to walke according to a mans Light Conviction twofold Sufficient in it selfe or to the partie efficacious Touching the Maintenance of the new English Ministers Of propagating Religion by the Sword Touching the Indians of New-England Worshipping of God and Christ before the foundation of Repentance is nothing but Antichristian disorder Touching preaching to the Indians in New-England Proprietie of Language necessary to the true preaching of Christ Jesus to any people Conscience to God in Worship a close Prisoner in New-England and no Petitioner could obtaine its Libertie Publikâ— marriage or giving ones selfe to Christ Judges 21. 25 Considered Supreame Authoritie in Spiritualls Tertullians Speech of one Religion not hurting or profiting another Considered * M r Cottons and Mr Edwards Gangrenes have little differd Blasphemie against the holy Scripture Mysteries of false Christs The true Christ despised for his povertie A base esteeme of the Spirituall Sword Earthly Christs need earthly supports The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist Constantines peace a greater tryal and danger to Christians then 300 years persecution Sathans two wayes of quenching the Candle of Christianity The French Massacre must doe what their pretended disputation could not effect Pretended disputes in Q. Maries days ending in fiery flames The late Synodicall disputes A bloody and most unchristian speech The rash fury and madnesse of persecutors even against themselves Pleasantnesse of wit sanctified glorifies the giver The pretended particulâ—r Churches of N. E. indeed but a Nationall Church No permission of any Religion or worship but one in N. E. therefore are the Churches but a Nationall Church in the mould them c. Where the Supream Authority in a Church is Civill the Body cannot but be like the head and all make up but one Civil or Nationall mixt Church like the Jewish Nationall Church The purging a Countrey of Hereticks declares that Countrey is explicitly or implicitly a National Church A State Maintenance proveth a State Church Synods assembled by
far though driven by Spanish persecution to it in taking off the yoak from the necks of Dutch English French yea Popish Jewish consciences For all which though but Mercy though but Justice and humanity to fellow mankind he that runs may read the truth of Gods never failing Promises Blessed are the Mercifull for they shall obtain Mercy Their own Chronicles tell us of a wonderfull walk of the God of Heaven between three of their most eminent Towns or Cities First Stafore was the wondrous Wealthy City their golden Citie til a proud wealthy Merchants widow caused a whole ships loading of wheat which her ship brought home and she despised to be thrown over into the Harbour which with other Accidents of water and weather Gods most righteous providences so choak'd up the Haven that Vessels of Burthen durst never frequent that Citie by this occasion most wondrously impoverish'd since From Stafore God carries all the Shipping and wealth to Enchuysin whose Zealous over-zealous and furious Clergie provoke the Civil Magistrates to persecute dissenting non conforming consciences Amongst the rest 't is rare if ever that the most glorious Son of God himself escapes From Enchuysin therefore a Den of persecuting Lyons and mountain of Leopards the persecuted fled to Amsterdam a poor fishing Town yet harborous and favourable to the flying though dissenting consciences This confluence of the persecuted by Gods most gracious coming with them drew Boats drew Trade drew Shipping and that so mightily in so short a time that Shipping Trading wealth Greatnesse Honour almost to astonishment in the Eyes of all Europe and the world have appeared to fall as out of Heaven in a Crown or Garland upon the head of that poor Fisher-Town O ye the prime of English men and English worthies whose sences have so oft perceived the everlasting Arms of the Invincible and Eternal King when your Ships Hold hath been full with water yea with Blood when storms without fires and mutinies within whence he hath beaten upon some Rocky Hearts and passages as if she would have staved and split into a thousand pieces yet this so neer stav'd so neer fired so neer split foundred sinking Nation hath the God of Heaven by your most valiant and carefull hands brought safe to Peace her Harbour Why now should any duty possible be impossible yea why not impossibilities possible Why should your English Seas contend with a neighbour Dutchman for the motion of a piece of Silk c and not ten thousand fold much more your English Spirits with theirs for the Crown of that State-piety and Wisdome which may make your faces more to shine not only with a common lustre after a Dutch Presisident but if it be the holy will of God and I humbly hope it may be with a glory far transcending all your fairest neighbours Copies The States of Holland having smarted deeply and paid so dearly for the purchase of their freedomes reach to the neighbour Nations and the world a tast of such their dainties And yet with due reverence to so wise a State and with due thankfulnesse for mercy and relief to many poor oppressed Consciences I say their Piety nor Policie could ever yet reach so far nor could they in all their School of Warre as their Countries have been call'd learn that one poor Lesson of setting absolutely the consciences of all men free 'T is true they vouchsafed to the Papists and Arminians the liberty as I may so speak of the prison and sometimes to go abroad as I may say with a Keeper c. But why should not such a parliament as England never had and who knows whether ever will the like why should not the piety and policie of such Statesmen out shoot and teach their Neighbours by framing a safe communication of freedome of Conscience in worship even to them to whom with good security of Civill peace it is as due as to any other Consciences or Worshippers in the World the Papists and Arminians themselves Of the Piety and Policie of such a freedom I have discoursed more largely in the answering of some Objections of Mr. Cotton in Chapter 59. of this Book and proved that such a freedom of the Conscience of each member of the Commonweal and such a Commonweal as Englands now is especially cannot in all probability prove so dangerous and prejudiciall as many do imagine and discourse but contrarily many wayes prove beneficiall and marvellously advantageous Your Honors know what bloody bickerings and bloodsheds have been in later times in Germany in the Low-Countries in France in England in Polonia in Hungaria Bohemia Transilvania c. about the Freedome of mens Consciences and Worship The God of Heaven may also please graciously to remember you that it hath been the fatall errour of all Reformers that England or other States have seen to doe as the Portugals did in the East-Indies who pull'd down the Images of the Pagans whom they conquered and set up their own Images of Portugall in their stead and places It is agreed on all hands that subscribe to one GOD that his worship is but one and that all besides that one true GOD are idols and all worship beside his own but one are Images And you know the fiery jealousie of the Eternall will not ever endure an Image though never so fair his Rivall Hence in the many former Changes of estates and State-worships by Gods just and jealous permission the childrens work hath been to tumble down their fathers buildings Nor can your most prudent Heads and potent Hands possibly erect that Fabrick which the next Age it may be the next Parliament may not tumble down And yet so may the God of Heaven so please to guide you in the high matters that concern the worship of God and the Consciences of men that what ever be the present or future consequences your own Consciences may reap the joyfull harvest of their present and eternall Requiems The Pope the Turk the King of Spain the Emperour and the rest of Persecutors build among the Eagles and the Starres yet while they practice violence to the Souls of Men and make their Swords of Steele Corrivals with the two-edged Spirituall Sword of the Sonne of GOD the Basis of their Highest Pillars the Foundation of their glorious Palaces are but Drosse and Rottennesse And however in our poore Arithmeticke their Kingdomes Number seem great yet in the onely wise account of the Eternall their Ages are but Minutes and their short Periods are neer accomplished for herein the Maxime is most true in the matters of Religion and Consciences of men especially the violent motion must break But Light from the Father of Lights hath shined on your eyes Mercy from the Father of Mercies hath softned your breasts to be tender of the tenderest part of Man his Conscience for indeed there is no true Reason of Policy or Piety as
but general conclusions and notwithstanding that in the course of his Book he maintaines such and such persecution yet he layes this down as his first conclusion It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Iesus in his Truths and Servants and that I say never persecutor professed to do without a Maske or covering Peace What of that saith Master Cotton for although they do not persecute Christ as Christ yet they do it and it is no matter of wonder to tell them as Christ tells Paul It is not lawful for them so to do Truth Doubtless whatever persecutors profess and what Apologies soever they make in all the particular cases for which Gods servants are persecuted yet the Saints of God have dealt faithfully to tell Persecuters that they persecute Christ himself and to breath out the fire of Gods judgements against them even out of their own mouth But what is this to a conclusion laid down for so Christ laid not down his expostulation with Paul as a conclusion as Master Cotton doth by way of teaching but as a conviction by way of reproofe Peace Yet persecutors saith he have persecuted Christ as Christ for the Scribes and Pharises said This is the heir come let us kill him and Iulian persecuted Iesus as Iesus And if a Christian in Turkie shall seek to gaine a Turke to Christianity they will persecute such a Christian and in him Iesus as Iesus Truth It is said Acts 3. that the Iews persecuted Christ out of ignorance for though they had sufficient knowledge to convince them yet did they not persecute Christ out of a clearely convinced conscience for then it could not be out of ignorance And yet it was sufficient that so great a power of Gods Spirit appeared in the evidence of Christs works as to make their sin to be against the Spirit of God yet had they their mask and covering as is evident For this is not the true Christ or Messiah say they but a deceiver a witch working by the power of the devil a blasphemer a seducer a Traitor c. Againe although wretched Iulian persecuted the very name of Christ and Iesus whom formerly he had acknowledged and professed Yet was it still under a mask or covering to wit that he was not the true Son of God nor his worship the Truth but his Roman gods were true c. And the same say the Turkes in persecuting Christians and in them Christ Iesus as aâ— Prophet inferiour to their onely great and true Prophet Mahomet And lastly neither Scribes nor Pharisees nor Iulian nor Turkes did or do persecute Christ Iesus otherwise then as they were and are bound so to do by Master Cottons doctrine as shall further appear notwithstanding his plea that such Magistrates must forbeare to punish untill they be better informed Peace But let tyrants and persecutors profess what they will saith Master Cotton yet this varieth not the truth nor impeacheth the wisdome of the conclusion Truth Sweet peace how can I here chuse but in the first place observe that great mystery of the waking sleep of the most precious servants of the most high God in the affaires of his worship and the Kingdome of his dear Son Awake for what fiery censures justly poureth forth this our excellent Adversarie against the oppressours of conscience entituling them with the names of tyrants and persecutors notwithstanding their vaine professions pretences apologies and pleas for their tyranny and Bloodshed Againe how fast asleep in his so zealous pleading for the greatest tyranny in the world throughout his whole book though painted and washed over with faire pretences c 2. He granteth upon the point the truth which was affirmed and he denyed to wit that no persecutor of Christ ever persecuted him as the Son of God as Iesus but under some mask or covering as thousands of black and bloody clouds of persecuting witnesses in this case most lamentably make it evident and apparent Peace Master Cottons next charge is very heavy against the discusser for exalting himself above God in the discerning of Master Cottons fellowship with persecutors notwithstanding his profession against such persecution Truth The Lord Jesus saw in the Iews such a contrariety between their professions and practises even in this case of persecution Mat. 23. 2. Himself in effect but even now said the same of all persecutors What ever pretences they make saith he and they will pretend great things of love to Christ and kiss him ten thousand times when treasons and slaughters are is in their courses And will Master Cotton say that Christ Iesus exalted himself above God inspying out so great a mystery It is no new thing that Master Cotton should be apt to say with David That man that hath done this thing shall die not duely considering and pondering that our selves are sons of blood and children of death condemned by our own mouth if the righteous Iudge of the whole world should deal severely with us Peace But Master Cotton for a close of this Chapter complaines of his own suffering of bitter persecution and the Lord Iesus in him being unjustly slandered except the discusser can prove that any doctrine of his tendeth to persecute any of the servants of Christ Truth Let a mans doctrine and practise be his witnesses and let every soul judge in the fear of God whether the doctrine of this Book maintaining such and such a persecution to be an holy truth wash'd white in the blood of the Lamb agree not lamentably with all their imprisonings banishings c. inflicted upon so many several sorts of their own countrimen friends and brethren in the wilderness for matter of Religion and conscience amongst which the Lord Jesus will be heard at last to have said Why persecutest thou me why banishest and whippest thou me c 2. Will not all persecuting prelates Popes c. take heart from hence according to their several religions and consciences to persecute the heretick blasphemer seducer c. although they all will say with Master Cotton It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Jesus in his truths or servants Peace But the discusser saith Master Cotton is a bitter persecutor in slandering him and Christ Jesus in him for a persecutor Truth I see not but Master Cotton though of Davids spirit may be guilty of Sauls lamentable complaint that David persecuted him and that he could finde none to pity him Who knows not that all and our own Popish Bishops in Queen Maries yea and of late times our Protestant Bishops against the non-conformists have been wont to cry out what bitter persecution themselves have suffered from the slanderous censures and reproaches of the servants of Christ Jesus against them Who yet have shot no other arrowes at them but the faithful declarations and discoveries of Gods holy truth and the evil of the opposing and persecuting of it and
he meaneth such as manifestly openly visibly walk in the true profession of Christianity and such as openly and visibly walk in the lyes of false and Antichristian doctrine and worship That distinction of secret and open Hypocrisie is seasonable secret implies such a dissimulation as may lie hid under the true outward profession of Christ Jesus as in Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira c. Open hypocrisie implies the profession of the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God or over the Temple of God pretending the Name of Christ and yet apparantly and visibly false and counterfeit and but pretending when such pretences and shewes are brought to the Touchstone of true Christianity Peace Your observation is true as also a second That these hypocritical doctrines and practices are to be tollerated to the end of the world this he sets down in general not instancing in particular what doctrine and practises are to be tollerated and on the other hand the whole drift of his Booke maintaineth that such persons doctrines or practices that are idolatrous or blasphemous or infectious are not to be tollerated or permitted at all which passages to my understanding have not harmony among themselves For what is all the whole Religion of every Antichrist but a Mass or Chaos of Hypocrisie Idolatry Heresie Blasphemy Poysons c. Besides Master Cotton had dealt more plainly with this holy Scripture if he had explained what he meant by such doctrines and practises comming neer the truth and set down the bounds how neer as to make them Tares Truth Dear Peace Who knows not that the weeds of the wilderness come neer the flowers of the Garden the counterfeit may come neer the life and the false mettal the true gold And though it be true that some doctrines and practices be not so gross as other yet they differ but as the Scripture speaks as whores and whoremongers amongst themselves some are more proper and fine and young and painted some are old deformed c. And yet the finest weeds counterfeits and whores are unsufferable in the Garden in the Commonweale house and bed of Christ Though yet in the civil Commonweale the vilest spiritual strumpet may challenge a civil Being if in civil things unreproveable Examination of CHAP. XIX Peace BUt in this Chapter Master Cotton in the issue granteth that the Tares signifie persons by Christs own interpretation For them that do iniquity may seem to be an explanation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All scandals that is persons holding forth of scandalous and corrupt doctrines and practices like unto true and sound Truth Yet withall he chargeth the discusser with lightness and inconstancy for endeavouring to prove that corrupt doctrines and practices are not to be tollerated and yet saith he the discusser pleades that such persons ought to be tollerated Whereas the discusser twice in this Chapter expresly distinguisheth between toleration in the Church and tolleration in the world and affirmeth that although the Church of Christ Jesus cannot tollerate either persons or practices which are false and Antichristian yet the civil state the world ought to tolerate and permit both And therefore Master Cottons inconsiderate charge of contradiction will not stick because of those divers respects or States the spiritual and civil as it was no contradiction in Christ Iesus to affirme that Iohn Baptist was Elias when Iohn himself affirmeth that he was not Elias For in several respects the Negative of John and the Affirmative of Jesus were both true Examination of CHAP. XX. Peace IN this passage to my understanding Master Cotton after much seeming contestation and disagreement yet in conclusion he shakes hands and agrees with the discusser in the maine point in question Truth Your observation reacheth home for let it be granted that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should not signifie All weeds sprung up with the wheat but one kind of weed and that in special which Master Cotton saith Dioscorides describeth Let it be granted to be the same with Lolium and that there is a great similitude between the Tares and the Wheat while they are in the blade some of which particulars are controversial yet it no way opposeth that which the discusser maintaineth to wit the easiness of discerning these tares to be tares when they are grown up to blade and fruit And therefore Master Cotton at the last confesseth that even these tares unknown hypocrites according to his own exposition ought to be suffered in the church of Christ to the harvest or end of the world Peace I cannot but wonder how Master Cotton should once imagine that it might possibly stand with the order piety and safety of the profession of Christ Jesus that such a generation of known hypocrites should be perpetually suffered Truth Doubtless the Lord Jesus was not of Master Cottons minde who so vehemently warned his followers to take heed of the leaven of hypocrisie Beside if known hypocrites may be suffered and not cast out Why may not known hypocrites be taken in And what is then become of the true matter of the church to wit true living stones of a spiritual life and nature so far as outwardly can be discerned Peace This assertion hath so foule a representation that Master Cotton is forced to draw this vaile over and therefore he adds untill the fruits of hypocrites grow notoriously scandalous Truth I cannot fathom how these two agree First known hypocrites may be tolerated untill the worlds end 2. Tolerated no longer then untill the fruits of the hypocrisie grow notoriously scandalous For will not all reason and experience ask this question How comes it that this friend subject and Spouse of Christ is now a known dissembler traitor whore unless by some scandalous fruits so declaring and uncasing of them If the shameful fruits of the unclean person 1 Cor. 5. were sufficient to denominate him a wicked person why were they not sufficient to warrant Paul to say Put away therefore that wicked person from amongst you Peace But let us mind the Scripture quoted If saith Master Cotton foolish Virgins be cast out of the church the wise Virgins may be found sometimes sleeping as well as they Truth Neither good wheate nor wise Virgins are to be cast out of the church of Christ while they appear to be so yet since Master Cotton elsewhere grants that a child of God good wheat and a wise Virgin may so stand out against the church of Christ in some passion that he may be cast out c. How much more then ought the tares and foolish Virgins while so appearing be excluded 2. If the wise Virgins be received into heaven as the foolish shut out will it not evidently follow even the contrary to that for which Master Cotton alleadgeth this Scripture to wit That when hypocrites are discovered they are to be kept out and consequently to be cast out of the church of Christ except Master
That dead men cannot die nor be infected with false doctrine and such is the State of all men all nations all the world over until the life of Christ Jesus quicken them Master Cotten replies First Dead men may be made worse and more the children of hell then before Mat. 23. and therefore such as so corrupt them are worthy in a way of due proceeding of a twofold death Secondly Such as profess the truth of the doctrine and worship of Christ they live a kind of spiritual life though not such as accompany salvation else how are false teachers and such as are led by them said to be twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jud. 12. Truth Dead men may be made worse that is more to rot and stink yet this is no taking away of any life And therefore there is no proportionable reason why the seducers should suffer a temporal death having neither taken away spiritual nor natural life only thus he may be justly liable to a spiritual death for endeavouring to hinder a spiritual life by furthering any in their natural state of spiritual death 2. For that place of Iude Master Cotton knows that Beza propounds two senses First Twice dead that is a certaine number for an uncertaine Secondly This sence urged by Master Cotton which if it be to be admitted yet is it but in appearance as his life which in hypocrisie he professed was but in shew and appearance he being never raised up from the spiritual death to a spiritual life and therefore really never suffered the loss of a spiritual life which he never had And yet as in typical Israel it stood with Gods justice to take away the life of the seducer which seduced an Israelite from the God of Israel or but attempted to do it so stands it with the holy justice of God to cut him off eternally who but attempteth to take away or hinders the spiritual and eternal life of any Peace Master Cotton in the next place presumes on advantage that the discusser should say that none are infected with natural plagues or spiritual but such are thereto appointed c. Truth It is plaine that the discusser alleadged not that to diminish or lessen sin let it have its due aggravation but as was said before in case of the not final deceiving of the elect so was it here spoken not to derogate fâ—om Gods meanes and remedies against natural or spiritual infection but to abate the needless feares of men who are apt to cry out Except the civil sword be drawn and so therewith the world set together by the eares the world cannot be preserved from infection Peace Whereas the discusser had affirmed that Christ Jesus had not left his people destitute of spiritual means against spiritual infections This is true saith Master Cotton but it falleth out sometimes that when the church hath cast out an heretick yet he may destroy the faith of many as did Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. and if the Magistrates sword do here rust c. such leaven may leaven the whole country c. as Arrianisme leavened the world by Constantines indulgence Againe saith he it may be the heretick was never a member of the church how then shall the church do Truth Who can marvel at this that the dunghill of this world worldly men under the power of Satan unto whom the obstinate person the heretick is cast I say that they many of them receive worldly doctrine which the church as filth casts out c. 2. As Paul saith concerning the salvation of Gods children Let the world perish yet the foundation of God remaineth sure he knows who are his and how to provide meanes to save them though the world still act it self wallowing and tumbling like Swine in one puddle of wickedness after another 3. Master Cotton should read a little further in the same Scripture quoted by him where he finds not a tittle of Pauls directing Timothy to stir up the secular power as the Pope speakes to cut off Hymeneus and Philetus to prevent infection but tels him that the servants of God must not strive but must quiet themselves with patience waiting if peradventure God will please to give repentance Peace Methinks this Answer may also â—ully satisfie his second supposition to wit if that the heretick was never of the church Truth Yea what hath the church to do that is judicially with him that is without and what hath the civil state to judge him for who in civil matters hath not transgrest In vaine therefore doth Master Cotton suggest a persecuting or hunting after the souls or lives of such as being cast out of the church keep private conventicles c. Peace How grievous is this language of Master Cotton as if he had been nourished in the chappels and cloisters of persecuting prelates and priests the Scribes and Pharisees As if he never had heard of Jesus Christ in truth and meekness For surely as the discusser observed Christ Jesus never appointed the civil sword an Antidote or remedy in such a case notwithstanding Master Cotton replies that the civil sword was appointed a remedy in this case by Moses not Christ Deut. 13. Truth Moses in the old Testament was Christs servant yet Moses being but a servant dispensed his power by carnal rites and ceremonies laws rewards and punishments in that holy nation and that one land of Canaan But when the Lord Jesus the Son and Lord himself was come to bring the truth and life and substance of all those shadowes to break down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile and to establish the Christian worship and kingdome in all Nations of the world Master Cotton will never prove from any of the books and institutions of the New Testament that unto those spiritual remedies appointed by Christ Jesus against spiritual maladies he added the help of the carnal sword Peace But Christ saith Master Cotton never abrogated the carnal sword in the new which he appointed in the old Testament and the reason of the law to wit an offence of thrusting away from the Lord is perpetual Truth If it appear as evidently it doth that this king Jesus the King of Israel wears his sword the Antitype of the Kings of Israel their swords in his mouth being a sharpe two-edged sword then the answer is as clear as the Sun that scatters the clouds and darkeness of the night Besides Master Cotton needs not flie to the Popes argument for childrens baptisme to wit to say that Christ never abrogated Dâ—â—â— 13. therefore c. For Master Cotton knows the profession of the Lord Jesus Iohn 18. that his kingdome was not earththly and therefore his sword cannot be earthly Master Cotton knows that Christ Iesus commanded a sword to be put up when it was drawn in the cause of Christ and addeth a dreadful threatning that all that take the sword that is the carnal sword for his cause shall
strangers in their Worship And for their Countrymen for the most part that they worship God with them They which are distant have Libertie of publike prayer and preaching by such as themselves choose without disturbance Truth Concerning the Indians it is most true that the Monahigganéucks Mishawomêucks Pawtuckséucks and Cawsumséucks who professe to submit to the English continue in their publike Paganish Worship of Devills I say openly and constantly Peace Yea but saith M r Cotton they have submitted to the ten Commandements Truth I answer the ten Commandements containe a Renunciation of all salse Gods and Worships and a Worshipping of the true God according to his owne Institutions and Appointments which their practice is as farre from as Mid-night is from Mid-day 2. To put men upon observations of Gods Worship as Prayer c. before the Foundations of Repentance from dead workes their worshipping of Idolls c. is as farre from the Order of Christ Jesus and his Christian principles whereof Repentance from dead workes is the first as the building of an House or Palace without the first Groundsell or Foundation laid Peace M r Cotton therefore saith they preach unto them Truth I from my soule wish that all the Lords people in New England were Prophets yea true Apostolicall Ministers or Preachers truely furnished with Christs Abilities and Christs Commission to goe forth to convert and baptize the Nations even these Wildest of the Nations of Adams Children But Conversion of Nations M r Cotton sayth upon Revel 15. untill the seaven plagues of the seaven Angells be fullfilled will not be great This Interpretation I acknowledge to be very probable so far as concernes any great Conversion of the Nations before the downfall of Antichrist and in the meane season I commend the pious Endeavours of any professing Ministery or not to doe good to the Soules of all Men as We have opportunitie But that any of the Ministers spoken of are furnished with true Apostolicall Commission Matth. 28. I see not for these Reasons First The Minister or Ministers whom M r Cotton I conceive intends professe an ordinarie Office in the Church of Christ which is cleerely distinct yea and another thing from the office of an Apostle or one sent forth to preach and baptize Ephes 4. 1 Cor. 12. Secondly Such Churches as are invested with the power of Christ and so authoriz'd to send forth are seperate from the World which many thousands of Gods people dead and living have seene just Reasons to deny those Churches so to be Thirdly Were the Church true and the Messenger or Apostle rightly sent forth with prayer and fasting according to Act. 13. yet I believe that none of the Ministers of New England nor any person in the whole Countrey is able to open the Mysteries of Christ Jesus in any proprietie of their speech or Language without which proprietie it cannot be imagined that Christ Jesus sent forth his first Apostles or Messengers and without which no people in the World are long willing to heare of difficult and heavenly matters That none is so fitted First The Natives themselves affirme as I could instance in many particulars Secondly The Experience of the Discusser and of many others testifie how hard it is for any man to attaine a little proprietie of their Language in common things so as to escape Derision amongst them in many yeares without abundance of conversing with them in Eating travelling and lodging with them c. which none of their Ministers other affaires not permitting ever could doe Peace There being no helpes of Art and learning amongst them I see not how without constant use or a Miracle any man is able to attaine to any proprietie of speech amongst them even in common things And without proprietie as before who knowes not how hardly all men especially Barbarians are brought to heare matters of Heaven so strange and contrary to Nature yea even matters of the Earth except profit and other worldly ends compell them to spell out Mens minds and meaning Truth 3. I may truely adde a third an Instance in the booke of their Conversion written by M r Tho Shepheard there M r Eliot the ablest amongst them in the Indian Speech promising an old Indian a suit of Cloths the man sayth the relation not well understanding M r Eliots speech asked another Indian what M r Eliot said Peace Me thinks the Native not understanding such a common and wellcome promise of cloths upon Gift would farre more hardly understand M r Eliots preaching of the garment of Righteousnesse Christ Jesus unto which Men mutually turne the deafe Eare c. Truth Neither you sweet Peace nor I Expresse thus much to dampe M r Eliot or any from doing all the good they can whiles opportunitie lasts in any truely Christian way but to shew how great that mistake is that pretends such a true preaching of Christ Jesus to them in their owne Language Peace But to proceed in the next Passage M r Cotton affirmes their Impartialitie in permitting others as well as the Indians Truth I answer it is one thing to connive at a strange Papist in private devotions on shoare or in their vessells at Anchor c. Another thing to permit Papists Jewes Turkes c. the free and constant Exercise of their Religion and Worship in their respective Orders and Assemblies were such Inhabitants amongst them Peace Doubtlesse the bloudie Tenent cannot permit this Libertie neither to the Papists Jewes Turkes c. nor to the Indians nor doth their practice toward their Countrymen hould forth a shew of such a freedome or permission Truth I wonder why M r Cotton writes that the most part of the English worship God with them and the rest absent have Libertie to choose their Preachers Since M r Cotton knowes the Petition and Petitions that have been presented for Libertie of Conscience in New England and he cannot but also know the Imprisoning and Fining of some of the Petitioners c. Peace It may be M r Cotton will use the common objection that some part of their Petition tended to Disturbance in Civill Things Truth Some of their Petitions were purely for Libertie of Conscience which some in Office both in Church and State favoured as is reported if not promoted If others or some part of them might be judged offensive against Lawes made yet why then hath not the Libertie of their Conscience in point of Worship been granted to them When they have complained amongst other Passages that they have been forced to stay the baptizing of other Mens children while their owne might not be admitted and therefore earnestly sued for Ministers and Congregations after their owne free choice and Consciences which have ever been denyed to them Peace It is said that their Ministers being consulted with utterly denied to yeeld to any such Libertie Truth They might justly feare that if such a window were opened as once Bishop Gardiner