perish by it Peace And for the perpetuity of the reason of the law you formerly fully satisfied that even in the dayes of grace for him that shall thrust away an Israelite from his God there is upon his obstinacy a greater punishment beyond all imagination to wit a spiritual cutting off from the land of Canaan then under Moses which was but from the temporall the type and shadow But Master Cotton proceedeth alleadging that the Minister of God must have in a readiness to execute vengeance on him that doth evil and evil it is saith he to thurst away Gods people from him Truth Every lawful Magistrate whether succeeding or elected is not only the Minister of God but the Minister or servant of the people also what people or nation soever they be all the world over and that Minister or Magistrate goes beyond his commission who intermeddles with that which cannot be given him in commission from the people unless Master Cotton can prove that all the people and inhabitants of all nations in the world have spiritual power Christs power naturally fundamentally and originally residing in them as they are people and inhabitants of this world to rule Christs Spouse the church and to give spiritual power to their officers to exercise their spiritual laws and commands otherwise it is but prophaning the holy name of the most high It is but flattering of Magistrates it is but the accursed trusting to an arme of flesh to perswade the rulers of the earth that they are Kings of the Israel or church of God who were in their institutions and government immediately from God the rulers and gavernors of his holy church and people Peace Grant saith Master Cotton that the evil be spiritual and concern the inner man and not the civil state yet that evill will be destructive to such a City it shall not rise up the second â—ime Nâ—hâ—â—s 1. 9. Truth Although that it pleaseth God sometimes to bring a people to utter destruction for their idolatry against himself and cruelty against his people yet we see the Lord doth not presently and instantly do this but after a long course of many ages and generations as was seen in Nineve her self and since in Athens Constantinople and Rome both Pagan and Antichristian And therefore the example here by Master Cotton produced gives not the least colour of warrant for the civil state presently and immediately to execute vengeance for idolatry or heresie upon persons or Cities now all the world over as he gave commandment to that typical nation of Israel which is now also to be fulfilled spiritually upon the spiritual Israelite or Israelitish City a particular church or people falling away from the living God in Christ Jesus Peace Whereas it was said by the discusser that the civil Magistrate hath the charge of the bodies and goods of the subjects and the spiritual officers of the church or kingdome of Christ the charge of their souls and soul safety Master Cotton answers First If it were so that the civil Magistrate had the charge of the bodies and goods onely of the subject yet that might justly excite to watchfulness against such pollution of religion as tends to apostacy for God will visit city and country with publike calamity if not with captivity for the churches sake The idolatry and worship of Christians saith he brought the Turkish captivity upon the citys and countries of Asia Truth By soul and soul safety I think Master Cotton understands the same with the discusser to wit the matters of religion and spiritual worship If the Magistrate hath received any such charge or commission from God in spiritual things doubtless as before the people have received it originally and fundamentally as they are a people But now if neither the nations of the world as peoples and nations have received this power originally and fundamentally nor can they derive it Ministerially to their civil officers by what name or title high or low soever they be distinguished Oh what presumption what prophaning of Gods most holy name what usurpation over the souls and consciences of men though it come under the vaile or vizard of saving the City or kingdome yea of saving of souls and honoring of God himself Beside God is not wont to visit any country or people in general for the sin of his people but for their own idolatries and cruelty toward his people as all histories will prove And for this instance of the Turkes I say it was not the idolatry and image-worship alone of the Antichristians but joyned with their other sins which brought Gods vengeance by the Turks upon them as was said above from Revel 9. and especially their Antichristian cruelty grounded upon this bloody doctrine of persecution Both these Antichristian states and since also the Turkish Monarchy have flourished many generations in external and outward prosperity and glory notwithstanding their religion is false and although it is true that in the time and period appointed all nations shall drink of the cup of Gods wrath for their nationall sins both against the first and second table in matters concerning God and man Peace How satisfie you Master Cottons second answer or question to wit Did ever God commit the charge of the body to any Governor to whom he did not commit in his way the care of their souls also Truth There is a twofold care and charge of souls manifested in holy Scripture First That which in common belongs to all to love our neighbor as our selves to endeavor the present and eternal welfare both of superiors inferiors equals friends and enemies and this by prayers exhortations reproofs examples of justice loving kindness sobriety godliness c. But what is this to the second charge by way of office which in the old Testament was given not only to Priests and Levites but to the governors and rulers of the Iewish state of which state being mixed of spiritual and civil they were the head and governors as it was Israel a nation of worshippers of the true God And therein were they the types and forerunners of Christ Jesus the true King of Israel as he is called Joh. 1. The cure and charge of souls now saith Master Cotton in this Chapter belongeth by vertue of office to the spiritual officers of Christs kingdom I add and during the desolation of Zion and the time of the apostacy from Christs visible kingdome belongeth to the two Prophets and witnesses of truth Rev. 11. but not to the kings rulers nations and civil states of the world who can be no true parallel or antitype to the Israel or people of God Peace Master Cotton objects Jehosaphat sent abroad preachers throughout all the Cities of Judah and if that were a type of Christ it were to act that now which typed out Christ and he fulfilled in his own person Truth Christ Jesus sends out preachers three waies First In his own person as
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
to Church for not obeying the Laws for withstanding the Kings oâ— Queens or Parliaments proceedings Truth Your observation is most serious and seasonable and your complaint as true as lamentable for since all States and Governments of the world which lies in wickedness set up their State or Commonweal-Religions Nebuchadnezzars golden Images and Jeroboams golden Calves the types of the State-Worships of after Ages whereby others are made to sin and bow down to their seeming glorious worships and since the dissenters refusers non-conformers non-covenanters the witnesses of God against such abominations are but few and what positive worship they hold or practice commonly is most retired and flying into private corners by reason of the violence of the persecution they are hence soonest in all places of their abode and more speedily and immediately called for and sought out in the several Parish-towns where they live to bow down to the common-Image the beastly and Calvish inventions of the Ieroboams of this perishing world and for refusing to subscribe to conforme to come to Church to do as their neighbours for being wiser then their Teachers their Fathers their Magistrates the Country the Parliament the Kingdome and sometimes the whole world in their Oecumenical or worldly Councels they are thus punished and hunted for their conscience for Gods for Jesus sake which is a point Master Cotton will say if the blood of his dear Redeemer split in the blood of his servants kindly affect him of greater weight then knots in bulrushes Examination of CHAP. IV. Peace IN the second distinction to wit of fundamentals without right belief whereof a man cannot be saved Master Cotton upon the point confesseth it was a just reproof and saith that he meant only of the first sort of foundations that concern salvation and not of those that concerne the foundation of the Church and Christian Religion Truth It is strange that Master Cotton should so distinguish of foundations when the holy Scripture attributes salvation to those foundations of the Church and the order of it The Lord added to the Church such as should be saved and the like figure whereunto Baptisme now saveth us and concerning the resurrection that we are saved by hope Rom. 8. Besides are not those first foundations which he saith concerne salvation foundations also of the Christian Religion If not of the Christian then I demand of what Religion are they foundations Peace It cannot therefore be denyed but that his distinction of fundamentals was most dangerous tending directly to condemne the generation of the righteous who have been generally for many generations ignorant of the Christian way of worship But what say you to this reply touching how far the New English implicite Parishes compare and partake with those of old Truth How far those Churches cannot be cleered from not comming out from the Parish-worship from being themselves implicitely Parish-Churches notwithstanding their Fig-leaves c. and from being persecutors of such as endeavour to cover their nakedness with better clothing will appear with Christs assistance in the examination of his reply to the Answer of his Letter Examination of CHAP. V. Peace THe discourse of this chapter is larger and more controversial and therefore dear Truth requires your most serious and deeper examination of it Master Cotton here distinguisheth worship into true and false and infers that if true worship fellowship with God is held but if false fellowship with God is lost And whereas he was thereupon minded by the discusser to have lived in a false Ministery in England and to have practised the false worship of the Common Prayer he labours to clear both and in particular he saith It is not truly said that the Spirit of God maketh the Ministery one of the foundations of the Christian religion Heb. 6. For it is saith he only a foundation of Christian order not of faith or religion and he adds The Apostle puts an express difference between faith and order Col. 2. 5. What can be said thereunto Truth 1. Alas what buildings can weak souls expect from such Master-builders when Master Cotton is so confounded about the very foundations In the former Chapter he distinguisheth between foundations that concern salvation and those that concern the the Church and Christian religion here he distinguisheth between those of Christian order and those of Faith or Christian religion In the former he opposeth faith against religion and order here he opposeth faith and religion to order Grant his memory in so short a turn failed him yet doubtless his mistakes about the foundation of Christian religion are most gross and inexcusable Truth 2. I finde no such distinction in the Testament of Christ Jesus between the Christian order and the Christian religion as if the order of the Church of God I might say the Church it self and the Ministery of it were no part of the Christian religion It is true Coloss 2. speaks of faith and order but yet denies not the Christian Church and the order of it to be any part of the Christian religion It is true that sometimes faith implies the particular grace of believing and yet sometimes it is put for the whole Christian religion as Jude 1. contend for the faith once delivered so that if Master Cotton confesseth the Ministery of the Word Heb. 6. to be a foundation of Christian or Church-order he cannot deny it to be a foundation of the Christian religion or worship reduced to those two of Faith and Order Peace What answer you to his saying It is not a true and a safe speech to call the fellowship and blessing of God vouchsafed to corrupt Churches or Ministers or ministrations unpromised or beyond a word of promise of God Against which he alleadgeth Ier. 13. That God will be merciful to his peoples iniquities and 2 Chron. 30. Gods mercy to every one that prepareth his heart c. although he be not cleansed after the preparation c. Truth The promises hold forth no blessing or fellowship of God to false worships against which all the holy Scripture denounceth cursings both in the old and new Testament nor in particular doth that of Ieremy promise any pardon of sin but to the repentant though most true also is that distinction of particular repentance for known sins and general for sins unknown Such was the sin it may be of the Israelites 2 Chron. 30. in their want of such their legal cleansing But I add how can that one act of covering or conniving at ceremoniall uncleanness about a true worship be brought to prove a promise of Gods blessing and fellowship to a constant course of a false and invented way of prayer by the Latine or English Masse-book as some have rightly called it Peace Concerning Ordination Master Cotton saith that it is no essential part of a call to the Ministery no more then Coronation is essential to the Office of a King And Jehoshua the high priest did not lose fellowship
their solemn civil general court at the banishment of one poor man amongst them hunted out as a wolf or heretick the governor who then was standing up alleadged for a ground of their duty to drive away such by banishment that famous charge of Christ Jesus to his Ministers and Church at Rome Rom. 16 Marke them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you have received and avoid that is by banishment By all which and more it may be found how Sathan hath abused their godly minds and apprehensions in causing them so to abuse the holy writings of truth and Testament of Christ Jesus and that how ever they deny it in express tearms yet by most impregnable consequence and implication they make up a kind of national church and as the phrase is a Christian state and government of church and Commonweale that is of Christ and the world together Peace To proceed it being further inquired into whether in all the New Testament of Christ Jesus there be any such word of Christ either by way of command Promise or example countenancing the civil state to meddle with these mystical Wolves if in civil things peaceable and obedient Master Cotton replieth that this condition of peaceable and obedient implies a contradiction to the nature and practise of wolves How can saith he wolves be peaceable and obedient unless restrained Can there be peace Jehu so long as the whoredomes of Jezabel and her witchcrafts are so many And when it might be objected that spiritual whoredomes and witchcrafts might stand with civil peace He answers No verily for the whoredomes and witchcrafts of the Jezabel of Rome took away civil peace from the earth and brought the Turks to oppress both the peace of Christian churches and Commonweals Rev. 9. 15 21. Truth I wonder since Master Cotton in this very passage mentioneth the spiritual wolves whores and witches as well as natural and moral How he can imagine that a spiritual wolf or witch to wit so or so in matters of spiritual worship and religion might not possibly be peaceable and obedient in civil things Peace Yea but he alleadgeth the whoredomes of the Jezabel of Rome Truth Why was not the State of England the Kings and Queens and Parliaments thereof lawful as kings and states though overwhelmed and overspread universally with the Romish abominations If such wolves whores and witches could yeeld no civil obedience could they then exercise by the same argument any civil authority And shall we then conclude all the former Popish kings and Parliaments and consequently lawes unlawful because in spiritual things they were as Wolves c. tearing and burning the poor sheep of Christ will it not then be unlawful for any man that is perswaded the whole nation where he lives is idolatrous spiritually whorish c. I say unlawful for him to live in such a state although he might with freedome to his own conscience whither will such kind of arguing drive at last but to pluck up up the roots of all states and peoples in the world as not capable to yeeld civil obedience or exercise civil authority except such people Magistrates c. as are of Master Cottons church and religion Peace Methinks experience were there no Scripture nor reason might tell us how peaceable and just neighbors and dealers many thousands and millions of Jews Turks Antichristians and Pagans are to be found notwithstanding their spiritual whoredoms witchcrafts c. Truth Yea and why doth Master Cotton alleadge the Jezabel of Rome and the comming in of the Turks It is true God brought in the Armies of the Turkes upon the Eastern Empire which yet flourished many ages even in their apostacies before their destruction by the Turkes And how many ages and generations hath Iezabel of Rome sitten as a Queen in triumphant peace and glory even since the rising of the Turks and so shall sit probably in greater and greater untill the time of her appointed judgement and downfal If Christ Jesus were a true Prophet Iohn 16. outward peace prosperity riches honor is the portion of this world notwithanding their idolatries apostacies blasphemies But the portion of Christs followers like his own and both like a woman in travel paine and sorrow yea poverty and persecution untill the great day of refreshing neer approaching Peace Master Cotton againe sends us to Revelations the 16. 4 5 6 7. Truth And I must also send Master Cotton and the Reader to our disproving of that proof abovesaid Further whereas he calls Rom. 13. the great Charter for all Magistrates to deal in spiritual matters I have and shall manifest in the examinations upon that place how weak a warrant it is for the civil state and the officers thereof to conceive themselves spiritual Physitians by vertue of their office appointed by God in spiritual and soul-evils Peace Whereas it was urged that Magistrates beside their skil in civil laws and government must be able if Master Cottons bloody tenent be true as judges and heads to determine spiritual causes and controversies and that by the sight of his own eyes and not other mens Master Cotton replies that Magistrates ought to be skilled in the fundamentals of religion and that their ignorance excuseth not Truth In this passage Master Cotton waâ—eth that inference That then Magistrates must be heads and judges in spiritual causes That inference cannot possibly be avoided if we grant it their duty as Master Cotton seemes to do to pass sentence in the fundamentals of religion and in those points which have been and are so greatly controverted among all sorts of men that name the name of Christ 2. If Magistrates must thus judge reforme c. where hath been the care of Christ Iesus to appoint in all parts of the world such Magistrates as might take care of his religion and worship why hath he not furnished them with some capacity and ability to the work Peace It is lamentable to think that most of the Magistrates in the world beyond compare know not so much as whether there be a Christ or no. Truth If Christ Iesus had forgotten himself for three hundred yeers together furnishing his church with no other heads but of Wolves Bear Lyons and Tygers the Romane Emperors yet after a little refreshing by Constantine Theodosius c. why should he still forget himself even a thousand yeers together providing no other heads but bloody and Popish kings and Emperors Peace What think you dear truth of Master Cottons grant of Gallios not being bound to judge in matters of religion because he had no Law from Caesar whose deputy he was Truth I answer what if he had not a law from Caesar if yet he had a law from Christ Iesus as Master Cotton implies Or will Master Cotton suspend the execution of Christs will upon the kings states or peoples minds that choose such Magistrates to be their deputies in the Commonweale But the
Christianitie Truth What ever were Julians End yet I deny that Tolleration of the weedes of Heresie and blasphemous Religion Paganish Turkish Jewish Popish in the field of the Civill State and World hath power to choake the vitalls of Christianitie in the Garden or Bodie the Church of Christ Jesus And concerning Infection It is to be observed that when the holy Scripture speakes by the Similitudes of Leaven Gangrene or Poysonfull weedes of Wolves or scabbed sheepe c. it is commonly with respect to such Evills got in among the Saints and Churches the Flocks and Gardens of Christ where such Leaven weedes c. tollerated may spread and infect But what is this to the Lyons Beares or Wolves not to be suffered in the Wildernesse or Swine or Dogs in the common high wayes or weedes in the Common or Forest which all may be and yet the Garden Body and Flock of Christ be pure and safe from such Infection Peace One passage more is very Considerable In former Discourse about the Tares M r Cotton was large in proving the permission of weedes even in the Church of Christ and that untill Christs Comming and that after they be discovered to be Hypocrites Truth O what a Distance is between that Doctrine and this here There the Tares must not be touched in the Garden of the Church here they must not be suffred abroad in the field of the World for feare of choaking the good plants in the Garden of Christ Who can finde out how these Doctrines suit with Godlinesse with Reason or Themselves Peace But now you speake of suiting It is sayth M r Cotton for a close a plaine Contradiction of the Discussers former Speech to say that persecuting of others was a meanes of choaking Christianitie whereas he had said that Constantines unknowing zeale did more hurt to Christs Kingdome then the raging furie of the most bloudie Neroes Truth Let the words be well weighed and no such Affirmation will be found The words are It was not when Christians lodged in cold Prisons but in Downâ— Beds of Ease and persecuted others The Discusser made not persecution to be a meanes of choaking Christianitie but attributes the Losse of Christians Life and Love to those Beds of their abused Sweete prosperitie 2. If he had made persecution a meanes to choake Christianitie it had been the persecution of Christians among Themselves and not the persecution of bloudie Neroes Which yet if it had been so it might yet be no Contradiction for Neroes persecution might doe hurt although Constantines unknowing zeale might doe much more Exam of Chap. 63. replying to Chap. 66. Peace MAster Cotton here being understood to smile on Q Elizabeth for persecuting the Papists and to â—â—â—wne on K James for persecuting the so named Puritans he denies neither but insists onely upon the Number that as many and as great Princes are against Tolleration as for it and in particular Q Elizabeth and K James Truth I say as before I should never use an Argument from the Number of Princes no more then from the Number of any other men for any truth of Christ Jesus Who as he was not pleased himselfe to be borne of the sons of Nobles so hath he not chosen many Nobles and Wise men of this World to be borne of him Yet 2. If that be his Argument he hath not satisfied in naming these two for more were named by the Prisoner and besides one of those Witnesses K James abundantly declared himselfe not onely against persecuting of Papists but against all persecution in generall what ever otherwise or afterwards his practices were against some Persons as M r Cotton too truely alledgeth Truth In the next Passage the Discusser having objected that both Q Elizabeth and K James did persecute according to their Consciences and arguing why should the one namely K James be more blamed for persecuting according to his Conscience then Q Elizabeth for persecuting according to hers M r Cotton distinguisheth of Consciences The Queenes sayth he was rightly informed but the Kings was not When it was replyed that either K James and such Princes whose Consciences according to M r Cottons Conscience are ill informed must act according to their Consciences or else they want the Qualification and Fitnes for such places M r Cotton answers two Things First that such Qualifications are not Essentiall but Integrall Secondly That such Princes must forbeare all Civill Censures in matters of Religion untill they be better informed Truth It is most true as M r Cotton sayth if we speake of the right of Succession a childe may be a Lawfull King as K. James himselfe was being but a yeare old But if we speake of the Qualifications of the minde by which a King is enabled to rule his State as is supposed Ecclesiasticall and Civill and to judge under Christ Jesus in all Causes Ecclesiasticall as well as Civill Surely he that knowes not which is the true Church true Ministrie true Ordinances yea and persecutes the true Church Ministrie and Worship what ever his Qualifications be for the Government of the Civill State yet can it never be made good that he is furnished with any Essentiall Qualification for the Spirituall Administration any more then He that undertakes to be a Guide and yet is blinde and never set foote in the way and knowes not the true from the false Or to be a Captaine Generall yea or but a Shepheard c. 2. Beside Christ Jesus never calld any person to any Employment of his to any Worke whom he inables not in a Measure proportionably c. Peace In such cases sayth M r Cotton Princes are called to suspend and forbeare all Execution of Civill Censures in the matters of Religion till they be better informed least they doe persecute the Son of God in stead of the Son of Perdition Truth I answer First Then M r Cotton hath cut off K James from acting though so long esteemed and sworne Supreame in all Causes Ecclesiasticall Secondly I aske how many shall forbeare and how long for evident then it is that most beyond all comparison of all the Princes and Magistrates in the World must not meddle with this pretended chiefe part of their Dutie and Office and that if they convert not for the whole Course and Race of their Life In particular that no Pagan Magistrate of all the ten thousands in the World no Persian Turkish Popish nor Protestant if Prelaticall or Presbyterian ought to exercise any of this High and Glorious Power but onely such Princes and Magistrates as are of M r Cottons Conscience for otherwise what Prince in the world more learned King in his time then King James yet was not he of M r Cottons Conscience Peace Deare Truth The fall of this partialitie is so apparant and withall so fowle that I thinke it impossible but ere long it must needs be condemned by Men on Earth as doubtless it
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
Civill Power prove the Churches of the same Nature with the Head that acts and calls them Touching the difference between the Church of the Jewes and the Christian Churches The holy Land of Canaan a Nonesuch A Figure of the Chrâ—stian The weapons of the Jewes and Christians compared No Speare nor Sword in Israel New-England loath to be accounted persecutours Lawes concerning Gods Worship Dangerous distinctions Touching keeping of both Tables Of Magistrates Judgement in Spirituals c. Of Qualifications of Magistrates Of Magistrates Abilities David and Hezekiah figurative Kings c. Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion Wofull Soul-saving The power of Parents Husbands Magistrates in spirituals 1 Cor. 7. The tearme Souls-good commonly but a paint c. The promises of temporall mercies considered Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children Of Lawes binding Conscience Persecution the ordinarie Portion of Christs Followers Two States wonderfully favoured by God upon mercy shewed to oppressed Consciences formerly Holland and now the State of England Bodies and Goods the Magistrates object Oppression in Bodies Goods and Minde Wealth Honour and Prosperitie seldome attending Christs true Followers What is the CoÌ„mon weale of Israel The Roman Empire flourisheth in worldly glory without Christ The Citie of Rome famous for prosessing Christ Jesus Christs Spouse most chast under persecution The Roman Monarchy bloody to the Saints Constantine a friend and enemy to Christs Spouse The state of the Romane Empire before and after Christ God will not wrong nor have Caesar wronged Concerning toleration in New England Witnesse the bloody whipping of Obadiah Homes for the point of Baptisme lately at Bostonâ— Communion Spirituall two-fold The great Triall among Papists Protestants concerning comming to Church Touching prayers for Vengeance upon Gods Enemies Stirring up of the Civill State to persecure The bloudie Tenent of persecution is alone the King killing and Stare-killing Doctrine Amoninus Pius his Edict for the Christians Transgression against the Spirituall or Civill peace Persecutours of Christs Sheepe pretend to save them and kill none but Wolves Antichristian Ministers great Thieves Hireling Ministers Fryars in Chancers time and the Cleargie in our time considered The Turkes themselves will be Muslemanni or right beleevers The horrible partialite of persecutors Misticall sheep Paul his striking Elimas blind considered Of the power of miracles Spirituall sheep and wolves considered The Pope and all proud Popish Priests and Cleargie use the Civill Powers but as Dogs The Protestant Cleargie their dealing with Magistrates A suspending or hanging up of Magistrates The great spirituall differences of these late Times Of rest from persecution Gods children may possibly fight each against the other 〈…〉 Antichristians against Antichristians but principally against Christ Touching spirituall murther Touching Seducers The hainousnes of spirituall stumbling blocks Punishing of Seducers Common-weale twofold and Rebellion twofold Mysticall Wolves and Muskeetoes Of Soule-killing Touching State Religions Gods children Gods Citie Nation and Kingdome A State Religion a prison A forc't Religion Of the late Warres The bloudie Tenent guilty of the Rivers of Bloud c. Warres for Religion Constantines warres for the Christians Constantines Edict against forcing in Religion Never any true Nationall Religion in the World but one Touching Pauls blasphemy before his Conversion Of Apostates Fallacious mixture and confusion Spirituall Treason recanted forgiven but not so by way ofcourse the Civill An Instance from â—â— Haywood and the Lord Cromwell in King Henry the 8. his dayes Of Moses Judicialls The first three hundred years after Christ The Primitive Church the purest and yet without a Civill Sword Christ no Author of Civill violence for Religion The Levites killing 3000. Exod 32. typicall Phineas his Act. The spirituall Civill State vastly different in their frame Lawes Officers c. Elijah and the Baalites The types and figures of the old Testament Righteousnes two fold The state oâ— Israel typicall Not only morall but naturall Actions of the Israelites typicall Whether Eliahs procuring the slaughter of the Baalites was Typicall or Morall No Commission from Christ for corporall punishment in religious matters Strange and monstrous duties of Morall Righteousnesse Gods children are wonders and monsters accounted Elijah his slaying the Captaines and their fifties Wonderfull Spiders and Cobwebs Prov 30 Touching Seducers and their punishments Christ Jesus abolished former figures though he name not each of them in particular The Mysterie of the Bloudy Tenent The bloudie consequences of the bloudy Tenent The sad Effects of the bloudie Tenent on M r Cottons owne Spirit A lamentable Character of the change of M r Cottons Spirit Differences of Gods own children in Old and New England Profession of Christ Jesus in New-England not so like to be true as that which was persecuted in Old The great â—in of New-Englands former Pattents The Authours tryalls about the Pattents of New-England Gods children may be guilty of bloudy persecution for the hiding of their spirituall uncleannessee Gods mercy in stopping New-Englands persecution by the mercy of old England the mother to dissenting Consciences Holy Cranmer and Cromwell joyning with persecutours of Christ Jesus out of great weaknes in H. 8. his dayes The most famous passages of Cromwell Lambert in H. the 8. his dayes Of Admonition and Conviction Conviction two-fold Of Conviction of Hereticks Conviction sufficient externall by the word and efficient internall by Gods Spirit Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer Seducer and Deceiver that ever was in this world Small matters accounted Heresies The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councell at Constance The bloudie Tenent destroying civilitie and humane Societie out of the World All Men are confident in their owne opinions The persecutour of Turks Pagans Jewes or Antichristiane is in a greater errour then any of them The bloudie Fruits of the bloudie Tenent Touching confidence in opinions Freedome of Conscience hath ever been a Peace-maker in all NatioÌ„s where it hath appeared And especially at this houre in England How Christ delights in bloud Of persecuting Apostates A monstrous suspension or hanging up of Magistrates Allegations of Scriptures ought seriously to be mad and answered Millions of Turks Jewes and Antichristians are far from the due charge of Apostasie The mysterie of the red Horse of War A spirituall and Civill peace Two wofull opinions bewitching the Nations The 3 great Causes of the downfall of the Church of Rome Touching a New English Modell of Church and civill power * Writing to â—â—â— M r Hall Deepe Censures for none or innocent mistakes Touching Moses his Judicialls Israel in a kinde a miraculous people Touching punishment of Adulterie All Civill Government Gods Ordinance True Republikes Common-weales without Kings A wonderfullâ— saying of Bishop Hall The State of Israel Of Magistrates being nursing Fathers c. Of Magistrates Power in Spiritualls Of the sins of Magistrates A case touching the Magistrates punishing the Sin of Church members The direfull state of false Worshippers The Portraiture
Bloudy Tenents of Persecution Oppression and Violence in the Cause and matters of Conscience and Religion It is a Second Conference of Peace and Truth an Examination of the worthily honoured and beloved Mr. Cottons Reply to a former Conference and Treatise of this Subject And although it concern all Nations which have persecuted and shed the Bloud of Jesus the Bloudie Roman Empire with all the Savage Lyons thereof Emperours and Popes the bloudie Monarchies of Spain and France and the rest of Europs Kingdoms and States which under their several Vizards and Preteness of Service to God have in so many thousands of his Servants Murthered so many thousand times over his dear Son yea although it concern that Bloudie Turkish Monarchy and all the Nations of the World who practise violence to the Conscience of any Christian or Antichristians Jews or Pagans yet it concerns your selves with all due respect otherwise be it spoken in some more eminent degrees Partly as so many of yours of chief note beside Mr. Cotton are engaged in it partly as N. England in respect of Spiritual and Civil State professeth to draw nearer to Christ Jesus then other States and Churches and partly as N. England is believed to hold and practise such a Bloudie Doctrine notwithstanding Mr Cottons Vails and Pretences of not persecuting men for conscience but punishing them only for sinning against conscience and of but so and so not persecuting but punishing Hereticks Blasphemers Idolators Seducers c. It is Mr. Cottons great mistake and forgetfulnesse to charge me with a publick examination of his privat Letter to me whereas in Truth there never passed such Letters between himself and me about this Subject as he alledgeth But the Prisoners Arguments against Persecution with Mr. Cottons Answer thereunto which I examined I say these were unexpectedly and solemnly sent to me as no privat thing with earnest desire of my consideration or Animadversions on them These Agitations between Mr. Cotton and others so sent unto me as also the Model of Church and Civil Power by Gods Providence coming to hand I say they seem'd to me to be of too too Publick a nature And in which my soul not only heard the dolefull cry of the souls under the Altar to the Lord for Vengeance but their earnest sollicitations yea and the command of the Lord Jesus for Vindication of their blouds and lives spilt and destroyed by this Bloudie Tenent though under never so Fair and Glorious Shewes and Colours The most holy and allseeing knowes how bitterly I resent the least difference with Mr. Cotton yea with the least of the followers of Jesus of what conscience or worship soever How mournfully I remember this stroak as I believe on Mr. Cottons eye and the eyes of so many of Gods precious children and servants in these and other parts that those eyes so peircing and heavenly in other holy and precious Truths of God should yet be so over-clouded and bloudshotten in this I grieve I must contest and maintain this contestation with in other respects so dearly beloved and so worthy Adversaries And yet why mention I or respect I man that is but Grass and the children of men that must die whose Brains Eyes and Tongues even the holyest and the highest must shortly sink and rot in their skuls and holes Without remembring therefore who my Adversarie is nor all the Wormwood and the Gall so frequently in Mr. Cottons Reply against me I fully and only level with an upright and single eye the Lord Jesus graciously assisting against that fowl and monstrous bloudie Tenent and Doctrin which hath so slily like the old Serpent the Author of it crept under the shade and shelter of Mr. Cottons Patronage and Protection My end is to discover and proclaim the crying and horrible guilt of the bloudie Doctrin as one of the most Seditious Destructive Blasphemous and Bloudiest in any or in all the Nations of the World notwithstanding the many fine Vails Pretences and Colours of not persecuting Christ Jesus but Hereticks not Gods Truth or Servants but Blasphemers Seducers not Persecuting men for their Conscience but for sinning against their Conscience c. My end is to perswade Gods Judah especially to wash their hands from Bloud to cleanse their hearts and wayes from such Vnchristian practices toward all that is man capable of a Religion and a Conscience but most of all toward Christ Jesus who cries out as he did to Saul in the sufferings of the least of his Servants Old England Old England New England New England King King Parliaments Parliaments General Courts General Courts Presbyterians Presbyterians Independents Independents c. Why persecute you me It is hard for you to kick against the Pricks My end is to prepare the Servants and Witnesses of Jesus what Truth soever of his they testifie for that great and general and most dreadfull slaughter of the witnesses which I cannot but humbly fear and almost believe is near approaching and will be Vshered in provoak'd and hastned by the preud security worldly pomp fleshly confidence and bloudy violences of Gods own children wofully exercised each against other and so rendred wofully ripe for such an Vniversal and dreadfull Storm and Tempest My end and scope is to put a Christian barr and just and merciful Spoaks in the wheels of such zealous reforming Jehues who under the Vizard and Name of Baals Priests may possibly be induced to account it good service unto God to kill and burn his precious Servants My end is that the greatest Sons of Bloud the Papists may know when ever as the Saints in Queen Maries days confessed when ever it shall please the jealous God for the sins of his Saints to turn the Wheels of his most deep and holy Providences and to give the Power to the Paw of the Beast against his Saints and Truths for their last dreadfull slaughter as Daniel and John do clearly seem to tell us I say those Sons of Bloud the bloudie Papists may know that their bloudy Doctrin of persecution was disclaimed by some whom they call Sectaries That equall and impartiall favour was pleaded to the Catholicks as wel as to their own or other mens Souls and Consciences And that if that great Whore shall yet proceed not only to drink the wine of their carnal Jollitie in the Bowles of the holy Ordinances of Christs Temple and Sanctuary but also to drink more drunk in the bloud of his Saints and witnesses This Testimony may stand as a Character of Bloud fixed by the hand of Gods eternal Truth and Peace upon the Gates of their bloudie Courts and upon the forehead of their bloudie Judges who under what pretence soever hunt and persecute the Souls and Consciences of any Child of God or Man My truly honoured and beloved Countrimen vouchsafe me I beseech you that humane and Christian Libertie to say that I fear your Spirits are
excepts not Peace The difference or controversie in this Chapter lies in two things First In the similitudes used from companies and societies voluntarily entering into combinations which are distinct from the City 2. In the nature of the Church which he maintaines to be a society whose order the City is bound to preserve as well as any of their civil orders or societies Truth To begin with the first Master Cotton replies That although such societies be not of the essence of the City yet they are of the integral and conservant causes of the City and so the disturbance of any of those orders or societies in the City disturbes the City it self But I answer The similitude was used more especially from a colledge of Physitians or a society of Merchants Turkish East-Endies c. and consequently any other of that kinde voluntarily combining together for the better inriching of themselves in the improvement of their faculties for publike good at least so pretended It was never intended that if such necessary Trades Callings c. as he mentioneth be dissolved and ruined that there would be no disturbance of the peace of the City But that if such oâ— such a way and order of men of those faculties I mentioned voluntarily combine and voluntarily also dissolve yet all this may may be without any breach of civil and publike peace Peace If so much more the church of Christ which is a spiritual society voluntarily uniting may dissolve I say much more without the breach of the peace of the city which is of a civil and humane nature as is confessed and was urged in the instances of Ephesus c. Truth 2. We are wont when we speak of keeping or breaking the Peace to speake of Words or Actions of Violence Sedition Vproare c. for Actions of the Cases Pleas and Traverses may be and yet no peace broken when men submit to the Rule of State for the composing of such differences c. Therefore it is that I affirme that if any of Christs Church have difference with any other man in civill and humane things he ought to be judged by the Law But if the Church have spiritual controversies among themselves or with any other or if God take away the Candlestick as he threatned the Church in Ephesus all this may be and yet no civil peace broken Yea amongst those that profess the same God and Christ as the Papists and Protestants or the same Mahomet as the Turks and Persians there would no civil Peace be broken notwithstanding their differences in Religion were it not for the bloody Doctrine of Persecution which alone breaks the bounds of civil peace and makes Spiritual causes the causes of their bloodie dissentions I observe therefore a twofold Fallacie in Master Cottons reply First he fallaciously mingles Peace and Prosperity together for though it be true that under the terme Peace all good things are sometimes concluded yet when we speak of Hereticks or Schismaticks breaking the civil peace or strowing Doctrines tending to break the civill peace we must understand some such words or acts of violence wherein the bounds and orders of the City Laws and Courts are violated taking it for granted for this is the Supposition that the Lawes of the City be meerly civil and humane Hence then I affirme that there is no Doctrine no Tenent so directly tending to break the Cities peace as this Doctrine of persecuting or punishing each other for the cause of conscience or Religion Againe it is a second Fallacie to urge your order of the Church and the Excellency thereof and that therefore it is a Breach of the civil peace when the Order of the church is not preserved For although it is most true that sooner or later the God of heaven punisheth the nations of the world for their Idolatries Superstitions c. yet Master Cotton himself acknowledgeth as was affirmed that many glorious flourishing cities there are all the world over wherein no church of Christ is extant Yea that the Common-weale of Rome flourished five hundred years together before ever the name of Christ was heard in it which so great a Glory of so great a continuance mightily evinceth the distinction of the civill peace of a State from that which is Christian Religion It is true as Master Cotton tells us that the Turks have plagued the Antichristian world for their Idolatries Yet History tels us that one of their Emperours Mahomet was the man that first broke up and desolated two most glorious ancient cities Constantinople which had flourished 1120 yeares since its first building by Constantine and Athens which from Solons giving of it Laws had flourished two thousand yeares notwithstanding their Idolatries c. Truth It is apparent that then the Christian Religion gloriously flourished contrary to Master Cottons observation when the Roman Emperours too not power to themselves to reform the abuses in the Christian Church but persecuted it and then the church was ruined and overwhelmed with Apostacy and Antichristianism when the Emperours took that power unto themselves And then it was as Master Cotton elsewhere confesseth that Christianitie lost more even in Constantines time then under bloody Nero Domitian c. Peace It cannot be denied dear Truth but that the Peace of a civil State of all States excepting that of typical Israel was and is meerly and essentially civil But Master Cotton saith further Although the Inward Peace of a church is Spiritual yet the outward Peace of it Magistrates must keep in a way of Godliness and Honestie 1 Tim. 2. 1. Truth The Peace of a church of Christ the onely true Christian State Nation Kingdom or city is Spiritual whether internal in the Soul or external in the administration of it as the peace of a civil State is civil internal in the mindes of men and external in the administration and conversation of it and for that place of Timothy it hath been fully spoken to in this discourse and the Discusser hath as yet seen no exception against what hath been spoken Peace But further saith Master Cotton although the peace of a Country be civil yet it is distracted by disturbing the peace of the Church for God cut short the Coasts of the civil State when Jehu shortned his Reformation 2 King 10. 31 32. Truth Master Cotton denies not but confessed in his discourse concerning Baptism that Canaan was Typical and to be cast out of that Land was to be cast out of Gods â—ight which proves thus much That the church of Christ the Israel now neglecting to reform God will cut this Israel short But what is this to a meerly civil State which may flourish many hundreds yea some thousands of yeers together as I before instanced when the Name of the true Lord Jesus Christ is not so much as heard of within it Peace Lastly saith he the church is a Society as well as the Societies of Merchants Drapers
c. and it is just to preserve the Society of the church as well as any other Society Truth When we speak of the balances of Justice we must distinguish between the Balances of the Sanctuary and the Balances of the World or civil States It is spiritual justice to preserve spiritual right and for that end the spiritual King thereof hath taken care It is civil Justice to preserve the civil rights and the Rights of a civil society ought justly to be preserved by a civil State and yet if a company of men combine themselves into a civil society by voluntary agreement and voluntarily dissolve it it is not justice to force them to continue together Peace The church can least of all be forced for as it is a spiritual society and not subject to any civil Judicature though some say that a church in New England was cited to appear before a civil Court so is the combination of it voluntary and the dissolution of it in part or whole is voluntary and endures no Civil violence but as a virgin in point of marriage nec cogit nec cogitur she forceth not nor can be forced by any civil power Truth But lastly if it be justice to preserve the Society of the church is it not partiality in a meer civil State to preserve one onely society and not the persons of other Religious societies and consciences also But the Truth is this mingling of the church and the world together and their orders and societies together doth plainly discover that such churches were never called out from the world and that this is only a secret policy of flesh and blood to get protection from the world and so to keep with some little stilling of conscience from the Cross or Gallowes of Jesus Christ Truth Yea but hear saith Master Cotton those excellent penmen of the Spirit both the Father and the Son David and Solomon First David Psalme 122 They shall prosper that love the peace of Jerusalem and Solomon Where the righteous rejoyce there is great glory Prov. 28. Now saith he what is the church but a congregation of righteous men If the rejoycing of the Church be the glory of a Nation surely the disturbing and destroying and dissolving the church is the shame and confusion of a Nation Truth The outward prosperity of a Nation was a typical figurative blessing of that national and figurative church of Israel in Canaan It is now made good spiritually to them that love the spiritual Jerusalem for though godliness hath a promise of things of this life convenient yet persecution is the common and ordinary portion of the Saints under the Gospel thoughâ— that cup be infinitely sweetned also to them that drink of it with Christ Jesus by the measure and increase of a hundred fold for one even with persecution in this life 2. It is true the rejoycing of a Church of Christ is the glory of any Nation and the contrary a shame yet this proveth not that God vouchsafeth to no state civil peace and temporal glory except it establish and keep up a Church of Christ by force of armes for the contrary we have mentioned and Master Cotton confesseth the flourishing of States ignorant of Christ from Age to Age yea and as I have mentioned even to two thousand yeers in Athens six generations before it heard of Christ and fourteen generations since with the sprinking for some time of the knowledge of Christ Jesus in it Peace 2. But consider saith Master Cotton the excellency and preheminence of the church that the world is for it and would not subsist but for it c. Truth T is true glorious things are spoken of the City of God c. yet for many Ages together Master Cotton confesseth the Nations of the world may subsist flourish without it and though it be the duty of the Nations of the world to countenance and cherish the church of Christ yet where is there any commission either in the New or Old Testament that the Nations of the world should be the judges governors and defenders of Christ Iesus his spiritual kingdome and so bound to take up Armes and smite with the civil sword among so many pretenders for that which they believe to be the church of Christ Peace 3. saith he It is matter of just displeasure to God and sad grief of heart to the church when civil states looke at the state of the church as of little or no concernment to themselves Zech. 1. 19. Lam. 1. 13. Truth Grant this and that the most jealous God will awake in his season for these sins and for the persecutions idolatries and blasphemies which the Nations live in yet what is this for warrant to the Nations as before to judge and rule the church of Christ yea and under the colour of defending Christs faith and preserving Christs church pure to tear Christ out of heaven by persecuting of his Saints on earth and to fire the world with devouring flames of bloody wars and this onely for the sweet sake of the prince of peace Peace Dear Truth we are now upon an high point and that which neerly concerns my self the peace of the world and the Nations of it Master Cotton saith further God winketh at the Nations in the time of their ignorance and suffers the Nation to flourish many hundred yeers together as did the Empire of Rome yet when the church of Christ comes to be planted amongst them then as he brought the Turkes upon the Romans for their persecuting the church and not preserving it in purity so consequently will he do unto the Nations of the world Truth I answer the most righteous Judge of the whole world hath plauged the Nations of the world both before Christs coming and since for their pride and cruelty against his people for their idolateries blasphemies c. Yet Master Cotton acknowledgeth that many states have flourished many hundred yeers together when no true church of Christ hath been found in them and Master Cotton will never prove that God ever commanded the Nations and governments of the world to gather or constitute his churches and to preserve them in purity For God gave his ordinances both before and since Christ to his people onely whom he chuseth and calleth out of the World and the Nations of it and he hath punished and dissolved them for their obstinate neglect thereof And for the Roman Empire and the Emperors thereof the Christian Religion and the purity thereof never lost so much as when the Emperors were perswaded of Master Cottons bloody Tenent as Master Cotton and all men seen in History and Christianity must confess Peace But further although saith Master Cotton the peace of the church be a spiritual inward peace yet there is an outward peace of the church due to them from Princes and Magistrates in a way of godliness and honesty 1 Tim. 2. But in a way of ungodliness and
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
an objection that this distinction concerns not Truth or errour but the manner of holding or divulging Master Cotton affirmes the distinction to speak expresly of things unlawfull and erroneous and therefore that it cannot be said with Truth that the distinction concernes not truth and error Truth The truth is this the former distinction speakes of matter and this distinction seems wholly to intend the manner of holding forth The words were these Again in points of Doctrine and Worship less principal either they are held forth in a meek and peaceable way though the things be erroneous and unlawful or they are held forth with such Arrogance and Impetuousness as tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace In which although things erroneous and unlawful are mentioned yet who sees not but that those words are brought in by the way of Parenthesis which may or may not be left out and the distinction be whole and intire And therefore Master Cotton doth not well to spend precious time and life upon seeming advantages Peace Yea but saith he why is this distinction blamed when the discusser himself acknowledgeth that there may be a way and manner of holding forth which may tend to break the civil peace Truth That which was excepted most against in the distinction was the persecuting language of arrogance impetuousness boisterousness without declaring what that was to which Master Cotton answers that the discussers request was not that he should compile a discourse but return an answer to the letter of his friend as also that he charged none of Gods children with such things I reply as formerly Master Cotton's memory though otherwise excellent herein faileth for such a request the discusser never made unto him by letter or otherwise 2. Although he charged not Gods people with arrogance and impetuousness yet mostly and commonly Gods children though meek and peaceable are accused to be arrogant impetuous c. and 't is the common notorious language of persecutors against them Peace Concering those six instances wherein Gods children were occasion of great opposition and spiritual hostility yea and of breach of civil peace notwithstanding the matter delivered was holy and the manner peaceable Master Cotton answers they nothing concern the distinction which speaks of holding forth things erroneous and unlawful for the matter and for the manner in a way of arrogance and impetuousness to the disturbance of civil peace Truth I reply first it speaks not only of erroneous and unlawful things though erroneous and unlawful things be admitted in way of Parenthesis as before 2. He describes not what this arrogance and impetuousness is but wraps up all in one general dark cloud wherein the best and most zealous of Gods Prophets and servants are easily wrapt up as proud arrogant and impetuous Examination of CHAP. IX Peace IN this Chapter I remember you affirmed that one cause of civil dissention and uproar was the lying of a State under false worship whence it endures not the preaching of light and truth c. Master Cotton answers This is not to the purpose because this is by accident Truth It is as much to the purpose to declare in the examination of the breach of civil peace about matters of Religion I say to declare the true cause of such troubles and uproares as it is in the search after the leaks of a ship to declare where the leake is indeed when many are said to be where they are not 2. Whereas he confesseth that vigilant and faithful ones are not so troubled at the false Religion of Jew or Gentile as not to tolerate them amongst them in a civil body he alleadgeth for instance that the Indians subjected to their government are not compelled to the confession or acknowledgement of their Religion I reply first who sees not herein unchristian partiality that Pagans Barbarians who happily might more easily be brought from their natural Religion to a new forme then any other I say that they should be tolerated in their hideous worships of creatures and devils while civil people his countrymen yea it may be the precious sons and daughters of the most high God shall be courted fined whipt banished c. for the matters of their conscience and worship to the true and living God 2. Is not this passage contradictory to all Master Cottons whole discourse in this book which pleades for the purity of Religion to be maintained by all Magistrates and civil governments within their jurisdictions and the suppressing of the contrary under the penalty of the destruction of their lands and countries and accordingly hath not the practice of New England answered such a doctrine and yet saith he we tolerate the false Religion of Jew or Gentile Peace Possibly Dear Truth the distinction between Jew Pagan and Christian may satisfie for the present Master Cottons conscience so to write and practise for thus he addeth But if Christians shall apostate or if Jews and Pagans be blasphemous and seducing then c. Truth Who knows not but that the very Religion of Jew or Pagan is a blaspheming of the true Religion Revel 2. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue or church of Sathan And whereas Master Cotton alleadgeth for proof of this Pauls blaming of false teachers for being troublers to the churches of Galatia Gal. 5. and Acts 15 c. Who that puts this inference into Christs balance but will see the lightness of it thus The churches of Christ are to draw forth the sword and power of Christ and are not to suffer such as with false doctrine trouble their peace Ergo Therefore the civil state must not permit such persons to live in the world c. Peace The second cause I remember you alleadged of civil disturbances and hubbubs about Religion was the praeposterous way of healing of corruptions in Religion as by whips stocks imprisonment c. unto this Master Cotton answers Then the Mariners casting Jonah over-boord for his sin was the cause of the storme Truth I answer if that extraordinary and miraculous instance be sufficient ground for Magistrates casting over-boord whomsoever they judge Hereticks then all civil states and ships must so practise in stormes and troubles on sea or shore to wit throw over-boord put to death not only Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers c. but the best of Gods Prophets or servants for neglect of their duty Ministery c. which was Jonahs case And if so doth not this set up and all the world over by land or sea all Kings and Magistrates all Masters of ships and captaines to be the spiritual and Ecclesiastical Judges of the religion and spiritual neglects of all their subjects or Passengers Such doctrine I cannot imagine would have relished with Master Cotton in his passage to New England and I humbly desire of God that he may never tast the bitter fruit of this Tree of which yet so many thousands
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
he meaneth such as manifestly openly visibly walk in the true profession of Christianity and such as openly and visibly walk in the lyes of false and Antichristian doctrine and worship That distinction of secret and open Hypocrisie is seasonable secret implies such a dissimulation as may lie hid under the true outward profession of Christ Jesus as in Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira c. Open hypocrisie implies the profession of the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God or over the Temple of God pretending the Name of Christ and yet apparantly and visibly false and counterfeit and but pretending when such pretences and shewes are brought to the Touchstone of true Christianity Peace Your observation is true as also a second That these hypocritical doctrines and practices are to be tollerated to the end of the world this he sets down in general not instancing in particular what doctrine and practises are to be tollerated and on the other hand the whole drift of his Booke maintaineth that such persons doctrines or practices that are idolatrous or blasphemous or infectious are not to be tollerated or permitted at all which passages to my understanding have not harmony among themselves For what is all the whole Religion of every Antichrist but a Mass or Chaos of Hypocrisie Idolatry Heresie Blasphemy Poysons c. Besides Master Cotton had dealt more plainly with this holy Scripture if he had explained what he meant by such doctrines and practises comming neer the truth and set down the bounds how neer as to make them Tares Truth Dear Peace Who knows not that the weeds of the wilderness come neer the flowers of the Garden the counterfeit may come neer the life and the false mettal the true gold And though it be true that some doctrines and practices be not so gross as other yet they differ but as the Scripture speaks as whores and whoremongers amongst themselves some are more proper and fine and young and painted some are old deformed c. And yet the finest weeds counterfeits and whores are unsufferable in the Garden in the Commonweale house and bed of Christ Though yet in the civil Commonweale the vilest spiritual strumpet may challenge a civil Being if in civil things unreproveable Examination of CHAP. XIX Peace BUt in this Chapter Master Cotton in the issue granteth that the Tares signifie persons by Christs own interpretation For them that do iniquity may seem to be an explanation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All scandals that is persons holding forth of scandalous and corrupt doctrines and practices like unto true and sound Truth Yet withall he chargeth the discusser with lightness and inconstancy for endeavouring to prove that corrupt doctrines and practices are not to be tollerated and yet saith he the discusser pleades that such persons ought to be tollerated Whereas the discusser twice in this Chapter expresly distinguisheth between toleration in the Church and tolleration in the world and affirmeth that although the Church of Christ Jesus cannot tollerate either persons or practices which are false and Antichristian yet the civil state the world ought to tolerate and permit both And therefore Master Cottons inconsiderate charge of contradiction will not stick because of those divers respects or States the spiritual and civil as it was no contradiction in Christ Iesus to affirme that Iohn Baptist was Elias when Iohn himself affirmeth that he was not Elias For in several respects the Negative of John and the Affirmative of Jesus were both true Examination of CHAP. XX. Peace IN this passage to my understanding Master Cotton after much seeming contestation and disagreement yet in conclusion he shakes hands and agrees with the discusser in the maine point in question Truth Your observation reacheth home for let it be granted that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should not signifie All weeds sprung up with the wheat but one kind of weed and that in special which Master Cotton saith Dioscorides describeth Let it be granted to be the same with Lolium and that there is a great similitude between the Tares and the Wheat while they are in the blade some of which particulars are controversial yet it no way opposeth that which the discusser maintaineth to wit the easiness of discerning these tares to be tares when they are grown up to blade and fruit And therefore Master Cotton at the last confesseth that even these tares unknown hypocrites according to his own exposition ought to be suffered in the church of Christ to the harvest or end of the world Peace I cannot but wonder how Master Cotton should once imagine that it might possibly stand with the order piety and safety of the profession of Christ Jesus that such a generation of known hypocrites should be perpetually suffered Truth Doubtless the Lord Jesus was not of Master Cottons minde who so vehemently warned his followers to take heed of the leaven of hypocrisie Beside if known hypocrites may be suffered and not cast out Why may not known hypocrites be taken in And what is then become of the true matter of the church to wit true living stones of a spiritual life and nature so far as outwardly can be discerned Peace This assertion hath so foule a representation that Master Cotton is forced to draw this vaile over and therefore he adds untill the fruits of hypocrites grow notoriously scandalous Truth I cannot fathom how these two agree First known hypocrites may be tolerated untill the worlds end 2. Tolerated no longer then untill the fruits of the hypocrisie grow notoriously scandalous For will not all reason and experience ask this question How comes it that this friend subject and Spouse of Christ is now a known dissembler traitor whore unless by some scandalous fruits so declaring and uncasing of them If the shameful fruits of the unclean person 1 Cor. 5. were sufficient to denominate him a wicked person why were they not sufficient to warrant Paul to say Put away therefore that wicked person from amongst you Peace But let us mind the Scripture quoted If saith Master Cotton foolish Virgins be cast out of the church the wise Virgins may be found sometimes sleeping as well as they Truth Neither good wheate nor wise Virgins are to be cast out of the church of Christ while they appear to be so yet since Master Cotton elsewhere grants that a child of God good wheat and a wise Virgin may so stand out against the church of Christ in some passion that he may be cast out c. How much more then ought the tares and foolish Virgins while so appearing be excluded 2. If the wise Virgins be received into heaven as the foolish shut out will it not evidently follow even the contrary to that for which Master Cotton alleadgeth this Scripture to wit That when hypocrites are discovered they are to be kept out and consequently to be cast out of the church of Christ except Master
but lastly saith Master Cotton that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated the children of the wicked one or wickedness will agree to hypocrites Truth It will indeed if we respect their inside which is only visible to the invisible King as Judas in his profession but it cannot agree to such hypocrites as are undiscovered by their fruits in the church but unto such hypocrites as are discovered in their blades and fruit and so consequently are not fit to live with other sinners in the world I doubt not but Master Cotton will say That although a member of a Church prove a theife adulterer murtherer in the eyes of a Brother that sees and knows his secret wickedness yet that brother is censurable as a slanderer if he should report these evils though to the Church untill according to visible order he could produce good proof and evidence Examination of CHAP. XXIV Peace Still of the Tares MAster Cotton here seems to me with the Familists to confound heaven and earth together the matters of Worship and Ordinances of Religion with the affaires and businesses of this life for saith he such as stand for the kingdome of Satan as all evil men do they stand in opposition to the Kingdome of Christ Truth Master Cotton is not now to be taught the distinction between the church and Commonweale nor that a national church is not of Christ Jesus his institution yet as this discourse strongly inclines to erect a national church so doth this present answer to the confusion both of Church and Commonweale It is true a covetuous Iew that blasphemeth Christ Jesus stands for Satan against Christ But by his covetousness in one kinde as covetousness is opposite to Righteousness and contentation c. and for Sathan against Christ in another sence that is in a Religious and Spiritual sence as he prefers Moses before Christ Jesus and denies the true Messiah to be yet come in the flesh A cruel Turk stands for Satan against Christ by his cruelty in one sence to wit in opposition to Christs mercy gentleness patience c. but by his belief in Mahomet preferring him before Christ he opposeth him in his Kingdome and Worship To come neerer a drunken English Dutch or Frenchman stands for Satan against Christ as their drunkenness is opposite to Christs sobriety temperance c. but against Christ in another sence as they profess the wayes of Antichristian idolatry and superstition And not to observe this distinction is with some Familists to run upon quick-sands of confounding the spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus his worship and ordinances with the kingdomes of this world and the common affaires thereof in natural and civil consideration Peace But though Christ saith Master Cotton should command other offenders to be let alone beside Antichristians yet he should not contradict any ordinances for the punishment of offenders c. because saith he No law of God nor just law of man commands the the rooting out of hypocrites though the church be bound to endeavour as much as in them lies to heale their hypocrisie Truth Hypocrisie discovered in the fruit of it is not to be let alone in the church or State For neither church of Christ nor civil state can long continue safe if hypocrites or traitors under what pretence soever be permitted to break forth in them without due punishment and rooting out this hypocrisie being especially that great sin against which Christ Iesus so frequently and so vehemently inveighed and against which he denounced the sorest of plagues â—nd judgements Truth By whose command and by what meanes and ordinances by whose power and authority but by the command meanes and power of Christ Jesus And I further aske If faithful admonition be not one good means of healing and if that lye not in the churches power and if the hypocrite after faithful admonition once or twice submit not to the voice of Christ Iesus I ask where the Lord Iesus commandeth to make a stop and not to cast forth and reject whomsoever wilfully obstinate Peace Doubtless dear Truth many will be apt to say Master Cotton intends secret and close hypocrisie Truth And I doubt not but himself will say That this is not our question but of known and unmasked hypocrisie as himself hath formerly declared and such as here he expresseth come under ordinances of healing Peace But further saith Master Cotton it is not true that Antichristians are to be let alone untill the end of the world Why Because Christ commanded excommunication c. Truth I am astonisht and wonder why Master Cotton here speaketh of excommunication a spiritual ordinance of Christ Iesus in his spiritual kingdome or city when the dispute onely concerns temporal excommunication or cutting off Let them alone that is in civil State I wonder also how he should imagine the discusser in this Chapter to affirme that Antichristians are to be let alone in the church unto the end of the world when it was the very scope of his argument in this Chapter to prove that the speech of Christ Jesus let them alone must needs be understood of letting idolaters and Antichristians alone in the civil state and in the world because otherwise if he had meant Let them alone in the church he should contradict himself who hath appointed meanes for the disturbing and purging out the corrupt leaven both of persons and practices out of his church and kingdome Peace The same answer indeed will easily be returned to his last supposition of any Popish spirit conspiring against the life of King and Parliament The whole scope of this book professeth and in this Chapter the discusser professedly argueth that Christ Jesus hath appointed that civil offenders against the civil state ought not to be let alone But Master Cotton adds If Popish Priests and Jesuits be rightly expounded to be the Rivers and fountaines of water which drive the dead sea of Antichristian pollutions up and down all Nations in Europe and in some cases are to drink blood Then are they not to be let alone but duely supprest and cut off from conveying up and down idolatrous heretical and seditious wickedness Rev. 16. 4. 7. Truth The exposition of this Scripture will be further examined in the sequel and found no true exposition That Rivers and fountaines of water drive the sea up and down For rivers and fountaines however they come from the salt-water yet lose they the savour of the salt-sea and yeeld a savour of the earth through which they make their passages and again they run into the sea and are themselves driven up and down and swallowed up in the sea Nor will it be found a true exposition according to Godliness and Christianity which commandeth patience and waiting not fire and sword to gaine sayers and opposites Nor lastly will it be found a true exposition agreeing with Master Cottons own profession in some passage of this book wherein he holds forth great
toleration and gentleness to other consciences both English and Barbarians Examination of CHAP. XXV Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton affirms that hypocrites even they that are discerned to be such yet they are not to be purged out except they break forth into such notorious fruits of hypocrisie as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe for otherwise saith he we may roote out the best wheate in Gods field c. Truth I answer sâ—â—â—â— hypocrites and all hypocrisie is so odious in Gods sight and so vehemently inveighed against by Christ Jesus what should be the cause why the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie should finde greater favour and connivence in the church of Christ then the leaven of any other sin since all ought to be purged out 1 Cor. 5. 2. Contrary to what Master Cotton saith to wit That no man meerly for hypocrisie and want of life and power of Godliness ought to be proceeded against the Spirit of God by Paul saith That such kind of professours of the name of Christ should arise that should pretend a form of godliness but not shew forth the power thereof from which he commandeth us to turn away 1 Tim. 3. Peace But Master Cotton excepteth Except saith he they break forth into some notorious scandalous fruits of hypocrisie Truth How shall an hypocrite be discovered and known to be an hypocrite or traitor in church or civil state but by some such notorious scandalous fruits as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe Come to particulars was Iudas Ananias and Sapphira Simon Magus Demas or any other discovered to be Hypocrites when they broke forth into treachery lying covetousness and might the church proceed against such If it be denied I ask to what end the Lord hath given those holy rules of admonition c. will it prove ought but prophaning of the name of the Lord to pretend our clear discerning of the Scripture and ordinances and not to practise them If it be yeelded against these fruits of hypocrisie discovering men to be hypocrites why do we plead for a dispensation and not for the wheat of the Field and flowers of the garden but for the most stinking and loathsome tares and weeds to be continued in the holy garden of Christ Jesus Peace But many hypocrites saith Master Cotton fall not within the censure of that Scripture 2 Thess 3. 6. Withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly for many hypocrites follow their callings and are so far from being burthensome unto others that they are after choaked with the cares and businesses of the world and yet are not behind in liberal contribution to pious uses Truth But is not this halting between God and Baal yea is not this pleading for Baal for hypocrisie hypocrites and dissemblers false and Antichristian counterfeits to be permitted not onely in the wilderness of the world which I contend for but also even in the Garden House Bed and bosome of God What if men be civil and follow their callings Men that know not God so do What though they be liberal to pious uses millions of Papists are and have been so according to their consciences when as yet they are choaked with cares and businesses of this world How express is the charge of the Lord Jesus to with-draw from such notwithstanding their forme of Godliness and contribution to Godly uses when they declare not the power of godliness 1 Tim. 3. 2. Not to eate with them and therefore to seperate from such a brother as is covetuous 1 Cor. 5. as well as from an idolater drunkard c. The Church of Christ is a congregation of Saints a flock of sheep humble meek patient contented with whom it is monstrous and impossible to couple cruel and persecuting lyons subtle and hypocritical Foxes contentious biting dogs or greedy and rooting swine so visibly declared and apparant Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace IN this Chapter four answers were given by the discusser to that great objection of the mischief that the Tares will do in the field of the world if let alone and not pluckt up The first was That if the tares offend against Civility or civil state God hath armed the civil state with a civil sword c. Master Cotton replies what if their conscience incite them to civil offences I answer the conscience of the civil Magistrate must incite him to civil punishment as a Lord Maior of London once answered That he was born to be a Judge to a Thief that pleaded he was born to be a thief If the conscience of the worshippers of the Beast incite them to prejudice prince or state Although these consciences be not as the conscience of a thief commonly convinced of the evil of his fact but perswaded of the lawfulness of their actions yet so far as the civil state is endammaged or endangered I say the sword of God in the hand of civil Authority is strong enough to defend it self either by imprisoning or disarming or other wholesome meanes c. while yet their consciences ought to be permitted in what is meerly point of worship as prayer and other services and administrations Hence the wisdome of God in that 13 Rom. reckoned by Master Cotton the Magâ—a Charta for civil Magistrates dealing in matters of Religion I say there it pleaseth God expresly to reckon up the particulars of the second table chalking out as it were by his own finger the civil sphear or circle in which the civil Magistrate ought to act and execute his civil power and Authority Peace The second answer of the discusser was that the church or spiritual City hath laws and Armories to defend it self Master Cotton excepteth saying That if their members be leavened with Antichristian Idolatry and Superstition and yet must be tolerated in their idolatry and superstitious worship will not a litle leaven leaven the whole lumpe and how then is the church guarded Truth The question is whether idolatrous and Antichristian worshippers may be tolerated in civil state in the City in the Kingdome c. under any civil power Master Cotton answers no they will do mischief The reply is against any civil mischief though wrought conscientiously the civil state is strongly guarded Secondly Against the spiritual mischief the church or City of Christ is guarded with heavenly Armories wherein there hang a thousand Bucklers Cant. 4. and most mighty weapons 2 Cor. 10. In the church of Christ such worshippers ought not to be tolerated but cast out c. That is true saith Master Cotton but yet their leaven will spread I answer What is this but to make the most powerful appointments of Christ Jesus those mighty weapons of God terrible censures and soul punishments in his kingdome but as so many woodden daggers and leaden swords childrens Bull-beggars and scarcrows and upon the point so base and beggarly that without the help of the Cutlers shop or Smiths forge the church or
kingdome of Christ cannot be purged from the leaven of idolatry and superstition Peace Me thinks the Lord Jesus was of another mind Mat. 18. when he accounted it sufficient to cut off the obstinate Let him be as a Gentile or publican and in the very similitude of leaven here used by Master Cotton Paul counted it sufficient to purge out the leaven 1 Cor. 5. if that evil person were put away from the midst of them that is from their holy and spiritual society Paul never asks as Master Cotton doth since we have not to our spiritual armes armes of flesh and a civil sword to help our spiritual how shall the safety of the church be guarded But let 's proceed The third Answer was That the elect cannot be finally deceived Master Cotton replies It is true but God provides meanes of preservation c. And Jezabels tolerating in Thiatira made the church guilty Truth This Argument was not used in derogation of Gods meanes spiritual in spiritual things civil in civil c. but by way of supposition of the worst as Job spake in another case How helpest thou the Arme that hath no strength Not but that in ordinary submission to means man ought to help the Lord against the mighty The sum is this rather let the Lord alone to help himself without meanes then to help the Lord to save his elect who cannot by vertue of his love and decree finally be deceived by any such means as are none of his own appointing 2. It is true that the church at Thyatira tolerating Jezabel to seduce was guilty yea and I add the City of Thiatira was guilty also if it tolerated Iezabel to seduce to fornication But what is this to the point of the issue to wit Whether the City of Thiatria should be guilty or not in tolerating Iezabel in that which the City judgeth to be idolatry and false worship Jezabels corporal whoredoms sinning against civility or state of the City the City by her Officers ought to punish lest civil order be broken and civility be infected c. but Iezabels spiritual whoredomes the civil state ought not to deal with but there being a church of Christ then in Thiatria and the spiritual whoredomes there taught and practised I say the church in Thyatira which in the name and power of Christ was armed sufficiently to pass and inflict a dreadful spiritual censure which God will confirme and ratifie most assuredly and undoubtedly in heaven Peace Two reasons more were alleadged out of the Text. The first was that by plucking up the tares the good wheate it self by such hurries and persecutions about Religion should be indangered to be plucked up which Master Cotton salveth thus to wit If Gods people themselves for their idolatry and superstition should be cut off it will be for warning unto others c. Truth Oh ungodly unchristian that is bloody and Antichristian doctrin by which under pretence of punishing hereticks schisâ—aticks and seditious persons the Son of God the Lord of Lords and King of Kings hath so many millions of times in his servants been persecuted slaine and crucified As for the world it lies in wickedness is a wilderness of sin over-grown with idolatry and superstition The Antichristian falsly called Christian world in most abundant and over-flowing measure hath wondred after and magnified the Beast Rev. 13. The two witnesses prophesie in sackcloth against this beast in all parts of his dominion by whom also they are persecuted and slaine and yet we read not that they judge or censure or fight for themselves with any other weapons then by the word of their prophecie the blood of the Lamb their patient sufferings the not loving of their lives unto the death Peace The second reason out of the parable was That the Angels of God have in charge to bundle up these tares for the burning Master Cotton replies two things First so these Angels will gather into bundles for the burning murtherers robbers c. who are not yet to be tolerated Truth I answer If a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. with respect to civil matters I say the civil state must judge and punish the offender else the civil state cannot stand but must return to barbarisme But if a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. in spirttual matters as deceiving and bewitching the peoples souls if he can prove his charge Master Cotton ought to give God the glory and and repent of such wickedness If he cannot prove his charge but slander Master Cotton yet is the slander of no civil nature and so not proper to any civil court but is to be cast out as we see commonly suits of law are rejected when brought into Courts which take no proper cognizance of such cases Peace What relief then hath Master Cotton or any so charged in this case Truth The court of heaven the church of Christ calls such a slanderer to repentance whether he be within the church or without though orderly proceeding lies only against him that is within If he be obstinate how dreadful is the sentence against such a slanderer both in earth and in heaven how dreadful the delivering up to hardness of heart a greater plague on Pharaoh then all the devouring plagues of Egypt how dreadful the delivering up to Satan the paw and jaw of the roaring Lyon infinitely far more terrible had we eyes to see it then to be thrown with Daniel to the devouring Lyon There is no reason in the world therefore for theeves and murtherers to be tolerated unto the last day without sentence and punishment because transgressors against spiritual state may be tolerated to live in the world yet punished for spiritual transgression with a greater censure and sorer punishment then if all their bones and flesh were rackt and torn in pieces with burning pincers Peace Master Cotton and others will say The idolaters and seducers were censured spiritually under Moses and yet were they also put to death Truth I desire Master Cotton to shew me under Moses such spiritual censures and punishments beside the cutting off by the civil sword which if he cannot do and that since the Christian Church antitypes the Israelitish and the Christian laws and punishments the laws and punishments of Israel concerning religion I may truely affirme that that civil state which may not justly tolerate civil offenders c. yet may most justly tolerate spiritual offenders of whose Delinquency it hath no proper cognizance Peace Lastly Master Cotton urgeth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2. should rather be translated presence then coming Truth Admit it though many able translators in divers languages rather translate it coming and that Antichrist shall not be consumed by the breath of the mouth of the Lord Jesus before his last coming to judgement yet then Master Cotton must give another interpretation of this end of the world and the Angels and
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
That dead men cannot die nor be infected with false doctrine and such is the State of all men all nations all the world over until the life of Christ Jesus quicken them Master Cotten replies First Dead men may be made worse and more the children of hell then before Mat. 23. and therefore such as so corrupt them are worthy in a way of due proceeding of a twofold death Secondly Such as profess the truth of the doctrine and worship of Christ they live a kind of spiritual life though not such as accompany salvation else how are false teachers and such as are led by them said to be twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jud. 12. Truth Dead men may be made worse that is more to rot and stink yet this is no taking away of any life And therefore there is no proportionable reason why the seducers should suffer a temporal death having neither taken away spiritual nor natural life only thus he may be justly liable to a spiritual death for endeavouring to hinder a spiritual life by furthering any in their natural state of spiritual death 2. For that place of Iude Master Cotton knows that Beza propounds two senses First Twice dead that is a certaine number for an uncertaine Secondly This sence urged by Master Cotton which if it be to be admitted yet is it but in appearance as his life which in hypocrisie he professed was but in shew and appearance he being never raised up from the spiritual death to a spiritual life and therefore really never suffered the loss of a spiritual life which he never had And yet as in typical Israel it stood with Gods justice to take away the life of the seducer which seduced an Israelite from the God of Israel or but attempted to do it so stands it with the holy justice of God to cut him off eternally who but attempteth to take away or hinders the spiritual and eternal life of any Peace Master Cotton in the next place presumes on advantage that the discusser should say that none are infected with natural plagues or spiritual but such are thereto appointed c. Truth It is plaine that the discusser alleadged not that to diminish or lessen sin let it have its due aggravation but as was said before in case of the not final deceiving of the elect so was it here spoken not to derogate fâ—om Gods meanes and remedies against natural or spiritual infection but to abate the needless feares of men who are apt to cry out Except the civil sword be drawn and so therewith the world set together by the eares the world cannot be preserved from infection Peace Whereas the discusser had affirmed that Christ Jesus had not left his people destitute of spiritual means against spiritual infections This is true saith Master Cotton but it falleth out sometimes that when the church hath cast out an heretick yet he may destroy the faith of many as did Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. and if the Magistrates sword do here rust c. such leaven may leaven the whole country c. as Arrianisme leavened the world by Constantines indulgence Againe saith he it may be the heretick was never a member of the church how then shall the church do Truth Who can marvel at this that the dunghill of this world worldly men under the power of Satan unto whom the obstinate person the heretick is cast I say that they many of them receive worldly doctrine which the church as filth casts out c. 2. As Paul saith concerning the salvation of Gods children Let the world perish yet the foundation of God remaineth sure he knows who are his and how to provide meanes to save them though the world still act it self wallowing and tumbling like Swine in one puddle of wickedness after another 3. Master Cotton should read a little further in the same Scripture quoted by him where he finds not a tittle of Pauls directing Timothy to stir up the secular power as the Pope speakes to cut off Hymeneus and Philetus to prevent infection but tels him that the servants of God must not strive but must quiet themselves with patience waiting if peradventure God will please to give repentance Peace Methinks this Answer may also â—ully satisfie his second supposition to wit if that the heretick was never of the church Truth Yea what hath the church to do that is judicially with him that is without and what hath the civil state to judge him for who in civil matters hath not transgrest In vaine therefore doth Master Cotton suggest a persecuting or hunting after the souls or lives of such as being cast out of the church keep private conventicles c. Peace How grievous is this language of Master Cotton as if he had been nourished in the chappels and cloisters of persecuting prelates and priests the Scribes and Pharisees As if he never had heard of Jesus Christ in truth and meekness For surely as the discusser observed Christ Jesus never appointed the civil sword an Antidote or remedy in such a case notwithstanding Master Cotton replies that the civil sword was appointed a remedy in this case by Moses not Christ Deut. 13. Truth Moses in the old Testament was Christs servant yet Moses being but a servant dispensed his power by carnal rites and ceremonies laws rewards and punishments in that holy nation and that one land of Canaan But when the Lord Jesus the Son and Lord himself was come to bring the truth and life and substance of all those shadowes to break down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile and to establish the Christian worship and kingdome in all Nations of the world Master Cotton will never prove from any of the books and institutions of the New Testament that unto those spiritual remedies appointed by Christ Jesus against spiritual maladies he added the help of the carnal sword Peace But Christ saith Master Cotton never abrogated the carnal sword in the new which he appointed in the old Testament and the reason of the law to wit an offence of thrusting away from the Lord is perpetual Truth If it appear as evidently it doth that this king Jesus the King of Israel wears his sword the Antitype of the Kings of Israel their swords in his mouth being a sharpe two-edged sword then the answer is as clear as the Sun that scatters the clouds and darkeness of the night Besides Master Cotton needs not flie to the Popes argument for childrens baptisme to wit to say that Christ never abrogated Dâ—â—â— 13. therefore c. For Master Cotton knows the profession of the Lord Jesus Iohn 18. that his kingdome was not earththly and therefore his sword cannot be earthly Master Cotton knows that Christ Iesus commanded a sword to be put up when it was drawn in the cause of Christ and addeth a dreadful threatning that all that take the sword that is the carnal sword for his cause shall
on them In which respect God hath crowned the supream court of Parliament with everlasting honour in breaking the jaws of the oppressing Bishops c. Oh that such glorious Justice may not be blemished by erecting in their stead a more refined but yet as cruel an Episcopacy 2. If the offence be of a spiritual nature is there no spiritual way of judging except the church of Christ be granted visible during Antichrists Apostacy Hath not Christ Jesus given power to his two prophets even all the Raigne of the Beast to speak fire Revelations the 11. to shut up heaven to turn the waters into blood to smite the earth with all manner of plagues and this untill the time of the finishing of their prophecie or Testimony when their great slaughters shall prepare the way for the downfal of Antichrist and their own most glorious raising and exaltation There was no Chapter 34 which probably was Master Cottons oversight or the Printers therefore I pass to Chapter 35. Examination of CHAP. XXXV Peace HEre whereas it was said if it were the Magistrates duty or office to punish hereticks c. then he is both a temporal and Ecclesiastical officers Master Cotton answers It follows not except the Magistrate were to punish with Ecclesiastical censures his punishment is meerly civil whether imprisonment banishment or death Truth I reply first the statutes of the English nation and the oath of supremacy have proved the Kings and Queens of England heads and governors of the church of England And if to be an head or governor be not an office let Master Cotton be againe requested to ponder the instance given which he passeth by in silence deny it ingenuously he cannot and to justifie it I hope his light from heaven will not suffer him although yet he would â—aine excuse it by saying they punish only with civil punishment imprisonment banishment or death Therefore 2. Here lies the mystery of iniquity and the Babel and confusion of it that either according to Popish Tenents the kings of the earth must give their power to the beast and enslave themselves under the name and vizard of the secular power to be the Popes executioners or according to Protestant Tenents to wit that Kings and Governours be heads of the church and yet be furnished with no Church-power nor spirituall censures Peace It would be thought some mystical and monstrous thing that Kings and Governors should be obliged to act in civil Judicature and yet be furnished with no civil power but ought to punish onely with spirituall or Church-censures Truth The blinde and the lame mans robbing the Orchard is here verified The Minister though a blindeguide he is the seer but wanting legs and strength of civil power he is carried upon the civil Magistrates shoulders whose blindness the subtle Clergy abuseth c. but both together rob the Orchard of the most high and sureaâ—enging God Truth I conceive it true that the Kings and Governors of the national church of Israel had a national power and had the Kord Jesus been pleased to have continued national churches the Lings and governors of such states might well as they of Israel were have been both Temporal and Ecclesiastical officers Peace But now the Lord Jesus abolishing that national state and instituting and appointing his worshippers and followers to be the Israel of God the holy nation and proper Antitype of the former Israel it seems most unchristian that either the work or the title should remaine whether with open or a masked face or vizard Truth Therefore as it pleased God in wonderful wisdome and inconceiâ—eable depths of councel for a while to continue a national church national covenant c. and to take them away as unsufficient beggarly and weak either for the further advancement of his own glory or salvation of men so hath he taken away the administration thereof by carnal weapons armes of flesh c. In stead of fire and sword and stoning the oppositâ—es in stead of imprisonment banishment death he hath appointed exhortations reprehensions denunciations excommunications and together with preaching patient waiting if God peradventure will give repentance Lastly If the civil Magistrate must imprison and banish and put to death in spiritual cases and the civil Magistrate is but a Minister or servant of the people and so of God and if the people make the laws and give the Magistrate his commission and power doth it not follow by this doctrine that the people of the nations of the world are fundamentally and originally both Temporal and Ecclesiastical And then what is become of the foundations of the Christian faith And also are not hereby the people and nations of the world whatever care be had to the contrary to restraine incouraged according to their several consciences I say encouraged and hardened in their bloody wars imprisonings banishings and putting to death for cause of conscience Peace Whereas it was said to be Babel or confusion for the church to punish the offences of such as are not within its jurisdiction with spiritual censures or the civil state spiritual offences with corporal or temporal weapons Master Cotton answers No confusion for so Paul directs the church of Corinth Truth That very Parenthesis which Master Cotton stumbleth at takes away his answer For as it would be confusion for the church to censure such matters and of such persons as belong not to the church So is it confusion for the state to punish spiritual offenders for they are not within the sphear of a civil jurisdiction The body or Commonweal is meerly civil the Magistrate or head is a civil head and each member is a civil member and so far forth as any of this civil body are spiritual or act spiritually they and their actions fall under a spiritual cognizance and judicature Peace The reason saith Master Cotton is the same for there be offences which tend to provoke wrath against the civil state Ezra 7. Why should there be wrath against the king or his sons Truth This reason indeed Master Cotton often inculcates and beates upon it that the Pagan kings of Persia were of his mind â— I believe Master Cotton out of a zeal to God but the Pagan kings out of a slavish terror which never prevailed so far that I know of as to bring them to a kindly repentance of their own idolatries or a true love to the God of Israel or his people Peace However your former answer is to me sufficient to wit that thousands of famous Towns Cities and Kingdomes have flourished in peace and tranquillity for many ages and generations where God hath had no house and not only where it was by the civil state neglected but also wholly persecuted Truth In the time appointed and full ripeness of their sins the vengeance of God after patience many generations abused hath surely and fearefully visited yet in the interim it is clear it is no ground
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
truth is concerning Gallio whatever he was in his person and however he did evil in suffering the peace to be broken yet will Master Cotton never prove that he had calling from either God or man to go beyond his civil Magistracy and office to intermeddle with matters of a spiritual nature and that Gallio knew well enough and other Magistrates of the world shall know in the Lords most gracious appointed season Peace The discusser ending this Chapter with the infallible safety of Gods chosen notwithstanding all ravenous wolves c. Master Cotton replies from Deut. 13. that God was able to keep his sheep in Israel yet they that seduced them were to be put to death Truth That argument was not alleadged with the derogation to any of Gods holy ordinances which concern the calling or preserving of such whom God hath chosen to salvation but only to discover the over-busie fear of Gods loosing any of his chosen to salvation by the jaws of spiritual wolves c. For Deut. 13. Let Master Cotton produce such a miraculous nation or people as I may call it so brought out of the land of Egypt into covenant with God c. and I shall readily grant that seducers of such a people from such a God are worthy to die a thousand deaths But if Master Cotton will now tell me that the Christian congregational church is the Israel of God and the coming forth of Egypt is now mystical and spiritual why will he not content himself with a mystical and spiritual death to be inflicted upon him that shall seduce an Israelite from the Lord his God Examination of CHAP. XLIII Peace UPon the fifth query to wit whether the elders of the church at Ephesus were not sufficiently furnished by the Lord Jesus to drive away these spiritual and mystical wolves Master Cotton replies by granting that they were furnished with sufficient power to cast them out of the church but being cast out they had not sufficient power to drive them away from conferring and corrupting the members of the church or other godly ones out of the church and he adds that it is no dishonour to Christ nor impeachment to the sufficiency of his ordinances left by Christ that in such a case the minister of justice in the civil state should assist the Ministers of the Gospel in the church state Truth This grant and this addition do as ill agree as light and darkeness Christ and Belial together For is the church or kingdome of Christ Jesus sufficiently furnished that is in it self without the help of the civil Magistrate to excommunicate to cast these wolves out of the Fold Oh let M. Cotton then and all that love Christ Jesus in truth observe what evidently follows then is this church of Christ sufficiently furnished to receive such persons in againe upon repentance then sufficiently furnished at first to be congregated together by Christs means to ordaine their officers to judge of doctrines and persons and all this necessarily upon Master Cottons grant without the help of the civil Magistrates Peace Yea and it seemes to me incredible and unreasonable that Christ Jesus should have left power and authority sufficient to take and bind a rebel against his kingdome to arraigne him and pass sentence upon him yea and execute him in the cutting off such an offendor from the land of the living delivering him over into the power of that roaring Lyon the devil And yet that Christ Iesus should not have left power sufficient in such publick high and solmne actions of his kingdome to declare sufficient cause of such proceedings by which all men may see the goings of the Son of God in his church and kingdome or if willfully blind may justly be further hardned Truth The place from Titus alleadged unto which many other Scriptures testifie I say that place doth evidently shew that the power of Christ Iesus left in the hand of his churches and elders was not only sufficient to cast out such wolves but even to stop or muzzle their mouthes whatever their gainsaying be whether by conferring preaching printing c. which takes off the plea of the great need of the civil sword to correct the conference of such persons c. when by the words of Paul it is here plaine that they can perform such conferences no otherwise but with a stopt or muzled mouth Let it be produced where Christ Iesus in such cases writes to the Magistrates either of Crete or Ephesus or any other civil jurisdiction where the churches were resident to help the Ministers and churches with their civil powers after they had cast forth any person obstinate Doubtless Christ Iesus in Paul and other of his servants would have written to some or such Magistrates in some place or others having occasion to write to so many churches about such cases Peace It will possibly be said it had been in vaine for they were idolaters and persecutors Truth The Lord is pleased throughout the whole Scripture in the mouths of his servants and prophets to call for duties at the hands of all men notwithstanding their natural hardness and inability that so he might drive them to see their duty and misery and remedy alone in God by Christ Jesus Peace I see now that this hindring of conference c. by the civil sword is nothing else but a conformity with the Pope in defending his Canons and with the Turk in guarding his Alcoran by fire and sword with whom and their ways Christ Jesus hath no conformity nor communion nor with their carnal sword his two-edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth Rev. 1. Beside Christ Jesus hath not onely furnished his church with power sufficient to excommunicate but every one of his followers with a compleat armour from head to foot helmet breast-plate sword and Target and and spiritual shoes Ephes 6. in which respect the least of Christs servants are inabled to stop the mouth of Papists Pope Turks and devils Peace Yea all experience shews how Christ Jesus little David in the least of his servants hath been able with those plaine smooth stones out of the brook of holy Scripture to lay groveling in their spiritual gore the stoutest Champions Popes Cardinals Bishops Doctors of the Antichristian Philistins Truth I add if the elders and churches and ordinances of Christ have such need of the civil sword for their maintenance and protection I mean in spiritual things sure the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be excused for not being careful either to express this great ordinance in his will and Testament or else to have furnished the civil state and officers thereof with ability and hearts for this their great duty and employment to which he hath called them the contrary whereof in all Ages in all nations and in all experience hath ever been most lamentably true Peace I am not clear dear truth in the distinction Master Cotton makes of
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
word of God suffers no man to preach in the whole country where his Scaffolds are set up but whom he pleaseth nor no doctrine to be taught but what he liketh no church to be gathered no persons to make up this church no persons to receive the Sacrament but what he approves of yea and further with broad axes and hammers and other tooles of violence should compel all persons directly or indirectly to come to church to make use of his Scaffold c. Whether this be not the true state of the business the Carpenters Son Christ Jesus will shortly more and more discover and break and tumble down those painted Scaffolds and fairest houses which are not built and framed according to the first most blessed line and rule of his holy institution and appointments Examination of CHAP. XLV Peace UPon the unfitness alleadged of spiritual weapons to batter a natural or artificial hold and consequently the unfitness of natural and carnal weapons to batter the spiritual strong holds in the heart Master Cotton replies that he allows not the civil state to make use of their civil weapons to batter down idolatry and heresie in the souls of men But if saith he the idolater or heretick grow obstinate worseand worse deceiving himself c. Now he maketh not use of stocks and whips which will but exasperate the malady but of death and banishment that may cut him off from the opportunity of spreading his leaven c. Truth Methinks in this passage Master Cotton resembleth an armed man who being almost convinced or overcome by the Spirit of God in the former part of this passage granting how unproper and unfit carnal weapons be in spiritual matters yet being loath to yeeld and holding up the goodness of his cause he recovers again and grows more fierce and violent for bearing more gentle stroaks of stocks and whips he cuts deeper with no less then quick and dreadful gashings of death or Banishment that the world were he one of the worlds Monarchs may be rid of such 〈…〉 Peace Oh How can Master Cotton wash this Tenent from blood Truth Yea whether this tenent be not invented as once that learned chancellor of England said of all violence against conscience for an end or interest or as that incarnate devil the Pope said more plainly of the fable of Christ for honor and profit shall further be examined Peace But who can read the bloody colour in this book and yet believe what Master Cotton elsewhere saith that he holds not persecution for cause of conscience Truth Lastly I aske whether is it not the same skill and power of Physick and Surgery that preserves the body and each member in health and welfare with that which cuts off as Master Cotton speaks the Gangrene c and since also t is in vaine to go about when the next way is as good or better what means then Master Cotton to bring in the Magistrate using spiritual means in all lenity and wisdome against heresie and idolatry in the souls of men since death or banishment will effect the cure so quickely Peace To proceed whereas it was urged that although civil weapons were proper in spiritual matters yet they were not necessary c. Master Cotton replies this is but a meer pretence because the discusser saith he denies all Church officers and Church weapons Truth This formerly was cleered from all appearance of pretence because during all the reign of the beast the discusser granteth the impregnable power of the spiritual weapons of Christs witnesses Rev. 11. although he see not extant the true form and order of the kingdome of Christ Jesus which at first he was pleased to establish Peace Master Cotton adds Although spiritual weapons are mighty to purge out leaven and to mortifie the flesh of offenders yet that is not a supersedeas to civil Magistrates to neglect to punish those sins which the church hath censured if the person censured do proceed to subvert the truth of the Gospel or the peace of the church or the souls of the people Truth Why must the Magistrate stay until the party censured do proceed so and so Why could not he have spared the drawing forth of any spiritual weapons since they are so effectual to do that which was not in the power and reach of the spiritual Why was not the first obstinacy which merited the spiritual stroaks and cersures worthy of the exercise of the civil Magistrates power and zeale Peace Me thinks this is an evident demonstration that men repose more confidence however they deceive themselves to the contrary in the sword of steel that hangs by the side of the civil officer then in the two-edged sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Jesus Rev. 1. Truth The truth is such doctrine makes Christs spiritual sword but serviceable and subordinate unto the temporal or worldly powers and presents the church but making essayes and trials of that cure which death and banishment gilded over with pretence of Gods glory c. they think will not faile to effect c. Peace More plainly therefore writes another Author of Master Cottons mind thus It is known by experience that one reproof or threatning from the Magistrate hath been known to do more then an hundred admonitions from the Minister Truth Yea no question to force a nation or a world of men to play the idolaters hypocrites c. but Gods true servants of whom these three famous Jews are type Dan. 3. know that God whom they serve is able to deliver them from such fiery threatnings and executions But if he please to try them as his gold in such fiery tryals they will not bow down to invented gods or worships Peace Methinks dear truth such Ministers deal upon the point and in effect with the civil Magistrate just as that ambitious Pope with the Emperors to wit make them hold the stirrop while they mount c. But I grieve c. What think you therefore of Master Cottons censure of the rest of the discourse in this Chapter to wit that it is but as Jude speaks clouds without waters words without matter c. Truth I will say no more but this Happily through Gods mercy Master Cottons censure may occasion some to view what he despiseth yea and happily to finde some heavenly drops out of those contemned empty clouds Examination of CHAP. XLVI Peace THe 13 to the Rom. which the answerer quotes is a fort of of such importance in so many controversies depending between the Papist and the Protestant and between many Protestants among themselves that all seek to gaine and win it In this present controversive I finde a wonderful wresting of this holy Scripture even by many holy and peaceable though herein violent and sinful hands and let the charge be examined in the fear of God whether slanderous as Master Cotton intimates or true and righteous Master Cotton freely grants that this
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
true Religion to heare and try all Truth Master Cotton may here be intreated to take notice of his own distinction of unrighteousness which a little before he seemed to me to forget for here he rightly distinguisheth between spiritual matters of unrighteousness against the church and civil unrighteousness against the Commonweal I therefore urge as before that the civil Magistrate although he punish according to his civil place and calling civil unrighteousness against the state yet he hath no warrant from Master Cottons argument nor any from the Lord Jesus Christ to punish spiritual unrighteousness against the church and why then should that tearm of unrighteousness so generally and fallaciously go undistinguished and Master Cotton thus promisâ—uoâ—sly proclaime idolatry is unrighteousness heresie is unrighteonsness and therefore the civil Magistrate is bound to punish c 2. But oh that this maxime alleadged by Master Cotton might receive its due weight and consideration hath Christ commanded all means as well as the duty what then is the reason that since as Master Cotton argues that Christ hath commanded all the civil powers of the world such a spiritual duty and yet I say that all or most of the civil states of the world beyond comparison are not furnished by Christ with those chief means of grace and light whereby to try and search as Master Cotton exhorteth Or in some few places where means of light are vouchsafed with hearts and spirits unto such a duty May we not here say that men make Christ Jesus in appointing such officers such a duty without furnishing them accordingly to forget that maxime of his Type Solomon Prov. 26. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the leg and drinketh dammage Did not Christ know as well as John that all the world lay in wickedness that all the world in a respect was then Roman Paganish and that all the world in after-ages would wonder after the beast and become Roman Popish Or can we imagine that Christ Jesus did not foresee the cutting off of legs and the cup of dammage and loss which he must drink in sending his minde and will into the world by such foolish instruments Peace Surely Master Cotton would never advise the civil state ty send a weighty cause and the lives of souldiers with such captaines Nor will he set an unruly childe under the rod of such teachers or reformers He will not set forth his Farme or betrust his cattel no not his very hogs to such keepers Truth On the other hand let the government of Christs kingdome be laid upon the right shoulders and we shall finde the admirable wisdome and care of Christ in the affaires of his kingdom in appointing such messengers or Apostles to gather and found his churches as also ordinary Pastors Shepherds or teachers for their feeding and building up c. The qualification of these the Spirit of God hath expresly and exactly recorded wherein according to the principle mentioned by Master Cotton Christ Jesus his highest care and wisdome shines most gloriously in appointing the means as well as the duty it self Peace But Master Cotton addeth that the causes of religion wherein we allow the civil Magistrate to be Judges are so fundamental and palpable that no Magistrate studious of Religion in the fear of God cannot but judge such as cannot they ought to forbear c. the exercise of their power either in protecting or punishing matters of Religion till they learn so much knowledge of the truth as may inable them to discerne of things that differ This forbearance of theirs saith he is not for want of authority in their callings nor for want of duty in their consciences but want of evidence to them in the cause In which case Magistrates are wont to forbear their exercise of power and judgement even in civil cases Truth O the miserable allowance which Master Cotton hath brought the kings and governors of the world unto We allow them saith he to judge in such fundamentals and palpable causes c. Oh with what proud and domineering feet do all Popes tread upon the necks even of the highest kings and Emperors The Magistrate must wait at their gates for their poor allowance They shall judge and they shall not judge They shall judge that which is gross and palpable and enough to hold the people in slavery and to force them to sacrifice to the Priests belly but the more sublime and nicer mysteries they must not judge or touch but attend upon the tables of the Priests infallibility Peace Concerning fundamentals dear truth you have well observed that since the apostacy and the worlds wondring after the beast even Gods servants themselves untill yesterday have not so much as heard of such a kind of church and so consequently of such a Christ the head of it as Master Cotton now professeth For no other matter and forme of a church about which Master Cotton justly contends was known I say among Gods people themselves till yesterday then the matter and form of the stone or woodden Parish-church Truth Yea an happy man were Mr. Cotton could he rectifie and settle those foundations which are yet so controverted amongst Gods servants to wit the Doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands Peace You may also mention other foundations which want not their great disputes among the servants of Christ Truth But further that Christ Jesus the wisdome of the Father should commit his wife his church to be governed in his absence by such who generally know not the church and Saints but cruelly and blasphemously persecute them with fire and sword and this with charge to suspend most Magistrates of the world and that all their dayes from generation to generation as appeareth in all parts of the world which is such a monstrous and blasphemous Paradox that common reason cannot digest nor suffer Peace If Merchants and owners of ships should commit their vessels to such men as wanted ability to steer their courses nay could not tell what a ship was yea were never like to know all their dayes surely it were not only matter of admiration but even of laughter and derision among all the sons of men Truth But further How weak is that distinstion which Master Cotton makes between authority of calling and duty and evidence in the cause when in all judicatures in the whole world even amongst the Pagans there is necessarily supposed beside these three a fourth to wit ability or skill of discerning or judging in such cases Now cognizance of the cause or evidence of the cause may be wanting in most able judges where matters are not proper or not ripe for hearing and trials whereas our dispute is of the very ability or skil of judging which Master Cotton himself confesseth is wanting except in such Magistrates as fear God which will be found to be but a little flock especially compared with the
also called by the Prophets Ichovah's Land Emanuels land which names and titles I think Master Cotton will not say are competent and appliable to any other Lands or Countries under the Gospel but onely to the Spiritual Canaan or Israel the Church and people of God the true and onely Christendome Peace But Fourthly saith he they are called Gods and shall they not attend Gods work Truth In the state of Israel they were Gods deputies to attend the causes of Israel the then onely Church of God But Master Cotton can produce no parallel to that but the Christian Churches and people of God not national but Congregational c. 2. Grant the Magistrates to be as Gods or strong ones in a Resemblance to God in all Nations of the world yet that is still within the compass of their calling which being confessed to be essentially civil the civil work of these servants of the Common-weal is Gods work as well as Paul calls in a sence the work of the servants of the Family Gods work for which he pays the wages Eph. 5. Lastly for spiritual causes we know the Lord Iesus is call'd God Psal 45. Heb. 1. whose Scepter and Kingdome being essentially spiritual the administrations which he hath appointed are also spiritual and of an heavenly and soul Nature Peace Master Cotton Fifthly adds Revel 17. The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Truth How the Kingdomes of the World shall become the Kingdomes of Christ is no smal mystery and controversie but grant it to be true that either Christ Iesus personally or by his Deputies the Saints shall rule all the Nations of the world in hearing and determining all civil Controversies Yet why doth Master Cotton draw an Argument from this Prophecie of what shall be in one Age or Time of the World and to come to prove an Vniversal power and Exercise of such power in all Ages and times since Christ Iesus his first comming to this day Peace Me thinks Master Cotton may as well argue that because it was prophesied that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a child in Gods appointed season that therefore all Virgins must so conceive and so being in forth all ages of the world But Lastly saith Master Cotton although the nations have not that typical holiness which the nation of Israel had Yet all the Churches of the Saints have as much truth and realty of holiness as Israel had And therefore what holy care of Religion lay upon the Kings of Israel in the Old Testament the same lyeth now upon Christian Kings in the New Testament to protect the same in their Churches Truth Oh how neer the precious Iewels and Bargains of Truth come sometimes Gods Saints and yet miss of the finding and going through with it The chucrhes of the New Testament Master Cotton grants succeed the Church of Israel The Kings and Governours therefore of the churches of Christ must succeed those Kings What King and Governours of Israel are now to be found in the Gospel but Christ Iesus and his Servants deputed in his absence which are all of a spiritual consideration What is this to the Nations Kings and Governours of the world where few Kings few Nobles few Wise are cald to profess Christ Is not Christ Iesus the onely King of Israel and are not all his holy ones made Kings and Priests unto God And unto his Saints and his spiritual officers Administration in the midst of them is his Kingdomes power committed in his absence This spiritual power however the Pope and prelates Kings and Princes Parliaments and General Courts and their respective Officers of Justice to be honoured and obeyed in civil things I say however they have challenged and assumed this Kingly Power of the Son of God yet the King of Kings Christ Jesus hath begun to discover and will never leave until he hath made it clear as the Sun Beames that he is robd of his crown and will shake and break all the nations and Powers of the world until his Heavenly crown be again restored Examination of CHAP. LI. Peace TO the fourth Argument Rom. 13. from the civil rewards due to Magistrates to wit custom Tribute c. Master Cotton replies That even the contributions of the Saints are called carnal things shall therefore their work be called carnal It is true saith he the contributions of the Saints are called holy because they are given to God for his service about holy things So the reward given to Magistrates is for their service about Righteous things And it is righteous saith he to preserve the purity of Doctrine VVorship and Government which if Magistrates do not they do not deserve all their wages Truth It is true that money or monies-worth is the same for value in the contribution of the Saints and in that of custome tribute and yet Master Cotton grants a Holiness of the Saints contribution which he doth not affirme of custome tribute c. There is also a two fold way disputed of preserving of the purity of Doctrine worship c. First That which I plead for by spiritual weapons appointed by Christ Iesus Secondly that of Civil weapons Force of Armes c. which Master Cotton affirmes and I deny to be ever appointed by Christ Iesus or able to accomplish a spiritual end but the Contrary Peace Me thinks Master Cottons addition not a little concernes my self in the peace of all Citties and Kingdomes for if as Master Cotton saith Magistrates shall not deserve all their wages except they preserve the purity of Doctrine worship c. which upon the point is that Doctrine Worship and Government Master Cotton approves of what is this in effect but to deny tribute custome subsidies c. to Caesar the Kings and Governours of the Earth if they prove Hereticks Idolaters c. I cannot see but this in plaine English tendeth to little less then the Popish bloudy Doctrine of deposing heretical Kings c. But Master Cotton further adds that spiritual wages are to be paid to Magistrates 1 Tim. 2. to wit Prayers Intercessions c. If therefore saith he the Magistrates suffer their Subjects to live a quiet life in ungodliness and Dishanesty the Magistrate fals short of returning spiritual recompence for the spiritual Duties and services performed for them Truth Those prayers are not the proper wages paid to Magistrates for their work for then should they not be paid as the Spirit of God there exhorteth to all men whether Magistrates or not Peace And I may add nor paid to those Magistrates that are Idolatrous Blasphemous Persecutors But those prayers were to be poured forth for such Magistrates such as most of the Magistrates in the world then were and are Those prayers then were a general Duty to be paid to all men and especially to the chiefe and principal Kings and all that are in Authority Truth Now further wherein it
some cases Peace Yea but saith he In ordinary cases it is not lawful to tolerate from Deut. 13. Truth I am of Master Cotton's minde It is not lawful for Israel that is the Church of God to tolerate and the reason it pleaseth the Lord to alleadge is eternal But what is this to the nations of the world the states cities and kingdoms thereof Let Master Cotton finde out any such land or state that is the Church and Israel of God Yea Master Cotton confesseth in a fore-going passage that the Church is the Israel of God Then must he with me acknowledge that this Deut. 13. only concerns the Israel or Church of God whom Christ Jesus furnished with spiritual weapons against such spiritual offenders Peace But I wonder that Master Cotton should say that Moses capitals are eternal Truth I wonder not because I have seen in print sixteen or seventeen capital evils a great part of them of a spiritual nature censured with death in New England And yet again me thinks it is wonderful since Master Cotton knows how many of Moses capitals were of a ceremonial nature The breach of the sabbath the not coming to keep the passeover for neglect whereof the Israelites were to be put to death how can Master Cotton make these eternal in all nations Peace How many millions of millions of Heads and not a few of the highest in our own and other Nations would soon feel the capital calamity of such a capital bloody Tenent if Master Cotton swayed the Scepter of some of the worlds former or present Caesars Truth And yet I readily affirm that spiritually and mystically in the Church and Kingdom of Christ such evils are to be spiritually and so eternally punished CHAP. LIV Replying to Chap. LVI Examined Peace IN this 56 Chap. were observed two evils in Mr. Cottons conjoyning of seducing teachers and scandalous livers as the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress and punish Unto which Master Cotton replies First That he no where makes it the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress seducing teachers and scandalous livers saying that it ought to be the care of the church to suppress and punish seducing teachers and scandalous livers in a church-way as well as the Magistrates in a civil way Truth By this Doctrine Master Cotton will seem to deny it to be the Magistrates proper and adequate object to punish scandalous livers because the church also saith he is to make it her work also It is true if a scandalous liver be of the church and fall into any scandal she by the ruls and power of Christ ought to recover him in the spirit of meekness but yet the punishing of him with temporal punishment who will deny it to be the proper work of the civil state But Secondly what if the seducing teacher or scandalous liver be neither of them members of the Church and the church hath nought to do to judge them without will not Master Cotton then affirm the seducing Teacher or scandalous liver to be the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work Peace When it was excepted against that things of such a different nature and kind as seducing Teachers and scandalous livers should be coupled together at the civil Bar Master Cotton replies that both these agree in one common kind to wit they are evil and destructive to the common good of Gods people which ought to be preserved both in church and Commonweal If a man shall say saith he that the work of creation on the sixth day was either of man or of Beast is here any such commiâ—ture Truth Were Master Cotton the worlds Monarch what bloody reformations or destructions rather would he fill the world withal if he walk by such rules and principles for what religions or almost men all the world over would he finde not opposite and destructive to Gods people 2. But Secondly an historical narration of Gods works on man or Beast Birds Fishes and all creatures Coelestial and Terrestial is one thing But to mix them together in doings or sufferings inconsistent with and improper to their kinds is another thing far different and insufferable As for a man to affirme that a man and a beast â—in'd against their Maker and therefore were justly punished with spiritual blindness and hardness of heart loss of Gods Image c. The same difference and no less is between transgressors against the heavenly state and kingdome of Christ and the earthly state or Commonweal of Cities kingdomes c. Peace Master Cotton adds that it is more tolerable for seducing Teachers to seduce those who are in the same gall of bitterness as for Pagans to seduce Pagans c. Truth That is but in the degree and so according to his supposition must be punished gradually but what is this to prove seducing Teachers as well as scandalous livers the joynt object of the civil sword Peace Why doth Master say it is more tolerable for Pagans to seduce Pagans Antichristians Antichristians What Scripture doth he produce for this toleration this indulgence this partiality All that is here said is this We look at it as more tolerable Truth One thing is shroudly to be suspect in this matter and that is a most unchristian partiality in directing the sword of the Magistrate to fall heaviest on such seducers only as trouble his conscience his Doctrine Worship and Government suppose in some of the Cities of Holland Poland or Turkie where some freedome is that Jews Pagans Antichristians and Christians that is Christians of Master Cottons conscience together with Turkes were commingled in civil cohabitation and commerce together Why now shall that Turke that hath seduced one of Master Cottons conscience to Mahumetaniâ—me be more punished for that crime then for turning a Jew Pagan or Papist to his Relief and worship What warrant shall the Magistrate of such a city or place finde to their souls either for striking at all with the civil sword in such a case or else in dealing such partial blows among the people Peace I fear that Gods own people of this opinion see not the deceitfulness of their own heart crying up the Christian Magistrate the Christian Magistrate Nursing fathers Nursing mothers c. when all is but to escape the bitter sweeting of Christs cross so dashing in pieces the most wise councels of the father concerning his blessed Son and his followers to whom he hath ordinarily alotted in this world the portion of sorrow and suffering and of raigning and triumphing after the battel fought and victory obtained in the world approaching Peace But Master Cotton will say that in such fore-mentioned cases such Magistrates must suspend punishments for religion c. Truth I say consequently all or most of the Magistrates in the world must suspend and none but some few of his conscience by his doctrine shall
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
2. Of Jerome Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit Let us strike through with the Arrowes of the Spirit implying not with other weapons 3. Of Luther in his Booke of the Civill Magistrate The Lawes of the Civill Magistrate extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods And againe upon Luk. 22. It is not the true Catholike church which is defended by the Secular Arme or humane Power Lastly The Papists in their Booke for Tolleration When Christ bids his Disciples to say peace to this house he doth not send Pursevants to ransack or spoyle the house Lastly The Prisoner in answering some Objections concludeth It is no prejudice to the Common-wealth if Libertie of Conscience were granted to such as feare God indeed He also alledged that many Sects lived under the Government of Caesar being nothing hurtfull unto the Common-weale Peace From these severall Tasts Deare Truth I cannot imagine how the Prisoner can be understood to cast the least glance unto spirituall persecution or prosecution as M r Cotton in this Chap calls it But to end this Chapter When as the Power of Christ Jesus in his Church was argued sufficient for spirituall ends M r Cotton grants both for the healing of sinners and for keeping of the Church from Guilt but not for the preventing of the spreading of false Doctrine among those out of the Church and in private among Church-Members nor sufficient to cleare the Magistrates of a Christian State from the Guilt of Apostasie in suffering such Apostates amongst them c. Truth I have in other Passages of this Discourse proved 1. That Christ Jesus whiles his Churches and Ordinances flourished and since the Apostasie of Antichrist in the hands of his Witnesses hath gloriously and sufficiently furnished his Servants for all spirituall cases of all sorts defending offending c. 2. That there is no other Christian State acknowledged in the New Testament but that of the Christian Church or Kingdome and that not Nationall but Congregationall 3. That the Apostles or Messengers of Christ Jesus never addressed themselves by Word or Writing to any of the Civill States wherein they lived and taught and were mightily opposed and blasphemed I say they never ran to borrow the Civill Sword to helpe the two edged Sword of Christ Jesus against Opposers Schismaticks Hereticks The Lord Jesus was a wiser King then Solomon even Wisdome it selfe and cannot without great Dishonour and Derogation to his Wisdome and Love be imagined to leave open such Gaps such Leakes such Breaches in the Ship and Garden of his Church and Kingdome The Exam of Chap. 56. replying to 58. 59. Peace TO the first observation that M r Cotton urgeth that Princes are nurcing Fathers to feede and correct and consequently must judge of feeding and correction and all men are bound to submit to such their feeding and correction M r Cotton sayth This is false and fraudulent so to collect and these are devised Calumnies Truth It will evidently appeare how greatly M r Cotton forgets the Matter and Himselfe when he so deeply chargeth for all this he granteth in this his Reply onely with this Limitation that Subjects are bound to submit to them herein when they judge according to the Word This Limitation takes not away the observation for it is alway implyed in subjection to all Civill Rulers Fathers Husbands Masters that it be according to the Word Peace Yea but sayth he it is a Notorious Calumnie so to represent M r Cottons dealing with Princes as if he made his owne Judgement and practice the Rule of the proceeding of Princes Truth Let it be laid in the Ballance and seene where the Calumnie or slander lies Princes or Civill Rulers saith M r Cotton are Fathers to feed and correct and their Judgement ought therein to be obeyed according to the Word Now some Princes and Rulers declare themselves against M r Cottons Tenent of persecution for conscience M r Cotton will answer The profession and practice of Princes is no rule to Conscience I reply and ask who shall judge of Princes profession and practice when they thus feed and judge in spirituall matters whether their profession and practice be according to the Word or no M r Cotton when Princes are alleadged against his judgement and conscience pleads that Princes profession and practice is no rule Let all men judge whether his judgement and conscience be not made the Rule to the consciences and practices of Princes whom yet he makes the nurcing Fathers Peace When it was further demanded whether M r Cotton and others of his minde could submit in spirituall cases to any Magistrates in the world but onely to those just of his owne Conscience He answers they will submit to any in Active or Passive obedience Truth But how can M r Cotton suppose Active obedience in spirituall things to such Magistrates who are Pagans Turkish Antichristian and unable to judge and bound by his Doctrine to suspend their Dealings upon matter of Religion untill they be better informed What Active obedience can I be supposed to give to him that hath no Activitie nor Abilitie to command and rule me And must it not evidently follow that Active obedience in these cases according to his Judgement must onely be yeelded to such Magistrates as are able to judge the true Religion and way of Worship That is the Religion and Worship which he takes to be of God Peace Whereas it was said will it not follow that all other Consciences in the world besides their owne must be persecuted by such their Magistrates were power in their hand M r Cotton replyes no except all Mens consciences in the world did erre fundamentally against the Principles of Christian Religion or fundamentally against Church-Order and Civill Order and that in a tumultuous and factious manner for in these cases onely sayth he we allow Magistrates to punish in matters of Religion Truth I have and must observe the Evill of that Distinction between Christian Religion and Christian Order as not finding any such in the Testament of the Sonne of God but finding Church-Order a principall part of the Christian Religion as well as Repentance and Faith Heb. 6. But 2. grant once M r Cottons Religion and way of Worship to be the onely true Religion and way of Gods Worship and all other Religions and wayes of Worship false how can that Errour be otherwise then fundamentall And if other mens Consciences attend not to M r Cottons convictions but obstinately maintaine their blasphemous Religions how can the Magistrates of his conscience be dispenced with and absolved from persecuting such obstinate Consciences throughout the whole World beside Peace When it was further demanded if this were not to make Magistrates Staires and Stirrops for themselves the Clergie to mount up in the seats and sadles of their great and setled Maintenance M r Cotton replyes this is rather to make them Swords and
of Religion is spirituall by false Teachers false Prophets by spirituall Rebells and Traytors against the Worship and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Against which Disturbers or Destroyers if Christ Jesus have not provided sufficient spirituall Defence let Moses his ancient Type be said to exceede him in Faithfulnesse David in holy zeale and affection to the house of God and Solomon in wisdome and heavenly prudence in ordering the Affaires of the holy Worship of God Peace But further whereas it was said that to confound these to wit a Civill and Spirituall Government was Babell and Jewish M r Cotton replyes That is Babell to tollerate and advance Idolatrie 2. Sayth he though Christ hath abolished a Nationall Church-State which Moses set up in the Land of Canaan yet Christ never abolished a Nationall Civill State nor the Judiciall Lawes of Moses which were of Morall Equitie and therefore sayth he If the true Christs bloud goe for the planting of the Church let the false Christs goe for supplanting it Truth I answer Babell was infamous for Pride for Confusion or Disorder for Idolatrie for Tyrannie Now let all persecuting Cities and Kingdomes be examined and see if they have been cleare from any of these and especially from Babells confusion and disorder from monstrous mingling of Spirituall and Civill the Devills Worship with Gods vessells It was no Confusion in the Nationall Church of Israel for the Power of that Nation in the hands of Kings and Civill Rulers to purge that Nationall Church by Nationall force of weapons and Death But since M r Cotton acknowledgeth that Christ hath abolished that Nationall Church and established Congregationall Churches in some of which possibly may be no Civill Magistrate fearing God for few wise or noble are called and consequently few godly or Christian Magistrates professing Christ Jesus What is this but Babell or a Babylonish mixture of the Old and New Testament Nationall and Congregationall Churches power and practices together Peace 2. What if Christ Jesus have not abolished a Nationall Church State it is sufficient that he hath abolished a Nationall Church And if so then in Church matters those Nationall Judicialls and the use of those Nationall Weapons and Punishments in attending upon such a Nationall Church Yea what colour of Morall Equitie is there that all the Nations of the World most of which never heard of Christ should be ruled by such Lawes and Punishments as were peculiarly and miraculously given and appointed to one selected and culd out Nation conceived borne and brought up as I may so speake from first to last by extraordinarie and miraculous dispensation Peace There may be sayth M r Cotton difference between the Nations professing Christianitie and other Nations Truth There is indeed great Difference There are two sorts of Nations or Peoples of the World which shall be Fewell for the devouring flames of the Lord Jesus 2 Thess 1. First such as know not Christ Jesus of which sort the greatest part of the Nations of the World beyond all colour of comparison consist 2. Such as have heard a sound and make some profession of the Name of Christ Jesus and yet obey him not as Lord and King c. Now it is true at the Tribunall of this dreadfull Judge Tyre and Sidon Sodome and Gomorra shall finde an easier doome then shall Bethsaida Chorazin Capernaum Jerusalem c. And M r Cotton need not feare the escaping of a false Christ when all Nations professing Christianitie Papist or Protestant if yet found disobedient to the true Christ shall passe under a more fierie Sentence then all Mahumetane and Pagan Countries Peace M r Cotton will not stick to subscribe to this But the false Christs bloud sayth he ought now to be spilt Truth Since there are so many false Christs as the true Christ Prophesied M r Cotton must unavoydably name and detect and convict those false Christs Popish and Protestant c. upon whom he passeth such a present Sentence He must also direct the way how the true Christ may shed the bloud of the false Christs When M r Cotton hath done this faithfully and impartially according to his Conscience and present Judgement what Reader will not at first view see rising up from such Premises these foure Conclusions First Amongst so many Christs extant that is visible Christs Head and Body in the Christian Antichristian World there can but One Christ be found to be true Secondly That Christ which M r Cotton professeth according to his Conscience will be He. Thirdly All such Christs as are extant beside M r Cottons Head and Body ought impartially to be put to Death as false counterfeit blasphemous c. Fourthly Such as embrace his Christ that is be of his Church and Conscience are bound if they once get power in their hands to pursue with fire and sword and to shed the bloud of all the false Christs that is the severall sorts of false or Antichristian Worshippers Peace Oh how wise and Righteous is the Lord in letting loose the Wolfe and Lyon persecutors and Hunters upon his Sheepe and People that by their owne painfull sence of such bloudie violence and crueltie he may graciously purge out the Malignant venemous Humours of such fowle Antichristian and bloudie Doctrines But to the next the King of Bohemia his saying Whereas it was said that in this Kings Speech M r Cotton had passed by that Foundation in Grace and Nature to wit that Conscience ought not to be violated or forced and that such forcing is no other then a Spirituall Rape M r Cotton replyes It was not passed by but prevented in stating the Question where it was said It is not lawfull to Censure any no not for Errour in Fundamentall Points of Doctrine or Worship till the Conscience of the offendour be first convinced out of the Word of God of the dangerous Errour of his way and then if he will persist it is not out of Conscience but against his Conscience as the Apostle sayth Tit. 3. 11. and so he is not persecuted for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience 1. Truth I answer the forcing of a Woman that is the violent Acting of uneleannesse upon her bodie against her will we count a Rape By Proportion that is a Spirituall or Soule-rape which is a forcing of the Conscience of any Person to Acts of Worship which the Scripture entitles by the name of the Marriage bed Cant. 1. This forcing of Conscience was in an high measure the branded sinne of that great typicall Machiavel Jeroboam who made Israel to Worship before the Golden Calves And this is the abominable practice of the Second Beast who compells all to take the Marke of the first Beast and this is the sinne of the mysticall Ammon the Princes of Europe and of the Antichristian World those mysticall effeminate Ahabs who give their power to the Beast themselves together with that Man of Sinne and
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
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
strangers in their Worship And for their Countrymen for the most part that they worship God with them They which are distant have Libertie of publike prayer and preaching by such as themselves choose without disturbance Truth Concerning the Indians it is most true that the Monahigganéucks Mishawomêucks Pawtuckséucks and Cawsumséucks who professe to submit to the English continue in their publike Paganish Worship of Devills I say openly and constantly Peace Yea but saith M r Cotton they have submitted to the ten Commandements Truth I answer the ten Commandements containe a Renunciation of all salse Gods and Worships and a Worshipping of the true God according to his owne Institutions and Appointments which their practice is as farre from as Mid-night is from Mid-day 2. To put men upon observations of Gods Worship as Prayer c. before the Foundations of Repentance from dead workes their worshipping of Idolls c. is as farre from the Order of Christ Jesus and his Christian principles whereof Repentance from dead workes is the first as the building of an House or Palace without the first Groundsell or Foundation laid Peace M r Cotton therefore saith they preach unto them Truth I from my soule wish that all the Lords people in New England were Prophets yea true Apostolicall Ministers or Preachers truely furnished with Christs Abilities and Christs Commission to goe forth to convert and baptize the Nations even these Wildest of the Nations of Adams Children But Conversion of Nations M r Cotton sayth upon Revel 15. untill the seaven plagues of the seaven Angells be fullfilled will not be great This Interpretation I acknowledge to be very probable so far as concernes any great Conversion of the Nations before the downfall of Antichrist and in the meane season I commend the pious Endeavours of any professing Ministery or not to doe good to the Soules of all Men as We have opportunitie But that any of the Ministers spoken of are furnished with true Apostolicall Commission Matth. 28. I see not for these Reasons First The Minister or Ministers whom M r Cotton I conceive intends professe an ordinarie Office in the Church of Christ which is cleerely distinct yea and another thing from the office of an Apostle or one sent forth to preach and baptize Ephes 4. 1 Cor. 12. Secondly Such Churches as are invested with the power of Christ and so authoriz'd to send forth are seperate from the World which many thousands of Gods people dead and living have seene just Reasons to deny those Churches so to be Thirdly Were the Church true and the Messenger or Apostle rightly sent forth with prayer and fasting according to Act. 13. yet I believe that none of the Ministers of New England nor any person in the whole Countrey is able to open the Mysteries of Christ Jesus in any proprietie of their speech or Language without which proprietie it cannot be imagined that Christ Jesus sent forth his first Apostles or Messengers and without which no people in the World are long willing to heare of difficult and heavenly matters That none is so fitted First The Natives themselves affirme as I could instance in many particulars Secondly The Experience of the Discusser and of many others testifie how hard it is for any man to attaine a little proprietie of their Language in common things so as to escape Derision amongst them in many yeares without abundance of conversing with them in Eating travelling and lodging with them c. which none of their Ministers other affaires not permitting ever could doe Peace There being no helpes of Art and learning amongst them I see not how without constant use or a Miracle any man is able to attaine to any proprietie of speech amongst them even in common things And without proprietie as before who knowes not how hardly all men especially Barbarians are brought to heare matters of Heaven so strange and contrary to Nature yea even matters of the Earth except profit and other worldly ends compell them to spell out Mens minds and meaning Truth 3. I may truely adde a third an Instance in the booke of their Conversion written by M r Tho Shepheard there M r Eliot the ablest amongst them in the Indian Speech promising an old Indian a suit of Cloths the man sayth the relation not well understanding M r Eliots speech asked another Indian what M r Eliot said Peace Me thinks the Native not understanding such a common and wellcome promise of cloths upon Gift would farre more hardly understand M r Eliots preaching of the garment of Righteousnesse Christ Jesus unto which Men mutually turne the deafe Eare c. Truth Neither you sweet Peace nor I Expresse thus much to dampe M r Eliot or any from doing all the good they can whiles opportunitie lasts in any truely Christian way but to shew how great that mistake is that pretends such a true preaching of Christ Jesus to them in their owne Language Peace But to proceed in the next Passage M r Cotton affirmes their Impartialitie in permitting others as well as the Indians Truth I answer it is one thing to connive at a strange Papist in private devotions on shoare or in their vessells at Anchor c. Another thing to permit Papists Jewes Turkes c. the free and constant Exercise of their Religion and Worship in their respective Orders and Assemblies were such Inhabitants amongst them Peace Doubtlesse the bloudie Tenent cannot permit this Libertie neither to the Papists Jewes Turkes c. nor to the Indians nor doth their practice toward their Countrymen hould forth a shew of such a freedome or permission Truth I wonder why M r Cotton writes that the most part of the English worship God with them and the rest absent have Libertie to choose their Preachers Since M r Cotton knowes the Petition and Petitions that have been presented for Libertie of Conscience in New England and he cannot but also know the Imprisoning and Fining of some of the Petitioners c. Peace It may be M r Cotton will use the common objection that some part of their Petition tended to Disturbance in Civill Things Truth Some of their Petitions were purely for Libertie of Conscience which some in Office both in Church and State favoured as is reported if not promoted If others or some part of them might be judged offensive against Lawes made yet why then hath not the Libertie of their Conscience in point of Worship been granted to them When they have complained amongst other Passages that they have been forced to stay the baptizing of other Mens children while their owne might not be admitted and therefore earnestly sued for Ministers and Congregations after their owne free choice and Consciences which have ever been denyed to them Peace It is said that their Ministers being consulted with utterly denied to yeeld to any such Libertie Truth They might justly feare that if such a window were opened as once Bishop Gardiner
by pretended legall tryals and executions of Justice sometimes by most horrid and dreadfull murthers and massacres Peace Thus hath Christ Jesus indeed been vanquished and driven out of this world by the powers of Caesars Kings and other earthly Governours and Rulers Truth 'T is a fresh and bleeding History of that famous disputation between the Cardinal and Prelates of France and Beza with his protestant assistants under Charles the 9 th And not long after of that most barbarous and horrible murther and massacre of about 30000 Innocents to finish and compleat that victory which the pretended Disputation and spirituall arme could never effect Peace Yea in the bloody Marian dayes there must be Convocations cald at London and downe must these famous witnesses of Jesus Cranmer Ridley Latimer to dispute at Oxford but faithfull Philpot for his free disputing in the Convocation at London and Cranmer Latimer and Ridley for not yeelding away the truth at Oxford they must all feel the rage of the fiery furnace who bow not downe to the golden Image And without offence of civill Authority or disrespect against any mans person be it spoken in the late great disputes between the Presbyterians and Independents at VVestminster what a Tempest raised what Earthquakes and Thunders cal'd for from Earth and Heaven ihat the second sword of the magistrate herein the Presbiterians Servant and Executioner might effect that which all the power of the pretended sword of Gods Spirit was never able to reach to Pea. To proceed M Cot. is greatly offended at this word to wit the Eye of the Answerer could never be so obscured as to run to the Smiths-shop for a sword of Iron and steel to help the Sword of the Spirit if the Sun of Ryghteousnes had pleased to shew him that a Nationall Church c. And his anger breaths forth first against all Hereticks thus If there be stones of the streets the Magistrate need not run for a Sword from the Smiths shop nor an Halter from the Ropiers to punish an Heretick Truth It is true the warehouse of persecution is so abundantly filled with all sorts of bloody Instruments besides Swords and Ropes that the Primitive and Latter times have told us how many severall sorts of sorrows pains and torments the servants of the living God have felt by severall Instruments of Blood and Death besides Ropes and Swords c. and all to punish as Master Cotton sayth the Heretick the Heretick Blasphemer Seducer c. Peace What is this Anger but Fury Ira furor brevis est And what weapons can be wanting to Fury not the stones in the streets saith Master Cotton Furor arma ministrat for the magistrate needs not saith he stay so long as to run to a Smiths-shop for a sword or to the Ropiers for a halter c. Peace O the mysteries of iniquitie and cozenage of sin that a Lambe of Christ should thus roar out like a Lyon and at the speech may be construed by some so far as in him lies to provoke the civill powers yea the people in the streets to furious outrage and not so much as to attend proceedings in pretended legal Trials and executions but in the madnesse of Barbarous murthers and massacres and that even upon himselfe and the Independants in their meetings c. Peace But 2dly he finds fault with the Discussers wit for bringing such light conceits into grave discourses and disputes about the holy things of God Truth If there be any thing savouring of wit in the Discussors speech let all men judge whether there be not a double yea a treble portion in this of Master Cottons I acknowledge Non est major confusio quam serij Joci The Discussor dares not willingly to prophane the holy name of the most high with lightnes no not with those fine turnings of wit which the word forbids 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 5. which becomes not Christs schollars but rather the giving of thanks And yet there is an holy wit and pleasantnes in Samsons Riddle in Jothams and Jesus his Parables yea and in Eliah his sharpe and cutting language which cut as deep to their deluding consciences as the Knives and Lances of their Idolatrous backs and bodies Yet none of these were as Mast Cotton insinuates against the Discusser for naming of Smiths-shop playings with feathers c. Peace But what think you of his confidence touching his New-England Diana to wit that the Discusser will never be able to make it good that the Church in New-England is implicitly a Nationall and State Church Truth His own words seem to prove it for if it be a Church and not Churches of N. England as elsewhere he speaks and as the Scripture ordinarily speaks the Churches of Judea Galatia c. it cannot be no other but a Nationall as the English-Church Scotch-Church French-Church c. But possibly it being a mistake I answer A Nation in the common and large extent I dare not call New-England but thus the severall Plantations or Colonies of one Religion or way of worship make up one Colonie or Province of English-men in this part or tract of America I cannot therefore call the Church of New-England properly a Nationall Church but a Provinciall Church a State-Church cast into the mould of a Nationall Church distinct into so many Parishes I say not expresly and explicitly but implicitly and secretly which the son of righteousnesse will at last reveal as clearly and brightly in the eyes of all men as the sun that shines at Noon-day At present I affirm what ever are the pretences pleas and coverings to the contrary that that Church estate that religion and worship w ch is commanded or permitted to be but one in a country nation or province as was the Jews religion in that typical land of Canan that Church is not in the nature of the particular Churches of Christ but in the nature of a Nationall or state Church the nature of a particular Church of Christ is to be one 2 or 3 more or lesse in Townes or Cities as in all the instances of the New-Testament but the nature of the State Church is when the whole State is turn'd into a State Church in so many Parishes or Divisions of worshippers and it is made odious intolerable for any part of this City state ce not to attend the common worship of the City sanctifie the holy times and contribute to the holy Officers and to walke in another way which is the generall state and practise of New-England 2 That is a nationall and state Church where the Civill power is constituted the Head thereof to see to the conforming or reforming of the Church the truth or falshood of the Churches Ministries or ministrations ordinances Doctrine c. In the particular Churches of Christ Jesus wee finde not a tittle of the power of the civill magistrate or civill sword in spirituall
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
therefore Master Cotton elsewhere saith they must suspend to deal in Church matters untill they can judge c. And this First implies their light and judgement absolutely necessary in all such matters of the Church about which they are to Judge and act as often I affirme 2 I aske what kind of spirituall Physicians will Master Cotton have who shall be bound to suspend their power all their lives long unlesse they have skill to judge of Diseases will not the similitude hold against such spirituall Fathers Nurces Physicians who all their life long yea the greatest number beyond compare of all their spirituall Fathers upon the face of the Earth must wholly suspend from acting in spirituall diseases or cases to wit in reforming establishing c. 3 Although it excuseth not 't is true such Magistates Princes Common-wealths for making this Doctrine their ground of persecuting Christ and Christians yet doubtlesse it makes their sin the greater who feed them with such bloody Doctrines and so consequently occasion them upon the rocks of such fals and dangerous and bloudy practices Exam of Chap. 70. replying to Chap. 73. Peace IN this Chap. Dear Truth lye many stones of offence at which the feet of the unwary most easily many stumble I hope your carefull and steady hand may be a blessed Instrument of their Removall As First although Master Cotton subscribe unto Luther that the Government of the Civill Magistrate doth extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods of the subject yet saith he he may and ought to improve that power over their Bodies and Goods to the good of their Souls Truth Sweet Peace my hand the hand of Christ assisting shall not be wanting but what offence can be taken at the propositions Pea. The proposition like an aple of Sodom is fair and specious untill you crush it by examination For by maintaining the Magistrates power over the Bodies and Goods of the subject for the good of his Soul it is clear in this Chapter and others foregoing and following that Master Cottons words drive at no lesse then a seising upon and plundering of the goods the Imprisoning whipping Banishing and killing the Bodies of the poor people and this under the Cloak and colour of saving their Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus Truth The Civil State and Common-weal may be compared to a peice of Tapistry or rich Arras made up of the severall parts and parcels of the Families thereof Now by the Law of God Nature and Nations a Father hath a power over his Child the Husband over the Wife the Master over c. and doubtlesse they are to improve that power and Authority for the good of the souls of their Children Yoak-fellows c. But shall we therefore say that the Father and the Husband hath power under Christ over the conscienies and religion of the Child or Wife as a Father or Husband had under Moses Numb 30. Parents are commanded in the Gospel to bring up their Children in the instruction and fear of the Lord the Husband is commanded to labour to win and save his Wife with no other power then the Wife also her Husband whether Turke or Jew Antichristian or Pagan but such a power and sword to be improved as Mr. Cotton here pretends for soul-good Master Cotton will never finde in the Testament of Christ Jesus The Plain English is what ever be the Cloak or cover which the States Kings and Rulers of this world use in this case this terme for souls good is no more then the old Popish Jesabels painting pro salute animae pro redemptione animae or as that noble St. John observed in a speech at Guild-hall that the Kings party made use of the name of Peace as the Papists used the name of God In nomine Domini c. Peace It is most lamentable to see how the Kings of the Earth are grosly flattered by their Clergy into as grosse a belief that they are most Catholick Kings as in Spain most Christian Kings as in France Defendors of the Faith in England Hence those two bloody Persecutors of Luther Charles the Fifth and Henry the Eighth were celebrated even upon the posts of the doors in Guild-Hall Carolus Henricus vivant defensor uturque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesiae Peace And yet to what other end have or doe ordinarily the Kings of the Earth use their power and authority over the Bodies and Goods of their Subjects but for the filling of their pauâ—ches like Wolves or Lions never pacified unlesse the peoples bodies goods and Souls be sacrificed to their God-belly and their owne Gods of profit honour pleasure c. Peace But in the second place Master Cotton affirmes that by procuring the good of their souls they may much advance the good of their bodies and outward man also Truth This Proposition is as fair as the former but in the searching and crushing is as rotten for however it is most true as he quoteth 1 Tim. 4. that Godlinesse hath the promise of this Life and of a better and also that such as seek first the Kingdome of God may expect outward mercies to be cast upon them yet these promises can never by any rule of Christ be stretched to proue outward prosperity and flourishing to the followers of Christ Jesus in this present evill world Peace He that is in a pleasant Bed and Dreame though he talke Idly and insensibly yet is loath to be awaked Truth Those sweet promises supply Gods servants with what outward blessings his holy Wisdome seeth they have need of for his service But when wil Master Cotton indeed witnesse against a Nationall Church and cease to mingle Heaven and Earth the Church and worldly state together when will he cease to propose the rich and peaceable victorious and flourishing Nationall State of the Jewes as the Type of the Carnall peace and worldly wealth and honour of the spirituall Nation and Kingdome of Christ Jesus when will he more plainely and simply conforme the members to the head Christ Jesus in the Holinesse Glory of his spirituall poverty shame and sufferings Peace I have in the experience of many Ages observed the flourishing prosperity of many Cities Common wealths and Nations where no sound of Christ hath come and that for hundreths yea some thousands of years together as hath formerin this discourse been instanced Truth You have found that when the Red and Black and Pale horse of War Famine and Death have thundered upon the Nations it hath not been upon the decay of a State Religion but most commonly upon the rejecting and persecuting of the Preachers and Witnesses against it Peace Yea Master Cotton himselfe observeth that such of Gods servants as grow fattest in Godlinesse grow not outwardly in wealth but God keepeth them low in outward estate Truth I conclude this passage with an observation of constant experience ever since the Son of God ascended the
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
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
to Death from the Example of Moses putting Idolaters to Death Exod 32. and the Idolater to Death Levit. 24. Truth These Instances by M r Cottons Confession extend no further then the Church of God and then I desire my abovesaid Answer may be uprightly weighed And I adde the former Instance of putting Death the three thousand Israelites about the Goulden Câ—lfe by the hand of the Levites may most lively seeme to typifie the zealous Execution of spirituall Justice in the Israel of God the Church of Christ by the true Ministers of Christ Jesus the true Antitype of that zealous Tribe of Levi. Peace Concerning Phineas whereas it was said that the flaying of the Israelitish Prince and Daughter of Midian was not for spirituall but for corporall fulthinesse Master Cotton answereth and urgeth the Israelites eating of their Sacrifices and joyning to Baal-peor Also that single Fornication was no capitall crime Truth It is most true the people committed both spirituall and corporall Filthines as very often they goe together but the Justice of God reckoned with these two sinners for and in the midst of their corporall Filthines which although it were not capitall in Israell yet the committing of it with so high an hand of presumption and small sinnes committed presumptuously in Israell were Death was enough to make it worthy of so sharpe and sudden a Destruction Peace Concerning Phineas his act M r Cotton acknowledgeth that it is no president for Ministers of the Gospel so to act but withall sayth it is praesidentiall for Magistrates Truth Phineas his Act whether of ordinarie or extraordinary Justice how can it be praesidentiall to the Civill Magistrate in a particular Church where the weapons are onely spirituall And M r Cotton grants these Examples extend no further then the Church Such as maintaine a Nationall Church which M r Cotton doth not have some colour to urge this Example for a president for in a civill State civill Officers civill Lawes civill Weapons civill punishments and rewards are proper as are also and onely Spirituall Officers spirituall Lawes spirituall punishments and Rewards in a spirituall State Peace Concerning Eliah M r Cotton excepteth against the number eight hundred and fiftie as too many by halfe Truth It is true the number of Baals Prophets were foure hundred and fiftie false Prophets enough to one poore true but yet Eliah numbers Jezabells foure hundred trencher Chaplins with them for sayth he Now therefore send and gather unto me all Israel unto Mount Carmel and the Prophets of Baal foure hundred and fiftie and the Prophets of the Grove foure hundred which eate at Jezabells Table Peace But how ever sayth M r Cotton here was no type nor Figure for Actions of morall Justice though sometimes extraordinary yet they are never figurative but with such as turne all the Scripture into an Allegorie Truth To make the shadowes of the old Testament and the Substance or Body of the New all one is but to confound and mingle Heaven and Earth together for the state of the Law was ceremoniall and figurative having a worldly Tabernacle with vanishing and beggarly Rudiments And I believe it might not onely be said that Abrahams lying with his handmaid Hagar was an Allegorie but that the whole Church of Israell Roote and Branch from first to last included figurative and Allegoricall Kernells were the Husks and Shells disclosed with more humbly diligent and spirituall teeth and fingers Peace I cannot but assent unto you that to render the old Testament Allegoricall in an humble sobrietie your Instance with many more give sufficient warrant Truth Yet I adde in answer to M r Cottons charge of turning all Scripture into an Allegorie that to deny the Historie of either Old or New Testament or to render the New Testament which expounds and fullfills the ancient figures Allegoricalls are both absurd and impious Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can an Act of morall righteousnesse be figurative Truth There is a Fallacie in this tearme morall Righteousnesse for M r Cotton himselfe hath â—â—knowledged a Righteousnesse two-fold A Spirituall Righteousnesse of the Church and a civill of the Common-weale M r Cotton also acknowledgeth Israel to be a Typicall people their land a typicall Land their Ministry and Worship typicall How can M r Cotton then deny but that the weapons of this people their punishments and rewards c. so far as concerned this their mixed figurative and typicall state were figurative and ceremoniall also And so not parts of morall civill Righteousnesse or common to all other Nations and peoples in the World Peace I cannot readily assent to M r Cotton that morall Actions of Civill Righteousnesse could not be figurative with this ceremoniall typicall and figurative people for their warre it selfe which if lawfull is an Act of civill morall Righteousnesse Paul seemes to make figurative of the spirituall Warres of the Christian Israel and Church of God Truth Yea and it is easie to observe that not onely their spirituall Worship c. not onely Acts of morall and civill Righteousnesse in peace and warre c. but even their very naturall Actions and Excrements in warres against their Enemies were figurative and typicall full of heavenly and spirituall Instruction which the unbelieving Jewes then saw not but the believing saw as they saw Christ Jesus in the Sacrifices and all their observations leading to the blessed Son of God the Messiah the Annointed or Christ to come and his Eternall Kingdome Peace M r Cotton in the next place takes offence that the Fact of Elijah should be called miraculous and askes if it be a miracle for Elijah with the aide of so many thousand Israelites to put to Death foure hundred and fiftie men Truth M r Cotton mistakes the word for the word is not fact but passage which compriseth not onely the slaughter of these their Priests but the whole matter and busines as the putting of the Worship of the true God to the Tryall of Fire from Heaven the descending of Fire from Heaven the devouring of the Sacrifice and licking up of so much water and upon this so great a number of their Priests the Fathers Shepheards and Gods of the people so thunder-smitten as from Heaven with so sudden and dreadfull a slaughter what can these be but an extraordinary Inspiration in the Prophet a supernaturall descent and operation of Fire yea and an extraordinary and wonderfull change in the heart of the People And I doubt not but M r Cotton doth sometimes give an heavenly and spirituall signification to all these figurative and miraculous Mysteries Peace But I wonder at the next words Though Christ sayth he gave no such Commission to Ministers of the Gospel to put false Prophets to Death as Elijah did yet the Act of Dutie was an ordinary dutie of morall Righteousnesse belonging to such as beare the Sword Anon againe he writes This Example will
Peace that in the winding up of this Discourse M r Cotton winds up resolveth and reduceth his former pleaded for persecuting of Hereticks Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers into the persecuting onely of Apostates who after the acknowledging of the Truth doe tread the bloud of Christs Covenant underfoote c. To which I answer If so then the discerning judging between such as gainsay Christ and blaspheame him out of Ignorance such as M r Cotton makes the Jewes who put him to Death and such as willingly and wittingly reject him I say the judging of this must then rest at the Barre of the Civill Courts and Judicatures of the World which necessarily implies a supposition of power of Judging in all the Nations of the World and so consequently in Naturall men contrary to the Scriptures which conclude all Mankinde while in their naturall estate uncapable of the things of Gods Spirit Peace Yea and also to my understanding it implies a submitting and subjecting of the Crowne and Scepter and affaires of Christ Jesus to the Civill and humane Crownes and Scepters and Tribunalls of the Nations of this World and that in spirituall and heavenly things the proper affaires of his owne Spirituall Kingdome in the which the wisest of this world are ignorant and extreamly opposite Truth For this you know M r Cotton hath a broken Refuge to wit the Nations of the World Naturall men must not judge untill they be better informed In which what a wonderfull and menstrous suspension doth he put upon the affaires of Christ Jesus all the world over and leaves the matters of Christ Jesus in worse case and more poorely provided for by Christ Jesus then the matters and affaires of any King or Kingdome in the World beyond compare and Imagination Peace Yet me-thinks those Scriptures quoted by M r Cotton Luc. 17. Those mine Enemies c. and Revel 16. Bloudie vengeance upon Antichristian Emissaries are very considerable Truth Doubtles all Scripture seriously alledged by the most ignorant and unworthy how much more from so learned and conscientious ought seriously and awfully to be pondered in the holy presence of God The Warrants and Authorities of civill powers though but pretended are not without due respect to be examined although rejected in the end as insufficient c. But consider in the Examination of those Scriptures Is it credible that all that resist Christ Jesus his Kingdome and Government are Apostate and Antichristian Emissaries against whom he powres out that Violl Have they first acknowledged the Covenant of Jesus and then trod the precious bloud of that High Covenant under feete Peace The East is not so farre from the West as those Scriptures from such a Conclusion Truth Yea how many hundreth thousands of Jewes and Turkes and Antichristians perish temporally and eternally and that for refusing Christ Jesus to be King and for shedding his bloud in his servants who can never be brought under this guilt of Apostacie after they have once acknowledged the truth of Christs Government and Kingdome Peace Me-thinks to understand the Scriptures in M r Cottons sence were a wonderfull penning up and straightning the holy Scripture Truth Sweet Peace as soone may we immure the glorious Sun in a darke dungeon as confine those bright Scriptures in the dark Cels of Apostacie but I further observe that Christ Jesus not only praid and dyed for his Enemies who bloudily persecuted him and his out of Ignorance but gave this reason against bodily Death to be inflicted on any for his cause and sake Luc. 9. The Son of Man is not come to destroy Mens lives and I might returne the Question to M r Cotton not unfitly Are not these the words oâ— Him that delighteth not in the bloud of his bloudiest enemies and Gainsayers Peace It will be said What slaughters what drinking of Bloud is that which Christ Jesus in these Scriptures intendeth Truth I answer although the Sword of Christs Kingdome that sharpe Sword with two edges is a Spirituall Sword and is carried in his Mouth yet all power in Heaven and Earth being given into his hands by his Father he ruleth and over-ruleth in a way of power and providence all the powers of the World There is therefore a great Sword given to him that rideth upon the white Horse Revel 6. by which for the resisting of him that rideth upon the white Horse in the gainsaying and persecuting of Christ in his Members Christ Jesus takes peace from the Earth and suffers the Turkes to plague the Antichristian World Papists and carnall Protestants to plague each other and to fill Cups of Bloud each to other while they contend and fight first against God and then one against another for their severall false Prophets and Religions Peace Me-thinks then M r Cotton might have spared to charge the Discusser with proclaiming of peace to Jezabell c. Truth There is a Spirituall peace in the matters of Christs Kingdome and Worship and in the particular Consciences and Soules of his Servants There is a Civill peace in the quiet enjoyment of each mans proprietie in the Combination of Townes Cities Kingdomes c. But neither of these three will M r Cotton prove the Discusser proclaimeth to such Antichristians or enemies of Christ Jesus who persecute and oppresse Jew or Gentile upon any civill or spirituall pretence 'T is true the Consciences and Worships of all men peaceable in their way he affirmes ought not to be molested and though not approved yet permitted and although no spirituall yet a civill peace proclaimed to their outward man while peaceable in civill commerce To persecutours he not onely proclaimes Gods Judgements spirituall and eternall but temporall also and affirmeth that all persecutours of all sorts and especially the bloudie Whore of Rome who hath so long been drunk with the bloud of the Saints ought by the Civill Sword to be restrained and punished as the Destroyers of Mankinde and all civill and peaceable being in the World according to the hight of their cruell and murtherous Oppressions Peace But Tolleration of her sayth M r Cotton brings her in at the back dore and so we may come to drink deeply of the Cup of the Lords wrath and be filled with the Cup of her plagues Truth There are two opinions which have bewitched the Nations professing the name of Christ First That a Nationall Church or State is of Christs appointing Secondly That such a Nationall Church or State must be maintained pure by the power of the Sword While M r Cotton prayes against the bewitching of the Whores cup O that the Father of Lights might graciously please to shew him the depth of her witchcrafts and his owne most wofull Delusions in both these In vaine doth M r Cotton feare partaking of her sinnes and plagues by a tollerating meerly of her Worship in a civill State while he forgets the three great causes of her downfall and
rendring such Laicks and Seculars as they call them but slavish Executioners upon the point of their most imperious Synodicall Decrees and Sentences A Tenent that renders the highest civill Magistrates and Ministers of Justice the Fathers and Gods of their Countries either odious or lamentably grievous unto the very best Subjects by either elapping or keeping on the iron yoakes of cruellest oppression No yoake or bondage comparably so grievous as that upon the Soules necke of mens Religion and Consciences A Tenent all besprinckled with the bloudie murthers stobâ— poysonings pistollings powder-plots c. against many famous Kings Princes and States either actually performed or attempted in France England Scotland Low-Countries and other Nations A Tenent all red and bloudie with those most barbarous and Tyger like Massacres of so many thousand and ten thousands formerly in France and other parts and so lately and so horribly in Ireland of which what ever causes be assigned this chiefly will be found the true and while this continues to wit violence against Conscience this bloudie Issue sooner or later must breake forth againe except God wonderfully stop it in Ireland and other places too A Tenent that stunts the growth and flourishing of the most likely and hopefullest Common weales and Countries while Consciences the best and the best deserving Subjects are forct to flie by enforced or voluntary Banishment from their native Countries The lamentable proofe whereof England hath felt in the flight of so many worthy English into the Low Countries and New-England and from New-England into old againe and other forraigne parts A Tenent whose grosse partialitie denies the Principles of common Justice while Men waigh out to the Consciences of all others that which they judge not fit not right to be waighed out to their owne Since the persecutours Rule is to take and persecute all Consciences onely himselfe must not be touched A Tenent that is but Machevilisme and makes a Religion but a cloake oâ— stalking horse to policie and private Ends of Jeroboams Crowne and the Priests Benefice c. A Tenent that corrupts and spoiles the very Civill Honestie and Naturall Conscience of a Nation Since Conscience to God violated proves without Repentance ever after a very Jade a Drug loose and unconscionable in all converse with men Lastly a Tenent in England most unseasonable as powring Oyle upon those Flames which the high Wisedome of the Parliament by easing the yoakes on Mens Consciences had begun to quench In the sad Consideration of all which Deare Peace let Heaven and Earth judge of the washing and colour of this Tenent For thee sweete heavenly Guest goe lodge thee in the breasts of the peaceable and humble Witnesses of Jesus that love the Truth in peace Hide thee from the Worlds Tumults and Combustions in the breasts of thy truely noble children who professe and endeavour to breake the irony and insupportable yoakes upon the Soules and Consciences of any of the sonnes of Men. Peace Me-thinks Deare Truth if any of the least of these deepe charges be found against this Tenent you doe not wrong it when you stile it bloudie But since in the wofull proofe of all Ages past since Nimrod the Hunter or persecutour before the Lord these and more are lamentably evident and undeniable it gives me wonder that so many and so excellent eyes of Gods servants should not espie so fowle a monster especially considering the universall opposition this Tenent makes against Gods Glory and the Good of all mankinde Truth There have been many fowle opinions with which the old Serpent hath infected and bewitched the sonnes of men touching God Christ the Spirit the Church against Holines against Peace against civill Obedience against chastitie in so much that even Sodomie it selfe hath been a Tenent maintained in print by some of the very pillars of the Church of Rome But this Tenent is so universally opposite to God and man so pernicious and destructive to both as hath been declared that like the Powder-plot it threatens to blow up all Religion all civilitie all humanitie yea the very Being of the World and the Nations thereof at once Peace He that is the Father of Lies and a murtherer from the beginning he knowes this well and that this ugly Blackmore needs a maske or vizard Truth Yea the bloudines and inhumanitie of it is such that not onely M r Cottons more tender and holy Breast but even the most bloudie Bonners and Gardiners have been forced to arme themselves with the faire shewes and glorious pretences of the Glory of God and zeale for that Glory the Love of his Truth the Gospel of Christ Jesus love and pitie to mens soules the peace of the Church uniformitie Order the peace of the Common-weale the Wisedome of the State the Kings Queenes and Parliaments proceedings the odiousnesse of Sects Heresies Blasphemies Novelties Seducers and their Infections the obstinacie of Heretickâ— after all Meanes Disputations Examinations Synods yea and after Conviction in the poore Hereticks owne Conscience Add to these the flattring sound of those glosing Titles the Godly Magistrate the Christian Magistrate the Nurcing Fathers and Mothers of the Church Christian Kings and Queenes But all other Kings and Magistrates even all the Nations of the World over as M r Cotton pleads must suspend and hould their hands and not meddle in matters of Religion untill they be informed c. Peace The dreadfull righteous hand of God the Eternall and avenging God is pulling off these maskes and vizards that thousands and the World may see this bloudie Tenents Beautie Truth But see my heavenly Sister and true stranger in this Sea-like restles raging World see here what Fires and Swords are come to part us Well Our meetings in the Heavens shall not thus be interrupted our Kisses thus distracted and our eyes and cheekes thus weâ— unwiped For me though censured threatned persecuted I must professe while Heaven and Earth lasts that no one Tenent that either London England or the World doth harbour is so hereticall blasphemous seditious and dangerous to the corporall to the spirituall to the present to the Eternall Good of all Mâ—n as is the bloudie Tenent how ever wash't and whited I say as is the bloudie Tenent of persecution for cause of Conscience The Copie of a Letter of R. Williams of Providence in New England to Major Endicot Governour of the Massachusets upon occasion of the late persecution against M r Clarke and Obadiah Holmes and others at Boston the chiefe Towne of the Massachusets in New England SIR HAving done with our transitorie Earthly Affaires as touching the English and the Indians which in Comparison of heavenly and Eternall you will say are but as dung and drosse c. Let me now be humbly bold to remember that Humanitie and pietie which I and others have formerly observed in you and in that hopefull Remembrance to crave your gentle audience with patience and
righteous is it with God to send them persecution Quaere why Master Cotton leaps over the Epistles to the Parliament and Reader N. E. Persecution guilty of the persecution in old especially since this Rejoynder by their Law for Banishing such as hold not childrens Baptisme and their late fourscore and ten bloody lashes to the body of the Lord Jesus in the sufferings of his faithful witness Obadiah Holines at Boston meerly about that point of Baptisme â—he occasion of â—â—blishing the â—â—oody Tenent Master Cotton blames the discusser for not walking in contradictions Vnchristian partiality Master Cotton complaining of being persecuted by the discusser Persecution in plaine English is hunting Master Cottons tender conscience can hardly digest to be a persecutor but a punisher Gods children commonly persecuted for not yeelding to State-worships Act. 2. 2 Pet. 3. Ordination of Christs Ministry undfily compared to the coronation of Kings Master Cotton pleads for Common prayer Examination of Num. 6. 20. Acts 6. Three causes for which Master-Cotton maintaines persecution Christs Church may be gathered and dissolved without disturbance of civil Peace The doctrine and practise of Persecution breaks the peace where-ever it comes The Civil peace of a place or people is one thing and the welfare or presperity in health wealth c. another The Cities of the world enjoy peace and prosperity where Christ is not heard of Christianity lost most under such Emperours as claimed Christs power to reform the Church c. The Societies or Churches of the Saints are meerly voluntary in combinning or dissolving Christs Church is called out of the world The flourishing of civil states No Civil state can either by Christs Testimony or true reason be judge of the Ecclesiastical and spiritual Difference of spiritual and civil peace When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil resistance or disturbance Six instances of holy zeal in Scripture far from arrogance or impetuousness These were aleadged from Scripture in the bloody Tenent and acknowledged by Master Cotton The Indians prosessing subjection to the English in New England permited in their devillish worships when English fearing God persecuted Vnchristian conclusions Jonahs casting over-boord a ground of persecution c. examined The killing of the false Prophet Zech. 13. 6. examined Esa 26. Hos 6. 2. examined 2 Cor. 10. conviction of conscience The violation of civil peace though out of consciencâ— to be punished An over-ruling finger of God ordering Master Cotton to alleadge Gamaliel sure he had forgotten Master John Goodwins excellent labour in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fighting against God Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver brasphemer seduced Cant. 5. I sleep yet my heart waketh A deep mystery in persecution Wolves complaining that the sheep persecute them The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed mystery Rev. 6. A challenge to the devil himself All Antichristian 〈…〉 persecutors make Tit. 3. their den and Fortress Tit. 3. Discussed The horrible abusing and profaning of that word Heretick Great sins of Gods own children A child of God may possibly be an Heretick For which service through the hurry of the times and the necessity of his departure he lost his recompence to this day The straights of the discussers time in composing of the Bloody Tenent * I prejudice not the free and comfortable supplies of temporals which the Saints ought to make so their Teachers in spirituals only I affirme that such as will not teach will out money they must and do beg or steal Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers Stealers Persecution not properly noâ— usually taken for any spiritual punishment Examination of Phil. 3. and Rom. 14. Very severe but not Christian more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England The civil and spiritual life confounded God Caesar The great peace breakers English Diana's Gross partiality to private interests England in all Ages guilty of much persecution Two seasonable petitions of any persâ—outed The Parable of the Tares The Parable of Tares grosly abused Hypocrisie secret and open hypocrisie Spiritual whoredome in worship may and doth in all Nations subsist with Civil Beings Relations c. Of the Tares Of the wise and foolish Virgius No true church of Christ consisting of visible hypocrites The field of the World The mystery of Antichristians or false Christians Master Cotton knows not his own desire The first rise of Antichristians argued The judgement of the great whore Christs Church by 〈…〉 properly consisting of good ground The â—â—â—uâ—e of Jewish Church The nature of Christs true Apostles Antichristians monsters in rereligion Two sorts of sinners Two sorts of hypocrites Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus The rivers and fountaines of blood Rev. 16. Of hypocrites in profession of Christianity Corrupt consciences distinguished Tolleration of idolaters considered Civil weapons in spirituals blur and flight the spiritual The tolleration of Jezabel in Thyatira Christ Jesus under pretence persecuted The weapons of the Saints Rev. The difference between civil and spiritual slander The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments Not such spiritual punishments in the national church of Israel Prayer against present destruction of tares Pastors and Teachers not Apostles and messengers Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites Concerning Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam * Hence Baalls Priests Monks Friars and Bishops have not been civilly actually slaine in England c. but spiritually by Gods word the sword of his spirit cashiered and cut off eternally Touching Christs Apostles or messengers Touching fundamentals Laws for persecuting of Christ Jesus The Pharisees blaspheming of Christ Jesus * Magistrates kings high priests Herod â—ad kings good kings c. Acts 25. 11. considered No appeals to the civil powers in matters meerly spiritual Few Magistrates in the world know Christ Jesus Mystical and cruel Surgery The title of defender of the faith To serve God withal our might literally taken horribly abused Christ Jesus hath rarely furnished his people with godly Magistrates Defendor of the faith A bold but a true word The title of supream head oath of supremacy c. The plague of the Turkes upon the Antichrististian world The Civil Magistrate no governor over the spiritual kingdome of Christ Whether Saul a type of Christ The kings of Israel and Judah types The priests and Clergy in all Nations the greatest peace-breakers Touching the seducer Of seducing Bishop Longlands subtle Oaths of inquisition Canses of destruction to a Nation All nations Cities Towns c. are part of the world Change of Religions The state of Israel unparlleld The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses Of Seducing What meant by twice dead Of Infection The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power The charge of the civil Magistrate The plague of the Turkes A twofold care and
charge of souls Christ the true King of Israel Christs threefold sending of preachers â—o other true office of the Ministery since the apostacie but that of prophecy and opening the Testament of Christ against the falshood of Antichrist A foule imputation put upon Christ Jesus Pretended order moâ—â—tâ—oâ—s disorder The Parliaments high justice aggainst oppressors The title head of the Church The civil Megistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel The peoples power All Commonweals that ever have been are or shal be in the World excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil The Decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered The Ministers lay heavy loads upon the Magistrates back A time when no visible Church of God in the world for the right forme and order c. The wolves at Ephesus Act. 20. The duty of civil power in matters of Religion The changing of persecutors is onething the abolishing of persecution another The persecuting Cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracie Neither Old nor New England statechurches separate from the Pope Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes c. The gods of this World The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the 5. dayes The best of our late Bishops as Bishop Hall have not spared to render hereticks and Traitors all one Civil society pluckt up by the rootes Civil honesty may stand with dishonesty against God and Christ in matters of Religion A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist Heresie and apostacie often change their names to truth and Christianity c. Who knows not that the many turnings of Do. Pearne in Cambridge brought it into a proverb to wit to pâ—â—nifie Consciences yeelding to be forced or ravished loosen all conscience 2 Paradoxes How the kings of Israel and Judah were types and figures of Christ to come The types of the old Testament many and deep Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ The fire from heaven Rev. 13 All Truth heavenly moral civil c. precious Vnconverted Christians visibly a paradox Many excellent Magistrates of the Parliament of the Councel of the Army of the City of the Country are also excellent prophets or interpreters of Scripture yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals Magistrates may be prophets in Christs Church More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual Engl. changes in Religion excused by those of Judah but not justly Whether England may â—â—â— receive the Poâ—â— againe Things of God and Caesar Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state The aâ—soâ—uâ—e necessiâ—y of some order of government all the world over Antoninus Pius his distinction The degeneracy of Christianity now professed The loathsome hypocrisie of persecutors In their bloody sentence and proceedings with the persecuted Too short a time set for repentance in New England False teachers commonly hardned by persecution The great sufferings of Master Gorton and his friends in New England Antoninus Pius his Edict against persecution The difference between spiritual and corporal murther Civil justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another The difference of the persecution of the Roman Emperors and the Roman Popes Antoninus Pius his famoâ—â—â—â—â—dict for liberty to the Christians related by that praise-worthy Master John Speede out of Eusebiâ—s The persecuted ever noâ—â—ish an hâ—rd conâ—â—it of 〈…〉 and Tyranay in their persecutors whereas Malefactors confess frequently the justice of their condemners If Civil power may force cut of the church it may also force in Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians Cups of Blood given into the hand of persecuting nations Whether a commonweal prosper in divers religions permitted Men may be very faire and peaceable though not of the only one religion Scriptures perverted from the church to the civil state The Magistrate usually the Cleargies Cane c. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a governor in New England The bloody Tenent plucks up the nations and all civil being c. The plague of the Turkes Romes glory and downfal The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual judges Foul neglects cast upon Christ Jesus The case of Gallio Shameful weakness cast upon the spiritual Artillery of Christ Jesus The spiritual liberties of Christs people in spiritual causes The mighty power of spiritual weapons A vaine fear of false teachers Christ Jesus nor Paul adrest themselves to the civil state Turk and Pope and all Prostants against free conference The ammunition of Christs souldiers David and Goliah types Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers Israels corporal killing types of spiritual Achans troubling of Israel a figure of troubling the Israel or Church of Christ now The day of the civil state in maâ—ters of worship Concerning the kingdomes of the world becoming the kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11. Christ no temporal King Touching forcing men to church A Spanish Inquisition all the world A twofold fire kindled That may consume the kindlers Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience Christ came not to destroy mens bodies though to save their souls Christian weapons considered A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters Strange Carpenters The bloody tenent in plaine English All civil violence in spirituals is for interest Christs spiritual weapons never wanting The civil sword esteemed more powerful then the spiritual Rom. 13. Considered The great fort of The civil Magistrate not charged with the keeping of the seed tables Calvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. Vnâ—ighteousness civil and spiritual Spiritual wars without civil disturbance The nature of twice subjection to civil powers Of the Roman Emperors power in spirituals Foule imputations against Christ Jesus Christ permiteth Tyrants over his churches Saints but appointeth none but his true spiritual Ministers Christ Jesus his careful and most wise provision for his kingdome The Cleargies evil dealing with the civil Magistrate The nature of a church but lately discovered since the apostasie Monstrous Suspentions Spiritual courts and Judges Touching Paul appealing to Caesar Pauls appeal to Caesar Spiritual rights and civil The civil Magistrate not bound to defend spiritual rights Israel a type of the Chrristian Church The â—â—me and odely Christendome Christ Jesus in himself and his spiritual officers the onely Key of Israel Christ Jesus roâ—d of his crown Of custome tribute c. Spiritual defence for spiritual right c. Touching prayer for all authority â— Tim. â— Cross Slavery Civil Ministers and Spiritual The God of heaven hath several sorts of Ministers Ordinarily the Truth is persecuted Touching the â—â—arâ—â— Evil Rom. 13. The civil Magistrate robbed of his civil power Of tolleration which Master Cotton in cases makes large enough The land of Israel a type Touching false and seducing Teachers Monstrous Mixture The great difference of evil and sin as against the civil or spiritual estate Gross
partiality the bloody doctrine of persebution Great shifting â—o â—sâ—â—â— Christs cross Christian weapons Christ Jesus betwen two Thieves The horible Hypocrisie of all persecutors Christs charge to Pergamus and Thiatira against Tolleration examined False Excommunication one kinde of persecution The word Persecution how ordinarily it is taken Persecution ordinarily implies corporall violence Speeches of Princes against Persecution No Civill Christian State Christs Sword Nurcing Fathers-dealt withall as children Active obedience cannot be given but to a competent Judge Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all Consciences and Religions in the World All persecutors hould the Popes trayterous Doctrine of deposing haereticall Princes The Popish and Protestant Clergie set the Popish and Protestant World on fire for their Maintenance The Dutch device to winne their Clergie to Tolleration of other Religions All that professe to be Christs Ministers must Dig or Beg or Steale All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus Touching the Tares Policie store but Pietie rare in Princes A Speech of King James considered No Man to he forced from his owne worship 〈…〉 c. Touching compelling to come to Church and to heare A second Speech of King James Papists may yeeld Civill obedience The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned Bookes and Tenents against Civill obedience All England Papists and yet the Pope renounced A twofold holding the Pope as Head The two Sisters Lawes concerning Conscience Ceales of moderation and kindnesse may melt an Enemie as David melted Saul c. Cautions for preventing of disturbance by Papists c. Sufficient Provisions are made in other Nations against Distractions and Tumults from opposite Consciences and Worships Nâ—erâ—â— Comâ—â—tition home-bred oppositions most of all exâ—sperate c. The admired Prudence of the Parliament in preserving Civill Peace Increase of Papists unlikely in England M r John Robinson deceased his Testimonie in a Manus from Holland A third Speech of King James considered Persecution ordinarily the marke of a False Church Stephen King Poland his 〈…〉 The Spirituall Power of Christ Jesus betrusted not with Civill but spirituall Ministers An Argument used in Parliament against the Persecuting Bishops Of disturbance of Religion The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from Heaven Daniells Counsel to Bel-shazzar preserveth Parliaments Kingdomes Touching the Nationall Church of Israell Israell a miraculous Nation Two sorts of the Nations of the World Touching the true and false Christs King of Bohemia his Speech Spirituall Rapes All persecutours contumeliously object against Conscience Amnon his ravishing of Tamar a Type A Query who shall judge whether Conscience be convict Church Papists and Protestants also ravished Wars for Religion The bloudie Tenent Guiltie of all the bloud of Papists and Protestants lately spilt The strongest Arme sword the ordinarie Judge of the Conviction of Conscience Touching the Nationall Church of England Reall denying the greatest denying of Christ Jesus Two high Transgressions objected against M r Cotton Touching the Romane Emperours practices in Religious Affaires Christs Garden gaines by violent Stormes and looseth by sweete Sun-shines The Romane Emperours The Arrians persecuted and persecuting The great Difference between this World and Christ A Christianitie strange from Christ Antichristian Christianitie The bloudie Tenent tends to an universall Conquest of the whole World The bloudie Tenent in its colours No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing Scripture of God is The Language of persecutours Julian his Tolleration Touching Infection of false Doctrine c. Hypocrites tollerated in the Church but not in the World Touching the Persecution of K James and Q Elizabeth Touching the Qualification of Princes Touching Magistrates suspending from acting in matters of Religion Monstrous partialitie Constantines Edict Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus Vnchristian Tribunalls Dent. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. Vnchristianly conjoyned Touching Excommunication in Israel Ans Spirituall Blessings and Curses the Antitypes of Corporall before Christ Great oversight imputed to Christ Jesus If civill punishments for spirituall offences they must be inflicted by holy and Christian Instruments and Officers A true Christ a true Sword a false Christ a false Sword Q Elizabeth her wars against the Papists The Warres of the Waldenses Acts 8. 11. Christian weapons Christs Sword Christs Warres and Victories Revel 17. Gideons Army typicall The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church The sins of Gods children Christs Witnesses A true Wife of Christ no persecutour Touching persecution what it is Difference between a civill and spirituall State The nature of spirituall punishment The nature of Christs spirituall Government The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Executioners Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ then corporall before his coming The cutting off or Excommunicating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall A twofold wâ—y of constraint What it is to walke according to a mans Light Conviction twofold Sufficient in it selfe or to the partie efficacious Touching the Maintenance of the new English Ministers Of propagating Religion by the Sword Touching the Indians of New-England Worshipping of God and Christ before the foundation of Repentance is nothing but Antichristian disorder Touching preaching to the Indians in New-England Proprietie of Language necessary to the true preaching of Christ Jesus to any people Conscience to God in Worship a close Prisoner in New-England and no Petitioner could obtaine its Libertie Publikâ— marriage or giving ones selfe to Christ Judges 21. 25 Considered Supreame Authoritie in Spiritualls Tertullians Speech of one Religion not hurting or profiting another Considered * M r Cottons and Mr Edwards Gangrenes have little differd Blasphemie against the holy Scripture Mysteries of false Christs The true Christ despised for his povertie A base esteeme of the Spirituall Sword Earthly Christs need earthly supports The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist Constantines peace a greater tryal and danger to Christians then 300 years persecution Sathans two wayes of quenching the Candle of Christianity The French Massacre must doe what their pretended disputation could not effect Pretended disputes in Q. Maries days ending in fiery flames The late Synodicall disputes A bloody and most unchristian speech The rash fury and madnesse of persecutors even against themselves Pleasantnesse of wit sanctified glorifies the giver The pretended particulâ—r Churches of N. E. indeed but a Nationall Church No permission of any Religion or worship but one in N. E. therefore are the Churches but a Nationall Church in the mould them c. Where the Supream Authority in a Church is Civill the Body cannot but be like the head and all make up but one Civil or Nationall mixt Church like the Jewish Nationall Church The purging a Countrey of Hereticks declares that Countrey is explicitly or implicitly a National Church A State Maintenance proveth a State Church Synods assembled by
might some way from the State or you receive reliefe and succour Considering that the very Nations Constitution hath occasioned parents to traine up persons to give themselves to studies though in truth but in a way of Trade Bargaining before God yet 't is according to the Custome of the Nation who ought therefore to share also in the fault of such Priests and Ministers who in all changes are ejected I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits to perswade The Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England and possesse yours with a true sence of three particulars First of the yoakes of Soule-oppression which lye upon the necks of most of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations of the whole world as if Chams Curse from Noah were upon them Servants of Servants are they and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God which call for the purest Libertie I confesse the World lyes in wickednesse and loveth darknesse more then Soule Bondage the greatest light but why should you helpe on those yoaks and force them to receive a Doctrine to pray to give thanks c. without an Heart yea and in the many changes and cases incident against their Heart and Soules Consent Secondly of the bloudines of that most bloudie Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it c. Some professors true and false Sheepe and Goats are daily found to differ in their Apprehensions perswasions professions and that to Bonds and Death What now shall these be wrackt their Soules their Bodies their purses c Yea if they refuse deny oppose the Doctrine of Christ Jesus whether Jewes or Gentiles why should you call for Fire from Heaven which suits not with Christ Jesus his Spirit The Bloudinesse of the Bloudie Tenent or Ends Why should you compell them to come in with any other Sword but that of the Spirit of God who alone perswaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem and can in his holy season prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet Thirdly Of that Biass of selfe-love which hales and swayes our minds to hould so fast this bloudie Tenent You know it is the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers c. That sets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too as Pauls day and night to work rather Little of the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus yet extant and our selfe-love biasseth us to Inventions Traditions and Doctrines of persecutions then the progresse and puritie and simplicitie of the Crowne of Christ Jesus should be debased or hindred This Spirit will cause you leave with joy Benefices and Bishopricks Worlds and Lives for his sake the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths of whose Love you know doth infinitely passe your most knowing Comprehensions and Imaginations There is but little of this Spirit extant I feare will not be untill we see Christ Jesus slaine in the slaughter of the Witnesses Then Joseph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the slaughtered bodie of most precious Saviour and Nicodemus will goe by day to buy and bestow his sweetest spices on his infinitly sweeter Soules beloved The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit unfeinedly and heartily wisheth you Your most unworthy Countriman R. Williams FINIS The Principal CONTENTS TRuth and peace rarely meet page 1 Many excellent men plead for persecution p. 2 New Englands persecution guilty of the persecution in Old p. 3 The first occasion of publishing the bloody tenent p 4 Master Cotton complains of being persecuted and yet writes so much for persecution p. 5 The word persecution in plain English what it is ibi Master Cotton would change the word persecuting into punishing p. 6 State worships the ordinary occasion of persecution p. 7 Ordination of Ministers and Coronation of Kings unfitly compared p. 11 Master Cotton pleading for Common Prayer p. 11 12 Three causes for which Master Cotton pleads for persecution p. 13 Christs church may be gathered and dissolved with no disturbance of civil peace p. 14 Persecution breaks all civil peace p. 15 Civil peace may be kept long and flourish even where Christ is not heard of yea disowned c. p. 16 Christianity lost most under reforming Emperors ibid. The societies or Churches of Saints are meerly voluntary in combining or dissolving p. 17 Christs Spouse is chosen out of this world p. 18 No civil state can judge the spiritual p. 19 The difference of spiritual and civil peace p. 20 When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted and when most persecuted then flourish most in godliness p. 21 A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil disturbance p. 22 Six instances of zeal in Scripture charged with yet free from breach of civil peace p. 23 The Indians subjected to the English permitted while English fearing God in New England persecuted p. 25 Jonah's casting over board pleaded by Master Cotton as a ground for persecution examined p. 26 The killing of the false prophet Zech. 13. 6. p. 27 Conviction of conscience p. 28 The violation of civil peace though out of conscience to be punished p. 29 Gamaliells councel considered p. 30 Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver blasphemer seducer c. p. 31 Gods people fast asleep and yet awake ibid A deep mystery in persecution p. 32 Wolves complaining of being persecuted by the sheep p. 33 The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed Mystery p. 34 A challenge to the Devil himself touching the persecution of hereticks p. 34 All Antichristian hunters make Titus the third their Den or Fortress p. 35 The horrible abusing and prophaning of that word Heretick p. 36 A child of God may possible be an Heretick p. 37 The straights in which the bloody tenent and this Rejoynder also were composed p. 38 Thâ—se Preachers who will not Preach without money must beg or steal ibid. Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers stealers p. 39 Persecution usually taken for a corporal not a spiritual punishment ibid. Very severe but not Christian and more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England p. 41 The civil and spirituall life confounded p. 42 Gods right and Caesars p. 43 The great peace breakers ibid. English Diana's p. 44. Gross partiality to private interests ibid. England in all ages guilty of much persecution p. 45 Two seasonable Petitions of any persecuted ibid. The Parable of the Tares grosly abused p. 46 Hypocrisie both open and secret p. 47 Spiritual whoredome against God in his worship may be in the midst of pure civil relations p. 48 The parable of the wise and foolish Virgins p. 50. A true church or society of Christ cannot consist of visible Hypocrites p. 51 The Field of the World ibid The Mystery of christians and antichriastians p. 52 The first rise of Antichristians argued p. 54 Touching the
judgement of the great whore p. 55 Christs church by institution properly consisting of good ground p. 57. The nature of the Jewish church ibid. The nature of Christs true Apostles or Messengers p. 58 Antichristians monsters in Religion p. 59 Two sorts of sinners p. 60 Two sorts of Hypocrites ibid. Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus p. 61 The Rivers and Fountaines of Blood Rev. 16. p. 63 Of hypocrites in the profession of Christianity p. 64 Corrupt consciences distinguished p. 66 Toleration of idolaters considered ibid. Civil weapons in spirituals blur and slight the spiritual p. 67 The toleration of Jezabel in Thyatria p. 68 The difference between spiritual and civil slander p. 69 The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments ibi The punishments in the national Church of Israel were material and corporeal p. 70 Touching Prayer against present destruction of the Tares p. 71 Pastors and teachers are not Apostles or messengers ib. Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites p. 72 Touching the state of Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam and more of the Baalites p. 72 Touching Apostles or Messengers p. 74 Touching fundamentals p. 75 Persecuting of Christ Jesus by a Law p. 76 The greatest blasphemy against Christ Jesus that ever was yet not punished but spiritually ibid. Pauls appeal to Caesar more examined p. 78 Few Magistrates in the world that bear the very name of of Christ Jesus p. 79 Fewer truely Christians ibid. Mystical and most cruel Surgery ibid. To serve God with all our might literally taken horribly abused p. 80 The title of defender of the Faith in England p. 81 A bold but true Word touching defend or of the faith p. 83 The title of supream head of the church examined p. 84 The plague of the Turkes upon the antichristian world p. 84 Whether Saul was a type of Christ and the Kings of Israel c. p. 85 The Priests and Clergy in all nations the greatest peace-breakers p. 88 Touching the seducer and seducing p. 89 Bishop Longlands subtle and bloody oaths of inquisition against seducing christians ibid. Causes of destruction to a nation p. 90 All nations Cities and Towns of the world parts of the world c. p. 91 Changes of state Religions ibid. The state of Israel unparalleled p. 92 The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses ibi That of Jude twice dead examined p. 93 Of spiritual infection p. 94 The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword p. 95 Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power p. 69 The proper charge of the civil Magistrate p. 97 The plague of the Turke upon the Antichristian world p. 98 A twofoldcare and charge of souls ibid. Christ the true King of Israel ibid. Christs threefold sending of Preachers p. 99 No true office of Ministery since the Apostacy but that of Prophesie ibid. Great neglects charged on Christ Jesus p. 100 Pretended order monstrous disorder p. 101 The Parliaments high justice against oppressors p. 102 The title head of the church p. 103 The civil Magistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel p. 104 All commonweals that ever have been are or shall be in the world excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil p. 105 The decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered ibid. The Ministers lay heavy load upon the Magistrates back ibid. The great desolation of the visible order of Christs Saints and servants p. 107 The Wolves at Ephesus considered Act. 20 p. 108 The duty of the civil Magistrate in spirituals ibid. The changing of Persecutors is one thing the abolishing of persecution another ibid. The persecuting cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracy ibid Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes p 109 The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the fifths dayes p 110 Civil society plucke up by the roots ibid. A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist 111 Doctor Pearnes turning and returning and turning againe in Religion p. 111 Consciences yeelding to be forced lose all conscience ibid. Two strange Paradoxes about force in spirituals p. 112 How the kings of Israel and Judah were Types â—f Jesus Christ to come p. 113 Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ p. 114 The fire from Heaven Revel 13. p. 115 All truth not only heavenly but moral civil c. precious p. 116 Many excellent Prophets in eminency and power and yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals p. 117 More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual p. 118 Englands changes in Religion compared with those of Judah ibid. Whether England may not possibly receive the Pope againe 119 The Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state p. 120 The absolute necessity of some order of Government all the world over ibid. The Emperor Antoninus Pius his distinction and Edict against persecution p. 120 123 The degeneracy of Christianity now professed p. 121 The horrible dâ—ssâ—mbling of some persecutors ibid. Too short a time set for repentance in New England p. 122 False Teachers commonly hardned by persecution ibid. The great sufferings of Master Gotton and his friends in England p. 123 The difference between spiritual and corporal murther p. 124 Civil Justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another p. 124 The difference of the persecution of the Romane Emperors and Roman Popes p. 125 The difference between the persecuted for conscience and punished for civil crimes p. 127 Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians p. 128 Whether a Commonweal may prosper in the permission of divers Religions p. 129 Cups of blood given into the hand of persecuting nations p. 129 Scripture perverted from the spiritual to the civil state p. 131 The Magistrate usually but the Clergies Cane and Trumpet ibid. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a Governor in New England ibid. The bloody Tenent plucks up the Nations and all civil being p. 132 Romes glory and downfal p. 133 The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual Judges ibid. The case of Gallio p. 134 The sufficiency of Christs spiritual weapons p. 135 A vaine fear of false Teachers p 136 Christ Iesus nor Paul addrest themselves to the civil state ibid. Turke and Pope and the generality of all Protestants against free conference p. 137 David and Goliah Types ibid. Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers p. 138 Israels corporcal killing types of spiritual ibid. The duty of the civil state in spirituals p. 139 The kingdomes of the world becoming Christs ibid. Touching forcing men to Church p. 140 A Spanish inquisition all the world over p. 141 Master Cotton kindling a twofold fire ibid. Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience p. 142 Christian weapons considered ibid. A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters p. 143 Wonderful strange
Carpenters p. 144 Master Cotton slights stocks and whips c. and provokes to banish and kil hereticks c. ibid. All civil violence in spirituals is for an interest p. 145 The civil sword esteemed more powerful then the spiritual p. 146 That great fort of Rom. 13. considered p. 147 The civil Magistrate not charged with the keeping of two tables ibid. Calvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. p. 148 Vnrighteousness civil and spiritual ibid. Spiritual wars without civil disturbance p. 149 Of the Romane Emperors power in spirituals p. 150 Foul imputation against Christ Jesus and yet his wise provision for his Kingdome p. 151 The Clergies evil dealing with the civil magistrate p. 152 The nature of the Church and of Christs true order but lately discovered since the Apostacy ibid. Spiritual Courts and Judges p. 153 Touching Pauls appeal to Caesar p. 154 155. Spiritual rights and civil p. 156 The true and only Christendome p. 157 Christ Jesus robbed of his crown p. 158 Of custome tribute c. p. 159 Of praying for Magistrates p. 160 Civil Ministers and spiritual ibid. The God of heaven hath many sorts of Ministers p. 161 Ordinarily the truth is persecuted ibid. Touching the tearm evil Rom. 13. p. 162 The civil Magistrate robbed of his civil power ibid. Of toleration which Master Cotton in cases makes large enough p. 163 The land of Israel a type p. 164 Touching false and seducing teachers p. 165 The great difference of sin against the civil or spiritual estate p. 166 The gross partiality of the bloody doctrine of persecution ibid. Gods children much labor to shift off the cross of Christ p. 167 Christ Jesus between two theeves p. 168 The horrible hypâ—câ—isie of all persecutors ibid. Christs charge to Pergamus and Thyatira against toleration examined p. 169 The word persecution how ordinarily taken ibid. Famous speeches of some kings against persecution p. 170 No civil state or country can be truly called Christian although true Christians be in it p. 171 Nursing fathers dealt with all as children p. 172 Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all consciences and Religions in the world p. 173 All persecutors hold the Popes traiterous doctrine of deposing Hereticks c. p. 174 The Popish and Protestant Clargy set the Popish and Protestant world on fire for their maintenance ibid. The Dutch device to win their Clergy to toleration of other Religions p. 175 All that profess to be Christs Ministers must resolve to dig or beg or steal ibid. All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus p. 176 Of letting the Tares alone p. 177 A speech of King James considered p. 178 Touching compelling to come to Church to hear p. 179 A second speech of King James proving it possible that a Papist may yeeld civil obedience ibid. The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned books against civil obedience p. 180 All England was Catholick and yet the Pope renounced ibid. A twofold holding the Pope as head ibid. The two English sisters Laws concerning conscience p. 181 Cautions for preventing disturbance by Papists ibid. Other Nations well provide against distractions and tumults from opposite consciences p. 182 Neerer competitors to the truth among our selves then the Papist ibid. The admired prudence of the Parliament in preserving civil peace p. 183. Increase of Papists unlikely as things stand in England ibid Master Jo. Robinson from Holland as touching permission of Papists his testimony p. 184 A third speech of King James considered ibid. Persecution ordinarily the mark of a false Church ibid. Stephen King of Poland his speech ibid. The spiritual power of Christ intrusted not with civil but spiritual Ministers p. 185 An excellent argument used in Parliament against the persecuting Bishops ibid. Two wayes of disturbing and destroying Religion p. 186 The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from heaven ibid. Daniels councel to Belshazzar preserveth Parliaments and nations ibid. Israel a miraculous nation p. 187 Two sorts of nations in the world ibid. Touching the true Christ and the false p. 188 The King of Bohemia his speech p. 189 Spiritual Rapts and violence upon conscience p. 189 Amnon his ravishing of Tamat a Type p. 190 The Judge of conviction of conscience ibid. Wars for Religion p. 191 The bloody tenent guilty of all the blood of Papists and Protestants formerly and lately spilt p. 192 Touching national Churches ibid. Practical denying of Christ Jesus the greatest p. 193 Two high transgressions objected against Master Cotton p. 194 Touching Julian his toleration p. 199 Touching the infection of false doctrine ibid. King James and Queen Elizabeth their persecutions compared p. 200 Fit qualification of Princes p. 201 Master Cotton suspends most part of the Magistrates in the world from acting in matters of Religion ib. Constantines Edict as to Religion p. 202 Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus ibid. Vnchristian Tribunals and proceedings p. 203 Touching excommunication in Israel p. 204 Spiritual blessings and cursings the Antitypes of Corporal in Israel p. 205 Holy and spiritual Constables prisons stocks posts gibbets Tyburnes c. ibid. A true Christ a true sword a false Christ a false sword p. 206 Queen Elizabeth her wars against the Papists ibid. The Wars of the Waldenses p. 207 Christian weapons wars and victories p. 208 Gideons army typical ibid. The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted p. 209 Poverty and persecution the most common companions of Gods Church p. 210 The sins of Gods children ibid. Christs witnesses in all Ages p. 211 A true wife of Christ no persecuter ibid. The difference between excommunication and persecution ibid. Difference between a spiritual and civil state p. 212 The civil powers made the Clergies executioners p. 213 Spiritual judgements more terrible since Christ then corporal before his coming p. 214 A twofold way of constraint p. 215 What it is to walk according to mans light ibid. Conviction twofold p. 216 The maintenance of the New English Ministers ibid. Of propagating Religion by the sword p. 217 Touching the Indians of New England p. 218 219 Propriety of Language necessary to all Preachers p. 220 Conscience a close prisoner in New England c. p. 221 Publike Marriage of a soul to Christ ibid. Spream Authority in spirituals p. 222 Mysteries of false Christs p. 225 The true Christ despised for his poverty ibid. A base esteem of the spiritual sword ibid. Earthly Christs need earthly supports p. 226 The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist ibid. Satans two wayes of quenching the candle of Christianity p. 227 A note of the French Massacre ibid. The pretended disputes in Queen Maries dayes p. 228 The late Synodical disputes ibid. A bloody and most unchristian speech ibid. The rash madness of persecutors against themselves p. 229 Pleasantness of wit sanctified c. ibid. The Churches of New England proved an implicite national Church ibid. A
civil state maintenance proveth a state Church p. 231 Synods assembled by civil power cannot be but civil also p. 231 The holy Land and Country of Canaan a None-such p. 232 The weapons of the Jews and Christians compared p. 233 New English loath to be accounted persecutors p. 234 Laws concerning Gods worship p. 234 240 Touching the Magistrates keeping of both Tables p. 235 Of Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion p. 237 Woful soul-saving ibid. The tearm souls Good commonly but a paint p. 238 Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children p. 239 Holland and England wonderfully prospered upon mercy shewn to consciences p. 241 Bodies and goods not conscience subject to civil powers p. 242 What is the Commonweal of Isreal p. 243 The Romane Emperor flourished long though without Christ p. 244 Christs spouse most chast under persecution ibid. Constantine a friend and an enemy to Christs spouse p. 245 Concerning toleration in New England p. 247 Papists and Protestants both force to Church p. 248 Prayers for vengeance upon persecutors p. 249 The bloody Tenent of persecution is a King-killing and Sure killing p. 250 Pâ—rsecutors pretend to save but kill p. 251 Hireling Ministers ibid. Friers in Chaucers time and the Clergy in our time considered The Turkes will be Muselmanni that is true believers p. 253 Mystical sheep and wolves p. 253 254 Pauls striking Elimas blind considered p. 254 The Clergy using the Magistrate as dogs p. 256 The great spiritual differences of these times p. 257 Gods children may possibly fight each against other p. 258 Spiritual murtherers and seducers p. 259 261 Commonweal and Common-woe twofold p. 259 Mystical wolves and Muskeeto's p. 261 A state and forc't Religion a prison p. 262 Of Constantines wars for the Christians p. 263 Never any true Religion in the world but one p. 264 Touching Pauls blasphemy before his conversion ibid. An instance from John Haywood and the Lord Cromwel in K. Henry the eighth his days p. 265 Of Moses Judicials p. 266 The first Christians the purest and yet the civil sword was against them p. 267 The Levites killing 3000 Exod. 32 typical p. 268 Phineasâ— his act considered ibid. Elijah and the Baalites and other figurative passages of the Old Testament p. 269 270 Strange and monstrous duties of Moral righteousness p. 271 Gods children are monsters accounted c. p. 272 Elijah his slaying the Captains and their Fifties ibid. Wonderful Spiders and Cobwebs ibid. Touching Seducers and their punishments p. 273 The sad effects of the Bloody Tenent on M. Cotton's own spirit p. 274 275 The differences of Gods people in Old and New England p. 276 The great sin of New Englands former Patents p. 276 277 Old England curbing New Englands persecutions ibid. Holy Cranmer and Cromwel joyning with bloody persecutors in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 The famous passages of Cromwel and Lambert in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 Conviction twofold p. 279 280 Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer and Seducer in the world p. 381 Small matters accounted Heresies ibid. The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councel at Constance p. 282 The Bloody Tenent destroys civility out of the world p. 282 285 All men confident in their own way p. 284 He that persecutes Jews Turks Pagans or Antichristians is in a greater errour then any of them ibid. Freedom of conscience a great peace-maker p. 286 287 Of persecuting Apostates p. 287 288 Two woful opinions bewitching the Nations p. 289 Three great causes of the downfal of the Church of Rome p. 290 Touching the New English model of Church and Civil power p. 290 M. Cotton ' s too deep censuring p. 291 Israel a miraculous people p. 292 Touching the punishment of adultery among the Jews p. 293 All civil Government Gods Ordinance ibid. True Commonweals many without Kings p. 294 A wonderful saying of Bishop Hall ibid. Magistrates nursing fathers and their sins p. 295 296 The Pourtraicture of the Bloody Tenent p. 297 c. Compared with other Opinions and Practices p 301. The Maskes and Vizards of the Bloody Tenent p. 302. Truth and Peace their meeting seldom and short in this World ibid. The Letter of R. W. to Major Endicoâ— Governor of the Massachuset in N. E. upon occasion of the late Persecution at Boston p. 303 Persecutors approve no persecution in the World but their own p. 304 All Persecutors render the innocent most odious p. 305 Cromwel the 2 d a Refuge for the oppessed p. 306 This Rejoynder formerly sent out of N. Eng. but not till now published ibid. Abuse of Light most dangerous ibid. The power of Conscience though erroneous p. 307 The Common Prayer and the Composers of it p. 308 Perfumes with man stinks with God ibid. Of Spiritual Baites and Snares p. 309 Spiritual Witchcraft ibid. Spiritual Drunkenness and the persecuting Language of it p. 310 The horrible Path which Persecutors walk in p. 311 The least beginning of Persecution tends to Blood Gods dreadful judgement against Persecutors p. 312 Gray haires are Gods Alarums p. 313 An appendix to the Cleargie of old and New England Scotland and Ireland p. 314 The Cleargie Court the Magistrate for his Sword and his money 315 The late Kings charge against his Clergie ibid. The Woolf pleading with the Lamb will be judge ibid. All prosecutors in their turns plead for libertie of conscience p. 316 King Charles and his Chaplaias subscribe to libertie of Conscience ibid. About twenty years persecution in New England p. 317 The persecution of the New and old English independent Cleargie p. 317 A briefe touch upon the fifteen proposals of the so called Independent Ministers p. 318 They silently challenge the power of ordination in all England c. ibid. They sell the Spiritual Libertie of Christ ibid FINIS