true Religion to heare and try all Truth Master Cotton may here be intreated to take notice of his own distinction of unrighteousness which a little before he seemed to me to forget for here he rightly distinguisheth between spiritual matters of unrighteousness against the church and civil unrighteousness against the Commonweal I therefore urge as before that the civil Magistrate although he punish according to his civil place and calling civil unrighteousness against the state yet he hath no warrant from Master Cottons argument nor any from the Lord Jesus Christ to punish spiritual unrighteousness against the church and why then should that tearm of unrighteousness so generally and fallaciously go undistinguished and Master Cotton thus promisâ—uoâ—sly proclaime idolatry is unrighteousness heresie is unrighteonsness and therefore the civil Magistrate is bound to punish c 2. But oh that this maxime alleadged by Master Cotton might receive its due weight and consideration hath Christ commanded all means as well as the duty what then is the reason that since as Master Cotton argues that Christ hath commanded all the civil powers of the world such a spiritual duty and yet I say that all or most of the civil states of the world beyond comparison are not furnished by Christ with those chief means of grace and light whereby to try and search as Master Cotton exhorteth Or in some few places where means of light are vouchsafed with hearts and spirits unto such a duty May we not here say that men make Christ Jesus in appointing such officers such a duty without furnishing them accordingly to forget that maxime of his Type Solomon Prov. 26. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the leg and drinketh dammage Did not Christ know as well as John that all the world lay in wickedness that all the world in a respect was then Roman Paganish and that all the world in after-ages would wonder after the beast and become Roman Popish Or can we imagine that Christ Jesus did not foresee the cutting off of legs and the cup of dammage and loss which he must drink in sending his minde and will into the world by such foolish instruments Peace Surely Master Cotton would never advise the civil state ty send a weighty cause and the lives of souldiers with such captaines Nor will he set an unruly childe under the rod of such teachers or reformers He will not set forth his Farme or betrust his cattel no not his very hogs to such keepers Truth On the other hand let the government of Christs kingdome be laid upon the right shoulders and we shall finde the admirable wisdome and care of Christ in the affaires of his kingdom in appointing such messengers or Apostles to gather and found his churches as also ordinary Pastors Shepherds or teachers for their feeding and building up c. The qualification of these the Spirit of God hath expresly and exactly recorded wherein according to the principle mentioned by Master Cotton Christ Jesus his highest care and wisdome shines most gloriously in appointing the means as well as the duty it self Peace But Master Cotton addeth that the causes of religion wherein we allow the civil Magistrate to be Judges are so fundamental and palpable that no Magistrate studious of Religion in the fear of God cannot but judge such as cannot they ought to forbear c. the exercise of their power either in protecting or punishing matters of Religion till they learn so much knowledge of the truth as may inable them to discerne of things that differ This forbearance of theirs saith he is not for want of authority in their callings nor for want of duty in their consciences but want of evidence to them in the cause In which case Magistrates are wont to forbear their exercise of power and judgement even in civil cases Truth O the miserable allowance which Master Cotton hath brought the kings and governors of the world unto We allow them saith he to judge in such fundamentals and palpable causes c. Oh with what proud and domineering feet do all Popes tread upon the necks even of the highest kings and Emperors The Magistrate must wait at their gates for their poor allowance They shall judge and they shall not judge They shall judge that which is gross and palpable and enough to hold the people in slavery and to force them to sacrifice to the Priests belly but the more sublime and nicer mysteries they must not judge or touch but attend upon the tables of the Priests infallibility Peace Concerning fundamentals dear truth you have well observed that since the apostacy and the worlds wondring after the beast even Gods servants themselves untill yesterday have not so much as heard of such a kind of church and so consequently of such a Christ the head of it as Master Cotton now professeth For no other matter and forme of a church about which Master Cotton justly contends was known I say among Gods people themselves till yesterday then the matter and form of the stone or woodden Parish-church Truth Yea an happy man were Mr. Cotton could he rectifie and settle those foundations which are yet so controverted amongst Gods servants to wit the Doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands Peace You may also mention other foundations which want not their great disputes among the servants of Christ Truth But further that Christ Jesus the wisdome of the Father should commit his wife his church to be governed in his absence by such who generally know not the church and Saints but cruelly and blasphemously persecute them with fire and sword and this with charge to suspend most Magistrates of the world and that all their dayes from generation to generation as appeareth in all parts of the world which is such a monstrous and blasphemous Paradox that common reason cannot digest nor suffer Peace If Merchants and owners of ships should commit their vessels to such men as wanted ability to steer their courses nay could not tell what a ship was yea were never like to know all their dayes surely it were not only matter of admiration but even of laughter and derision among all the sons of men Truth But further How weak is that distinstion which Master Cotton makes between authority of calling and duty and evidence in the cause when in all judicatures in the whole world even amongst the Pagans there is necessarily supposed beside these three a fourth to wit ability or skill of discerning or judging in such cases Now cognizance of the cause or evidence of the cause may be wanting in most able judges where matters are not proper or not ripe for hearing and trials whereas our dispute is of the very ability or skil of judging which Master Cotton himself confesseth is wanting except in such Magistrates as fear God which will be found to be but a little flock especially compared with the
charge of souls Christ the true King of Israel Christs threefold sending of preachers â—o other true office of the Ministery since the apostacie but that of prophecy and opening the Testament of Christ against the falshood of Antichrist A foule imputation put upon Christ Jesus Pretended order moâ—â—tâ—oâ—s disorder The Parliaments high justice aggainst oppressors The title head of the Church The civil Megistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel The peoples power All Commonweals that ever have been are or shal be in the World excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil The Decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered The Ministers lay heavy loads upon the Magistrates back A time when no visible Church of God in the world for the right forme and order c. The wolves at Ephesus Act. 20. The duty of civil power in matters of Religion The changing of persecutors is onething the abolishing of persecution another The persecuting Cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracie Neither Old nor New England statechurches separate from the Pope Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes c. The gods of this World The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the 5. dayes The best of our late Bishops as Bishop Hall have not spared to render hereticks and Traitors all one Civil society pluckt up by the rootes Civil honesty may stand with dishonesty against God and Christ in matters of Religion A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist Heresie and apostacie often change their names to truth and Christianity c. Who knows not that the many turnings of Do. Pearne in Cambridge brought it into a proverb to wit to pâ—â—nifie Consciences yeelding to be forced or ravished loosen all conscience 2 Paradoxes How the kings of Israel and Judah were types and figures of Christ to come The types of the old Testament many and deep Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ The fire from heaven Rev. 13 All Truth heavenly moral civil c. precious Vnconverted Christians visibly a paradox Many excellent Magistrates of the Parliament of the Councel of the Army of the City of the Country are also excellent prophets or interpreters of Scripture yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals Magistrates may be prophets in Christs Church More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual Engl. changes in Religion excused by those of Judah but not justly Whether England may â—â—â— receive the Poâ—â— againe Things of God and Caesar Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state The aâ—soâ—uâ—e necessiâ—y of some order of government all the world over Antoninus Pius his distinction The degeneracy of Christianity now professed The loathsome hypocrisie of persecutors In their bloody sentence and proceedings with the persecuted Too short a time set for repentance in New England False teachers commonly hardned by persecution The great sufferings of Master Gorton and his friends in New England Antoninus Pius his Edict against persecution The difference between spiritual and corporal murther Civil justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another The difference of the persecution of the Roman Emperors and the Roman Popes Antoninus Pius his famoâ—â—â—â—â—dict for liberty to the Christians related by that praise-worthy Master John Speede out of Eusebiâ—s The persecuted ever noâ—â—ish an hâ—rd conâ—â—it of 〈…〉 and Tyranay in their persecutors whereas Malefactors confess frequently the justice of their condemners If Civil power may force cut of the church it may also force in Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians Cups of Blood given into the hand of persecuting nations Whether a commonweal prosper in divers religions permitted Men may be very faire and peaceable though not of the only one religion Scriptures perverted from the church to the civil state The Magistrate usually the Cleargies Cane c. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a governor in New England The bloody Tenent plucks up the nations and all civil being c. The plague of the Turkes Romes glory and downfal The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual judges Foul neglects cast upon Christ Jesus The case of Gallio Shameful weakness cast upon the spiritual Artillery of Christ Jesus The spiritual liberties of Christs people in spiritual causes The mighty power of spiritual weapons A vaine fear of false teachers Christ Jesus nor Paul adrest themselves to the civil state Turk and Pope and all Prostants against free conference The ammunition of Christs souldiers David and Goliah types Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers Israels corporal killing types of spiritual Achans troubling of Israel a figure of troubling the Israel or Church of Christ now The day of the civil state in maâ—ters of worship Concerning the kingdomes of the world becoming the kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11. Christ no temporal King Touching forcing men to church A Spanish Inquisition all the world A twofold fire kindled That may consume the kindlers Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience Christ came not to destroy mens bodies though to save their souls Christian weapons considered A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters Strange Carpenters The bloody tenent in plaine English All civil violence in spirituals is for interest Christs spiritual weapons never wanting The civil sword esteemed more powerful then the spiritual Rom. 13. Considered The great fort of The civil Magistrate not charged with the keeping of the seed tables Calvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. Vnâ—ighteousness civil and spiritual Spiritual wars without civil disturbance The nature of twice subjection to civil powers Of the Roman Emperors power in spirituals Foule imputations against Christ Jesus Christ permiteth Tyrants over his churches Saints but appointeth none but his true spiritual Ministers Christ Jesus his careful and most wise provision for his kingdome The Cleargies evil dealing with the civil Magistrate The nature of a church but lately discovered since the apostasie Monstrous Suspentions Spiritual courts and Judges Touching Paul appealing to Caesar Pauls appeal to Caesar Spiritual rights and civil The civil Magistrate not bound to defend spiritual rights Israel a type of the Chrristian Church The â—â—me and odely Christendome Christ Jesus in himself and his spiritual officers the onely Key of Israel Christ Jesus roâ—d of his crown Of custome tribute c. Spiritual defence for spiritual right c. Touching prayer for all authority â— Tim. â— Cross Slavery Civil Ministers and Spiritual The God of heaven hath several sorts of Ministers Ordinarily the Truth is persecuted Touching the â—â—arâ—â— Evil Rom. 13. The civil Magistrate robbed of his civil power Of tolleration which Master Cotton in cases makes large enough The land of Israel a type Touching false and seducing Teachers Monstrous Mixture The great difference of evil and sin as against the civil or spiritual estate Gross
THE BLOODY TENENT YET More Bloody BY Mr Cottons endevour to wash it white in the BLOOD of the LAMBE Of whose precious Blood spilt in the Blood of his Servants and Of the blood of Millions spilt in former and later Wars for Conscience sake THAT Most Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience upon a second Tryal is found now more apparently and more notoriously guilty In this Rejoynder to Mr Cotton are principally I. The Nature of Persecution Examined II. The Power of the Civill Sword in Spirituals Examined III. The Parliaments permission of Dissenting Consciences Justified Also as a Testimony to M r Clarks Narrative is added a Letter to Mr Endicet Governor of the Massachusets in N. E. By R. WILLIAMS of Providence in New-England London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1652. TO THE MOST HONORABLE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Common-wealth of ENGLAND Most Noble Senators ONE of the greatest Spirits and as active as later times have yeelded Charles the fifth tired out with Affairs of State resigns up all and sits down to end his dayes in quiet Contemplation I doubt not but many of your Honorable Heads have felt the thorny Crown of these late years troubles so sharp so weighty that your tired Spirits would joyfully embrace if not with Charles the fifth a totall Cessation yet like some faithfull tired Judge after so long and troublesome a Tearm at least some breathing short Vacation Although I dare not as to Englands peace and safety admit desires of your Totall Cessation or long vacation yet common Gratitude for such incomparable labours expences hazards c. from whence the God of heaven hath vouchsafed such rare and incomparable preservations deliverances enjoyments c. I say common gratitude cannot onely wish you heartily pray for earnestly your eternal Rest and most joyfull Harvest in the Heavens but also all the possible breathing hours and cool retired shades of Contemplation and self-enjoyment amidst the scorching Travels of so many vexing and tedious Actions You cannot ever renowned Patriots but like some grave Commanders of Fleets and Armies who have brought their Ships and followers through tempestuous stâ—rms and bloody fights to joyful Rest and Harbours You cannot but look back with Admirings with Praisings with Resolvings to cast you Crowns and Heads and Hearts and Hands for the remaining Minutes of the short Candle of your life at his Feet in whose most High and most gracious Hands have all your Breaths and wayes been In the review of the multitude of your Actings and Sufferings your Battells and Victories Dangers and Deliverances you cannot no man can but observe and see a naked Arm from Heaven fighting for you but most especially since the times and houres you gratified the most High Eternall King of Kings now more then ever Englands King with these two famous Subsidies if I may in humble Reverence so call them The first of Mercy and Moderation to the poor oppressed Consciences of the English Nation amidst the throng of which he graciously will yea he hath acknowledged that some of his own dear Children the Sonnes and Daughters of the God of Heaven have been relieved and succoured by you The second your high and impartiall drawing of the Sword of Justice upon the great and highest offendors Since which two wonderfull Subsidies the most wilfully blind must be forced to see the glorious Goings of the God of Heaven with your Councels and Armies and the discharge of his holy promise in honouring you who have so highly in so rare and unparalleld Travels and Hazards honored him Concerning the first of these Subsidies I was humbly bold some few yeares since to present you with a Conference between Peace and Truth touching a most bloudy Murtherous Malefactor the bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience a notorious and common Pyrate that takes and robbs that fires and sinkes the Spirituall Shipps and Vessels the Consciences of all men of all sorts of all Religions and Perswasions whatsoever It hath pleased Master Cotton a Man incomparably too worthy for such a service to attempt the washing of this bloody Tenent as hee speakes in the blood of the Lamb CHRIST JESUS though one part of the Conference to wit the Examination of a N. English Modell of Church and Civill Power he leaveth to the washing of some other of the N. English Ministers the Authors of that Modell of whose washings as yet I have not heard of This present discourse presents your Honours with the second part of the Conference between Peace and Truth and hath examined Mr. Cottons Reply and washings I summe up the multitude of my Thoughts touching your Honours Consideration of this point in these three most humble Petitions First I most humbly and earnestly beseech your Honours to mind the Difference between State Necessity of Freedome to different Consciences and the Equity and Piety of such a Freedome State Policie and Necessity of Affairs drew from great Constantine with his Colleague Licinius that famous Edict of Freedome to all mens Consciences whom yet afterward he persecuted But a Successor of his of late years Maximilian the second comes neerer the Life of the Businesse when he conscientiously profest in a solemne Speech to the Bishop of Olmuts in Bohemia There is no sin ordinarily greater against God said he then to use violence against the Consciences of men Your Honours will find if the Father of Spirits please to spare you time and Spirits to mind this Cause and Controversie that all violence to Conscience turns upon these two Hinges First of Restraining from that worshipping of a God or Gods which the Consciences of men in their respective worships all the world over believes to be true Secondly of Constraining to the practising or countenancing of that whereof their Consciences are not perswaded In the practice of both these the Histories of our own Nation will tell us besides the forraigne how sharp and zealous the strongest Swords of England have ever us'd to be And yet of the practice of both what a Propheticall passage of our late troubles and King did the foresaid Maximilian expresse to Henry the third of France in his passage from Poland to France to claim the French Crown to this effect Sir remember that when men think to get Heaven by using violence to the Consciences of men they oftentimes lose that which they might peaceably have kept on Earth Some have said that worldly policie perswaded as well as State-necessity compelled the States of Holland to a prudent permission of different Consciences And that the said State-Policie perswaded some Dutch to wish that England might not tolerate least a permission of Conscience in England should break down the Bridge and Passage into their parts of Freedome in causes of Conscience Those prudent and prosperous States have gone
the twelve and the seventy Secondly By his visible kingly power left in the hand of his true churches and the officers and governors thereof In which sence that church of Antioch and the governors thereof rightly invested with the kingly power of Christ Jesus sent forth Paul and Barnabas with prayer and fasting and saying on of hands And Paul and others of Christs messengers being furnished with this kingly power not only planted churches but also ordained elders visited these churches or visible cities of Judah that knowledge and teaching and the word of God might dwel plenteously among them Thirdly Christ Iesus as king of his church and head of his body during the distractions of his house and kingdome under Antichrists apostacy immediately by his own holy Spirit stirs up and sends out those fiery witnesses Rev. 11. to testifie against Antichrist and his several abominations For as for lawful calling to a true ordinary Ministery neither Wickliff in England nor Waldâ—â— in France nor Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prauge in Bohemia nor Luther in Germany nor multitudes more of famous preachers and prophets of Christ both in these countries and also in Spaine Italy c. I say no true ordinary Ministerial calling can they ever shew but Christ Jesus by the secret motion of his own holy Spirit extraordinarily excited in couraged and sent them abroad as an Angel or messenger Rev. 14. with the everlasting Gospel c. Peace To apply these three wayes or any of them to the civil Magistrates and rulers of the world of whom Iehosaphat in that his act should be a type is but to prophane the holy name of God to leane upon and â—dolize an arme of flesh c. Truth I grant the civil Magistrate is bound to countenance the true Ministers of Christ Iesus to incourage protect and defend them from injuries but to send them armed as the Popes Legats and Priests with a sword of steel and to compel people to hear and obey them this savours more of the spirit of the Pope his courses and practises Yea of Mahomet his Mussel-men Dâ—rgâ—es c. then the Lambe of God and his followers Peace What Iehosophat Asa Hezekiah Iosiah c. did they did not only by perswasion countenance example by which all are bound to further the preaching of Christ Iesus but also by force of armes and corporal punishments Truth Yea even to the death it self and this is not a bare sending out of Ministers as Master Cotton gives the instance For by his argument all rulers kings and Emperors and other states of the world ought to embrue their hands in the blood of the many thousands and millions of millions of the poor people if they forsake not their idolatry and embrace the religion which they say is Christian and the only true Peace No saith Master Cotton this ought not to be because only godly and truly Christian Magistrates may so put forth this power of Christ others must stay until they be informed Truth Can it enter into any Christian heart to believe that Christ Jesus should so loosly provide for his affaires so slightly for his name and Fathers work and so regardlesly for his dearest Spouse as to leave so high a care and charge with such as generally and constantly throughout the whole world are ignorant of yea and opposite to the very name of Christ and true Christianity Peace Surely if this payment were offered to the governour as Malachy saith to the world or governments of it it would not pass Truth I never knew a king or captaine councellor or constable officers of high or low condition rightly called according to to God who were not invested with ability more or less for the maine and principal points of their charge and duty Peace It seemes indeed a marvelous and yet it is Master Cottons conclusion that such Magistrates yea all or most of the Magistrates that ever have been since Christ and now extant upon the face of the earth must sit down stay and suspend and that all their life long from the executing of the maine and principal part of their office to wit in matters concerning the conscience religion and worship of the people Truth Yea Secondly in a due survey of the whole universe and globe of this world will one of a thousand or ten thousand according to Master Cottons disabling of them from the chief part of their office be found I will not say fit to be but to be at all lawful civil Magistrates or rulers according to Gods ordinance of Magistracy but meer shadows or images set on high with empty names or titles only of Magistrates Peace Master Cotton adds Although the good of souls is the proper or adequate object of the spiritual officers of Christ and the bodies and goods of the people the proper or adequate object of the civil Magistrate yet in order to the good of their souls he ought to procure spiritual helpes and to prevent spiritual evils Truth I reply If he mean as it is clear he doth that the civil Magistrate ought to do this not only as a Christian by spiritual meanes but as a civil Magistrate by force of armes It is not in order but monstrous disorder for then he the civil Magistrate must sit Judge judicially and formally in those spiritual causes and cases which Master Cotton grants are proper and adequate objects of the spiritual officers which Christ hath appointed Peace Yea why may not saith Master Cotton the Magistrate use his power spiritually in order to the good of bodies as the officers of Christ dehort from idleness and intemperance of meats and drinks c. in order to the good of souls Truth The spiritual officers in dehorting from these evils or any other of that kind interfere not nor take cognizance of that which belongs not to their spiritual court for holiness in all manner of conversation is the circle wherein they ought to see all their spiritual subjects to walk If the spiritual officers should cause by force of armes their people to walk justly temperately c. as Master Cotton saith the civil Magistrate in order to the good of bodies ought to deal in spiritual and soul-matters I say then the eyes of the civil Magistrate would begin to open and to see the horrible disorder and Babylonish confusion of that which is here masked under the abused name of order Peace Master Cotton closeth up this chapter with very bitter censures against the discusser Truth The discusser may well reply that although since the apostacy he sees not the visible thrones and tribunals of Christ Jesus according to his first institution erected and although the civil Magistrate hath not the power of Christ in matters of religion yet they that slay the Lords sheep are not exempted from all judgement For if the offenders slay them corporally the Lord hath armed the civil Magistrate with the sword of God to take vengeance
truth is concerning Gallio whatever he was in his person and however he did evil in suffering the peace to be broken yet will Master Cotton never prove that he had calling from either God or man to go beyond his civil Magistracy and office to intermeddle with matters of a spiritual nature and that Gallio knew well enough and other Magistrates of the world shall know in the Lords most gracious appointed season Peace The discusser ending this Chapter with the infallible safety of Gods chosen notwithstanding all ravenous wolves c. Master Cotton replies from Deut. 13. that God was able to keep his sheep in Israel yet they that seduced them were to be put to death Truth That argument was not alleadged with the derogation to any of Gods holy ordinances which concern the calling or preserving of such whom God hath chosen to salvation but only to discover the over-busie fear of Gods loosing any of his chosen to salvation by the jaws of spiritual wolves c. For Deut. 13. Let Master Cotton produce such a miraculous nation or people as I may call it so brought out of the land of Egypt into covenant with God c. and I shall readily grant that seducers of such a people from such a God are worthy to die a thousand deaths But if Master Cotton will now tell me that the Christian congregational church is the Israel of God and the coming forth of Egypt is now mystical and spiritual why will he not content himself with a mystical and spiritual death to be inflicted upon him that shall seduce an Israelite from the Lord his God Examination of CHAP. XLIII Peace UPon the fifth query to wit whether the elders of the church at Ephesus were not sufficiently furnished by the Lord Jesus to drive away these spiritual and mystical wolves Master Cotton replies by granting that they were furnished with sufficient power to cast them out of the church but being cast out they had not sufficient power to drive them away from conferring and corrupting the members of the church or other godly ones out of the church and he adds that it is no dishonour to Christ nor impeachment to the sufficiency of his ordinances left by Christ that in such a case the minister of justice in the civil state should assist the Ministers of the Gospel in the church state Truth This grant and this addition do as ill agree as light and darkeness Christ and Belial together For is the church or kingdome of Christ Jesus sufficiently furnished that is in it self without the help of the civil Magistrate to excommunicate to cast these wolves out of the Fold Oh let M. Cotton then and all that love Christ Jesus in truth observe what evidently follows then is this church of Christ sufficiently furnished to receive such persons in againe upon repentance then sufficiently furnished at first to be congregated together by Christs means to ordaine their officers to judge of doctrines and persons and all this necessarily upon Master Cottons grant without the help of the civil Magistrates Peace Yea and it seemes to me incredible and unreasonable that Christ Jesus should have left power and authority sufficient to take and bind a rebel against his kingdome to arraigne him and pass sentence upon him yea and execute him in the cutting off such an offendor from the land of the living delivering him over into the power of that roaring Lyon the devil And yet that Christ Iesus should not have left power sufficient in such publick high and solmne actions of his kingdome to declare sufficient cause of such proceedings by which all men may see the goings of the Son of God in his church and kingdome or if willfully blind may justly be further hardned Truth The place from Titus alleadged unto which many other Scriptures testifie I say that place doth evidently shew that the power of Christ Iesus left in the hand of his churches and elders was not only sufficient to cast out such wolves but even to stop or muzzle their mouthes whatever their gainsaying be whether by conferring preaching printing c. which takes off the plea of the great need of the civil sword to correct the conference of such persons c. when by the words of Paul it is here plaine that they can perform such conferences no otherwise but with a stopt or muzled mouth Let it be produced where Christ Iesus in such cases writes to the Magistrates either of Crete or Ephesus or any other civil jurisdiction where the churches were resident to help the Ministers and churches with their civil powers after they had cast forth any person obstinate Doubtless Christ Iesus in Paul and other of his servants would have written to some or such Magistrates in some place or others having occasion to write to so many churches about such cases Peace It will possibly be said it had been in vaine for they were idolaters and persecutors Truth The Lord is pleased throughout the whole Scripture in the mouths of his servants and prophets to call for duties at the hands of all men notwithstanding their natural hardness and inability that so he might drive them to see their duty and misery and remedy alone in God by Christ Jesus Peace I see now that this hindring of conference c. by the civil sword is nothing else but a conformity with the Pope in defending his Canons and with the Turk in guarding his Alcoran by fire and sword with whom and their ways Christ Jesus hath no conformity nor communion nor with their carnal sword his two-edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth Rev. 1. Beside Christ Jesus hath not onely furnished his church with power sufficient to excommunicate but every one of his followers with a compleat armour from head to foot helmet breast-plate sword and Target and and spiritual shoes Ephes 6. in which respect the least of Christs servants are inabled to stop the mouth of Papists Pope Turks and devils Peace Yea all experience shews how Christ Jesus little David in the least of his servants hath been able with those plaine smooth stones out of the brook of holy Scripture to lay groveling in their spiritual gore the stoutest Champions Popes Cardinals Bishops Doctors of the Antichristian Philistins Truth I add if the elders and churches and ordinances of Christ have such need of the civil sword for their maintenance and protection I mean in spiritual things sure the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be excused for not being careful either to express this great ordinance in his will and Testament or else to have furnished the civil state and officers thereof with ability and hearts for this their great duty and employment to which he hath called them the contrary whereof in all Ages in all nations and in all experience hath ever been most lamentably true Peace I am not clear dear truth in the distinction Master Cotton makes of
word of God suffers no man to preach in the whole country where his Scaffolds are set up but whom he pleaseth nor no doctrine to be taught but what he liketh no church to be gathered no persons to make up this church no persons to receive the Sacrament but what he approves of yea and further with broad axes and hammers and other tooles of violence should compel all persons directly or indirectly to come to church to make use of his Scaffold c. Whether this be not the true state of the business the Carpenters Son Christ Jesus will shortly more and more discover and break and tumble down those painted Scaffolds and fairest houses which are not built and framed according to the first most blessed line and rule of his holy institution and appointments Examination of CHAP. XLV Peace UPon the unfitness alleadged of spiritual weapons to batter a natural or artificial hold and consequently the unfitness of natural and carnal weapons to batter the spiritual strong holds in the heart Master Cotton replies that he allows not the civil state to make use of their civil weapons to batter down idolatry and heresie in the souls of men But if saith he the idolater or heretick grow obstinate worseand worse deceiving himself c. Now he maketh not use of stocks and whips which will but exasperate the malady but of death and banishment that may cut him off from the opportunity of spreading his leaven c. Truth Methinks in this passage Master Cotton resembleth an armed man who being almost convinced or overcome by the Spirit of God in the former part of this passage granting how unproper and unfit carnal weapons be in spiritual matters yet being loath to yeeld and holding up the goodness of his cause he recovers again and grows more fierce and violent for bearing more gentle stroaks of stocks and whips he cuts deeper with no less then quick and dreadful gashings of death or Banishment that the world were he one of the worlds Monarchs may be rid of such 〈…〉 Peace Oh How can Master Cotton wash this Tenent from blood Truth Yea whether this tenent be not invented as once that learned chancellor of England said of all violence against conscience for an end or interest or as that incarnate devil the Pope said more plainly of the fable of Christ for honor and profit shall further be examined Peace But who can read the bloody colour in this book and yet believe what Master Cotton elsewhere saith that he holds not persecution for cause of conscience Truth Lastly I aske whether is it not the same skill and power of Physick and Surgery that preserves the body and each member in health and welfare with that which cuts off as Master Cotton speaks the Gangrene c and since also t is in vaine to go about when the next way is as good or better what means then Master Cotton to bring in the Magistrate using spiritual means in all lenity and wisdome against heresie and idolatry in the souls of men since death or banishment will effect the cure so quickely Peace To proceed whereas it was urged that although civil weapons were proper in spiritual matters yet they were not necessary c. Master Cotton replies this is but a meer pretence because the discusser saith he denies all Church officers and Church weapons Truth This formerly was cleered from all appearance of pretence because during all the reign of the beast the discusser granteth the impregnable power of the spiritual weapons of Christs witnesses Rev. 11. although he see not extant the true form and order of the kingdome of Christ Jesus which at first he was pleased to establish Peace Master Cotton adds Although spiritual weapons are mighty to purge out leaven and to mortifie the flesh of offenders yet that is not a supersedeas to civil Magistrates to neglect to punish those sins which the church hath censured if the person censured do proceed to subvert the truth of the Gospel or the peace of the church or the souls of the people Truth Why must the Magistrate stay until the party censured do proceed so and so Why could not he have spared the drawing forth of any spiritual weapons since they are so effectual to do that which was not in the power and reach of the spiritual Why was not the first obstinacy which merited the spiritual stroaks and cersures worthy of the exercise of the civil Magistrates power and zeale Peace Me thinks this is an evident demonstration that men repose more confidence however they deceive themselves to the contrary in the sword of steel that hangs by the side of the civil officer then in the two-edged sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Jesus Rev. 1. Truth The truth is such doctrine makes Christs spiritual sword but serviceable and subordinate unto the temporal or worldly powers and presents the church but making essayes and trials of that cure which death and banishment gilded over with pretence of Gods glory c. they think will not faile to effect c. Peace More plainly therefore writes another Author of Master Cottons mind thus It is known by experience that one reproof or threatning from the Magistrate hath been known to do more then an hundred admonitions from the Minister Truth Yea no question to force a nation or a world of men to play the idolaters hypocrites c. but Gods true servants of whom these three famous Jews are type Dan. 3. know that God whom they serve is able to deliver them from such fiery threatnings and executions But if he please to try them as his gold in such fiery tryals they will not bow down to invented gods or worships Peace Methinks dear truth such Ministers deal upon the point and in effect with the civil Magistrate just as that ambitious Pope with the Emperors to wit make them hold the stirrop while they mount c. But I grieve c. What think you therefore of Master Cottons censure of the rest of the discourse in this Chapter to wit that it is but as Jude speaks clouds without waters words without matter c. Truth I will say no more but this Happily through Gods mercy Master Cottons censure may occasion some to view what he despiseth yea and happily to finde some heavenly drops out of those contemned empty clouds Examination of CHAP. XLVI Peace THe 13 to the Rom. which the answerer quotes is a fort of of such importance in so many controversies depending between the Papist and the Protestant and between many Protestants among themselves that all seek to gaine and win it In this present controversive I finde a wonderful wresting of this holy Scripture even by many holy and peaceable though herein violent and sinful hands and let the charge be examined in the fear of God whether slanderous as Master Cotton intimates or true and righteous Master Cotton freely grants that this
many thousands and ten thousands of those who neither know God nor Christ nor care to know them and this in all the states regions and civil governments of the world Eamination of CHAP. XLIX Peace COncerning Pauls appeale to Caesar it was argued that Paul appealed to Caesar even in spiritual things which that Paul did not nor could not do without the committing of five great evils was pleaded in this Chapter Master Cotton â—â—phes no more but this The reasons are but Bulrushes Truth Whether they are so or no or rather the Bulrushes and weak things of God which the gates of hell shall never be able to shake let the Saints judge in the fear of God Peace Master Cotton adds further in this Chapter that Paul pleadeth he was not guilty in any of those things whereof the Jews accused him those things saith he concerned the Law of the Jews and the Temple which were matters of religion and for trial thereof he appealed to Caesar Truth Lysias the chief captaine in his letter to Felix the Governor Chap. 24. distinguisheth vers 29. into questions of the Jews Law and secondly matters worthy of death or bonds Now t is true the Jews charged Paul with offences against religion their Law and the Temple Secondly against the civil state and with sedition For the first although it is apparent that all the scope of Pauls preaching was to exalt Christ Jesus and to preach down Moses â—aw yet at this present time of his apprehension he had seen cause to honour Moses his institutions at Jerusalem which was the wisdome of God in him for a season for the Jews sake and his own glory-sake And he had not at this present so much as disputed with any in the temple which was not so hainous a matter in Pauls eye as it is well known by his constant practice Secondly for matters of civil crime he pleadeth that he stirred up no mâ—n â—oâ— in the Synagogue nor City and prefesseth Chap. 25. that if he had committed ought worthy of death he would not wave death T is true that Paul was charged by the Iews with both these kinds of offences religious and civil according to Lysius his distinction but that Paul appealed to Caesar for tryal that is for trial of his person and cause in any religious respect as it cannot be collected from the Scripture or Paul own words so those five reasons against it will evidently disprove it if they be well and throughly weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary in the sight and fear of God Peace I cannot in my understanding clear Master Cottons own words from destroying one another T is true saith he those five sins might have been charged upon Paul with some colour if he had appealed to Caesar whether his religion or Ministery or Ministration were of God or no But yet saith he he might appeal whether his religion Ministry or Ministration were guilty of any capital crime against the Law of the Iews or the temple or against Caesar Truth Indeed what difference is there between the judging whether this Ministery deserve death supposing a false Ministery is worthy of death or judging whether it be of God or false and idolatrous must not he that sits judge of the desert and punishment judge also of the crime and fact whether so or not Peace When Master Cotton shall affirme and truly that the Magistrates of Israel were to judge a false prophet to death will he not also grant that they were to judge whether such persons so charged were false prophets or no Truth Yea and when Master Cotton shall affirme as unjustly that civil Magistrates in all nations of the world ought to kill or banish hereticks blasphemers seducers out of their dominions and jurisdictions doth he intend that they shall try and examine whether they be such and such or no But blessed be the Father of lights who hath now opened the eyes of so many thousands of his people to discern the difference between the Forts and Bulwarks of God here called Bulrushes and those strong holds and high imaginations of men erected against the crown and kingdome of the Lord Iesus which in Gods holy season shall more and more be found to be but straws and Bulrushes Examination of CHAP. L. Peace TO the arguing against the Magistrates civil power in Spiritual causes taken from the nature of the Magistrates weapons a material earthly and worldly sword distinguished from the two-edged sword of Christs spiritual power in the mouth of Christ Master Cotton replies First the Magistrate must governe his people in Righteousness and it is Righteous to defend his people in their Spiritual Rights as well as in their civil Rights This distinction of spiritual and civil Righteousness doth truely anatomize the cause It is righteous for the Magistrates to defend their subjects in their civil Rights for it is within the compass of his calling being essentially civil And unless we also grant him a spiritual calling and office which is the Point denied 't is beyond his calling and compass to judge of what is spiritual Right and wrong and accordingly to pass a spiritual sentence and and execute and inflict spiritual punishment Peace Methinks I may add if the Magistrate be bound to defend his Subjects in their spiritual rights then as he is bound impartially to defend all his subjects in their several and respective civil Rights so is he bound as impartially to defend all his subjects in their several and respective spiritual Rights and so accordingly to defend the Iews the Papists and all several sores of Protestants in their severall and respective consciences or else he must sit down in Christs stead and produce a Royal charter from the New Testament of Christ Iesus to judge difinitively which is the onely right to pass sentence and execute spiritual punishment on all offenders c. Peace But Master Cotton adds a second the sword was Material and civil in the Old Testament I answer If Master Cotton granted a national church under the Gospel his Argument were good but when he grants that national church under the Jews as afterward in this chapter he doth did type out the Christian church or churches in the Gospel why must he not grant that material Sword of the Church of Israel types out the spiritual sword of Christ Iesus proceeding out of his mouth and cutting off offenders spiritually with spiritual and soul punishments And I add As the sword was material so also was the Tabernacle and Temple worldly and material which he denies not to be typical of the spiritual Temple of Christ and his Church in the New Testament Peace Master Cotton adds Thirdly that the Magistrates Sword may well be call'd the Sword of God as the Sword of War Iudg. 7. Truth As it was call'd Iehovahs Sword in that typical Land So must it needs be typical as well as the Land it self which is
the Conscience of the Magistrate may know First That the carriage of the Lord Jesus about this case when the Question was precisely put to him was extraordinary and strange For although unto other Questions even of the Pharisees Herodians Sadduces the High Priest and Pilate he gave more or lesse first or last punctuall Resolutions yet here he condemnes the sinne yet he neither confirmes nor disanulls this punishment but leaves the Question in all probabilitie and leaves the severall Nations of the World to their owne severall Lawes and Agreements as is most probable according to their severall Natures Dispositions and Constitutions and their common peace and wellfare Secondly The Lord Jesus 1 Pet. 2. approveth of the severall humane Ordinances or Creations which the severall peoples and Nations of the World shall agree upon for their common peace and subsistence Hence are the severall sorts of Governments in the Nations of the World which are not framed after Israels Patterne And hence consequently the Lawes Rewards and Punishments of severall Nations vastly differ from those of Israell which doubtles were unlawfull for Gods people to submit unto except Christ Jesus had at least in generall approved such humane Ordinances and Creations of Men for their common peace and wellfare Peace Me-thinks M r Cotton and such as literally stick to the punishment of Adultery Witchcraft c. by Death must either deny the severall Governments of the World to be lawfull according to that of Peter and that the Nature and Constitutions of peoples and Nations are not to be respected but all promiscuously forced to one common Law or els they must see cause to moderate this their Tenent which else proves as bloudie a Tenent in civill affaires as persecution in affaires religious Truth Yea of what wofull consequence must this prove to the state of Holland and Low-Countries to the State of Venice to the Cantons of Switzerland to our owne deare State of England and others who have no King as Israells last established Government had especially no King immediately designed as Israells in the Roote was Yea what becomes of all Christianitie and of Christs Church and Kingdome in the World for ever if it want the Government of a King for sayth Bishop Hall in his Contemplation on Michaes Idolatrie in plaine and expresse words No King therefore no Church Peace To end this passage upon the former grounds methinks the Conscience of a New English Magistrate being calld to be a Magistrate in Old England may in Faith execute any other punishment according to Law established beside Death upon Adulterers And the New English Colonies may be exhorted to rectifie their wayes and to moderate such their Lawes which cannot possibly put on the face of morall Equitie from Moses c. Truth Your Satisfaction Deare Peace now praesupposed I proceed and grant with that Limitation forementioned that Christ Jesus neither abrogated Moses Moralls nor Judicialls yet who will deny that Moses established beside the two former a third to wit Lawes meerly figurative typicall and ceremoniall proper and peculiar to that Land and people of Israel Those Lawes necessarily wrapt up that Nation and people in a mixt constitution of Spirituall and Temporall Religious and Civill so that their Governours of Civill State were Governours of the Church and the very Land and People were by such Governours to be compelled to observe a ceremoniall puritie and Holines But Christ Jesus erected another Common-weale the Common-weale of Israel the Christian Common-weale or Church to wit not whole Nations but in every Nation where he pleaseth his Christian Congregation c. Peace Deare Truth I cannot count him a peaceable childe of mine that rests not herewith satisfied M r Cottons next Exception is against your excepting against a Magistrates Membership in a Church-estate joyned with an Head-ship over it to establish reforme c. as being impossible that a Magistrate should sit Head and Supreame on the spirituall Bench yet stand as a delinquent at the spirituall Barre of Christ Jesus M r Cotton answers that in severall respects a Magistrate may be a nursing Father and Judge in causes Ecclesiastiall and yet be subject to Christs censure in the offensive Government of himselfe against the Rules of the Gospel And where it might be said that the Church is subject to the Magistrate in civill causes and the Magistrate is subject to the Church in spirituall cases M r Cotton answers this easeth not the Difficultie for suppose sayth he the Magistrate fall into Murther Adulterie c. which are civill Abuses shall the Church tollerate him herein And he concludes Let the like Power be granted to the civill Magistrate to deale faithfully with the Church in the notorious Transgression of the first Table as is granted to the Church to deale with the Magistrate in the notorious Transgression of the second Table and the Controversie is ended Truth This Answer and instance of M r Cotton carries a seeming Beautie with it but bring it to the Triall of the Testament of Christ Jesus and it will appeare to be but a vanishing Colour For there is a vast Difference The sins of each Church-member whether against the first or second Table are proper to the Cognizance and Judgement of the Church as the sinne of the Incestuous person was punished by Christs Ordinances in the Church at Corinth as well as the Abuse of the Lords Supper But it is not so with the civill Magistrate whose Office is essentially civill one and the same all the world over among all Nations and people For having no spirituall power as the Authours of the Modell afterwards acknowledge he cannot possibly act as a Civill Magistrate in spirituall matters though as a Church-member he may in Church-estate as also may the rest of the Members of that spirituall Body Peace Me-thinks it it cleare as the Light that if that incestuous person in the Church of Corinth had beene a Magistrate of the Citie of Corinth the Church might justly have proceeded against him because all sinne is directly opposite to the holy Kingdome of Christ But in that abuse of the Lords Supper which was meerly unchristian neither that Magistrate nor all the Magistrates of Corinth or the World to helpe him could justly punish the Church because that Supper in the Institution and Spirituall use of it was not onely of the Nature of the Suppers of the meates and drinks of the Citie of Corinth but also of a divine and spirituall Institution of a heavenly and mysticall Nature and Observation But to Conclude this piece and the whole M r Cotton corrects himselfe for putting in his Sickle into the Harvest of his Brethren unto whom he refers the defence of their Modell and for himselfe ends with desires that Christ Jesus would blast that peace which he sayth the Examiner proclaimeth to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth If
Civill Power prove the Churches of the same Nature with the Head that acts and calls them Touching the difference between the Church of the Jewes and the Christian Churches The holy Land of Canaan a Nonesuch A Figure of the Chrâ—stian The weapons of the Jewes and Christians compared No Speare nor Sword in Israel New-England loath to be accounted persecutours Lawes concerning Gods Worship Dangerous distinctions Touching keeping of both Tables Of Magistrates Judgement in Spirituals c. Of Qualifications of Magistrates Of Magistrates Abilities David and Hezekiah figurative Kings c. Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion Wofull Soul-saving The power of Parents Husbands Magistrates in spirituals 1 Cor. 7. The tearme Souls-good commonly but a paint c. The promises of temporall mercies considered Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children Of Lawes binding Conscience Persecution the ordinarie Portion of Christs Followers Two States wonderfully favoured by God upon mercy shewed to oppressed Consciences formerly Holland and now the State of England Bodies and Goods the Magistrates object Oppression in Bodies Goods and Minde Wealth Honour and Prosperitie seldome attending Christs true Followers What is the CoÌ„mon weale of Israel The Roman Empire flourisheth in worldly glory without Christ The Citie of Rome famous for prosessing Christ Jesus Christs Spouse most chast under persecution The Roman Monarchy bloody to the Saints Constantine a friend and enemy to Christs Spouse The state of the Romane Empire before and after Christ God will not wrong nor have Caesar wronged Concerning toleration in New England Witnesse the bloody whipping of Obadiah Homes for the point of Baptisme lately at Bostonâ— Communion Spirituall two-fold The great Triall among Papists Protestants concerning comming to Church Touching prayers for Vengeance upon Gods Enemies Stirring up of the Civill State to persecure The bloudie Tenent of persecution is alone the King killing and Stare-killing Doctrine Amoninus Pius his Edict for the Christians Transgression against the Spirituall or Civill peace Persecutours of Christs Sheepe pretend to save them and kill none but Wolves Antichristian Ministers great Thieves Hireling Ministers Fryars in Chancers time and the Cleargie in our time considered The Turkes themselves will be Muslemanni or right beleevers The horrible partialite of persecutors Misticall sheep Paul his striking Elimas blind considered Of the power of miracles Spirituall sheep and wolves considered The Pope and all proud Popish Priests and Cleargie use the Civill Powers but as Dogs The Protestant Cleargie their dealing with Magistrates A suspending or hanging up of Magistrates The great spirituall differences of these late Times Of rest from persecution Gods children may possibly fight each against the other 〈…〉 Antichristians against Antichristians but principally against Christ Touching spirituall murther Touching Seducers The hainousnes of spirituall stumbling blocks Punishing of Seducers Common-weale twofold and Rebellion twofold Mysticall Wolves and Muskeetoes Of Soule-killing Touching State Religions Gods children Gods Citie Nation and Kingdome A State Religion a prison A forc't Religion Of the late Warres The bloudie Tenent guilty of the Rivers of Bloud c. Warres for Religion Constantines warres for the Christians Constantines Edict against forcing in Religion Never any true Nationall Religion in the World but one Touching Pauls blasphemy before his Conversion Of Apostates Fallacious mixture and confusion Spirituall Treason recanted forgiven but not so by way ofcourse the Civill An Instance from â—â— Haywood and the Lord Cromwell in King Henry the 8. his dayes Of Moses Judicialls The first three hundred years after Christ The Primitive Church the purest and yet without a Civill Sword Christ no Author of Civill violence for Religion The Levites killing 3000. Exod 32. typicall Phineas his Act. The spirituall Civill State vastly different in their frame Lawes Officers c. Elijah and the Baalites The types and figures of the old Testament Righteousnes two fold The state oâ— Israel typicall Not only morall but naturall Actions of the Israelites typicall Whether Eliahs procuring the slaughter of the Baalites was Typicall or Morall No Commission from Christ for corporall punishment in religious matters Strange and monstrous duties of Morall Righteousnesse Gods children are wonders and monsters accounted Elijah his slaying the Captaines and their fifties Wonderfull Spiders and Cobwebs Prov 30 Touching Seducers and their punishments Christ Jesus abolished former figures though he name not each of them in particular The Mysterie of the Bloudy Tenent The bloudie consequences of the bloudy Tenent The sad Effects of the bloudie Tenent on M r Cottons owne Spirit A lamentable Character of the change of M r Cottons Spirit Differences of Gods own children in Old and New England Profession of Christ Jesus in New-England not so like to be true as that which was persecuted in Old The great â—in of New-Englands former Pattents The Authours tryalls about the Pattents of New-England Gods children may be guilty of bloudy persecution for the hiding of their spirituall uncleannessee Gods mercy in stopping New-Englands persecution by the mercy of old England the mother to dissenting Consciences Holy Cranmer and Cromwell joyning with persecutours of Christ Jesus out of great weaknes in H. 8. his dayes The most famous passages of Cromwell Lambert in H. the 8. his dayes Of Admonition and Conviction Conviction two-fold Of Conviction of Hereticks Conviction sufficient externall by the word and efficient internall by Gods Spirit Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer Seducer and Deceiver that ever was in this world Small matters accounted Heresies The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councell at Constance The bloudie Tenent destroying civilitie and humane Societie out of the World All Men are confident in their owne opinions The persecutour of Turks Pagans Jewes or Antichristiane is in a greater errour then any of them The bloudie Fruits of the bloudie Tenent Touching confidence in opinions Freedome of Conscience hath ever been a Peace-maker in all NatioÌ„s where it hath appeared And especially at this houre in England How Christ delights in bloud Of persecuting Apostates A monstrous suspension or hanging up of Magistrates Allegations of Scriptures ought seriously to be mad and answered Millions of Turks Jewes and Antichristians are far from the due charge of Apostasie The mysterie of the red Horse of War A spirituall and Civill peace Two wofull opinions bewitching the Nations The 3 great Causes of the downfall of the Church of Rome Touching a New English Modell of Church and civill power * Writing to â—â—â— M r Hall Deepe Censures for none or innocent mistakes Touching Moses his Judicialls Israel in a kinde a miraculous people Touching punishment of Adulterie All Civill Government Gods Ordinance True Republikes Common-weales without Kings A wonderfullâ— saying of Bishop Hall The State of Israel Of Magistrates being nursing Fathers c. Of Magistrates Power in Spiritualls Of the sins of Magistrates A case touching the Magistrates punishing the Sin of Church members The direfull state of false Worshippers The Portraiture
civil state maintenance proveth a state Church p. 231 Synods assembled by civil power cannot be but civil also p. 231 The holy Land and Country of Canaan a None-such p. 232 The weapons of the Jews and Christians compared p. 233 New English loath to be accounted persecutors p. 234 Laws concerning Gods worship p. 234 240 Touching the Magistrates keeping of both Tables p. 235 Of Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion p. 237 Woful soul-saving ibid. The tearm souls Good commonly but a paint p. 238 Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children p. 239 Holland and England wonderfully prospered upon mercy shewn to consciences p. 241 Bodies and goods not conscience subject to civil powers p. 242 What is the Commonweal of Isreal p. 243 The Romane Emperor flourished long though without Christ p. 244 Christs spouse most chast under persecution ibid. Constantine a friend and an enemy to Christs spouse p. 245 Concerning toleration in New England p. 247 Papists and Protestants both force to Church p. 248 Prayers for vengeance upon persecutors p. 249 The bloody Tenent of persecution is a King-killing and Sure killing p. 250 Pâ—rsecutors pretend to save but kill p. 251 Hireling Ministers ibid. Friers in Chaucers time and the Clergy in our time considered The Turkes will be Muselmanni that is true believers p. 253 Mystical sheep and wolves p. 253 254 Pauls striking Elimas blind considered p. 254 The Clergy using the Magistrate as dogs p. 256 The great spiritual differences of these times p. 257 Gods children may possibly fight each against other p. 258 Spiritual murtherers and seducers p. 259 261 Commonweal and Common-woe twofold p. 259 Mystical wolves and Muskeeto's p. 261 A state and forc't Religion a prison p. 262 Of Constantines wars for the Christians p. 263 Never any true Religion in the world but one p. 264 Touching Pauls blasphemy before his conversion ibid. An instance from John Haywood and the Lord Cromwel in K. Henry the eighth his days p. 265 Of Moses Judicials p. 266 The first Christians the purest and yet the civil sword was against them p. 267 The Levites killing 3000 Exod. 32 typical p. 268 Phineasâ— his act considered ibid. Elijah and the Baalites and other figurative passages of the Old Testament p. 269 270 Strange and monstrous duties of Moral righteousness p. 271 Gods children are monsters accounted c. p. 272 Elijah his slaying the Captains and their Fifties ibid. Wonderful Spiders and Cobwebs ibid. Touching Seducers and their punishments p. 273 The sad effects of the Bloody Tenent on M. Cotton's own spirit p. 274 275 The differences of Gods people in Old and New England p. 276 The great sin of New Englands former Patents p. 276 277 Old England curbing New Englands persecutions ibid. Holy Cranmer and Cromwel joyning with bloody persecutors in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 The famous passages of Cromwel and Lambert in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 Conviction twofold p. 279 280 Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer and Seducer in the world p. 381 Small matters accounted Heresies ibid. The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councel at Constance p. 282 The Bloody Tenent destroys civility out of the world p. 282 285 All men confident in their own way p. 284 He that persecutes Jews Turks Pagans or Antichristians is in a greater errour then any of them ibid. Freedom of conscience a great peace-maker p. 286 287 Of persecuting Apostates p. 287 288 Two woful opinions bewitching the Nations p. 289 Three great causes of the downfal of the Church of Rome p. 290 Touching the New English model of Church and Civil power p. 290 M. Cotton ' s too deep censuring p. 291 Israel a miraculous people p. 292 Touching the punishment of adultery among the Jews p. 293 All civil Government Gods Ordinance ibid. True Commonweals many without Kings p. 294 A wonderful saying of Bishop Hall ibid. Magistrates nursing fathers and their sins p. 295 296 The Pourtraicture of the Bloody Tenent p. 297 c. Compared with other Opinions and Practices p 301. The Maskes and Vizards of the Bloody Tenent p. 302. Truth and Peace their meeting seldom and short in this World ibid. The Letter of R. W. to Major Endicoâ— Governor of the Massachuset in N. E. upon occasion of the late Persecution at Boston p. 303 Persecutors approve no persecution in the World but their own p. 304 All Persecutors render the innocent most odious p. 305 Cromwel the 2 d a Refuge for the oppessed p. 306 This Rejoynder formerly sent out of N. Eng. but not till now published ibid. Abuse of Light most dangerous ibid. The power of Conscience though erroneous p. 307 The Common Prayer and the Composers of it p. 308 Perfumes with man stinks with God ibid. Of Spiritual Baites and Snares p. 309 Spiritual Witchcraft ibid. Spiritual Drunkenness and the persecuting Language of it p. 310 The horrible Path which Persecutors walk in p. 311 The least beginning of Persecution tends to Blood Gods dreadful judgement against Persecutors p. 312 Gray haires are Gods Alarums p. 313 An appendix to the Cleargie of old and New England Scotland and Ireland p. 314 The Cleargie Court the Magistrate for his Sword and his money 315 The late Kings charge against his Clergie ibid. The Woolf pleading with the Lamb will be judge ibid. All prosecutors in their turns plead for libertie of conscience p. 316 King Charles and his Chaplaias subscribe to libertie of Conscience ibid. About twenty years persecution in New England p. 317 The persecution of the New and old English independent Cleargie p. 317 A briefe touch upon the fifteen proposals of the so called Independent Ministers p. 318 They silently challenge the power of ordination in all England c. ibid. They sell the Spiritual Libertie of Christ ibid FINIS