is abhord by the most holy and impartiall God and his holy Angells in Heaven Upon this occasion I call to minde that famous Act of the so greatly renowned Constantine who in his first wearing of the Diademe put forth his Colleauge Licinius concurring also a famous and most solemne Charter and Edict that no man throughout the whole Empire should be constraind in his Religion Truth M r Cotton according to his proviso of suspension must doubtles applaud Constantine for this his Forbearance untill he were better informed whereas afterward his Edicts against Arrius and Arrianisme testifie his practice to the contrary But he that shall reade seriously in Gods presence that first Edict of Constantine and Licinius will there finde Constantine to use such Arguments as might for ever have caused him to have forbore persecution to have still suspended to have gratified the Subjects of all his Empire with Libertie and Freedome in the Point of Worship and Religion But I will End this Passage with this Querie If Christ Jesus have left such Power with the Civill Rulers of the World Kingdomes and Countries of or for the Establishing Governing and Reforming his Church what is become of his Care and Love Wisdome and Faithfulnesse since in all Ages since he left the Earth for the generall beyond all exception he hath left her destitute of such qualified Princes and Governours and in the Course of his Providence furnished her with such whom he knew would be and all men finde as fit as Wolves to protect and feede his Sheepe and People Exam of Chap. 64. replying to Chap. 67. Peace VVHen it was questioned what good to the Soules or Bodies of their Subjects did those Princes bring in persecuting M r Cotton produceth a good â—iâ—â—fold that is brought to Princes and Subjects by the due punishment of Apostates Seducers Idolaters and Blasphemers Truth Let all that feare God and M r Cotton himselfe be perswaded to observe whether under this faire cloake of punishing these and these spirituall sinners he maintaine not strongly what elsewhere he denies to wit Persecution for cause of Conscience But we know the Evasion It is not for Apostatizing seducing out of Conscience but after Conviction against their Conscience c. Peace You have before satisfied me besides other Passages with this one that to this End of discerning the poore Hereticks sinning against his Conscience the Civill State the Earth the World must necessarily Erect its Tribunall to judge not onely Civill Things but even the Heart and Conscience also but now to M r Cottons five-fold good First sayth he it puts away Evill from the People by cutting off a Gangrene which would spread to further ungodlinesse Deut. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 6. 7. 13. Truth I answer these Scriptures though pure and holy in their places yet are here coupled together as Linsey Wollsey contrary to the Law Deut. 13. which concerns the typicall Nationall Church using Nationall temporall Weapons The 2 Tim. 2. concernes the Particular Congregations or Churches of Christians using onely the Sword of Gods Spirit the Word of God c. Beside Deut. 13. concerned such a People whom the Lord brought forth of Aegypt with Miracles into Canaan c. Let any such People be now produced excepting the Christian particular Churches Why doth M r Cotton then alledge this Scripture so frequently and in these five Reasons brings two from hence This the first and the Third to wit that all the People may heare and feare c. which is alone made good in the Antitype or Christian Church according to that 1 Tim. 5. 20. Rebuke them that sinne openly that others may learne to feare 2. Peace M r Cotton mentioneth a second good which is driving away Wolves from worrying and scattering the Sheepe of Christ Truth This was largely answered in discoursing the nature of mysticall or spirituall Wolves upon that very place which he quotes Acts 20. From whence it may evidently appeare that from the literall urging of such mysticall Scriptures all Peoples and Nations are enforced and that Conscientiously like Wolves and Lyons to teare and devoure each other 3. Peace M r Cotton addes that Punishments are wholesome Medicines to such as are curable of such Evills Zach. 13. 4 5 6. Truth I answer All the holy Appointments of God are most powerfull in their severall respective seasons and manner of Dispensations to his owne most holy Ends and purposes c. The Materiall Nationall Sword in the Nationall Church of Israel before Christ and the Spirituall Sword in the spirituall and Christian Church since his comming to abolish those shadowes As it was therefore in vaine to have cut off or Excommunicated spiritually in that Nationall State So is it in vaine to use the materiall or carnall Sword in the spirituall Wherefore according to this place of Zach. a true penitent will blesse God for the Wounds of Friends and Lovers faithfull and sharpe dealing and for Deliverance from the Kisse of deceitfull flatterie But what is this to prove that which is so much denied to wit Corporall Death or Wounds now to be inflicted upon false Teachers in these times of the Gospel and that in all parts and Nations of the World 4. Peace The punishment sayth M r Cotton executed upon false Prophets and seducing Teachers doe bring downe Showres of Gods blessing upon the Civill State 1 King 18. 40 41. Truth If that Nationall State of Israell and that Nationall or Corporeall killing of so many hundreth false Prophets and that literall drouth and literall showres of Raine and plentie were figures of no other Prophets and slaughters drouth and showers but literall materiall and corporeall now since the Body and Substance Christ Jesus is come What should hinder but that those Priests of Israel and Sacrifices and Temple and Nationall Church should all be in force for our Imitation literally the one as well as â—he other Peace I cannot possibly conceive but that all being of the same Nature the one is Typicall as well as the other and that they must flourish and be glorious as Gods Ordinances or vanish and disappeare giving place to brighter dispensations at the arising of Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousnesse Truth Hence false Apostles false Teachers false Prophets are Spiritually cut off Revel 2. 2 Pet. 2. Gal. 4. And spirituall showres of Blessings descend upon the Israel of God for although corporeall Blessings of Food and Raiment and plentie are Gods blessings yet principally under the Gospel God blesseth his Israel the Antitype with spirituall Blessings Eph. 1. Houses Lands Fathers Mothers Children c. with persecution Mark 10. Peace Me thinks Deare Truth If Christ Jesus had appointed such punishments such executions literall in the Christian Church he would also have appointed Offices and Officers suitable and proper for such Ends and purposes such punishments such executions Truth It cannot otherwise with Reason and
Hall not being satisfied he sends them unto the discusser who never saw the said Hall nor those Arguments in writing though he well remember that he saw them in print some yeers since and apprehending no other but that Master Cottons Answer was as publike as Master Cottons profession and practice of the same Tenent was and is what breach of rule can Master Cotton say it was to answer that in the streets which Master Cotton proclaimeth on the House top Peace But grant it had been a private letter and the discourse and the opinion private yet why doth he charge the discusser with breach of rule in not using orderly wayes of Admonition and telling the Church when Master Cotton himself in this Book blames the discusser for disclaiming Communion with their Church and they also after he was driven by banishment from civil habitation amongst them had sent forth a bull of excommunication against him in his absence Such practise the Lord Jesus and his first Apostles or Messengers never taught nor any that are truely their successors ever will But to end this Chapter in the last place why doth Master Cotton complaine of the loss of the liberty of his conscience and of the punishing of his conscience by the publishing of his letter aggravating it because the discusser pleads for liberty of conscience Is he indeed on the Lord Jesus mind for the sparing mens bodies and present life for their souls and eternal lives sake Doth he indeed plead for liberty of conscience Let the following discourse and this present passage manifest how tender he is of his own conscience and of the liberty of it But how censorious and senseless of the pangs and agonies of other mens conscience and spirits and sorrows As if his alone were the Apple of his eye but Theirs like the brawny hoofs of the roaring Bulls of Bashan Peace Complaines Master Cotton of persecution for such dealing against him I never heard that disputing discoursing and examining mens Tenents or Doctrines by the word of God was in proper English acceptation of the word persecution for conscience well had it been for New England that no servant of God nor witness of Christ Jesus could justly take up no other complaint against New England for other kinds of persecution surely the voice of Christ Jesus to Paul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me was for another kind of persecution Truth Deare Peace if the Bishops of Old England or new had never stirred up the Civil Magistrate to any other suppressing of mens consciences nor no other persecuting then discussing disputing c. they should never have needed to have been charged so publikely in the face of the world with the bloody Tenent of persecution for cause of conscience Examination of CHAP. II. Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton much complaines that he is charged in the Title to maintaine persecution for cause of conscience and professeth That he would have none be punished for conscience unless his errour be fundamental or seditiously or turbulenly promoted and that after due conviction of conscience and that it may appear he is not punished for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience Truth Persecution for conscience is in plaine English hunting for conscience and Master Cotton being a son of wine as the Jews speak in their Proverb is loth to be counted a son of vinegar and therefore would avoid the word persecuting or hunting as something too wilde and fierce an expression more sutable to the bloody sons of vinegar and gall the Roman Emperors Popes and Bishops and he much desires to have the word persecuting changed for the word punishing a tearm more proper to true Justice But is not this the guise and profession of all that ever persecuted or hunted men for their Religion and conscience are not all histories and experiences full of the pathetical speeches of persecutors to this purpose You will say you are persecuted for your conscience you plead conscience Thou art a heretick the devil hath deceived thee thy conscience is deluded c. And 2. Whether such punishing as Master Cotton assigneth to that threefold degree of heretical wickedness chap. 5. to wit To hold a fundamental error To persist therein after conviction and lastly To seduce others thereunto Or these five summed up page 186 of his book subverters of the Christian Faith persisters therein after conviction blasphemers idolaters seducers I say such a punishing which he affirmes to be death and killing will not amount to make up a persecution for cause of conscience let the Spanish Inquisitions be an instance who when they torture and rack and kill and burn for such crimes yet varnish they and guild all over with the painted Title of Gods Glory holy zeal just punishment of hereticks blasphemers c. Peace But Master Cotton blameth that he should be charged with the Doctrine of persecution by consequence Truth Let his whole book and the prosecuting of this controversie be judge whether it be only drawn from consequences and not express Tearms And for the washing of this bloody Tenent in the blood of the Lambe Time hath and will discover that such a Blackamore cannot be washed in the blood of Christ himself without Repentance for they that washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Revelations the 7. were true penitents untill therefore that persecutors repent of this bloody Doctrine and practice they must hear as the men of Judah did the prophet Isaiahs thunder Isa 1. Your hands are defiled with blood wash you make you clean c. Examination of CHAP. III. Peace BUt what knot in a Bulrush is that which Master Cotton observes the discusser findes in his first distinction of persecution for cause of conscience Truth For the matter upon the point they both agree as Master Cotton hath penned himself that persecution for cause of conscience is not onely when a man is punished for professing such Doctrines and Worships as he believes to be of God but also when he is punished for renouncing such Doctrine and not practising such Worships which he believes are not of God c. All the difference is this that the discusser saith This should have been expressed in the distinction Master Cotton saith it was implied and therefore the observing of the not expressing of it was but a knot in a Bulrush Peace T is wofully true that the peace of the Saints and the peace of the world hath been lamentably broake and distracted in punishing or persecuting of men but especially the Saints upon both these grounds but yet the records of time and experience will tell us that since the Apostasie from the truth of Jesus the rising of Antichrist and the setting up of many State Religions the forest and frequentest punishing or hunting of the children of God hath been as in the case of Nebuchadnezzars Image for not bowing down to the State-Images for not coming
with God though he was clothed with filthy garments Zech. 3. Truth I answer Ordination or laying on of hands comprizeth the whole Ministery Heb. 6. wherein if Election or Ordination be false I see not how the Ministery is true any more then a marriage can be true where either consent oâ— solemnity by a true power is wanting or a King rightly instituted in his Kingly office when either election or coronation is given or made by a false power 2. But further Ordination is not well represented by a Kings coronation to say nothing of the statcliness of the simile for a King may administer by successive election and consent in some States before coronation and coronation is but for publike state and ceremony but a Minister cannot administer before ordination no more then a husband enjoy his spouse before marriage which is the puting of him into and the investing of him with his Authority as we see both in the priests of the law and the Ministers of the Gospel Concerning Jehoshua his garments This kind of confession is not after the patterne of Ezra Nehemiah David Daniel c. but with mincing and excusing Moreover in this place of Zechary God only comforts his people with the promise of better times and more new and costly garments for the High priest now returning from captivity his garments were torne foule and filthy Lastly These were the garments of the Lords appointing though in a poor and afflicted condition what is this to a fools cap or coate the cap or surplice what is this to the office of Ieroboams priests which never were of God though happily some of them might studiously give themselves to attaine and teach the knowledge of God and might in a kind separate from the false 2 Chron. 13. and some good thing might be found in some as in Ieroboams child and happily many others as in these our times Peace Concerning common prayer he pleades the time of their ignorance as also that the high places were removed 2 Chron. 14. and knows not of any such faithful admonition as was mentioned Truth God winketh at some ignorance but is not blind to pass by all The high places were an high sin and in Gods time discovered repented of and removed but ever by God disclaimed c. And although the discusser acknowledgeth himself unworthy to speak for God to Master Cotton or any yet possibly Master Cotton may call to minde that the discusser riding with himself and one other of precious memorie Master Hooker to and from Sempringham presented his Arguments from Scripture why he durst not joyn with them in their use of Common prayer and all the Answer that yet can be remembred the discusser received from Master Cotton was that he selected the good and best prayers in his use of that Book as the Author of the Councel of Trent was used to do in his using of the Masse-book Peace Yea but further saith Master Cotton Numbers 20. Moses used an unwarrantable way of prophesying and yet God gave water therefore set formes of prayer may bring a blessing down Truth Moses his calling was true in a true Church his failing was in point of passion and unbeliefe What is this to the Common prayer where all were Idols both the society or communion in which the priest himself and the worship were but inventions c. Peace But saith he Common prayer is not such a fundamentall errour Truth The word and prayer are those two great services of God which even the Apostles themselves gave themselves unto And if Master Cotton intend not that his Argument shall stand good against Master Ball to prove the falseness of such a maine worship of God let him shew what that worship of God is which he intendeth when he so distinguisheth of some false worship wherein fellowship with God is lost Peace To end this Chapter Master Cotton to clear himself from partiality and that he never useth to measure that to any which he would not have measured to himself He proposeth a threefold wickedness which he saith God never left him to fall into First Any fundamental errour Secondly persisting therein after admonition and conviction Thirdly seducing of others And lastly he professeth that if he should so fall it were better for him to be cut off by death or banishment then the flocke of Christ to be seduced by his heretical wickedness Truth I here first observe as also in other places Master Cottons acknowledgement and profession of what a man may be punished for to wit a fundamental errour persisting in it and seducing others all which are spiritual matters of religion and worship for which he decrees from the Magistrate death or banishment and yet elsewhere in many other passages he professeth against all persecution for conscience Secondly If Master Cotton should so fall and be so dealt withall by the civil state First would not Master Cotton conscientiously be perswaded of the Truth of what he held though accounted by others fundamental error obstinacy heresie c. Secondly Will Master Cotton think that death or banishment would be wholesome and Christian meanes and remedies to change and heal his conscience Thirdly He to prevent the infection of others granting the civil Magistrate must punish him with death or banishment doth he not make the Magistrate yea the Civil State what State soever he live in the Judge of his conscience and errors Fourthly Confessing it now that to worship God with a Common prayer was his sin and yet it was his conscience that he might so do If the Magistrate had judged it to be a fundamental error he grants he might then have put him to death or banishment if persisting c. though yet he hath a proviso and a retreat against this assault professing that if the Magistrate be not rightly informed he must stay his proceedings of which afterward Peace What is this but in plaine English to profess that all the Magistrates and Civil powers throughout the whole world although they have command and power from Christ Jesus to judge in matters of conscience religion and worship and live in daily sin that they do not cut off the heretick blasphemer seducer c. yet except they be of Master Cottons minde and conscience to account and judge to be they must suspend their duty and office in this case until they be better informed that is untill they be of his mind Examination of CHAP. VI. Peace BUt to proceed to the sixth Chapter in which is handled that which more especially concerns my self It is too lamentably known how the furious troopes of persecutors in all States Cities Towns c. have ever marched under my name the white colours of peace civil peace publike peace Truth Yet Master Cotton confesseth that the Cities peace is an humane and civil peace as was further explained in many instances from Babylon Ephesus Smyrna c. against which Master Cotton
an objection that this distinction concerns not Truth or errour but the manner of holding or divulging Master Cotton affirmes the distinction to speak expresly of things unlawfull and erroneous and therefore that it cannot be said with Truth that the distinction concernes not truth and error Truth The truth is this the former distinction speakes of matter and this distinction seems wholly to intend the manner of holding forth The words were these Again in points of Doctrine and Worship less principal either they are held forth in a meek and peaceable way though the things be erroneous and unlawful or they are held forth with such Arrogance and Impetuousness as tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace In which although things erroneous and unlawful are mentioned yet who sees not but that those words are brought in by the way of Parenthesis which may or may not be left out and the distinction be whole and intire And therefore Master Cotton doth not well to spend precious time and life upon seeming advantages Peace Yea but saith he why is this distinction blamed when the discusser himself acknowledgeth that there may be a way and manner of holding forth which may tend to break the civil peace Truth That which was excepted most against in the distinction was the persecuting language of arrogance impetuousness boisterousness without declaring what that was to which Master Cotton answers that the discussers request was not that he should compile a discourse but return an answer to the letter of his friend as also that he charged none of Gods children with such things I reply as formerly Master Cotton's memory though otherwise excellent herein faileth for such a request the discusser never made unto him by letter or otherwise 2. Although he charged not Gods people with arrogance and impetuousness yet mostly and commonly Gods children though meek and peaceable are accused to be arrogant impetuous c. and 't is the common notorious language of persecutors against them Peace Concering those six instances wherein Gods children were occasion of great opposition and spiritual hostility yea and of breach of civil peace notwithstanding the matter delivered was holy and the manner peaceable Master Cotton answers they nothing concern the distinction which speaks of holding forth things erroneous and unlawful for the matter and for the manner in a way of arrogance and impetuousness to the disturbance of civil peace Truth I reply first it speaks not only of erroneous and unlawful things though erroneous and unlawful things be admitted in way of Parenthesis as before 2. He describes not what this arrogance and impetuousness is but wraps up all in one general dark cloud wherein the best and most zealous of Gods Prophets and servants are easily wrapt up as proud arrogant and impetuous Examination of CHAP. IX Peace IN this Chapter I remember you affirmed that one cause of civil dissention and uproar was the lying of a State under false worship whence it endures not the preaching of light and truth c. Master Cotton answers This is not to the purpose because this is by accident Truth It is as much to the purpose to declare in the examination of the breach of civil peace about matters of Religion I say to declare the true cause of such troubles and uproares as it is in the search after the leaks of a ship to declare where the leake is indeed when many are said to be where they are not 2. Whereas he confesseth that vigilant and faithful ones are not so troubled at the false Religion of Jew or Gentile as not to tolerate them amongst them in a civil body he alleadgeth for instance that the Indians subjected to their government are not compelled to the confession or acknowledgement of their Religion I reply first who sees not herein unchristian partiality that Pagans Barbarians who happily might more easily be brought from their natural Religion to a new forme then any other I say that they should be tolerated in their hideous worships of creatures and devils while civil people his countrymen yea it may be the precious sons and daughters of the most high God shall be courted fined whipt banished c. for the matters of their conscience and worship to the true and living God 2. Is not this passage contradictory to all Master Cottons whole discourse in this book which pleades for the purity of Religion to be maintained by all Magistrates and civil governments within their jurisdictions and the suppressing of the contrary under the penalty of the destruction of their lands and countries and accordingly hath not the practice of New England answered such a doctrine and yet saith he we tolerate the false Religion of Jew or Gentile Peace Possibly Dear Truth the distinction between Jew Pagan and Christian may satisfie for the present Master Cottons conscience so to write and practise for thus he addeth But if Christians shall apostate or if Jews and Pagans be blasphemous and seducing then c. Truth Who knows not but that the very Religion of Jew or Pagan is a blaspheming of the true Religion Revel 2. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue or church of Sathan And whereas Master Cotton alleadgeth for proof of this Pauls blaming of false teachers for being troublers to the churches of Galatia Gal. 5. and Acts 15 c. Who that puts this inference into Christs balance but will see the lightness of it thus The churches of Christ are to draw forth the sword and power of Christ and are not to suffer such as with false doctrine trouble their peace Ergo Therefore the civil state must not permit such persons to live in the world c. Peace The second cause I remember you alleadged of civil disturbances and hubbubs about Religion was the praeposterous way of healing of corruptions in Religion as by whips stocks imprisonment c. unto this Master Cotton answers Then the Mariners casting Jonah over-boord for his sin was the cause of the storme Truth I answer if that extraordinary and miraculous instance be sufficient ground for Magistrates casting over-boord whomsoever they judge Hereticks then all civil states and ships must so practise in stormes and troubles on sea or shore to wit throw over-boord put to death not only Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers c. but the best of Gods Prophets or servants for neglect of their duty Ministery c. which was Jonahs case And if so doth not this set up and all the world over by land or sea all Kings and Magistrates all Masters of ships and captaines to be the spiritual and Ecclesiastical Judges of the religion and spiritual neglects of all their subjects or Passengers Such doctrine I cannot imagine would have relished with Master Cotton in his passage to New England and I humbly desire of God that he may never tast the bitter fruit of this Tree of which yet so many thousands
and notwithstanding all other meanes in the World used by men as helps and hindrances yet his holy End shall not be disappointed but fulfilled Beside the Difference between soule-killing and body-killing is but as M r Cotton here useth the word so much as in us lieth that is by attempt or endeavour which may be many wayes frustrated and disappointed by the holy hand of God and the soule yet saved and live in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace Whereas you said that the imprisoning of Men in a Nationall or State Religion is guiltie of their Destruction together with the monstrous sword of Civill Warres which cuts off Men from all meanes of Repentance M r Cotton answers If the Religion be good it is no Imprisonment If it be naught then there should be no Imprisonment To the second sayth he this Feare is causeles for if Men belong to God he will give Repentance and how ever sayth he Godâ— revealed Will is fullfilled in their just Executions Truth I could here ask M r Cotton where amongst all the Religions and Worships of the sonnes of men he ever met in the whole World with above one Nation which Nationally profest a true Religion and where ever since Christ Jesus ending of the shadowes any State Religion or Nationall Worship can be found true notwithstanding M r Cotton knowes I grant Gods people in Kingdomes Nations Cities Townes c. to be Gods Kingdome Nation Citie c. Peace And since M r Cotton speakes thus of Imprisonment me-thinkes that every peaceable man and woman may bring in here against him at the Tribunall of Christ Jesus an Action of false Imprisonment indeed false every way not onely of the sensible and outward man but of the most noble and inner part the minde the spirit and Conscience for who knowes not that Jerusalem it selfe may be a prison to false-hearted Shimei Who hath not found a pallace a prison when forc't to keepe within it yea confine a man to his own house and home though deare and familiar and most intimate to him his owne house during that force and restraint is a prison to him Truth Yea it is most wofully found evident that the best Religion like the fairest Whores and the most golden and costlie Images yea the most holy and pure and onely true Religion and Worship appointed by God himselfe is a Torment to that Soule and Conscience that is forc't against its owne free love and choice to embrace and observe it And therefore whether the Religion be good oâ—â—aught as M r Cotton here distinguisheth there ought to be no forcing but the soule and minde and conscience of man that is indeed the man ought to be left free as in his Earthly marriage-choice so here ten thousand times rather in his heavenly and spirituall Peace But what say you to his unmercifull conclusion in the bloudshed and destruction of so many thousands and millions formerly and lately slaine and murthered by this bloudie Tenent of persecution Yea the late and lamentable streames of English bloud and the bloud of our neighbours friends Brethren Parents powred forth by these late Episcopall or Bishops Warres M r Cottons conclusion is The revealed will of God sayth he is fullfilled in their just Execution whether they belong to God or no. Truth I wish M r Cotton more mercy from God and a more mercifull minde toward the afflicted and I say as the Lord Jesus said in the case of offence Great offences Nationall offences will come for Religions sake for Nationall Religion sake but woe unto those that beare the guilt of so many thousand slaughters murthers ravishings plunderings c. The Pope the Bishops the Presbyterians the Independants so farre as they have been Authours or Actors in these horrible Calamities out of the perswasion of the bloudie Tenent of persecution for Religion and Conscience the voyce of so many Rivers of bloud cry to Heaven for vengeance against them Peace But may not blessed Truth the sword of Civill power which is from God Rom. 13. be drawne and drunke with bloud for Christ his sake What say you among the many Examples of Religions Warres to the most famous Battles of Constantine against the bloudie persecutour Maxentius Was not Constantine Christs Champion as once that valiant Scanderbeg cald himselfe against the bloudie Turks Truth Sweet Peace the sword of Civill power was Gods sword committed by Gods most wise Providence into the hands of that famous Constantine Doubtles his warre was righteous and pious so farre as he broke the Jawes of the oppressing persecuting Lyons that devoured Christs tender Lambes and sheepe And famous was his Christian Edict wherein Licinius joyned with him when he put forth that imperiall Christian Decree that no mane Conscience should be forced and for his Religion whether to the Romane Gods or the Christian no man should be persecuted or hunted When Constantine broke the bounds of this his owne and Gods Edict and drawes the sword of Civill power in the suppressing of other Consciences for the establishing of the Christian then began the great Mysterie of the Churches sleepe the Gardens of Christs Churches turned into the Wildernesse of Nationall Religion and the World under Constantines Dominion to the most unchristian Christendome Peace I am unquestionably satisfied that there was never any Nationall Religion good in this world but one and since the Desolation of that Nation there was never there shall be never any Nationall Religion good againe and this will be most evident to such as hould the Truth of the continuance of Christs visible Church in the way of particular Congregations 6. But now to the Sixt Argument which M r Cotton thus repeats from the possibilitie of a false Teacher a spirituall Wolves recoverie from the estate of a soule-killer to become a soule-Saviour as it was in the case of Paul And thus he answers If men be such Blasphemers and such Wolves as Paul was before his Conversion neither the Law of God nor man would put such a Man to death who sinned of Ignorance and walked as himselfe professed in all good Conscience even in his former evill times Acts 23. But as for such as apostate from the knowne truth of Religion and seeke to subvert the foundation of it and to draw away others from it to plead for their Tolleration in hope of their Conversion is as much as to proclaime a generall pardon to all malefactours save onely such as sin against the Holy Spirit for he that is a willfull murtherer and adulterer now may come to be converted and die a martyr hereafter Truth I see not why M r Cotton should passe a more charitable censure on Pauls Conscience then on other Mens professing Conscience also and the feare of God nor an harder censure upon other Men to wit that they are convinced and sinne against their owne Conscience more then upon Paul
himselfe Heard he not that famous powerfull Sermon of Stephen Saw he not his glorious and most heavenly Death and having so much to doe with the Saints could he otherwise choose but heare and see many heavenly passages tending to his soules conviction Peace Yea why should M r Cotton pinch upon Apostates from the truth of Religion and Seducers he cannot choose but know how many thousands and millions of men and women in the world are Hereticall Blasphemers Seducers that never yet made profession of that which he accounteth True Religion True Yea and to plead thy case Deare Peace why should M r Cotton couple Murtherers and Adulterers with Apostates and Seducers Doth not even the naturall Conscience and Reason of all men put a Difference Doe not even the most bloudie Popes and Cardinalls Gardiners and Bonners put a difference between the crimes of Murther Treason Adulterie for which although the offendour repent c. yet he suffers punishment and the crimes of Heresie Blasphemie c. which upon Recantation and Confession are frequently remitted Peace I remember it was high Treason in H. 8. his dayes to deny the Kings spirituall Supremacie as well as to kill his person and yet upon Confession and Recantation we finde that the very Conscience of those bloudy men could distinguish between these Treasons Truth 'T is true this bloudie Tenent of persecution was lamentably drunke with bloud in the dayes of that Henry as well as afterwards in the dayes of his bloudie daughter Marie and yet in Henry his dayes we finde John Haywood recanting his so cald Treason against the Kings Supreamacie in spirituall things and is cleared When famous and faithfull Cromwell for words pretended to be spoken by him against the Kings person must pay his noble Head But to End this Chapter most true it is that multitudes of people in all parts of bloudie Christendome and not a few in England in Henry the 7. and Henry the 8. his dayes have escaped with a Recantation and Abjuration for spirituall Treasons when principles of Reason and Civill Government have taught men for their common safetie to thinke of other punishments for Murtherers Adulterers Traytours Exam of Chap. 73. replying to Chap. 76. Discussing the Testimonie of Optatus Peace MAster Cotton having alledged Optatus justifying Macarius his putting Hereticks to Death from the Example of Moses Phinehas and Elijah it was answered that these shafts were drawen not out of Christs but Moses Quiver M r Cotton replyes did ever any Apostle or Evangelist make the Judiciall Lawes of Moses concerning Life and Death ceremoniall and typicall Truth What ever the Apostles of Christ did in this matter yet sure it is Evident that M r Cotton himselfe makes some of Moses Lawes which he calls Judiciall to be but ceremoniall and typicall Peace Me thinks M r Cotton should never grant that who layes so much waight upon Moses practices and the morall and perpetuall ground of them Truth Well take for an Instance this very case of putting to Death Idolaters and false Prophets he grants this in this very Chapter to be typicall in the State of the Jewes for Israell sayth he being the Church of God and in Convenant with God their Example will onely extend to the like Execution of all the false Prophets in the Church of God Peace Such a Candle lighted up in the Conscience and Judgement and Confession of M r Cotton may if the Father of Lights so please light up many Candles more to M r Cottons owne and the eyes of others Truth Yea if the Father of Lights so please M r Cotton will looke back and see that if the Example of Israel extend no further then to the Church of God then those Lawes of Moses concerning Religion cannot but be typicall and ceremoniall for what is morall and perpetuall none can deny to concerne all Men in all Nations where no Church or House of God was ever erected 2. Peace If M r Cotton say it extends but to the Church of God what Church of God can M r Cotton meane but a particular Congregation for he professeth against Nationall Provinciall c. And yet how can he meane a particular Church since he grants the Church of Christ armed with no other weapons then spirituall like unto the Head and King thereof Christ Jesus 3. Truth If M r Cotton will grant the Church of Christ to have been extant upon Earth during the first three hundred yeares of her fiery tryalls he must grant that then the Church of Christ was furnished by Christ Jesus with no other weapons but spirituall for all the Civill powers of the World seemed to be against them All which time by M r Cottons Doctrine the Church of Christ his heavenly Garden must needs be over-growne with Hereticks Idolaters false Prophets for want of a Civill Sword c. Or if they were not as sure it is the Spouse and Garden of Christ was never fairer since As M r Cotton grants the Example typicall and extending onely to the Church of God so must he then also grant these false Prophets and Idolaters to be put to Death by the Churches power which is onely spirituall and Israels materiall Sword will then appeare to be a type of the two-edged sword of Christ Jesus in the Gospel Peace It is true sayth Master Cotton what the Discusser sayth that Christ Jesus gave no Ordinance Precept or President in the Gospel for killing men for Religion and no more sayth he for the breach of Civill Justice Civill Magistrates therefore must either walke without Rule or fetch their Rules of Righteousnesse from Moses and the Prophets who have expounded him in the Old Testament Truth If M r Cotton please more awfully to observe weigh the minde of Christ Jesus his New Testament in this point he will not onely heare himselfe subscribing to Caesars Right in Civill matters but also by his servant Peter establishing all other formes of Civill Government which the peoples or Nations of the World shall invent or create for their civill being Common-weale or wellfare Yea he may remember that Christ Jesus by his Servant Paul commandeth the Magistrate to punish Murther Theft Adulterie c. for he expresly nameth these Civill Transgressions together with the civill Sword the Avenger of them Rom. 13. Peace I cannot well conceive what M r Cotton meanes by saying that Moses and the Prophets expounded Christ Jesus in the Old Testament Truth Nor I They did speake or prophecie of Christ they did type or figure him to come with his sufferings and Glory but as John sayth Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ that is the fullfilling opening and expounding came by Jesus Christ Peace Hence indeed I remember that Christ Jesus Luc. 24. expounded to his Disciples out of Moses and the Prophets the things written of him But more particularly touching Moses Macarius did well sayth M r Cotton in putting Hereticks