Staves to punish them if need be for Hereticall Delinquencie 2. Their Magistrates themselves fall short of great and setled Maintenance And lastly Himselfe liveth upon no great and setled Maintenance Truth It is true M r Cotton allowes the same Power to Magistrates to punish all Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers one as well as another But what if it should fall out that his Magistrates should declare themselves for the Pope or for the Prelates or for the Presbyters yea or for some other way then is professed and left it free for each mans conscience to worship as he believed and to pay or not pay toward this or that Worship or Ministrie according to his owne perswasion more or lesse any thing or nothing will not M r Cotton then plead that such Magistrates themselves Apostatizing from the Truth of God and turning Enemies as the Pope clamours to the holy Church I say that such ought not onely to be accursed with the lesser and greater Censures of Suspention and Excommunication but also punished with Imprisonment Banishment and Death Or if they finde the mercy of Life and Favour of an Office by some over-ruling Providence will not M r Cotton then pleade that such Magistrates ought to suspend their Power to hould their hands and not to medle untill they be better informed c. Into such poore withered Strawes and Reedes will the Allowance of Swords and Staves M r Cotton here speakes of come to Concerning the seats and sadles of great and setled maintenance of Magistrates the Discusser spake not but heartily wisheth their Maintenance as great and setled as he knowes their Labours and Travells and Dangers be He spake onely of Ministers great and setled maintenance Peace O Truth this is the Apple of the Eye the true cause of so much combustion all the World over especially Popish and Protestants Truth Indeed this was the cause as Erasmus told the Duke of Saxonie that Luther was so stormed at because he medled with the Popes Crowne and the Monkes Bellies To obtaine these warme and soft and rich seats and sadles who ever stand or goe on foote or creepe or beg or Starve the Prelates practices all Ages know Yea and other practices of some of late who with the Evill Steward providing wisely first made sure of an Ordinance of Parliament for Tithes and Maintenance before any Ordinance for God Himselfe Peace This is that indeed which the Politick State of Holland well foresaw when they were lamentably whipt by the King of Spaines and Gods Scourge Duke D'alva into a Toleration of other mens Consciences The Politick States-men I say saw a necessitie of stopping their Dominies Mouths with sure and setled Maintenance out of the States purse Hence it is the Dutch Ministers zeale is not so hot against the Toleration of Hereticks in the Civill State as the English hath been Truth To this purpose sweet Peace how fitly did that learned Prideaux once tell his Sons the Oxford Doctors at one of their Superstitious Creations that since they could not dig and were ashamed to beg they had great need therefore of setled Maintenance This was but the Evil Stewards device and I adde little better then stealing Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton I live not so c. Truth One Swallow makes not a Summer what others have done and doe and what practices have been and are for a forced setled maintenance as firme and setled as ever was the Parish maintenance of Old England hath been to the shame of Christianitie too apparant For M r Cotton himselfe as I envie not the faines of his morsells nor the sweetnes of his Cups but wish him as large a purse as I beleeve he hath an Heart and a desire to doe good with it Yet it hath been said that his case is no Praesident because what he looseth in the Shire he gets in the Hundreth and sits in as soft and rich a sadle as any throughout the whole Countrey through the greatnes and Richnes of the Marchandize of the Towne of Boston above other parts of the Land The truth is there is no Tryall of the good or Evill Servant in this case untill it comes to Digging or Begging or the third way viz of couzening of the great Lord Master Christ Jesus by running to carnall meanes and carnall weapons to force mens purses for a rich and setled Maintenance Chap. 57. replying to Chap. 60. Examined Peace COncerning Princes M r Cotton addeth that Princes out of State policie doe sometimes tollerate what suits not with Christianitie as David did Joab against their wills Unto this it was answered that this agrees not with his former generall Proposition to wit that it was evill to Tollerate seducing Teachers and scandalous livers M r Cotton replyes Yes for Moses laid downe in generall Who so sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed yet Joab was tollerated to live c. Truth If Moses had said It is not lawfull to tollerate a Murtherer and yet afterward had tollerated a Murtherer his later practice would not have seemed harmonious to his former speech but Moses did not so and therefore I conceive is not rightly alledged Peace Whereas it was further alledged that that State policie and State necessitie which permitted the consciences of Men will be found to agree most punctually with the Rules of the best politician that ever the world saw the Lord Jesus himselfe who commanded the permitting of the Tares M r Cotton replyes that he is not against the permitting of some Antichristians or false Christians unlesse they maintaine fundamentall Heresie against the Foundation of Religion and that obstinately after conviction and withall seduce others But for such Hereticks and seducing Teachers they are none of those Tares of which Christ sayth Let them alone Besides sayth he If by Tares are meant grosse offenders then the speech of Christ Let them alone is not a word of command but a word of permission and praediction like that Luc. 22. 36. He that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy a Sword Truth I answer that there should be Antichristians or false Christians which maintaine not fundamentall Heresie against Foundation of Religion I thinke is new to the New Testament of Christ Jesus and to the Tryalls the holy Spirit proposeth by John in his Epistles discovering such to be the Hereticks and Apostates as deny the Lord Jesus as all Antichristians or false Christians doe more or lesse to be come in the Flesh the true Messiah and anointed King Priest and Teacher to his Church Peace If M r Cotton will make good his word to wit that he will permit some Antichristians or false Christians methinks the whole Tryall of this matter might well turne upon this Hinge so that the true or false Christian be tryed by the Rules of the New Testament Truth If so he must undeniably subscribe to this great and Christian policie of permission
idolatry it is an wholesome faithfulness to the church if Princes trouble the outward peace of the church that so the church finding themselves wounded and pricked in the house of their friends they may repent and return to their first husband Zech. 13. Hof 2. Truth The peace of the Church is not only inward between God and themselves but as the Argument importeth to which Master Cotton answereth the peace of the Church external and outward is spiritual essentially differing from the peace of the civil state which is meerly civil and humane When the peace of the churches Antioch Corinth Galatia was disturbed by spiritual oppositions the Lord never sent his Saints for civil help to maintaine their spirituall peace though the Lord did send Paul to the higher civil powers to preserve his civil peace when he was molested and oppressed by the Jews and Romans 2. For that place of Timothy though I have fully spoken to it in this discourse elswhere yet this now It proves not because the church must pray for civil Rulers that so they may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty that therefore civil rulers are supream rulers and judges Ecclesiastical next unto Christ Jesus of what is godliness holiness c. since God hath chosen few wise or noble to know godliness And although it is true that Gods end of vouchsafing peace and quietness is that his Churches might walk in his fear and in the wayes of godliness yet it doth not hence follow that Magistrates were the causes of the Churches walking in the fear of God and being edified but only of enjoying Rest from Persecution Act. 9. 3. Although Gods chastisement call to repentance and although the false Prophet in the church of Israel was to be wounded and slaine as they are now to be cut off spiritually from the church of spiritual Israel yet was it so in all the other Nations of the world Or did Christ Iesus appoint it to be so in all the Nations of the world since his coming which is the great question in difference 4. And indeed what is this but to add coals to coals and wood to fire to teach the Nations of the world to be briars and thorns butchers and tormentors to the Lilies and Lambes of the most holy and innocent Lamb of God Christ Iesus Peace But God saith Master Cotton cut Israel short in their civil state or Nation when they cut short their reformation 1 King 10. Truth Master Cotton elswhere denying a National church which is bounded with natural and earthly limits it is a wonder how he can apply that instance of National Israel to the now spiritual Nation and Israel of God May he not as well promise earthly peace and prosperity then most to abound to Gods people when they most prosper and flourish in holiness zeal c. The contrary whereof to wit persecution is most evident in all the New Testament and all mens new and fresh experience Peace To end this Chapter Master Cotton affirmes that civil peace to speak properly is not only a peace in civil things for the object but the peace of all the persons in the City for the subject The church is one society in the City as well as the society of Merchants Drapers c. And if it be civil justice to protect one then the other also Truth Civil peace will never be proved to be the peace of all the subjects or Citizens of a City in spiritual Things The civil state may bring into order make orders preserve in civil order all her members But who ordained that either the spiritual estate should bring in and force the civil state to keep civil order oâ— that the civil state should sit judge and force any of her subjects to keep spiritual order The true and living God is the God of order spiritual civil and natural Natural is the same ever and perpetual civil alters according to the constitutions of peoples and nations spiritual he hath changed from the national in one figurative-land of Canaan to particular and congregational churches all the world over which order spiritual natural or civil to confound and abrogate is to exalt mans folly against the most holy and incomprehensible wisdome of God c. Examination of CHAP. VII Peace IN his description of Arrogancy and impetuousness Master Cotton tels us that he that refuseth to subject his Spirit to the Spirit of the prophets that shall oppose such as dissent with clubs swords and censorious reproaches or reject communion with the church c. his practise tends to the disturbing of civil or church-peace or both Truth It is a fallacious mingling of clubs swords reproaches c. with refusing to submit to the Spirit of prophecie in the Prophets and rejecting of communion c. For a man may out of true and upright conscience to God as Master Cotton will not deny refuse to submit to a whole true church having the Truth of God on his side and may withdraw from communion with a church obstinate in sin and this without breach of civil peace and therefore the mingling or confounding of these spiritual resistances or disturbances with guns swords c. is a mingling and confounding of heaven and earth together 2. In that he saith these wayes tend to the disturbance of either civil or church-peace or both he speakes too like the doubtful oracles of Apollo which will be true however the event fall out but yet he toucheth not the Truth of the question which concernes civil peace only against the disturbers of which I grant the civil powers to be armed with a civil sword not in vaine and concerning which divers cases were propounded of seeming Arrogance and impetuousness in Gods servants and yet they fell not justly under any censure of breach of civil peace Peace T is true saith Master Cotton because they were not wayes of Arrogance not Impetuousness Truth But will Master Cotton give way that any conscience but his own may freely preach and dispute against the state-religion freely reprove the highest in sharpest language for matter of religion refuse conformity to the common established religion and worship disclaime subjection to the civil powers in spiritual cases preach against the common policy and seeming wisdome of the State even to a seeming hazarding of all and lastly occasion great tumults and uproars which were the six cases alleadged If Master Cotton granteth this freedome to other consciences beside his own why preacheth he persecution against such a liberty which other consciences beside his own believe they justly challenge If to no other conscience then his own it is not his saying ten thousand times that his conscience is true and others false nor any other distinction in the world can clear him from most unrighteous and unchristian partiality Examination of CHAP. VIII Peace IN this Chapter dear Truth lies a charge concerning thy self For whereas thou answerest
four sorts Jews Turkes Pagans and Antichristians are full of blasphemy and idolatry Now in case rhey seduce not they are to be persecuted as idolaters and blasphemers how then are they to be tolerated Peace It could not be had not this holy man been catcht with sipping at the bloody cup of the great whore that Master Cottons affirmations and doctrines should thus quarrel among themselves But further I see not the equality of his yoaking the Oxe and the Asse together when he further coupleth seducing of people into worship of false Gods confidence of a mans own merit c. which are spiritual matters with seducing into seditions conspiracies against the lives and estates of such Princes as will not submit their conscience to the Bishop of Rome Truth Your observation dear peace is seasonable the former are meer Religious and spiritual the latter are meerly civil against which the civil state is bound to defend it self with civil weapons Peace In the next place Master Cotton chargeth the discusser with want of reason truth and candor for observing how unfitly those Scriptures of Phil. 3. Rom. 14. are produced to prove a tolleration of lesser errors And he affirmes that he never intended that what the Churches might not tolerate the Cities might not c. Truth The point is tolerating or persecuting by the civil state whatever therefore be Master Cottons intentions it is apparant unless the Cities and Churches of Rome and Philippi be confounded together as commonly they are in case of persecution I say it is then apparent that there is no Scripture brought for the civil state its tolerating of points of lesser moment nor are these Scriptures brought to any purpose in hand but prophaned Peace But observe his Argument The civil state tollerates petty theeves and lyers to live in Towns Cities c. Truth No well ordered State or City can suffer petty Theeves and lyers without some punishment and we know how severely in the State of England even theeves have been punished even with death it self but Master Cotton is against such cruelty for he pleades for tollerating of lesser errors even in points of Religion and worship 2. If tollerating of lesser errours be granted upon this ground viz. till God may be pleased to manifest his truth is not the same a ground for tollerating of greater as the holy spirit of God argues 2 Tim. 2. trying if God may be pleased to give repentance Peace Yea but saith he the greater will infect and so is more dangerous and the tolleration is the more unmerciful and cruel to the souls of many Truth Lyars and Theeves infect also even the Civil state and a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe and therefore as the Commonweal ought not upon that ground to tollerate petty theeves and lyars so hath Christ Jesus provided in his holy kingdom and City against lesser evils and upon this ground that a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe But yet Christ Jesus hath not spoken where he gives command for this thing to the Corinthians or Galatians that such persons so leavened should together with their being put out of the Church for obstinacy in a little leaven be put out of the world or civil state The one the Church being his Garden the other the Commonweal being the high wayes Field c. the proper place for men as men to abide in Examination of CHAP. XVII Peace COncerning the holding forth of errour with an arrogant and boysterous spirit to the disturbance of civil peace Master Cotton moderates the matter that he would not have such put to death unless the civil peace be destroyed to the destruction of the lives and souls of men Truth I cannot but here first observe the confounding of heaven and earth together the Church and the world lives and souls c. as if all were of one nature 2. Neither blessed Paul nor I need to be accused of cruelty in that grant of Paul if alleadged Acts 25. for there will not be found ought but a willingness to bear a righteous sentence of death in some crimes committed against the civil state 3. Master Cotton may here observe how justly as he speaks of the heretick he condemnes himself for it is too bloody a Tenent saith he that every man that holdeth errour in a boysterous and arrogant way to the disturbance of civil peace ought to be punished with death Is not this the whole scope of his discourse from Deut. 13. and other abrogated repealed laws to prove what was just and righteous in the land of Israel so bloody a Tenent and course to be inforced in all Nations all the world over Peace Master Cotton excepteth against that speech But if the matter be of a spiritual or divine nature There is no error saith he can be of divine nature though it may be spiritual Truth Master Cotton may hear Solomon here saying unto him Be not overwise c. For first the words are not If the errour be of a divine nature but if the matter that is the controversie cause c. be of a spiritual or divine nature which distinction between humane and divine things I conceive is the same with that of wisdome it self dividing between God and Caesar Give to God c. And so though no errour be of a spiritual or divine nature taking the words in their highth yet the matter in question may be of some spiritual or divine consideration belonging to God and his worship and not concerning the Commonweal or Civil state of men which belong to Caesars care 2. Taking spiritual as it is used sometimes in the holy Scripture as opposite to flesh and blood I see no ground for that distinction between spiritual and divine God is a spirit and the spiritual man discerneth All things In such places and their like to my understanding spiritual and divine are the same thing Peace But I marvel at the next passage how can Master Cotton with any colour of reason or charity conceive the discusser so reasonless and senceless as to intend by these words Such onely break the Cities or Kingdomes peace as call for prison and sword against hereticks as if as Master Cotton infers and saith that murtherers seditious persons rebels traitors were none of them such viz. Peace-breakers Truth This word onely can onely have a faire respect to such as are charged by their opinions of Religion and worship to break the Peace of the Commonweale who of what conscience soever they are may freely enjoy their conscience and worship either of many and false Gods or of the true God in a false way and yet not be guilty of the breach of civil peace but onely they I say they onely in this consideration who by their doctrine and practice cry out for prison and fire and sword against hereticks c. Peace As the devil appeared an Angel of light in Samuels mantle So John Hus and Jerome
Cotton will say that the kingdome of Christ on earth may receive and keep in her bosome such stinking weedes declared so to be which the kingdome of Christ in heaven abhors Who questions but while the hypocrisie of these foolish Virgins lay hid in their empty vessels that outwardly they appeared as wise as the wise Virgins But when the fruits of their hypocrisie discovered them to be fools how can Master Cotton according to the truth as it is in Jesus affirme that foolish Virgins known hypocrites are to be kept in and not cast out of the church of Christ unto the end of the world Peace O how contrary is this to the very fundamentals essence nature and being of a church or Spouse of Christ Jesus which is by the confession of Papists and Protestants a society of wise Virgins visibly Saints holy and faithful persons a society of such persons as outwardly profess to love Christ Jesus uprightly Cant. 1. and to be espoused to him 1 Cor. 11. Truth Yea and how contrary is this to the nature of Christ Iesus whose heart is all one fire towards the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 4. and how contrary to the charge that great and solemn charge of the Lord Iesus to all his followers to take heed of that leaven which is hypocrisie which if suffered will leaven the whole lumpe and render the garden and spouse of Christ a filthy dunghill and whore-house of rotten and stinking whores and hypocrites Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace MAster Cotton here endeavors to prove as many have done before that the Field which the Lord Iesus interprets the world was meant by him to be the Church as he is said to love the world Iohn 3. to be propitiation for the sins of the world 1 Ioh. 2. Truth In these and many other places of like nature it pleaseth the Spirit of God to set forth his love to mankinde distinct from all other creatures As also the impartiality of his love calling his chosen out of all sorts of sinners mankinde all the world over and yet it cannot be denyed but that the Scriptures speak frequently of the world and of the church in a far distinct and contrary acceptation So as when he nameth the church it cannot signifie the world and when the world he cannot be said to intend the church the reasons therefore on either side must be expended and weighed in the fear of God why the Field here called by Christ the world cannot be intended to be the church of Christ Peace Your right distinguishing is a right dividing of the word of Truth but saith Master Cotton it cannot be the world in proper signification for which he aleadgeth three reasons First Because there had been saith he no place for the servants wonder at the appearing of the tares verse 27. for what wonder that the world should be so full of fornicators c Was it ever otherwise Truth It is true that the world lyeth in wickedness and is full of fornicators idolaters c. and yet it was some thousands of yeers when the world was not full of Christian that is anointed or holy fornicators holy idolaters c. That is indeed and truth Antichristian and that alone is the point in question about which this answer of Master Cotton hovers but comes not neer it This is indeed a most dreadful and wonderful point of the wisdome justice and patience of God so to suffer so many millions of men and women to arrogate to themselves the name and profession of the most holy living God and his holy Son Christ Iesus to be called Christians anointed or holy and yet upon the point to hate the holiness truth and spirit of Christ Iesus Truth This is doubtless to me what ere Master Cotton imagines a wonderful mystery in all Ages since these tares were first sown to see I say so many millions of holy idolaters holy murtherers holy whoremongers holy theeves c. The blasphemy of this is so wonderful and dreadful that I cannot sufficiently wonder at him that wonders not how this comes to pass Truth The like I answer to his second Reason that it is true that we read not that ever any of the Ministers or Prophets of Christ ever essayed to pluck up all such vicious notorious persons out of the world as they demanded concerning the tares for then indeed as the Spirit implies 1 Cor. 5. the whole state of the world would be overthrown but yet this hinders not but there may be a desire in Gods servants to pluck up this or that sect or sort of people Jews Turks or Antichristians Peace Dear Truth you make me call to minde the desire of Christs disciples that fire might descend from heaven not to consume all fornicators idolaters all cruel and unclean persons out of the world yet that particular unmerciful superstitions Town of the Samaritans they desired that fire might come from heaven and consume them Truth Indeed this desire of the disciples is no strange desire for what else do All they desire which permit not in the civil state any Religion worship or conscience but their own Nay far beyond that were the whole worlds neck under their imperial yoake the many millions of millions of blasphemers and idolaters of all sorts if they will not be convinced at their word must be cut off from all natural and civil being in the world by Fire and Sword Peace His third reason is That the discusser reckoned up as paralel goats and sheep wheate and tares as generally said he others do and he addeth that in the purest church after the ruine of Antichrist there shall be goats and sheep wise and foolish Virgins untill the coming of Christ to judgement Mat. 25. Truth Although the discusser spake of that eternal separation between wheat and tares sheep and goats approaching yet he never said that the tares and goats signified hypocrites in the Church which is the point in question Nor dare I subscribe to that opinion that after the destruction of Antichrist when purest times of the church shall come that there shall be such a mixt estate in the church of Christ untill the coming of Christ to judgement For first Although goats were clean for food and sacrifice yet it is apparant that as they are for the left hand So they are visibly known by every child where goats and sheep are kept And to image that visible hypocrites such as tares goats unprofitable servants foolish Virgins c. shall in a mixt way make up Christs churoh and that in the purest times of the church of which there are so many and wonderful prophecies is to me not onely to frame a church estate point blank cross to the purity of those churches but even to the first Apostolical churches yea and against that frame of church estate in New England where Master Cotton hath professed though now it is said the door is wider against receiving in
or mystical Israel no spiritual Canaan but the letter ceremony and figure yet in force and Christ Jesus the mystical and spiritual King of Israel is not yet come in the flesh Truth Yea then not onely a few in a City or Kingdome suppose hundreths or thousands but millions of millions of blasphemers idolaters seducers throughout the whole wide world ought corporally to be put to death Peace Against this methinks Master Cotton should be and I am sure against this Christ Iesus was who professed in answer to the rash zeal of his disciples Luk. 9. That he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them but how relish you Master Cottons interpretation of Let them alone which he sees pleaseth some so well to wit Let them alone is no precept but permission Truth I answer If let them alone were onely by permission in way of providence Why is also a word of prohibition added to wit That such should not be medled with for these and these reasons whereas although God permitteth evil doers in spiritual and eivil state in the world yet there lies a word of ordinance to purge them out Here is no ordinance for their plucking up but for their letting alone and that in a merciful respect of sparing the good wheate who might be indangered to be pluckt up by the roots out of the world by such rash and furious zeale of plucking up the tares Examination of CHAP. XXIX Peace MAster Cotton referring the 28 Chapter to former agitations seems to invite us to pass on to Chapter 29. Truth Let the 28 Chapter recapitulating the former and the whole controversies be referred to the consciences of such to whom these passages by any providence of the most holy wise shall be presented and let it graciously please the Father of lights to help all his sons of light to be truely studious of his truth in the love of it to cast up all particulars aright in his fear by the onely Arithmetick of his own most holy and unerring spirit Peace In this Chapter first ariseth a question concerning the Apostles privacy Truth Master Cotton acknowledgeth them to be called to a publike Ministery let others judge then of their privacy Peace But they were not sent saith Master Cotton â—o the Scribes and Pharisees and so consequently were to let them alone Truth I answer Let it be considered how he that grants men are sent to the sheep can rightly say they have nothing to do with the Wolves and Foxes Peace In this controversie Master Cotton elsewhere will not onely have sheep sed but the Wolves driven from the sold their braines beaten out c. and that not onely by the Pastors or sheapherds spiritually but also by the civil Magistrate and to that end he is to be stirred up by the Shepherds and Ministers of Christ Truth Such exciting and stirring up of the civil Magistrate if it were Christs will how can the Apostles be excused or the Lord Jesus himself for not stirring up the Civil Magistrate to his duty against these Scribes and Pharisees the Wolves and Foxes as Master Cotton here cals them Peace Neither the doctrine nor their offence at it saith Master Cotton was fundamental nor had the civil Magistrate a law established about doctrine or offences of this nature Besides Christ gave his disciples a charge to be wise as Serpents and himself would not meddle with the Pharisees untill the last year of his Ministery lest their exasperation might have been some hinderance to his Minstery before his hour was come Truth I should desire Master Cotton againe to ponder whether the notorious hypocrisie of the Pharisees now brought into a Proverb and also whether the notorious transgressing and upon the point abolishing of the fifth commandment and so consequently of all civil obedience with the Papists under pretence of Gods service although indeed but their own superstition be not of a fundamental guilt both against spiritual and civil state Peace I remember Master Cotton argued against tolleration of the Papists because their conscience excites them against the civil powers Truth And whither tended these principles of the Pharisees but to overthrow all Family yea and if they be followed home all Towne or City and Kingdome-Government Peace Yea But the Romane Magistrate saith he had no established law about doctrines or offences of that Nature Truth Master Cotton in all this controversie pleades that they ought to have and though he saith that Magistrates may suspend their duty untill they be informed yet he never saith that the Ministers of Christ may suspend their duty of humble information and stirring up them up to so high a part of their Duty as concerns the souls of their subjects and the worship of God Peace I remember that Gardiner and Boner c. could not make the fire burn to consume the people of God and witnesses of Jesus untill Edwards laws were repealed and Maries bloody laws were established and so they were forced to suspend a while untill they had conjured up a Parliament to do both the one and the other as their slaves and drudges for them And t is true what the Spirit of God in David pronounceth Psal 82. that under the maske or colour of a law which carries with it the name and sound of reason and righteousness the wickedness of the world is established And hence the people and servants and Saints of the most high God feele the weight of the violence of the Nimrod persecutors or hunters But this I wonder at that Master Cotton subjoyneth that Christ Jesus himself and his disciples under the notion of not exasperating the Pharisees should not reprove the Scribes and Pharisees Truth It cannot sink with me That the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus himself and his messengers should so far differ from himself in all his former messengers and prophets who spared not to reprove the highest Priests Princes Kings and kingdoms nor doth the practice of the Lord Jesus in so many places of Matthew before his thunder bolts shot forth against them Mat. 23. give any countenance to so loose an opinion Peace Master Cotton who argues so much against the permitting of blasphemers to live in the world may here call to minde that if ever blasphemy were uttered against the Son of God it was uttered by the Pharisees in the 12 of Matthew when they imputed the casting out of the devils to the power of the devil in Christ Jesus and yet we finde not that Christ Jesus stirred up the civil Magistrates to any such duty of his to put the blasphemers to death nor the hereticks the Sadduces who denied that fundamental the resurrection Truth It is most true that the cause needeth no such weapons nor spared he the Pharisees for fear of their exasperations but poured forth on their faces and bosoms the sorest vials of the heaviest doom and censure that can be suffered by the children of men to
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
performed in the whole World and that Ex Officio to wit the Establishing Governing Reforming c. the Church the Spouse and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Peace 2. The Church and Servants of Christ had great hurt notwithstanding M r Cottons contrary beliefe by the Emperours persecuting of whom they judged hereticall partly in that the Arrians were hardned by their sufferings and Arrianisme increased by the sufferings of the professours of it as also that the Christians were more severely persecuted as hath often also come to passe in the Interchanges between the Papist and the Protestant when the Arrians came to weare the Sword and the Orthodox Christians were under Hatches Truth 3. But that the whole World that wonders after and worshippeth the Beast should yet possibly be of the small Number that follow the Lambe and stand opposite to the Beast on Mount Zion That the World upon whom the vialls of plagues and vengeance are to be powred according to the infallible Prophecies not to speak of the World from other Scriptures that this whole World I say should be brought into such an Onenes with Christ Jesus seemes so crosse to the fundamentall Enmitie between Christs Seede and the Serpents to the priviledges of the Saints to the puritie of Christ to the streame of Scripture and in particular to the sweete last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus and the nature of his particular Flocks c. That I cannot wonder sufficiently how any man professing but a small Knowledge of the Mysteries and Kingdome of Christ Jesus should be so vailed so obscured so to write of the state of Christs Church and the World as M r Cotton doth Peace Christ Jesus Blessed Truth gave not thankes to his most holy most wise Father in vaine for hiding from Wise and Prudent and opening to Babes and Sucklings Truth 4. But further Such a Conversion of People from Idolatrie to Christianitie as fits them to be professours of the Sonne of God but yet not fits them for the Fellowship of Christians in Church State I finde not in the Testament of Christ Jesus Surely the Conversion of the Thessalonians was not such 2 Thess 1. Who turned not onely from Idolls but to serve the living and true God which service of God in Christ no Soule uprightly in love with Christ Jesus but in its measure longs after as vehemently and cordially as ever chast Spouse after her dearest earthly Husbands presence and Enjoyment Cant. 1. 3. 5. Peace Gods Spirit in John describes one Difference c. between the true Spirit and Professours and the fâ—â—se to wit that such as acknowledge that is truely as I conceive Christ Jesus to become in the flesh are borne of God Truth Yea therefore consequently such a Spirit cannot be of Jesus that makes such a profession of Christ Jesus as the Devills themselves may make and even for want of Regeneration and Personall Grace the professours are not fit for the Fellowship of the true Christian Worship and Worshippers 5. But lastly if M r Cotton or any of his bloudie Judgement woare the Imperiall Crowne of the Worlds Majestie what slaughters shall we imagine the World should heare and feele Whether would such fierie zeale transport Men Yea what an Earthly Dunghill Religion and Worship should the most High God be served with fit onely for the Dunghill Gods and Goddesses whom all Asiâ— as the Towne-clarke speakes and the World worshippeth Peace If the Report of M r Cottons interpreting that Scripture of Serving God with all our Might c. be true to wit of employing our Civill Armes and Forces to the utmost and that against other Peoples professing Idolatrie and Antichristianisme His Conscience as I conceive must needs force on and presse after an universall Conquest of all Consciences and under that like those bloudie Spaniards Turkes and Popes lay under that faire cloake the Rule and Dominion over all the Nations of the Earth Truth But may not M r Cotton better listen to the voyce of the Lord Jesus saying to him and such of his bloudie Tenent You know not of what Spirit you are of Were the Emperours too favourable as M r Cotton sayth in but Banishing How keene a Sword would M r Cotton draw against so many Millions of Gangreene Soules throughout the Turkish and the Popish World Peace Oh how farre different would M r Cottons Sword be from the Sword of the Spirit of God proceeding from the Mouth of Christ Jesus yet sharpe enough with two edges piercing between Soule and Spirit c. Truth Yea how farre different from the Meeke Spirit of the Lambe of God who came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them yea how different from the former make and noted gentle Temper of M r Cottons own Spirit now over-heat and enflamed by his unmercifull and bloudie Tenent Exam of Chap. 62. replying to Chap. 65. Peace VVHen M r Cotton was justly observed to use the Language of Lyon-like persecution in these words More and greater Princes then these you mention have not tollerated Hereticks and Schismaticks notwithstanding their pretence of Conscience and their arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their suffrings He defendeth such Language by the Scripture Freedome in such Tearmes against Sinners which sayth he the Discusser acknowledgeth Truth In holy Scripture are many Expressions full of Holinesse Gravitie Love Meeknesse c. which yet are wrested by us poore Men to unholy and unchristian Ends and purposes How many wofully pervert many grave and heavenly Passages and Expressions of holy Scripture to base and filthy Jeasting How many from some sharp Expressions of Christ Jesus and Paul in cases take licence to raile and call Men all to naught in Wrath Revenge and Passion And how many out of pride and false zeale trampling upon the Heads and Consciences of all Men are ready not in an holy Meeke and Christian way but in a Pharisaicall Bishop-like and Pope-like way to roare and thunder out against Gods meekest Servants the odious tearmes of Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers c. Which tearmes though used in holy Scripture yet never in such a way as commonly and constantly the bloudie and persecuting expresse themselves in Peace But what or whom meanes M r Cotton in this passage what Language have they learned who in point of worship have left Zion but not the Gates and Suburbes of Babylon for they set up Bull-warkes of Impunitie to secure them Truth Surely M r Cotton knowes that none that plead against the Civill Power and Weapons in Spirituall Matters but they also maintaine that there ought to be in vigorous use the Spirituall and two edged Sword that comes forth of Christs Mouth not for the Impunitie but for the Ruine and Destruction of all Babells â—raâ—s and Abominations Peace M r Cotton spends many lines and quotes Austin to prove that Julians End of tollerating Heresie to grow was to choake
would better befit the pen of a Jew then a Christian a follower of Moses then of Jesus Christ who although he will not fayle to take care for his in Earthly Providences that make it their chiefe worke to seeke his Kingdome yet he maketh as I may say Christs Crosse the first Figure in his Alphabet taking up his Crosse and Gallowes in most ordinarie persecution which with selfe-deniall are the assured Tearmes his Servants must resolve to looke for 'T is true he promiseth and makes good an hundreth Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters Wives Children Houses and Lands But M r Cotton well knowes it is with persecution And how this outward prosperitie agrees with Imprisonments Banishments hanging burning for Christs sake the Martyrs or Witnes of Jesus in all Ages and the cry of the Soules under the Altar may bring againe to his Remembrance if New Englands peace profit pleasure and Honour have lulld him into a Forgetfulnesse of the principles of the true Lord Jesus Christ Peace But M r Cotton remembreth not the Proposition to be his to wit that the Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject Truth M r Cotton hinted not his least dissent from Luther as he otherwayes useth to doe if he disowne c. Secondly He grants it true in the object to wit that the object of the Magistrates power is the Body and Goods of the Subject though not in the End which he saith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well to administer the Common-weale Now I aske what is this Common-weale Peace The Spirit of God distinguisheth in the New Testament between the Common weales of the Nations of the World and the Common-weale of Israel The Common-weale of Israel M r Cotton will not affirme now to be a Church Provinciall Nationall Oâ—cumenicall but Particular and Congregationall Truth If so then the finall cause of both these Common weales or States cannot be the same But although the End of the Civill Magistrate be excellent to wit well to administer the Common-weale yet the end of the Spirituall Common-weale of Israel and the Officers thereof is as different and transcendent as the Heaven is from the Earth Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can it be well with the Common-wealth that injoyes bodily health and worldly wealth if there be no Christ no Church there and how was it with the Romane Empire which the Red-horse of War and Black horse of Famine and Pale horse of Pestilence would have ruined if she had not cast away her Idols Truth Concerning this instance of Rome Master Cotton here acknowledgeth it abounded in worldly blessings till the Lord Jesus came riding forth upon the White Horse of the Gospel And Master Cotton may remember that from the Foundation of her rising and Glory laid by Romulus untill Christs time it flourished about 750 years in a long chaine of generations succeeding each other in worldly prosperity and yet no Church nor Christ to uphold it so far is Master Cottons Romish instance from countenancing Mr. Cottons Roman Doctrine Peace But when Christ came saith Master Cotton and was neglected then the Red and Black and Pale horse had almost destroyed her if she had not cast away her Idols Truth I answer Rome the head of the Empire cannot be said to neglect Christ untill the bloody Tenent of persecution arose amongst them I say not to neglect Christ more nor so much as other States for there were so many of the Romanes and so glorious professors of Christ Jesus that all the world over the Faith and Christian obedience of the Romanes was renowned 2 The Roman Impire cannot be said to cast away her Idols but to change as the Portugals did in the East-Indies her Idols her more grosse and Pagan Idols for more refined beautified Idols painted over with the name of Christ the true God holines c. and this in the glorious dayes of Constantine or not long after The Church of Christ Jesus which under persecution remained a wise and spouse of Christ Jesus now degenerates and apostates into an Whore in the times of her ease security and prosperity Whole Cities Nations and the whole world forced and ravished into a whore or Antichristian Christian 3 As far as the East is from the West so far is the world and nations and Empire of it from the holinesse of Christ Jesus holy Spirit Truth and Saints With what appearance then of Christs holinesse glory c. can Master Cotton advance the world the Roman Empire to be as he here speaks the Advancer of the scepter of Christ Jesus Peace If this Roman Empire be that dreadfull Beast in Daniels prophecy more strange and terrible then the rest yea and more terrible to Christ Jesus and his servants then was the former Babilonian Lion or Persian Beare or Grecian Leopard what truth of Jesus is this that advanceth this dreadfull bloody Beast to be the Advancer of the Scepter that is the Church and Government the Truth and Saints of Christ Jesus Peace Glorious things Dear Truth are recorded of Constantine and other glorious Emperors Truth The Beast was sweet Peace the Beast still although it pleased God to give some refreshing and reviving to his persecuted servants by Constantine and other blessed instruments yet Constantines favour was a bitter sweeting his superstitiâ—us zeal laying the Foundation for after Vsurpations and Abominations 4 But further for neer 1000 years together both before and after Christs time Rome grew and flourished with little alterations of her glory in comparison untill this very time that Master Cotton cals the casting away of her Idols For not before but after Constantines advancing of Christians to wealth and honour c. I say neer about 300 years together interchangably after his time untill Pipinus and Charles the Great the City and state of Rome was almost ruined and destroyed by the often dreadfull incursions of the Goths and Vandals Huns Longobards and other furious Nations So contrary to the truth of Jesus is this fleshly doctrine of worldly wealth and prosperity and also this very instance of Rome and her glory here discussed Peace Master Cotton ends with prayer and blessing to God as James speakes and bitter and cutting cursings and censures to man the poor Discusser who saith Master Cotton seduceth himselfe and others and delights to doe it and against the light of grace and conscience against reason and experience Truth The Discusser is as humbly confident of Grace and Conscience Reason and Experience yea the God of all Grace Christ Jesus his holy Spirit Angels Truth and Saints to be on his side as Master Cotton otherwise can be but the day shall try the Fire and Time shall try which is the Gold of Truth and Faithfulnesse and which the Drosse and Stubble of Lyes and Errour In the meane time I dare pronounce from the Testimony of Christ Jesus that in all
and notwithstanding all other meanes in the World used by men as helps and hindrances yet his holy End shall not be disappointed but fulfilled Beside the Difference between soule-killing and body-killing is but as M r Cotton here useth the word so much as in us lieth that is by attempt or endeavour which may be many wayes frustrated and disappointed by the holy hand of God and the soule yet saved and live in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace Whereas you said that the imprisoning of Men in a Nationall or State Religion is guiltie of their Destruction together with the monstrous sword of Civill Warres which cuts off Men from all meanes of Repentance M r Cotton answers If the Religion be good it is no Imprisonment If it be naught then there should be no Imprisonment To the second sayth he this Feare is causeles for if Men belong to God he will give Repentance and how ever sayth he Godâ— revealed Will is fullfilled in their just Executions Truth I could here ask M r Cotton where amongst all the Religions and Worships of the sonnes of men he ever met in the whole World with above one Nation which Nationally profest a true Religion and where ever since Christ Jesus ending of the shadowes any State Religion or Nationall Worship can be found true notwithstanding M r Cotton knowes I grant Gods people in Kingdomes Nations Cities Townes c. to be Gods Kingdome Nation Citie c. Peace And since M r Cotton speakes thus of Imprisonment me-thinkes that every peaceable man and woman may bring in here against him at the Tribunall of Christ Jesus an Action of false Imprisonment indeed false every way not onely of the sensible and outward man but of the most noble and inner part the minde the spirit and Conscience for who knowes not that Jerusalem it selfe may be a prison to false-hearted Shimei Who hath not found a pallace a prison when forc't to keepe within it yea confine a man to his own house and home though deare and familiar and most intimate to him his owne house during that force and restraint is a prison to him Truth Yea it is most wofully found evident that the best Religion like the fairest Whores and the most golden and costlie Images yea the most holy and pure and onely true Religion and Worship appointed by God himselfe is a Torment to that Soule and Conscience that is forc't against its owne free love and choice to embrace and observe it And therefore whether the Religion be good oâ—â—aught as M r Cotton here distinguisheth there ought to be no forcing but the soule and minde and conscience of man that is indeed the man ought to be left free as in his Earthly marriage-choice so here ten thousand times rather in his heavenly and spirituall Peace But what say you to his unmercifull conclusion in the bloudshed and destruction of so many thousands and millions formerly and lately slaine and murthered by this bloudie Tenent of persecution Yea the late and lamentable streames of English bloud and the bloud of our neighbours friends Brethren Parents powred forth by these late Episcopall or Bishops Warres M r Cottons conclusion is The revealed will of God sayth he is fullfilled in their just Execution whether they belong to God or no. Truth I wish M r Cotton more mercy from God and a more mercifull minde toward the afflicted and I say as the Lord Jesus said in the case of offence Great offences Nationall offences will come for Religions sake for Nationall Religion sake but woe unto those that beare the guilt of so many thousand slaughters murthers ravishings plunderings c. The Pope the Bishops the Presbyterians the Independants so farre as they have been Authours or Actors in these horrible Calamities out of the perswasion of the bloudie Tenent of persecution for Religion and Conscience the voyce of so many Rivers of bloud cry to Heaven for vengeance against them Peace But may not blessed Truth the sword of Civill power which is from God Rom. 13. be drawne and drunke with bloud for Christ his sake What say you among the many Examples of Religions Warres to the most famous Battles of Constantine against the bloudie persecutour Maxentius Was not Constantine Christs Champion as once that valiant Scanderbeg cald himselfe against the bloudie Turks Truth Sweet Peace the sword of Civill power was Gods sword committed by Gods most wise Providence into the hands of that famous Constantine Doubtles his warre was righteous and pious so farre as he broke the Jawes of the oppressing persecuting Lyons that devoured Christs tender Lambes and sheepe And famous was his Christian Edict wherein Licinius joyned with him when he put forth that imperiall Christian Decree that no mane Conscience should be forced and for his Religion whether to the Romane Gods or the Christian no man should be persecuted or hunted When Constantine broke the bounds of this his owne and Gods Edict and drawes the sword of Civill power in the suppressing of other Consciences for the establishing of the Christian then began the great Mysterie of the Churches sleepe the Gardens of Christs Churches turned into the Wildernesse of Nationall Religion and the World under Constantines Dominion to the most unchristian Christendome Peace I am unquestionably satisfied that there was never any Nationall Religion good in this world but one and since the Desolation of that Nation there was never there shall be never any Nationall Religion good againe and this will be most evident to such as hould the Truth of the continuance of Christs visible Church in the way of particular Congregations 6. But now to the Sixt Argument which M r Cotton thus repeats from the possibilitie of a false Teacher a spirituall Wolves recoverie from the estate of a soule-killer to become a soule-Saviour as it was in the case of Paul And thus he answers If men be such Blasphemers and such Wolves as Paul was before his Conversion neither the Law of God nor man would put such a Man to death who sinned of Ignorance and walked as himselfe professed in all good Conscience even in his former evill times Acts 23. But as for such as apostate from the knowne truth of Religion and seeke to subvert the foundation of it and to draw away others from it to plead for their Tolleration in hope of their Conversion is as much as to proclaime a generall pardon to all malefactours save onely such as sin against the Holy Spirit for he that is a willfull murtherer and adulterer now may come to be converted and die a martyr hereafter Truth I see not why M r Cotton should passe a more charitable censure on Pauls Conscience then on other Mens professing Conscience also and the feare of God nor an harder censure upon other Men to wit that they are convinced and sinne against their owne Conscience more then upon Paul
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
own 7 hils haue flown fild all Protestant and Popish ears and hearts and tongues with either admiration exulting or furious rage and indignation Yet what avails these glorious flames and furious whirling of your zealous Chariots if yet they are but Jehu's If Sathan the God of this world possesse the Throne of Pride and Ostentation in your bosoms Come see my zeal which I have for the God of Israel yea though you should go on where Jehu left and shoot home where he fell short yet what avails it that the God of Israel be in Iehu's mouth when God-selfe God-honour c. fill his breast heart What gains he by the slaughter of Princes Priests and Gods when Israel it self is but an Apostate state from the true worship of the God of Israel and Iehu himself according to the purity of Gods word and ordinances at Ierusalem reformed not so much as his own privâ—t heart censcience Alas what solid joy most zealous Worthies shall a Crown of leaves a temporal reward Iehu's wages bring to your Noble Heads Breasts if you heare not at last that saving Call to all humble and selfe-denying Followers of Jesus Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Your admired publick patience so wonderfully assaulted so wonderfully loaden with such mightie Trials from Mans from Gods hand with such mighty Losses mighty Defeats mighty Labours Hazards mighty Reproaches c. I say your unwearied Patience hath stood like some mighty Rock or Anvill invincible Yet who can stile this Patince or State-policie if your private Howses and Breasts swell and swarm with rebellious Passions Impatiences Revenges If in the furnaces of your own private afflictions and in the powrings out and changes of the most High upon you your Drosse and Lees of unmortified unsanctified Spirits remain uncleansed if you most humbly kisse not the Rods of the most High chastising you by sicknesses by lesses and other trialls humbly thankfull and longing to declare the Spirits of true Children truly desiring more and more to partake of his Divine Nature and Holinesse Yea what avails the Crown of your enduring Constancy that have rid out so long a storm held out so long a siege not fainted in such tedious Travels Labours Oppositions Treacheries Discouragements but gloriously cast Anchor in the Port of Patience if yet your personall Righteousness passe away as the morning dew melted with the warme beams of victorious and prosperous Success If your own professions of Christ Jesus prove but a fading colour and not died in the right Grain of the pretious blood of the Son of God Your Honours well remember that the main point of Luthers Reformation and before him of the Hussites in Germany and Bohemia and before them of the Wicklevists in England and before them of the Waldenses in France consisted chiefly about Repentance and Faith in the blood of Christ That the main Contentions of Calvin and since him of the most Reformers have turn'd upon the hinge of the Form of the Church and the Administrations thereof the lamentable though pretious Fuell of those fires of strife among the wisest holiest and learnedst of the Followers of Christ Jesus in these times You know the Lord Jesus prophesied That many false Christs should arise and the Scriptures more then once give the title of Christ to the Ghurch whence it is evident That every severall Modell Platform and profession of a Church is the profession of a various and different Christ Your Honours also know he spake most true being Truth it Selfe that said That which is most highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. Hence such may the glorious profession of Christs or Churches be as may ravish the eyes and hearts of men and from which the jealous eys of the true Lord Jesus turn away as from the false and counterfeit with indignation Beside the Counterfeit in holy Scripture how famous was the Pageant of that counterfeit King of England which so haunted with long vexations one of the wisest of Englands Kings Henry the seventh How wonderfully even to astonishment did the imposture of Richard Duke of York proclaiming Henry an usurper and â—alse I say how wonderfully did that monstrous imposture take that not onely Foraigners where that Counterfeit most kept the Arch-Duke the King of France the King of Scots the King of Romanes the Irish Nation c. were deceived with that feigned King but also so many gallant men of our own Nation even to the wisest and highest as that famous Stanley Lord Chamberlain the Preserver and Râ—iser of King Henry himselfe lamentably lost their Heads and Lives about that pretended King Now counterfeit Spirituall delusions of false and counterfeit Christs as they are deeper and stronger so they find more easie possession of the Ears and Souls of men so wofully prepared by naturall self-deceivings On six principall Pillars or Foundations saith the holy Spirit Heb. 6. 6. is built the fabrick of of true Christianity On Repentance on Faith on Baptismes on laying on of Hands on the Resurrection and the Eternall Judgement Concerning the two middle ones of these there are and have been mighty and lamentable differences among the Scholars of Jesus who yet agree in the other foure of Repentance and Faith the Resurrection and Eternall Judgement Whatsoever your Honours apprehensions are of the foure last I beseech you as you love your lives to Eternity make sure of the two first and ply with Sails and Oars day and nights and give not rest to your souls till you have anchored in some blessed assurance that although you find not satisfaction in the many frames of Churches pretending yet that you have saved as once you know a wise and honorable personage said the Bird in your Bosome and that those your very eyes which have seen so much of Christ Jesus and so many wonderfull changes and have been rotten awhile in their holes in Death shall joyfully possesse and fill their holes again and be gloriously blessed with the sight of a Redeemer when these Heavens and this Earth shal passe away For which humbly and uncessantly prayes Your Honours most unworthy yet unfainedly devoted Roger Williams Your Honours wanting time to read much may please to view in a few minutes the Portraicture and Map of the whole Bloody Tenent in the latter end of the last Chapt. Chap. 79. To the several Respective General Courts especially that of the Massachusets in N. ENGLAND Honored and beloved Friends and Countreymen WHile You sit drie on your safe American Shoars by Gods most gracious Providence and have beheld the dolefull tossings of so many of Europs Nations yea of our dearest Mother aged England in a Sea of Tears and Bloud I am humbly bold to present your Eyes and Hearts with this not unseasonable discourse of Bloud of the
lock'd up in a double prison from any serious Audience to ought of mine presented to you The first of Prejudice against such and such a person The second of Conscience against such and such a matter and that while my Conscience or another mans saith Let me be Heretick Blasphemer Idolater Seducer with Christ Jesus with his Apostles Saints and Witnesses Let me for his sake bear Frowns Censures and Persecutions from men so dear so excellent so holy Your Consciences plead for equall Libertie of opposing in your way all such erroneous or wandring Consciences For answer It is but Humanity it is but Christianity to exercise meeknesse and moderation to all men It is humane and Christian Wisdom to listen to a serious Alarm against a Common Enemy Prove the Alarm false it may be but troublesome Prove it true it may be Destruction to have despised it As the wounds of a Lover are better then the Kisses of an Enemy So saith the same Spirit an open Rebuke is better then secret Love But yet your Consciences as all mens must be satisfied I have therefore in all these Agitations humbly presented amongst others two Foundamental Hints or Considerations First that the People the Original of all free Power and Government are not invested with Power from Christ Jesus to rule his Wife or Church to keep it pure to punish Opposites by force of Armes c. Secondly that the Pattern of the National Church of Israel was a None-such unimitable by any Civil State in all or any of the Nations of the World beside In this latter hint I insisted more largely in my former Considerations upon Church and Civil Power in N. E. unto which Mr. Cotton replyed not and of any other Replyes of any to whom Mr. Cotton refers it do I yet not know of I Add it is a glorious Character of every true Disciple or Scholler of Christ Jesus to be never too old to learn It is the Command of Christ Jesus to his Schollars to try all things And Libertie of trying what a Friend yea what an esteemed Enemie presents hath ever in point of Christianity proved one especiall means of attaining to the truth of Christ For I dare confidently appeal to the consciences of Gods most knowing servants if that observation be not true to wit that it hath been the common way of the Father of Lights to inclose the Light of his holy Truths in dark and obscure yea and ordinarily in forbidden Books persons and Meetings by Sathan stiled Conventicles New English Voyages have taught most of our Old English spirits how to put due prices upon the most common and ordinary undervalued mercies how precious with some hath been a little water how dainty with others a piece of bread How welcome to some the poorest howsing Yea the very Land and Earth after long and tedious passages There is one commoditie for the sake of which most of Gods children in N. England have run their mighty hazards a commoditie marvellously scarce in former times though in some late years by Gods most gracious and mighty hand more plentifull in our native Countrey It is a Libertie of searching after Gods most holy mind and pleasure Out of this most precious and invaluable Jewel if you suffer Sathan that grand thief and cheater to bereave you and that it shall be a crime humbly and peaceably to question even Lawes and Statutes or what ever is even publickly taught and delivered you will most certainly find your selves after all your long Run like that little Frenchman who kill'd the Duke of Guise and was taken next morning neare the place from whence he had fled upon a swift horse all night I say you will most certainly find your selves but where you were enslav'd and captivated in the Chains of those Popish Darknesses to wit Ignorance is the mother of Devotion and we must believe as the Church believes c. Remember therefore O ye the Cream and Flower of English Plantations in America what a black and direfull a cole it was with which it pleased the Spirit of God in Habacuck to brand the Assirian Monarchie to wit a Bitter and hastie Nation but in the spirit of meeknesse in the meeknesse of wisdom be pleased to remember that possible it is for Gods visible only people in the world to have very foul and bloudie hands full of Bloud Isa 1. To build up Zion and Jerusalem that is to erect the Visible Church and Kingdom of God with Bloud Mic. 3. and with Iniquitie That the Heads and Judges of Gods People may judge for a reward and the deceitfull heart of man graspeth at rewards more then of one sort that the Priests and Prophets thereof may teach and Prophesie and it may be frequently and excellently but yet for an hire and for money And that yet their consciences may lean upon Jehovah and they may say with confidence is not the Lord amongst us None evil shall come unto us c. O remember that your Gifts are rare your Professions of Religion in such way rare your Persecutions and hidings from the storms abroad rare and wonderfull So in proportion your Transgressions estate and publicksins cannot but be of a rare and extraordinary Guilt Nor will New England's sorrowes when sins are ripe and full be other then the Dregs of Germanie's of Ireland's of England's and of Scotland's Tears and Calamities Amongst the crying sins of our own or other sinfull Nations those two are ever amongst the lowdest to wit Invented Devotions to the God of Heaven Secondly Violence and Oppression on the Sons of men especially if his sons for dissenting and against both these and that the impartial and dreadfull hand of the most holy and Jealous God a consuming fire tear and burn not up at last the Roots of these Plantations but graciously discovering the Plants which are not his he may graciously fructifie and cause to flourish what his Right hand will own I say this is the humble and unfeigned desire and cry at the Throne of Grace of your so long despised Out-cast ROGER WILLIAMS To the Merciful and Compassinate READER WHile the unmercifull Priests and Levits turn away their cruel Eyes and Feet from their poor wounded neighbours the oppressed for matters of Religion and Worship it will be no ingratefull act to present thy tender heart and Ear Compassionate Samaritane with the dolefull cry of the Souls under the Altar How long Lord before thou avenge our bloud on them that dwell upon the Earth and to pray thy mournfull view of the Akeldemae's and fields of Blood where thousands and ten thousand times ten thousands of the pretious Saints Servants and Witnesses of Jesus lie slaughtered in their bloudie Gore in all Ages and in all Nations where the Trumpet of the Son of God hath sounded Here and there among these slaughtered heaps of Saints lie thin and rare the slaughtered Carkasses of some poor
Arrians or Papists or other poor deluding and deluded souls This seeming colour of Impartiall Justice serves wofully that murtherous enemy of all Mankind for a Stale or Covert under which his bloudie Game goes on of persecuting or hunting the harmless Deer the children of the living God For the sake then of the dear Saints and Followers of Jesus for his holy sake and Truth for the holy name and Truth of the most holy Father of Lights the God of it thy compassionate eye is here presented with a Second Conference and view of Mr. Cottons Reply and artificial bloudie washing of the Bloudie Tenent The Battel about any Truth of God in Christ is fought and managed by that most high and glorious Michael the Arch-Angel and Son of God attended with all his Holy Angels the Messengers and Witnesses of his Truth on the one side On the other side by that great red Dragon whose bloudie Followers Devils and men of all sorts and Nations but especially the Roman bloudie Emperor and Roman Popes with Lyon-like Furie and Fox-like craft have suck'd the Bloud and broke the Bones and devoured the Flesh of so many hundred thousand thousands of the King of Kings his spiritual Hinds and Roes in this their bloudie hunting So that aptly I had almost said Prophetically wrote one of their own Roman Poets of the lamentable condition of the harmlesse Deer above other Creatures Dente tuetur Aper defendunt Cornua Taurum Imbelles Damae quid nisi Praeda sumus 'T is a lamentable and cruel sight to see the sons of one poor man and woman all the Globe of the world over like Babels builders so vastly disagreeing about a God and his Worship 'T is lamentable to see these one Mans sons Murthered and Massacred in mutual slaughters as for other pretended Causes So this especially of Conscience and Religion 'T is yet more lamentable and never enough to be lamented that while the Sons of Men do but their kind the Sons of God the sons of the God of Place the Lillies Doves and Spouses of Jesus should thus discord and jart about this Christ their hope that like the very Turks and Persians contending about their Mahomet his Successors the Children of God should tear out each others Throats about the last Will and Testament of the Son of God their elder brother That Ephraim should be against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah yet all sons of one and professors of one God of Israel But oh the low and shallow comprehensions of the sons of men who as a Rotten thing saith Job consumeth Oh the depths of the Councels and workings of the most High most Holy and only wise outshooting all the Generations of men who heat and know no more then Jonathans Lad Is not the Arrow beyond thee c. His holy Wisdom hath an heavenly Reason to touch a little upon this sorrowfull string of that bloudie Device and Sale of innocent Joseph by his own Brethren the sons of one Israel and God He knowes why so holy a Leader of such a miraculous People as I may truly call them why Aaron I say was so left to the horrible ungratefull and outragious importunities of this then the only People of God as to frame a Beastly worship and to turn the most glorious and dreadfull Godhead into the similitude of a Beast that eaâ—eth grasse He knowes why the Israel of God Rebels as Moses passionately called them should so often grieve the holy Spirit of God with their murmurings and be so near to dash out the brains of their most faithfull Leaders He knowes why two Parts or Angles of that Heavenly Triangle Moses Aaron and Miriam so neer in Earthly and Heavenly Relations I say why that rare Pair Aaron and Miriam should yet envie and mutiny against their so dear a Brother and so meek and heavenly a Ruler Moses His heavenly wisdom hath a reason of that wonderfull Shrinking of an Army of 32 thousand Israelits into one poor 300 left behind and found only fit for Gods battels against the Midianits A reason why those two famous Champions Samson and David should find so great discouragement to their fighting of Gods Battels the men of Judah basely binding Samson and the chief of Davids own Brethren flying in his face with open Railings A reason of that all most utter consumption of one whole Tribe of Israels 12. by the furious flames of the Zeal and Indignation of the eleven These things happened not by chance but as the Apostle speaks in Types in curious and wonderfull figures so that his holy wisdom knowes why Israel must be so weary of Samuel and himself and like the Nations of the World must have a King to be their Champion and fight their Battels Why Saul this desired King the King of Gods own choice and Israels why yet he must hunt an innocent David as a Flea in the bosom or a Partridg on the mountains until he hath slain himself to set the Crown on Davids head A reason of that long continued Faction of so many Tribes against this Davids Crown and that Israel so importunate so impatient for a King should now powre out each others blood about a Successor whether a David or the son of Persecution Saul Ishbosheth A reason when David wears both Crowns in one and hath all that a most gracious God could espie out fit for David to receive that yet he wants a wife that had so many and rather then a Davids sinfull Desires and Whordomes shall want a Covering the blood of Vriah that is fire or zeal of God shall die and make up one to cover them O the Depths of the Councels of the holy one of Israel why there being but 12 Tribes in all 10 Tribes of his own people should tear away from 2 and after many Captivities of the one and the other both the one and the other now are scattered from each other upon the face of the Earth and as yet no certain Tidings what 's befaln to the 10 Tribes of the Israel of God He knowes why to leave an upright perfect Asaâ—'s heart to such folly and wrath as to lay a Faithfull Prophet admonishing him from God by the heels Yea why the Followers of the meek Lamb of God should burn in such Vnchristian Flames as to call for fire from Heaven to consume the contemners and despisâ—rs of their Lord and Master who quencheth the fire of their rash zeal with this mild Check You know not of what Spirit you are of Why such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bitternesse as the Word is should rise between two Turtle Doves Paul and Barrabas and that about their most laborious and most dangerous Ministeries Why one cries Paul another Apollo another Caphas another Christ even in the first established Churches This holy Plot this heavenly designe of the most holy and
cutting off from Christ Jesus his holy land of life and peace his church kingdom Mr. Cotton retreats and confesseth Christs Kingdom is spiritual not national but congregational and that those Scriptures hold forth a Spiritual cutting off and he so produceth them to prove the heretick so to be cut off alledging that the question was put in general tearms that he knew not what Persecution should be intended and that an unjust excommunication is as sore a persecution as an unjust banishment When he is urged with the nature of the consciences even of all men to God or Gods in their worships he professeth that he is wronged that he doth not hold that any man should be persecuted for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience When al the consciences in the world cry out against him for setting up the civil power officers and Courts of civil Iustice to judg of the conviction of mens souls and consciences Mr. Cotton retreats to his last refuge and saith that although this be the duty of all the Magistrates in the world yet not any of them must meddle to punish in Religion untill they be informed which is upon the point untill he is sure they will draw their swords for his Conscience Church c. against all other as heretical blasphemous The monstrous Partiality of such suspending c. of hanging up all the Magistrates in the world except a few of his own perswasion and that from so principall and main a part of their Office and that so many thousands in the Nations of the world all the world over and that constantly and perpetually all their dayes If it please the most jealous and righteous God to hide it I say the monstrousnesse of such a Suspension from Mr. Cottons eyes yet thousand and ten thousands will behold and wonder at it But fearing to exceed in discourse at dore let every mercifull and compassionate Reader freely enter in and search the in most Rooms and Closets If thou truly love the Truth and Peace thou art too neer of kin to the Prince of Peace and Truth it self long to escape the Hunters If the fourty two moneths of the Beasts reign and the two hundred and threescore dayes of the prophesie of the Witnesses of Jesus in Sackcloth be expired yet I fear the three dayes and a halfe of the greatest slaughter of the Witnesses is not over Yet fear not what must be suffered although the Devill cast not onely some but all Christs Witnesses into Prison yea although he murther and fling out the Karkasses of the Saints to shame and injury yet the mighty Spirit of God will raise them on their feet again and into heavenly glory out of this shame shall they ascend in the sight of their bloody enemies How many and how various are the Disputings c. about what should be this three dayes and a halfes calamity How many hope this storm is over how many fear it is now a breeding Yet why should we fear so short a draught though of a bitter Cup when tempered by the gracious hand of an Heavenly Father begun by so dear an Elder Brother so sweet a Saviour The Revelations of John and the Revelations of Gods wonderfull Providences seem to proclaim wonderfull and dreadfull Discoveries of the Son of God approaching And it is as sure as that there is a Lord Jesus Christ that God will subdue all his enemies that he will shortly break and make all his followers tread on the proudest Necks born up this day in the world even the grandest Seigniories of the Turkish and Popish Empires the two so mighty opposers of the Son of God And it is not improbable both their ruines and downfall must be from some top and pinacle of glorious prosperity and furious outrage against their Antichristian and Christian enemies The chiefest European enemies of the All devouring Turk though all that bear the name of Christ are his enemies are more especially the Pope the Emperour the King of Spain and the Venetians by whom Christ Jesus probably will dash that mighty Empire into pieces as he seems to have prophesied of old by his servant Daniel yet probably as I said before this downfall must be from some more eminent height of Turkish bloody pride and glory which that blasphemous and bloody Monarchy shall immediatly before attain unto The sorest enemies of the Roman Popes are the witnesses of the Truths of Jesus whom he hath not left himself without during the 42 moneths of the reign of this mighty and dreadfull Beast Against these blessed followers of the Lamb must probably the rage of this bloody Beast rise high in that his great slaughter of them and triumph three days and an half over them Rev. 11. and this not long before his own eternall downfall Many have been the Interpretations of that prophesie and some late Applications of the witnesses and Time to particular persons and Times of late But with all due respect to the Apprehensions of any studious of the truth of Jesus I conceive the matter is of a more generall consideration For in all that world over that wondred after the Beast hath Christ Jesus raised up a Generation or kind of Witnesses bearing testimony against him This witnesse more or lesse to the severall Truths of Jesus he hath been pleased to maintain before and since Luthers time especially The finishing of the Testimony must probably be generall not only in England but in the rest of the Protestant Nations which finishing of the witnesse probably wil consist in the matters of the purity of his worship and the Government of the Lord Jesus in his own holy Appointments and Institutions The slaughter of these witnesses must also probably be generall and in the three dayes and half triumph over them generall upon which follows that most glorious and generall rising of the witnesses unto their glory promised Rev. 11. I confess in this plea for freedom to all Consciences in matters meerly of worship I have impartially pleaded for the freedom of the consciences of the Papists themselves the greatest enemies and persecutors in Europe of the Saints and Truths of Jesus Yet I have pleaded for no more then is their due and right and what ever else shall be the Consequent it shall stand for a monument and testimony against them and be an aggravation of their former present or future cruelties against Christ Jesus the Head and all that uprightly love him his true Disciples and Followers It is true I have not satisfaction in the clear discovery of those holy Prophesies Periods set down and prefixed by the holy Spirit in Daniel John c. concerning the Kingdom of Christ Jesus Yet two things I professe in the holy presence of God Angels and Men. First my humble Desires and Resolution the Lord assisting to contend for the true and visible worship of the true and living God according to the
of Gods servants have fed and himself not a little to the Lords praise and his own in former times Peace Whereas you argued it to be light alone that was able to dispell and scatter the mists and fogs of darkness in the souls and consciences of men Master Cotton answers The judgements of God are as light that goeth forth Hos 6. 3. Isa 26. 9. and the false Prophet repenting will acknowledge this Zech. 13. 6. Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends Truth But doth Master Cotton indeed believe that not only publike Magistrates but also each private father and mother as that place of Zechary literately taken carries it must now in the dayes of the Gospel wound and pierce yea run through and kill their Son the false Prophet would he justifie a parent so practising though it were in the neglect of the publike Magistrate who happily may be of the same Religion with the false prophet Will not this doctrine reach extend to the pulling down deposing and killing of all such governors and governments which God in his gracious providence hath set up amongst all peoples in all parts and dominions of the world yea and harden the heart of Pharoah the very Pope himself in his King-killing and State-killing doctrine Peace If ever Master Cotton wake in this point he will tell all the world that it is more Gospel-like that Parents Brethren Fathers Friends impartially fulfill this of Zechary 13. and Deut. 13. spiritually in the friendly wounding yea and zealous slaying by the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God which is the word of God comming forth of the mouth of Christ Jesus Ephes 5. Revel 1. Truth And it is most true as Master Cotton saith that the judgements of God legally executed or more terribly poured forth in the vials of sword plague and famine they are as heavenly lights shining out from the Father of lights teaching the inhabitants of the world righteousness Yea the creation it self or each creature are as candles and glasses to light and shew us the invisible God and creator but yet these are not the ordinances of Christ Jesus given to his church These are not the Preachings of the word and the opening of the mysteries of salvation which give light and understanding to the simple and convert the soul These are nor that marvailous light unto which the call of Christ Jesus in the preaching of the word had brought the Saints unto whom Peter writes The weapons of Pauls fighting whereby to batter down the high thoughts and imaginations of the sons of men against the sons of God were of another nature 3 Cor. 10. and his directions to Timothy and Titus how to deal with Hereticks and Gainsayers were never heard of to be such till the son of man and son of perdition brought forth such bloody weapons and bloody doctrines in the affaires of Christ Jesus Examination of CHAP. X. Peace IN this passage Master Cotton will subscribe to the whole matter saying This Chapter may stand for us without impeachment and yet in this Chapter is reported the persecution which both rightly informed and erroneous consciences suffer and the blind estate of such blinde guides and blinded consciences who so preach and practice Truth These first words We approve no persecution for conscience fight against his whole endeavour in this book which is to set up the civil throne and judgement-seat over the consciences and soules of men under the pretence of preserving the church of Christ pure and punishing the evil of heresie blasphemy c. 2. They fight against their fellows which follow thus unless the conscience be convinced of the error and perniciousness thereof which is all one as to say We hold no man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless it be for a conscience which we judge dangerous to our Religion No man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless we judge that we have convinced or conquered his conscience T is true all errour is perniciots many wayes to Gods glory to a mans owne soul to other mens souls and consciences yet I understand Master Cotton to say Except we judge the error to be so and so mischievous T is true there is a self-conviction which some consciences smite and wound themselves with But to submit these consciences to the tribunal of the civil Magistrate and Powers of the World how can Master Cotton do this and yet say no man is to be persecuted for his conscience Peace Alas how many thousands and millions of consciences have been persecuted in all Ages and Times iâ— a judicial war and how have their Judges pretended victory and triumph crying out We have convinced or conquered them and yet are they obstinate Truth Hence came that hellish Proverb That nothing was more obstinate then a Christian under which cloud of reproach hath been overwhelmed the most faithful zealous and constant witnesses of Jesus Christ Peace But saith Master Cotton Some blinded consciences are so judicially punished by God as his in Irelond that burnt his child in imitation of Abraham Truth In such cases it may be truly said the Magistrate beares not the sword in vaine either for the punishing or preventing of such sins whether uncleanness theft cruelty or persecution And therefore such consciences as are so hardned by Gods judgement as to smite their fellow-servants under the pretence of zeale and conscience as in the instance of Saul his zeal for the children of Israel against the Gibeonites they ought to be supprest and punished to be restrained and prevented And hence is seasonable the saying of King Iames that he desired to be secured of the Papists concerning civil obedience which security by wholesome Lawes and other wayes according to the wisdome of each state each state is to provide for it self even against the delusions of hardned consciences in any attempt which meerly concernes the civil state and Common-weale Examination of CHAP. XI Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton takes himself wronged that he should be thought to lay this down as a conclusion viz. that it is not lawful to persecute Iesus Christ Truth What difference is there in saying It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed and to say It is not lawful to persecute Christ Iesus was it not all one in effect for Christ to say Take up thy bed and walk as to say Thy sins are forgiven thee Peace He adds It is no matter of wonder to lay down the principles of Religion for a proof as Gamaliel did Truth Who sees not a vast difference between Master Cottons and Gamaliels speech Gamaliel speaks of that particular controversie concerning Christs person and profession which the Iews so gainsayed and persecuted Gamaliel fitly aggravateth their opposition by the danger of their course if possibly it might prove to be the Truth which they persecuted Master Cotton is to lay down not a particular answer
the professors of it And how neer will Master Cotton be found to close with that late bloody Woolfe so far as his chaine reached Bishop Laud who being an instrument of the bloody hunting and worrying of those three famous witnesses of Christ Master Prin Master Bastwick and Master Burton yet at their publike sentence in the Star-chamber he lamentably complained that those poor Lambs did bark and bite him with unjust reproaches slanders c Examination of CHAP. XII Peace MAster Cotton here first complaineth that his words are misreported concerning the punishment of the heretick after once or twice admonition Tit. 3. 10. Truth I desire that others may judge in three particulars First whether the summ and pith of the words are not rendred 2. Whether this Titus 3. was brought by Master Cotton to prove as is now pretended that an Heretick might be persecuted with an excommunication after once or twice admonition or whether the question be not of another kind of persecution 3. Whether that Tit. 3. 11. do hold forth That although a man be a heretick blasphemer seducer he may be punished with a Civil or corporeal punishment yea though he sin against his own conscience I add a fourth whether indeed as Master Cotton intimates the discusser makes this Tit. 3 a refuge for hereticks Great sound and noise makes this word heretick heretick I dare appeal to Master Cottons conscience and memory whether the reading of histories and the experience of time will not evince and prove that hereticks and Christians hereticks and Martyrs or witnesses of Christ have not been the same men and women I say againe that such as have been ordinarily and commonly accounted and persecuted for hereticks have been the servants of the most high God and the followers and witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ Peace You know dear truth the catalogues of heresies and hereticks extant c. Truth Grant it sweet peace that some in all times have suffered for erroneous conscience Yet I dare challenge the father of lies himself to disprove this assertion That the most of such beyond all comparison that have ever suffered in this world for hereticks have been the disciples and followers of Christ Jesus And on that not only the Lions Leopards the Bears Woolves and Tygers the bloody Pharoahs Sauls Herods Neroes Popes Prelates c. should fetch from hence their persecuting arrows and commissions but that even the Davids the men after Gods own heart the Asa's whose hearts are perfect with God that such as are the sheep and lambs of Christ should be so monstrously changed and transformed into lyons beares c. yea and should flie to this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. for this their unnatural and monstrous change and transformation Examination of CHAP. XIII Peace IN this 13 Chapter dear truth you argue the great mistake of the world in their common clamour an heretick an heretick a person obstinate in fundamentals and you prove that this word heretick intends no more then a person obstinate against the admonitions of the Lord although in lesser matters upon this Master Cotton concludes in this 13 Chapter that the discusser gives a larger allowance for proceeding against erroneous persons then himself did Truth I must deny that the discusser gives a larger allowance then Master Cotton or any at all that the hereticks or obstinate person should be dealt withall by the Civil Magistrates of Crete but onely by the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus 1. For first What though I granted that an obstinate person contending about Genealogies ought not to be suffered but after once or twice admonition ought to be rejected And 2. What though I grant that after such faithful admonitions once or twice he cannot but be condemned of himself yet according to his third answer how will it appear that I grant that an heretick is rightly defined to be one obstinate in fundamentals when I maintaine and Master Cotton seemeth to grant that the heretick may be such an one as is obstinate in lesser points and practises 3. Further let the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imply an overturning yet will it not follow that therefore an heretick is he who is wilfully obstinate in holding forth such errors as subvert the foundation of the Christian religion For however that Master Cotton saith That such disputes may tend to overthrow Christianity yet that is but in remote possibility as the prick of a finger may kill the heart if it ranckle and fester and so go on from member to member without means applyed yet this cannot be said to be a mortal wound at first So is it in the body of Christ Peace The Apostle discoursing of meats and drinks of eating and drinking with offence calls an offensive eating a destruction of the soul for which Christ died and yet I suppose he will not say that that difference was a fundamental difference Truth It hath been a gross and barbarous mistake of the monopolizers of learning both divine and humane The Clergy both of Popish and Protestant factions and worships And how many are the thousands of millions of abuses prophanations and blasphemies against the God of heaven in all the Antichristian Christendome in all preachings writings proceedings and processes touching this name heretick heresie c By the impartial censure of the Lord he is an heretick who wilfully persists in any sinful doctrine against the due admonitions of the Lord for every bit and parcell of leaven is to be purged out of the house of God as well as the greater and fundamentall lumps Examination of CHAP. XIV Peace IT is a falshood saith Master Cotton that I call the slight listnings of Gods people to the checks of their consciences their sinning against their conscience for I speak not saith he of the sinning of Gods people against conscience but of an heretick subverted much less do I call their slight listening to conscience an heretical sinning against conscience least of all do I say that for slight listening to the checks of conscience he may lawfully be persecuted as for sinning against his conscience And he adds this gall to the former vinegar Thus men that have time and leasure at will set up images of clouts and then shoot at them Truth Master Cotton elsewhere granteth that Gods children may through passion c. be carried on to despise admonition and may be excommunicated and if so how can they refusing of Christs admonition in the church be excused from sinning against the self condemning of themselves For if a child of God may possibly be excommunicated for obstinacy in some passion temptations c. then may he be this heretick or wilfull man in this Tit. 3. T is true that in an houre of great temptations Gods people may sin against clear light of conviction and sentence of conscience as David and Peter c. But as I conceive the holy Spirit of God in this 3 of Titns
what eyes and eares such blasphemous and bloody titles are to be lookt upon and heard by the chaste eyes and ears of Christs Doves Christ Iesus will one day and shortly make appear Truth But what contradiction will be in the later to wit That every one must do his utmost in Gods business when this former to wit to be a defender of the Faith is constantly denied to be any of the businesses of civil officers and the preservation of the civil state which charge and worke by the civil state can only lawfully and therefore possibly be committed to them For otherwise to take these words in a literal sence without respect to the rules and limits of Gods order and righteonsness what is it but to fire the world with wild-fire of blind zeale and to tumble down all Gods beauteous structures and buildings into a Chaos and confusion of Antichristian Babylon And this especially by the meanes of such who think and say that they cannot serve God with all their might except they punish blaspemers and fight against blasphemous nations and subdue not only the holy land from the Turk but even all the world from their idolatries and blasphemies if it lie in their power which spirit whether it be the spirit of the Son of God and Prince of peace or the spirit of the world the spirit of the son of perdition let every mans own spirit search and judge in the holy fear and presence of God Peace But further saith Master Cotton it was unnecessary yea folly and preposterous to have complained to Herod Pilate Caesar against the Heresies of the Pharisees For if a poor sheep should complain to the Wolves of the Wolves heresies would not the whole kennel of Wolves rise up against him c Would it not have disturbed the civil state by putting them into jealousies of a new kingdome and it was necessary the Gospel should first be known and received believed and professed before any could be complained of for Apostacie from it into heresie Truth Master Cotton cannot deny but that most of the Magistrates of the world by far are such as Herod Pilate Caesar were without God and enemies to him yea also in that little paâ—t of the world which is called Protestant Now if they are but kennels of Wolves compared with Christs sheep as Master Cotton expresseth I first demand how poorely hath Christ Jesus in all ages provided for and furnished his people with such main pillars of their spiritual joyes light and confidence as godly and Christian Magistrates Peace It is as cleer as the Sun beams that if ever Christ Jesus had intended such an ordinance in and over his church he would never have been so mistaken as to supply his sheep in all ages and in all parts of the world with kennels of Wolves in stead of godly and Christian Shepherds Truth But secondly Grant them to be kennels of Wolves in Master Cottons sence yet what bar is this to any from presenting and to them from receiving such complaints as are proper to their cognizance to their duty and calling were they truely called of God and Christ to such a service to wit to govern in spiritual Ecclesiastical or Church causes what though a Magistrate be a drunkard whoremonger opperssour is it not the duty of the people to complain to him of drunkards thieves whoremongers oppressors whom if he punish not but countenance c. yet have such petitioners discharged their consciences and left the guilt upon the right head who should be an head of civil righteousness but is an head of wickedness and iniquity Peace By this argument of Master Cottons the poor widow that sued for right to the unjust Judge that neither feared God nor regarded man took a foolish and a prestoperous course though commended by the Lord Jesus Luk. 18. Truth Indeed as Master Cotton saith If we look at the probability of any wholesome fruit from such trees we cannot expect grapes from such briars not figs from such thistles But looking at the providence of God who ruleth and over ruleth the hearts of Kings and all Magistrates as in the case of the poor widow and thousand others as also at what is their Duty and profession to wit to invite cheerfully their subjects to bring their complaints to them as also what is the duty of the wronged and oppressed to wit to deliver and discharge their own souls I see not but it is safe sea sonable and a duty to cry even to the unjust Judge for Justice as that poor woman did Peace Yea were Caesar Herod Pilate by virtue of their places offices and duties Ecclesiastical Judges and ought to have suppressed the heresies and blasphemies of the Pharisees why should it be impossible but they might have removed the Pharisees offence as many Kings of England and France though evil themselves have stirred mightily upon complaints of their subjects against the Popish Pharisees of their times yea the highest of them the Pope himself And if Master Cottons doctrine be true why must not the Magistrate be sought unto that a true Gospel be received and believed Why may not the civil power be a judge in the first receiving of the Gospel as afterward for the preserving and restoring of it Truth Such is the brightness of the Gospel of Christ Iesus and the dread and the power of the two-edged sword coming out of his mouth subduing and slaying the highest opposites and adversaries that it will prove to be unnecessary foolish and preposterous to run to any other sword or censures then those alone of Christs so mighty and so powerful were they rightly administred as the Popish and Protestant world pretendeth Peace Lastly Master Cotton professeth he knows not how Magistrates can know the Son and kiss him and acknowledge his kingdome and submit their crowns to it love his truth be nursing Fathers and Mothers to his church and yet not be defenders of it Truth If kings must submit their crowns to this kingdome of Christ must it not undeniablly follow that the kingdom of Christ Iesus is far greater and higher then their thrones and crowns for none will submit to the lesser weaker c. And if so what weakness is it yet to expect that the inferiour power and authority to wit civil and earthly must defend the highest and most glorious crown and throne of Christ Iesus Like as if a poor Indian Canon should submit it self to some Royal Navy and yet must be this Navies defender or a few naked Americans submit to some Army or kingdome and yet these poor naked ones must bear and that seriously without Iâ—sting the title of their defenders Truth Master Cotton and those of his bloody judgement are not contented that the civil powers defend the bodies and goods of the Saints from oppressors from persecutors c. that love and affection by all gracious means be exprest more to the Saints then to other people of
the wife or the wife to the husband Yea whether they spake any thing though never so little out of any line of holy Scriptures or any of Wickliffes books or any good English writings By which abhorred practices the fathers caught in this bloody Bishops oath vehemently forced upon all suspected the fathers I say were forced to accuse and betray their children the children their fathers husbands their wives wives their husbands for fear of horrible death on the one side or else of running upon the rocks of Perjury on the other side Peace Hold dear truth and stop my spirit is wounded with such relations Truth O how were the Saints and Christ Jesus in them wounded with such tenents and practices Peace Master Cotton will salve this up with what he elsewhere saith thus Longlands and the Papists religion and the religion of England was then false in that kings time Truth What then No pious and sober man can hold all mâ—n devoid of conscience to God except himself In all religions sects and consciences the sons of men are more or less zealous and precise though it be in falshood 2. But let it be granted that the religion persecuted is false and that a false religion like leaven will spread as did this idolatry of Michal Jeroboam and others and grant that this idolatry will bring judgements from heaven in the end yet I desire Master Cotton or any knowing man to answer to these two questions 1. Where finde we since the comming of Christ Jesus a land like Canaan a state-religion a City or Town-religion wherein the Townes or Cities or kingdomes apostacie may be feared as Master Cotton here writes of Lâ—â—sh and consequently the Townes or Cities captivity for that sin 2. Where read we of the destruction of a land for idolatry or images without a ripeness in other sins and especially of violence and oppression of which persecution is the greatest And therefore to follow Master Cottons instance of the Turks beside idolatry which saith Master Cotton brought the plague of the Turks Rev. 9. read we not also in that Scripture and in all histories of their detestable and wonderful whoredomes witchcrafts thefts slaughters and murthers amongst which this bloody Tenent of persecution was ever in most high esteem c. Peace Indeed Bâ—â—â—â— hath been filled with blood of all sorts Râ—â—â—lations the 18. but in especial manner hath the whâ—re been drunk with the blood of the Saints and witnesses of Jesus Revel 17. Truth Hence then not idolatry onely but that bloody doctrine of persecution the great fire-brand and incendiary of all Nations and Commonweals brought in the bloody Turkes to revenge Gods truth and witnesses slaine by the idolatrous and bloody Antichristians Peace I something question that it can be proved that the most righteous Judge of the whole world ever destroyed state or nation for idolatry but where this bloody doctrine of persecution was joyned with it that is until he had graciously sent witnesses against such idolatries and till such witnesses were despised and persecuted and therefore here comes in seasonably the sad exprobration of the Lord Jesus against Jerusalem threatning the ruine and desolation of it Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them which were sent unto thee c Truth I add lastly Let it be granted that a soul is corrupted with a false religion and that that false Religion like a leaven in time hath corrupted the state Yet first that state or land is none else but a part of the world and if so since every part more or less in degree follows the nature of the whole it is but natural and so lieth as the whole world doth in wickedness and so as a state or part of the world cannot but alter from one false way or path to another upon this supposition as before that no whole state kingdome City or Town is Christian in the new Testament Secondly Grant this state to be so corrupted or altered from one corrupt religion to another yet that state may many ages enjoy civil peace and worldly prosperity as all histories and experience testifies Thirdly That idolatry may be rooted out and another idolatrous religion of the conquerer as in the Roâ—aâ—e and other conquests brought in or the religion may be changed something to the better by the coming of new Princes to the crown as we see in Henry the eighth King Edward and Queen Elizabeth in our own Nation and of late times Lastly A soul oâ— souls thus leavened may be reduced by repentance as often it pleaseth God so to work why then should there as Master Cotton intimates such a peremptory bloody sentence be thundred out as life for life c. Peace But saith Master Cotton false prophets in the old Testament were to die but for attempting and the reason was not from any typical holiness of the land but from the dangerous wickedness of the attempting to thrust away a soul from God which is a greater injury then to deprive a man of bodily life Truth The reason to me appears plainly typical with respect to that holy nation and the seducers seeking to turn the soul away from the Lord their God who had brought them forth from the land of Egypt by such signes miracles c. Let Master Cotton now produce any such nation in the whole world whom God in the New Testament hath literally and miraculously brought forth of Egypt or from one land into another to the truth and purity of his worship c. then far be it but I should acknowledge that the seducer is fit to be put to death But draw away the curtaine of the shadow and let the substance appear not a whole Nation City c. but the Christian church brought by spiritual signes and wonders from the Egypt of this world in all nations of the world where the Gospel comes Justly therefore he that seduceth a soul from his God in Christ and so endangereth to leaven that only true Christian state or kingdome the church of Christ he ought to die upon his obstinacy without mercy as well under Christ as under Moses Yea he is worthy of a sorer punishment as saith the Spirit of God who trampleth under feet the blood of Christ such a deceiver or seducer except he repent is to be cut from the presence of the Lord and to lose an eternal life He that is cut off from material Israel might yet repent and live eternally but he that is cut off from mystical Israel under the Gospel that is for obstinacy in sin the proper hereticke he is cut off to all eternity which punishment as it is infinitely transcendent and more dreadful in the nature and kind of it so answereth it fully and infinitely that clause of Master Cotton to wit To thrust a soul from God is a greater injury then to deprive a man of his bodily life Peace Now whereas the discusser added
the twelve and the seventy Secondly By his visible kingly power left in the hand of his true churches and the officers and governors thereof In which sence that church of Antioch and the governors thereof rightly invested with the kingly power of Christ Jesus sent forth Paul and Barnabas with prayer and fasting and saying on of hands And Paul and others of Christs messengers being furnished with this kingly power not only planted churches but also ordained elders visited these churches or visible cities of Judah that knowledge and teaching and the word of God might dwel plenteously among them Thirdly Christ Iesus as king of his church and head of his body during the distractions of his house and kingdome under Antichrists apostacy immediately by his own holy Spirit stirs up and sends out those fiery witnesses Rev. 11. to testifie against Antichrist and his several abominations For as for lawful calling to a true ordinary Ministery neither Wickliff in England nor Waldâ—â— in France nor Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prauge in Bohemia nor Luther in Germany nor multitudes more of famous preachers and prophets of Christ both in these countries and also in Spaine Italy c. I say no true ordinary Ministerial calling can they ever shew but Christ Jesus by the secret motion of his own holy Spirit extraordinarily excited in couraged and sent them abroad as an Angel or messenger Rev. 14. with the everlasting Gospel c. Peace To apply these three wayes or any of them to the civil Magistrates and rulers of the world of whom Iehosaphat in that his act should be a type is but to prophane the holy name of God to leane upon and â—dolize an arme of flesh c. Truth I grant the civil Magistrate is bound to countenance the true Ministers of Christ Iesus to incourage protect and defend them from injuries but to send them armed as the Popes Legats and Priests with a sword of steel and to compel people to hear and obey them this savours more of the spirit of the Pope his courses and practises Yea of Mahomet his Mussel-men Dâ—rgâ—es c. then the Lambe of God and his followers Peace What Iehosophat Asa Hezekiah Iosiah c. did they did not only by perswasion countenance example by which all are bound to further the preaching of Christ Iesus but also by force of armes and corporal punishments Truth Yea even to the death it self and this is not a bare sending out of Ministers as Master Cotton gives the instance For by his argument all rulers kings and Emperors and other states of the world ought to embrue their hands in the blood of the many thousands and millions of millions of the poor people if they forsake not their idolatry and embrace the religion which they say is Christian and the only true Peace No saith Master Cotton this ought not to be because only godly and truly Christian Magistrates may so put forth this power of Christ others must stay until they be informed Truth Can it enter into any Christian heart to believe that Christ Jesus should so loosly provide for his affaires so slightly for his name and Fathers work and so regardlesly for his dearest Spouse as to leave so high a care and charge with such as generally and constantly throughout the whole world are ignorant of yea and opposite to the very name of Christ and true Christianity Peace Surely if this payment were offered to the governour as Malachy saith to the world or governments of it it would not pass Truth I never knew a king or captaine councellor or constable officers of high or low condition rightly called according to to God who were not invested with ability more or less for the maine and principal points of their charge and duty Peace It seemes indeed a marvelous and yet it is Master Cottons conclusion that such Magistrates yea all or most of the Magistrates that ever have been since Christ and now extant upon the face of the earth must sit down stay and suspend and that all their life long from the executing of the maine and principal part of their office to wit in matters concerning the conscience religion and worship of the people Truth Yea Secondly in a due survey of the whole universe and globe of this world will one of a thousand or ten thousand according to Master Cottons disabling of them from the chief part of their office be found I will not say fit to be but to be at all lawful civil Magistrates or rulers according to Gods ordinance of Magistracy but meer shadows or images set on high with empty names or titles only of Magistrates Peace Master Cotton adds Although the good of souls is the proper or adequate object of the spiritual officers of Christ and the bodies and goods of the people the proper or adequate object of the civil Magistrate yet in order to the good of their souls he ought to procure spiritual helpes and to prevent spiritual evils Truth I reply If he mean as it is clear he doth that the civil Magistrate ought to do this not only as a Christian by spiritual meanes but as a civil Magistrate by force of armes It is not in order but monstrous disorder for then he the civil Magistrate must sit Judge judicially and formally in those spiritual causes and cases which Master Cotton grants are proper and adequate objects of the spiritual officers which Christ hath appointed Peace Yea why may not saith Master Cotton the Magistrate use his power spiritually in order to the good of bodies as the officers of Christ dehort from idleness and intemperance of meats and drinks c. in order to the good of souls Truth The spiritual officers in dehorting from these evils or any other of that kind interfere not nor take cognizance of that which belongs not to their spiritual court for holiness in all manner of conversation is the circle wherein they ought to see all their spiritual subjects to walk If the spiritual officers should cause by force of armes their people to walk justly temperately c. as Master Cotton saith the civil Magistrate in order to the good of bodies ought to deal in spiritual and soul-matters I say then the eyes of the civil Magistrate would begin to open and to see the horrible disorder and Babylonish confusion of that which is here masked under the abused name of order Peace Master Cotton closeth up this chapter with very bitter censures against the discusser Truth The discusser may well reply that although since the apostacy he sees not the visible thrones and tribunals of Christ Jesus according to his first institution erected and although the civil Magistrate hath not the power of Christ in matters of religion yet they that slay the Lords sheep are not exempted from all judgement For if the offenders slay them corporally the Lord hath armed the civil Magistrate with the sword of God to take vengeance
of a necessity of present punishing of false worshippers and idolaters least present wrath fall upon the King or his Son Peace Now whereas it was said an intollerable burthen laid upon the Magistrates back together with the care of the Commonweal to be charged also with the spiritual c. Master Cotton answers 1. That the Magistrate ought to seek out meaneâ— of grace for the people 2. To remove idolatry and idolatrous Teachers 3. It is commonly added that he ought to preserve the church pure by reformation Truth I reply This work charged upon the kings governors and Magistrates in the world makes the weight of their care and charge far greater then ever was the charge of the kings of Israel and Judah For their people were miraculously brought into covenant with God to their hands like a bridge or house or ship ready built and needed only keeping up in reparation yea an heavier yoak then either their or our fathers were able to bear considering all the several different consciences religions and worships of all mankind naturally and the many different opinions factions and sects which daily do arise and that conscientiously and zealously unto death All these must by Master Cottons doctrine lie before the bar beside all civil cases c. Peace T is memorable that Paul himself that had the care of all the churches would not be intangled with civil affaires further then his own necessities did call for and sometimes the necessities of his companions but this yoak put upon the necks of Magistrates is as full of temporal as spiritual care And as it is impossible for them to bear So the Lord in his holy season may please to teach them as he hath taught some already through his grace to lay that spiritual Burthen upon the shoulders of their only King of Saints Christ Jesus to whom the supream power and care of souls and churches doth alone belong Whereas it was further said that the Magistrate is to cherish and to cleave unto the Saints and to defend them from civil violence but the spiritual care of them belongs to spiritual officers appointed by Christ Jesus to that end Master Cotton replies this is but a pretence because the discusser acknowledgeth no churches extant c. Truth Although amongst so many pretending churches the discusser be not able to satisfie himself in the rightly gathering of the Churches according to the true order of Christ Jesus yet this is far from a pretence because the institution of any state government order c. is one thing and the administration and execution which may be interrupted and eclipsed is another Peace Indeed Ieremy could not rightly have been judged a pretender when he mourned for and lamented the desolations of the temple priests elders altar sacrifice c. and neither he nor Daniel nor any of Gods prophets or servants could during the time of the desolation and captivity acknowledge either temple or altar or sacrifice right extant upon the face of the earth Truth He that saith the Sun Christ Jesus is not to be seen in our Horizon or Hemisphere in his absence or when he suffers an Eclipse cannot be said to deny that the Lord Jesus his holy ordinances ought to be visible in the worship and service of God Although the discusser be not satisfied in the period of the times and the manner of his glorious appearing yet his soul uprightly desires to see and adore and to be thankful to Master Cotton yea to the least of the disciples of Christ Jesus for any coal or sparke of true light amongst so many false and pretended candles and candlesticks pretending the glorious name of the Lord Jesus Christ Peace Next Master Cotton demands what reason can be given why the Magistrate ought to break the teeth of lyons ought to suppress such as offer civil violence and not of the Wolves that make havock of their souls who are more mischievous then the lyon as the Pope of Rome then the Pagan Emperors He wonders the discusser should favor the Pope more then the Emperour except it be that he symbolizeth rather with Antichrist then with Caesar Truth It may here suffice to say two things not to repeat other passages First The civil state and Magistrate are meerly and essentially civil and therefore cannot reach without the transgressing the bounds of civility to judge in matters spiritual which are of another sphere and nature then civility is Now it is most just and proper that if any member of a civil body be opprest the body should relieve it As also it is just and proper that the spirituall state or body should relieve the soul of any in that spiritual combination oppressed Therefore Secondly for spiritual and religious oppressions the king of kings Christ Iesus hath sufficient providedly in his spiritual kingdome therefore Acts 20 Paul gives the charge against those spiritual Wolves to the elders of the church at Ephesus and not to civil Magistrates of the city which Paul should have done notwithstanding they were worshippers of Diana if it had been their duty to have broke the teeth of those spirituall Wolves c. Peace It is indeed one thing to prohibite the Pope the prelates the Presbyterians the Independents or any from forcing any in the matters of their respective consciences and accordingly to take the sword from such mens hands or as their executioners to refuse to use it for them It is another thing to leave them freely to their own consciences to defend themselves as well as they can by the two-edged sword of the spirit which is the word of God which all the several sorts of pretenders say they have received from Iesus Christ Truth The renowned Parliament of England hath justly deserved a crown of honour to all posterity for breaking the teeth of the oppressing Bishops and their courts but to wring the sword out of the hands of a few prelates and to suffer it willingly to be wrung out of their own hands by many thousand Presbyterians or Independants what is it but to change one wolfe or lyon for another or in stead of one to let loose the Dens of thousands Peace But why should Master Cotton insinuate the discusser to glance a more obsequious eye upon the Pope then upon the Emperor Truth I fear Master Cotton would create some evil opinion in the heart of the civil Magistrate that the discusser is as the bloody Iews told Pilate no friend to Caesar whereas upon a due search it will be sound clear as the light that it is impossible that any that subscribe ex animo to the bloody Tenent of persecution can ex animo be a friend to Magistracy The reason is all persecutors whether priests or people care onely for such Magistrates as suite the end the great bloody end of persecution of whom they either hope to borrow the sword or whom they hope to make their executioners Their very
Mahumeâ—ans and no people more filthy in soul and body and no people in the world more bloody and persecuting but I listen for your second paradox Truth Secondly This Tenent of the Magistrates keeping the church from Apostatizing by practising civil force upon the consciences of men is so far from preserving Religion pure that it is a mighty Bulwark or Barricado to keep out all true Religion yea and all godly Magistrates for ever coming into the World Peace Doubtless this will seem a hard riddle yet I presume not too hard for the fingers of time and truth to unty and render easie Truth Thus I unty it If the civil Magistrate must keep the church pure then all the people of the Cities Nations and kingdomes of the world must do the same much more for primarily and fundamentally they are the civil Magistrate Now the world saith John lyeth or is situated in wickedness and conscquently according to its disposition endures not the light of Christ nor his golden candlestick the true Church nor easily chooseth a true Christian to be her officer or Megistrate for she accounts such false to her Gods and Religion and suspects their faithfulness c. Peace Hence indeed is it as I now conceive that so rarely this world admitâ—eth or not long continueth a true servant of God in any place of trust â—â—d credit except some extraordinary hand of God over-power or else his servants by some base staires of Flattery or worldly compliance ascend the chaire of Civil-power But to proceed saith Master Cotton It was the duty of Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings because they were an holy people and is it not the duty of godly Princes to reduce their backsliding Churches to their primitive purity It is true saith he David and Solomon were types of Christ but so were not the other Kings of Israel and Judah who were the one the kings of Israel all Apostates and the other the kings of Judah many of them Apostate from Christ And Secondly If they were saith he all types of Christ yet Christ being the Antitype Christ hath abolished them all and so it were sacriledge or Antichristian usurpation for any king to be set over Christians Or if they were types of Christ in respect of their kingly office over the Church alone was it typical in Solomon to put Joab a murtherer to death or Adonijah a traitor and so consequently unlawful for Christian Princes to put murtherers and traitors to death Further saith he What those kings might do in type Christ Jesus might much more do in his own person as the Antitype but he put no man to death in his own person and therefore they were not types but servants of Christ and paterns and examples to Christian Magistrates yea Ahab who should have put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy Truth I understand those kings of Israel and Judah untill their cutting off or excommunicating out of the land of Canaan to be yet visible members of the church of Israel and Judah and as kings of Israel and Judah types of Christ Jesus partly in his own person who did that being the true spiritual king of Israel which they did or should have done in that typical national church or land of Israel and 2 partly in the officers of his kingly power and government of his church which officers and church falling away untill an absolute cutting off are the Antitypes in respect of visible government of those former kings of Israel and Judah Peace Can it be imagined that those wicked Kings Jeroboam Baasha Ahab c. were figures of Christ Jesus Truth Master Cotton himself grants David and Solomon types of Christ Jesus and yet how abominable and monstrous some of their practices we must therefore distinguish between their persons and sins and frailties As kings of Israel Gods Church and people doubtless they were the figures of the K. of Israel Christ Iesus yea it is probable that the land of Canaan with the officers and governors thereof before Christ time was but a figure of the spiritual land or Christian church with the officers governors administrations therof good and evil Although the applying of the times and persons each to other requires a more then ordinary guidance of the finger or holy Spirit of God Peace I remember that some of eminent note for knowledge and godliness have not stuck to affirme that the Gentile Prince Cyrus as he was called Gods servant anointed or Christ Isa 44 I say that he in a respect as a restorer of Gods people was a figure of Christ Iesus Truth It is not improbable but that the most holy and only wise whose works are known unto himself from the beginning of the world did by such famous instruments of mercy to the literal Iew type out Christ Iesus and his heavenly instruments mercy and goodness to the mystical and spiritual Christian Iews c. Examination of CHAP. XXXVI and XXXVII Peace IN these passages Master Cotton first questions having not his copy by him the truth of some expressions printed as his Truth It is at hand for Master Cotton or any to see that copy which he gave forth and corrected in some places with his own hand and every word verbatiâ—â— here published 2. To the answer it self or reproof of the Lord Iesus given to his disciples for their bloody and rash zeal desiring fire to come down from heaven c. we both agree that Christs rebuking of his disciples did not hinder the Ministers of the Gospel from proceeding in a Church-way c. 2. That false â—persecution in a churchway is as odious and dreadful a persecution as any prosecution â— a court of civil justice as also that this is not the point intended though it be reckoned up with the rest Peace I marvel at that which follows where Master Cotton saith that it never fell from his pen in any writing of his viz. that it is lawful for a eivil Magistrate to inflict corporal punishment upon such as are contrary indeed in matters of Religion and therefore he passeth by the discussers reasons as which might well have been spared being brought but against a shadow of his own fancy Truth I am not able to imagine what Master Cotton meanes by such as are contrary minded against whom he will not in this Chapter maintaine any corporal punishment to be inflicted when in so many of his writings and throughout his whole book he maintaines corporal punishment and that to death it self in many cases against the idolatrous the blasphemous the heretical the seducing yea the degenerate and Apostate Peace Love bids us take this passage as a pang of reluctancy in his other wise-holy and peaceable breast against such unholy bloody Tenents But what say you to the passage about the second beast bringing fire from heaven Rev. 13. This was no wonder saith Master Cotton for
most hypocritically without shame in the bowels of Christ Jesus to Minister justice with such moderation that if it be possible the hereticks soul may be saved but however the flock may be preserved from such â—damnable Doctrine Peace Master Cotton will here blame the alleadging of this for the Popish Religion is false but their true c. Truth T is true the Papists Religion is false yet Master Cotton cannot pass without suspition to be too neer of kin to the bloody Papist to whom they are so neer in practice The Lord Jesus gave an everlasting rule to his poor servants to discern all false prophets by to wit their fruits and bloody practices But Secondly The holy Spirit of God in this 2 to Tim. now insisted on not only commands Timothy to exhort the opposite but patiently to wait and attend Gods will if peradventure God will give repentance and that they may recover themselves c. Peace Master Cotton will not deny together with meek exhortation patient waiting c. Truth Why then doth he limit the holy one of Israel to dayes or moneths Three months was by the law in Massachusets in New England the time of patience to the excommunicate before the secular power was to deal with him But we finde no time limited nor no direction given to Timothy or his successors to prosecute the opposite before Caesar bar in case God vouchsafed not repentance upon their means and waiting 3. Christ Jesus hath not been without bowels of compassion in all his gracious care and provision he hath made for his sheep and lambs against the spiritual Wolves and Foxes although we read not a word of the arme of flesh and sword of steel appointed by himself for their defence in his most blessed last Will and Testament 4. Lastly to that instance of the Donatists and Papists suppressed by the civil sword no question but as before a civil sword is able among civil people to make a whole nation or world of hypocrites and yet experience also testifies however Master Cotton makes it but accidental that it is the common and ordinary â—ffect of the civil sword drawn forth as they speak against hereticks seducers c. to harden the seducers and seduced by their sufferings and to beget no other opinion in their hearts then of the cruelty and weakness of the heart and cause of their persecutors Peace There hath been no small noise of Master Goâ—â—ons and his friends being disciplined or as the Papists call it discipled in the Schoole of the New English churches It is worth the inquiry to ask what conviction and conversion hath all their hostilities captivatings courtings imprisonings chainings banishings c. wrought upon them Truth Shall I speak my thoughts without partiality I am no more of Master Gortons Religion then of Master Cottons and yet if Master Cotton complaine of their obstinacy in their way I cannot but impute it to this bloody tenent and practice which ordinarily doth give strength and vigour spirit and resolution to the most erroneous when such unrighteous and most unchristian proceedings are exercised against them Peace Touching the Edict of Antoninus Pius concerning persecution of Christians and the opinion it begat in their hearts of the cruelty of their persecutors Master Cotton answers first the Pagan Religion is not of God but the Religion of Christians came down from Heaven in the Gospel-truth Truth This is most true to him that believeth that there is but one God one Lord one Spirit one baptism one body c. according to Christ Jesus his institution and that from that blessed estate the Apostacy hath been made and that all other Gods Lords Spirits Faiths Baptisms or churches are false But what is this to many millions of men and women in so many kingdomes and nations Cities and parts of the world who believe as confidently their lies of many Gods and Christs all which they believe as the Ephesians of their Diana and of the image of Jupiter and as Master Cotton of the way of his Religion that they come down from heaven Peace Doubtless according to their belief all the peoples of those nations kingdoms and countries wherein the name of Christ is sounded whether of the greek church or the latine whether of Popish or Protestant profession will say as Master Cotton my religion came down from heaven in the Gospel of Truth c. Truth Now then either the sword of steel must decide this controversie according to the bloody tenent of persecution in the suppressing of hereticks blasphemers idolaters and seducers by the strength of an arme of flesh or else the two-edged-sword of the Spirit of God the word of God coming out of the mouth of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants which will either humble and subdue the Rebels or cut most deep and kill with an eternal vengeance Peace But saith Master Cotton it will beget an opinion of cruelty to murther innocents but not to put to death murtherers of souls Truth I answer beside that great and common difference of civil murther and spiritual there is a second to wit that in the murther of an innocent the conscience of a murtherer is opened and commonly the mouth confesseth I am a murtherer I have killed an innocent but run through all the coasts and quarters of the whole world and the very consciences of so many thousands of soul murtherers are rootedly satisfied and perswaded that they are so far from being murtherers as that they are so many saviours of the souls of men and Priests and Ministers of the most high God or Gods c. Peace For instance if a man say Master Cotton is a subject of the state of England and a Minister of that worship which he believeth to be true confirmed by argument and light sufficient to his understanding soul and conscience How many thousand are there fellow subjects with Master Cotton to the English state yet of a contrary mind to Master Cotton in matter of Gods worship yea how many are there it may be thousands professing a Ministery contrary to Master Cottons and the like may be found in other nations and parts of the world Truth What true reason of justice peace or common safety of the whole can be rendred to the world why Master Cottons conscience and Ministry must be maintained by the sword more then the consciences and Ministeries of his other fellow-subjects Why should he be accounted I mean at the bar of civil justice I say accounted a soul Saviour and all other Ministers of other Religions and consciences soul-murtherers and so be executed as murtherers or forced to temporize or turn from their Religion which is but hypocrisie in Religion against their conscience which is ten thousand times worse and renders men when they sin against their conscience not only hypocrites but Atheists and so fit for the practise of any evil murthers adulteries treasons c
Christs Ministers in the Gospel and Christs Ministers in the civil state Truth There is a mistake in it for although Christ hath all power delivered to him in heave and earth yet as touching his spiritual church or kingdome he disclaimes it to be of the world or worldly Hence cannot the civil state or officers thereof be called Christs as if they were of Christs institution and appointment himself being their spiritual head And therefore it is that the Spirit of God cals him the head of the body which is the church and the Ministers and officers of this his kingdome and body Christs Ministers or servants Beside Master Cotton will not say that the kingdomes of the world are yet become the Lord Christs In what manner also those kingdomes shall become his we have need of the holy Spirit to evidence and demonstrate to us Peace To the fifth query whether as men deal with wolves these wolves at Ephesus were intended by Paul to be killed their braines dasht out with stones staves halberts guns c. in the hands of the elders of Ephesus Master Cotton replies Elders must keep within the bounds of their calling But such courses were commanded the people of God by order from the Judges Deut. 13. And where it was added that comparing Things spiritual with spiritual spiritual and mystical wolves should be spiritually and mystically slaine Master Cotton replies True but in destroying religion they also disturbe the civil state and accordingly are to be dealt withal by civil Justice as Achan was for troubling Israel Iosh 7. 25. Truth This acknowledgement of Master Cotton that these wolves must spiritually be killed their braines dasht out by the elders and Saints might if the Lord should graciously so please easily satisfie himself and all men that the type of Israel stoning and killing corporally is here fulfilled in all dreadful abundance spiritually Peace Yea but saith Master Cotton they disturbe the civil state as Achan did Truth I answer Achan troubling of Israel the people of the Lord must figure out any such like troubling Gods Israel the church of Christ for which he is accordingly to be spiritually stoned or executed For as touching the civil state of the nations of the world who can prove and Master Cotton will not affirme that they are as the national church of the Iews was but being meerly civil are armed with civil power and weapons for their civil defence against all disturbers of their civil state as also Master Cotton confesseth the spiritual state is furnished with spiritual power against all the disturbers of its spiritual peace and safety Peace Now whereas it was further added that under pretence of driving away the wolves and preserving the sheep that streams of the blood of Saints have been spilt c. Master Cotton replies belike it is a milky and peaceable and Gospel-like Doctrine that the wolves hereticks are to be tolerated not an haire strook from their heads but for the poor sheep for whom Christ died let them perish unless Christ mean to preserve them alone with his immediate hand and no care of them belongs to the civil Magistrate Truth I have here in this discourse shewed with what honorable and tender respect every civil Magistrate is bound to honor and tender Christ Iesus in his christian sheep and shepherds but withall that it is against christianity for the civil Magistrate or civil state to imagine that all a whole nation was or ever will be called to the union of Gods Spirit in communion with God in Christ Also that it is against civil justice for the civil state or officers thereof to deal so partially in matters of God as to permit to some the freedome of their consciences and worships but to curbe and suppress the consciences and souls of all others of their free-born people c. Peace To end this Chapter whereas it was said is not this to take Christ and to make him a temporal king by force Is not this to make his kingdom of this world and to set up a civil and temporal Israel To bound out a new holy land of Canaan yea and to set up a Spanish inquisition in all parts of the world to the speedy destruction of millions of souls and to the frustrating of the sweet end of the coming of the Lord Iesus which was to save mens souls and to that end not to destroy mens bodies by his own blood To this Master Cotton replies when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Rev. 11. it is not by making Christ a temporal king but by making temporal kings nursing fathers to the Church Truth If the Scripture At the sound of the seventh trumpet which is the last of the great woes when the time of Gods wrath shall be come be to be understood of the removing of the kingdomes of the world unto Christ Master Cotton cannot excuse Christ Iesus from being a temporal king and the kings of the earth to be but as inferior and subordinate officers For if they administer Christs kingdome temporally as deputies officers or Ministers temporally he is much more then himself a temporal king and Monarch Peace Methinks also if that committing of all judgement to the Son Iohn 5. be meant of Temporal judgement in spiritual things then can he not be said not to be a temporal king then can he not be said when those words were spoken and ever since not to have exercised a temporal government The contrary whereof is most true both at his first coming and ever since in all generations it having been his portion and the portion of his followers to be judged by this world although himself and his judge the world spiritually and will shortly pass an eternal sentence upon all the children of men Peace Master Cotton addeth this will not set up a civil or temporal Israel unless all the members of the Commonwealth be compelled to be members of the church Truth If that will do it then Christ must be a temporal king I say then when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord for shall not the kings of the earth compel all Christs sheep to submit unto Christ Iesus their heavenly shepherd Peace Yea secondly will it not prove that all those common-weals where men are compelled explicitly or implicitly to be members of the church are holy lands of Canaan and if so Oh that Master Cotton and other worthy servants of God may timely consider whether an explicit forcing of all men to come to church because men cannot be denied to be members at least by implication with such members and congregations with whom they do ordinarily assemble and congregate although they be injuriously indeed but injuriously kept off from communion and participation of all ordinances which is indeed their right and due if they be though but implicitly constrained and forced to partake of any Againe
13 to the Rom. exhorteth unto subjection to Magistrates and love to all men which are duties of the second table But yet withal he answers that is will not follow that Magistrates have nothing to do with the violation of the first table and further saith that it is a plaine case that amongst the duties of the second table people may be exhorted to honor their Magistrates and children may be exhorted to honour their Parents but will it saith he thence follow that Magistrates have nothing to do with matters of religion in the church or parents in the family Truth I answer the scope of the discourse was to prove that it pleaseth the Spirit of God in Paul here only to treat of the duties of the second table unto which limitation or restriction Master Cotton speaks not at all but only granteth in general that it speaketh of the duties of the second table And I still urge and argue that the spirit of God discoursing so largely in this Scripture of the duties of Magistrates and people and treating only of civil things in that civil relation between Magistrates and people points as with a finger of God at their error that wrest this Scripture to maintaine the power of Magistrates and civil states in the spiritual and church estate of the kingdome of Christ Peace But what may be said to Master Cottons argument Truth I answer If people are bound to yeeld obedience in civil things to civil officers of the state Christians are much more bound to yeeld obedience according to God to the spiritual officers of Christs kingdome But how weak is this argument to prove that therefore the civil officers of the state are constituted rulers or governors preservers and reformers of the Christian and spiritual state which differs as much from the civil as the heavens are out of the reach of this earthly Globe and Element Examination of CHAP. XLVII Peace AGainst the Judgement of those blessed worthies alleadged Calvin and Beza confining this passage of Rom. 13. to the second table Master Cotton here opposeth their judgement for the Magistrates power in matters of religion in other writings of theirs yea and from this very Scripture Truth This their judgement for the Magistrates power was granted and premised before yet let the expressions of those worthy men produced by the discusser on this Chapter be faithfully weighed and it will cleerly appear that as James speaks those excellent men endeavoured to bring from the same fountaines sweet water and bitter which is monstrous and contradictory Peace The pith of what Master Cotton further saith in this Chapter I conceive is couched in these demands Are not saith he all duties of righteousness to man commanded in the second table as well as all duties of holiness to God are commanded in the first table Is it not a duty of righteousness belonging to the people of God to enjoy the free passage of religion c. Is it not an injurious dealing to the people of God to disturbe the truth of religion with heresie the holiness of worship with idolatry the purity of government with tyranny and he concludes If so then these wayes of unrighteousness are justly punishable by the second table Truth I answer It hath pleased the Father of lights to open the eyes of thousands of his servants in thâ—se later times to discerne a fine spun fallacy in the tearm of unrighteousness and injury which being twofold spiritual against religion or spiritual state civil against the worldly or civil state It is no civil injury which he grants is the business of this 13 to the Romanes in matters of the second table for any man to disturbe or oppose a doctrine worship or government spiritual Christ Jesus and his messengers and servants did and do profess a spiritual war against the doctrine worship and government of the Jewish the Turkish and other Pagan and Antichristian religions of all sorts and sects churches and societies These all againe oppose and fight against his doctrine worship government And yet this war may be so managed were men but humane civil and peaceable that no civil injury may be commieted on either side Peace We may then well take up as Master Cotton doth Beza's own words on Rom. 13. 4. The civil sword must take vengeance on them that do evil It must therefore follow that hereticks are not evil doers which is gross c. Or else that Pauls speech is to be restrained to a certaine sort of evil deeds to wit such as they call corporal sins of which he saith he disputeth largely elsewhere Truth And so through the help of the most high shall I in proving that the second sort to wit external corporal civil evils between man and man city and city kingdomes and Nations in this faln estate of mankind wherein all civility and humanity it self are violated are alone and only intended in this Scripture by the holy Spirit of God and Paul his penman Examination of CHAP. XLVIII Peace TO the second argument to wit the incompetency of those higher powers to which Paul requires subjection which in his time were the ignorant and Pagan persecuting Emperors and their subordinate governors under them Master Cotton replies First It is one thing to yeeld subjection to the righteous decrees of ignorant and Pagan Magistrates And another thing to obey their ordinances in matters of faith and worship and government of the church The former of these Christians did yeeld unto the Romane Magistrates even subjection unto the death the other they did not nor ought to yeeld as knowing God was rather to be obeyed then man Truth Subjection may be either to lawful governors or but pretenders and usurpers Again subjection to lawful rulers may be in cases pertaining to their cognizance or in cases which belong not to their but another court or tribunal which undue proceeding is not tolerable in all well-ordered states We use also to say that subjection is either active or passive Now although we finde the Lord requiring and his servants yeelding all active or passive obedience to the Romane Emperors and their deputies yet finde we not a tittle of the Lords requiring or his people yeelding any kind of subjection to those Romane Emperors or their deputies in the matters of Christian religion except it be of so many hundred thousand of their bodies as the bodies of Lambs to the devouring jaws of those bloody lyons and devillish Monsters of more then barbarous cruelty Peace But Secondly saith Master Cotton although the Roman Emperors were incompetent Judges yet the Word of Christ which commandeth a duty commandeth also the necessary means which tend to that duty and therefore giving them a power and charge to execute vengeance on evil doers and that in matters of spiritual unrighteousness against the Church as in matters of civil unrighteousness against the Commonweal it behooved them to try and listen after the
be found fit to use the civil sword in matter of Religion and that is in plaine English to fight only for his conscience Peace But to proceed it will be hard saith Master Cotton for the discusser to finde Antichristian seducers clear from disobedience to the civil laws of the state in case that Antichrist to whom they are sworn shall excommunicate the civil magistrate and prescribe the civil state to the invasion of his followers Truth Most properly seducing teachers sin against the church and spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus which if erected and governed according to Christ Jesus she is a Castel or Fort sufficiently provided with all sorts of heavenly ammunition against all sorts of her spiritual adversaries yea and in the desolation of the churches during the Apostacy Christ Jesus as I have elsewhere observed hath not left his witnesses destitute of terrible defence against all gainesayers But grant what Master Cotton supposeth such seducers from obedience to the civil state c. Such as the Seminaries and bringers over of Pope Pius the 5 his Bul against Queen Elizabeth c. The answer is short and plaâ—â— civil officers bear not the sword in vain when the civil state is assaulted as the spiritual officers and governors of the church bear not in vain the spiritual and two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of Christ Peace Whereas now secondly there was observed by the Discusser in such coupling of seducing teachers scandalous livers a silent and implicite justification of the Jews and Gentiles their coupling Christ Jesus and his followers as seducing teachers with scandalous livers Christ between two thieves c. The sum of what Master Cotton replies is that the Lord Jesus and his followers suffering under those names weakens not the hand of Authority to punish such who are seducing teachers scandalous livers Truth It hath ever been the portion of the Lord Jesus and his followers for the most part theirs onely to be accounted seducing teachers deceivers and cheaters of the people blasphemous against God seditious against the State and accordingly to be numbred as Christ Jesus between two thieves both in esteem and punishment with scandalous and notorious malefactors and this for no other cause but cause of conscience in spiritual matters and most commonly for differing from and witnessing against the several State and City-Religions and Worships wherein they lived Peace If the Jews notwithstanding their fair colours to the contrary walking in the doctrine of Persecution for conscience justified their fathers for murthering the Prophets c. I cannot dear Truth but subscribe to your sorrowful observation that Master Cotton and others otherwise excellent servants of God in coupling seducing teachers and scandalous livers as the proper object for the civil sword to strike at they do no other but act the Jews true Antitype coupling Christ Jesus the seducing teacher with Barabbas the scandalous liver and murtherer Truth Yea and who sees not how often Barabbas the scandalous liver is cried out of the Magistrates hands by the scandalous people while Christ Jesus in his servants is cried to the Cross to the Gallows to the Stake to Banishment c. Their Persecutors also are applauded for not persecuting men for their Consciences but righteously legally and with great sorrow punishing them for sinning against their own conscience for disturbing of the civil State and peace for contemning of Magistrates Kings Queens and Parliaments for blaspheming God and for seducing and destroying the souls of the people CHAP. 55. Replying to CHAP. 66. Exam Peace THe Discusser admired in this Chap how Mr. Cotton should alledge Revel 2. Christs charge against the Church of Pergamus for tollerating them that hould the Doctrine of Balaam and against the Church of Thiatira for tollerating Jezabell to teach and seduce M r Cotton here replies that he meant not in alledging those Scriptures to prove it unlawfull for Magistrates to tollerate seducing Teachers but unlawfull for Churches adding that the Letter of the Prisoner was so stated in generall tearmes that he knew not upon the point what Tolleration or Persecution should be meant or intended otherwise then generall against all Persecution for Conscience withall affirming that an unjust Excommunication is as true Persecution as unjust Banishment Truth It is true what M r Cotton saith An unjust Excommunication is as true Persecution as an unjust Banishment and therefore some may justly complaine against M r Cotton and others for practicing such persecution in both kindes being not onely banished from their civill State but unjustly and after the Popes way Excommunicated also from their Churches but of that more elsewhere 2. We doe not in ordinarie English read but that the word Persecution is taken for civill corporall violence and punishment inflicted on the body for some spirituall and religious matter according to the Lord Christ his words to Paul Actâ— 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 3. The passages in the Letter shew that the whole scope of the Letter was to contend against outward violence and corporall affliction in matters of Conscience Peace It may not be a lost Labour Deare Truth to draw a taste of some passages in the Letter Truth For further satisfaction my paines shall be a pleasure and first From the Arguments from holy Scripture observe Luc. 9. the Lord Christ reproving his two zealous Disciples You know not of what Spirit you are of The Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Againe That of the Prophets Isaiah and Micah They shall breake their Swords into Mattocks and their Speares into Sithes Againe Christs charge unto his Disciples that they should be so farre from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray and blesse c. Peace These holy Passages Me thinks are not unlike the Stones in Davids sling smooth and plaine enough yet powerfull and dreadfull both against this Goliah Tenent of persecution and also prove a corporall persecution intended Truth Now a taste of the speeches of severall Kings produced by the prisoner 1. That of King James God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Bloudshed 2. That of Stephen King of Poland I am King of Men not of Consciences of Bodies not of Soules 3. Of the King of Bohemia When ever Men have attempted any thing in this violent course the issue hath been ever pernicious and the cause of great and wonderfull Innovations 4. Another of King James That he was resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any Person whatsoever for matter of Religion In the third place a taste of the Speeches of the ancient Writers produced by the Prisoner 1. That of Hilarius That Church which formerly by enduring misery and imprisonment was knowne to be the true Church doth now terrifie others by imprisonment banishment and miserie
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
the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the free Conferrings Disputings and Preachings of the Gospel of Truth be more hopefully like to expell those Mists and Fogs out of the minds of Men and that Papists Jewes Turkes Pagans be brought home not onely into the common roade and way of Protestanisme but to the grace of true Repentance and Life in Christ I say why not this more likely by farre then that the mists and fogs of Poperie should over cloud and conquer that most glorious Light Peace 'T is true the holy Historie tells us of one Sampson laying heapes upon heapes of the proudest Philistims of one David and of his Worthies encountring with and slaying their stoutest Gyantâ— and Champions yet it is feared such is the depraved nature of all mankinde and not of the English onely that like a corrupted full Body it sooner sucks in a poysoned breath of Infection then the purest Ayre of Truth c. Truth Grant this I answer therefore thirdly If any of many conscientiously turne Papists I alledge the Experience of a holy wise and learned man experienced in our owne and other States affaires who affirmes that he knew but few Papists increase where much Libertie to Papists was granted yea fewer then where they were restrained Yet further that in his Conscience and Judgement he believed and observed that such Persons as conscientiously turned Papists as believing Poperie the truer way to Heaven and Salvation I say such Persons were ordinarily more conscionable loving and peaceable in their dealings and neerer to Heaven then thousands that follow a bare common trade and roade and name of Protestant Religion and yet live without all Life of Conscience and Devotion to God and consequently with as little love and faithfulnesse unto Men. Peace But now to proceed a third Speech of King James was Persecution is the note of a false Church the wicked are Besiegers the Faithfull are besieged upon Revel 20. M r Cotton here grants that it is indeed a Note of a false Church but not a certaine One for sayth he which of all the Prophets did not the Church of the Old Testament persecute Truth M r Cotton granting persecution to be a degree of Falsehood and Apostacie as he doth in his following words he must also grant that where such a Doctrine and practice prevailes and the Church growes obstinate after all the Lords meanes used to reclaime such a Church will proceede to further degrees untill the whole be leavened with Falshood and Apostacie and the Lord divorceth her and casts her out of his Heart and Sight as he dealt with Israel and Judah And it will be found no false but a dutifull part of a faithfull childe to abhorre the whoredomes of such an one though his own Mother who for her obstinacie in whoredomes is justly put away by his heavenly Father but of that the Lord assisting more in its place Peace Further Whereas it was said that M r Cotton had passed by King Stephen of Poland his Speech to wit the true Difference between the Civill and Spirituall Government M r Cotton answers that it is true that the Magistrate cannot command their Soules nor binde their Consciences nor punish their Spirits All that he can doe is to punish the Bodies of Men for destroying or disturbing Religion Truth It is true the Lord alone reacheth the Soules or Spirits of Men but he doth it two wayes First Immediately stirring up the Spirits of the Prophets by Visions Dreames c. Secondly By instituted Meanes and Ordinances of which is the Question Now Stephen King of Poland professed that he was King of bodies and not of Consciences It being most true that the Lord Jesus hath appointed spirituall Rulers and Governours to binde and loose Soules and Consciences to wound and kill Comfort and save alive the Spirits and Consciences of Men. This power Christ Jesus committed to his true Messengers but oh how many are there that pretend to this Apostleship or Ministrie who yet have sold away this spirituall Power to the Earthly or worldly powers upon an implyed secret Condition or Proviso to receive a broken Reed an Arme of Flesh in stead of the Everlasting Armes of Mercy to protect them Peace With your leave Deare Truth let me adde a second If the Magistrate as M r Cotton sayth punish the body for a spirituall offence why doth he not punish by a spirituall power as a spirituall Officer with a spirituall Censure and punishment Truth M r Cotton will tell us that the bodies of the Israelites were punished for spirituall offences And we may againe truely affirme that the very cutting off by the materiall Sword out of the typicall Land of Canaan was in the type a spirituall punishment Peace M r Cotton is not ignorant of this and hath often taught of these Types from Passages on Genesis and other bookes of Moses c. Truth The Father of Lights graciously be pleased to set home the light he hath vouchsafed him fix and imprint the beames thereof in his heart and affections also Peace This Argument of punishing the body for the soules good I remember was feelingly resented by an honourable Gentleman in the parliament against the Bishops urging how contrary unto Christ Jesus those Prelates were for Christ Jesus did make way for his working upon Mens soules by shewing kindnesse to their bodies c. but Prelates contrarily c. Truth All the Angells ' of God will one day witnesse that Christ Jesus was never Captain to Pope nor Prelate Presbyter no nor Independent Emperour nor King Parliament nor Generall Court who punish and afflict persecute and torture the bodies of Men under pretence of a spirituall and religious medicine Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton Religion is disturbed and destroyed what shall be done Truth Religion is disturbed and destroyed two wayes First When the Professors or Assemblies thereof are persecuted that is hunted and driven up and downe out of the world Against such Destroyers or Disturbers being Tyrants and Oppressours the Civill Sword ought to be drawen Peace The drawing of the Sword of Justice against such Tyrants I believe hath prevailed in Heaven for the Parliaments successes and prosperitie The turning from the violence that was in the hands of those Men of Bloud the Bishops as in the Men of Ninivies case hath laid the long and violent storme of Fire and Bloud c. Truth Yea let the most renowned Parliament of England and all England know that when they cease to listen to Daniells counsell to Belshazzar to wit to shew Mercy to the poore even the poorest and most afflicted in the World the Consciences of Men then is their Parliamentarie Glory and Tranquillitie ecclipsed Till then I confidently believe their Government which hath now so many yeares with so many Wonders continued shall not be numbred nor another fatall change surprize them But now 2 the Disturbance or Destruction
is abhord by the most holy and impartiall God and his holy Angells in Heaven Upon this occasion I call to minde that famous Act of the so greatly renowned Constantine who in his first wearing of the Diademe put forth his Colleauge Licinius concurring also a famous and most solemne Charter and Edict that no man throughout the whole Empire should be constraind in his Religion Truth M r Cotton according to his proviso of suspension must doubtles applaud Constantine for this his Forbearance untill he were better informed whereas afterward his Edicts against Arrius and Arrianisme testifie his practice to the contrary But he that shall reade seriously in Gods presence that first Edict of Constantine and Licinius will there finde Constantine to use such Arguments as might for ever have caused him to have forbore persecution to have still suspended to have gratified the Subjects of all his Empire with Libertie and Freedome in the Point of Worship and Religion But I will End this Passage with this Querie If Christ Jesus have left such Power with the Civill Rulers of the World Kingdomes and Countries of or for the Establishing Governing and Reforming his Church what is become of his Care and Love Wisdome and Faithfulnesse since in all Ages since he left the Earth for the generall beyond all exception he hath left her destitute of such qualified Princes and Governours and in the Course of his Providence furnished her with such whom he knew would be and all men finde as fit as Wolves to protect and feede his Sheepe and People Exam of Chap. 64. replying to Chap. 67. Peace VVHen it was questioned what good to the Soules or Bodies of their Subjects did those Princes bring in persecuting M r Cotton produceth a good â—iâ—â—fold that is brought to Princes and Subjects by the due punishment of Apostates Seducers Idolaters and Blasphemers Truth Let all that feare God and M r Cotton himselfe be perswaded to observe whether under this faire cloake of punishing these and these spirituall sinners he maintaine not strongly what elsewhere he denies to wit Persecution for cause of Conscience But we know the Evasion It is not for Apostatizing seducing out of Conscience but after Conviction against their Conscience c. Peace You have before satisfied me besides other Passages with this one that to this End of discerning the poore Hereticks sinning against his Conscience the Civill State the Earth the World must necessarily Erect its Tribunall to judge not onely Civill Things but even the Heart and Conscience also but now to M r Cottons five-fold good First sayth he it puts away Evill from the People by cutting off a Gangrene which would spread to further ungodlinesse Deut. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 6. 7. 13. Truth I answer these Scriptures though pure and holy in their places yet are here coupled together as Linsey Wollsey contrary to the Law Deut. 13. which concerns the typicall Nationall Church using Nationall temporall Weapons The 2 Tim. 2. concernes the Particular Congregations or Churches of Christians using onely the Sword of Gods Spirit the Word of God c. Beside Deut. 13. concerned such a People whom the Lord brought forth of Aegypt with Miracles into Canaan c. Let any such People be now produced excepting the Christian particular Churches Why doth M r Cotton then alledge this Scripture so frequently and in these five Reasons brings two from hence This the first and the Third to wit that all the People may heare and feare c. which is alone made good in the Antitype or Christian Church according to that 1 Tim. 5. 20. Rebuke them that sinne openly that others may learne to feare 2. Peace M r Cotton mentioneth a second good which is driving away Wolves from worrying and scattering the Sheepe of Christ Truth This was largely answered in discoursing the nature of mysticall or spirituall Wolves upon that very place which he quotes Acts 20. From whence it may evidently appeare that from the literall urging of such mysticall Scriptures all Peoples and Nations are enforced and that Conscientiously like Wolves and Lyons to teare and devoure each other 3. Peace M r Cotton addes that Punishments are wholesome Medicines to such as are curable of such Evills Zach. 13. 4 5 6. Truth I answer All the holy Appointments of God are most powerfull in their severall respective seasons and manner of Dispensations to his owne most holy Ends and purposes c. The Materiall Nationall Sword in the Nationall Church of Israel before Christ and the Spirituall Sword in the spirituall and Christian Church since his comming to abolish those shadowes As it was therefore in vaine to have cut off or Excommunicated spiritually in that Nationall State So is it in vaine to use the materiall or carnall Sword in the spirituall Wherefore according to this place of Zach. a true penitent will blesse God for the Wounds of Friends and Lovers faithfull and sharpe dealing and for Deliverance from the Kisse of deceitfull flatterie But what is this to prove that which is so much denied to wit Corporall Death or Wounds now to be inflicted upon false Teachers in these times of the Gospel and that in all parts and Nations of the World 4. Peace The punishment sayth M r Cotton executed upon false Prophets and seducing Teachers doe bring downe Showres of Gods blessing upon the Civill State 1 King 18. 40 41. Truth If that Nationall State of Israell and that Nationall or Corporeall killing of so many hundreth false Prophets and that literall drouth and literall showres of Raine and plentie were figures of no other Prophets and slaughters drouth and showers but literall materiall and corporeall now since the Body and Substance Christ Jesus is come What should hinder but that those Priests of Israel and Sacrifices and Temple and Nationall Church should all be in force for our Imitation literally the one as well as â—he other Peace I cannot possibly conceive but that all being of the same Nature the one is Typicall as well as the other and that they must flourish and be glorious as Gods Ordinances or vanish and disappeare giving place to brighter dispensations at the arising of Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousnesse Truth Hence false Apostles false Teachers false Prophets are Spiritually cut off Revel 2. 2 Pet. 2. Gal. 4. And spirituall showres of Blessings descend upon the Israel of God for although corporeall Blessings of Food and Raiment and plentie are Gods blessings yet principally under the Gospel God blesseth his Israel the Antitype with spirituall Blessings Eph. 1. Houses Lands Fathers Mothers Children c. with persecution Mark 10. Peace Me thinks Deare Truth If Christ Jesus had appointed such punishments such executions literall in the Christian Church he would also have appointed Offices and Officers suitable and proper for such Ends and purposes such punishments such executions Truth It cannot otherwise with Reason and
an Evasion for who denies Power to Christs Church to Excommunicate or who understands by Excommunication persecution for Conscience M r Cotton answers the Prisoner did nōt expresse himselfe what persecution he meant and also since false Excommunication is a great persecution and so Christ Jesus himselfe esteemes of it Luk. 21. 22. Truth I have formerly and must againe appeale to the nature of the word commonly used and taken and aske if persecution properly so taken be not a corporeall violence or hunting for Religion and Conscience sake And then halfe an eye will see through this poore and thin excuse and covering notwithstanding that false excommunication be a spirituall persecution and the abuse of the spirituall Sword be also deeper and fouler then the abuse of the civill and materiall Peace To this upon the Point M r Cotton consented to wit that Hilarius complaint speaketh not to Excommunication but civill censures and therefore answers first by proportion that excommunication of an Heretick is no persecution and therefore by proportion neither is the civill punishment of an Heretick persecution By concession of Hilaries words that the Apostles did not and we may not propagate Religion by the Sword Truth The Question with Hilarie was not whether a true Church did persecute an Heretick Idolater Blasphemer c. but whether a true Church persecuted at all by civill censures Now there being two States the Civill or Corporeall and the Ecclesiasticall or spirituall There are conseqnently two sorts of Lawes two sorts of Transgressions two sorts of punishments to wit Civill and Spirituall and there must of necessitie be two sorts of false or corrupt punishments which are not just punishments but oppressions persecutions or huntings to wit the Civill persecution and the spirituall Now M r Cotton confounding Heaven and Earth together deceives himselfe and others by a notion of spirituall persecution to wit by Excommunication contrary to Hilaries scope and the scope of this whole Dispute and Controversie I may illustrate it thus Some Tutours of Kings Children not being authorized to correct the Bodies of such young Princes are said sometimes not without some desert to correct the Bodies of Inferiours the young Princes Favourites by which the minds of such young Princes smarted sufficiently if not exceedingly I parallell not the similitude in all respects but to illustrate the difference and distinction between a spirituall punishment of the minde and spirit soule and affections with which Christ Jesus hath furnished his Churches and that Civill or corporall punishment which he never gave them power to inflict unlesse in miraculous dispensation over the Bodies of any directly or indirectly by Themselves or others Peace It is an everlasting Truth Rightly distinguish rightly Teach but let us view M r Cottons Second Answer He grante that the Christian Religion was not nor is not to be propagated by the Sword Truth Then let Heaven and Earth judge if M r Cotton may not in this case out of his owne mouth be judged since in this whole Discourse he sets the visible Headship of Christ Jesus that golden Head Cant. 5. over the Church and all her Officers Doctrines and Practices in the power of Correcting Reforming c. on the shoulders of the Civill State the Ministers and Officers thereof provided that they execute not this Headship or Government except they be able to judge that is in English provided they be of his Conscience and Judgement and so consequently will judge and execute according to the Clergies though implicite decree and sentence Peace It is not much unlike that M r Cotton affirmeth in the words following for although he confesseth it is not proper for Christian Churches to inflict Civill punishments by Themselves yet makes he as all Popes and Popish persecutours have done the Magistrates and Civill powers their servants and slaves for execution c. Truth This M r Cotton covers over with this Similitude saying that although it is not proper for Lambes to teare Wolves yet if they were reasonable they would run to their Shepheards to send out their Dogs after them Now under this fine Paint and vizard of Lambe like dispositions of Shepheards the Bishops Presbyterians and Independents may render the Civill Magistrate not as Shepheards but no other upon the point and in plaine English then their servants and Executioners to punish such on whom the Clergie first have past their Sentence The bloudie Papists have commonly used to persecute Christ Jesus formally and judicially delivering over Christ Jesus in his Servants orderly to Pontius Pilate the Secular Power The Protestant persecutors use a finer vaile every ugly vizard will not so deceive for though they practice not so above boord in respect of a formall and judiciall delivering of Christ the Heretick unto their Shepheard Pontius Pilate the Secular power yet they doe it and doe it as substantially and fully by preaching and chalking out to then servants the Magistrates their task I say as fully as ever the bloudie Popes the Bishops or their Chancellours did Peace But why sayth M r Cotton should a Christian Church spare an Idolater tempting of her now any more then the eye of an holy Israelite was to spare the like Tempters in the dayes of old Deut. 13. 3 Truth M r Cotton cannot get over this block though it be but a shadow yea the shadow of a shadow abolished by Christ Jesus M r Cotton a little before grants that the power of spirituall chaines far exceeds the power of materiall and if so how cleere is it that the spirituall impartialitie and severitie of a Virgin Israelite now is incomparablie sharper and more dreadfull by putting spiritually to Death such as Tempt them from the Lord their God who hath brought them forth of Aegypt into spirituall Canaan then the impartialitie and severitie of any literall Israelite against such as tempted them from the Lord who in a Type had brought them forth of materiall Aegypt into materiall Canaan I adde sweete Peace to end this Chapter If the Father of Lights graciously please to open a crevis of Light to that otherwise excellent and piercing eye of M r Cotton in this Controversie he will confesse concerning this cutting off in Israel these two things First that the cutting off in materiall Israel was by Swords Stones c. a cutting off from the holy Land and a casting out of Gods sight which cutting off God executed either by legall Judgement and Sentence among Themselves or by furious hand of persecutours and oppressours slaughtering or captivating that People Secondly That there is no other cutting off in the Gospel but by the spirituall Sword of the Word Ordinances of Christ or the violent hand of Oppressours Antichristians c. carrying Gods Israel captive into mysticall Babylon or Aegypt of false Worship or worldly corruption which is ten thousand-fold more terrible and dreadfull then the literall and materiall Captivitie of Israel Exam of
Chap. 66. replying to Chap. 69. Peace HEre M r Cotton complaines of wrong in that the Discusser chargeth him to plead for persecution and yet confesseth that he agrees with Hilarie Truth M r Cotton indeed agrees with Hilarie in generall profession that the Gospel is not to be propagated by Sword but in particulars he affirmes the Blasphemer the Idolater the Heretick the Seducer is to be persecuted In the generall he saith the Magistrate may not constraine any to believe professe the Truth yet in particulars thus far saith he a man may be constrained by the Magistrates withdrawing Countenance and Favour Incouragement and Employment from him which affirming what doth he else but affirme that he may be constrained deposed punished that is persecuted Peace Indeed such kinde of punishment as to displace men to keepe them out from all offices or places of Trust and Credit because of difference of Conscience may prove in the particular a greater affliction and punishment then a Censure a Fine Imprisonment yea sometimes more bitter to some Spirits then Death it selfe Truth Yea and M r Cottons ground is both unsafe and darke and needs a candle of Light to discover the bottome and compasse of it Such saith he as walke not according to their Light are neither true servants to God nor Man but First what meanes here M r Cotton by Light Light in this sence is commonly taken two wayes First For that is Light indeed to wit the precious Light of Gods revealed will Secondly That which so appeares to be to a mans minde and Conscience but may be a falshood a lye a mistake and darknesse M r Cotton had done well to have distinguished for before he blamed King James for walking according to his Light and although upon the point he makes the Civill Magistrates in all parts of the World the Heads Protectours and Governours of Christs Church yet if the eyes of these Heads see not by his Light he cuts off these Heads forbidding them to act as Heads and to walke according to their Light they must as often he tells us suspend untill they have Light c. 2. Peace Beside it comes oft to passe that the Light which shines by preaching or practice of others although it be a meane sufficient to convince if God please to blesse it yet untill the Consciences of men be convinced of the Light of it I Judge it cannot properly be said to be the Light of their Consciences nor they to sin against the Light of their Consciences 3. Truth Yea and there is a morall vertue a morall fidelitie abilitie and honestie which other men beside Church members are by good nature and education by good Lawes and good examples nourished and trained up in that Civill places of Trust and Credit need not to be Monopolized into the hands of Church-Members who sometimes are not fitted for them and all others deprived and despoiled of their naturall Civill Rights and Liberties Peace But what say you Deare Truth to M r Cottons Apologie for New England for as for constraint in old he is silent he sayth he knowes not of any constraint upon any to come to Church to pay Church Duties and sayth it is not so in his Towne Truth If M r Cotton be forgetfull sure he can hardly be ignorant of the Lawes and Penalties extant in New England that are or if repeald have been against such as absent Themselves from Church Morning and Evening and for Non-payment of Church-Duties although no Members For a Freedome of Not paying in his Towne it is to their commendation and Gods praise who hath shewed him and others more of his holy Truth Yet who can be ignorant of the Sessments upon all in other Townes of the many Suits and Sentences in Courts for Non-payment of Church-Duties even against such as are no Church Members Of the Motions and pleadings of some not the meanest of their Ministers for Tithes And how ever for my part I beleeve M r Cotton ingeniously willing that none be forced expresly to pay to his Maintenance yet I question whether he would work if he were not well payd And I could relate also what is commonly reported abroad to wit that the rich Merchants and people of Boston would never give so freely if they were forced yet now they are forced to give for shame I take it in the Publike Congregation The Indians of this Countrie have a Way calld Nanówwe or Giving their Commodities freely by which they get better bargaines then if they stood stiffly on their Tearmes of Anaqúshento or Trading And when not satisfied to the utmost they grudge revile c. It cannot be but that to such Deceitfulnesse of Heart M r Cotton is subject as well as others though Love bids me and others to hope the best Peace The close of this Chapter seemes strange and wonderfull for M r Cotton acknowledged that Propagation of Religion ought not to be by the Sword and yet instantly againe maintaines he the use of the Sword when persons which then must be judged by the Civill State blaspheme the true God and the true Religion and also seduce others to damnable Heresie and Idolatrie But this sayth he is not the Propagation of Religion but the preserving of it and if it doe conduce to Propagation it is onely Removendo prohibens Truth What is this Removendo prohibens but as the weeding of a Field or Garden And every Husbandman will say that the end of such his work is the propagation and increase of his graine and fruit as well as the making of his fence and planting and sowing of his Field or Garden What therefore is this Confession though with this Distinction but in truth an acknowledgement of what in Words and Tearmes he yet denies with Hilarie to wit a propagating of Christian Religion and Truth by the Civill Sword 2. Besides it is the same hand and power that plucks up the weedes and plants the Corne and consequently that same hand and Sword that destroyes the Heretick may make the Christian c. Exam of Chap. 67. replying to Chap. 70. Peace COncerning Tertullians speech and especially that Branch to win that By the Law of naturall equitie Men are not to be compelled to any Religion but permitted to believe or not believe at all Mr. Cotton answers that they doe permit the Indians but it will not therefore be safe to toller te the publicke Worship of Devills or Idolls The Discusser replied that they doe permit the Indians in their Paganish Worship and therefore were partiall to their Countrymen and others M r Cotton answers that it is not true that they doe so permit the Indians what ever they may doe privately That the Indians submit to the ten Commandements and that some of their Ministers have preached to them in English which hath been interpreted That one now preacheth in their owne Language Further That they permit
too too like that Distinction of the bloudie Bishop against the poore Martyr or Witnes of Jesus which M r Fox mentioneth The Scripture is sufficient for Salvation but not for Instruction There is need of Tradition c. The Sword of the Spirit sayth M r Cotton is absolutely sufficient for these foure to wit the Conviction Conversion Mortification and Salvation of the offendour the Heretick yea and for a fifth for Expiation and cleansing of the Church from the Fellowship of that Guilt but there is a sixth to wit Infection and there the Sword of the Spirit is too weake and the Sword of the Magistrate must helpe Peace What sound and modest Reason can be almost pretended why the holy Ordinances Appointments and provisions of the Lord Jesus who is the Wisdome of the Father whose is all power in Heaven and in Earth and whose Heart is all on Fire with Love to his people should be so weake in suppressing the Enemies of his Kingdome that all the Counsell Order and Power he hath left in his Absence are not able to resist the Infection of false Doctrine without the helpe of the Powers of the World his professed Enemie unto whom who so is a Friend sayth John he cannot but be an Enemie unto God Oh what should be the mysterie that the two-edged Sword of Gods mighty Spirit is sufficient for Conviction for Conversion Mortification Expiation Salvation but yet not powerfull enough against Infection Truth There is written evidently on the Forehead of this plea as on the forehead of the great Whore Revel 17. Mysterie The Aegyptian Onions as I may so speake are full of Spirituall Infoldings or Mysteries One or two I shall briefly unfold or peele First the Clergie sacrilegiously so called in all Ages since the Apostasie have like some proud and daintie Servants disdain'd to serve a poore despised Christ a Carpenter one that came at last to the Gallowes c. And therefore have they ever framed to Themselves rich and Lordly pompous and Princely temporall and Worldly Christs in stead of the true Lord Jesus Christ the spirituall King of his Saints and people And however it suits well the common End to retaine the Name of Christ as the Lord Jesus prophesied many false Christs should arise and many should come in his Name c. yet most sure it will be found that a temporall Crowne and Dignitie Sword and Authoritie Wealth and Prosperitie is the White that most of those called Scholars Ministers Bishops aime and levell at How many thousand of them will readily subscribe to the pleas of the French Bishops against the Lord Peter disputing before Philip the French King for temporall Jurisdiction and Peters two Swords in the hands of Christs Ministers Peace M r Cotton is not far off for howsoever He and some will say with him one Sword is enough for a Presbyter or Elder enough for Conviction Conversion Mortification Expiation and Salvation yet one Sword is not enough against Infection and therefore it is needfull though we are not of the opinion of those French Prelates and others that challenged to themselves the Sword of temporall jurisdiction into their owne hands yet it is needfull that it be at our call in the hands of our Executioners the Civill Magistrates Truth It is impossible that temporal and worldly Christs should walke with the legs of a spirituall supportment but as in respect of outward Government they spring from the Earth and the World it is impossible I say but their Feeding and Aliment Defence and Protection should be of the nature of the Root and Eliment from whence they arise Peace It is objected was the Church of the Jewes temporall that was assisted and protected with a temporall Sword Truth The Spirit of God tels us Heb. 8 10. of a worldly Sanctuary of a weake and old vanishing Covenant to wit a Nationall Covenant and Ordinances of a Jewish Church Peace It is againe said how can the Discusser extoll the Sword of the Spirit only and acknowledge no Churches Truth Although the Discusser cannot to his Souls satisfaction conclude any of the various and severall sorts of Churches extant to be those pure golden Candlesticks framed after the first patterne Rev. 1. Yet doth he acknowledge golden Candlesticks of Christ Jesus extant those golden Olive trees and candlesticks his Martyrs or Witnesses standing before the Lord and testifying his holy Truth during all the Reign of the Beast Rev. 11. Hence although we have not satisfaction that Luther or Calvin or other precious Witnesses of Christ Jesus erected Churches or Ministeries after the first patterne as they conceived they did yet doth he affirm them to have been Prophets and witnesses against the Beast and furnished sufficiently with spirituall Fire in their mouthes mightily able to consume or humble their Enemies as Eliah did with the Captains sent out against him Peace I will object no more please you Dear Truth to passe on to the 2nd viz. the Ministry of the Spirits pretended insufficiency against Infection why should not the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus be powerful enough against creepers into Houses against such as lead captive silly souls against such as destroy the faith of some c. as well as in the first Churches and Assemblies professing his holy name and worship Truth Search his Will and Testament and we find no other but spiritual means prescribed and bequeathed by the Lord Jesus to Paul to Peter or any of the holy Apostles or Messengers Peace I must needs acknowledge that the poor servants of Christ for some hundereth of years after the departure of the Lord enjoyed no other power no other Sword nor Shield but spirituall until it pleased the Lord to try his children with Liberty and ease under Constantine a soarer Tryall then befell them in 300 years persecution under which temporall protection munificence and bounty of Constantine together with his temporall Sword drawne out against her spirituall enemies the Church of Christ soon surfeited of the too much honey of worldly ease authority profit pleasure c. Truth Deare Peace the second mistery is this In all ages the world hath been o'respread with the delusions and abominations of false worship invented by Sathan and his Instruments in opposition to the pure worship of the God of Heaven Against these the Lord Jesus hath not been wanting to stir up his witnesses servants and souldiers fighting for their Lord and Master spiritually c. These witnesses when Sathan hath not been able to vanquish and overcome them by disputing writing c. but hath ever lost that way he hath been forced to run to the fleshly Armories of temporall weapons and punishments and to fetch in the powers of the world So hoping to dash out the Candle of Truth and break the candlesticks thereof the witnesses of Christ Jesus This Sathan hath ever practised one of these two wayes sometimes
cases It is impossible but a Nationall and Civil head must be head of a Nationall or State Church which upon the point is but a civill or temporall Church like the head thereof and not a heavenly and spirituall I say a Civil or temporall Church subject to the changes of a changeable Court or Countrey and the interpretings and expoundings of Scripture to what the Court or Countrey is subject to approve ot disprove of 3 It is a Nationall or State Church where the opposite or gain-sayer the pretended Heretick Blasphemer Seducer c. is some way or other punished put forth of the State or Countrey it selfe by death or banishment whereas particular Churches put forth no further then from their particular societies and the Heretick c. may still live in the Countrey or Countreys unmolested by them 4 That Church cannot be otherwise then a Nationall or State Church where the maintenance of the Worship Priests and Officers is a State maintenance provided by the care and power of the State who upon the point payes their Ministers or Servants their wages whereas the maintenance of the Worship and Officers of a particular Church we finde by Christs Testament to be cared for sufficiently by Christs power and meanes in his Church 5 That Church is a Nationall or State Church whose whole Assemblies in Synods Councells Provinciall Nationall c. If M r Cotton can disprove the truth and substance of these and other particulars alledged so farre as concernes the generall and Body of the Countrey combined whatsoever little variation some particular Townes may make the Discusser must acknowledge his Errour but if M r Cotton cannot doe it as I believe he cannot what ever flourish a wit may pretend the God of mercy pardon what by M r Cotton is done in Ignorance and awaken him and others who cause his people to goe astray according to that of the Prophet Their Shepheards cause this people to goe astray Peace O that all Gods sheepe in New England and such as judge themselves their Shepheards may truely judge themselves at the tribunall of their owne Consciences in the presence of the Lord in the upright Examination of these particulars But to leave New England and to returne to the Land of Israel I should thinke sayth M r Cotton not onely mine eye obscured but the sight of it utterly put out if I should conceive as the Discusser doth that the Nationall Church State of the Jewes did necessarily call for such weapons to punish Heretiques more then the Congregationall State of particular Churches doth call for the same now in the dayes of the New Testament Truth It is a strange Speech to proceede from so knowing a Man but let us ponder his Reasons in the feare of God Peace Was not sayth M r Cotton the Nationall Church of the Jewes compleatly furnished with Spirituall Armour to defend it selfe and oppose Men and Devills as well as particular Churches of the New Testament Had they not power to convince false Prophets as Elijah did the Prophets of Baal had they not power to seperate Evill Doers from the Fellowship of their Congregations And he addeth an uncleane Person although he might not Enter into the Temple with the rest of the Israelites to worship the Lord yet he was permitted to live in the Common-weale of Israel Men uncircumcised both in Heart and Flesh He addeth further that the Nationall Church of Israel was powerfully able by the Sword of the Spirit to defend it selfe and to offend Men and Devills for which he quoteth Zach. 4. 6. And he asketh doth not the Discusser himselfe observe that time was in the Nationall Church of the Land of Canaan when there was neither Carnall Sword nor Speare to be found 1 Sam. 13 And was not then the Nationall Church powerfully able by the Spirit of God to defend it selfe and to offend Men and Devills as well as particular Churches now Truth I answer First As much as the shadow of a Man falls short of a Man himselfe so did all their Ordinances which were but shadowes of spirituall things to come fall short of that bright enjoyment of Christ Jesus and spirituall and heavenly things in him now brought to Light by Christ Jesus in the Gospel or New Testament 2. M r Cotton will never demonstrate that the putting forth or Excommunicating of a person from the Church of God amongst them was other then cutting off from the Land by Death and the Civill Sword the same being spiritually executed now in the Israel of God 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 5. 12. Thirdly Although the Stranger uncircumcised might live amongst them yet none of the Native Israelites might so live nor yet might the Stranger prophane the holinesse of the Lord by labour on the Sabbath which M r Cotton will never prove ought now to be kept by all Countries of the world and that under such Penalties as was in the Land of Canaan the holy Land Nor that they had spirituall power sufficient to punish the willfull breach of any Morall or Ceremoniall dutie without the helpe of the Carnall Sword the contrary to which is plaine in the New Testament 1 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 10. Fourthly For the Scripture Zach. 4. 6. Not by might nor Power c. The Prophet doth not here oppose the Spirit to might or power so as to deny the use of Carnall weapons might or power which God had vouchsafed to them against all Enemies within and without but sheweth it to be the work of Gods own finger or Spirit in the use of carnall meanes which they used for the raising of the Materiall Temple and Civill defence of Themselves against all Opposers Hinderers c. Whereas 2 Cor. 10. the Apostle flatly opposeth Spirituall Weapons against Carnall and M r Cotton will never prove that the Corinthians or any of the Saints of Christ did enjoy other Weapons in that first or the Ages next after but onely the Spirituall Weapons and Artillery which the Apostle mentioneth Lastly To that of 1 Sam. 13. I answer That when there was no Speare nor Sword in Israell the Israelites were not powerfully able to defend Themselves against their Enemies except that God was pleased extraordinarily to stirre up meanes of their preservation as wee see in the case of Jonathan and his Armour-bearer against the Philistims In like manner I believe that where the ordinary power of Gods hand in his holy Ordinances is withdrawen it is his extraordinarie and immediate power that preserveth and supporteth his people against Men and Devills as in particular during the reigne of Antichrist in stirring up and supporting the two Witnesses Exam of Chap. 69. replying to Chap. 72. Touching the Testimony of Brentius Peace IT is untrue sayth M r Cotton that we restraine Men from Worship according to Conscience or constraine them to Worship against Conscience or that such is my Tenent or practice Truth Notwithstanding
M r Cottons cloake to wit that they will not meddle with the Heretick before he hath sinned against his owne Conscience and so persecute him onely for sinning against his owne Conscience yet I earnestly beseech every Reader seriously to ponder the whole streame and series of M r Cottons Discourse Propositions Affirmations c. through the whole booke and he shall then be able to judge whether it be untrue that his Doctrine tends not to constraine nor restraine Conscience 2. For the matter of fact how can he with any Humilitie before the staming eyes of the most High cry out no such practice when First Their Lawes cry out a Command under Penaltie for all to come to Church though not to be Members which in truth as hath been opened is but a colour and visard deceiving himselfe and others And a cruell Law is yet extant against Christ Jesus muffled up under the hood or vaile of a Law against Anabaptistrie c. Secondly Their practice cryes their Imprisonments Finings Whippings Banishments cry in the Eares of the Lord of Hosts and the louder because of such unchristian figleave cloakes c. Peace Let it be granted sayth M r Cotton that we did both yet this did not make Lawes to binde Conscience but the outward man onely Nor would we sayth he think it fit to binde the outward man against Conscience Truth I cannot discerne the Coherence of these three Affirmations 1. We restraine no man from Worship according to Conscience 2. We make Lawes but to binde the outward man onely And yet againe 3 we thinke not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience M r Cotton lived once under a Popish Law to weare a fooles Coat or Surplice on his back and to make a Conjuring Crosse with his Fingers why should he say that this Law went beyond his back and his fingers and came even to his Conscience If these pettie bonds did binde his Conscience as well as his back and his fingers Oh let not M r Cotton so farre put off the Bowells of Compassion toward Christ Jesus and his Followers yea toward all men as to binde their backs and their Necks their Knees and Hands backward and forward to or from Worship and yet say he binds but the outward man c. Yea and oh let not such uprightnes candor and Integritie as M r Cotton hath been noted for be blemished with such an Evasion as this to wit when it comes to selfe that Conscience his owne or his Friends be offred to be bound c. then he shall flie to his third Evasion saying We think it not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience that is against our Consciences c. What ever becomes sinck or swim of other Mens Peace In the next Passage God needs not sayth M r Cotton the helpe of the Magistrate more in the Second then in the first Table Truth God needeth not absolutely for the matters of the Second Table though respectively because he hath appointed Ordinances unto which he hath graciously referd himselfe But for the first Table he hath no neede at all of carnall weapons no not respectively because he hath appointed Ordinances to thousand-fold more potent suitable and sufficient Peace Whereas it was urged that if Magistrates must use their materiall Sword in keeping of both Tables they must be able to judge of both M r Cotton replies that it is enough that they be able to judge in Principles and Foundations and of the Arrogancie of a tumultuous Spirit for such want not Judgement to censure Apostasie or Heresie Idolatrie c. Truth It is not like that a Carpenter who hath skill sufficient to judge the Principles and Foundations of a house or Building should be unable to judge about the Beames Posts c. 2. With what great darknes have the best of Gods children themselves been covered these many hundreth yeares touching the very Fundamentalls of Gods Worship Peace Whereas it was said further that either they are not fitly qualified Magistrates and Common-weales that want this abilitie to judge c. Or else they must judge according to their Conscience M r Cotton replyes Many Qualifications are required in Husbands Wives Children Servants Ministers Churches the want whereof may make them sinfull but not unlawfull Truth I answer some Relations are Passive as that of children who may be true and lawfull children although they know not that they are children But such Relations as are active in their choice and consent as of Husband Wife Magistrate c. these cannot be lawfull unles they be fitted and qualified to performe the maine and essentiall duties of Husbands Wives Servants Magistrates That Husband Wife Servant cannot be lawfull that are engaged to other Husbands Wives Masters Nor can that Magistrate be lawfull who is a mad-man or Ideot not able to discerne between Right and Wrong and truely were Magistrates bound as to the chiefe part of their Dutie and Office to establish the true Religion c. he were no more then a mad-man as to the first Table that were not spiritually indued with ability of discerning the true Church Ministry Worship c. Peace Now whereas it was further urged that then the Common-weale the Civil Naturall state hath more Light concerning the Church of Christ then the Church it self c Master Cotton replies it followes not because that is a weak Church that knowes no more light then that of the Principles and beside what light the Common-wealth hath it may have received from the Church Truth I answer If Kings and Queens c. be nurcing Fathers and Mothers in a spirituall respect over the Church as is usually alleadged can it be expected but that the Nurse Father or Physician should know more of the Childs state then the Child or Patient himselfe who oftentimes knows not his sicknesse nor that he is sick as oft may be the case of a Church of Christ It is impossible but they must have more light then the Child yea and much more impossible that they should receive their Light and direction from the Child c. Peace We see saith Master Cotton that Magistrates sometimes have more Light in matters of Religion then the Church it self as David and Hezekiah Truth This 1 confirmes what I said that these Kings being appointed by God Formers and Reformers of the Church of Judah they must needs have more light in the matter of Reformation then the Church it selfe to be reformed 2 I must deny that David and Hezekiah were other then types of Christ Jesus both in his owne person and in such who in his absence are by him deputed to manage the spirituall power and sword of his holy and spirituall Kingdome Peace Yea but alas saith Master Cotton there is no colour that because Magistrates are bound to discerne and serve Christ with their power that therefore they may punish Christ and Christians Truth True
who among all the sorts of Churches and Ministers applaud not themselves like the Fryars in Chaucers dayes to be Christs onely Churches Christs Ministers c. And who among the severall sorts of such as are Gods people indeed believe not their own Godlines or worshipping of God to be onely right and Christian Peace What now if each sort should enjoy Magistrates of their owne profession and Way Truth The bloudie Tenent will unavoydably set them altogether by the Eares to try out by the longest Sword and strongest Arme which Godlines must live in peace and quietnes But as for that Scripture 1 Tim. 2. I have as I believe fully debated it in the Examination of the Modell and made it evident how farre from all Godlines and Honestie that holy Scripture is perverted Peace M r Cotton in the next passage being charged with partiall dealing and a double waight and measure one for himselfe and another for others M r Cotton in effect answereth that it is a true and just Complaint against persecution and persecutours but not against them for they are Righteous and not Apostates Seducers Hereticks Idolaters Blasphemers c. Peace What doth Master Cotton answer but what all religions sects and severall sorts of worshippers in the world all religious Priests and Church-men plead We are Righteous Peace Yea the very Turkes and Mahumetans challenge to themselves true Faith in God yea whether Jews Antichristians or Christians they all call themselves Muselmanni that is the right beleevers Truth It is not so great wonder then if the popish and protestant sects and ministers of worship cry out as men use to doe in suits of Law and pretences to the Crowne We are righteous my title is good and the best We are holy we are Orthodox and godly You must spare us beleeve us honour us feed us protect and defend us in peace and quietnesse Others are Hereticks Apostates Seducers Idolators Blasphemers starve them imprison them banish them yea hang them burne them with fire and sword pursue them Peace When it was urged by way of prevention that persons truly professing Christ Jesus be his sheep and they cannot persecute First Because it is against the nature of Sheep to hunt no not the Wolves that have hunted themselves c. Master Cotton answers First if the similitude be so stretched then if a Magistrate be a sheep he ought not to punish robbers adulterers murtherers c. 2 Paul was a sheep and yet he strook Elimas with blindnesse Acts 13. 3 Saith he when the Wolfe runs upon the sheep it is not against the nature of the true sheep to run to the true sheepherd and is it against the nature of the true Sheepherd to send forth his Dogs to worrie such a VVolfe without incurring the reproach of a persecutour Truth To the first the finger of true Distinction will easily untie these seeming knots Sheep therefore are two-fold naturall and misticall Againe misticall are two-fold First Civill and so all Magistrates have rightly been called Sheepherds and the people sheep 2 Spirituall and so Christ Jesus gave pastors that is Sheepheards and Teachers and all Believers and followers of Jesus are sheep On the contrary there are naturall and misticall wolves of misticall some oppose the spirituall and some the Civill State and some both who must be resisted by the proper sheepheads and proper weapons in each kind and to confound these is to deceive and to be deceived Peace Upon the ground of this Distinction we may easily perceive that a Shepheard in Civil state of what Religion soever he be as a Shepheard of the people he ought to defend them by force of Civill arms from all oppressions of body goods chastily name c. This doth the Magistrate as a Shepheard of the Civil state and people considered in a Civil respect and capacity and this ought all the Magistrates in the world to doe whether they be sheep or no themselves in another respect that is in a spirituall and Christian Truth Yea and if a Magistrate be a sheep or a true Christian who seeth not that he punisheth not the robber adulterer murtherer as a spirituall shepheard with spirituall weapons but as a Civil Shepheard with a Câ—vill stasse sword c T is true Paul was a sheep that is a spirituall sheep he also was a spirituall Shepheard and Elimas was a wolfe opposing spiritually and Paul in his opposition strook him blind Striking is two-fold spirituall and corporall And all the sheep of Christ as spirituall are also Lyons and armed men and so doe strike spiritually Peace It will be said that Paul strook both spiritually and corporally Truth Corporal stroaks may be considered either ordinary or mediate by force of armes fire and sword c. or extraordinary and immediate such as it pleased God to use himselfe and his holy Prophets and Apostles by his power Now 't is true in this second way even in spirituall cases Gods sheep which have been inducd with power above nature that is of miracles have plagued Egypt have burnt up Captaines and their Fifties yea pluckt up Nations and Kingdomes as Jeremie Peter kild Ananias and his wife Paul strook Elimas blind and the two witnesses consume their Enemies with fire out of their mouths If either of these should doe this ordinarily that is by ordinary means for instance if Peter had killed Ananias with a Sword or Paul beat out Elimas his eyes with a Fist or stone they ought to have been punished by the Civil state as oppressors of the people and transgressors against Civill peace c. But performing these executions by a spirituall divine and miraculous power above humane reach all that heard were to acknowledge and feare and tremble at the holy Spirits might of this gift of miracles I say as the Lord Jesus spake touching the gift of Continency he that can receive it let him receive it Peace By what hath been said I see Master Cottons last answer will be more easily satisfied when the VVolfe runneth ravenously saith he upon the sheep is it against the nature of the true sheep to run to their Shepheards and it is not against the nature of the true Sheepherd to send forth his Doggs to worrie such a VVolfe c Truth Master Cotton doubtlesse here intends misticall sheep and Shepheards and VVolves and Doggs and presseth the similitude from the naturall sheep in Civill respect he cannot here mean for that is not the Question whether Wolvish-men oppressing the Civill state are to be resisted and suppressed by civill weapons c. Concerning Spiritual sheep then the first question is If the wolfe runs ravenously upon the Sheep is it against the nature of the true Sheep to run to their Shepheard I answer a spiritual Wolfe a false Teacher c. may be said to run ravenously upon a spirituall sheep by spiritual assault of Argument Dispute Reproach c. The same man as a
civil wolfe for so we must speake to speake properly may also run upon a sheep of Christ by Civill Armes that is in a Civil respect upon Body and Goâ—â—â— c If now the Wolfe ravin the first way the shâ—ep of Christ may and ought to run to the Lord Jesus the great Mr. Shepheard and to such under and in inferiour Shepheards as he hath appointed if he can attain to them If the second way the sheep beside running to Christ Jesus by prayer and to his Ordinances and Officers for advice and comfort may run to the Civil Magistrate appealing to Caesar c. against such uncivill violence and oppression Peace Mine heart joyfully acknowledgeth the Light mine eye seeth in that true and necessary distinction Now to the Second Question is it against the nature of the true Shepheard saith Mr. Cotton to send forth his Doggs to worrie such a wolfe c. Truth M r Cotton here discoursing of Christs sheepe and Christs Shepheards Reason would perswade that the Shepheards or Pastours here intended should be the Shepheards or Pastours appointed by Christ Jesus Ephes 4. Peace If so he should intend it well suits with the spirit of some proud and scornfull pretended Shepheards of Christ Jesus in the World who have used to call their Clarkes Sumners Proctors and Pursevants their hunting Dogs c. Truth But such Dogs as yet the Independent Pastours or Shepheards keepe not Peace Yea but the Pope to speake in M r Cottons phrase yet with all humble respect to Civill Authoritie the blessed Ordinance of God and Man I say the Pope keeps such Dogs good store yea Dogs of all sorts not onely of those lesser kindes but whom he useth as his Dogs the Emperours Kings and Magistrates of the World whom he teacheth and forceth to crouch to lie downe to creepe and kisse his foote and from thence at his beck to flie upon such greedie Wolves as the Waldenses Wicklevists Hussites Hugonites Lutherans Calvinists Protestants Puritans Sectaries c. to imprison to whip to banish to hang to head to burne to blow up such vile Hereticks Apostates Seducers Blasphemers c. But I forget it will be said the Protestants Grounds and practices differ from the Popes as far as Light from Darknes and how ever the Pope useth the secular power and Magistrates thereof but as Dogs and Hangmen yet the Reformed Churches teach and practice better Truth 'T is true sweet Peace the Protestants professe greater honour and subjection to the Civill Magistrate But let plaine English be spoken and it will be found that the Protestant cleargie as they will be calld ride the backs and necks of Civill Magistrates as fully and as heavily though not so pompously as ever the great Whore sat the backs of Popish Princes Peace The Protestant Cleargie hath yeelded up the temporall sword into the hand of the temporall State Kings Governours c. They proclaime the Magistrates Head of the Church Defenders of their Faith the Supreame Judges in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill Truth 'T is true they make the Magistrate Head of the Church but yet of what Church they please to make and fashion They make him Defendour of the Faith but of what Faith what Doctrine what Discipline what Members they please to admit and account of And this under the penaltie of being accounted either hereticall and so Magistrates worthy themselves to be put to Death or ignorant and so not fit to act as M r Cotton sayth but must suspend their power untill they submit to the Cleargies pretended Light and so be learnd to see and read with the Cleargies Spectacles Peace To this purpose indeed agrees the next passage wherein M r Cotton affirmeth that although all the Magistrates in the World ought to punish Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers yet this must they not doe while their Consciences are blinde and ignorant of the Truth and yet they cease not to be Magistrates sayth he although they cannot performe all the Duties of Magistrates Truth Concerning this stated Dutie of all Magistrates and yet suspending of all ignorant Magistrates from acting according to this their Dutie I have spoken to before and often I now add according to M r Cottons similitude if the Errours of others be as motes in comparison of the beames of this ignorance and blindnesse in Magistrates which he calleth Beames it will be found that he renders thousands of the Magistrates of the World as uncapable to be true Magistrates as an heape of Timber to be an House which wants the beames and principalls Peace The summe of the Difference in the last passage is not great nor any in words for sayth M r Cottons Conclusion If the Difference be onely in the way and manner of the Administration of Christ and the Difference be held forth in a peaceable and Christian way God forbid a Staffe should be shaken against such or a Sword unsheathed Truth Alas where hath lien the great Difference between the Prelates and Presbyterians the Presbyterians and Independants but about the way and Administration of Christs Kingdome for as for matter of Doctrine according to the 39 Articles of the Church of England they have little differd Yea wherein for matter of Doctrine of Faith Repentance and Holinesse have the Churches which make whole seperation or such as goe further to a new Baptisme wherein have they differd from the former and yet we know what Lawes have been and are extant in Old and New England against them and what practices have been felt and may justly be expected both from the Mother and the Daughter if a jealous God and heavenly Father for our unthankfullnesse should once be pleased to finish this late and wonderfull calme and moderation Which yet may justly be feard to prove as Sea-men use to observe but a Winters calme and they ray a Winters calme for then stormes are breeding is as bad as a Summers storme Exam of Chap. 72. replying to Chap. 75. Concerning the Testimonie of Austin Peace MAster Cotton finds two faults in the first entrance First that Antichrist should be said to be too hard for Christ at voting 2. That Austins Testimonie should be put off as a Rhetoricall Evasion Truth To the first it will shortly appeare as the Light at Noone day what packing of Votes and listing and mustring up of Numbers have been in all Ages in all Councells in all Synods in all Parliaments and in all falsely so called Christian Countries against the Lord his Christ and Servants Peace But M r Cotton marvailes that when the case concernes tolleration of Hereticks and Antichristians that Antichrist should procure more Votes against Antichristians and that Christ should procure any Vote though fewer for them Truth To expound this ridle It was never affirmed that Christ hath any Votes for the tollerating of Hereticks or Antichristians in the Religious State or Church of Christ but in the Civil State or Common-weale
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
Christ Jesus shall please for the further manifestation of his holy Truth and Glory to permit those able and worthy men to proceed to fortifie and defend their Modell I hope he will also please to assist the Discusser or some other of his poore servants to batter downe with the Spirituall Artillerie of his Word and Testament such weake and loose and unchristian Fortifications Peace But with what a deepe and unrighteous charge doth M r Cotton end against the poore Discusser as a Proclaimer of peace to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth Grant M r Cotton in many excellent Truths of Jesus a sweet sounding Silver Trumpet Grant the Discusser as base a Rams-horne harsh and contemptible Grant that for the peace of the Civill State the being of the Nations and the World the safetie of the good Wheate the Righteous and the calling home of the Elect to God Jewes and Gentiles the Discusser proclaimes a civill being and civill peace to Erroneous Consciences not sinning against humane and civill Principles Yet what Peace hath this Rams-horne proclaimed as M r Cotton insinuates when throughout this whole Booke from first to last the Proclamation soundeth ouâ— open warre against all false Worshippers Peace I am a joyfull witnes of warre proclaimed from the God of Truth from the Sun of Righteousnesse from the Spirit of Holines from the flames of Fire those mighty Angells from all the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus from all his holy Truths and Ordinances Warre to their Consciences Preachings Writings Disputations a warre present a warre perpetuall and without Repentance a warre eternall and everlasting Truth Deare Peace our goulden sand is out we now must part with an holy Kisse of heavenly Peace and Love M r Cotton speakes and writes his Conscience Yet the Father of Lights may please to shew him that what he highly esteemes as a Tenent washt white in the Lambes bloud is yet more black and abominable in the most pure and jealous eye of God Peace The Blackmores Darknes differs not in the darke from the fayrest white Truth Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousnesse hath broke forth and dayly will to a brighter and brighter Discoverie of this deformed Ethiopian And for my selfe I must proclaime before the most holy God Angells and Men that what ever other white and heavenly Tenents M r Cotton houlds yet this is a fowle a black and a bloudie Tenent A Tenent of high Blasphemie against the God of Peace the God of Order who hath of one Bloud made all Mankinde to dwell upon the face of the Earth now all confounded and destroyed in their Civill Beings and Subsistences by mutuall flames oâ— warre from their severall respective Religions and Consciences A Tenent warring against the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus denying his Appearance and Comming in the Flesh to put an end to and abolish the shadowes of that ceremoniall and typicall Land of Canaan A Tenent fighting against the sweete end of his comming which was not to destroy mens Lives for their Religions out to save them by the meeke and peaceable Invitations and perswasions of his peaceable Wisdomes Maideâ—â— A Tenent fowly charging his Wisedome Faithfullnes and Love in so poorly providing such Magistrates and Civill Powers all the World over as might effect so great a charge pretended to be committed to them A Tenent lamentably guilty of his most precious bloud shed in the bloud of so many hundreth thousand of his poore servants by the civill powers of the World pretending to suppresse Blasphemies Heresies Idolatries Superstition c. A Tenent fighting with the Spirit of Love Holines and Meeknes by kindling fiery Spirits of false zeale and Furie when yet such Spirits know not of what Spirit they are A Tenent fighting with those mighty Angels who stand up for the peace of the Saints against Persia Grecia c. and so consequently all other Nations who fighting for their severall Religions and against the Truth leave no Roome for such as feare and love the Lord on the Earth A Tenent against which the blessed Soules under the Altar cry loud for vengeance this Tenent having cut their Throats torne out their Hearts and powred forth their Bloud in all Ages as the onely Heretickes and Blasphemers in the World A Tenent which no Vncleannes no Adulterie Incest Sodomie or Beastialitie can equall this ravishing and forcing explicitly or implicitly the very Soules and Consciences of all the Nations and Inhabitants of the World A Tenent that puts out the very eye of all true Faith which cannot but be as free and voluntarie as any Virgin in the World in refusing or embracing any spirituall offer or object A Tenent loathsome and ugly in the eyes of the God of Heaven and serious sonnes of men I say loathsome with the palpable filihs of grosse dissimulation and bypocrisie Thousands of Peoples and whole Nations compelled by this Tenent to put on the fowle vizard of Religious bypocrisie for feare of Lawes losses and punishments and for the keeping and hoping for of favour libertie worldly commoditie c. A Tenent wofully guiltie of hardning all false and deluded Consciences of whatsoever Sect Faction Heresie or Idolatrie though never so horrid and blasphemous by cruelties and violences practiced against them all false Teachers and their Followers ordinarily contracting a Brawnie and steelie hardnesse from their sufferings for their Consciences A Tenent that shuts and bars out the gracious prophesies and promises and discoveries of the most glorious Sun of Righteousues Christ Jesus that burnes up the holy Scriptures and forbids them upon the point to be read in English or that any tryall or search or truly free disquisition be made by them when the most able diligent and conscionable Readers must pluck forth their owne eyes and be forced to reade by the which soever praedominant Cleargies Spectacles A Tenent that seales up the spirituall graves of all men Jewes and Gentiles and consequently stands guiltie of the damnation of all men since no Preachers nor Trumpets of Christ himselfe may call them out but such as the severall and respective Nations of the World themselves allow of A Tenent that fights against the common principles of all Civilitie and the very civill being and combinations of men in Nations Cities c. by commixing explicitly or implicitly a spirituall and civill State together and so confounding and overthrowing the puritie and strength of both A Tenent that kindles the devouring flames of combustions and warres in most Nations of the World and if God were not infinitly gracious had almost ruind the English French the Scotch and Irish and many other Nations Germane Polonian Hungarian Bohemian c. A Tenent that bowes downe the backs and necks of all civill States and Magistrates Kings and Emperours under the proud feete of that man and monster of sinne and pride the Pope and all Popish and proud Cleargie-men
so many holy so many wise in such a holy way as you believe you are in To say nothing of strong drinkes and wines the fat and sweet of this and other Lands These and others are snares which without abundant strength from God will catch and hould the strongest feete Sir I have knowne you strong in repelling strong Temptations but I cannot but feare and lament that some of these and others have been too strong and potent with you Fifthly We not onely use to say proverbially but the Spirit of God expressly tells us that there is a minde-bewitching a betwitching of the very Consciences and spirits of men That as in Witchcraft a stronger and supernaturall power layes hould upon the powers of Nature with a suppressing or elevating of those powers beneath or above themselves So is it with the very Spirits and Consciences of the most Intelligent and Conscientious when the Father of Spirits is pleased in his righteous displeasure and jealousie so to suffer it to be with ours Sir I from my Soule honour and love the persons of such whom I you and themselves may see have been Instrumentall in your bewitchinâ— Why should it be thought inconsistent with the holy wisdome of God to permit wise and holy and learned persons to wander themselves and mislead others when the holy Scripture and Experience tells us of the dangerous Councells and wayes of as wife and learned and holy as now breath in either Old or New English aire Sir I had thought to have named one or two who may justly be suspected though otherwise worthily beloved but I have chose rather to present an hint for that 's enough to so intelligent a Breast if but willing to make an Impartiall Review and Examination of Passages between the most High and your in most Soule in secret Therefore sixthly for a sixt ground of suspecting your Soule and Spirit and Conscience in this particular of persecution which I now instance in may you please Sir without offence to remember that as it is in such as have exceeded in Wine their speech will bewray them So it is in Spirituall Cups and Intoxications The Maker and Searcher of our hearts knowes with what Bitternes I write as with Bitternes of Soule I have heard such Language as this to proceed from your selfe and others who formerly have fled from with crying out against persecutours you will say this is your Conscience You will say you are persecuted and you are persecuted for your Conscience No you are Conventiclers Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers You deserve to be hanged rather then one shall be wanting to hang him I will hang him my selfe I am resolved not to leave an Heretick in the Countrey I had rather so many Whores and VVhoremongers and Thieves came amongst us Oh Sir you cannot forget what Language and Dialect this is whether not the same unsavourie and ungodly blasphemous and bloudie which the Gardiners and Bonners both former and later used to all that bowed not to the State goulden Image of what Conscience soever they were And indetd Sir if the most High be pleased to awaken you to render unto his holy Majestie his due praises in your truely broken-hearted Confessions and Supplications you will then proclaime to all the VVorld that what profession soever you made of the Lambe yet these Expressions could not proceed but from the Dragons mouth Oh remember and the most holy Lord bring it to your Remembrance that you have now a great price in your hand to bring great Glory to his holy Name great Rejoycing to so gracious a Redeemer in whom you professe is all your Healing and Salvation great Rejoycing to the holy Spirit of all true Consolation whom yet so long you have grieved and sadded great Rejoycing to those blessed Spirits attending upon the Lambe and all his and terrible to his persecutours great Rejoycing and Instruction to all that love the true Lord Jesus notwithstanding their wandrings among so many false Christs mourning and lamenting after him in all parts of the World where his Name is sounded Your Tallents are great your Fall hath been so Your Eminencie is great the Glory of the most High in Mercy or Justice toward you will be great also Oh remember it is a dangerous Combat for the Potsheards of the Earth to fight with their dreadfull Potter It is a dismall Battle for poore naked feete to kick against the Pricks It is a dreadfull voyce from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Endicot Endicot why huntest thou me why imprisonest thou me why finest why so bloudily whippest why wouldest thou did not I hould thy bloudie hands hang and burne me Yea Sir I beseech you remember that it is a dangerous thing to put this to the may be to the venture or hazzard to the possibilitie Is it possible may you well say that since I hunt I hunt not the life of my Saviour and the bloud of the Lambe of God I have fought against many severall sorts of Consciences is it beyond all possibilitie and hazard that I have not fought against God that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them Sir I must be humbly bold to say that 't is impossible for any Man or Men to maintaine their Christ by the Sword and to worship a true Christ to fight against all Consciences opposite to theirs and not to fight against God in some of them and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jesus Christ Oh remember whether your Principles and Consciences must in time and opportunitie force you 'T is but worldly policie and Compliance with Men and Times Gods mercy over-ruling that houlds your hands from murthering of thousands and ten thousands were your Power and Command as great as once the bloudie Roman Emperours was The truth is and your selfe and others have said it by your Principles such whom you count Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers ought to be put to Death You cannot be faithfull to your Principles and Consciences if you satisfie them with but imprisoning fining whipping and banishing the Hereticks and by saying that banishing is a kinde of Death as some chiefe with you in my case formerly have said it Sir 'T is like you knew or have heard of the man that said he would never Conforme publikely although he did subscribe in private for his Libertie sake of Preaching That although he did conforme in some things yet in all he never would That although he did himselfe yeeld yet he would not molest and inforce others That although he yeelded that others did molest them yet himselfe would never persecute and yet did all But oh poore dust and Ashes like stones once roling downe the Alpes like the Indian Canoes or English Boats loose and adrist where stop we untill infinite mercy stop us especially when a false fire of zeale and Conscience drives us though against the most holy and eternall himselfe Oh remember the
of the Bloudie Tenent Euc. 9. Prov. 9. The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent Peace her Repose and Tabernacle The Bloudie Tenent of persecution compared The maskes and vizards of the bloudie Tenent Truth Peace their meetings seldome and short in this world * Matters touching the pâ—â—ce of the English and Indians about which the said Governour did write to R. W. Great love formerly between the said Governour Endicot and R. W. before his Banishment * The Seale wherewith the Governours Leter to R. W. was sealed Persecutours conclude no Conscience in the whole World but their owne All persecutours render the most innocent most odious Cromwell the second a Refuge of the oppressed This Rejoynder was sent to England long since and hoped to have been published Abuse of light most dangerous The power of Conscience though Erroneous True false Witnesses both Confident The Common Prayers the Composers of it What 's sweet with man stâ—nks often in Gods nostrills Sathans policie in proposing Motives and Baits to wise and excellent Saints Spirituall Witchcraft Mysticall Drunkennesse and the drunken Language of it The language of persecutours A price and a Heart blessed Companions The horrible dangerous path which all persecutours or Hunters walke in The least 〈…〉 sparke of persecution tends to bloud and will proceed except God mightlly stop it Gods most dreadfull Judgements against persecutours Death is a Boanerges Gray hayres are Gods Alarums An APPENDIX To the Cleargie of the foure great Parties professing the Name of Christ Jesus in England Scotland and Ireland viz. The Popish Prelaticall Presbyterian and Independent WORTHY SIRS I Have pleaded the Cause of your severall and respective Consciences against the bloudie Doctrine of Persecution in my former Labours and in this my present Rejoynder to M r Cotton And yet I must pray leave without offence to say I have impartially oppos'd and charg'd your Consciences also so farre as Guiltie of that bloudie Doctrine of persecuting each other for your Consciences You foure have torne the seameles Coate of the Son of God The seameles Coat of Christ Jesus torne into foure pieces and the three Nations torne into Thousands into foure pieces and to say nothing of former Times and Tearings you foure have torne the three Nations into thousands of pieces and Distractions The two former of you the Popish and Protestant Prelaticall are Brethren So are the latter the Presbyterian and Independent But oh how Rara est c What Concord what Love what pitie hath ever yet appear'd amongst you when the providence of the most High and onely wise hath granted you your Pattents of mutuall and successive Dominion and precedencie Just like two men whom I have knowne breake out to Blowes and Wrastling so have the Protestant Bishops fought and The Battells of the Cleargie wrastled with the Popish and the Popish with the Protestant The Presbyterian with the Independent and the Independent with the Presbyterian And our Chronicles and Experiences have told this Nation and the World how he whose Turne it is to be brought under hath ever felt an heavie wrathfull hand of an unbrotherly and unchristian persecutour Meane while what outcries for a Sword a Sword at any price All Court the Magistrate for his Sword his Money on any Tearmes wherewith to take finall Revenges on such their Blasphemous and Hereticall Adversaries and Corrivalls Hence is it that the Magistrate hath been so courted his person adored and Deified and his Religion magnified and Exalted Amongst the People some have thought and said How hath the shining of the Magistrates Money and Sword out-shin'd the Nobilitie of his person or the Christianitie of his Conscience For when the person changes and Religion too how grossely notorious have been the Cleargies Changes also For Instance how For which any person and Religion hath serv'd the Turne have they Pernified tack't and turn'd about as the wind hath blowne from Poperie to Protestanisme from Protestanisme to Poperie and from Poperie to Protestanisme againe and this within the Compasse of about a dozen yeares as the Purse and Sword-Bearers were changed what ever the persons of those Princes male or female Men or Children or their Consciences Popish or Protestant were Yea how justly in the late Kings book if his are the Cleargie The late K. charging his Cleargie c. of England charged with horrible breach of Vows and Oaths of canonicall obedience to their Fathers the Bishops against whom in the Turne of the Times and the Sword-Bearers they turned to the Scotch Presbyters their fathers dreadful Enemies and persecutours Now as to the persecuting each of other I confesse the Wolfe the persecutour devoures the Goate the Swine yea the very The Wolfe in plea with the Lambe will be alwaies Judge Fox and other Creatures as well as the inoffensive Sheepe and Lambe Yet as the Lord Jesus made use of that excellent Fable or Similitude of a Wolfe getting on a Sheepes-skin so may I not unseasonably make use of that of the Wolfe and the poore Lambe coming downe to drinke upon the same Brooke and Streame together The Wolfe cruell and strong drinks above and aloft The Lambe innocent and weake drinks upon the Streame below The Wolfe questions and quarrells the Lambe for corrupting and defiling the Waters The Lambe not daring to plead how easily the Wolfe drinking higher might transfer Defilement downeward but pleads Improbabilitie and Impossibilitie that the waters descending could convey defilement upwards This is the Controversie This the plea But who shall judge Be the Lambe never so innocent his plea never so just his Adversary the Wolfe will be his Judge and being so cruell and so strong soone teares the Lambe in pieces Thus the cruell Beast arm'd with the power of the Kings Revel 17. sits Judge in his owne Quarrels against the Lambe about the drinking at the Waters And thus sayth M r Cotton the Judgement ought to passe upon the Heretick not for matter of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Object Mâ— thinks I heare the great charge against the Independent partie to be the great pleaders for Libertie of Conscience c. Answ Oh the horrible Deceipt of the hearts of the sons of Men And what Excellent Physick can we prescribe to others till our Soule as Job said come to be in their soules cases What need have we to be more vile with Job before God to walke in holy sence of selfe Insufficiencie to cry for the blessed Leadings of the holy Spirit of God to guide and leade our Heads and Hearts uprightly For to draw the Curtaine and let in the Light alittle doe The wonderfull Mysterie of Libertie of Conscience not all persecutours themselves zealously plead for Freedome for Libertie for Mercie to Mens Consciences when themselves are
in the Grates and Pits and under Hatches Doth not Gesâ—er tell us of a Gentleman in Germanie who fitting his Pitfall for Wilde Beasts found in the morning a Woman a Wolfe and a Fox in three severall Corners as full of Which all persecutours themselves in their turnes plead for Feare and as quiet and as desirous of Libertie one as well as another Thus bloudie Gardiner and Bonner prisoners during King Edwards dayes yea and that bloudie Queene Mary her selfe all plead the Freedome of their Consciences What most humble Supplications and indeed unanswerable Arguments for Libertie K. Charles and his Chaplains forced to subscribe to Libertie of Conscience of Conscience have the Papists when in Restraint presented and especially in King James his time Yea what excellent Subscriptions to this Soule-Freedome are interwoven in many passages of the late Kings Booke if his Yea and one of his Chaplaines so cald Doctor Jer. Taylour what an Everlasting Monumentall Testimony did he publish to this Truth in that his excellent Discourse of the Libertie of Prophesying Yea the formerly Non-conforming Presbyterian and Independent Scotch and English Old and New what most humble and pious Addresses have they made before the whole World to Princes and Parliaments for just mercy in true Petitions of Right to their Consciences But let this present Discourse and M r Cottons About Twenty years persecution in New England Fig-leave Evasions and Distinctions Let the practices of the Massachusets in New England in twenty yeares persecution and this last of M r Clarke Obadiah Holmes and others be Examined Yea let the Independent Ministers late Proposalls be waighed with the double waight of Gods Sanctuary and it will appeare what Mercy the poore Soules of all Men and Jesus Christ in any of them may expect from the very Independents Cleargie themselves Object But doth not their Proposalls provide a Libertie to such as feare God viz. that they may freely preach without an Ordination and that such as are not free to the publike Assemblies may have Libertie to meete in private Answ It may so please the Father of Lights to shew them that their Lines and Modells and New-Englands Copie also after The persecution of the New and Old English Independent Cleargie which they write and pensill are but more and more refined Images whereby to worship the Invisible God and that still as before the Wolfe the persecutour must judge of the Lambes drinking For instance New Englands Lawes lately published in M r Clarks Narrative tell us how free it shall be for people to gather themselves into Church-estate how free to choose their owne Ministers how free to enjoy all the Ordinances of Christ Jesus c But yet provided so and so upon the point that the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall to wit Whether persons be fit for Church-estate Whether the Gathering be right Whether the peoples choice be right Doctrines right and what is this in truth but to sweare that blasphemous Oath of Supremacie againe to the Kings and Queenes and Magistrates of this and other Nations in stead of the Pope c Into these Prisons and Cages doe those otherwise worthy and excellent Men the Independents put all the Children of God and all the Children of Men in the whole World and then bid them flie and walke at Libertie to wit within the Conjured Circle so far as they please To particularize briefely When they have in their six severall Circuits ejected according to their Proposalls it may be A briefe touch upon the 15 Proposalls of the so calld Independent Ministers hundreths it may be thousands if impartiall of Episcopall and Presbyterian Ministers and that without against their Peoples consent to the present Distressing of thousands and inraging through such Soul-oppressions the whole Nation Then say they it shal be free for all that be able c. to be Preachers though not ordained c. But provided that two Ministers hands at least The Independents implicitly and silently challenge the power of Ordination which upon the point is instead of an Ordination be to their Approbation c. Upon this lock any shall be free to preach Christ Jesus upon this point of the Compasse as I may in humble reverence and with sorrow speake it the Spirit of God shall be free to breath and operate in the Soules of Men By this Plummet and Line Rule and Square and seeming Goulden Reede and Meetewand the Sanctuary must be built and measured c. But further if any shall be of tender Consciences and that the common size will not serve their foote if they shall thinke the Independents Foundations too weak or it may be too strong for their weake Beliefe if they cannot bow downe to their Goulden Image though of the finest and latest Edition and Fashion Why God forbid they should be forc'd to Church The Danger of pawning spirituall Liberties to Civill powers as others they shall enjoy their Libertie and meeteapart in private But provided they acquaint the Civill Magistrate that is as it may fall out who knows how soon and too too often hath faln out the poore Sheepe and Deere of Christ must take Licence of and betray themselves unto the pawes and jawes of their Lyon-like persecutours Heare Oh Heavens give Eare O Earth What is this but like The Dutch Attempts and the Independents on their Friends compared the Treacherous Dutchmen who Capitulate of Leagues of Peace and Amitie with their Neighbour English and in the midst of State Complements some say out of malicious wrath others say t was out of drunken Intoxications at the best thunder out Broad-sides of Fire and Smoake of persecution Object Some possibly may say Your just suffring from the Independents in New England makes you speake Revenges against them in Old Answ What I have suffred in my Estate Body Name Spirit I hope through helpe from Christ and for his sake I have desired to beare with a Spirit of patience and of respect and love even to my persecutours As to particulars I have and must if God so will further debate them with my truely honoured and beloved Adversarie M r Cotton But as to you worthy Sirs men of Learning and men of personall Holines many of you I truely desire to be far from envying your Honours pleasures and Revenues from whence the two former Popish Prelaticall are ejected unto which the two later Presbyterian and Independent are advanced Nor would I The Authours desire as to the Ministrie of the Land now possessed move a Tongue or pen that any of you now possessed should be removed or disturbed untill your Consciences by the holy Spirit of God or the Consciences of the people to whom you serve or minister shall be otherwayes then as you are yet perswaded Much rather would I make another humble plea and that I believe with all the Reason and Justice in the World that such And as to that Ejected who are ejected undone impoverished
intends not such a clearness of self-condemning but either that the admonitions of the Lord are so evident and clear that either if he in his own conscience before God improved them seriously and duely they would clear up the truth of God unto him or else the checks of conscience are such as are recorded to have been Cant. 5. in the members of Christ in the Church of the Jews and Master Cotton cannot render a sufficient reason why they may not also be found in the members of the churches of the Christians Peace I perceive indeed dear truth the wonderful effects of a strange tongue in the church of Christ The noise and sound of a Greek word heretick in poor English â—ares hath begot a conclusion that a person refusing once or twice admonition for some point of Doctrine is such an heretick or monster that he cannot possibly be a child of God whereas Master Cotton granting that a child of God may possibly refuse once and twice admonition and so come to be excommunicated What doth he then in plaine English but say that a child of God may be obstinate to excommunication or rejection that is in Greek be an heretick And what is this but contrary to his former Assertion that a childe of God cannot be heretically obstinate to rejection c. Truth Questionless no child of God but in temptation may sin heretically that is obstinately upon once or twice admonition against the checks and whisperings of his own conscience and against that evidence of light which afterward he wondreth how he could despise and this rejecting or casting forth of the visible society of Christ Jesus and his servants is not for destruction but humiliation and salvation in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace I judge that no son of peace in a sober and peaceable minde can judge as Master Cotton here doth this to be an image of clouts Truth Nor can I learn that the discusser so abounded in time and leasure as to make such images as Master Cotton insinuates It is not unknown to many witnesses in Plymmouth Salem and Providence that the discussers time hath not been spent though as much as any others whosoever altogether in spiritual labours and publike exercise of the word but day and night at home and abroad on the land and water at the How at the Oare for bread yea and I can tell that when these discussions were prepared for publike in London his time was eaten up in attendance upon the service of the Parliament and City for the supply of the poor of the City with wood during the stop of coale from Newcastle and the mutinies of the poor for firing T is true he might have run the rode of preferment as well in Old as New England and have had the leasure and time of such who eat and drink with the drunken and smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow servants But God is a most holy witness that these meditations were fitted for publike view in change of roomes and corners yea sometimes upon occasion of travel in the country concering that business of fuell in variety of strange houses sometimes in the fields in the midst of travel where he hath been forced to gather and scatter his loose thoughts and papers Peace Well notwithstanding Master Cottons bitter censure some persons of no contemptible note nor intelligence have by letters from England informed the discusser that these Images of clouts it hath pleased God to make use of to stop no small leakes of persecution that lately began to flow in upon dissenting consciences and amongst others to Master Cottons own and to the peace and quietness of the Independants which they have so long and so wonderfully enjoyed Truth I will end this Chapter with that famous distinction of the Lord Jesus Digging Begging Stealing are the three wayes by the which all that pretend to be Christs Stewards are maintained They that cannot digg can begg the glittering preferments of this present evil world and the wages of Balaam They that cannot dig can steal in the wayes of fraud oppression extortion c. But by the mercy of the most high the discusser hath been inabled to get his bread by as hard digging as most diggers in New or old England have been put to and let all men judge whether such as can beg or steal and cannot dig or such as chuse neither to beg nor steal but dig have most time and leasure to make such images of clouts c. Examination of CHAP. XV. Peace IN this passage Dear Truth we hear a sound of Agreement Master Cotton consenteth that this third of Titus evinceth no civil rejection but excommunication out of the Church of Christ and he saith That no sillable of his conclusion lookes at more And whereas it might be objected That excommunication cannot fitly be called persecution he answers yes and quotes Luk. 21. 12. John 16. 2. Truth Were it not for the fierce hands of angry Esaus this shril sweet voice might pass for Jacobs What ever Master Cottons ends and intentions were of which I cannot but judge chatitably the eye of God alone discerneth but for Master Cottons words sillables and arguings let all impartial readers and consciences judge of these four considerations First Whether the word persecution do not in all proper and ordinary speech signifie penal and corporal punishment and affliction 2. Whether the point in question agitated between the prisoner and Master Cotton throughout the book concern not only penal and corporal afliction and whether it can be imagined that the prisoner or the discusser or any that plead for the purity of Christs ordinances could ever plead against excommunicating an heretick or wilful offendor out of the Church of Christ And although the Scriptures by Master Cotton quoted do mention excommunication as an unjust oppression yet they speak also oâ— corporal afflictions imprisonments bringing before judgement-seats and killing also 3. It could be told in what countrey at a publike sentence of banishment of a certaine person a text of Scripture Rom. 16. 17. parrallel with this of Tit. 3. was alleadged by the chief judge in court for a ground not of spiritual excommunication but of civil out of the Commonweal 4. Were it not more for the name of God for the honour of his truth and the comfort of Master Cotton plainely and ingenuously to acknowledge his misapplying of this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. then to cover it by so thin and poor a plea viz. that he intends by persecution excommunication out of the Church of Christ Examination of CHAP. XVI Peace MAster Cotton here grants a toleration to Jews Turkes Pagans yea and Antichristians with one exception to wit so that they continue not to seduce c. Truth But it must be remembred that before and after he maintaines persecution against Apostates blasphemers and idolatours and then who knows not how all these