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
judgement of the great whore p. 55 Christs church by institution properly consisting of good ground p. 57. The nature of the Jewish church ibid. The nature of Christs true Apostles or Messengers p. 58 Antichristians monsters in Religion p. 59 Two sorts of sinners p. 60 Two sorts of Hypocrites ibid. Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus p. 61 The Rivers and Fountaines of Blood Rev. 16. p. 63 Of hypocrites in the profession of Christianity p. 64 Corrupt consciences distinguished p. 66 Toleration of idolaters considered ibid. Civil weapons in spirituals blur and slight the spiritual p. 67 The toleration of Jezabel in Thyatria p. 68 The difference between spiritual and civil slander p. 69 The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments ibi The punishments in the national Church of Israel were material and corporeal p. 70 Touching Prayer against present destruction of the Tares p. 71 Pastors and teachers are not Apostles or messengers ib. Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites p. 72 Touching the state of Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam and more of the Baalites p. 72 Touching Apostles or Messengers p. 74 Touching fundamentals p. 75 Persecuting of Christ Jesus by a Law p. 76 The greatest blasphemy against Christ Jesus that ever was yet not punished but spiritually ibid. Pauls appeal to Caesar more examined p. 78 Few Magistrates in the world that bear the very name of of Christ Jesus p. 79 Fewer truely Christians ibid. Mystical and most cruel Surgery ibid. To serve God with all our might literally taken horribly abused p. 80 The title of defender of the Faith in England p. 81 A bold but true Word touching defend or of the faith p. 83 The title of supream head of the church examined p. 84 The plague of the Turkes upon the antichristian world p. 84 Whether Saul was a type of Christ and the Kings of Israel c. p. 85 The Priests and Clergy in all nations the greatest peace-breakers p. 88 Touching the seducer and seducing p. 89 Bishop Longlands subtle and bloody oaths of inquisition against seducing christians ibid. Causes of destruction to a nation p. 90 All nations Cities and Towns of the world parts of the world c. p. 91 Changes of state Religions ibid. The state of Israel unparalleled p. 92 The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses ibi That of Jude twice dead examined p. 93 Of spiritual infection p. 94 The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword p. 95 Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power p. 69 The proper charge of the civil Magistrate p. 97 The plague of the Turke upon the Antichristian world p. 98 A twofoldcare and charge of souls ibid. Christ the true King of Israel ibid. Christs threefold sending of Preachers p. 99 No true office of Ministery since the Apostacy but that of Prophesie ibid. Great neglects charged on Christ Jesus p. 100 Pretended order monstrous disorder p. 101 The Parliaments high justice against oppressors p. 102 The title head of the church p. 103 The civil Magistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel p. 104 All commonweals that ever have been are or shall be in the world excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil p. 105 The decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered ibid. The Ministers lay heavy load upon the Magistrates back ibid. The great desolation of the visible order of Christs Saints and servants p. 107 The Wolves at Ephesus considered Act. 20 p. 108 The duty of the civil Magistrate in spirituals ibid. The changing of Persecutors is one thing the abolishing of persecution another ibid. The persecuting cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracy ibid Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes p 109 The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the fifths dayes p 110 Civil society plucke up by the roots ibid. A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist 111 Doctor Pearnes turning and returning and turning againe in Religion p. 111 Consciences yeelding to be forced lose all conscience ibid. Two strange Paradoxes about force in spirituals p. 112 How the kings of Israel and Judah were Types â—f Jesus Christ to come p. 113 Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ p. 114 The fire from Heaven Revel 13. p. 115 All truth not only heavenly but moral civil c. precious p. 116 Many excellent Prophets in eminency and power and yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals p. 117 More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual p. 118 Englands changes in Religion compared with those of Judah ibid. Whether England may not possibly receive the Pope againe 119 The Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state p. 120 The absolute necessity of some order of Government all the world over ibid. The Emperor Antoninus Pius his distinction and Edict against persecution p. 120 123 The degeneracy of Christianity now professed p. 121 The horrible dâ—ssâ—mbling of some persecutors ibid. Too short a time set for repentance in New England p. 122 False Teachers commonly hardned by persecution ibid. The great sufferings of Master Gotton and his friends in England p. 123 The difference between spiritual and corporal murther p. 124 Civil Justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another p. 124 The difference of the persecution of the Romane Emperors and Roman Popes p. 125 The difference between the persecuted for conscience and punished for civil crimes p. 127 Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians p. 128 Whether a Commonweal may prosper in the permission of divers Religions p. 129 Cups of blood given into the hand of persecuting nations p. 129 Scripture perverted from the spiritual to the civil state p. 131 The Magistrate usually but the Clergies Cane and Trumpet ibid. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a Governor in New England ibid. The bloody Tenent plucks up the Nations and all civil being p. 132 Romes glory and downfal p. 133 The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual Judges ibid. The case of Gallio p. 134 The sufficiency of Christs spiritual weapons p. 135 A vaine fear of false Teachers p 136 Christ Iesus nor Paul addrest themselves to the civil state ibid. Turke and Pope and the generality of all Protestants against free conference p. 137 David and Goliah Types ibid. Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers p. 138 Israels corporcal killing types of spiritual ibid. The duty of the civil state in spirituals p. 139 The kingdomes of the world becoming Christs ibid. Touching forcing men to Church p. 140 A Spanish inquisition all the world over p. 141 Master Cotton kindling a twofold fire ibid. Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience p. 142 Christian weapons considered ibid. A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters p. 143 Wonderful strange
Institution and Appointment of the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus 2. I beleeve and profess that such persons such Churches are got neerest to Christ Jesus on whose forehead are written these blessed characters of the true Lord Jesus Christ First content with a poor and low condition in worldly things 2. An holy cleansing from the filthines of false worships and worldly conversations 3. An humble and constant endeavour to attain in their simplicity purity to the Ordinances and appointments of Christ Iesus 4. Are so far from smiting killing and wounding the Opposites of their profession and worship that they resolve themselves patiently to bear and carry the Cross and Gallows of their Lord and Master and patiently to suffer with him In the number of such his poor servants who as unfeignedly desire notwithstanding my plea against Persecutors and Persecution I say as unfeignedly desire to suffer as cheerfully with Christ Iesus as gloriously to reign with him desires to be Thine unfeigned though unworthiest of all the Followers of IESUS Roger Williams The Bloody Tenent yet more Bloody By Master Cottons attempting to wash it with the Blood of the Lambe Examination of CHAP. I. Truth BLest be the God of truth and peace sweet peace that once againe we finde a corner and a few hours to entertaine our sweet embraces and discourses about that Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of conscience Peace It is indeed Jehovah's work and it is marvellous in our eyes that ' midst this worlds combustions such a corner and such hours are found Truth Dear friends the longer absent meet the sweeter and have cause to spend each minute to his praise who wonders works and this not the least that we two see each others face at all in these tempestuous dayes and vale of tears How harshly were our last conferrings entertained by some How were our selves suspected and traduced for counterfeits and our pious and peaceable Meditations cruelly condemned to the devouring flames Truth That ever was our portion ever since the earthen pots arose against their glorious Potter and no better lot we must expect while the time doth last that is determined Peace Mean while t is yet our lamentation that so many of our darlings whom we have tendred as our eyes have both in Print and Pulpit cried out against us and amongst the rest one of thy dearest eldest children too too worthy to be the defender of the Bloody Tenent of Persecution Truth Our love shall cover his shame and nakedness and our wisdoms pity his heavy labour Blackamore-washings and so great expence of precious time and spirit in labouring to wash this so deeply bloody and Blackamore Tenent in the blood of the Lamb of God Peace So parents and true friends love and pity theirs though sick though froward and distracted and let our Bowels yearne over him who teares out ours who knows but once before he sleep his last in the pit of rottenness he may awake and give glory to the God of peace and truth of patience and long suffering whose thoughts whose wayes whose love whose pity hath no bounds nor limits toward them whom he hath loved before the worlds foundation O let these blessed buds of hope and sweet desires dear Truth put forth in pious fruits of renewed endeavors and let me once againe prefer my suit for your impartial weighing of what replies objections pleadings he hath brought against us Truth For the God of Peace for the Prince of Peace his sake yea for his servants sake for Zions sake I will not be silent and know at last I shall prevaile to scatter and dispell the mists and fogs that for a while arise to cloud and choak us Peace First then what cause should move this so able a defendant to leap over all our first addresses both to the high Court of Parliament and to every Reader and what may be conjectured why himself directs a word to neither in this controversie Truth I desire my Rejoynder may be as full of love as truth yet some say Master Cotton is wise and knows in what door the wind blows of late he is not ignorant what sad complaints in letters printings conferences so many of Gods people and of his own conscience and judgement of Independency have poured forth against New Englands persecuting c. He knows what Bars New Englands bloody Tenent and practice may put to his brethrens just desires and suits for moderation and toleration to non-conforming consciences T is true his conscience and the credit of his way compels his reply but the times advise him with as little noise as may be and it seems with no great willingness that that high and searching house of Englands Parliament should search and scan his Meditations Peace Well if the name of God were truely called upon them and as his title intimateth the great controversies of these present times are herein handled If all that is here presented be truly practised and he desire to buy and sell by one measure and to be no otherwaies measured unto then he measureth unto others why should not that renowned Court be more particularly and expresly attended with so high and needful examinations But now enough of that I long to see that weighed which is presented take up those holy weights of thine which may faithfully discover how light or ponderous each parcel is in Gods most holy presence Master Cotton first complaines against the publishing of his private letter with an Answer thereunto he faulteth the discusser for punishing his conscience against the discussers own Tenent of liberty of conscience for breach of rule in first publishing to the world before private admonition and telling the Church Truth How justly may I begin with the defenders own conclusion of this first Chapter He that setteth forth of his way in the first entrance of his journey no marvel if he wander all the day after For First the discusser never wrote any such letter to Master Cotton as Master Cotton so often affirms and mentioneth throughout his Book The like mistake he fals into in some other passages which shall be gently toucht at and passed by as the failing of memory Peace It is often seen that small matters in the first steps and entrance of a business prove ominous and although love bids us lay the blame on memory yet since Nil sine providentia Deus est maximus in minimis and not a Sparow nor a Haire fals without him methinks such a stumble in the threshold should have one sad consideration in Master Cottons brest so long as he resides in the chamber of this discourse Truth To my knowledge there was no such letter or intercourse passed between Master Cotton and the discusser but what I have heard is This One Master Hall of Roxbury presented the prisoners Arguments against persecution to Master Cotton who gave this present controverted Answer with the which Master
Heauens The neerer Christs followers have approached to worldly wealth ease liberty honour pleasure c. the neerer they have approached to Impatience Pride Anger and Violence against such as are opposite to their Doctrine and Profession of Religion And 2 The further and further have they departed from God from his Truth from the Simplicitie Power and Puritie of Christ Jesus and true Christianitie Peace In the next Passage M r Cotton though with another heart yet in the Language and Tongue of the Pharisees seemes to take part with the Prophets against the persecuting Fathers and amongst many things he prohibites Magistrates this one to wit that he must not make Lawes to binde Conscience Truth What is a Law but a binding Word a Commandement What is a Law to binde Conscience but a Commandement that calls for Obedience And must wee raise up such Tumults such Tragedies and fill the face of the World with streames of bloud about the Christian Mâ—gistrates reforming Religion establishing Religion killing the Heretick Blasphemer Idolater Seducer and yet all this without a Law that may in the name of Christ exact obedience Peace I wonder what we shall thinke of those Lawes and Statutes of Parliament in old or New England that have bound the peoples Consciences at least so farre as to come to the Parish Church improving as M r Cotton sayth the power and Authoritie over their Bodies for their Soules good What shall wee call all those Lawes Commandements Statutes Injunctions Directions and Orders that concerne Religion and Conscience Truth The plaine truth is M r Cottons former reforming zeale cannot be so utterly extinguished as to forget the name and Notion of Christian Libertie although in this bloudie Discourse he hath well nigh if not wholly sold away the Thing The Conscience sayth he must not be bound to a Ceremonie to a pretended indifferent Ceremonie And yet loe throughout this Discourse he pleades for the binding of it from these and these Doctrines from these and these Worships and binding to this or that Worship I meane to come to the publike Towne or Countrey Worship Just for all the world as if a Woman should not be bound to make a Curtsie or Salutation to such a Man but yet shee should be bound will she nill she to come to his bed at his pleasure Worship is a true of false Bed Cant. 1. 16. Peace It is observable in the next place what M r Cotton observeth concerning the Principles of saving Truth to wit that no good Christian much lâ—sse good Magistrate can be ignorant of them Truth In the Consideration of the Modell this Goodnesse or Badnes of the Magistrate is Examined and easily it is proved to my understanding that this Assertion confounding the nature of Civill and Morall goodnesse with Religious is as farre from Goodnes as Darknes is from Light Peace To this Issue tends M r Cottons Conclusion of this passage verily the Lord will build up and establish the House and Kingdome of such Princes as doe thus build up his Truth The promise of God to David concerning his House and Kingdome in the Letter is most true in the Mystery and Antitype as to the Spirituall House and Kingdome of King David King Jesus in such Princes or Propheticall Kingly Spirits who Spiritually in the Word of Prophesie the Sword of Gods Spirit contend for the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ Jesus God will establish them in Spirituall Dignitie and Authoritie But take this literally as M r Cotton carries it and as he never will finde any such Dutie lying upon Princes in the Gospell nor any such promise of temporall prosperitie but holy praedictions foretellings of the crosse and persecution ordinarily to all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus and the greater persecution to the most zealous and faithfull Servants of Christ Jesus So neither can he give any true Instance truely proper and parallell to this purpose Peace Me thinks 〈…〉 hough successe be no constant rule to walke by yet Gods providence in successe of Journies Victories c. are with great care and feare to be attended to and pondered and the Hand and Eye of God to be observed in them of what sort or Nature so ever they be Truth Two instances of greatest successe and temporall prosperitie we have presented to us on the publike stage of this world before our owne Dores crowning the Heads of such States and States-men as have attended to mercy and freedome toward oppressed Consciences The first is that of the State of Holland The second of our owne Native England whose renowned Parliament and victorious Armie never so prospered as since their Declaration and practice of pitie and mercy to Consciences oppressed by M r Cottons bloudie Tenent Peace In the next Passage it being a Grievance that M r Cotton should grant with Luther the Magistrates power to extend no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject and yet withall maintaineth that they must punish Christians for sinning against the Light of Faith and Conscience M r Cotton answers First He supposeth the chiefe good to be that of Christian Faith and Good Conscience Secondly Suppose sayth he by Goods were meant outward Goods yet the Magistrate may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as seduce c. for sayth he in seeking Gods Kingdome and the Righteousnesse thereof Men prosper in their outward Estates Matth. 6. 23. Otherwise they decay Lastly He remembers not the proposition to be his The Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject He answereth it is true in respect of the Object though not in respect of the End which sayth he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bene administrare Rempublicam And he asketh if it be well with a Common-weale enjoying bodily health and worldly wealth without a Church without Christ And he concludes with the Instance of the Romane Empire which had it not cast away Idolatrie sayth he had been ruined Truth For answer First the distinction is famous among all Men of the Bona or Goods of Animi Corporis Fortunae and againe that of the Minde Soule and Conscience within and that of the Body and Goods without that it can be no lesse then a Civill as well as a Spirituall Babell to confound them Secondly To his Supposition suppose sayth he by Goods were meant outward Goods yet the Magistrate may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as doe Seduce c. I see not how these Cohere any better then the grant of some Papists that the Churches power extends no further then the matters of Faith and Conscience But yet say they they may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as seduce c. M r Cottons Suppositions and the Papists come both out of the same Babylonian Quiver But thirdly let us minde his Reason from Matth. 6. In seeking Gods Kingdome men prosper in outward estate otherwise not I answer this Proposition
such as feare God indeed and speakes fire and fagot to all the world beside But also under the name of Heretick and Seducer throwes into the Furnace most commonly and ordinarily all such as feare God Christ Jesus and his Messengers and Ministers not excepted who have alwayes been and are accounted the chiefest Hereticks Blasphemers Deceivers and Seducers in this World Truth I adde the Consequences therefore remaine good that either All the Inhabitants of the World must come into the estate of men fearing God Or else dissemble Religion and fearing God in hypocrisie Or else be driven out of the World Then also the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall and of Magistrates fearing or not fearing God The People must judge I say who feare God indeed and are by them to be permitted and who are the Hereticks and to be punished which who may not see to be the driving of the world out of it selfe and the bloudie routing up of all Societies of Men Peace This charge of partialitie and falshood you have Deare Truth to my understanding shielded the poore Discusser from Can you now helpe his Forehead and his Heart which M r Gotton in the next passage chargeth with another notorious and impudent falshood in relating out of a printed booke an Answer of the New English Ministers to Questions sent unto them from their Brethren in old which answer M r Cotton sayth he cannot finde Truth So much Gall and Vinegar hath M r Cotton powred forth in this whole passage from the first to the last of it that no sober minded man fearing God and knowing M r Cottons former temper of Spirit but will confesse two things First that this bloudie Tenent of persecution hath infected and inflamed his very naturall Temper and former sweet peaceable disposition Secondly his Eye being thus bloudshot is so weakened in its former and otherwise excellent sight that it now questions no Difference between the Mountaines and the Molehills for at the worst in common probabilitie of Reason there can be but a mistake in the Discusser concerning this passage Peace If the Discusser have no sparke of the feare of God yet if but common crvilitie and honestie or least respect of common credit among men it were impossible for him to forge so grossely in matters lately printed publike and obvious to every eye Truth The truth is whether there be different Editions or different Copies printed let M r Cotton and whom it concerns take care of it for the Discusser is confidently resolved that if this passage for the substance of it be not printed and to be read in print of all men in their names he will then willingly beare and lye under the charge of a false forehead and heart which M r Cotton in such heate and anger imputes unto him Exam of Chap. 76. replying to Chap. 79. Peace IN this short Chapter the Discusser is charged with Ignorance and uncharitablenes for thinking amisse of the Penmen of the Answer to the Questions to wit that he should conceive that the passage to New England should change the Judgement or Consciences of Men. Truth The Discusser professeth and I know in truth to bewaile his Ignorance and uncharitablenes yet upon a second review of the words it will be found there was not an Imputation of such a conceit to those worthy Authors or any man but an Item unto all men occasioned by the Confidence expressed that they doubted not but those godly brethren of old England should agree with them here in New if they were in New England together This Item or Caveat will appeare to be given not by way of positive Charge nor in the least derogating from the holy and blessed use of free and humble Conference but to take off the Edge of such Confidence of agreeing in New England when the Differences of Gods people have been and are yet so great in Old and New and so many Conferences and Disputations of Truth and Peace have not yet raised that blessed Agreement of which the Answer to the Questions would make no doubt Peace Me-thinkes there should be little hope of their comming to New-England when the New-English Ministers had got the Advantage of the higher ground and Carnall Sword for their Religion to Friend and had exprest their Judgement of their conceiving it not safe that if they should not agree their severall wayes of Worshipping God should be permitted in one Common-weale Truth Yea and I believe still the Consequence was truely gathered by the Discusser how ever M r Cotton hath so charged his Forehead and Heart for it to wit That the New English Ministers could not as their Conscience stood advise the Magistrates of New-England to permit that which their Consciences and Judgements taught them was not safe c. Peace These passages occasion me to remember a serious Question which many fearing God have made to wit Whether the promise of Gods Spirit blessing Conferences be so comfortably to be Expected in New-England because of those many publike sinnes which most of Gods people in New-England lye under and one especially to wit the framing a Gospel or Christ to themselves without a crosse not professing nor practicing that in Old except of late in times of Libertie which they professedly come over to enjoy with Peace and Libertie from any crosse of Christ in New Truth I know those thoughts have deeply possessed not a few considering also the sinne of the Pattents wherein Christian Kings so calld are invested with Right by virtue of their Christianitie to take and give away the Lands and Countries of other men As also considering the unchristian Oaths swallowed downe at their comming forth from old England especially in superstitious Land his time and domineering And I know these thoughts so deeply afflicted the Soule and Conscience of the Discusser in the time of his Walking in the Way of New Englands Worship that at last he came to a perswasion that such sinnes could not be Expiated without returning againe into England or a publike acknowledgement and Confession of the Evill of so and so departing To this purpose before his Troubles and Banishment he drew up a Letter not without the Approbation of some of the Chiefe of New-England then tender also upon this point before God directed unto the King himselfe humbly acknowledging the Evill of that part of the Pattent which respects the Donation of Land c. This Letter and other Endeavours tending to wash off publike sinnes to give warning to others and above all to pacifie and to give Glory unto God it may be that Councell from Flesh and Bloud supprest and Worldly policie at last prevailed for this very cause amongst others afterward re-examined to banish the Discusser from such their Coasts and Territories Peace But from Violence to the Discusser or any other M r Cotton in the next passage protests his Innocencie and insinuates the Discusser to be
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-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-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
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-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
Bloudy Tenents of Persecution Oppression and Violence in the Cause and matters of Conscience and Religion It is a Second Conference of Peace and Truth an Examination of the worthily honoured and beloved Mr. Cottons Reply to a former Conference and Treatise of this Subject And although it concern all Nations which have persecuted and shed the Bloud of Jesus the Bloudie Roman Empire with all the Savage Lyons thereof Emperours and Popes the bloudie Monarchies of Spain and France and the rest of Europs Kingdoms and States which under their several Vizards and Preteness of Service to God have in so many thousands of his Servants Murthered so many thousand times over his dear Son yea although it concern that Bloudie Turkish Monarchy and all the Nations of the World who practise violence to the Conscience of any Christian or Antichristians Jews or Pagans yet it concerns your selves with all due respect otherwise be it spoken in some more eminent degrees Partly as so many of yours of chief note beside Mr. Cotton are engaged in it partly as N. England in respect of Spiritual and Civil State professeth to draw nearer to Christ Jesus then other States and Churches and partly as N. England is believed to hold and practise such a Bloudie Doctrine notwithstanding Mr Cottons Vails and Pretences of not persecuting men for conscience but punishing them only for sinning against conscience and of but so and so not persecuting but punishing Hereticks Blasphemers Idolators Seducers c. It is Mr. Cottons great mistake and forgetfulnesse to charge me with a publick examination of his privat Letter to me whereas in Truth there never passed such Letters between himself and me about this Subject as he alledgeth But the Prisoners Arguments against Persecution with Mr. Cottons Answer thereunto which I examined I say these were unexpectedly and solemnly sent to me as no privat thing with earnest desire of my consideration or Animadversions on them These Agitations between Mr. Cotton and others so sent unto me as also the Model of Church and Civil Power by Gods Providence coming to hand I say they seem'd to me to be of too too Publick a nature And in which my soul not only heard the dolefull cry of the souls under the Altar to the Lord for Vengeance but their earnest sollicitations yea and the command of the Lord Jesus for Vindication of their blouds and lives spilt and destroyed by this Bloudie Tenent though under never so Fair and Glorious Shewes and Colours The most holy and allseeing knowes how bitterly I resent the least difference with Mr. Cotton yea with the least of the followers of Jesus of what conscience or worship soever How mournfully I remember this stroak as I believe on Mr. Cottons eye and the eyes of so many of Gods precious children and servants in these and other parts that those eyes so peircing and heavenly in other holy and precious Truths of God should yet be so over-clouded and bloudshotten in this I grieve I must contest and maintain this contestation with in other respects so dearly beloved and so worthy Adversaries And yet why mention I or respect I man that is but Grass and the children of men that must die whose Brains Eyes and Tongues even the holyest and the highest must shortly sink and rot in their skuls and holes Without remembring therefore who my Adversarie is nor all the Wormwood and the Gall so frequently in Mr. Cottons Reply against me I fully and only level with an upright and single eye the Lord Jesus graciously assisting against that fowl and monstrous bloudie Tenent and Doctrin which hath so slily like the old Serpent the Author of it crept under the shade and shelter of Mr. Cottons Patronage and Protection My end is to discover and proclaim the crying and horrible guilt of the bloudie Doctrin as one of the most Seditious Destructive Blasphemous and Bloudiest in any or in all the Nations of the World notwithstanding the many fine Vails Pretences and Colours of not persecuting Christ Jesus but Hereticks not Gods Truth or Servants but Blasphemers Seducers not Persecuting men for their Conscience but for sinning against their Conscience c. My end is to perswade Gods Judah especially to wash their hands from Bloud to cleanse their hearts and wayes from such Vnchristian practices toward all that is man capable of a Religion and a Conscience but most of all toward Christ Jesus who cries out as he did to Saul in the sufferings of the least of his Servants Old England Old England New England New England King King Parliaments Parliaments General Courts General Courts Presbyterians Presbyterians Independents Independents c. Why persecute you me It is hard for you to kick against the Pricks My end is to prepare the Servants and Witnesses of Jesus what Truth soever of his they testifie for that great and general and most dreadfull slaughter of the witnesses which I cannot but humbly fear and almost believe is near approaching and will be Vshered in provoak'd and hastned by the preud security worldly pomp fleshly confidence and bloudy violences of Gods own children wofully exercised each against other and so rendred wofully ripe for such an Vniversal and dreadfull Storm and Tempest My end and scope is to put a Christian barr and just and merciful Spoaks in the wheels of such zealous reforming Jehues who under the Vizard and Name of Baals Priests may possibly be induced to account it good service unto God to kill and burn his precious Servants My end is that the greatest Sons of Bloud the Papists may know when ever as the Saints in Queen Maries days confessed when ever it shall please the jealous God for the sins of his Saints to turn the Wheels of his most deep and holy Providences and to give the Power to the Paw of the Beast against his Saints and Truths for their last dreadfull slaughter as Daniel and John do clearly seem to tell us I say those Sons of Bloud the bloudie Papists may know that their bloudy Doctrin of persecution was disclaimed by some whom they call Sectaries That equall and impartiall favour was pleaded to the Catholicks as wel as to their own or other mens Souls and Consciences And that if that great Whore shall yet proceed not only to drink the wine of their carnal Jollitie in the Bowles of the holy Ordinances of Christs Temple and Sanctuary but also to drink more drunk in the bloud of his Saints and witnesses This Testimony may stand as a Character of Bloud fixed by the hand of Gods eternal Truth and Peace upon the Gates of their bloudie Courts and upon the forehead of their bloudie Judges who under what pretence soever hunt and persecute the Souls and Consciences of any Child of God or Man My truly honoured and beloved Countrimen vouchsafe me I beseech you that humane and Christian Libertie to say that I fear your Spirits are
only wise God thus to permit the contentions and divisions of his own Servants as it displaies Himself only Perfect and Excellent and all the best of men in all Ages but farthing-candles yea smoaking Firebrands As it brightly proves the admirable consent and Angelical Harmony of the holy Scripture relating Histories and in those Histories infolding Prophesies fulfill'd before mens daily view thousands of years after As it makes us see our spiritual Povertie and Beggary and infinit need of Mercy and Grace and Peace from Heaven and drives us to continual Prayers and cries for mercifull supplies from thence As it disrelisheth this present sweetest life yea the very life of Spiritual Love in the Communion of the Saints of God themselves if compared with the most pure and spiritual and absolute Joyes and Life approaching So doth this heavenly Councel of the most High aboundantly stop the mouths of all malicious who although they delight to scratch their Athenian Itch of hearing Novelties new things Newes yet stumble they at this stumbling-block of Novelties new Churches new Ministers new Discipline new Baptism new Light The ancient of days say they the God of Peace and Love cannot be in such Divisions The old Bishops were better the old Popes themselves more tollerable But this is but the barking of malice against Gods holyness which his true servants desire to partake of Against Gods Truth which his servants must contend for yea though it be one against another against Gods Councels who hath so laid his holy project that what he now sets out in a clear Light and fairer Print is the very same had we inlightned eyes to see it with the old edition of former times more dark and rude in Ceremonies Types and figures I cannot but foresee variety of divers Passions and Affections in a Variety of Beholders of this present Controversie Some will please themselves and their curiosities in the Noveltie of such discourses some will rejoice to see the light appear and yet mourn in the lamentable differences of such who profess the same God and Christ about it Some will be angry and cry out of Blasphemy against their Gods their Bellies and their Titles c. Some will fear disturbances of the Civil and some of the Spiritual peace and Christianity Yet some will truely desire to search and know the will of God humbly desirous to do it on earth as the Angels doe it in heaven The Courteous Reader may please to see that in the first Conference of Peace and Truth there was Discust a Modell of New English Church and Civill Power which Mr. Cotton in his Reply waved and referred to others of the New English Elders to Reply unto which whether they have so done as yet I have not heard Together with Mr. Cottons Reply to the Bloudy Tenent there was also added a Reply of Mr. Cotton to an Answer of his Letter The Examination of this Reply I desired and intended should have been here presented But the streights of time being constantly drunk up by necessary Labours for bread for many depending on me the discharge of Engagements and wanting helps of transcribing I say the streights of time were such that the Examination of that Reply could not together with this be fitted for Publick view though with the Lords assistance will not delay to follow Touching Mr. Cotton I present two words First for his Person Secondly for his Work For his Person although I rejoyce that since it pleased God to lay a Command on my Conscience to come in as his poor Witnesse in this great Cause I say I rejoice it hath pleased him to appoint so able and excellent and Conscionable an Instrument to bolt out the Truth to the bran So I can humbly say it in his holy presence it is my constant heaviness and souls grief as to differ from any fearing God so much more ten thousand times from Mr Cotton whom I have ever desired and still desire highly to esteem and dearly to respect for so great a portion of mercy and grace vouchsafed unto him and so many Truths of Christ Iesus maintained by him And therefore notwithstanding that some of no common Judgement and respect to him have said that he wrote his washing of the Bloudie Tenent in Bloud against Christ Iesus and Gall against me yet if upon so slippery and narrow a passage I have slpit notwithstanding my constant resolution to the contrary into any Tearm or Expression unbeseeming his Person or the Matter the cause of the most high in hand considered I humbly crave pardon of God and Mr. Cotton also Secondly concerning his Work I call to mind a speech of one of eminent Note in N. England observing a disposition in men for one man to deifie another and that some of no small note had said they could hardly believe that God would suffer Mr. Cotton to err the Speech was this I fear that God may leave Mr. Cotton to some great error that men may see he is a man c. But concerning his Work the observant Reader will soon discover that whatever Mr. Cottons Stand is yet he most weakly provides himself of very strange Reserves and Retreats to point with the finger at 2 or 3 most frequent and remarkable First when he seems to be overwhelmed with the lamentable and doleful cries of the Souls under the Altar crying out for Vengeance on their Persecutors that dwell upon the Earth He often retreats and professeth to hold no such Doctrin of persecuting the Saints no nor of any for cause of Conscience nor that the Magistrate should draw forth his Sword in matters of Religion When it is urged that through this whole Book he Persecutes or Hunts by name the Idolater the Blasphemer the Heretick the Seducer and that to Death or Banishment and amongst other Expressions useth this for one If there be stones in the streets the Magistrate need not run for a Sword to the Smiths shop nor to the Ropier for an Halter to punish Hereticks c. Mr. Cotton retreats into the Land of Israel and calls up Moses and his Laws against Idolaters Blasphemers Seducers c When he is Challenged and that by his own frequent confession in his Book for producing the Pattern of a National Church when he stands only for a Congregationall for producing that national church of Israel so miraculous so typical as a Copie or Samplar for the Nations and Peoples of the World who have no such miraculous and Typicall respect upon them Mr. Cotton retreats to Moral Equity that the Seducer and he that kills a Soul should die When it is urged that Christ Iesus at his so long typed out coming abolished those National shadowes and erected his Spiritual Kingdom of Israel appinted Spiritual Officers Punishments c. and that those Scriptures Tit. 3 against the Hereticks and Rev. 2. against Baalam and Iezabel prove only a spiritual death and
of Prage are declared for devils with the pictured devils upon their heads and under this cloud of heresie and black name of hereticks most commonly have suffered in all ages the true messengers of Christ Jesus Thus cryed they out Acts 17. These are they that have turned the world upside down and are come hither also and thus did they set the City all on an uproare And Acts 19. not the worshippers of Christ fill'd the whole City with confusion but the worshipers of Diana who filled the heavens with that Bedlam Outery of two houres continuance Great is Diana of the Ephesians Truth With as little reason and peaceableness of spirit hath our English Nation used to cry Great is the Church of Rome Great is our holy Father the Pope Great the Mass Great the Virgin Mary Great the General Councels c. And in later times Great the Church of England Great the Christian Magistrate Great the Ministery and Bishops of England Great the swearing and covenant of the people c. and such as dissent from us in these points and practices persecute them as hereticks and disturbers of the common civil peace Peace In the rest of this Chapter Master Cotton makes three grants with his exceptions annexed Truth Please you dear peace to mention them in one and accordingly I shall weigh them in the balance together Peace 1. Saith he The many causes which the discusser before wrote of are all of them allowed but none of them concern holding forth of errors which is the point in hand 2. Saith he It is easily granted that they do break the Cities or kingdoms peace who cry out for prisons and swords against such who cross their judgement or practice in religion to wit saith he unless their religion be of God and the crossing of it be such as destroyeth and subverteth the Religion of God 3. It is also easily granted saith he that many complaine most who are most in fault themselves Truth To these three I may answer thus in one The Mystery of preaching or holding forth the witness of the Truth of Jesus is interpreted by many to be the Mystery of the first seal the white horse and the being persecuted or slaughtered for the word of God and testimony of Jesus to be the Mystery of the third seal where the souls under the Altar cry to the Lord for vengeance against their persecutors These mysteries are sealed up and they are the Lords letters not to be opened and read by every one but as sealed letters be by such to whom they are directed Peace It follows therefore that in the midst of all the cries of Iews Pagans Turkes and Antichristians Our Religion is the Religion of God You are an heretick you are a persecutor We are true Christians we are persecuted c. that the hearts of Gods children must be comforted and staid up with the sight of this Mystery And doubtless it is most commonly though not alwayes true that the imprisoned fined whipt banished hanged burned c. in point of Religion have been so inhumanely oppressed for the word of God and the Testimony of Iesus Our own Chronicles Records of England and blessed Master Fox will in part evidence to us that scarce a King or Queen of England hath past since Richard the second his time but the blood of the witnesses of Iesus more or less hath been spilt in their Raignes as the blood of Hereticks Schismaticks c. and but few drops of the blood of any Heretick indeed have faln to the ground Truth The discusser therefore humbly to my knowledge desireth according to Master Cottons wish to reflect upon his own way and humbly to beg of God two things for himself and all in any measure censured and persecuted as hereticks First Iosephs innocency purity chastity in all those points and questions wherein they are charged and condemned unclean Secondly Iesephs patience to bear the accusations censures imprisonments c. from the tongues and hands of them who are notoriously unclean and guilty before the zealous and revenging eye and hand of God Examination of CHAP. XVIII Peace MAny of the following leaves and Chapters dear truth are spent upon that great and heavenly parable of the Tares a knot about which so many holy fingers dead and living have been so laboriously exercised all professing to unty yet some by seeming to untie have tyed the knot the faster Truth It is no wonder sweet peace to finde Master Cotton so intangled both in his answers and replies touching this Parable for men of all sorts in former ages have been so intangled before him To which purpose with thy patience I shall relate a notable passage recorded by that excellent witness or Martyr of God Master Fox in his book of Acts and Monuments t is this In the story of Master George Wisehart that famous Scotch witness of Christ Iesus in the dayes of King Henry the eighth there preached at the arraignment of the said Wiseheart one Iohn Winryme subprior of the Abbey of Saint Andrews he discoursed on the Parable of the Tares he interpreted the Tares to be hereticks and yet contrary to this very Scripture as Master Fox himself observeth though elswhere himself also maintaining it the duty of the civil Magistrate to suppress hereticks I say the said Winryme concludeth that hereticks ought not to be let alone until the harvest but to be supprest by the power of the civil Magistrate So that memorable it is that both the Popish Prior and that truely Christian Fox were intangled in contradictions to their own writings about the interpreting of this Heavenly Scripture Peace O what cause therefore have all that follow Iesus to beg of Iesus as the Disciples did the blessed Key of David to unloose this holy mistery In the entrance therefore of this discourse the discusser observing Master Cottons exposition to be fallacious and the Tares to be interpreted either persons or doctrines or practices he blames that Master Cotton gives no argument for proof of such an interpretation Master Cotton replies First Neither did the Author of the letter give reason for his interpretation 2. That they both gave one interpretation For the Author of the letter said that some expounded the Wheat and Tares to signifie such as walk in truth and such as walk in lyes now are not saith Master Cotton hypocrites and some corrupt doctrines and practices coincident with such as walk in lyes c Truth I answer First it might be both their failing not to strengthen their interpretations with some light and evidence from Scripture or reason although the Prisoners failing the less as being forced to write by shifts and difficulties in prison and so the shorter when Master Cotton had free liberty to inlarge and confirm without control c. 2. When the prisoner interprets the Tares to be such as walk in lyes it will be found evident upon examination that
pleased with that passage viz. That God will take away such stayes upon whom Gods people rest in his wrath that king David that is Christ Jesus the Antitype in his own spiritual power in the hands of his Saints may spiritually and for ever be advanced Truth This power the General Councels the Popes the Prelates the kings of the earth the civil courts and Magistrates lay claime unto and most of them with bloody hands yea and Gods servants have too long leaned unto and longed after such an arme of flesh which proves most commonly but Sauls arme an oppressing and persecuting and a self killing and destroying power at the last Examination of CHAP. XXXII Peace THis Chapter containes a twofold denyal First saith Master Cotton we hold it not lawful for a Christian Magistrate to compell by civil sword either Pharisee or Pagan or Jew to profess his religion Truth He that is deceived himself with a bad commodity puts it off as good to others Master Cotton believes and would make others believe that it is no compulsion to make laws with penalties for all to come to church and to publike worship which was ever in our fathers dayes held a sufficient trial of their religion and of consenting to or dissenting from the religion of the times Hence by some is that of Luk. 14. alledged Compel them to come in sufficiently fulfilled if they be so far compelled as to be conformable to come to church though it be under the pretence and mask of comming only to hear the word whereby they may be converted But it is needless to stand guessing and guessing at the weight when the scales are at hand the holy word of God by which we all profess to have our weight or to be found too light Peace Master Cotton therefore Secondly denies that a blind Pharisee may be a good subject and as peaceable and profitable to the civil state as any since they destroyed the civil state by destroying Christ Truth When we speak of civil state and their administrations it is most improper and fallacious to wind or weave in the consideration of their true or false religions It is true idolatry brings judgement in Gods time and so do other sins for we read not of idolatry in Sodoms punishment Ezek. 16. notwithstanding there is a present civil state of men combined to live together there in a commonweale which Gods people are commanded to pray for Jerm 29. whatever be the religion there publikly professed Beside the Pharisees destroying Christ were guilty of blood and persecution which is more then idolatry c. and cries to heaven for vengeance Peace It cannot therefore with any shew of charity be denyed but that divers priests of Babel might be civil and peaceable notwithstanding their religion and conscience Truth Yea it is known by experience that many thousands of Mahumetan Popish and Pagan Priests are in their persons both of as civil and courteous and peaceable a nature as any of the subjects in the state they live in The truth is that herein all the priests in the world Mahumetan Pepish Pagan and Protestant are the greatest peace-breakers in the world as they fearing their own cause never rest stirring up Princes and people against any whether Gods or the devils instruments that shall oppose their own religion and conscience that is in plaine English their profits honours and bellies Examination of CHAP. XXXIII Peace THe entrance of this Chapter dear truth looks in mine eye like one of the bloody fathers of the inquisition and breaths like Paul in his mad zeal and frenzy slaughters against the Son of God himself though under the name or brand of a seducer as all persecutors have ever done For saith Master Cotton he that corrupteth a soul with a corrupt religion layeth a spreading leaven which corrupteth a state as Michals idolatry corrupted Laish Judg. 19. and that Apostacy was the captivity of the land and the worshipping of images brought the plague of the Turkes and therefore it is lex talionis that calleth for not only soul for soul but life for life Truth Thy tender braine and heart cannot let flie an arrow sharpe enough to pierce the bowels of such a Bloody Tenent Peace The flaming jealousie of that most holy and righteous Judge who is a consuming fire will not ever hear such Tenents and behold such practices in silence Truth Sweet peace long and long may the Almond-tree flourish on Master Cottons head in the armes of true Christianity and true Christian honour And let New Englands Colonies flourish also if Christ so please untill he come againe the second time But that he who is love it self would please to tell Master Cotton and the Colonies and the world the untrueness uncharitableness numercifulness and unpeaceableness of such conclusions For is not this the plaine English and the bottome to wit If the spirit of Christ Jesus in any of his servants sons oâ— daughters witnessing against the abominations or stinks of Antichrist shall perswade one soul man or woman to fear God to come out of Babell c. to refuse to bow down to and to come out from communion with a state-golden-image and not to touch what it is perswaded is an unclean thing That man or woman who was the Lambs and the Spirits instruments thus to inlighten and perswade one soul he hath saith this tenent laid a leaven which corrupteth the state that is the laud town city kingdome or Empire of the world that leaven shall bring the captivity ruine and destruction of the state and therefore Lex Talionis not only soul for soul in the next but life for life also in this present world Peace All thy witnesses dear truth in all ages have borne the brand and black mark of seducers and still shall even Christ Jesus himself to the last of his holy army and followers against his enemies Truth How famous or rather abominably infamous hath been the practice of all persecutors this way I shall pick out one instance a very stinking weed out of Babels desart to let pass all the bloody bulls and their roarings and threatning of Councels Popes and Emperors Kings Bishops Commissaries c. against the Waldensians Wickleviaâ—s the Hussites Hugonites Lutheraus Calvinists c. their infections and seducings To let pass former and latter persecutions in our own English Nation which hath been as France Spaine Italy Low-countries c. also a slaughter-house of Christs lambs one instance more pertinent then many we have in the raigne of that wise and mighty prince Henry the eighth of bloody Longland Lincolnes Bishop acting to the life Master Cottons Tenent against seducers throughout his Diocess What oaths did he exact what articles did he invent to find out the meetings the conventicles the conferences of any poor servants of God men and women day or night whether the father read to the child or the childe to the father the husband to
or Tolleration As for the Exceptions following Unlesse they maintaine Fundamentall Heresie and unlesse they sin actually These pull backe againe with the Left hand what merciful Freedome he had given before with the Right 3. But lastly by this Interpretation of Let them alone by way of permission and praediction it appeares that M r Cottons Thoughts are not without checks and doubtings what these Tares might be For sayth he if by Tares are meant grosse offendours whereas before he spent much precious time to prove the Tares to be a kinde of closer Hypocrite Moreover all permission is of Evill for some Good so he the permission of Tares for the Wheate sake In which respect as I conceive the good Wheate is not so tendred nor the Word of Christ so attended to by such as presume in pretence for the good wheate sake to pluck up those Tares unto whom Christ Jesus for the good Wheate sake hath for a Time granted a permission Exam of Chap. 58. replying to Chap. 61. Peace VVHereas the Discusser professedly waved any Argument from the number of Princes witnessing in profession or practice against persecution for cause of Conscience M r Cotton replyes that this is a yeelding of the Invaliditie of the Argument But 2. that he urgeth not the number but the greater pietie and presence of God with those Princes who have professed and practiced against Tolleration Truth As I would not use an Argument from the number of Princes about an heavenly matter as knowing that the Kings and Rulers of the Earth commonly minde their owne Crownes Honours and Dominions more then Gods and such Princes as are called Christian use Gods Name Crowne and Ordinances as Jeroboam used Gods Name and Jezabell used Fasting and prayer for the advancement of their owne Crownes and persecuting of the Innocent and Righteous So neither would I rest in the Qualitie Greatnes or Goodnes of any That which I attend in this Argument is the Ground and Reasons of their Speeches which may also have this Consideration to boote that they are the Speeches of such who sit at the helme of great States and were not ignorant of the Affaires of States and what might conduce to the peace or disturbance to the wealth or woe of a Common-weale To their Ground and Reasons therefore I attend in the next Chapter Exam of Chap. 59. replying to Chap. 62. Peace IN this Chap. the Consideration of the Speeches themselves M r Cotton sayth he passed by because either the Reasons wanted waight or did not impugne the cause in hand as First That Speech of King James God never loved to plant his Church by Bloud It is farre from us sayth M r Cotton to compell men to yeeld to the Fellowship of the Church by bloudie Lawes or Penalties Neverthelesse this hindreth not but that his Blood may justly fall upon his owne head that shall goe about to supplant and destroy the Church of Christ Truth How light or how impertinent soever these Speeches may seems to M r Cotton yet to others fearing God also they are most sollid and waighty This Speech of King James seemes impertinent in this cause because sayth M r Cotton we compell no man by bloudy Lawes and Penalties to yeeld themselves to the Fellowship of the Church I answer as Saul by persecuting of David in the Land of Canaan and thrusting him forth of Gods Heritage did as it were bid him goe serve other Gods in other Countries So he that shall by bloudie Lawes and Penalties force any man from his owne Conscience and Worship doth upon the point say unto him in a language of bloud Come be of my Religion c. 2. Peace Why should not Men as well be forced to the Truth as forced from their Errours and Erroneous practices Since to keepe to the Similitude it is the same Power that sets a plant and plucks up weedes which is true mystically in the spirituall worke of Christ Jesus in his heavenly planting by his Word and Spirit 3. Truth I adde if men be compelled to come to Church under such a penaltie for Absence as hath been practiced in Old and New England How can M r Cotton say there is no forcing to the Fellowship of the Church when howsoever with the Papists he makes so great difference which Christ never made between the Lords Supper and the Word and Prayer and say that men may be forced to the hearing of the Word but not to the Supper Yet the consciences of thousands will testifie that it is as truely grievous to them to be forced to the one as to the other and that they had as lief be forced to the meat as to the Broth to the more inward and retired chambers and closets as into the Hall or Parlor being but partâ— of the same house c. Peace And I may adde Deare Truth that the bloudie Imprisonments Whippings and Banishments that have cryed and will cry in New England will not be stild untill the cry of Repentance and the bloud of the Lambe Christ Jesus put that cry to silence But to the second Speech of King James No marvell sayth M r Cotton that I past by that Speech to wit that Civill obedience may be performed by the Papists for I found it not in the Letter and beside how can Civill obedience be performed by Papists when the Bishop of Rome shall Excommunicate a Protestant Prince dissolve the Subjects Oath c. Truth I answer King James professing concerning the Oath of Allegiance which he tendred to the Papists and which so many Papists tooke that he desired onely to be secured for Civill Obedience to my understanding did as much as say that he beleeved that a Papist might yeeld Civill obedience as they did in taking this Oath as quiet and peaceable Subjects some of them being employed in places of Trust both in his and in Queene Elizabeths dayes What though it be a Popish Teâ—eâ—â— that the Pope may so doe and what though Bellarmine and others have maintained such bloudie Tenents yet it is no Generall Tenent of all Papists and it is well knowne that a famous Popish Kingdome the whole Kingdome of France assembled in Parliament in the yeare so calld 1610. condemned to the Fire the booke of Johannes Marianus for mainteining that very Tenent And two moneths after Bellarmines booke it selfe was condemned to the Fire also by the same Parliament for the same detestable Doctrine as the Parliament calld it as tending to destroy the higher Powers which God hath ordained stirring up the Subjects against their Princes absolving them from their Obedience stirring them up to attempt against their Persons and to disturbe the common peace and quiet Therefore all Persons who ever under Paine of High Treason were forbidden to print sell or keepe that booke c. Peace This passage being so late and so famous in so neere a Popish Countrie I wonder how M r Cotton
could chaine up all Papists in an Impossibilitie of yeelding Civill obedience when a whole Popish Kingdome breakes and abhorres the chaines of such bloudy and unpeaceable Doctrines and Practices 2. Experience hath proved it possible for Men to hould other maine and fundamentall Doctrines of that Religion and yet renounce the Authoritie of the Pope as all England did under King Henry 8. when the six bloudie Articles were maintained and practiced and in them the Substance of that Idolatrous Religion although the Power of the Pope of Rome was generally acknowledged no other then of a forreigne Bishop in his owne Diocesse 3. But grant the English Catholicks maintaine the Supreame Authoritie of the Pope even in England it must be considered and declared how farre If so farre as to owne his Power of absolving from obedience against which the aforesaid Parliament of Paris declared the wisdome of the State knowes how to secure it selfe against such Persons But if onely as Head of the Church in spirituall matters they give Assurance for Civill obedience why should their Consciences more then others be oppressed Peace M r Cotton as all men and too justly in this Controversie alledgeth the Papists practices what ever professions otherwise have been So long as they hould the Pope they are sure of a Dispensation to take any Oath subscribe to any Engagement and of Absolution for the Acting of any Crime of Treason or Murther against the chiefest States-men and the State it selfe Truth What is it that hath rendred the Papists so inraged and desperate in England Ireland c What is it that hath so imbittered and exasperated their minds but the Lawes against their Consciences and Worships Peace The two Sisters Lawes compared Maries and Elizabeths concerning mens Consciences while Maries were certainly written with bloud against the Protestants Elizabeths may seeme to be written with milke against the Papists Truth Deare Peace Chaines of Gold and Diamonds are chaines and may pinch and gall as sore and deepe as those of Brasse and Iron c. all Lawes to force even the grossest Conscience of the most besotted Idolaters in the world Jew or Turke Papist or Pagan I say all such Lawes restraining from or constraining to Worship and in matters meerly Spirituall and of no Civill nature such Lawes such Acts are chaineâ— are yoakes not possibly to be fitted to the Soules neck without oppression and exasperation Peace It is no wonder indeed that the Brains of those of the Popish Faith are so distempered and enraged by yoakes clapt on the neck of their Consciences when Solomon the wisest observes it common that Civill oppression how much more Soule-oppression the most grievous and intollerable doth use to render the Braines of men otherwayes most sober and judicious madde and desperate 2. Truth I answer secondly grant the Practices of the Papists against the Civill State fowle dangerous c. yet why should there not be hope according to the rules of pietie in Scripture and policie in Experience that the coales of mercy and moderation may melt the Head of an Enemie as hard as any stone or mettall and render imbittered Enemies loving Friends combined and resolved for their common safetie and Liberties Thirdly Against the feare of Evill practices the Wisdome of the State may securely provide by just cautions and provisoes as of Subscribing the Civill Engagement of yeelding up their Armes the Instruments of mischiefe and disturbance of being noted as the Jewes are in some parts by some distinction of or on their Garments or otherwise according to the Wisdome of the State And without such or the like sufficient cautions given it is not Civill Justice to permit justly suspected persons dangerous to the civill peace to abide out of places of Securitie and safe Restraint Peace If such a course were steered with the Consciences of that Religion yet are there some Objections waighty concerning the Body of the People First There will be alwayes danger of tumâ—lâ—s and uproares between the Papists and the Protestants 1. Truth Sweet Peace thou mayst justly be tender of the quiet repose and secure Tranquilitie of all men and with All men if it be possible as the Scripture speakes as thou art â—n heavenly daughter of the God of peace and love But yet thou knowest the Wisdome of the English State needâ— not be taught from abroad where Liâ—ertie abroad is granted to the Popish oâ— Protestanâ— Consciences of making safe and sufficient provision against all Tumults and feare of uproares 2. But secondly it is too too fully and lamentably true that the Congregations or Churches of the severall sortâ— of such as in whole or in part seperate from the Parish worship and â—orshipperâ— are â—arrâ— more odious to and doe more exâ—sperâ—â—e a thousand times the Parish Assemblies then the Papistâ— or Catholiques themselues are or doe So that if the People were let loose to take their choice of exercising violence and furie either upon a â—opish oâ— a Protestant Seperate Assembly it is cleare from the greater corrivation and competition made by the Protestants that seperate to the true Church true Government true Worship true Ministrie true Seales c. the rage of the People would mount up incomparably fiercer against the one then the other Hence iâ— was the Papists ever found more favour with the last two Kings and theiâ— Bishops then the Puritants so called did and the seperate Assemblâ—es were not so maligned by them as the Nonconâ—ormists noâ— they so much as the very conforming Puritants And therefore suitably it was bâ—lcht out from a fowle-mouth 〈…〉 a Chaplâ—ine to one of the late Bishops Aâ—plaguâ— said â—â— on all Conforming Puritants they doe us most mischiefe Notwithstanding all this and the bitter Indignation of People against these Sectaries so called and their Assemblies yet the most holy wisdome of the Father of Lights hath taught the Parliament of England that wonderfull skill in the midst of so many Spirituall oppositions to preserve the Civill peace from the dangerâ— and occasions of civill Tumults and Distractions Peace Admit the civill peace be kept inviolate yet how satisfie we the feares and jealousies of many who cry out of danger of Infection and that Jezabels Doctrine will leaven and seduce the Land c. Truth I will not here repeate what in other parts of this booke I have presented touching that Point of Infection At present I answer First It is to me most improbable that except the Body of the Nation face about from Protestanisme to Poperie as in Queene Maries dayes that the number of Protestants turning Papists will be great in a Protestant Nation especially if such securitie be taken as was above-mentioned and otherwise as the State shall order c. together with such publick notes and markes before mentioned on the People of that Way because of their former practices Secondly Yea why should not rather the glorious Beames of
Filthinesse the Pope Practicing most odious spirituall uncleannesse upon the Consciences of the Nations of the Earth 2. Peace Deare Truth who knowes not whose voyce and Song this is but that of all the bloudie Bonners Gardiners and most devouring persecutours that ever have or shall legally in way and pretence of Justice persecute You pretend Conscience that you dare not come to Church because of Conscience that so to sweare submit subscribe or conforme is against your Conscience that you are persecuted for your Conscience and forced against your Conscience Truth Indeed what is this before the flaming eyes of Christ but as Amnon-like in the type some lustfull Ravisher deales with a beautifull Woman firstâ—using all subtle Arguments and gentle perswasions to allure unto their spirituall Lust and Filthinesse and where the Conscience freely cannot yeeld to such Lust and Folly as Tamar said to Amnon then a forcing it by Penalties Penall Lawes and Statutes Yea what is this but more filthy and abominable then is commonly practiced against ravished Women to wit a perswading a Conscience that it is obstinate obstinate against its knowledge that a man might lawfully have yeelded that he is convinced of the lawfulnesse of the Act and therefore may justly be punished for repelling such Arguments and resisting such perswasions against the Conviction of his owne Conscience 3. Peace It is a common Question made by most who shall be Judge of this Convicted Conscience shall the lustfull Ravisher the Persecutor be Judge Will the burning Rage of his Spirituall Filthinesse and Antichristian Beastialitie cause no shaking of the scales of Justice And will M r Cotton indeed except he suspend them have all the Civill Magistrates or Civill States or Generall Assemblies or Courts of People in the World according to their severall Constitutions sit Judges o're Conscience to wit when the poore ravished Consciences of Men are convinced Truth What is this but in truth to submit the Soules and Consciences of the Saints yea the Conscience of the Lord Jesus in them unto the World that lyes in wickednesse and to the Devill in it out of which God hath chosen but few that are wise or that are Great Rich or Noble 4. And to end this Passage what is this but to destroy that distinction of a true and false Conscience which the holy Spirit expressely maketh relling 2 Thessal 2. of Antichristians that make Conscience of Lyes believing them conscientiously for Truths What is it now to force a Papist to Church but a Rape a Soule-Rape he comes to Church that is comes to that Worship which his Conscience tells him is false and this to save his Estate Credit c. What is this in a Papist but a yeelding unwillingly to be forced and ravished Take an instance of holy Cranmer and many other faithfull Witnesses of the truth of Jesus who being forced or ravished by terrour of Death subscribed abjured went to Masse but yet against their Wills and Consciences In both these Instances of Papist and Protestant M r Cotton must confesse a Soule-Ravishment for thâ— Conscience of a Papist is not convinced that it is his Dutie to worship God by the English common Prayer-Booke or Directorie c. And the Consciences of many are not convinced but that it is their sinne to come at either the Papists or common Protestants Worship So both Papist and Protestant are forced and ravished by force of Armes as a Woman by a Lustfull Ravisher against their Soules and Consciences Peace Againe in that King of Bohemia's Speech M r Cotton passed by that most true and lamentable experience of all Ages to wit that persecution for cause of Conscience hath ever proved pernicious and hath been the cause of great Alterations and changes in States and Kingdomes To this M r Cotton replyes No experience in any Age did ever prove it pernicious to punish Seducing Apostates after due Conviction of the Errour of their way And he asks wherein did the burning of Servetus prove pernicious to Geneva or the just Execution of many Popish Priests to Queene Elizabeth or the English State Truth I answer though no Historie did expresse what horrible and pernicious mischiefes the persecuting of the Arians and others caused in the World yet is it lamentably sufficient to the Point that all Ages testifie and I had almost said all Nations how pernicious this Doctrine hath been in raising the devouring flames of Fire and Sword about Hereticks Apostates Idolaters Blasphemers c. Peace Later Times have rendred the observation of that King most lamentably true in the many great Desolations in Germany Poland Hungaria Transilvania Bohemia France England Scotland Ireland Low Countries not to speake of the mighty warres between those dreafull Monarchies of the Turkes and Persians and other Nations to the Flames where of although other causes have intermingled the Matters of Heresie Blasphemie Idolatrie c. have been the chiefest sparkes and Bellowes Truth It is true as M r Cotton sayth it hath pleased the God of Heaven to spare some particular places and to preserve wonderfully for his Name and Mercy sake Geneva England c. c. When they have been besieged and invaded Yet M r Cotton confesseth that Queene Elizabeth by that course had like to have fired the Christian World in Combustion which though it pleased God to prevent yet later times have shewen how pernicious this Doctrine hath proved unto England Scotland Ireland c. in the slaughter of so many hundreth thousand Papists and Protestants upon the very point principally of Heresie Idolatrie c. Peace To end this Chapter To that observation that Persecution for cause of Conscience was practiced most in England and such places where Poperie reignes implying that such practices proceed from the great Whore and her Daughters M r Cotton replyes it is no marvaile he passed by this observation in the Kings speech for it was not the Speech of the King but of the Prisoner and it was not the persecuting of Antichristians but of Nicknamed Puritans and of them too without Conviction of the Errour of their way He addeth that he could never see Warrant to call that Church an Whore that worshipped the true God onely in the name of Jesus and depended on him alone for Righteousnesse and Salvation and that it is at least a base part of a childe to call his Mother whore who bred him and bred him to know no other Father but her lawfull Husband the Lord Jesus Christ Truth Whether the Observation was the Kings or the Prisoners yet it was passed by And if those Puritants or Protestants persecuted were not convinced Himselfe as he here sayth never saw Warrant that is was convinced for to call such a Church as he here describeth an Whore yet not a few of his opposites will say and that aloud that He and they were or might have been convinced what ever He or they themselves thought
The truth is the carnall Sword is commonly the Judge of the conviction or obstinacie of all supposed Hereticks Hence the faithfull Witnesses of Christ Cranmer Ridley Latimer had not a word to say in the Disputations at Oxford Hence the Non-conformists were cryed out as obstinate Men abundantly convinced by the Writings of Whitgift and others And so in the Conference before King James at Hampton Court c. But concerning the Church of England whether a daughter or no of the Great Whore of Rome It is not here seasonable to repeate what the Witnesses of Christ to Bonds Banishments and Death whom M r Cotton here calls the rigid Seperation have alledged in this case I thinke it here sufficient to say two things First M r Cotton himselfe is thought to believe that it is not a profession of words containing many fundamentall Doctrines that makes a people a true Church who professing to know God yet in workes deny him notwithstanding that amongst them by Gods gracious Dispensation much good may be wrought by many 2. M r Cotton himselfe will not say that ever Christ Jesus was married to a Nationall Church which all men know the Church of England ever was and M r Cotton elsewhere acknowledgeth as Nationall to be none of Christs but onely Churches Congregationall Exam of Chap. 60. Concerning the Romane Emperours which did or did not persecute Peace VVHereas it was answered that Godly Persons as some Godly Emperours might doe evill to wit in persecuting And ungodly Emperours in not persecuting might doe well c. M r Cotton replyes This begs the Question to say that Kings alledged by the Prisoner did that which was good but Kings alledged by M r Cotton though better persons did that which was Evill Truth I think M r Cotton mistakes the poore Prisoner if he conceives him to have argued from the Number or by way of comparison the Qualitie or Goodnesse of the Kings I am sure he mistaketh the Discusser who argues neither from their Persons nor Number nor Practices but from the waight of their Speeches qualified onely with the consideration of their State Their Speeches M r Cotton passed by but now hath waighed though not so fully as it may please God to cause Himselfe or others to doe hereafter Peace I conceive it to be a further mistake to thinke the Discusser accounted the Persons alledged by M r Cotton better Persons then those alledged by the Prisoner Truth The Discusser compared them not but desired that their Speeches and Arguments might have their just and due waight and then I believe it will be found not a begging but a winning of the Question even from the Testimonie of some Kings themselves Chap. 61. replying to Chap. 64. Examined Peace IN this Chapter God is pleased to leave M r Cotton to fall into two Evills then which ordinarily greater cannot be among the sonnes of Men I speake not of the Aggravations of malice and obstinacie which I hope the most gracious Lord will keepe him from but of the sinnes themselves in themselves The One is monstrous Blasphemie and abominable profanation of the most holy Name of his most High and holy Maker c. The second extreamest Crueltie and Tyrannie against Men his fellow Creatures For the first after a new refined fashion and dress he projects how to turne this whole Dunghill of the corrupt and rotten World into a most sweet and fragrant Garden of the Church or Dove of Christ For the second he contents not Himselfe with the Severitie and Crueltie of former times exercised by the Emperours professing the Name of Christ against such whom they reputed Hereticks but blames them for applying too favourable and gentle Medicines of Exile and Banishment and in plaine tearmes he sayth It had been better they had put them to death Truth Your observation sweet Peace is full of pietie and Mercy It is most true that a private opinion or an Act of Antichristianisme and Idolatrie like a dead flie may cause a sweet pot of Christian Oyntment to yeeld a stincking savour but such a Doctrine of such a generall Nature and extent as reaches to all men to all the World in my apprehension should cause Men to feare and tremble at such Rocks against which such Gallant vessells may strike and split if the most holy and jealous God be pleased a little to withdraw his holy hand from the steering of them Peace Let me Deare Truth summe up the Heads to which I shall request your Consideration It is true sayth M r Cotton when God advanced Constantine and other Christian Emperours to sit on the Throne the Church soone became a Wildernesse and he also seemeth to consent that the unknowing zeale of Constantine and other good Emperours did more hurt to Christianitie then the raging fury of bloudie Neroes But withall he addeth that their unknowing zeale did not lye in punishing notorious Hereticks Seducers c. And he sayth that the Church never had hurt by such punishments He affirmeth that it is no Sollecisme in Religion for the whole World to become Christian that the World became Antichristian by the tolleration of Princes and their advancing of Church affaires together with the unwatchfullnesse of such being advanced that if the World had renounced Paganisme and professed Christ to be the Sonne of God but yet had been kept from the Fellowship of the Church till they had approved their profession by a sincere conversation it had been no Sollecisme c. Further He sayth the Christian Emperours did permit Hereticks to live in the field of the World that they seldome or never put them to Death for hereticall pravitie though it had been better sayth he they had so done with some of them but onely expelled them from populous Cities and Countries where the Gangrene might spread c. Truth You have well summd up Sweet Peace I shall briefly touch these Heads with Gods assistance and first concerning the zeale of the Romane Emperours It is confest by M r Cotton that upon the good Emperours coming to the Throne the Church soone became a Wildernesse and that was a greater hurt and mischiefe then ever befell the Saints and Churches under the fierie persecution of the most bloudie Neroes surely such zeale that brought forth such fruit to Christianitie might seeme justly to be suspected not to be kindled from Heaven but from Men. 2. It seemes not reasonable to the weakest understanding nor suitable to the wisdome and constant care and love of Christ Jesus to his Wife and Spouse in his absence that the Romane Emperours should be such Godly Persons and that also neither by Christ Jesus nor his Apostles or Messengers the least word should be directed to them when as yet they were extant in Christs and his Messengers times and by the bloudie Tenent must be supposed invested with so high a calling too so high a worke and dutie as higher is not to be
to intrap intangle and bewilder themselves that they may learne to confesse him onely and infinitly wise and be more humble in themselves as fooles and lyars and lesse bitter in their Judgements and Censures on the poore Vnderlings and Outcasts Truth O that M r Cotton who grants the Godly may fall into such fowle sinnes of Heresie and Schisme may also be godly jealous over himselfe and others fearing God in old or New England that also possibly they may fall into the very sinne of persecuting the Sonne of God himselfe especially since it is the Lot of Christ Jesus beyond all compare both in Himselfe and his Followers to be accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer Seducer and Deceiver Peace To the second and third Charge M r Cotton complains of false dealing in that the Discusser should render his words as if he charged such to be obstinate persons that yeelded not to once or twice Admonition and that for every Errour when he speakes onely of persisting in Heresie or turbulent Schisme Truth For answer let M r Cottons Conclusions in the beginning of this Booke be remembred Wherein he maintaines that a Man of an Erroueous and blind Conscience in Fundamentall and weighty points and persisting in the Errour of his way is not persecuted for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Whence it followes that the Civill Courts of the World must judge whether the matter be fundamentall and weighty whether the partie have been rightly once and twice admonished and whether he persist in the Errour of his Way that is whether he be obstinate after such Admonition and must then be persecuted though as the Conclusion wofully concludeth not for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Peace Yea but the Discusser sayth M r Cotton dealeth falsly in carrying my words as if I had said that Godly persons in whatsoever Errour they hould if they yeeld not to once or twice Admonition they must needs be obstinate whereas he saith he speakes not of every Errour but of persisting in Heresie and turbulent Schisme Truth The Discusser did not so say or so carry it as M r Cotton insinuates but this he saith that even in the place of Righteousnesse and Judgement as Salomon saith Iniquitie and such Iniquitie in all civill Courts of the World and in all Ages of the World usually hath been found that as in multiplying glasses a Flea is made an Elephant c. So the poore witnesses of Christ have been proclaimed and persecuted for Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers c. not onely for not houlding the Popes Transubstantiation Auricular Confession Purgatorie and those waightier points of the Beasts worship but reading a piece of a Leafe of Scripture or any good booke is Heresie Eating a piece of Flesh in Lent yea the slight breaches of the smallest Traditions of the Elders and State Worships accounted Heresie Blasphemie c. Peace Hence was it I think that the Naturalist could tell us in the Fable of the Fox and the Lyon that the Fox ran not away in vaine upon the Proclamation of the departure of all horned Beasts as knowing that if the bloudie persecutours of the World shall say the plainest Ears are hornes that is the smallest Errours yea the plainest Truths are Heresies it is in vaine for any Innocent to plead they are but Eares c. Truth Yea hence it was that in that famous or rather most infamous Councell of Constance the blessed Servant and witnes of Christ Jesus John Hus was as it were stobd to Death before his burning with tearmes of Heresie Heretick Heresiarck yea though he held as the Pope and the Councell held even in those points for which they condemned him because beside their hatred of his Holines witnessing against their Filthines themselves would say from his writings that he did hould so and so against their Popish Tenents which he himselfe profest he never did Peace In the next place Deare Truth are two Passages related by the Discusser from New England To which M r Cotton gives no credit 2. He sayth If such words were spoken they might be spoken upon such waights as might hould waight c. Truth For the Stories and the Discussers mistakes willing mistakes as M r Cotton seemes to insinuate I know the Discusser humbly desires like a true Traveller to his heavenly Countrey to heare of and see and acknowledge and forsake every false path and step by the helpe of Christ that the poorest childe though but a naked Pagan shall hint him of But why should the Stories seeme incredible that suite so wofully fit with the Common Tenents Peace It may be M r Cotton will not believe it nor approve it But there are not two but ten witnesses to testifie such Stories were it seasonable to relate and inlarge such particulars Truth Let M r Cotton then please to understand to passe by particular names of the former Stories which are ready to be declared to any charitable and loving Enquirie that his bloudie Tenent is a bitter Roote of many bitter branches not onely bitter to spirituall tasts but even to the tast of Civilitie and Humanitie it selfe But since the names of persons are so desired I shall relate not out of any personall disrespect to M r Streete and the people of Cohannet aliàs Taunton my loving friends what many testifie that the said reputed Minister M r Streete publikely and earnestly perswaded his Church-members to give Land to none but such as might be fit for Church-members yea not to receive such English into the Towne or if in the Towne yet not to Land that if they lived in the Towne or place yet they might be knowne to be but as Gibeonites hewers of wood and drawers of water for the service of them that were of the Church Peace I know what troublesome Effects followed in the same place and what Breaches of Civill and humane Societie What Departures of divers and Barres to the comming of others to the spoile and hindrance of a most likely and growing Plantation But to proceede Deare Truth you cannot more faithfully and carefully labour to discharge the Discusser of falshoods then M r Cotton endeavours to lay them on For to the former three behould in the next passage foure more For first the Discusser is charged to report M r Cotton as expressing Confidence in this cause which M r Cotton sayth he expressed not Secondly He reports M r Cotton to say that he to wit M r Cotton had removed the grounds of this Errour whereas M r Cotton saith he said not so but that he had spoken so much for that End Thirdly He foisteth in the name of great Errour which though it be so yet M r Cotton did not so stile it Fourthly That M r Cotton should conclude that to be a great Errour that persons are not to be persecuted for cause of Conscience when he states the Question so that none
black Catalogues it hath pleased the most jealous and righteous God to make of his fierie Judgements and most dreadfull stoakes on Eminent and remarkeable persecutours even in this life It hath been his way and course in all Countries in Germanie France and England especially what ever their pretences have been against Hereticks Rebells Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers c. How hath he left them to be their owne Accusers Judges Executioners some by hanging some by stobbing some by drowning and poysoning themselves some by running mad and some by drinking in the very same Cup which they had filld to others Some may say Such persecutours hunted God and Christ but I but we c. I answer the Lord Jesus Christ foretold how wonderfully the wisest of the World should be mistaken in the things of Christ and a true visible Christ Jesus When did we see thee naked hungry thirstie sicke inprison How easie how common how dreadfull these mistakes Oh remember once againe as I began and I humbly desire to remember with you that every gray haire now on both our heads is a Boanerges a sonne of Thunder and a warning piece to prepare us for the waighing of our last Anchors and to be gone from hence as if we had never been 'T was mercy infinite that stopt provoked Justice from blowing out our Candles in our youths but now the feeding Substance of the Candle 's gone and 't is impossible without repentance to recall our Actions nay with repentance to recall our minutes past us Sir I know I have much presumed upon your many waighty affaires and thoughts I end with an humble cry to the Father of mercies that you may take Davids Counsell and silently commune with your owne heart upon your Bed reflect upon your owne spirit and believe Him that said it to his over-zealous Disciples You know not what spirit you are of That no sleepe may seize upon your eyes nor slumber upon your eye-lids untill your serious thoughts have seriously calmely and unchangeably through helpe from Christ Jesus fixed First On a Moderation toward the Spirits and Consciences of all mankinde meerly differing from or opposing yours with onely Religious and Spirituall opposition Secondly A deepe and cordiall Resolution in these wonderfull searching disputing and dissenting times to search to listen to pray to fast and more fearefully more tremblingly to enquire what the holy pleasure and the holy mysteries of the most Holy are In whom I humbly desire to be Your poore fellow-Servant unfainedly respective and faithfull R. VVilliams The Parliaments Labours and Labyriâ—ths Two Subsidies granted by the Parliament to the King of Kings The first Subsidy The second Subsidâ— The Bloody Tenent a common Pyrat Mr. Cottons Reply The first Petition Difference between the Piety and Mercy and State-necessity of granting freedâ—m to mens Consciences Constantines and Maximilians acts compared Two wayes of oppressing conscience in Religion The late King Charles his conscience to oppresse the consciences of others no small occasion of the ruine of him and his The Bishops kild the King Hollands policy The permission of conscience in Holland Gods wonderful goings in Holland from Stafore undone by Pride and Unthankfulness To Enchuysin undone by the bloody Tenent of Persecution From Enchuysin to Amsterdam raised to its present hight and glory by mercy to the persecuted Englands ship got into Harbour Striking of Colours The States of Holland yet to seek in the matters of liberty of Conscience Touching absolute freedome to every mans conscience impartially Freedome of Popish consciences Sâ—â— Chap. 59 more particularly Old images puld down and new set up All Images must down All violent courses must break The Act for Civill Engagement of great necessity The second Pettion Worldly wisdome in straits a most dangerous rock The third Petition Soul shipwrack Dangers of Parliament men Wonderfull Confessions of two mighty Kings True Heavenly wisdome The onely valour or cowardize True and best diligence True Justice and Righteousness Heavenly mercy Late zealous Reformations Jehu his zeal and reward Of the Parliaments patience Of the Crown of true Constancy The Controversies of late years about Religion So many opposite Churches so many opposite Christs to the onely true The Pageant of Perken Warbeck in K. H. 7. his dayes a picture of false Christs or Churches * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The six fundamentals of Christian Religion Heb. 6. with or without the first two salvation or no salvation N England Priviledge Whole Nation of Lyons or Persecutors The Bloudy Tenent more especially concerns N. E. The occasion of the present conâ—â—â—versie This Contestation is not with persons but against their bloody Doctrins and Tenents The end of this Treatise The cry of the Lord Jesus A Bar against Persecution Or a Testimony against it especially in the Papists A double prison of prejudice and Conscience 2 Foundamentall Hints against Persecution Libertie of trying forbidden Books c. New Englands Lessons Liberty of searching our Truth hardly got and as hardly kept Jan le petit The wonderfull deceitfulnesse of the hearts of Gods only people Mic. 3. N. England must be singular as in Mercies so in Judgments 2 of the loudest State crying sins Soul wounds the deepest The Akeldamaes or fields of Bloud caused by the Bloudy Tenent of Persecution Michael the son of God and Sathan the red Dragon the two great Generals Lamentable discordâ— about Religion even among the servants of the true and living God The Israelites divided Joseph sold by his brethren Israel force Aaron to make them Gods Israels murmurings Aaron and Miriam against Moses An Armie of 32000 Israelites shrunk into 300. Samson and David discouraged by their own brethren Benjamin almost destroyed by the 11 Tribes Israels rejecting of Samuel the Lord himself Saul persecuting David Ishbosheth and Israel against David and Judah David stabbing Vriah with his Pen. The divisions dispersions of the Tribes Asa imprisoning the Prophet Christs Disciples destrous of fire from heaven c Bitterness between Saul and Barrabas Gods mercy drawes one many sweet fruits from the bitter contentions of his servants Various affections of Readers expected The Model of N. English Church and Civil Power Of Mr. Cottons Reply to the Answer to his Letter Gods wisdom adored in the Discussing of the Bloudie Tenent A memorable Speech touching Mr. Cotton The strange retreats Mr. Cotton makes in this controversie The rearing of Lyon like persecution pag. The strange reluctancies of the Lamb. like spirit of Mr. Cotton forced to against the Persecuting Lyon Monstrous partiality as touching the Magistracy The slaughter of the Witnesses Revel 2. 10. Christ Jesus shortly ruining the two dreadfull Empites of the bloody Turk and Pope The Turks sorest enemies in Euope The Popes sorest enemies Freedome of Conscience in worship due even to the Papists themselvs See Chap. Truth peace rarely meet in this vale of tears Many dear Saints of God plead for persecution Oh how
righteous is it with God to send them persecution Quaere why Master Cotton leaps over the Epistles to the Parliament and Reader N. E. Persecution guilty of the persecution in old especially since this Rejoynder by their Law for Banishing such as hold not childrens Baptisme and their late fourscore and ten bloody lashes to the body of the Lord Jesus in the sufferings of his faithful witness Obadiah Holines at Boston meerly about that point of Baptisme â—he occasion of â—â—blishing the â—â—oody Tenent Master Cotton blames the discusser for not walking in contradictions Vnchristian partiality Master Cotton complaining of being persecuted by the discusser Persecution in plaine English is hunting Master Cottons tender conscience can hardly digest to be a persecutor but a punisher Gods children commonly persecuted for not yeelding to State-worships Act. 2. 2 Pet. 3. Ordination of Christs Ministry undfily compared to the coronation of Kings Master Cotton pleads for Common prayer Examination of Num. 6. 20. Acts 6. Three causes for which Master-Cotton maintaines persecution Christs Church may be gathered and dissolved without disturbance of civil Peace The doctrine and practise of Persecution breaks the peace where-ever it comes The Civil peace of a place or people is one thing and the welfare or presperity in health wealth c. another The Cities of the world enjoy peace and prosperity where Christ is not heard of Christianity lost most under such Emperours as claimed Christs power to reform the Church c. The Societies or Churches of the Saints are meerly voluntary in combinning or dissolving Christs Church is called out of the world The flourishing of civil states No Civil state can either by Christs Testimony or true reason be judge of the Ecclesiastical and spiritual Difference of spiritual and civil peace When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil resistance or disturbance Six instances of holy zeal in Scripture far from arrogance or impetuousness These were aleadged from Scripture in the bloody Tenent and acknowledged by Master Cotton The Indians prosessing subjection to the English in New England permited in their devillish worships when English fearing God persecuted Vnchristian conclusions Jonahs casting over-boord a ground of persecution c. examined The killing of the false Prophet Zech. 13. 6. examined Esa 26. Hos 6. 2. examined 2 Cor. 10. conviction of conscience The violation of civil peace though out of consciencâ— to be punished An over-ruling finger of God ordering Master Cotton to alleadge Gamaliel sure he had forgotten Master John Goodwins excellent labour in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fighting against God Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver brasphemer seduced Cant. 5. I sleep yet my heart waketh A deep mystery in persecution Wolves complaining that the sheep persecute them The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed mystery Rev. 6. A challenge to the devil himself All Antichristian 〈…〉 persecutors make Tit. 3. their den and Fortress Tit. 3. Discussed The horrible abusing and profaning of that word Heretick Great sins of Gods own children A child of God may possibly be an Heretick For which service through the hurry of the times and the necessity of his departure he lost his recompence to this day The straights of the discussers time in composing of the Bloody Tenent * I prejudice not the free and comfortable supplies of temporals which the Saints ought to make so their Teachers in spirituals only I affirme that such as will not teach will out money they must and do beg or steal Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers Stealers Persecution not properly noâ— usually taken for any spiritual punishment Examination of Phil. 3. and Rom. 14. Very severe but not Christian more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England The civil and spiritual life confounded God Caesar The great peace breakers English Diana's Gross partiality to private interests England in all Ages guilty of much persecution Two seasonable petitions of any persâ—outed The Parable of the Tares The Parable of Tares grosly abused Hypocrisie secret and open hypocrisie Spiritual whoredome in worship may and doth in all Nations subsist with Civil Beings Relations c. Of the Tares Of the wise and foolish Virgius No true church of Christ consisting of visible hypocrites The field of the World The mystery of Antichristians or false Christians Master Cotton knows not his own desire The first rise of Antichristians argued The judgement of the great whore Christs Church by 〈…〉 properly consisting of good ground The â—â—â—uâ—e of Jewish Church The nature of Christs true Apostles Antichristians monsters in rereligion Two sorts of sinners Two sorts of hypocrites Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus The rivers and fountaines of blood Rev. 16. Of hypocrites in profession of Christianity Corrupt consciences distinguished Tolleration of idolaters considered Civil weapons in spirituals blur and flight the spiritual The tolleration of Jezabel in Thyatira Christ Jesus under pretence persecuted The weapons of the Saints Rev. The difference between civil and spiritual slander The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments Not such spiritual punishments in the national church of Israel Prayer against present destruction of tares Pastors and Teachers not Apostles and messengers Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites Concerning Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam * Hence Baalls Priests Monks Friars and Bishops have not been civilly actually slaine in England c. but spiritually by Gods word the sword of his spirit cashiered and cut off eternally Touching Christs Apostles or messengers Touching fundamentals Laws for persecuting of Christ Jesus The Pharisees blaspheming of Christ Jesus * Magistrates kings high priests Herod â—ad kings good kings c. Acts 25. 11. considered No appeals to the civil powers in matters meerly spiritual Few Magistrates in the world know Christ Jesus Mystical and cruel Surgery The title of defender of the faith To serve God withal our might literally taken horribly abused Christ Jesus hath rarely furnished his people with godly Magistrates Defendor of the faith A bold but a true word The title of supream head oath of supremacy c. The plague of the Turkes upon the Antichrististian world The Civil Magistrate no governor over the spiritual kingdome of Christ Whether Saul a type of Christ The kings of Israel and Judah types The priests and Clergy in all Nations the greatest peace-breakers Touching the seducer Of seducing Bishop Longlands subtle Oaths of inquisition Canses of destruction to a Nation All nations Cities Towns c. are part of the world Change of Religions The state of Israel unparlleld The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses Of Seducing What meant by twice dead Of Infection The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power The charge of the civil Magistrate The plague of the Turkes A twofold care and
partiality the bloody doctrine of persebution Great shifting â—o â—sâ—â—â— Christs cross Christian weapons Christ Jesus betwen two Thieves The horible Hypocrisie of all persecutors Christs charge to Pergamus and Thiatira against Tolleration examined False Excommunication one kinde of persecution The word Persecution how ordinarily it is taken Persecution ordinarily implies corporall violence Speeches of Princes against Persecution No Civill Christian State Christs Sword Nurcing Fathers-dealt withall as children Active obedience cannot be given but to a competent Judge Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all Consciences and Religions in the World All persecutors hould the Popes trayterous Doctrine of deposing haereticall Princes The Popish and Protestant Clergie set the Popish and Protestant World on fire for their Maintenance The Dutch device to winne their Clergie to Tolleration of other Religions All that professe to be Christs Ministers must Dig or Beg or Steale All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus Touching the Tares Policie store but Pietie rare in Princes A Speech of King James considered No Man to he forced from his owne worship 〈…〉 c. Touching compelling to come to Church and to heare A second Speech of King James Papists may yeeld Civill obedience The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned Bookes and Tenents against Civill obedience All England Papists and yet the Pope renounced A twofold holding the Pope as Head The two Sisters Lawes concerning Conscience Ceales of moderation and kindnesse may melt an Enemie as David melted Saul c. Cautions for preventing of disturbance by Papists c. Sufficient Provisions are made in other Nations against Distractions and Tumults from opposite Consciences and Worships Nâ—erâ—â— Comâ—â—tition home-bred oppositions most of all exâ—sperate c. The admired Prudence of the Parliament in preserving Civill Peace Increase of Papists unlikely in England M r John Robinson deceased his Testimonie in a Manus from Holland A third Speech of King James considered Persecution ordinarily the marke of a False Church Stephen King Poland his 〈…〉 The Spirituall Power of Christ Jesus betrusted not with Civill but spirituall Ministers An Argument used in Parliament against the Persecuting Bishops Of disturbance of Religion The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from Heaven Daniells Counsel to Bel-shazzar preserveth Parliaments Kingdomes Touching the Nationall Church of Israell Israell a miraculous Nation Two sorts of the Nations of the World Touching the true and false Christs King of Bohemia his Speech Spirituall Rapes All persecutours contumeliously object against Conscience Amnon his ravishing of Tamar a Type A Query who shall judge whether Conscience be convict Church Papists and Protestants also ravished Wars for Religion The bloudie Tenent Guiltie of all the bloud of Papists and Protestants lately spilt The strongest Arme sword the ordinarie Judge of the Conviction of Conscience Touching the Nationall Church of England Reall denying the greatest denying of Christ Jesus Two high Transgressions objected against M r Cotton Touching the Romane Emperours practices in Religious Affaires Christs Garden gaines by violent Stormes and looseth by sweete Sun-shines The Romane Emperours The Arrians persecuted and persecuting The great Difference between this World and Christ A Christianitie strange from Christ Antichristian Christianitie The bloudie Tenent tends to an universall Conquest of the whole World The bloudie Tenent in its colours No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing Scripture of God is The Language of persecutours Julian his Tolleration Touching Infection of false Doctrine c. Hypocrites tollerated in the Church but not in the World Touching the Persecution of K James and Q Elizabeth Touching the Qualification of Princes Touching Magistrates suspending from acting in matters of Religion Monstrous partialitie Constantines Edict Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus Vnchristian Tribunalls Dent. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. Vnchristianly conjoyned Touching Excommunication in Israel Ans Spirituall Blessings and Curses the Antitypes of Corporall before Christ Great oversight imputed to Christ Jesus If civill punishments for spirituall offences they must be inflicted by holy and Christian Instruments and Officers A true Christ a true Sword a false Christ a false Sword Q Elizabeth her wars against the Papists The Warres of the Waldenses Acts 8. 11. Christian weapons Christs Sword Christs Warres and Victories Revel 17. Gideons Army typicall The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church The sins of Gods children Christs Witnesses A true Wife of Christ no persecutour Touching persecution what it is Difference between a civill and spirituall State The nature of spirituall punishment The nature of Christs spirituall Government The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Executioners Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ then corporall before his coming The cutting off or Excommunicating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall A twofold wâ—y of constraint What it is to walke according to a mans Light Conviction twofold Sufficient in it selfe or to the partie efficacious Touching the Maintenance of the new English Ministers Of propagating Religion by the Sword Touching the Indians of New-England Worshipping of God and Christ before the foundation of Repentance is nothing but Antichristian disorder Touching preaching to the Indians in New-England Proprietie of Language necessary to the true preaching of Christ Jesus to any people Conscience to God in Worship a close Prisoner in New-England and no Petitioner could obtaine its Libertie Publikâ— marriage or giving ones selfe to Christ Judges 21. 25 Considered Supreame Authoritie in Spiritualls Tertullians Speech of one Religion not hurting or profiting another Considered * M r Cottons and Mr Edwards Gangrenes have little differd Blasphemie against the holy Scripture Mysteries of false Christs The true Christ despised for his povertie A base esteeme of the Spirituall Sword Earthly Christs need earthly supports The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist Constantines peace a greater tryal and danger to Christians then 300 years persecution Sathans two wayes of quenching the Candle of Christianity The French Massacre must doe what their pretended disputation could not effect Pretended disputes in Q. Maries days ending in fiery flames The late Synodicall disputes A bloody and most unchristian speech The rash fury and madnesse of persecutors even against themselves Pleasantnesse of wit sanctified glorifies the giver The pretended particulâ—r Churches of N. E. indeed but a Nationall Church No permission of any Religion or worship but one in N. E. therefore are the Churches but a Nationall Church in the mould them c. Where the Supream Authority in a Church is Civill the Body cannot but be like the head and all make up but one Civil or Nationall mixt Church like the Jewish Nationall Church The purging a Countrey of Hereticks declares that Countrey is explicitly or implicitly a National Church A State Maintenance proveth a State Church Synods assembled by
might some way from the State or you receive reliefe and succour Considering that the very Nations Constitution hath occasioned parents to traine up persons to give themselves to studies though in truth but in a way of Trade Bargaining before God yet 't is according to the Custome of the Nation who ought therefore to share also in the fault of such Priests and Ministers who in all changes are ejected I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits to perswade The Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England and possesse yours with a true sence of three particulars First of the yoakes of Soule-oppression which lye upon the necks of most of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations of the whole world as if Chams Curse from Noah were upon them Servants of Servants are they and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God which call for the purest Libertie I confesse the World lyes in wickednesse and loveth darknesse more then Soule Bondage the greatest light but why should you helpe on those yoaks and force them to receive a Doctrine to pray to give thanks c. without an Heart yea and in the many changes and cases incident against their Heart and Soules Consent Secondly of the bloudines of that most bloudie Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it c. Some professors true and false Sheepe and Goats are daily found to differ in their Apprehensions perswasions professions and that to Bonds and Death What now shall these be wrackt their Soules their Bodies their purses c Yea if they refuse deny oppose the Doctrine of Christ Jesus whether Jewes or Gentiles why should you call for Fire from Heaven which suits not with Christ Jesus his Spirit The Bloudinesse of the Bloudie Tenent or Ends Why should you compell them to come in with any other Sword but that of the Spirit of God who alone perswaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem and can in his holy season prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet Thirdly Of that Biass of selfe-love which hales and swayes our minds to hould so fast this bloudie Tenent You know it is the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers c. That sets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too as Pauls day and night to work rather Little of the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus yet extant and our selfe-love biasseth us to Inventions Traditions and Doctrines of persecutions then the progresse and puritie and simplicitie of the Crowne of Christ Jesus should be debased or hindred This Spirit will cause you leave with joy Benefices and Bishopricks Worlds and Lives for his sake the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths of whose Love you know doth infinitely passe your most knowing Comprehensions and Imaginations There is but little of this Spirit extant I feare will not be untill we see Christ Jesus slaine in the slaughter of the Witnesses Then Joseph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the slaughtered bodie of most precious Saviour and Nicodemus will goe by day to buy and bestow his sweetest spices on his infinitly sweeter Soules beloved The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit unfeinedly and heartily wisheth you Your most unworthy Countriman R. Williams FINIS The Principal CONTENTS TRuth and peace rarely meet page 1 Many excellent men plead for persecution p. 2 New Englands persecution guilty of the persecution in Old p. 3 The first occasion of publishing the bloody tenent p 4 Master Cotton complains of being persecuted and yet writes so much for persecution p. 5 The word persecution in plain English what it is ibi Master Cotton would change the word persecuting into punishing p. 6 State worships the ordinary occasion of persecution p. 7 Ordination of Ministers and Coronation of Kings unfitly compared p. 11 Master Cotton pleading for Common Prayer p. 11 12 Three causes for which Master Cotton pleads for persecution p. 13 Christs church may be gathered and dissolved with no disturbance of civil peace p. 14 Persecution breaks all civil peace p. 15 Civil peace may be kept long and flourish even where Christ is not heard of yea disowned c. p. 16 Christianity lost most under reforming Emperors ibid. The societies or Churches of Saints are meerly voluntary in combining or dissolving p. 17 Christs Spouse is chosen out of this world p. 18 No civil state can judge the spiritual p. 19 The difference of spiritual and civil peace p. 20 When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted and when most persecuted then flourish most in godliness p. 21 A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil disturbance p. 22 Six instances of zeal in Scripture charged with yet free from breach of civil peace p. 23 The Indians subjected to the English permitted while English fearing God in New England persecuted p. 25 Jonah's casting over board pleaded by Master Cotton as a ground for persecution examined p. 26 The killing of the false prophet Zech. 13. 6. p. 27 Conviction of conscience p. 28 The violation of civil peace though out of conscience to be punished p. 29 Gamaliells councel considered p. 30 Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver blasphemer seducer c. p. 31 Gods people fast asleep and yet awake ibid A deep mystery in persecution p. 32 Wolves complaining of being persecuted by the sheep p. 33 The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed Mystery p. 34 A challenge to the Devil himself touching the persecution of hereticks p. 34 All Antichristian hunters make Titus the third their Den or Fortress p. 35 The horrible abusing and prophaning of that word Heretick p. 36 A child of God may possible be an Heretick p. 37 The straights in which the bloody tenent and this Rejoynder also were composed p. 38 Thâ—se Preachers who will not Preach without money must beg or steal ibid. Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers stealers p. 39 Persecution usually taken for a corporal not a spiritual punishment ibid. Very severe but not Christian and more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England p. 41 The civil and spirituall life confounded p. 42 Gods right and Caesars p. 43 The great peace breakers ibid. English Diana's p. 44. Gross partiality to private interests ibid. England in all ages guilty of much persecution p. 45 Two seasonable Petitions of any persecuted ibid. The Parable of the Tares grosly abused p. 46 Hypocrisie both open and secret p. 47 Spiritual whoredome against God in his worship may be in the midst of pure civil relations p. 48 The parable of the wise and foolish Virgins p. 50. A true church or society of Christ cannot consist of visible Hypocrites p. 51 The Field of the World ibid The Mystery of christians and antichriastians p. 52 The first rise of Antichristians argued p. 54 Touching the
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
Constantine had done the like before to hereticks the Arrian Bishops against the Orthodox Saints Also it is related as a different matter from the former vers 15. that he had power to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed And this fire comes not down upon the Saints but the earth Truth Master Cotton I think knows that the discusser is not alone in this interpretation If he propose any other more suitable to Christ Iesus I hope the discusser desires thankfully to embrace it But this fire being not literal but mystical in imitation of the true prophet Elijah and also as the true witnesses cause fiery judgements descend from heaven upon the enemies of the truth so the false witnesses cause fire to descend against the faithful and sure it is as the discusser related that the Popish Bishops in France and England and other places have ever constantly cryed out that the just judgements of God are brought down by them upon the hereticks which is no smal wonder that the hearts of the sons of men should be so hardened against the light of truth in truths witnesses notwithstanding the acts of Constantine and the Arrian Bishops long before Peace But this fire saith Master Cotton comes down from heaven upon the earth Truth True but it may well imply no more then in the open view and face of all men in this world Peace And lastly saith he it is said that he causeth that as as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed which is a different effect Truth Because it comes from a different cause with respect not to the first Beast himself but only to his picture or image and implies that fiery judgements descend not onely upon such as refuse to worship the first or second beast but the very picture of the beast likewise Examination of CHAP. XXXVIII Peace MAster Cotton here first observing the discussers agreement with him that this instruction 2 Tim. 2. to be meek and patient to all men is properly directive to the Ministers of the Gospel he concludes that therefore hitherto his answer was not perplext and ravelled Truth Many plaine threads may be drawn forth of a perplext and ravelled string as it seemes to me the many particulars of different natures here wrapt up together were Peace Yea but he seems to disown those words unconverted Christians in Crete and more then once in the Chapter toucheth the discussers credit c. Truth I know the discusser desires unfainedly with the Lords assistance rather to die a thousand deaths then willingly to impeach the least of holy or civil truths and therefore affirmeth in this case that at his pleasure the copy not which he received from Master Cotton for there never passed such writings between them as Master Cotton often affirmeth but which he received from another with the correction of Master Cottons own hand to it shall be ready for himself or any to view Peace However Master Cotton maintaining the tearms of unconverted converts from Ier. 3. 10. Iudah turned unto me but not with all her heart but fainedly so Iudas Anâ—â—â—as and Sapphira Balaam the Niâ—â—laitans Iezabel in Thyatira as also the children of believing parents born in the Church who though holy yet cannot be conceived to be truely holy Truth Were the question about hypocrites counterfeits and trayters in the church and kingdome of Christ these words might here rightly be alleadged but Master Cottons words being these unconverted Christians in Crete whom Titus as an Evangelist was to seek and to convert I conceive that Master Cotton will not affirm that the office of an Evangelist was to seek to convert the church though possibly an hypocrite may be turned from his hypocrisie by an Evangelist or private man in the church 2. He makes in the very words a distinction between these unconverted Christians and those Iews and Gentiles in the Church who saith he though carnal yet were not convinced of the error of their way And to conclude this Chapter the discusser readily with thanks acknowledgeth Master Cottons words that it is not probable that Timothy was now at Ephesus and that the subscription added to the second Epistle of Timothy in the English translation is justly to be suspected Examination of CHAP. XXXIX Peace MAster Cotton here argues That if the Magistrate be a Prophet and opposed in his doctrine he ought from this Scripture 2 Tim. 2. meekly to bear the opposition waiting if God peradventure will give repentance yet withal by the way he observeth that if the Magistrate be a prophet he may do some things as a Magistrate which he may not do as a Prophet Truth Of this no question but what is this to a coercive Magisterial power in spiritual things which is the question 2. Since that Master Cotton acknowledgeth that Magistrates may be prophets and that divers Magistrates of New English churches have spoken as prophets eminently able in their churches what should be the reason I ask by the way that their Churches hear no more of such their propheticall gifts but that their talent's wrapt up c. Peace Of this let their consciences give account to Jesus Christ whom they call the King of their churches and the fountaine of such heavenly abilities But to proceed Master Cotton grants that Magistrates ought to bear in the church oppositions against their prophecyings but not continued opposings nor seduings c. Truth What is then the waiting here commanded until God peradventure will give repentance Peace It is true saith Master Cotton it is not in the power of man to give repentance but God alone Neither is it in mans power saith he to give repentance to scandalous persons against the civil state and yet the discusser acknowledgeth that the civil Magistrate ought to punish these Truth It is not the Magistrates work and office in the civil state to convert the heart in true repentance unto God and Christ The civil state respecteth conformity and obedience to civil laws though indeed the works and office of the Ministers of Christ Jesus are commonly laid upon the Magistrates shoulders and they pretending themselves the Ministers of Christ Jesus armed with the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God the Word of God do commonly flye unto and put more confidence in the sword of steel in the hand of their civil Ministers the Magistrates Peace The sword of steel hath done wonderful things throughout the whole world in matters of Religion and woful and wonderful as was formerly observed hath Religious changes been in the English nation and that by the power of the civil sword backward and forward and that in the space of a few yeers in the reigne of four or five Princes But this saith Master Cotton is no more then befell the church of Iudah in the dayes of Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah Truth Englands changes will
be found upon examination incomparably greater and wrought in the eighth part of the time that the changes of the church of Iudah were And yet this instance will not infringe that the civil sword of the Magistrate in a national way is ordinarily able to turn about a Nation to and againe to and from a truth of God in national hypocrisie and therefore most wisely hath the most holy and only wise by the most golrious brightness of his person and wisdom of the Father Christ Jesus abolished his own national and state church whether explicit or implicit that the two-edged sword of the word of the Lord in the mouths of his true messengers might alone be brandished and magnified Peace Master Cotton concludeth this Chapter with the observation that the revolt of England againe to Popery wanteth Scripture-light Truth He that loves Christ Iesus in sincerity cannot but long that Christ Iesus would speedily be pleased with the breath of his mouth to consume that man of sin But yet that worthy servant of God according to his conscience Master Archer doth not barely propose his opinion but also his Scripture-grounds which I believe compared with all former experiences will seem to be of great and weighty consideration and call all that wait for Christ Iesus to beg his Spirit deeply to weigh and ponder them Examination of CHAP. XL. Peace TO the several allegations concerning the woful slavery of all opposites of Christ Iesus and the mighty power of free grace only able to release them Master Cotton replies So is it with scandalous offenders against the Civil state and yet this doth not restraine Magistrates from executing just judgements upon them c. And he adds that better a dead soul in a dead body and that seducers die without faith then murther and seduce many precious souls from the faith Truth The Lord Iesus commanding to give God the things that be Gods and to Caesar the things that be Caesars gives all his followers a clear and glorious torch of light to distinguish between offenders against God in a spiritual way and offenders against Caesar his Lawes state and government in a civil way T is true slatterers and time-servers use to make Religion and justice the two pillars of a State and so indeed do all such states in the world as maintaine a state-Religion invented and maintained in civil policy to maintaine a civil state But all men that have tasted of history or travel are witnesses sufficient of these two particulars First concerning justice that if the sword and balances of justice in a sort or measure be not drawn and held forth against scandalous offenders against civil state that civil state must dissolve by little and little from civility to barbarisme which is a wilderness of life and manners Peace Yea the very barbarians and Pagans of the world themselves are forced for their holding and hanging together in barbarous compaines to use the ties and knots and bands of a kind of civil justice against scandalous offenders against their Commonweale and profit Truth But too many thousands of Cities and states in the world have and do flourish for many generations and ages of men wherein whatever Caesar gets God cannot get one penny of his due in any bare permission or toleration of his religion and worship Peace Dear Truth these two points being so constantly proved I can but wonder that Master Cotton or any servant of Christ Iesus should cry out to the Caesars of this world to help the eternal God to get his due because Christ Iesus grants them a civil sword in civil cases to preserve their civil states from barbarisme and confusion Truth That worthy Emperor Antoninus Pius in his letters for the Christians plainly tels the governors of his provinces that the gods were able to punish those that sinned against their worship evidently declaring by that light of conscience and knowledge which God had lighted up in his soul the vast difference between offenders in the civil state and offendors against the true and only religion and worship about which the whole world disagreeth and is hist together by this bloody tenent I say hist together by the ears and throat in blood and fire as the tide of times major vote armies and armes of flesh prevaile Peace Ah Dear truth is there is no Balme in Gâ—â—ead no balances no sword of spiritual justice in the City and kingdome of Christ Jesus but that the officers thereof must run to borrow Caesar Are the Armories of the true king Solomon Christ Jesus disarmed Are there no spiritual swords girt upon the thighs of those valiant ones that should guard his heavenly bed except the sword of steel be run for from the cutlers shop Is the Religion of Christ Jesus so poor and so weak and feeble grown so cowardly and base since Paul spake so gloriously of it and the weapons of it 2 Cor. 10. that neither the souldiers nor Commanders in Christs Army have any courage or skill to withstand sufficiently in all points a false teacher a false prophet a spiritual cheater or deceiver Truth This must all that follow Jesus bitterly lament that not a spiritual sword or spear is to be found in the spiritual Israel of God but that his poor Israelites are forced down to the Philistins of this worlds Smiths c. And that the princes of Zion are become feeble like harts without pasture as Jeremy complaineth in his Lamentations Peace Now whereas it was added that a civil sword hardens the followers of false teachers in the suffering of their leaders and begets an impression of the falshood of that religion which cannot uphold it self all the world over but with such instruments of violence c. Master Cotton replies that the Magistrate ought not to draw out his sword against seducers untill he hath used all good means for conviction c. and then saith he he should be cruel to Christs Lambs in sparing the Foxes c. Truth Who knows not this to be the plea and practise of all Popish persecutors in all ages to compass sea and land to reduce the heretick to the union and bosome of the church not only with promises threatnings c but oftimes with solemn disputations and sometimes writings and waitings before they come to the definitive sentence and deliver him to the secular power and so to the use of those desperate remedies of hanging burning c. How do the bloody Popes and the bloody Bonners in their hypocritical letters and bloody sentences profess their lamentable grief at errors and heresies their clemency and mercy and great pains taken to reduce that wandring to return the lost childe to heal the scabbed sheep yea and when they are forced as they say for the saving of the flock from infection to deliver such sheep to the secular power as their butchers and executioners yet beseech they that power and that