ought to be persecuted at all for cause of Conscience but for sinning against their Conscience Truth Sweet Peace he that hath a minde to beate a Dog will soone finde a cudgell c. If M r Cotton had not esteemed the Discusser as a Dog and had not had as great a minde as a Dog to use him he would never have so catcht at every line and word to finde out such the Discussers Lyes and Falshoods For first it is apparant that the Discusser here undertooke not to repeate M r Cottons words but upon such and such words of M r Cottons compared with all former Agitations to collect according to his understanding such a Conclusion Peace But whether he hath rightly and without breach of Truth or Love so and so collected let it be briefly in the feare of God examined Truth First then hath not M r Cotton through all this discourse exprest a Confidence some have called it imperious and insulting against the poore Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers And doo not these words for avoyding the grounds of your Errour import so much Secondly Doth not M r Cottons words imply that in his opinion such a Tenent is an Errour and that by speaking so much against it he hath removed it what ever his opponent thinks to the contrary Thirdly Why may not the Discusser or any man say that M r Cotton counts that a great Errour which M r Cotton endeavours so to represent to all men Peace But the fourth sayth M r Cotton is an evident falshood in the Discusser to say that M r Cotton should conclude this to be the great Errour that persons are not to be persecuted for cause of Conscience Truth The Father of Lights hath of late been graciously pleased to open the eyes of not a few of his servants to see that M r Cottons Distinction of not persecuting a man for his Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience is but a Figleafe to hide the nakednes of that bloudie Tenent for the Civill Court must then judge when a man sinnes against his Conscience or els he must take it from the Cleargie upon trust that the poore reputed Heretick doth so sinne Peace M r Cotton adds that it is an Aggravation of sinne to hould or practice Evill out of Conscience Truth True but I also aske Doth not that persecutour that hunts or persecuteth a Turke a Jew a Pagan an Antichristian under pretence that this Pagan this Turke this Jew this Antichristian sins against his owne Conscience doth not this persecutour I say hould a greater Errour then any of the foure because he hardens such Consciences in their Errours by such his persecution and that also to the overthrowing of the civill and humane Societie of the Nations of the World in point of civill peace Peace Well you may deare Truth enjoy your owne holy and peaceable Thoughts but M r Cotton ends this Chapter with hope that the reputed bloudie Tenent appeares now whiled in the bloud of the Lambe and tends to save Christs sheepe from devouring to defend Christs truth and to maintaine and preserve peace in Church and Common-weale Truth Sweet Peace that which hath in all Ages powred out the precious bloud of the Sonne of God in the bloud of his poore sheepe shall never be found whited as M r Cotton insinuates in the bloud of this most heavenly Shepheard That which hath maintained the workes of Darknes 1600 yeares under the bloudie Romane Emperours and more bloudie Romane Popes hath never tended to destroy but build and fortifie such hellish workes That which all Experience since Christs time hath shewen to be the great Fire-brand or Incendiarie of the Nations hath powred out so many Rivers of bloud about Religion and that amongst the so called Christian Nations That Tenent I say will never be found a preserver but a bloudie destroyer both of Spirituall and civill peace Exam of Chap. 78. replying to Chap. 81. Peace VVE are now Deare Truth through the mercie of the Father of mercies arrived at the last Chapter of this Sorrowfull Agitation M r Cotton finds nothing in this worth the while to speake to yet thinks he it good to finde time to blame the Discusser for selfe Applauses vaine-glorious Triumph and confident perswasion which before he had noted M r Cotton for Truth That which was noted in M r Cotton was not meerly a perswasion or confidence but indeed an imperious and insulting confidence over the poore and oppressed and an adding of Vâ—megar to the Gall of the Sonne of God persecuted in his poore Saints and Members Peace But may there not seeme to be too in the Discusser too great a confidence of the converting and turning of the bloudie Storme of Warres about Conscience into mercifull calmes of peace and of the returne of Christs dove with Olive branches of civill peace Truth Then let thousands and ten thousands French Polonians Hungarians Transilvanians Bohemians Netherlanders and others and now at last through Gods gracious smiling upon this holy Truth of his I say many thousand English men set to their seale and witnes to wit that Freedome to the Consciences of men from all other but spirituall opposition hath stuck many Millions of Browes and Houses with Olive branches that were before beblubbered and overwhelmed with teares and bloud Peace I cannot but confidently see and say that doubtles had not the prudent and zealous care of Englands Parliament and Armie subscribed to this blessed meanes of peace restored to Lands and Countries embroyled in bloudie civill Warres about Religion doubtles the streame of Warre which hath run so long with bloud between the Prelates and the Puritans so calld had run as fresh and furious in all devouring flames between the Presbyterians and the Independents Truth Oh blessed be the God of peace who hath more pitie upon the unpeaceable Sonnes of Men then they have on Themselves Peace M r Cotton in the next place addeth that one passage he may not let passe because the name of Christ is interessed in it and dishonoured by it to wit Christ delighteth not in the bloud of men but shed his own bloud for his bloudiest enemies M r Cotton answers It is true that Christ delighteth not in the bloud of men while they gainsay and bloudily persecute him and his out of Ignorance but he delights in the bloud of such who after the acknowledgement of his Truth doe tread the bloud of his Covenant under-foote and wittingly and willingly reject him from raigning over them The contrary whereof he sayth Proclaimes the Gospel to the seede of the Serpent Sows pillowes under all ellbowes makes the Heart of the Righteous sad strengthens the hand of the wicked and proclaimes peace to Jezabell and her whoredomes and witchcrafts and concludes with prayer against such a bewitching of the Whores Cup where by open profession she is rejected but let in by the back-doore of Tolleration Truth I perceive Sweet
most hypocritically without shame in the bowels of Christ Jesus to Minister justice with such moderation that if it be possible the hereticks soul may be saved but however the flock may be preserved from such â—damnable Doctrine Peace Master Cotton will here blame the alleadging of this for the Popish Religion is false but their true c. Truth T is true the Papists Religion is false yet Master Cotton cannot pass without suspition to be too neer of kin to the bloody Papist to whom they are so neer in practice The Lord Jesus gave an everlasting rule to his poor servants to discern all false prophets by to wit their fruits and bloody practices But Secondly The holy Spirit of God in this 2 to Tim. now insisted on not only commands Timothy to exhort the opposite but patiently to wait and attend Gods will if peradventure God will give repentance and that they may recover themselves c. Peace Master Cotton will not deny together with meek exhortation patient waiting c. Truth Why then doth he limit the holy one of Israel to dayes or moneths Three months was by the law in Massachusets in New England the time of patience to the excommunicate before the secular power was to deal with him But we finde no time limited nor no direction given to Timothy or his successors to prosecute the opposite before Caesar bar in case God vouchsafed not repentance upon their means and waiting 3. Christ Jesus hath not been without bowels of compassion in all his gracious care and provision he hath made for his sheep and lambs against the spiritual Wolves and Foxes although we read not a word of the arme of flesh and sword of steel appointed by himself for their defence in his most blessed last Will and Testament 4. Lastly to that instance of the Donatists and Papists suppressed by the civil sword no question but as before a civil sword is able among civil people to make a whole nation or world of hypocrites and yet experience also testifies however Master Cotton makes it but accidental that it is the common and ordinary â—ffect of the civil sword drawn forth as they speak against hereticks seducers c. to harden the seducers and seduced by their sufferings and to beget no other opinion in their hearts then of the cruelty and weakness of the heart and cause of their persecutors Peace There hath been no small noise of Master Goâ—â—ons and his friends being disciplined or as the Papists call it discipled in the Schoole of the New English churches It is worth the inquiry to ask what conviction and conversion hath all their hostilities captivatings courtings imprisonings chainings banishings c. wrought upon them Truth Shall I speak my thoughts without partiality I am no more of Master Gortons Religion then of Master Cottons and yet if Master Cotton complaine of their obstinacy in their way I cannot but impute it to this bloody tenent and practice which ordinarily doth give strength and vigour spirit and resolution to the most erroneous when such unrighteous and most unchristian proceedings are exercised against them Peace Touching the Edict of Antoninus Pius concerning persecution of Christians and the opinion it begat in their hearts of the cruelty of their persecutors Master Cotton answers first the Pagan Religion is not of God but the Religion of Christians came down from Heaven in the Gospel-truth Truth This is most true to him that believeth that there is but one God one Lord one Spirit one baptism one body c. according to Christ Jesus his institution and that from that blessed estate the Apostacy hath been made and that all other Gods Lords Spirits Faiths Baptisms or churches are false But what is this to many millions of men and women in so many kingdomes and nations Cities and parts of the world who believe as confidently their lies of many Gods and Christs all which they believe as the Ephesians of their Diana and of the image of Jupiter and as Master Cotton of the way of his Religion that they come down from heaven Peace Doubtless according to their belief all the peoples of those nations kingdoms and countries wherein the name of Christ is sounded whether of the greek church or the latine whether of Popish or Protestant profession will say as Master Cotton my religion came down from heaven in the Gospel of Truth c. Truth Now then either the sword of steel must decide this controversie according to the bloody tenent of persecution in the suppressing of hereticks blasphemers idolaters and seducers by the strength of an arme of flesh or else the two-edged-sword of the Spirit of God the word of God coming out of the mouth of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants which will either humble and subdue the Rebels or cut most deep and kill with an eternal vengeance Peace But saith Master Cotton it will beget an opinion of cruelty to murther innocents but not to put to death murtherers of souls Truth I answer beside that great and common difference of civil murther and spiritual there is a second to wit that in the murther of an innocent the conscience of a murtherer is opened and commonly the mouth confesseth I am a murtherer I have killed an innocent but run through all the coasts and quarters of the whole world and the very consciences of so many thousands of soul murtherers are rootedly satisfied and perswaded that they are so far from being murtherers as that they are so many saviours of the souls of men and Priests and Ministers of the most high God or Gods c. Peace For instance if a man say Master Cotton is a subject of the state of England and a Minister of that worship which he believeth to be true confirmed by argument and light sufficient to his understanding soul and conscience How many thousand are there fellow subjects with Master Cotton to the English state yet of a contrary mind to Master Cotton in matter of Gods worship yea how many are there it may be thousands professing a Ministery contrary to Master Cottons and the like may be found in other nations and parts of the world Truth What true reason of justice peace or common safety of the whole can be rendred to the world why Master Cottons conscience and Ministry must be maintained by the sword more then the consciences and Ministeries of his other fellow-subjects Why should he be accounted I mean at the bar of civil justice I say accounted a soul Saviour and all other Ministers of other Religions and consciences soul-murtherers and so be executed as murtherers or forced to temporize or turn from their Religion which is but hypocrisie in Religion against their conscience which is ten thousand times worse and renders men when they sin against their conscience not only hypocrites but Atheists and so fit for the practise of any evil murthers adulteries treasons c
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
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
common prudence be supposed but that if Christ Jesus had appointed which we finde not in his holy Testament holy and Christian Magistrates for those great decrees and sentences wee should also have read of his holy Constables holy Sergeants holy Prisons holy Stocks holy Whipping Posts holy Gibbets and holy Tyburnes together also with holy Hangmen the spirituall Instruments and Officers of Christ Jesus for the Executions of his holy punishments upon Apostates Hereticks Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers c. 5. Peace Gods Justice sayth M r Cotton is honoured in the Execution of such Judgements Revel 16. 5 6. 1. Truth I have to my understanding formerly shewed M r Cottons mistake in his expounding of this third Violl and have presented an Exposition more agreeable with the scope of this Prophecie Peace 2. God was honoured in all his Judgements which the Tyrants of the World have executed the Babylonian Persian Grecian Romane yet not by way of Law and Ordinance but in the way of his holy providence and just permission 3. Truth Yea the Witnesses of Jesus by the two-edged Sword of God in their Mouths execute Gods Judgements to the vindicating of Gods Glory and their Innocencie Revel 11. although they used no carnall Weapon 4. The holy Name of God is much dishonoured and prophaned when the Inventions of Men are set up against his holy Appointments and when the Sword of Steele in spirituall cases is drawen in stead of the spirituall Sword proceeding out of the Mouth of Christ Jesus in his servants Testimonie All such worship is but vaine or idle worship Mark 7. and such is the carnall Sword and Executions of it Peace Whereas it was observed that M r Cotton acknowledged that Queene Elizabeth had well neere fired all Europe by such Executions M r Cotton answers God bore witnesse to his Truth in Deliverances And when it was replyed that Successe doth not prove causes true M r Cotton answers yes Psal 1. 3 4. Jer. 22. 15 16 17. Truth I reply Temporall prosperitie successe c. were proper in that Temporall and Civill State of that Nationall Church and spirituall Blessing and prosperitie proper in the Gospel now Ephes 1. Peace 2. It was answered that God had given victorie to the Papists especially against the Waldenses and the Beast makes warre against the Witnesses Revel 11. and overcomes them c. M r Cotton herein first observeth a Contradiction in the words to wit that the Papists ever had the victorie and yet their successe hath been various Truth I reply the words are not that the Papists had ever the Victory but that they ever had both Victory and Dominion which words may be true although that the Event were sometimes various 2. Peace Againe sayth M r Cotton Queene Elizabeth ever had the Victorie against the Papists Truth I answer Many gracious Deliverances God vouchsafed to Q Elizabeth yet sometimes her Armies prospered not against the Papists as in that famous Expedition of Essex Drake and Norris though in a most righteous cause against the Papists of Spaine and Portugall as also against the Papists in Ireland and the Low Countries at sometimes 2. Grant not onely Deliverances but Victories and Successe Her cause how ever intermingled was civill Defence of her Kingdome against Invation and Ambition Dominion and Conquest by practices of Tyrannie and oppression both against the English and the Hollanders especially as appeared by the horrible Exactions Outrages Murthers and Slaughters committed upon them by D'alva the King of Spaines Generall Peace But although the Papists sayth M r Cotton fought with various successe yet it is Gods manner to nurture his People with some crosses to teach them not to fight in their owne strength c. Truth Yea and it might also teach them not to fight but with Christs Weapons in Christs Cause who hath said That all that take the Sword that is as I conceive in Christs cause shall perish by it Matth. 26. 52. 3. Peace Concerning the Walldenses M r Cotton sayth They never lost Victorie but when they complied with the Papists and trusted more to their false praetences then to the Lord. And he adds that it is not true that the finall successe of Victorie fell to the Papists to the utter extirpation of those Walldenses for sayth he those Witnesses were not extirpated but dispersed Truth For their Complying with Papists alas what can Gods little flock his two Witnesses doe with carnall weapons unlesse assisted by carnall Men to whom this carnall course causeth them to bow downe dissemble lye c. as holy David with Achish and his Philistims 2. For the Successe it is evident that the Waldenses and their Adherents were so defeated by the Popes Armies that in respect of any power to resist the Armies of the Waldenses were wholly extirpated although it is true through Gods o're-powring hand the Truths of Christ which the holy Waldensian Witnesses testified were more and more propagated by their Dispersions Christ Jesus gaines more by preaching his Truth in a flying persecuted dispersion then by fighting on Horsbacke with carnall weapons in carnall companies c. 4. Peace But whereas it was observed from Daniell and John their Prophecies that Antichrist was foretold to obtaine great successe against Christ Jesus for a time determined M r Cotton sayth Not against Christ Jesus but his Servants and that either in Suffring for his Truth or when they ill handled his Cause Truth Be it so yet the Prophesies were true and truely were fullfilled and it is Gods Counsell that for the time appointed Christ Jesus in his Truths and Servants is despised Psal 89. c. How can then temporall victorie and prosperitie be expected by Christs followers for Christs Cause or the temporall Sword be an Ordinance for Christs spirituall Kingdome and Worship 5. Peace Now lastly when the weapons of the Saints Victories were mentioned three Revel 12. 1. Christs Bloud 2. The Word of their Testimonie 3. Their owne Bloud M r Cotton answers this is true in private Christians But sayth he the Sword of Gideon the publike Magistrate is the Lords Sword c. when drawen out for Gods cause and Worship according to God is Victorious Revel 17. with Revel 19. 14. 19 20. Truth I answer Gideons Sword if well examined will be found a Figure of that sharpe Sword of that great Captaine and Generall Christ Jesus This Sword comes forth of his Mouth in the Preachings and Writings of his Servants other sword we never finde he used in all his Battells against all his Adversaries yea even against the Devill himselfe and his Instruments Peace Yea those very Victories of the Saints Revel 19. are expressely won with that Sword which comes forth of his Mouth And his owne white Horse and the Horses of his Followers and the white Linnen with which they are clothed cannot with any shew of Christian Reason hould forth the carnall praeparation of white Horses
Heauens The neerer Christs followers have approached to worldly wealth ease liberty honour pleasure c. the neerer they have approached to Impatience Pride Anger and Violence against such as are opposite to their Doctrine and Profession of Religion And 2 The further and further have they departed from God from his Truth from the Simplicitie Power and Puritie of Christ Jesus and true Christianitie Peace In the next Passage M r Cotton though with another heart yet in the Language and Tongue of the Pharisees seemes to take part with the Prophets against the persecuting Fathers and amongst many things he prohibites Magistrates this one to wit that he must not make Lawes to binde Conscience Truth What is a Law but a binding Word a Commandement What is a Law to binde Conscience but a Commandement that calls for Obedience And must wee raise up such Tumults such Tragedies and fill the face of the World with streames of bloud about the Christian Mâ—gistrates reforming Religion establishing Religion killing the Heretick Blasphemer Idolater Seducer and yet all this without a Law that may in the name of Christ exact obedience Peace I wonder what we shall thinke of those Lawes and Statutes of Parliament in old or New England that have bound the peoples Consciences at least so farre as to come to the Parish Church improving as M r Cotton sayth the power and Authoritie over their Bodies for their Soules good What shall wee call all those Lawes Commandements Statutes Injunctions Directions and Orders that concerne Religion and Conscience Truth The plaine truth is M r Cottons former reforming zeale cannot be so utterly extinguished as to forget the name and Notion of Christian Libertie although in this bloudie Discourse he hath well nigh if not wholly sold away the Thing The Conscience sayth he must not be bound to a Ceremonie to a pretended indifferent Ceremonie And yet loe throughout this Discourse he pleades for the binding of it from these and these Doctrines from these and these Worships and binding to this or that Worship I meane to come to the publike Towne or Countrey Worship Just for all the world as if a Woman should not be bound to make a Curtsie or Salutation to such a Man but yet shee should be bound will she nill she to come to his bed at his pleasure Worship is a true of false Bed Cant. 1. 16. Peace It is observable in the next place what M r Cotton observeth concerning the Principles of saving Truth to wit that no good Christian much lâ—sse good Magistrate can be ignorant of them Truth In the Consideration of the Modell this Goodnesse or Badnes of the Magistrate is Examined and easily it is proved to my understanding that this Assertion confounding the nature of Civill and Morall goodnesse with Religious is as farre from Goodnes as Darknes is from Light Peace To this Issue tends M r Cottons Conclusion of this passage verily the Lord will build up and establish the House and Kingdome of such Princes as doe thus build up his Truth The promise of God to David concerning his House and Kingdome in the Letter is most true in the Mystery and Antitype as to the Spirituall House and Kingdome of King David King Jesus in such Princes or Propheticall Kingly Spirits who Spiritually in the Word of Prophesie the Sword of Gods Spirit contend for the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ Jesus God will establish them in Spirituall Dignitie and Authoritie But take this literally as M r Cotton carries it and as he never will finde any such Dutie lying upon Princes in the Gospell nor any such promise of temporall prosperitie but holy praedictions foretellings of the crosse and persecution ordinarily to all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus and the greater persecution to the most zealous and faithfull Servants of Christ Jesus So neither can he give any true Instance truely proper and parallell to this purpose Peace Me thinks 〈…〉 hough successe be no constant rule to walke by yet Gods providence in successe of Journies Victories c. are with great care and feare to be attended to and pondered and the Hand and Eye of God to be observed in them of what sort or Nature so ever they be Truth Two instances of greatest successe and temporall prosperitie we have presented to us on the publike stage of this world before our owne Dores crowning the Heads of such States and States-men as have attended to mercy and freedome toward oppressed Consciences The first is that of the State of Holland The second of our owne Native England whose renowned Parliament and victorious Armie never so prospered as since their Declaration and practice of pitie and mercy to Consciences oppressed by M r Cottons bloudie Tenent Peace In the next Passage it being a Grievance that M r Cotton should grant with Luther the Magistrates power to extend no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject and yet withall maintaineth that they must punish Christians for sinning against the Light of Faith and Conscience M r Cotton answers First He supposeth the chiefe good to be that of Christian Faith and Good Conscience Secondly Suppose sayth he by Goods were meant outward Goods yet the Magistrate may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as seduce c. for sayth he in seeking Gods Kingdome and the Righteousnesse thereof Men prosper in their outward Estates Matth. 6. 23. Otherwise they decay Lastly He remembers not the proposition to be his The Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject He answereth it is true in respect of the Object though not in respect of the End which sayth he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bene administrare Rempublicam And he asketh if it be well with a Common-weale enjoying bodily health and worldly wealth without a Church without Christ And he concludes with the Instance of the Romane Empire which had it not cast away Idolatrie sayth he had been ruined Truth For answer First the distinction is famous among all Men of the Bona or Goods of Animi Corporis Fortunae and againe that of the Minde Soule and Conscience within and that of the Body and Goods without that it can be no lesse then a Civill as well as a Spirituall Babell to confound them Secondly To his Supposition suppose sayth he by Goods were meant outward Goods yet the Magistrate may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as doe Seduce c. I see not how these Cohere any better then the grant of some Papists that the Churches power extends no further then the matters of Faith and Conscience But yet say they they may punish such in their Bodies and Goods as seduce c. M r Cottons Suppositions and the Papists come both out of the same Babylonian Quiver But thirdly let us minde his Reason from Matth. 6. In seeking Gods Kingdome men prosper in outward estate otherwise not I answer this Proposition
no other then a Devill an Accuser of the Brethren for imputing to them any such Evill c. Truth He that reads how hard the Heart of holy David grew in the sinne of Whoredome and Murther untill the Lord awakened him will lesse wonder that Spirituall Whoredome and murtherous violence may possesse the Heart of Gods Davids and holiest Servants now and that without blush or shame or least appearance of Relenting Doth not all this whole Traverse of M r Cotton maintaine a persecution even unto Death of such whom the Civill State shall judge Hereticks Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers c. Doth not this very Chapter expressely justifie persecution upon the Subverters of the Christian Faith obstinate after Conviction upon Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers And is M r Cotton not informed what successe his Doctrine hath had that if a mercifull God had not prevented not Courting nor Fining nor Imprisoning nor Whipping nor Banishing had been punishment sufficient to men and women for cause of Conscience in New-England but even Death it selfe according to the Principles of persecution had been inflicted Peace M r Cotton will urge that Gods people will not be such Hereticks c. Truth I might urge M r Cottons owne grant of such sinnes in Gods owne people for which they may be justly Excommunicated but I will rather produce an Instance in our Nation of England None fearing God will easily deny the Eminent Godlines of Cranmer Cromwell in King Henry the eight his dayes At that very time when King Henry himselfe disputed in so famous an Assembly against the blessed witnesse of Christ Jesus John Lambert Finde we not also holy Cranmer disputing before the King and that Stately Assembly against this poore Servant of God for that horrible and monstrous Idoll of Transubstantiation Peace Finde we not then also holy and zealous Cromwell at the Kings command reading that bloudie Sentence of Death against that blessed Lambe of Christ Jesus who was thus worried to Death not onely by the bloudie Wolves the Bishops but even by those holy Lambes of Christ Cranmer and Cromwell also Truth This was that blessed Lambert a true Follower of the Lambe of God Christ Jesus who cryed out in the midst of the Flames None but Christ None but Christ and well might he so cry Not Cranmer not Cromwell who after so much Light in Disputations yet persisted in their Heresie and Idolatry and partaking with violence against this holy man that he might well cry out None but Christ None but Christ Exam of Chap. 77. replying to Chap. 80. Peace AS it is Deare Truth oftentimes in Journies the worst way and saddest weather attends the Journies End So here M r Cotton neere our close chargeth upon the Discusser a threefold wresting of his words and accordingly so much false-dealing Truth It is sad on the Discussers part if this be done by him either by a willfull or a negligent hand Peace Yea and it is sad on M r Cottons part if the Charge be not reall and substantiall Truth M r Cotton acknowledgeth his words to be these The Godly will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when they are convinced in Conscience of the sinfullnesse of their way The first charge therefore against the Discusser is that he confoundeth Admonition with Conviction for saith M r Cotton Admonition ought not to be dispenced untill the offendour be convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfullnesse of his Way Truth For answer hereunto the Discusser to my knowledge humbly appealeth to the Searcher of all Hearts that he hath not willingly nor wittingly falsified M r Cottons words in a tearme or syllable And indeed whether he hath wronged him at all or be not rather unjustly trampled under the feete of weake and passionate charges the Discusser appealeth to M r Cottons owne Conscience awaked if God so please out of this bloudie Dreame Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton Admonition is one thing and Conviction in their owne Conscience is another for though sayth he Admonition ought not to be dispenced till after Conviction yet it may fall out that the Church through mistake proceedeth to Admonition before the offendour be convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfulnesse of his Way Truth Passing gently by the want of Equitie in M r Cotton to the Discusser in condemning him of falshood for taking Admonition for Conviction when he makes it but a mistake in the Church to practice the one for or before the other I answer I know not that sutable Distinction between Admonition and Conviction as M r Cotton carrieth it saying that how ever the Church may through mistake practice Admonition before Conviction yet Admonition ought not to proceede untill after Conviction in a mans owne Conscience for finde we not the words of Reprooving Rebuking Admonishing Exhorting a brother indifferently used both in the Old and New Testament And doth not that very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 18. Reprove him imply Conviction as well as Reproofe or Admonition for doth it not signifie Convincingly reprove him Peace I have heard indeed that Conviction is twofold First Externall and legall before men in Civill or Spirituall Judicature Secondly Effectuall and inward in the Court of a mans own Conscience before God which internall alwayes followes not the Externall Truth No such Externall Conviction may be legall before men but not in the fight of God and a mans owne Conscience as we see in the case of Naboth who was legally convict of Blasphemy when acquitted by God and his owne Conscience As also in those Consciences of which Paul speakes seared with hot irons which Consciences notwithstanding the abundance of Light from heaven convincing yet are not brought from believing Lyes Peace Yea but it seemes by M r Cottons words that the Church that is according to his way the Major part of the Church must judge that the Heretick is convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfullnesse of his way before she proceedeth to Admonition Truth For my part I cannot reconcile these three Propositions comprized by M r Cotton in these few lines First the Godly will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when they are convinced in Conscience of the sinfullnesse thereof Secondly The Church is to judge of the Conviction of such a Godly mans Conscience Thirdly Although such a Godly man be convinced of the sinfulnesse of his way yea although he will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when he is thus convinced in Conscience of the sinfulnesse thereof yet then is the Church to proceede to Admonition For thus he sayth Admonition ought not to be dispenced till after Conviction Peace If M r Cotton spake of the first Conviction to wit the Externall I could subscribe but now speaking of that internall in a mans owne Conscience I see it pleaseth God most holy and onely wise to permit the best and wisest of his Servants
desolation and partakes of any of them Revel 18. to wit Her worldly pompe and pleasure Her spirituall Whoredomes and invented Worships and her crueltie and bloudshed more especially against the Consciences of the Saints or holy ones of Jesus Exam of Chap. 79. Touching the Modell of Church and Civill power Examined in the first part of the bloudie Tenent but not defended by M r Cotton or any that the Discusser knowes of Peace I Had hoped Deare Truth that we had gained a peaceable and quiet harbour after all our tempestuous Tossings in the boysterous Seas of this bloudie Tenent yet now behold a sharpe and cutting winde of M r Cottons continuall Censures For I was not sayth M r Cotton of those that composed the Modell and secondly the Ministers say it was not sent by them to Salem and therefore the Discusser is left of God to a double falshood Truth Sweete Peace till sweete Death in and often for Christ close up the Eyes of his servants they must not expect to rest fully from their Labours and expect their workes to follow them Once againe therefore let us heare the Discussers plea for himselfe against this blustering charge of double falshood Master Cottons owne words in the End of his Answer to the Prisoners Letter are these I forbeare adding Reasons to justifie the Truth because you may finde that done to your hand in a Treatise sent to some of the Brethren late of Salem who doubted as you doe Truth To my knowledge it was reported according to this hint of M r Cottons that from the Ministers of the Churches pretended such a Modell composed by them was sent to Salem Hereupon it was that the Discusser wrote on purpose to his worthy friend M r Sharpe Elder of the Church of Salem so called for the sight of it who accordingly sent it to him Peace If this Modell of such consequence were so composed and so sent to Salem if M r Cotton directs others thither to repaire to make use of it if he thus approve and promote it I see not why it might not probably be collected that M r Cotton not the last in such great and publike matters was amongst if not chiefe amongst the composers of it and that he and they were not ignorant of the conveyance of it to Salem Truth But grant M r Cotton should have been imagined to have been left out in this so great and publike a service and that all the former probabilities faile yet doubtles M r Cotton will be cast at the barre of Christian Love and Moderation for so bitter a charge upon the poore Discusser for so easie and harmles Mistakes Peace Such fierce flashes might well issue from the bloudie French Cardinalls against the poore Hugenots from the English bloudie Bishops against the poore Lollards from the bloudie Popes against the Hereticks and Lutherans but a gentler Breath and stile might well beseeme a Protestant to a Protestant engaged in common principles and Testimonies and sufferings of Jesus against those bloudie Tyrants But to the Modell M r Cotton seemes highly offended that the Discusser should say that the Modell awaketh Moses from his unknowne Grave and denies Jesus yet to have seene the Earth For Moses his Lawes were of force sayth he to the Israelites in the Land of Canaan when Moses was dead and againe Christ came not to destroy the Law of Moses not the Morall Law nor the Judicialls such as are of common Equitie Or els sayth he the Conscience of the Civill Magistrate could never doe any act of civill Justice out of Faith because he should have no word of God to be the Ground of his Act if the Lawes of Judgement were abrogated and none extant in the New Truth I answer that speech of the Discusser was neither unreasonable nor untrue as M r Cotton alledgeth for grant Christ came not to destroy the Morall Law of the ten Commands for the Substance of it for all materiall circumstances therein M r Cotton will not urge nor practice Nor secondly the Judicialls of Morall Equitie that is such as in deed concerne Life and Manners according to the Nature and Constitution of the severall Nations and Peoples of the World Peace Pardon me Deare Truth before you proceede a word of Explication your Addition according to the Nature and Constitution of the Peoples and Nations of the World will not he allowed of Truth Without this I cannot allow of Moses his Judicialls to binde all Nations of the World then before or since Christ Jesus my reason is That people of Israel to which those Judiciall Lawes and punishments were prescribed was as I may say a miraculous people or Nation miraculously brought from one Nation the Land of Aegypt into another the Land of Canaan both types a people furnished with miraculous food and cloathing during their fortie yeares Travell through the Wildernes The seaven Nations of Canaan wondrously and miraculously destroyed before them Their Lawes and Institutions miraculously delivered to them c. Beside not to wade deeper into this Controversie as in the Examination of the Modell I have done their Land was typically holy and that people the Church of God the onely Church of God in the World And therefore being a people of such miraculous considerations Meanes and Obligations the breach even of Morall Lawes concerning Life and Manners and civill Estate might be more transcendently hainous and odious in them then in the other severall Nations and peoples of the World many thousands and millions whereof never so much as heard of the Name of the God of Israel Peace If men see cause to ordaine a Court of Chancerie and erect a Mercy-seate to moderate the rigour of Lawes which cannot be justly executed without the moderate and equall consideration of persons and other circumstances Me-thinks the Father of Mercies though he be Justice it selfe yet cannot be justly imagined to carrie all Judiciall or Civill Lawes or Sentences by one universall strictnes through all the Nations of the Earth Truth The Lord Jesus tells us of a more tollerable Sentence even for the Sodomites in the day of Judgement then for the Jewes who were the people and Church of God and Paul his servant layes heavier load Rom. 2. upon such Adulterers Thieves as professe to be Teachers unto others c. of the contrary Graces and Vertues Peace Deare Truth the Scriptures are full and many Arguments might be drawne out this way but please you to pitch upon an Instance whereby we may the sooner finish this Digression Truth Take that great case of the punishment of Adulterie and I confidently affirme that the Conscience of the Magistrate may out of Faith execute other punishments beside stoning to Death which was the punishment of that sinne in Israell For although as M r Cotton sayth That was the Law of Judgement in the Old Testament and there is no other particularly exprest in the New yet
Hall not being satisfied he sends them unto the discusser who never saw the said Hall nor those Arguments in writing though he well remember that he saw them in print some yeers since and apprehending no other but that Master Cottons Answer was as publike as Master Cottons profession and practice of the same Tenent was and is what breach of rule can Master Cotton say it was to answer that in the streets which Master Cotton proclaimeth on the House top Peace But grant it had been a private letter and the discourse and the opinion private yet why doth he charge the discusser with breach of rule in not using orderly wayes of Admonition and telling the Church when Master Cotton himself in this Book blames the discusser for disclaiming Communion with their Church and they also after he was driven by banishment from civil habitation amongst them had sent forth a bull of excommunication against him in his absence Such practise the Lord Jesus and his first Apostles or Messengers never taught nor any that are truely their successors ever will But to end this Chapter in the last place why doth Master Cotton complaine of the loss of the liberty of his conscience and of the punishing of his conscience by the publishing of his letter aggravating it because the discusser pleads for liberty of conscience Is he indeed on the Lord Jesus mind for the sparing mens bodies and present life for their souls and eternal lives sake Doth he indeed plead for liberty of conscience Let the following discourse and this present passage manifest how tender he is of his own conscience and of the liberty of it But how censorious and senseless of the pangs and agonies of other mens conscience and spirits and sorrows As if his alone were the Apple of his eye but Theirs like the brawny hoofs of the roaring Bulls of Bashan Peace Complaines Master Cotton of persecution for such dealing against him I never heard that disputing discoursing and examining mens Tenents or Doctrines by the word of God was in proper English acceptation of the word persecution for conscience well had it been for New England that no servant of God nor witness of Christ Jesus could justly take up no other complaint against New England for other kinds of persecution surely the voice of Christ Jesus to Paul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me was for another kind of persecution Truth Deare Peace if the Bishops of Old England or new had never stirred up the Civil Magistrate to any other suppressing of mens consciences nor no other persecuting then discussing disputing c. they should never have needed to have been charged so publikely in the face of the world with the bloody Tenent of persecution for cause of conscience Examination of CHAP. II. Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton much complaines that he is charged in the Title to maintaine persecution for cause of conscience and professeth That he would have none be punished for conscience unless his errour be fundamental or seditiously or turbulenly promoted and that after due conviction of conscience and that it may appear he is not punished for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience Truth Persecution for conscience is in plaine English hunting for conscience and Master Cotton being a son of wine as the Jews speak in their Proverb is loth to be counted a son of vinegar and therefore would avoid the word persecuting or hunting as something too wilde and fierce an expression more sutable to the bloody sons of vinegar and gall the Roman Emperors Popes and Bishops and he much desires to have the word persecuting changed for the word punishing a tearm more proper to true Justice But is not this the guise and profession of all that ever persecuted or hunted men for their Religion and conscience are not all histories and experiences full of the pathetical speeches of persecutors to this purpose You will say you are persecuted for your conscience you plead conscience Thou art a heretick the devil hath deceived thee thy conscience is deluded c. And 2. Whether such punishing as Master Cotton assigneth to that threefold degree of heretical wickedness chap. 5. to wit To hold a fundamental error To persist therein after conviction and lastly To seduce others thereunto Or these five summed up page 186 of his book subverters of the Christian Faith persisters therein after conviction blasphemers idolaters seducers I say such a punishing which he affirmes to be death and killing will not amount to make up a persecution for cause of conscience let the Spanish Inquisitions be an instance who when they torture and rack and kill and burn for such crimes yet varnish they and guild all over with the painted Title of Gods Glory holy zeal just punishment of hereticks blasphemers c. Peace But Master Cotton blameth that he should be charged with the Doctrine of persecution by consequence Truth Let his whole book and the prosecuting of this controversie be judge whether it be only drawn from consequences and not express Tearms And for the washing of this bloody Tenent in the blood of the Lambe Time hath and will discover that such a Blackamore cannot be washed in the blood of Christ himself without Repentance for they that washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Revelations the 7. were true penitents untill therefore that persecutors repent of this bloody Doctrine and practice they must hear as the men of Judah did the prophet Isaiahs thunder Isa 1. Your hands are defiled with blood wash you make you clean c. Examination of CHAP. III. Peace BUt what knot in a Bulrush is that which Master Cotton observes the discusser findes in his first distinction of persecution for cause of conscience Truth For the matter upon the point they both agree as Master Cotton hath penned himself that persecution for cause of conscience is not onely when a man is punished for professing such Doctrines and Worships as he believes to be of God but also when he is punished for renouncing such Doctrine and not practising such Worships which he believes are not of God c. All the difference is this that the discusser saith This should have been expressed in the distinction Master Cotton saith it was implied and therefore the observing of the not expressing of it was but a knot in a Bulrush Peace T is wofully true that the peace of the Saints and the peace of the world hath been lamentably broake and distracted in punishing or persecuting of men but especially the Saints upon both these grounds but yet the records of time and experience will tell us that since the Apostasie from the truth of Jesus the rising of Antichrist and the setting up of many State Religions the forest and frequentest punishing or hunting of the children of God hath been as in the case of Nebuchadnezzars Image for not bowing down to the State-Images for not coming
with God though he was clothed with filthy garments Zech. 3. Truth I answer Ordination or laying on of hands comprizeth the whole Ministery Heb. 6. wherein if Election or Ordination be false I see not how the Ministery is true any more then a marriage can be true where either consent oâ— solemnity by a true power is wanting or a King rightly instituted in his Kingly office when either election or coronation is given or made by a false power 2. But further Ordination is not well represented by a Kings coronation to say nothing of the statcliness of the simile for a King may administer by successive election and consent in some States before coronation and coronation is but for publike state and ceremony but a Minister cannot administer before ordination no more then a husband enjoy his spouse before marriage which is the puting of him into and the investing of him with his Authority as we see both in the priests of the law and the Ministers of the Gospel Concerning Jehoshua his garments This kind of confession is not after the patterne of Ezra Nehemiah David Daniel c. but with mincing and excusing Moreover in this place of Zechary God only comforts his people with the promise of better times and more new and costly garments for the High priest now returning from captivity his garments were torne foule and filthy Lastly These were the garments of the Lords appointing though in a poor and afflicted condition what is this to a fools cap or coate the cap or surplice what is this to the office of Ieroboams priests which never were of God though happily some of them might studiously give themselves to attaine and teach the knowledge of God and might in a kind separate from the false 2 Chron. 13. and some good thing might be found in some as in Ieroboams child and happily many others as in these our times Peace Concerning common prayer he pleades the time of their ignorance as also that the high places were removed 2 Chron. 14. and knows not of any such faithful admonition as was mentioned Truth God winketh at some ignorance but is not blind to pass by all The high places were an high sin and in Gods time discovered repented of and removed but ever by God disclaimed c. And although the discusser acknowledgeth himself unworthy to speak for God to Master Cotton or any yet possibly Master Cotton may call to minde that the discusser riding with himself and one other of precious memorie Master Hooker to and from Sempringham presented his Arguments from Scripture why he durst not joyn with them in their use of Common prayer and all the Answer that yet can be remembred the discusser received from Master Cotton was that he selected the good and best prayers in his use of that Book as the Author of the Councel of Trent was used to do in his using of the Masse-book Peace Yea but further saith Master Cotton Numbers 20. Moses used an unwarrantable way of prophesying and yet God gave water therefore set formes of prayer may bring a blessing down Truth Moses his calling was true in a true Church his failing was in point of passion and unbeliefe What is this to the Common prayer where all were Idols both the society or communion in which the priest himself and the worship were but inventions c. Peace But saith he Common prayer is not such a fundamentall errour Truth The word and prayer are those two great services of God which even the Apostles themselves gave themselves unto And if Master Cotton intend not that his Argument shall stand good against Master Ball to prove the falseness of such a maine worship of God let him shew what that worship of God is which he intendeth when he so distinguisheth of some false worship wherein fellowship with God is lost Peace To end this Chapter Master Cotton to clear himself from partiality and that he never useth to measure that to any which he would not have measured to himself He proposeth a threefold wickedness which he saith God never left him to fall into First Any fundamental errour Secondly persisting therein after admonition and conviction Thirdly seducing of others And lastly he professeth that if he should so fall it were better for him to be cut off by death or banishment then the flocke of Christ to be seduced by his heretical wickedness Truth I here first observe as also in other places Master Cottons acknowledgement and profession of what a man may be punished for to wit a fundamental errour persisting in it and seducing others all which are spiritual matters of religion and worship for which he decrees from the Magistrate death or banishment and yet elsewhere in many other passages he professeth against all persecution for conscience Secondly If Master Cotton should so fall and be so dealt withall by the civil state First would not Master Cotton conscientiously be perswaded of the Truth of what he held though accounted by others fundamental error obstinacy heresie c. Secondly Will Master Cotton think that death or banishment would be wholesome and Christian meanes and remedies to change and heal his conscience Thirdly He to prevent the infection of others granting the civil Magistrate must punish him with death or banishment doth he not make the Magistrate yea the Civil State what State soever he live in the Judge of his conscience and errors Fourthly Confessing it now that to worship God with a Common prayer was his sin and yet it was his conscience that he might so do If the Magistrate had judged it to be a fundamental error he grants he might then have put him to death or banishment if persisting c. though yet he hath a proviso and a retreat against this assault professing that if the Magistrate be not rightly informed he must stay his proceedings of which afterward Peace What is this but in plaine English to profess that all the Magistrates and Civil powers throughout the whole world although they have command and power from Christ Jesus to judge in matters of conscience religion and worship and live in daily sin that they do not cut off the heretick blasphemer seducer c. yet except they be of Master Cottons minde and conscience to account and judge to be they must suspend their duty and office in this case until they be better informed that is untill they be of his mind Examination of CHAP. VI. Peace BUt to proceed to the sixth Chapter in which is handled that which more especially concerns my self It is too lamentably known how the furious troopes of persecutors in all States Cities Towns c. have ever marched under my name the white colours of peace civil peace publike peace Truth Yet Master Cotton confesseth that the Cities peace is an humane and civil peace as was further explained in many instances from Babylon Ephesus Smyrna c. against which Master Cotton
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
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
of Gods servants have fed and himself not a little to the Lords praise and his own in former times Peace Whereas you argued it to be light alone that was able to dispell and scatter the mists and fogs of darkness in the souls and consciences of men Master Cotton answers The judgements of God are as light that goeth forth Hos 6. 3. Isa 26. 9. and the false Prophet repenting will acknowledge this Zech. 13. 6. Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends Truth But doth Master Cotton indeed believe that not only publike Magistrates but also each private father and mother as that place of Zechary literately taken carries it must now in the dayes of the Gospel wound and pierce yea run through and kill their Son the false Prophet would he justifie a parent so practising though it were in the neglect of the publike Magistrate who happily may be of the same Religion with the false prophet Will not this doctrine reach extend to the pulling down deposing and killing of all such governors and governments which God in his gracious providence hath set up amongst all peoples in all parts and dominions of the world yea and harden the heart of Pharoah the very Pope himself in his King-killing and State-killing doctrine Peace If ever Master Cotton wake in this point he will tell all the world that it is more Gospel-like that Parents Brethren Fathers Friends impartially fulfill this of Zechary 13. and Deut. 13. spiritually in the friendly wounding yea and zealous slaying by the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God which is the word of God comming forth of the mouth of Christ Jesus Ephes 5. Revel 1. Truth And it is most true as Master Cotton saith that the judgements of God legally executed or more terribly poured forth in the vials of sword plague and famine they are as heavenly lights shining out from the Father of lights teaching the inhabitants of the world righteousness Yea the creation it self or each creature are as candles and glasses to light and shew us the invisible God and creator but yet these are not the ordinances of Christ Jesus given to his church These are not the Preachings of the word and the opening of the mysteries of salvation which give light and understanding to the simple and convert the soul These are nor that marvailous light unto which the call of Christ Jesus in the preaching of the word had brought the Saints unto whom Peter writes The weapons of Pauls fighting whereby to batter down the high thoughts and imaginations of the sons of men against the sons of God were of another nature 3 Cor. 10. and his directions to Timothy and Titus how to deal with Hereticks and Gainsayers were never heard of to be such till the son of man and son of perdition brought forth such bloody weapons and bloody doctrines in the affaires of Christ Jesus Examination of CHAP. X. Peace IN this passage Master Cotton will subscribe to the whole matter saying This Chapter may stand for us without impeachment and yet in this Chapter is reported the persecution which both rightly informed and erroneous consciences suffer and the blind estate of such blinde guides and blinded consciences who so preach and practice Truth These first words We approve no persecution for conscience fight against his whole endeavour in this book which is to set up the civil throne and judgement-seat over the consciences and soules of men under the pretence of preserving the church of Christ pure and punishing the evil of heresie blasphemy c. 2. They fight against their fellows which follow thus unless the conscience be convinced of the error and perniciousness thereof which is all one as to say We hold no man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless it be for a conscience which we judge dangerous to our Religion No man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless we judge that we have convinced or conquered his conscience T is true all errour is perniciots many wayes to Gods glory to a mans owne soul to other mens souls and consciences yet I understand Master Cotton to say Except we judge the error to be so and so mischievous T is true there is a self-conviction which some consciences smite and wound themselves with But to submit these consciences to the tribunal of the civil Magistrate and Powers of the World how can Master Cotton do this and yet say no man is to be persecuted for his conscience Peace Alas how many thousands and millions of consciences have been persecuted in all Ages and Times iâ— a judicial war and how have their Judges pretended victory and triumph crying out We have convinced or conquered them and yet are they obstinate Truth Hence came that hellish Proverb That nothing was more obstinate then a Christian under which cloud of reproach hath been overwhelmed the most faithful zealous and constant witnesses of Jesus Christ Peace But saith Master Cotton Some blinded consciences are so judicially punished by God as his in Irelond that burnt his child in imitation of Abraham Truth In such cases it may be truly said the Magistrate beares not the sword in vaine either for the punishing or preventing of such sins whether uncleanness theft cruelty or persecution And therefore such consciences as are so hardned by Gods judgement as to smite their fellow-servants under the pretence of zeale and conscience as in the instance of Saul his zeal for the children of Israel against the Gibeonites they ought to be supprest and punished to be restrained and prevented And hence is seasonable the saying of King Iames that he desired to be secured of the Papists concerning civil obedience which security by wholesome Lawes and other wayes according to the wisdome of each state each state is to provide for it self even against the delusions of hardned consciences in any attempt which meerly concernes the civil state and Common-weale Examination of CHAP. XI Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton takes himself wronged that he should be thought to lay this down as a conclusion viz. that it is not lawful to persecute Iesus Christ Truth What difference is there in saying It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed and to say It is not lawful to persecute Christ Iesus was it not all one in effect for Christ to say Take up thy bed and walk as to say Thy sins are forgiven thee Peace He adds It is no matter of wonder to lay down the principles of Religion for a proof as Gamaliel did Truth Who sees not a vast difference between Master Cottons and Gamaliels speech Gamaliel speaks of that particular controversie concerning Christs person and profession which the Iews so gainsayed and persecuted Gamaliel fitly aggravateth their opposition by the danger of their course if possibly it might prove to be the Truth which they persecuted Master Cotton is to lay down not a particular answer
but general conclusions and notwithstanding that in the course of his Book he maintaines such and such persecution yet he layes this down as his first conclusion It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Iesus in his Truths and Servants and that I say never persecutor professed to do without a Maske or covering Peace What of that saith Master Cotton for although they do not persecute Christ as Christ yet they do it and it is no matter of wonder to tell them as Christ tells Paul It is not lawful for them so to do Truth Doubtless whatever persecutors profess and what Apologies soever they make in all the particular cases for which Gods servants are persecuted yet the Saints of God have dealt faithfully to tell Persecuters that they persecute Christ himself and to breath out the fire of Gods judgements against them even out of their own mouth But what is this to a conclusion laid down for so Christ laid not down his expostulation with Paul as a conclusion as Master Cotton doth by way of teaching but as a conviction by way of reproofe Peace Yet persecutors saith he have persecuted Christ as Christ for the Scribes and Pharises said This is the heir come let us kill him and Iulian persecuted Iesus as Iesus And if a Christian in Turkie shall seek to gaine a Turke to Christianity they will persecute such a Christian and in him Iesus as Iesus Truth It is said Acts 3. that the Iews persecuted Christ out of ignorance for though they had sufficient knowledge to convince them yet did they not persecute Christ out of a clearely convinced conscience for then it could not be out of ignorance And yet it was sufficient that so great a power of Gods Spirit appeared in the evidence of Christs works as to make their sin to be against the Spirit of God yet had they their mask and covering as is evident For this is not the true Christ or Messiah say they but a deceiver a witch working by the power of the devil a blasphemer a seducer a Traitor c. Againe although wretched Iulian persecuted the very name of Christ and Iesus whom formerly he had acknowledged and professed Yet was it still under a mask or covering to wit that he was not the true Son of God nor his worship the Truth but his Roman gods were true c. And the same say the Turkes in persecuting Christians and in them Christ Iesus as aâ— Prophet inferiour to their onely great and true Prophet Mahomet And lastly neither Scribes nor Pharisees nor Iulian nor Turkes did or do persecute Christ Iesus otherwise then as they were and are bound so to do by Master Cottons doctrine as shall further appear notwithstanding his plea that such Magistrates must forbeare to punish untill they be better informed Peace But let tyrants and persecutors profess what they will saith Master Cotton yet this varieth not the truth nor impeacheth the wisdome of the conclusion Truth Sweet peace how can I here chuse but in the first place observe that great mystery of the waking sleep of the most precious servants of the most high God in the affaires of his worship and the Kingdome of his dear Son Awake for what fiery censures justly poureth forth this our excellent Adversarie against the oppressours of conscience entituling them with the names of tyrants and persecutors notwithstanding their vaine professions pretences apologies and pleas for their tyranny and Bloodshed Againe how fast asleep in his so zealous pleading for the greatest tyranny in the world throughout his whole book though painted and washed over with faire pretences c 2. He granteth upon the point the truth which was affirmed and he denyed to wit that no persecutor of Christ ever persecuted him as the Son of God as Iesus but under some mask or covering as thousands of black and bloody clouds of persecuting witnesses in this case most lamentably make it evident and apparent Peace Master Cottons next charge is very heavy against the discusser for exalting himself above God in the discerning of Master Cottons fellowship with persecutors notwithstanding his profession against such persecution Truth The Lord Jesus saw in the Iews such a contrariety between their professions and practises even in this case of persecution Mat. 23. 2. Himself in effect but even now said the same of all persecutors What ever pretences they make saith he and they will pretend great things of love to Christ and kiss him ten thousand times when treasons and slaughters are is in their courses And will Master Cotton say that Christ Iesus exalted himself above God inspying out so great a mystery It is no new thing that Master Cotton should be apt to say with David That man that hath done this thing shall die not duely considering and pondering that our selves are sons of blood and children of death condemned by our own mouth if the righteous Iudge of the whole world should deal severely with us Peace But Master Cotton for a close of this Chapter complaines of his own suffering of bitter persecution and the Lord Iesus in him being unjustly slandered except the discusser can prove that any doctrine of his tendeth to persecute any of the servants of Christ Truth Let a mans doctrine and practise be his witnesses and let every soul judge in the fear of God whether the doctrine of this Book maintaining such and such a persecution to be an holy truth wash'd white in the blood of the Lamb agree not lamentably with all their imprisonings banishings c. inflicted upon so many several sorts of their own countrimen friends and brethren in the wilderness for matter of Religion and conscience amongst which the Lord Jesus will be heard at last to have said Why persecutest thou me why banishest and whippest thou me c 2. Will not all persecuting prelates Popes c. take heart from hence according to their several religions and consciences to persecute the heretick blasphemer seducer c. although they all will say with Master Cotton It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Jesus in his truths or servants Peace But the discusser saith Master Cotton is a bitter persecutor in slandering him and Christ Jesus in him for a persecutor Truth I see not but Master Cotton though of Davids spirit may be guilty of Sauls lamentable complaint that David persecuted him and that he could finde none to pity him Who knows not that all and our own Popish Bishops in Queen Maries yea and of late times our Protestant Bishops against the non-conformists have been wont to cry out what bitter persecution themselves have suffered from the slanderous censures and reproaches of the servants of Christ Jesus against them Who yet have shot no other arrowes at them but the faithful declarations and discoveries of Gods holy truth and the evil of the opposing and persecuting of it and
the professors of it And how neer will Master Cotton be found to close with that late bloody Woolfe so far as his chaine reached Bishop Laud who being an instrument of the bloody hunting and worrying of those three famous witnesses of Christ Master Prin Master Bastwick and Master Burton yet at their publike sentence in the Star-chamber he lamentably complained that those poor Lambs did bark and bite him with unjust reproaches slanders c Examination of CHAP. XII Peace MAster Cotton here first complaineth that his words are misreported concerning the punishment of the heretick after once or twice admonition Tit. 3. 10. Truth I desire that others may judge in three particulars First whether the summ and pith of the words are not rendred 2. Whether this Titus 3. was brought by Master Cotton to prove as is now pretended that an Heretick might be persecuted with an excommunication after once or twice admonition or whether the question be not of another kind of persecution 3. Whether that Tit. 3. 11. do hold forth That although a man be a heretick blasphemer seducer he may be punished with a Civil or corporeal punishment yea though he sin against his own conscience I add a fourth whether indeed as Master Cotton intimates the discusser makes this Tit. 3 a refuge for hereticks Great sound and noise makes this word heretick heretick I dare appeal to Master Cottons conscience and memory whether the reading of histories and the experience of time will not evince and prove that hereticks and Christians hereticks and Martyrs or witnesses of Christ have not been the same men and women I say againe that such as have been ordinarily and commonly accounted and persecuted for hereticks have been the servants of the most high God and the followers and witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ Peace You know dear truth the catalogues of heresies and hereticks extant c. Truth Grant it sweet peace that some in all times have suffered for erroneous conscience Yet I dare challenge the father of lies himself to disprove this assertion That the most of such beyond all comparison that have ever suffered in this world for hereticks have been the disciples and followers of Christ Jesus And on that not only the Lions Leopards the Bears Woolves and Tygers the bloody Pharoahs Sauls Herods Neroes Popes Prelates c. should fetch from hence their persecuting arrows and commissions but that even the Davids the men after Gods own heart the Asa's whose hearts are perfect with God that such as are the sheep and lambs of Christ should be so monstrously changed and transformed into lyons beares c. yea and should flie to this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. for this their unnatural and monstrous change and transformation Examination of CHAP. XIII Peace IN this 13 Chapter dear truth you argue the great mistake of the world in their common clamour an heretick an heretick a person obstinate in fundamentals and you prove that this word heretick intends no more then a person obstinate against the admonitions of the Lord although in lesser matters upon this Master Cotton concludes in this 13 Chapter that the discusser gives a larger allowance for proceeding against erroneous persons then himself did Truth I must deny that the discusser gives a larger allowance then Master Cotton or any at all that the hereticks or obstinate person should be dealt withall by the Civil Magistrates of Crete but onely by the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus 1. For first What though I granted that an obstinate person contending about Genealogies ought not to be suffered but after once or twice admonition ought to be rejected And 2. What though I grant that after such faithful admonitions once or twice he cannot but be condemned of himself yet according to his third answer how will it appear that I grant that an heretick is rightly defined to be one obstinate in fundamentals when I maintaine and Master Cotton seemeth to grant that the heretick may be such an one as is obstinate in lesser points and practises 3. Further let the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imply an overturning yet will it not follow that therefore an heretick is he who is wilfully obstinate in holding forth such errors as subvert the foundation of the Christian religion For however that Master Cotton saith That such disputes may tend to overthrow Christianity yet that is but in remote possibility as the prick of a finger may kill the heart if it ranckle and fester and so go on from member to member without means applyed yet this cannot be said to be a mortal wound at first So is it in the body of Christ Peace The Apostle discoursing of meats and drinks of eating and drinking with offence calls an offensive eating a destruction of the soul for which Christ died and yet I suppose he will not say that that difference was a fundamental difference Truth It hath been a gross and barbarous mistake of the monopolizers of learning both divine and humane The Clergy both of Popish and Protestant factions and worships And how many are the thousands of millions of abuses prophanations and blasphemies against the God of heaven in all the Antichristian Christendome in all preachings writings proceedings and processes touching this name heretick heresie c By the impartial censure of the Lord he is an heretick who wilfully persists in any sinful doctrine against the due admonitions of the Lord for every bit and parcell of leaven is to be purged out of the house of God as well as the greater and fundamentall lumps Examination of CHAP. XIV Peace IT is a falshood saith Master Cotton that I call the slight listnings of Gods people to the checks of their consciences their sinning against their conscience for I speak not saith he of the sinning of Gods people against conscience but of an heretick subverted much less do I call their slight listening to conscience an heretical sinning against conscience least of all do I say that for slight listening to the checks of conscience he may lawfully be persecuted as for sinning against his conscience And he adds this gall to the former vinegar Thus men that have time and leasure at will set up images of clouts and then shoot at them Truth Master Cotton elsewhere granteth that Gods children may through passion c. be carried on to despise admonition and may be excommunicated and if so how can they refusing of Christs admonition in the church be excused from sinning against the self condemning of themselves For if a child of God may possibly be excommunicated for obstinacy in some passion temptations c. then may he be this heretick or wilfull man in this Tit. 3. T is true that in an houre of great temptations Gods people may sin against clear light of conviction and sentence of conscience as David and Peter c. But as I conceive the holy Spirit of God in this 3 of Titns
intends not such a clearness of self-condemning but either that the admonitions of the Lord are so evident and clear that either if he in his own conscience before God improved them seriously and duely they would clear up the truth of God unto him or else the checks of conscience are such as are recorded to have been Cant. 5. in the members of Christ in the Church of the Jews and Master Cotton cannot render a sufficient reason why they may not also be found in the members of the churches of the Christians Peace I perceive indeed dear truth the wonderful effects of a strange tongue in the church of Christ The noise and sound of a Greek word heretick in poor English â—ares hath begot a conclusion that a person refusing once or twice admonition for some point of Doctrine is such an heretick or monster that he cannot possibly be a child of God whereas Master Cotton granting that a child of God may possibly refuse once and twice admonition and so come to be excommunicated What doth he then in plaine English but say that a child of God may be obstinate to excommunication or rejection that is in Greek be an heretick And what is this but contrary to his former Assertion that a childe of God cannot be heretically obstinate to rejection c. Truth Questionless no child of God but in temptation may sin heretically that is obstinately upon once or twice admonition against the checks and whisperings of his own conscience and against that evidence of light which afterward he wondreth how he could despise and this rejecting or casting forth of the visible society of Christ Jesus and his servants is not for destruction but humiliation and salvation in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace I judge that no son of peace in a sober and peaceable minde can judge as Master Cotton here doth this to be an image of clouts Truth Nor can I learn that the discusser so abounded in time and leasure as to make such images as Master Cotton insinuates It is not unknown to many witnesses in Plymmouth Salem and Providence that the discussers time hath not been spent though as much as any others whosoever altogether in spiritual labours and publike exercise of the word but day and night at home and abroad on the land and water at the How at the Oare for bread yea and I can tell that when these discussions were prepared for publike in London his time was eaten up in attendance upon the service of the Parliament and City for the supply of the poor of the City with wood during the stop of coale from Newcastle and the mutinies of the poor for firing T is true he might have run the rode of preferment as well in Old as New England and have had the leasure and time of such who eat and drink with the drunken and smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow servants But God is a most holy witness that these meditations were fitted for publike view in change of roomes and corners yea sometimes upon occasion of travel in the country concering that business of fuell in variety of strange houses sometimes in the fields in the midst of travel where he hath been forced to gather and scatter his loose thoughts and papers Peace Well notwithstanding Master Cottons bitter censure some persons of no contemptible note nor intelligence have by letters from England informed the discusser that these Images of clouts it hath pleased God to make use of to stop no small leakes of persecution that lately began to flow in upon dissenting consciences and amongst others to Master Cottons own and to the peace and quietness of the Independants which they have so long and so wonderfully enjoyed Truth I will end this Chapter with that famous distinction of the Lord Jesus Digging Begging Stealing are the three wayes by the which all that pretend to be Christs Stewards are maintained They that cannot digg can begg the glittering preferments of this present evil world and the wages of Balaam They that cannot dig can steal in the wayes of fraud oppression extortion c. But by the mercy of the most high the discusser hath been inabled to get his bread by as hard digging as most diggers in New or old England have been put to and let all men judge whether such as can beg or steal and cannot dig or such as chuse neither to beg nor steal but dig have most time and leasure to make such images of clouts c. Examination of CHAP. XV. Peace IN this passage Dear Truth we hear a sound of Agreement Master Cotton consenteth that this third of Titus evinceth no civil rejection but excommunication out of the Church of Christ and he saith That no sillable of his conclusion lookes at more And whereas it might be objected That excommunication cannot fitly be called persecution he answers yes and quotes Luk. 21. 12. John 16. 2. Truth Were it not for the fierce hands of angry Esaus this shril sweet voice might pass for Jacobs What ever Master Cottons ends and intentions were of which I cannot but judge chatitably the eye of God alone discerneth but for Master Cottons words sillables and arguings let all impartial readers and consciences judge of these four considerations First Whether the word persecution do not in all proper and ordinary speech signifie penal and corporal punishment and affliction 2. Whether the point in question agitated between the prisoner and Master Cotton throughout the book concern not only penal and corporal afliction and whether it can be imagined that the prisoner or the discusser or any that plead for the purity of Christs ordinances could ever plead against excommunicating an heretick or wilful offendor out of the Church of Christ And although the Scriptures by Master Cotton quoted do mention excommunication as an unjust oppression yet they speak also oâ— corporal afflictions imprisonments bringing before judgement-seats and killing also 3. It could be told in what countrey at a publike sentence of banishment of a certaine person a text of Scripture Rom. 16. 17. parrallel with this of Tit. 3. was alleadged by the chief judge in court for a ground not of spiritual excommunication but of civil out of the Commonweal 4. Were it not more for the name of God for the honour of his truth and the comfort of Master Cotton plainely and ingenuously to acknowledge his misapplying of this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. then to cover it by so thin and poor a plea viz. that he intends by persecution excommunication out of the Church of Christ Examination of CHAP. XVI Peace MAster Cotton here grants a toleration to Jews Turkes Pagans yea and Antichristians with one exception to wit so that they continue not to seduce c. Truth But it must be remembred that before and after he maintaines persecution against Apostates blasphemers and idolatours and then who knows not how all these
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
of Prage are declared for devils with the pictured devils upon their heads and under this cloud of heresie and black name of hereticks most commonly have suffered in all ages the true messengers of Christ Jesus Thus cryed they out Acts 17. These are they that have turned the world upside down and are come hither also and thus did they set the City all on an uproare And Acts 19. not the worshippers of Christ fill'd the whole City with confusion but the worshipers of Diana who filled the heavens with that Bedlam Outery of two houres continuance Great is Diana of the Ephesians Truth With as little reason and peaceableness of spirit hath our English Nation used to cry Great is the Church of Rome Great is our holy Father the Pope Great the Mass Great the Virgin Mary Great the General Councels c. And in later times Great the Church of England Great the Christian Magistrate Great the Ministery and Bishops of England Great the swearing and covenant of the people c. and such as dissent from us in these points and practices persecute them as hereticks and disturbers of the common civil peace Peace In the rest of this Chapter Master Cotton makes three grants with his exceptions annexed Truth Please you dear peace to mention them in one and accordingly I shall weigh them in the balance together Peace 1. Saith he The many causes which the discusser before wrote of are all of them allowed but none of them concern holding forth of errors which is the point in hand 2. Saith he It is easily granted that they do break the Cities or kingdoms peace who cry out for prisons and swords against such who cross their judgement or practice in religion to wit saith he unless their religion be of God and the crossing of it be such as destroyeth and subverteth the Religion of God 3. It is also easily granted saith he that many complaine most who are most in fault themselves Truth To these three I may answer thus in one The Mystery of preaching or holding forth the witness of the Truth of Jesus is interpreted by many to be the Mystery of the first seal the white horse and the being persecuted or slaughtered for the word of God and testimony of Jesus to be the Mystery of the third seal where the souls under the Altar cry to the Lord for vengeance against their persecutors These mysteries are sealed up and they are the Lords letters not to be opened and read by every one but as sealed letters be by such to whom they are directed Peace It follows therefore that in the midst of all the cries of Iews Pagans Turkes and Antichristians Our Religion is the Religion of God You are an heretick you are a persecutor We are true Christians we are persecuted c. that the hearts of Gods children must be comforted and staid up with the sight of this Mystery And doubtless it is most commonly though not alwayes true that the imprisoned fined whipt banished hanged burned c. in point of Religion have been so inhumanely oppressed for the word of God and the Testimony of Iesus Our own Chronicles Records of England and blessed Master Fox will in part evidence to us that scarce a King or Queen of England hath past since Richard the second his time but the blood of the witnesses of Iesus more or less hath been spilt in their Raignes as the blood of Hereticks Schismaticks c. and but few drops of the blood of any Heretick indeed have faln to the ground Truth The discusser therefore humbly to my knowledge desireth according to Master Cottons wish to reflect upon his own way and humbly to beg of God two things for himself and all in any measure censured and persecuted as hereticks First Iosephs innocency purity chastity in all those points and questions wherein they are charged and condemned unclean Secondly Iesephs patience to bear the accusations censures imprisonments c. from the tongues and hands of them who are notoriously unclean and guilty before the zealous and revenging eye and hand of God Examination of CHAP. XVIII Peace MAny of the following leaves and Chapters dear truth are spent upon that great and heavenly parable of the Tares a knot about which so many holy fingers dead and living have been so laboriously exercised all professing to unty yet some by seeming to untie have tyed the knot the faster Truth It is no wonder sweet peace to finde Master Cotton so intangled both in his answers and replies touching this Parable for men of all sorts in former ages have been so intangled before him To which purpose with thy patience I shall relate a notable passage recorded by that excellent witness or Martyr of God Master Fox in his book of Acts and Monuments t is this In the story of Master George Wisehart that famous Scotch witness of Christ Iesus in the dayes of King Henry the eighth there preached at the arraignment of the said Wiseheart one Iohn Winryme subprior of the Abbey of Saint Andrews he discoursed on the Parable of the Tares he interpreted the Tares to be hereticks and yet contrary to this very Scripture as Master Fox himself observeth though elswhere himself also maintaining it the duty of the civil Magistrate to suppress hereticks I say the said Winryme concludeth that hereticks ought not to be let alone until the harvest but to be supprest by the power of the civil Magistrate So that memorable it is that both the Popish Prior and that truely Christian Fox were intangled in contradictions to their own writings about the interpreting of this Heavenly Scripture Peace O what cause therefore have all that follow Iesus to beg of Iesus as the Disciples did the blessed Key of David to unloose this holy mistery In the entrance therefore of this discourse the discusser observing Master Cottons exposition to be fallacious and the Tares to be interpreted either persons or doctrines or practices he blames that Master Cotton gives no argument for proof of such an interpretation Master Cotton replies First Neither did the Author of the letter give reason for his interpretation 2. That they both gave one interpretation For the Author of the letter said that some expounded the Wheat and Tares to signifie such as walk in truth and such as walk in lyes now are not saith Master Cotton hypocrites and some corrupt doctrines and practices coincident with such as walk in lyes c Truth I answer First it might be both their failing not to strengthen their interpretations with some light and evidence from Scripture or reason although the Prisoners failing the less as being forced to write by shifts and difficulties in prison and so the shorter when Master Cotton had free liberty to inlarge and confirm without control c. 2. When the prisoner interprets the Tares to be such as walk in lyes it will be found evident upon examination that
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
Cotton will say that the kingdome of Christ on earth may receive and keep in her bosome such stinking weedes declared so to be which the kingdome of Christ in heaven abhors Who questions but while the hypocrisie of these foolish Virgins lay hid in their empty vessels that outwardly they appeared as wise as the wise Virgins But when the fruits of their hypocrisie discovered them to be fools how can Master Cotton according to the truth as it is in Jesus affirme that foolish Virgins known hypocrites are to be kept in and not cast out of the church of Christ unto the end of the world Peace O how contrary is this to the very fundamentals essence nature and being of a church or Spouse of Christ Jesus which is by the confession of Papists and Protestants a society of wise Virgins visibly Saints holy and faithful persons a society of such persons as outwardly profess to love Christ Jesus uprightly Cant. 1. and to be espoused to him 1 Cor. 11. Truth Yea and how contrary is this to the nature of Christ Iesus whose heart is all one fire towards the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 4. and how contrary to the charge that great and solemn charge of the Lord Iesus to all his followers to take heed of that leaven which is hypocrisie which if suffered will leaven the whole lumpe and render the garden and spouse of Christ a filthy dunghill and whore-house of rotten and stinking whores and hypocrites Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace MAster Cotton here endeavors to prove as many have done before that the Field which the Lord Iesus interprets the world was meant by him to be the Church as he is said to love the world Iohn 3. to be propitiation for the sins of the world 1 Ioh. 2. Truth In these and many other places of like nature it pleaseth the Spirit of God to set forth his love to mankinde distinct from all other creatures As also the impartiality of his love calling his chosen out of all sorts of sinners mankinde all the world over and yet it cannot be denyed but that the Scriptures speak frequently of the world and of the church in a far distinct and contrary acceptation So as when he nameth the church it cannot signifie the world and when the world he cannot be said to intend the church the reasons therefore on either side must be expended and weighed in the fear of God why the Field here called by Christ the world cannot be intended to be the church of Christ Peace Your right distinguishing is a right dividing of the word of Truth but saith Master Cotton it cannot be the world in proper signification for which he aleadgeth three reasons First Because there had been saith he no place for the servants wonder at the appearing of the tares verse 27. for what wonder that the world should be so full of fornicators c Was it ever otherwise Truth It is true that the world lyeth in wickedness and is full of fornicators idolaters c. and yet it was some thousands of yeers when the world was not full of Christian that is anointed or holy fornicators holy idolaters c. That is indeed and truth Antichristian and that alone is the point in question about which this answer of Master Cotton hovers but comes not neer it This is indeed a most dreadful and wonderful point of the wisdome justice and patience of God so to suffer so many millions of men and women to arrogate to themselves the name and profession of the most holy living God and his holy Son Christ Iesus to be called Christians anointed or holy and yet upon the point to hate the holiness truth and spirit of Christ Iesus Truth This is doubtless to me what ere Master Cotton imagines a wonderful mystery in all Ages since these tares were first sown to see I say so many millions of holy idolaters holy murtherers holy whoremongers holy theeves c. The blasphemy of this is so wonderful and dreadful that I cannot sufficiently wonder at him that wonders not how this comes to pass Truth The like I answer to his second Reason that it is true that we read not that ever any of the Ministers or Prophets of Christ ever essayed to pluck up all such vicious notorious persons out of the world as they demanded concerning the tares for then indeed as the Spirit implies 1 Cor. 5. the whole state of the world would be overthrown but yet this hinders not but there may be a desire in Gods servants to pluck up this or that sect or sort of people Jews Turks or Antichristians Peace Dear Truth you make me call to minde the desire of Christs disciples that fire might descend from heaven not to consume all fornicators idolaters all cruel and unclean persons out of the world yet that particular unmerciful superstitions Town of the Samaritans they desired that fire might come from heaven and consume them Truth Indeed this desire of the disciples is no strange desire for what else do All they desire which permit not in the civil state any Religion worship or conscience but their own Nay far beyond that were the whole worlds neck under their imperial yoake the many millions of millions of blasphemers and idolaters of all sorts if they will not be convinced at their word must be cut off from all natural and civil being in the world by Fire and Sword Peace His third reason is That the discusser reckoned up as paralel goats and sheep wheate and tares as generally said he others do and he addeth that in the purest church after the ruine of Antichrist there shall be goats and sheep wise and foolish Virgins untill the coming of Christ to judgement Mat. 25. Truth Although the discusser spake of that eternal separation between wheat and tares sheep and goats approaching yet he never said that the tares and goats signified hypocrites in the Church which is the point in question Nor dare I subscribe to that opinion that after the destruction of Antichrist when purest times of the church shall come that there shall be such a mixt estate in the church of Christ untill the coming of Christ to judgement For first Although goats were clean for food and sacrifice yet it is apparant that as they are for the left hand So they are visibly known by every child where goats and sheep are kept And to image that visible hypocrites such as tares goats unprofitable servants foolish Virgins c. shall in a mixt way make up Christs churoh and that in the purest times of the church of which there are so many and wonderful prophecies is to me not onely to frame a church estate point blank cross to the purity of those churches but even to the first Apostolical churches yea and against that frame of church estate in New England where Master Cotton hath professed though now it is said the door is wider against receiving in
or mystical Israel no spiritual Canaan but the letter ceremony and figure yet in force and Christ Jesus the mystical and spiritual King of Israel is not yet come in the flesh Truth Yea then not onely a few in a City or Kingdome suppose hundreths or thousands but millions of millions of blasphemers idolaters seducers throughout the whole wide world ought corporally to be put to death Peace Against this methinks Master Cotton should be and I am sure against this Christ Iesus was who professed in answer to the rash zeal of his disciples Luk. 9. That he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them but how relish you Master Cottons interpretation of Let them alone which he sees pleaseth some so well to wit Let them alone is no precept but permission Truth I answer If let them alone were onely by permission in way of providence Why is also a word of prohibition added to wit That such should not be medled with for these and these reasons whereas although God permitteth evil doers in spiritual and eivil state in the world yet there lies a word of ordinance to purge them out Here is no ordinance for their plucking up but for their letting alone and that in a merciful respect of sparing the good wheate who might be indangered to be pluckt up by the roots out of the world by such rash and furious zeale of plucking up the tares Examination of CHAP. XXIX Peace MAster Cotton referring the 28 Chapter to former agitations seems to invite us to pass on to Chapter 29. Truth Let the 28 Chapter recapitulating the former and the whole controversies be referred to the consciences of such to whom these passages by any providence of the most holy wise shall be presented and let it graciously please the Father of lights to help all his sons of light to be truely studious of his truth in the love of it to cast up all particulars aright in his fear by the onely Arithmetick of his own most holy and unerring spirit Peace In this Chapter first ariseth a question concerning the Apostles privacy Truth Master Cotton acknowledgeth them to be called to a publike Ministery let others judge then of their privacy Peace But they were not sent saith Master Cotton â—o the Scribes and Pharisees and so consequently were to let them alone Truth I answer Let it be considered how he that grants men are sent to the sheep can rightly say they have nothing to do with the Wolves and Foxes Peace In this controversie Master Cotton elsewhere will not onely have sheep sed but the Wolves driven from the sold their braines beaten out c. and that not onely by the Pastors or sheapherds spiritually but also by the civil Magistrate and to that end he is to be stirred up by the Shepherds and Ministers of Christ Truth Such exciting and stirring up of the civil Magistrate if it were Christs will how can the Apostles be excused or the Lord Jesus himself for not stirring up the Civil Magistrate to his duty against these Scribes and Pharisees the Wolves and Foxes as Master Cotton here cals them Peace Neither the doctrine nor their offence at it saith Master Cotton was fundamental nor had the civil Magistrate a law established about doctrine or offences of this nature Besides Christ gave his disciples a charge to be wise as Serpents and himself would not meddle with the Pharisees untill the last year of his Ministery lest their exasperation might have been some hinderance to his Minstery before his hour was come Truth I should desire Master Cotton againe to ponder whether the notorious hypocrisie of the Pharisees now brought into a Proverb and also whether the notorious transgressing and upon the point abolishing of the fifth commandment and so consequently of all civil obedience with the Papists under pretence of Gods service although indeed but their own superstition be not of a fundamental guilt both against spiritual and civil state Peace I remember Master Cotton argued against tolleration of the Papists because their conscience excites them against the civil powers Truth And whither tended these principles of the Pharisees but to overthrow all Family yea and if they be followed home all Towne or City and Kingdome-Government Peace Yea But the Romane Magistrate saith he had no established law about doctrines or offences of that Nature Truth Master Cotton in all this controversie pleades that they ought to have and though he saith that Magistrates may suspend their duty untill they be informed yet he never saith that the Ministers of Christ may suspend their duty of humble information and stirring up them up to so high a part of their Duty as concerns the souls of their subjects and the worship of God Peace I remember that Gardiner and Boner c. could not make the fire burn to consume the people of God and witnesses of Jesus untill Edwards laws were repealed and Maries bloody laws were established and so they were forced to suspend a while untill they had conjured up a Parliament to do both the one and the other as their slaves and drudges for them And t is true what the Spirit of God in David pronounceth Psal 82. that under the maske or colour of a law which carries with it the name and sound of reason and righteousness the wickedness of the world is established And hence the people and servants and Saints of the most high God feele the weight of the violence of the Nimrod persecutors or hunters But this I wonder at that Master Cotton subjoyneth that Christ Jesus himself and his disciples under the notion of not exasperating the Pharisees should not reprove the Scribes and Pharisees Truth It cannot sink with me That the Spirit of God in Christ Jesus himself and his messengers should so far differ from himself in all his former messengers and prophets who spared not to reprove the highest Priests Princes Kings and kingdoms nor doth the practice of the Lord Jesus in so many places of Matthew before his thunder bolts shot forth against them Mat. 23. give any countenance to so loose an opinion Peace Master Cotton who argues so much against the permitting of blasphemers to live in the world may here call to minde that if ever blasphemy were uttered against the Son of God it was uttered by the Pharisees in the 12 of Matthew when they imputed the casting out of the devils to the power of the devil in Christ Jesus and yet we finde not that Christ Jesus stirred up the civil Magistrates to any such duty of his to put the blasphemers to death nor the hereticks the Sadduces who denied that fundamental the resurrection Truth It is most true that the cause needeth no such weapons nor spared he the Pharisees for fear of their exasperations but poured forth on their faces and bosoms the sorest vials of the heaviest doom and censure that can be suffered by the children of men to
wit an impossibility of repentance and forgiveness of sins either in this or the world to come And for the present at every turn he concludes them hypocrites blind guides which could not escape the judgement of Hell So that all other sences of those words Let them alone that is of not reprooving them cannot stand nor if it were the duty of the Ministers of Christ to stir up the civil Magistrate against such hypocritical and blasphemous Pharisees could Christ Jesus himself or his servants the Apostles be excused for not complaining to the Romane State against them So leaving the blame upon the conscience of the governors if the land were not purged of such blasphemers and fundamental opposers of the Son of God Let me me end sweet peace with the bottome of all such persecutions Satan rageth against God and his Christ that devil that cast the Saints into prison Rev. 2. what instruments soever he useth would cast Christ himself into prison againe and to the gallows againe if he came again in person into any the most refined persecuting state in the world Examination of CHAP. XXX Peace I Doubt not dear truth in the first place but you cast an observant eye on Master Cottons collections in this Chapter from Pauls words Acts 25. 11. I will mention the two first 1. That a man may be such an offender in matters of Religion against the law of God against the Church as well as in civil matters against Caesar as to be worthy of death 2. That if a servant of God should commit any such offence he would not refuse judgement to the death vers 11. Truth Paul onely saith in the general If I have committed ought worthy of death I refuse not to die Now therefore as Paul said No man that is no man justly may deliver me to the Jews So say I no man from these words of Paul without wronging him and his Master the God of Truth can draw such a conclusion as if Paul had acknowledged it evil in him to have preached against the laws of the Jews or the temple which the Lord Jesus and his servants after him so abundantly did although at this time in point of fact Paul might well say he had not done ought against the law of the Jews I mean the ceremonial law and the Temple for he had now observed the ceremonies of the Law and the holiness of the Temple although for this some use to blame him not discerning that Paul knew there was a time to honour those ceremonies even after Christs death and a time as much to debase dishonour and abolish them Peace His third collection is That it is lawfull even in Ecclesiastical causes to appeale to a Pagan Magistrate Truth As I utterly renounce such a conclusion any otherwise then in respect of civil violence offered for a mans conscience which violence Caesar ought to see revenged and punished so neither will this instance of Paul prove it for in appealing to an higher Judge a man alwayes presupposeth if not skill perfect yet competent skill and a true power committed from God to judge in such cases which Paul for many reasons both in this Chapter and elsewhere manifested could not suppose in the Romane Caesars or any civil Magistrate Peace Master Cotton urgeth that these words verse 9. These Things imply matters of Religion as well as civil things Truth Those words These Things were not the words of Paul but the words of Festus 2. Grant them Pauls words yet if for those things the Jews seek his life Paul well appeals to Caesar against them for Caesar is bound to protect the bodies goods or good names of his subjects either from false accusations in civil things or persecution for matters of conscience which is a violence against the civil state of which Caesar was the supreme officer Peace His fourth collection is that civil Magistrates may and ought to â—e acquainted with all matters of Religion especially capital Truth In twenty five parts of the world of thirty civil Magistrates cannot possibly be thus acquainted for the sound of Christ Jesus is not there to be heard as the best Historians and Cosmographers yeeld Peace It seemes strange if Christ Jesus had intended any such delegation of spiritual power to civil Magistrates that he should keep the very sound of his name from them Againe in the other five parts of the world where his name is sounded how rarely hath he acquainted any civil Magistrate with the saving knowledge of his will Truth I add that such rare ones that savingly know Christ Jesus and his will are no judges in such cases over the consciences of their brethren or any by way of civil judicature this very instance of Pauls appealing to Caesar hath and shall further declare and mainfest Peace But what should be the reason why Master Cotton affirmeth That the civil Magistrate ought to be able to judge of all capital offences against Religion but not of all questions Truth The truth is if the civil Magistrate were a Surgeon appointed of Christ Iesus to judge in causes that concern cutting of life and limbe c. he would beyond all question be able to judge of petty cuts wounds c. But Satan that old deceiver that knew by Gods permission how to cozen Adam David Solomon Peter the most perfect wise and holiest of Gods servants is not now to learn how to cheat Master Cotton also Satan well â—ees if Master Cotton should grant it the Magistrates duty to judge in lesser questions the hope of Benefices and Livings were gone and the trade of Synods would down And if he should not grant it to be the Magistrates duty to judge in capitals the Pope the Bishops and all persecuting priests would want the secular power the servile executioners of their most wicked and most bloody decrees and sentences Peace In the next place Master Cotton seemes to charge a contradiction upon the discusser for saying that civil Magistrates were never appointed by God defenders of the faith of Iesus and yet every one is bound to put forth his utmost powers in Gods business Truth Love hath charged the discusser to spare the â—â—â—rm of contradiction in many passages of Master Cottons writing where he hath to his understanding observed them to prevent exasperations c. contrarily Master Cotton against the discusser straines the text and Margin to sound out contradictions contradictions to all passengers But let us examine And first Master Cotton will not deny but the son of perdition the Pope of Rome whose coming and practice is by the work of the devil was the blasphemous author he and his Cardinals in Councel together of that title defender of the faith sent with great gratitude and solemnity to Henry the eighth as a kingly popelike reward for penning or bearing the name of a blasphemous writing against Christ Iesus in his holy truth proclaimed by Luther Peace With
their dominions that all true Christian meanes be used for the spreading of the name and truth of the Lord Iesus I say this serves not the turn and gives not content except also the Magistrate defend by civil sword the purity of the doctrine and the ordinances of Christ Iesus in his church in punishing and suppressing the contrary by arme of flesh whether within or without the church Peace In this last respect I must speak an high and bold word to wit That the poorest youth or maid who hath more knowledge and graâ—e of Christ then a king or Emperour hath as well sometimes it hath and may come to pass may be a greater contender for the truth and a great defender of the faith of Iesus then the king or Emperor and so consequently then all the kings of the whole world Truth Paul was set for the defence of the Gospel and consequently every believer in Iesus according to his measure of grace received and therefore your word is not more bold then true For spiritual defences are most proper to a spiritual estate and so accordingly most potent prevalent and mighty Examination of CHAP. XXXI Peace HEre first Master Cotton will not own it that the title of Iudges of spiritual causes be given to Civil Magistrate Truth The Parliament of England established King Henry the eighth supreame head and Governor over the church of England and what is this but supreme Iudge in all Ecclesiastical causes What though the tearme judge be stumbled at by some and the tearm head will not down with others yet take but what Master Cotton grantâ— And as the devil himself lay hid under Samuels mantle so under Master Cottons tearm of fathers mothers shepherds that is spiritual fathers mothers shepherds must of necessity be concluded an headship and power and office of judging when this child doth a miss when these sheep go astray who are schismaticks who hereticks who sheep who Wolves that the sheep may be corrected and reduced and the Wolves braines knockt out Peace They may judge saith Master Cotton but not with a church but politick power and for want of which and for giving their kingdome to the Beast Revel 17. 12 13. God saith he opened a way for the Turkes to break in and destroy the third part of Christendome Rev. 9. 14. to 21. Truth Let it be under what cloake or colour or notion soever let it be politick indeed and subtle or plaine and simple yet it seemes it is true that he must judge which will not be owned in plaine tearms but as a Protector a Father or a Shepheard Secondly Those Scriptures quoted do not lay a guilt upon the ten horns or kings for suffering the beast in their dominions but for giving their power and authority unto him Thirdly the civil peace was not dissolved but preserved for many hundred yeers before the Turkes rose to punish either the Eastern or Western part of Antichristian Christendome So that a false religion doth not immediately and instantly dissolve the civil peace but kingdomes and states professing false religions may flourish T is true God in his deep councels and times brings judgements eternal and temporal upon false worshipping states especially where the truth of Christ is presented and persecuted Yet divers ages of temporal prosperity to the Antichristian kingdom prove that common Assumption and maxime false to wit that the church and Commonweale are like Hipocrates twins weep and laugh flourish and fade live and die together Peace I cannot reach the bottome of this next passage of Master Cotton viz. that Magistrates may be subject to the church and lick the dust of her feet and yet be supreme governors of the church also In spiritual matters saith he and in a right administration of them he is subject but is civil things and in the corrupt administration of church-affaires so far corrupt as tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace there the Magistrates saith he are supream governors even over the churches in their own dominions Truth Who sees not here but by this Doctrine Magistrates must judge when the church is rightly administred and when it is corruptly administred And that whatever the Ministers of the church or the whole church judge that is nothing for the Magistrate if he be supream governor he must judge and what is this but even in the very same respect I say in one and the same respect to make them high and low up and down mountaines and vallies supream governors and so above the church anon ageâ— to lick the dust of the feet of the church which Master Cotton will as soon make good as bring the East and the West together Besides as elsewhere I observed what if the people will have no kings governors c. nay no Parliament nor general courts but leave vast interregnums or Ruptures of government yea conclude upon frequent changes as all nations of the world have had great changes this way shall the churches of Christ Jesus be without an head a governor defender protector What a slavery doth this bloody doctrine bring the faire Spouse of Christ into Peace In the passage concerning Saul Master Cotton observeth that Saul was not taken away for exercising civil power against spiritual wickedness in the case of witches Truth Saul was king of Israel the church of God and a typical king the anointed or Christ of God and Master Cotton himself will subcribe to the confession of Nathaniel to Christ Iesus Thou art the king of Israel which he was and is in his own most holy person as also in his Ministers and governors during his absence It was now Sauls duty to put literal witches to death in his Christian Israel his church and Congregation It is true Saul forsaking the God of Israel perished for other wickedness and among other his sins for persecuting or hunting righteous David and therein Saul is a type and warning to all the apostates and persecuting Sauls of the earth that desperation and desperate self-destruction attend them Peace But whither tends this last passage concerning David We read not saith Master Cotton that he did exercise any spiritual power as a King but as a prophet Will he commend Sauls kingly acting in spiritual things as just and shall not David whose name and throne were most eminently figurative of Christ Jesus be found a king in Israel the house and church of God Truth The patern of David Solomon and the good kings of Israel and Judah is the common and great argument of all that plead for Magistrates power in spiritual cases And indeed what power was that but spiritual which he exercised in bringing up the Arke expresly said to be done by king David 2 Sam. 6. What power was that but kingly put forth in ordering and disposing the services of the Priests and Levites and singers 1 Chron. 16 Peace Master Cotton not ignorant of this it may be was not
Mahumeâ—ans and no people more filthy in soul and body and no people in the world more bloody and persecuting but I listen for your second paradox Truth Secondly This Tenent of the Magistrates keeping the church from Apostatizing by practising civil force upon the consciences of men is so far from preserving Religion pure that it is a mighty Bulwark or Barricado to keep out all true Religion yea and all godly Magistrates for ever coming into the World Peace Doubtless this will seem a hard riddle yet I presume not too hard for the fingers of time and truth to unty and render easie Truth Thus I unty it If the civil Magistrate must keep the church pure then all the people of the Cities Nations and kingdomes of the world must do the same much more for primarily and fundamentally they are the civil Magistrate Now the world saith John lyeth or is situated in wickedness and conscquently according to its disposition endures not the light of Christ nor his golden candlestick the true Church nor easily chooseth a true Christian to be her officer or Megistrate for she accounts such false to her Gods and Religion and suspects their faithfulness c. Peace Hence indeed is it as I now conceive that so rarely this world admitâ—eth or not long continueth a true servant of God in any place of trust â—â—d credit except some extraordinary hand of God over-power or else his servants by some base staires of Flattery or worldly compliance ascend the chaire of Civil-power But to proceed saith Master Cotton It was the duty of Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings because they were an holy people and is it not the duty of godly Princes to reduce their backsliding Churches to their primitive purity It is true saith he David and Solomon were types of Christ but so were not the other Kings of Israel and Judah who were the one the kings of Israel all Apostates and the other the kings of Judah many of them Apostate from Christ And Secondly If they were saith he all types of Christ yet Christ being the Antitype Christ hath abolished them all and so it were sacriledge or Antichristian usurpation for any king to be set over Christians Or if they were types of Christ in respect of their kingly office over the Church alone was it typical in Solomon to put Joab a murtherer to death or Adonijah a traitor and so consequently unlawful for Christian Princes to put murtherers and traitors to death Further saith he What those kings might do in type Christ Jesus might much more do in his own person as the Antitype but he put no man to death in his own person and therefore they were not types but servants of Christ and paterns and examples to Christian Magistrates yea Ahab who should have put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy Truth I understand those kings of Israel and Judah untill their cutting off or excommunicating out of the land of Canaan to be yet visible members of the church of Israel and Judah and as kings of Israel and Judah types of Christ Jesus partly in his own person who did that being the true spiritual king of Israel which they did or should have done in that typical national church or land of Israel and 2 partly in the officers of his kingly power and government of his church which officers and church falling away untill an absolute cutting off are the Antitypes in respect of visible government of those former kings of Israel and Judah Peace Can it be imagined that those wicked Kings Jeroboam Baasha Ahab c. were figures of Christ Jesus Truth Master Cotton himself grants David and Solomon types of Christ Jesus and yet how abominable and monstrous some of their practices we must therefore distinguish between their persons and sins and frailties As kings of Israel Gods Church and people doubtless they were the figures of the K. of Israel Christ Iesus yea it is probable that the land of Canaan with the officers and governors thereof before Christ time was but a figure of the spiritual land or Christian church with the officers governors administrations therof good and evil Although the applying of the times and persons each to other requires a more then ordinary guidance of the finger or holy Spirit of God Peace I remember that some of eminent note for knowledge and godliness have not stuck to affirme that the Gentile Prince Cyrus as he was called Gods servant anointed or Christ Isa 44 I say that he in a respect as a restorer of Gods people was a figure of Christ Iesus Truth It is not improbable but that the most holy and only wise whose works are known unto himself from the beginning of the world did by such famous instruments of mercy to the literal Iew type out Christ Iesus and his heavenly instruments mercy and goodness to the mystical and spiritual Christian Iews c. Examination of CHAP. XXXVI and XXXVII Peace IN these passages Master Cotton first questions having not his copy by him the truth of some expressions printed as his Truth It is at hand for Master Cotton or any to see that copy which he gave forth and corrected in some places with his own hand and every word verbatiâ—â— here published 2. To the answer it self or reproof of the Lord Iesus given to his disciples for their bloody and rash zeal desiring fire to come down from heaven c. we both agree that Christs rebuking of his disciples did not hinder the Ministers of the Gospel from proceeding in a Church-way c. 2. That false â—persecution in a churchway is as odious and dreadful a persecution as any prosecution â— a court of civil justice as also that this is not the point intended though it be reckoned up with the rest Peace I marvel at that which follows where Master Cotton saith that it never fell from his pen in any writing of his viz. that it is lawful for a eivil Magistrate to inflict corporal punishment upon such as are contrary indeed in matters of Religion and therefore he passeth by the discussers reasons as which might well have been spared being brought but against a shadow of his own fancy Truth I am not able to imagine what Master Cotton meanes by such as are contrary minded against whom he will not in this Chapter maintaine any corporal punishment to be inflicted when in so many of his writings and throughout his whole book he maintaines corporal punishment and that to death it self in many cases against the idolatrous the blasphemous the heretical the seducing yea the degenerate and Apostate Peace Love bids us take this passage as a pang of reluctancy in his other wise-holy and peaceable breast against such unholy bloody Tenents But what say you to the passage about the second beast bringing fire from heaven Rev. 13. This was no wonder saith Master Cotton for
Constantine had done the like before to hereticks the Arrian Bishops against the Orthodox Saints Also it is related as a different matter from the former vers 15. that he had power to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed And this fire comes not down upon the Saints but the earth Truth Master Cotton I think knows that the discusser is not alone in this interpretation If he propose any other more suitable to Christ Iesus I hope the discusser desires thankfully to embrace it But this fire being not literal but mystical in imitation of the true prophet Elijah and also as the true witnesses cause fiery judgements descend from heaven upon the enemies of the truth so the false witnesses cause fire to descend against the faithful and sure it is as the discusser related that the Popish Bishops in France and England and other places have ever constantly cryed out that the just judgements of God are brought down by them upon the hereticks which is no smal wonder that the hearts of the sons of men should be so hardened against the light of truth in truths witnesses notwithstanding the acts of Constantine and the Arrian Bishops long before Peace But this fire saith Master Cotton comes down from heaven upon the earth Truth True but it may well imply no more then in the open view and face of all men in this world Peace And lastly saith he it is said that he causeth that as as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed which is a different effect Truth Because it comes from a different cause with respect not to the first Beast himself but only to his picture or image and implies that fiery judgements descend not onely upon such as refuse to worship the first or second beast but the very picture of the beast likewise Examination of CHAP. XXXVIII Peace MAster Cotton here first observing the discussers agreement with him that this instruction 2 Tim. 2. to be meek and patient to all men is properly directive to the Ministers of the Gospel he concludes that therefore hitherto his answer was not perplext and ravelled Truth Many plaine threads may be drawn forth of a perplext and ravelled string as it seemes to me the many particulars of different natures here wrapt up together were Peace Yea but he seems to disown those words unconverted Christians in Crete and more then once in the Chapter toucheth the discussers credit c. Truth I know the discusser desires unfainedly with the Lords assistance rather to die a thousand deaths then willingly to impeach the least of holy or civil truths and therefore affirmeth in this case that at his pleasure the copy not which he received from Master Cotton for there never passed such writings between them as Master Cotton often affirmeth but which he received from another with the correction of Master Cottons own hand to it shall be ready for himself or any to view Peace However Master Cotton maintaining the tearms of unconverted converts from Ier. 3. 10. Iudah turned unto me but not with all her heart but fainedly so Iudas Anâ—â—â—as and Sapphira Balaam the Niâ—â—laitans Iezabel in Thyatira as also the children of believing parents born in the Church who though holy yet cannot be conceived to be truely holy Truth Were the question about hypocrites counterfeits and trayters in the church and kingdome of Christ these words might here rightly be alleadged but Master Cottons words being these unconverted Christians in Crete whom Titus as an Evangelist was to seek and to convert I conceive that Master Cotton will not affirm that the office of an Evangelist was to seek to convert the church though possibly an hypocrite may be turned from his hypocrisie by an Evangelist or private man in the church 2. He makes in the very words a distinction between these unconverted Christians and those Iews and Gentiles in the Church who saith he though carnal yet were not convinced of the error of their way And to conclude this Chapter the discusser readily with thanks acknowledgeth Master Cottons words that it is not probable that Timothy was now at Ephesus and that the subscription added to the second Epistle of Timothy in the English translation is justly to be suspected Examination of CHAP. XXXIX Peace MAster Cotton here argues That if the Magistrate be a Prophet and opposed in his doctrine he ought from this Scripture 2 Tim. 2. meekly to bear the opposition waiting if God peradventure will give repentance yet withal by the way he observeth that if the Magistrate be a prophet he may do some things as a Magistrate which he may not do as a Prophet Truth Of this no question but what is this to a coercive Magisterial power in spiritual things which is the question 2. Since that Master Cotton acknowledgeth that Magistrates may be prophets and that divers Magistrates of New English churches have spoken as prophets eminently able in their churches what should be the reason I ask by the way that their Churches hear no more of such their propheticall gifts but that their talent's wrapt up c. Peace Of this let their consciences give account to Jesus Christ whom they call the King of their churches and the fountaine of such heavenly abilities But to proceed Master Cotton grants that Magistrates ought to bear in the church oppositions against their prophecyings but not continued opposings nor seduings c. Truth What is then the waiting here commanded until God peradventure will give repentance Peace It is true saith Master Cotton it is not in the power of man to give repentance but God alone Neither is it in mans power saith he to give repentance to scandalous persons against the civil state and yet the discusser acknowledgeth that the civil Magistrate ought to punish these Truth It is not the Magistrates work and office in the civil state to convert the heart in true repentance unto God and Christ The civil state respecteth conformity and obedience to civil laws though indeed the works and office of the Ministers of Christ Jesus are commonly laid upon the Magistrates shoulders and they pretending themselves the Ministers of Christ Jesus armed with the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God the Word of God do commonly flye unto and put more confidence in the sword of steel in the hand of their civil Ministers the Magistrates Peace The sword of steel hath done wonderful things throughout the whole world in matters of Religion and woful and wonderful as was formerly observed hath Religious changes been in the English nation and that by the power of the civil sword backward and forward and that in the space of a few yeers in the reigne of four or five Princes But this saith Master Cotton is no more then befell the church of Iudah in the dayes of Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah Truth Englands changes will
be found upon examination incomparably greater and wrought in the eighth part of the time that the changes of the church of Iudah were And yet this instance will not infringe that the civil sword of the Magistrate in a national way is ordinarily able to turn about a Nation to and againe to and from a truth of God in national hypocrisie and therefore most wisely hath the most holy and only wise by the most golrious brightness of his person and wisdom of the Father Christ Jesus abolished his own national and state church whether explicit or implicit that the two-edged sword of the word of the Lord in the mouths of his true messengers might alone be brandished and magnified Peace Master Cotton concludeth this Chapter with the observation that the revolt of England againe to Popery wanteth Scripture-light Truth He that loves Christ Iesus in sincerity cannot but long that Christ Iesus would speedily be pleased with the breath of his mouth to consume that man of sin But yet that worthy servant of God according to his conscience Master Archer doth not barely propose his opinion but also his Scripture-grounds which I believe compared with all former experiences will seem to be of great and weighty consideration and call all that wait for Christ Iesus to beg his Spirit deeply to weigh and ponder them Examination of CHAP. XL. Peace TO the several allegations concerning the woful slavery of all opposites of Christ Iesus and the mighty power of free grace only able to release them Master Cotton replies So is it with scandalous offenders against the Civil state and yet this doth not restraine Magistrates from executing just judgements upon them c. And he adds that better a dead soul in a dead body and that seducers die without faith then murther and seduce many precious souls from the faith Truth The Lord Iesus commanding to give God the things that be Gods and to Caesar the things that be Caesars gives all his followers a clear and glorious torch of light to distinguish between offenders against God in a spiritual way and offenders against Caesar his Lawes state and government in a civil way T is true slatterers and time-servers use to make Religion and justice the two pillars of a State and so indeed do all such states in the world as maintaine a state-Religion invented and maintained in civil policy to maintaine a civil state But all men that have tasted of history or travel are witnesses sufficient of these two particulars First concerning justice that if the sword and balances of justice in a sort or measure be not drawn and held forth against scandalous offenders against civil state that civil state must dissolve by little and little from civility to barbarisme which is a wilderness of life and manners Peace Yea the very barbarians and Pagans of the world themselves are forced for their holding and hanging together in barbarous compaines to use the ties and knots and bands of a kind of civil justice against scandalous offenders against their Commonweale and profit Truth But too many thousands of Cities and states in the world have and do flourish for many generations and ages of men wherein whatever Caesar gets God cannot get one penny of his due in any bare permission or toleration of his religion and worship Peace Dear Truth these two points being so constantly proved I can but wonder that Master Cotton or any servant of Christ Iesus should cry out to the Caesars of this world to help the eternal God to get his due because Christ Iesus grants them a civil sword in civil cases to preserve their civil states from barbarisme and confusion Truth That worthy Emperor Antoninus Pius in his letters for the Christians plainly tels the governors of his provinces that the gods were able to punish those that sinned against their worship evidently declaring by that light of conscience and knowledge which God had lighted up in his soul the vast difference between offenders in the civil state and offendors against the true and only religion and worship about which the whole world disagreeth and is hist together by this bloody tenent I say hist together by the ears and throat in blood and fire as the tide of times major vote armies and armes of flesh prevaile Peace Ah Dear truth is there is no Balme in Gâ—â—ead no balances no sword of spiritual justice in the City and kingdome of Christ Jesus but that the officers thereof must run to borrow Caesar Are the Armories of the true king Solomon Christ Jesus disarmed Are there no spiritual swords girt upon the thighs of those valiant ones that should guard his heavenly bed except the sword of steel be run for from the cutlers shop Is the Religion of Christ Jesus so poor and so weak and feeble grown so cowardly and base since Paul spake so gloriously of it and the weapons of it 2 Cor. 10. that neither the souldiers nor Commanders in Christs Army have any courage or skill to withstand sufficiently in all points a false teacher a false prophet a spiritual cheater or deceiver Truth This must all that follow Jesus bitterly lament that not a spiritual sword or spear is to be found in the spiritual Israel of God but that his poor Israelites are forced down to the Philistins of this worlds Smiths c. And that the princes of Zion are become feeble like harts without pasture as Jeremy complaineth in his Lamentations Peace Now whereas it was added that a civil sword hardens the followers of false teachers in the suffering of their leaders and begets an impression of the falshood of that religion which cannot uphold it self all the world over but with such instruments of violence c. Master Cotton replies that the Magistrate ought not to draw out his sword against seducers untill he hath used all good means for conviction c. and then saith he he should be cruel to Christs Lambs in sparing the Foxes c. Truth Who knows not this to be the plea and practise of all Popish persecutors in all ages to compass sea and land to reduce the heretick to the union and bosome of the church not only with promises threatnings c but oftimes with solemn disputations and sometimes writings and waitings before they come to the definitive sentence and deliver him to the secular power and so to the use of those desperate remedies of hanging burning c. How do the bloody Popes and the bloody Bonners in their hypocritical letters and bloody sentences profess their lamentable grief at errors and heresies their clemency and mercy and great pains taken to reduce that wandring to return the lost childe to heal the scabbed sheep yea and when they are forced as they say for the saving of the flock from infection to deliver such sheep to the secular power as their butchers and executioners yet beseech they that power and that
Peace Master Cottons second Answer is that the persecuting Emperors and governors of Provinces under them attended not to the conviction of christians nor did they endeavour to make it appear that the Christians sinned against the light of their consciences and therefore no marvel if it bred in the people a just opinion of the cruelty of persecutors and of the innocency of christians Truth Let it be granted that the Roman Emperors did not attend to nor endeavour this yet the Roman Popes and all the Antichrist governors of their mystical Provinces Bishops and Preists have professedly compassed Sea and Land to make a Proselyte Peace T is true the history of the death of the Saints slaughtered by such persecutors abundantly testifie this and yet their persecution will be found no other then cruelty and murther and the opinion of it will never be razed out of the heart of Gods people whatever the whole world which wonders after and worships the beast think to the contrary Truth And I add that herein Master Cottons former position to wit that hereticks must be punished by the civil sword for sinning against the light of their own conscience accords fully with the Popish clamors the hereticks mouths are stopped they are convinced they have not a word to say and yet they are obstinate away with them hang them burn them Peace Master Cotton saith It is an untrue intimation of the discusser that Antoninus forbod the persecuting of christians upon any such ground Truth That it may not rest upon the discussers credit or discredit I think it not unseasonable if I present to English eyes the English testimony of the diligent and praise worthy-Chronicler John Speede who also ingageth Eusebiâ—s his credit and thus relateth the effect of Antoninus his mind in these words The Emperor Caesar Marcus Auâ—â—lâ—us Antoninus c. Unto the Commons of Asia Sendeth Greeting I Doudt not but the Gods themselves have a care that wicked persons shall be brought to light for it doth much more appertaine to them then it doth to you to punish such as refuse to yeeld them worship but this course which you take doth confirme them whom you persecute in this their opinion of you That you are impious men and meer Atheists whereby it commeth to pass that they desire in the quarrel of their GOD rather to die then to yeeld to the will of such as you are and to embrace your form of Religion Let it not seem unseasonable to call to your remembrance the Earthquakes which lately have happsned and which are yet to your great terrour and grief because I understand that in such like Accidents you â—ast the Envy of such common misfortune upon their Shoulders whereby their confidence and trust in their GOD is much the more increased Whereas you being ignorant of the true causes of such things do both neglect the worship of the other Gods and also banish and persecute the servants of the immortal GOD whom the Christians do worship and you persecute to the death all the embracers of that profession In the behalf of these men many of the Provinces President have written before to my Father of famous memory to whom he answered That they should not be molested unless they were proved to have practised Treason against the Imperial State and concerning the same matter some have given notice to me to whom I answered with like moderation as my Father did before me And by our Edict do ordaine That if any hereafter be found thus busie in molesting these kind of men without any their offence We command that he that is accused upon this point be absolved albeit he be proved to be such an one as he is charged to be that is a Christian and he that is his accuser shall suffer the sanâ—e Punishment which he sought to procure unto the other In this passage the wise and experienced Emperor observeth many reasons for the toleration of Christians and insinuates that the persecuting of the Christians confirmed them in their opinion that their persecutors were not only cruel for that is the least that can be implied in persecution but also as the words run impious men and meer Atheists Peace Dear Truth your observation forceth from my peaceable mind this Testimony which oft to my grief and horror mine eares have heard many persons I hope in their persons chosen of the Lord having as they conceived suffered persecution from the hands and by the means of many worthy men both of Magistracy and Ministry of New England I say they have been by such persecution so far from being wrought on c. that they have been moulded into a strong apprehension that it was impossible that such their persecutors should be men of any fear of God but meer dissemblers time-servers Jehues reformers for their own ends of honor ease and liberty from the cross of Christ which apprehension although the discusser to my knowledge hath often labored to root out of many yet could he hardly prevaile to stir it so groslly odious unchristian or antichristian appears the ugly face of persecution c. Examination of CHAP. XLI Peace IN the discussing of the prophecy of Isaiah and Micah concerning the breaking of swords into plowshares and speares into pruning-hooks truely interpreted to foretell the meek temper of Christians in bringing others to Christ Jesus Master Cotton excepts against the discussers observation upon Master Cottons similitude from Wolves which he would have driven out from the sheepfold The observation was this or to this effect That if civil power might force the wolves out it might force the sheep in Truth The discusser denied not the use of Christs spiritual power for the life of his sheep and destruction of the Wolves but heaven and earth shall fall before this truth to wit That power that driveth Wolves out may drive sheep in If spiritual power drive out the wolfe spiritual also drives in the sheep but if civil power to wit by swords whips prisons burnings c. drives out the spiritual or mystical Wolfe the same undeniably must drive in the sheep Peace Yea but Master Cotton too too weakly would please himself upon the word same a father saith he with a staffe or sword may drive away dogs that might by the way worry or bite his children going to School may he therefore with a staffe or sword drive his children to School and are wolves to be driven away and sheep brought into the fold by the same instruments The dog that teares a wolfe if he tear the sheep also will finde an halter c. Truth Master Cotton hath had a name for a man of Moses spirit of a meek and gentle temper he cannot but know he hath lost that name with thousands â—earing God by not putting that difference between the Wolves and the sheep the Egyptians and the Israelites as Moses did Moses killed the Egyptian he reproves the Israelite All that
Staves to punish them if need be for Hereticall Delinquencie 2. Their Magistrates themselves fall short of great and setled Maintenance And lastly Himselfe liveth upon no great and setled Maintenance Truth It is true M r Cotton allowes the same Power to Magistrates to punish all Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers one as well as another But what if it should fall out that his Magistrates should declare themselves for the Pope or for the Prelates or for the Presbyters yea or for some other way then is professed and left it free for each mans conscience to worship as he believed and to pay or not pay toward this or that Worship or Ministrie according to his owne perswasion more or lesse any thing or nothing will not M r Cotton then plead that such Magistrates themselves Apostatizing from the Truth of God and turning Enemies as the Pope clamours to the holy Church I say that such ought not onely to be accursed with the lesser and greater Censures of Suspention and Excommunication but also punished with Imprisonment Banishment and Death Or if they finde the mercy of Life and Favour of an Office by some over-ruling Providence will not M r Cotton then pleade that such Magistrates ought to suspend their Power to hould their hands and not to medle untill they be better informed c. Into such poore withered Strawes and Reedes will the Allowance of Swords and Staves M r Cotton here speakes of come to Concerning the seats and sadles of great and setled maintenance of Magistrates the Discusser spake not but heartily wisheth their Maintenance as great and setled as he knowes their Labours and Travells and Dangers be He spake onely of Ministers great and setled maintenance Peace O Truth this is the Apple of the Eye the true cause of so much combustion all the World over especially Popish and Protestants Truth Indeed this was the cause as Erasmus told the Duke of Saxonie that Luther was so stormed at because he medled with the Popes Crowne and the Monkes Bellies To obtaine these warme and soft and rich seats and sadles who ever stand or goe on foote or creepe or beg or Starve the Prelates practices all Ages know Yea and other practices of some of late who with the Evill Steward providing wisely first made sure of an Ordinance of Parliament for Tithes and Maintenance before any Ordinance for God Himselfe Peace This is that indeed which the Politick State of Holland well foresaw when they were lamentably whipt by the King of Spaines and Gods Scourge Duke D'alva into a Toleration of other mens Consciences The Politick States-men I say saw a necessitie of stopping their Dominies Mouths with sure and setled Maintenance out of the States purse Hence it is the Dutch Ministers zeale is not so hot against the Toleration of Hereticks in the Civill State as the English hath been Truth To this purpose sweet Peace how fitly did that learned Prideaux once tell his Sons the Oxford Doctors at one of their Superstitious Creations that since they could not dig and were ashamed to beg they had great need therefore of setled Maintenance This was but the Evil Stewards device and I adde little better then stealing Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton I live not so c. Truth One Swallow makes not a Summer what others have done and doe and what practices have been and are for a forced setled maintenance as firme and setled as ever was the Parish maintenance of Old England hath been to the shame of Christianitie too apparant For M r Cotton himselfe as I envie not the faines of his morsells nor the sweetnes of his Cups but wish him as large a purse as I beleeve he hath an Heart and a desire to doe good with it Yet it hath been said that his case is no Praesident because what he looseth in the Shire he gets in the Hundreth and sits in as soft and rich a sadle as any throughout the whole Countrey through the greatnes and Richnes of the Marchandize of the Towne of Boston above other parts of the Land The truth is there is no Tryall of the good or Evill Servant in this case untill it comes to Digging or Begging or the third way viz of couzening of the great Lord Master Christ Jesus by running to carnall meanes and carnall weapons to force mens purses for a rich and setled Maintenance Chap. 57. replying to Chap. 60. Examined Peace COncerning Princes M r Cotton addeth that Princes out of State policie doe sometimes tollerate what suits not with Christianitie as David did Joab against their wills Unto this it was answered that this agrees not with his former generall Proposition to wit that it was evill to Tollerate seducing Teachers and scandalous livers M r Cotton replyes Yes for Moses laid downe in generall Who so sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be shed yet Joab was tollerated to live c. Truth If Moses had said It is not lawfull to tollerate a Murtherer and yet afterward had tollerated a Murtherer his later practice would not have seemed harmonious to his former speech but Moses did not so and therefore I conceive is not rightly alledged Peace Whereas it was further alledged that that State policie and State necessitie which permitted the consciences of Men will be found to agree most punctually with the Rules of the best politician that ever the world saw the Lord Jesus himselfe who commanded the permitting of the Tares M r Cotton replyes that he is not against the permitting of some Antichristians or false Christians unlesse they maintaine fundamentall Heresie against the Foundation of Religion and that obstinately after conviction and withall seduce others But for such Hereticks and seducing Teachers they are none of those Tares of which Christ sayth Let them alone Besides sayth he If by Tares are meant grosse offenders then the speech of Christ Let them alone is not a word of command but a word of permission and praediction like that Luc. 22. 36. He that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy a Sword Truth I answer that there should be Antichristians or false Christians which maintaine not fundamentall Heresie against Foundation of Religion I thinke is new to the New Testament of Christ Jesus and to the Tryalls the holy Spirit proposeth by John in his Epistles discovering such to be the Hereticks and Apostates as deny the Lord Jesus as all Antichristians or false Christians doe more or lesse to be come in the Flesh the true Messiah and anointed King Priest and Teacher to his Church Peace If M r Cotton will make good his word to wit that he will permit some Antichristians or false Christians methinks the whole Tryall of this matter might well turne upon this Hinge so that the true or false Christian be tryed by the Rules of the New Testament Truth If so he must undeniably subscribe to this great and Christian policie of permission
or Tolleration As for the Exceptions following Unlesse they maintaine Fundamentall Heresie and unlesse they sin actually These pull backe againe with the Left hand what merciful Freedome he had given before with the Right 3. But lastly by this Interpretation of Let them alone by way of permission and praediction it appeares that M r Cottons Thoughts are not without checks and doubtings what these Tares might be For sayth he if by Tares are meant grosse offendours whereas before he spent much precious time to prove the Tares to be a kinde of closer Hypocrite Moreover all permission is of Evill for some Good so he the permission of Tares for the Wheate sake In which respect as I conceive the good Wheate is not so tendred nor the Word of Christ so attended to by such as presume in pretence for the good wheate sake to pluck up those Tares unto whom Christ Jesus for the good Wheate sake hath for a Time granted a permission Exam of Chap. 58. replying to Chap. 61. Peace VVHereas the Discusser professedly waved any Argument from the number of Princes witnessing in profession or practice against persecution for cause of Conscience M r Cotton replyes that this is a yeelding of the Invaliditie of the Argument But 2. that he urgeth not the number but the greater pietie and presence of God with those Princes who have professed and practiced against Tolleration Truth As I would not use an Argument from the number of Princes about an heavenly matter as knowing that the Kings and Rulers of the Earth commonly minde their owne Crownes Honours and Dominions more then Gods and such Princes as are called Christian use Gods Name Crowne and Ordinances as Jeroboam used Gods Name and Jezabell used Fasting and prayer for the advancement of their owne Crownes and persecuting of the Innocent and Righteous So neither would I rest in the Qualitie Greatnes or Goodnes of any That which I attend in this Argument is the Ground and Reasons of their Speeches which may also have this Consideration to boote that they are the Speeches of such who sit at the helme of great States and were not ignorant of the Affaires of States and what might conduce to the peace or disturbance to the wealth or woe of a Common-weale To their Ground and Reasons therefore I attend in the next Chapter Exam of Chap. 59. replying to Chap. 62. Peace IN this Chap. the Consideration of the Speeches themselves M r Cotton sayth he passed by because either the Reasons wanted waight or did not impugne the cause in hand as First That Speech of King James God never loved to plant his Church by Bloud It is farre from us sayth M r Cotton to compell men to yeeld to the Fellowship of the Church by bloudie Lawes or Penalties Neverthelesse this hindreth not but that his Blood may justly fall upon his owne head that shall goe about to supplant and destroy the Church of Christ Truth How light or how impertinent soever these Speeches may seems to M r Cotton yet to others fearing God also they are most sollid and waighty This Speech of King James seemes impertinent in this cause because sayth M r Cotton we compell no man by bloudy Lawes and Penalties to yeeld themselves to the Fellowship of the Church I answer as Saul by persecuting of David in the Land of Canaan and thrusting him forth of Gods Heritage did as it were bid him goe serve other Gods in other Countries So he that shall by bloudie Lawes and Penalties force any man from his owne Conscience and Worship doth upon the point say unto him in a language of bloud Come be of my Religion c. 2. Peace Why should not Men as well be forced to the Truth as forced from their Errours and Erroneous practices Since to keepe to the Similitude it is the same Power that sets a plant and plucks up weedes which is true mystically in the spirituall worke of Christ Jesus in his heavenly planting by his Word and Spirit 3. Truth I adde if men be compelled to come to Church under such a penaltie for Absence as hath been practiced in Old and New England How can M r Cotton say there is no forcing to the Fellowship of the Church when howsoever with the Papists he makes so great difference which Christ never made between the Lords Supper and the Word and Prayer and say that men may be forced to the hearing of the Word but not to the Supper Yet the consciences of thousands will testifie that it is as truely grievous to them to be forced to the one as to the other and that they had as lief be forced to the meat as to the Broth to the more inward and retired chambers and closets as into the Hall or Parlor being but partâ— of the same house c. Peace And I may adde Deare Truth that the bloudie Imprisonments Whippings and Banishments that have cryed and will cry in New England will not be stild untill the cry of Repentance and the bloud of the Lambe Christ Jesus put that cry to silence But to the second Speech of King James No marvell sayth M r Cotton that I past by that Speech to wit that Civill obedience may be performed by the Papists for I found it not in the Letter and beside how can Civill obedience be performed by Papists when the Bishop of Rome shall Excommunicate a Protestant Prince dissolve the Subjects Oath c. Truth I answer King James professing concerning the Oath of Allegiance which he tendred to the Papists and which so many Papists tooke that he desired onely to be secured for Civill Obedience to my understanding did as much as say that he beleeved that a Papist might yeeld Civill obedience as they did in taking this Oath as quiet and peaceable Subjects some of them being employed in places of Trust both in his and in Queene Elizabeths dayes What though it be a Popish Teâ—eâ—â— that the Pope may so doe and what though Bellarmine and others have maintained such bloudie Tenents yet it is no Generall Tenent of all Papists and it is well knowne that a famous Popish Kingdome the whole Kingdome of France assembled in Parliament in the yeare so calld 1610. condemned to the Fire the booke of Johannes Marianus for mainteining that very Tenent And two moneths after Bellarmines booke it selfe was condemned to the Fire also by the same Parliament for the same detestable Doctrine as the Parliament calld it as tending to destroy the higher Powers which God hath ordained stirring up the Subjects against their Princes absolving them from their Obedience stirring them up to attempt against their Persons and to disturbe the common peace and quiet Therefore all Persons who ever under Paine of High Treason were forbidden to print sell or keepe that booke c. Peace This passage being so late and so famous in so neere a Popish Countrie I wonder how M r Cotton
the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the free Conferrings Disputings and Preachings of the Gospel of Truth be more hopefully like to expell those Mists and Fogs out of the minds of Men and that Papists Jewes Turkes Pagans be brought home not onely into the common roade and way of Protestanisme but to the grace of true Repentance and Life in Christ I say why not this more likely by farre then that the mists and fogs of Poperie should over cloud and conquer that most glorious Light Peace 'T is true the holy Historie tells us of one Sampson laying heapes upon heapes of the proudest Philistims of one David and of his Worthies encountring with and slaying their stoutest Gyantâ— and Champions yet it is feared such is the depraved nature of all mankinde and not of the English onely that like a corrupted full Body it sooner sucks in a poysoned breath of Infection then the purest Ayre of Truth c. Truth Grant this I answer therefore thirdly If any of many conscientiously turne Papists I alledge the Experience of a holy wise and learned man experienced in our owne and other States affaires who affirmes that he knew but few Papists increase where much Libertie to Papists was granted yea fewer then where they were restrained Yet further that in his Conscience and Judgement he believed and observed that such Persons as conscientiously turned Papists as believing Poperie the truer way to Heaven and Salvation I say such Persons were ordinarily more conscionable loving and peaceable in their dealings and neerer to Heaven then thousands that follow a bare common trade and roade and name of Protestant Religion and yet live without all Life of Conscience and Devotion to God and consequently with as little love and faithfulnesse unto Men. Peace But now to proceed a third Speech of King James was Persecution is the note of a false Church the wicked are Besiegers the Faithfull are besieged upon Revel 20. M r Cotton here grants that it is indeed a Note of a false Church but not a certaine One for sayth he which of all the Prophets did not the Church of the Old Testament persecute Truth M r Cotton granting persecution to be a degree of Falsehood and Apostacie as he doth in his following words he must also grant that where such a Doctrine and practice prevailes and the Church growes obstinate after all the Lords meanes used to reclaime such a Church will proceede to further degrees untill the whole be leavened with Falshood and Apostacie and the Lord divorceth her and casts her out of his Heart and Sight as he dealt with Israel and Judah And it will be found no false but a dutifull part of a faithfull childe to abhorre the whoredomes of such an one though his own Mother who for her obstinacie in whoredomes is justly put away by his heavenly Father but of that the Lord assisting more in its place Peace Further Whereas it was said that M r Cotton had passed by King Stephen of Poland his Speech to wit the true Difference between the Civill and Spirituall Government M r Cotton answers that it is true that the Magistrate cannot command their Soules nor binde their Consciences nor punish their Spirits All that he can doe is to punish the Bodies of Men for destroying or disturbing Religion Truth It is true the Lord alone reacheth the Soules or Spirits of Men but he doth it two wayes First Immediately stirring up the Spirits of the Prophets by Visions Dreames c. Secondly By instituted Meanes and Ordinances of which is the Question Now Stephen King of Poland professed that he was King of bodies and not of Consciences It being most true that the Lord Jesus hath appointed spirituall Rulers and Governours to binde and loose Soules and Consciences to wound and kill Comfort and save alive the Spirits and Consciences of Men. This power Christ Jesus committed to his true Messengers but oh how many are there that pretend to this Apostleship or Ministrie who yet have sold away this spirituall Power to the Earthly or worldly powers upon an implyed secret Condition or Proviso to receive a broken Reed an Arme of Flesh in stead of the Everlasting Armes of Mercy to protect them Peace With your leave Deare Truth let me adde a second If the Magistrate as M r Cotton sayth punish the body for a spirituall offence why doth he not punish by a spirituall power as a spirituall Officer with a spirituall Censure and punishment Truth M r Cotton will tell us that the bodies of the Israelites were punished for spirituall offences And we may againe truely affirme that the very cutting off by the materiall Sword out of the typicall Land of Canaan was in the type a spirituall punishment Peace M r Cotton is not ignorant of this and hath often taught of these Types from Passages on Genesis and other bookes of Moses c. Truth The Father of Lights graciously be pleased to set home the light he hath vouchsafed him fix and imprint the beames thereof in his heart and affections also Peace This Argument of punishing the body for the soules good I remember was feelingly resented by an honourable Gentleman in the parliament against the Bishops urging how contrary unto Christ Jesus those Prelates were for Christ Jesus did make way for his working upon Mens soules by shewing kindnesse to their bodies c. but Prelates contrarily c. Truth All the Angells ' of God will one day witnesse that Christ Jesus was never Captain to Pope nor Prelate Presbyter no nor Independent Emperour nor King Parliament nor Generall Court who punish and afflict persecute and torture the bodies of Men under pretence of a spirituall and religious medicine Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton Religion is disturbed and destroyed what shall be done Truth Religion is disturbed and destroyed two wayes First When the Professors or Assemblies thereof are persecuted that is hunted and driven up and downe out of the world Against such Destroyers or Disturbers being Tyrants and Oppressours the Civill Sword ought to be drawen Peace The drawing of the Sword of Justice against such Tyrants I believe hath prevailed in Heaven for the Parliaments successes and prosperitie The turning from the violence that was in the hands of those Men of Bloud the Bishops as in the Men of Ninivies case hath laid the long and violent storme of Fire and Bloud c. Truth Yea let the most renowned Parliament of England and all England know that when they cease to listen to Daniells counsell to Belshazzar to wit to shew Mercy to the poore even the poorest and most afflicted in the World the Consciences of Men then is their Parliamentarie Glory and Tranquillitie ecclipsed Till then I confidently believe their Government which hath now so many yeares with so many Wonders continued shall not be numbred nor another fatall change surprize them But now 2 the Disturbance or Destruction
Filthinesse the Pope Practicing most odious spirituall uncleannesse upon the Consciences of the Nations of the Earth 2. Peace Deare Truth who knowes not whose voyce and Song this is but that of all the bloudie Bonners Gardiners and most devouring persecutours that ever have or shall legally in way and pretence of Justice persecute You pretend Conscience that you dare not come to Church because of Conscience that so to sweare submit subscribe or conforme is against your Conscience that you are persecuted for your Conscience and forced against your Conscience Truth Indeed what is this before the flaming eyes of Christ but as Amnon-like in the type some lustfull Ravisher deales with a beautifull Woman firstâ—using all subtle Arguments and gentle perswasions to allure unto their spirituall Lust and Filthinesse and where the Conscience freely cannot yeeld to such Lust and Folly as Tamar said to Amnon then a forcing it by Penalties Penall Lawes and Statutes Yea what is this but more filthy and abominable then is commonly practiced against ravished Women to wit a perswading a Conscience that it is obstinate obstinate against its knowledge that a man might lawfully have yeelded that he is convinced of the lawfulnesse of the Act and therefore may justly be punished for repelling such Arguments and resisting such perswasions against the Conviction of his owne Conscience 3. Peace It is a common Question made by most who shall be Judge of this Convicted Conscience shall the lustfull Ravisher the Persecutor be Judge Will the burning Rage of his Spirituall Filthinesse and Antichristian Beastialitie cause no shaking of the scales of Justice And will M r Cotton indeed except he suspend them have all the Civill Magistrates or Civill States or Generall Assemblies or Courts of People in the World according to their severall Constitutions sit Judges o're Conscience to wit when the poore ravished Consciences of Men are convinced Truth What is this but in truth to submit the Soules and Consciences of the Saints yea the Conscience of the Lord Jesus in them unto the World that lyes in wickednesse and to the Devill in it out of which God hath chosen but few that are wise or that are Great Rich or Noble 4. And to end this Passage what is this but to destroy that distinction of a true and false Conscience which the holy Spirit expressely maketh relling 2 Thessal 2. of Antichristians that make Conscience of Lyes believing them conscientiously for Truths What is it now to force a Papist to Church but a Rape a Soule-Rape he comes to Church that is comes to that Worship which his Conscience tells him is false and this to save his Estate Credit c. What is this in a Papist but a yeelding unwillingly to be forced and ravished Take an instance of holy Cranmer and many other faithfull Witnesses of the truth of Jesus who being forced or ravished by terrour of Death subscribed abjured went to Masse but yet against their Wills and Consciences In both these Instances of Papist and Protestant M r Cotton must confesse a Soule-Ravishment for thâ— Conscience of a Papist is not convinced that it is his Dutie to worship God by the English common Prayer-Booke or Directorie c. And the Consciences of many are not convinced but that it is their sinne to come at either the Papists or common Protestants Worship So both Papist and Protestant are forced and ravished by force of Armes as a Woman by a Lustfull Ravisher against their Soules and Consciences Peace Againe in that King of Bohemia's Speech M r Cotton passed by that most true and lamentable experience of all Ages to wit that persecution for cause of Conscience hath ever proved pernicious and hath been the cause of great Alterations and changes in States and Kingdomes To this M r Cotton replyes No experience in any Age did ever prove it pernicious to punish Seducing Apostates after due Conviction of the Errour of their way And he asks wherein did the burning of Servetus prove pernicious to Geneva or the just Execution of many Popish Priests to Queene Elizabeth or the English State Truth I answer though no Historie did expresse what horrible and pernicious mischiefes the persecuting of the Arians and others caused in the World yet is it lamentably sufficient to the Point that all Ages testifie and I had almost said all Nations how pernicious this Doctrine hath been in raising the devouring flames of Fire and Sword about Hereticks Apostates Idolaters Blasphemers c. Peace Later Times have rendred the observation of that King most lamentably true in the many great Desolations in Germany Poland Hungaria Transilvania Bohemia France England Scotland Ireland Low Countries not to speake of the mighty warres between those dreafull Monarchies of the Turkes and Persians and other Nations to the Flames where of although other causes have intermingled the Matters of Heresie Blasphemie Idolatrie c. have been the chiefest sparkes and Bellowes Truth It is true as M r Cotton sayth it hath pleased the God of Heaven to spare some particular places and to preserve wonderfully for his Name and Mercy sake Geneva England c. c. When they have been besieged and invaded Yet M r Cotton confesseth that Queene Elizabeth by that course had like to have fired the Christian World in Combustion which though it pleased God to prevent yet later times have shewen how pernicious this Doctrine hath proved unto England Scotland Ireland c. in the slaughter of so many hundreth thousand Papists and Protestants upon the very point principally of Heresie Idolatrie c. Peace To end this Chapter To that observation that Persecution for cause of Conscience was practiced most in England and such places where Poperie reignes implying that such practices proceed from the great Whore and her Daughters M r Cotton replyes it is no marvaile he passed by this observation in the Kings speech for it was not the Speech of the King but of the Prisoner and it was not the persecuting of Antichristians but of Nicknamed Puritans and of them too without Conviction of the Errour of their way He addeth that he could never see Warrant to call that Church an Whore that worshipped the true God onely in the name of Jesus and depended on him alone for Righteousnesse and Salvation and that it is at least a base part of a childe to call his Mother whore who bred him and bred him to know no other Father but her lawfull Husband the Lord Jesus Christ Truth Whether the Observation was the Kings or the Prisoners yet it was passed by And if those Puritants or Protestants persecuted were not convinced Himselfe as he here sayth never saw Warrant that is was convinced for to call such a Church as he here describeth an Whore yet not a few of his opposites will say and that aloud that He and they were or might have been convinced what ever He or they themselves thought
The truth is the carnall Sword is commonly the Judge of the conviction or obstinacie of all supposed Hereticks Hence the faithfull Witnesses of Christ Cranmer Ridley Latimer had not a word to say in the Disputations at Oxford Hence the Non-conformists were cryed out as obstinate Men abundantly convinced by the Writings of Whitgift and others And so in the Conference before King James at Hampton Court c. But concerning the Church of England whether a daughter or no of the Great Whore of Rome It is not here seasonable to repeate what the Witnesses of Christ to Bonds Banishments and Death whom M r Cotton here calls the rigid Seperation have alledged in this case I thinke it here sufficient to say two things First M r Cotton himselfe is thought to believe that it is not a profession of words containing many fundamentall Doctrines that makes a people a true Church who professing to know God yet in workes deny him notwithstanding that amongst them by Gods gracious Dispensation much good may be wrought by many 2. M r Cotton himselfe will not say that ever Christ Jesus was married to a Nationall Church which all men know the Church of England ever was and M r Cotton elsewhere acknowledgeth as Nationall to be none of Christs but onely Churches Congregationall Exam of Chap. 60. Concerning the Romane Emperours which did or did not persecute Peace VVHereas it was answered that Godly Persons as some Godly Emperours might doe evill to wit in persecuting And ungodly Emperours in not persecuting might doe well c. M r Cotton replyes This begs the Question to say that Kings alledged by the Prisoner did that which was good but Kings alledged by M r Cotton though better persons did that which was Evill Truth I think M r Cotton mistakes the poore Prisoner if he conceives him to have argued from the Number or by way of comparison the Qualitie or Goodnesse of the Kings I am sure he mistaketh the Discusser who argues neither from their Persons nor Number nor Practices but from the waight of their Speeches qualified onely with the consideration of their State Their Speeches M r Cotton passed by but now hath waighed though not so fully as it may please God to cause Himselfe or others to doe hereafter Peace I conceive it to be a further mistake to thinke the Discusser accounted the Persons alledged by M r Cotton better Persons then those alledged by the Prisoner Truth The Discusser compared them not but desired that their Speeches and Arguments might have their just and due waight and then I believe it will be found not a begging but a winning of the Question even from the Testimonie of some Kings themselves Chap. 61. replying to Chap. 64. Examined Peace IN this Chapter God is pleased to leave M r Cotton to fall into two Evills then which ordinarily greater cannot be among the sonnes of Men I speake not of the Aggravations of malice and obstinacie which I hope the most gracious Lord will keepe him from but of the sinnes themselves in themselves The One is monstrous Blasphemie and abominable profanation of the most holy Name of his most High and holy Maker c. The second extreamest Crueltie and Tyrannie against Men his fellow Creatures For the first after a new refined fashion and dress he projects how to turne this whole Dunghill of the corrupt and rotten World into a most sweet and fragrant Garden of the Church or Dove of Christ For the second he contents not Himselfe with the Severitie and Crueltie of former times exercised by the Emperours professing the Name of Christ against such whom they reputed Hereticks but blames them for applying too favourable and gentle Medicines of Exile and Banishment and in plaine tearmes he sayth It had been better they had put them to death Truth Your observation sweet Peace is full of pietie and Mercy It is most true that a private opinion or an Act of Antichristianisme and Idolatrie like a dead flie may cause a sweet pot of Christian Oyntment to yeeld a stincking savour but such a Doctrine of such a generall Nature and extent as reaches to all men to all the World in my apprehension should cause Men to feare and tremble at such Rocks against which such Gallant vessells may strike and split if the most holy and jealous God be pleased a little to withdraw his holy hand from the steering of them Peace Let me Deare Truth summe up the Heads to which I shall request your Consideration It is true sayth M r Cotton when God advanced Constantine and other Christian Emperours to sit on the Throne the Church soone became a Wildernesse and he also seemeth to consent that the unknowing zeale of Constantine and other good Emperours did more hurt to Christianitie then the raging fury of bloudie Neroes But withall he addeth that their unknowing zeale did not lye in punishing notorious Hereticks Seducers c. And he sayth that the Church never had hurt by such punishments He affirmeth that it is no Sollecisme in Religion for the whole World to become Christian that the World became Antichristian by the tolleration of Princes and their advancing of Church affaires together with the unwatchfullnesse of such being advanced that if the World had renounced Paganisme and professed Christ to be the Sonne of God but yet had been kept from the Fellowship of the Church till they had approved their profession by a sincere conversation it had been no Sollecisme c. Further He sayth the Christian Emperours did permit Hereticks to live in the field of the World that they seldome or never put them to Death for hereticall pravitie though it had been better sayth he they had so done with some of them but onely expelled them from populous Cities and Countries where the Gangrene might spread c. Truth You have well summd up Sweet Peace I shall briefly touch these Heads with Gods assistance and first concerning the zeale of the Romane Emperours It is confest by M r Cotton that upon the good Emperours coming to the Throne the Church soone became a Wildernesse and that was a greater hurt and mischiefe then ever befell the Saints and Churches under the fierie persecution of the most bloudie Neroes surely such zeale that brought forth such fruit to Christianitie might seeme justly to be suspected not to be kindled from Heaven but from Men. 2. It seemes not reasonable to the weakest understanding nor suitable to the wisdome and constant care and love of Christ Jesus to his Wife and Spouse in his absence that the Romane Emperours should be such Godly Persons and that also neither by Christ Jesus nor his Apostles or Messengers the least word should be directed to them when as yet they were extant in Christs and his Messengers times and by the bloudie Tenent must be supposed invested with so high a calling too so high a worke and dutie as higher is not to be
is abhord by the most holy and impartiall God and his holy Angells in Heaven Upon this occasion I call to minde that famous Act of the so greatly renowned Constantine who in his first wearing of the Diademe put forth his Colleauge Licinius concurring also a famous and most solemne Charter and Edict that no man throughout the whole Empire should be constraind in his Religion Truth M r Cotton according to his proviso of suspension must doubtles applaud Constantine for this his Forbearance untill he were better informed whereas afterward his Edicts against Arrius and Arrianisme testifie his practice to the contrary But he that shall reade seriously in Gods presence that first Edict of Constantine and Licinius will there finde Constantine to use such Arguments as might for ever have caused him to have forbore persecution to have still suspended to have gratified the Subjects of all his Empire with Libertie and Freedome in the Point of Worship and Religion But I will End this Passage with this Querie If Christ Jesus have left such Power with the Civill Rulers of the World Kingdomes and Countries of or for the Establishing Governing and Reforming his Church what is become of his Care and Love Wisdome and Faithfulnesse since in all Ages since he left the Earth for the generall beyond all exception he hath left her destitute of such qualified Princes and Governours and in the Course of his Providence furnished her with such whom he knew would be and all men finde as fit as Wolves to protect and feede his Sheepe and People Exam of Chap. 64. replying to Chap. 67. Peace VVHen it was questioned what good to the Soules or Bodies of their Subjects did those Princes bring in persecuting M r Cotton produceth a good â—iâ—â—fold that is brought to Princes and Subjects by the due punishment of Apostates Seducers Idolaters and Blasphemers Truth Let all that feare God and M r Cotton himselfe be perswaded to observe whether under this faire cloake of punishing these and these spirituall sinners he maintaine not strongly what elsewhere he denies to wit Persecution for cause of Conscience But we know the Evasion It is not for Apostatizing seducing out of Conscience but after Conviction against their Conscience c. Peace You have before satisfied me besides other Passages with this one that to this End of discerning the poore Hereticks sinning against his Conscience the Civill State the Earth the World must necessarily Erect its Tribunall to judge not onely Civill Things but even the Heart and Conscience also but now to M r Cottons five-fold good First sayth he it puts away Evill from the People by cutting off a Gangrene which would spread to further ungodlinesse Deut. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 6. 7. 13. Truth I answer these Scriptures though pure and holy in their places yet are here coupled together as Linsey Wollsey contrary to the Law Deut. 13. which concerns the typicall Nationall Church using Nationall temporall Weapons The 2 Tim. 2. concernes the Particular Congregations or Churches of Christians using onely the Sword of Gods Spirit the Word of God c. Beside Deut. 13. concerned such a People whom the Lord brought forth of Aegypt with Miracles into Canaan c. Let any such People be now produced excepting the Christian particular Churches Why doth M r Cotton then alledge this Scripture so frequently and in these five Reasons brings two from hence This the first and the Third to wit that all the People may heare and feare c. which is alone made good in the Antitype or Christian Church according to that 1 Tim. 5. 20. Rebuke them that sinne openly that others may learne to feare 2. Peace M r Cotton mentioneth a second good which is driving away Wolves from worrying and scattering the Sheepe of Christ Truth This was largely answered in discoursing the nature of mysticall or spirituall Wolves upon that very place which he quotes Acts 20. From whence it may evidently appeare that from the literall urging of such mysticall Scriptures all Peoples and Nations are enforced and that Conscientiously like Wolves and Lyons to teare and devoure each other 3. Peace M r Cotton addes that Punishments are wholesome Medicines to such as are curable of such Evills Zach. 13. 4 5 6. Truth I answer All the holy Appointments of God are most powerfull in their severall respective seasons and manner of Dispensations to his owne most holy Ends and purposes c. The Materiall Nationall Sword in the Nationall Church of Israel before Christ and the Spirituall Sword in the spirituall and Christian Church since his comming to abolish those shadowes As it was therefore in vaine to have cut off or Excommunicated spiritually in that Nationall State So is it in vaine to use the materiall or carnall Sword in the spirituall Wherefore according to this place of Zach. a true penitent will blesse God for the Wounds of Friends and Lovers faithfull and sharpe dealing and for Deliverance from the Kisse of deceitfull flatterie But what is this to prove that which is so much denied to wit Corporall Death or Wounds now to be inflicted upon false Teachers in these times of the Gospel and that in all parts and Nations of the World 4. Peace The punishment sayth M r Cotton executed upon false Prophets and seducing Teachers doe bring downe Showres of Gods blessing upon the Civill State 1 King 18. 40 41. Truth If that Nationall State of Israell and that Nationall or Corporeall killing of so many hundreth false Prophets and that literall drouth and literall showres of Raine and plentie were figures of no other Prophets and slaughters drouth and showers but literall materiall and corporeall now since the Body and Substance Christ Jesus is come What should hinder but that those Priests of Israel and Sacrifices and Temple and Nationall Church should all be in force for our Imitation literally the one as well as â—he other Peace I cannot possibly conceive but that all being of the same Nature the one is Typicall as well as the other and that they must flourish and be glorious as Gods Ordinances or vanish and disappeare giving place to brighter dispensations at the arising of Christ Jesus the Son of Righteousnesse Truth Hence false Apostles false Teachers false Prophets are Spiritually cut off Revel 2. 2 Pet. 2. Gal. 4. And spirituall showres of Blessings descend upon the Israel of God for although corporeall Blessings of Food and Raiment and plentie are Gods blessings yet principally under the Gospel God blesseth his Israel the Antitype with spirituall Blessings Eph. 1. Houses Lands Fathers Mothers Children c. with persecution Mark 10. Peace Me thinks Deare Truth If Christ Jesus had appointed such punishments such executions literall in the Christian Church he would also have appointed Offices and Officers suitable and proper for such Ends and purposes such punishments such executions Truth It cannot otherwise with Reason and
an Evasion for who denies Power to Christs Church to Excommunicate or who understands by Excommunication persecution for Conscience M r Cotton answers the Prisoner did nōt expresse himselfe what persecution he meant and also since false Excommunication is a great persecution and so Christ Jesus himselfe esteemes of it Luk. 21. 22. Truth I have formerly and must againe appeale to the nature of the word commonly used and taken and aske if persecution properly so taken be not a corporeall violence or hunting for Religion and Conscience sake And then halfe an eye will see through this poore and thin excuse and covering notwithstanding that false excommunication be a spirituall persecution and the abuse of the spirituall Sword be also deeper and fouler then the abuse of the civill and materiall Peace To this upon the Point M r Cotton consented to wit that Hilarius complaint speaketh not to Excommunication but civill censures and therefore answers first by proportion that excommunication of an Heretick is no persecution and therefore by proportion neither is the civill punishment of an Heretick persecution By concession of Hilaries words that the Apostles did not and we may not propagate Religion by the Sword Truth The Question with Hilarie was not whether a true Church did persecute an Heretick Idolater Blasphemer c. but whether a true Church persecuted at all by civill censures Now there being two States the Civill or Corporeall and the Ecclesiasticall or spirituall There are conseqnently two sorts of Lawes two sorts of Transgressions two sorts of punishments to wit Civill and Spirituall and there must of necessitie be two sorts of false or corrupt punishments which are not just punishments but oppressions persecutions or huntings to wit the Civill persecution and the spirituall Now M r Cotton confounding Heaven and Earth together deceives himselfe and others by a notion of spirituall persecution to wit by Excommunication contrary to Hilaries scope and the scope of this whole Dispute and Controversie I may illustrate it thus Some Tutours of Kings Children not being authorized to correct the Bodies of such young Princes are said sometimes not without some desert to correct the Bodies of Inferiours the young Princes Favourites by which the minds of such young Princes smarted sufficiently if not exceedingly I parallell not the similitude in all respects but to illustrate the difference and distinction between a spirituall punishment of the minde and spirit soule and affections with which Christ Jesus hath furnished his Churches and that Civill or corporall punishment which he never gave them power to inflict unlesse in miraculous dispensation over the Bodies of any directly or indirectly by Themselves or others Peace It is an everlasting Truth Rightly distinguish rightly Teach but let us view M r Cottons Second Answer He grante that the Christian Religion was not nor is not to be propagated by the Sword Truth Then let Heaven and Earth judge if M r Cotton may not in this case out of his owne mouth be judged since in this whole Discourse he sets the visible Headship of Christ Jesus that golden Head Cant. 5. over the Church and all her Officers Doctrines and Practices in the power of Correcting Reforming c. on the shoulders of the Civill State the Ministers and Officers thereof provided that they execute not this Headship or Government except they be able to judge that is in English provided they be of his Conscience and Judgement and so consequently will judge and execute according to the Clergies though implicite decree and sentence Peace It is not much unlike that M r Cotton affirmeth in the words following for although he confesseth it is not proper for Christian Churches to inflict Civill punishments by Themselves yet makes he as all Popes and Popish persecutours have done the Magistrates and Civill powers their servants and slaves for execution c. Truth This M r Cotton covers over with this Similitude saying that although it is not proper for Lambes to teare Wolves yet if they were reasonable they would run to their Shepheards to send out their Dogs after them Now under this fine Paint and vizard of Lambe like dispositions of Shepheards the Bishops Presbyterians and Independents may render the Civill Magistrate not as Shepheards but no other upon the point and in plaine English then their servants and Executioners to punish such on whom the Clergie first have past their Sentence The bloudie Papists have commonly used to persecute Christ Jesus formally and judicially delivering over Christ Jesus in his Servants orderly to Pontius Pilate the Secular Power The Protestant persecutors use a finer vaile every ugly vizard will not so deceive for though they practice not so above boord in respect of a formall and judiciall delivering of Christ the Heretick unto their Shepheard Pontius Pilate the Secular power yet they doe it and doe it as substantially and fully by preaching and chalking out to then servants the Magistrates their task I say as fully as ever the bloudie Popes the Bishops or their Chancellours did Peace But why sayth M r Cotton should a Christian Church spare an Idolater tempting of her now any more then the eye of an holy Israelite was to spare the like Tempters in the dayes of old Deut. 13. 3 Truth M r Cotton cannot get over this block though it be but a shadow yea the shadow of a shadow abolished by Christ Jesus M r Cotton a little before grants that the power of spirituall chaines far exceeds the power of materiall and if so how cleere is it that the spirituall impartialitie and severitie of a Virgin Israelite now is incomparablie sharper and more dreadfull by putting spiritually to Death such as Tempt them from the Lord their God who hath brought them forth of Aegypt into spirituall Canaan then the impartialitie and severitie of any literall Israelite against such as tempted them from the Lord who in a Type had brought them forth of materiall Aegypt into materiall Canaan I adde sweete Peace to end this Chapter If the Father of Lights graciously please to open a crevis of Light to that otherwise excellent and piercing eye of M r Cotton in this Controversie he will confesse concerning this cutting off in Israel these two things First that the cutting off in materiall Israel was by Swords Stones c. a cutting off from the holy Land and a casting out of Gods sight which cutting off God executed either by legall Judgement and Sentence among Themselves or by furious hand of persecutours and oppressours slaughtering or captivating that People Secondly That there is no other cutting off in the Gospel but by the spirituall Sword of the Word Ordinances of Christ or the violent hand of Oppressours Antichristians c. carrying Gods Israel captive into mysticall Babylon or Aegypt of false Worship or worldly corruption which is ten thousand-fold more terrible and dreadfull then the literall and materiall Captivitie of Israel Exam of
Chap. 66. replying to Chap. 69. Peace HEre M r Cotton complaines of wrong in that the Discusser chargeth him to plead for persecution and yet confesseth that he agrees with Hilarie Truth M r Cotton indeed agrees with Hilarie in generall profession that the Gospel is not to be propagated by Sword but in particulars he affirmes the Blasphemer the Idolater the Heretick the Seducer is to be persecuted In the generall he saith the Magistrate may not constraine any to believe professe the Truth yet in particulars thus far saith he a man may be constrained by the Magistrates withdrawing Countenance and Favour Incouragement and Employment from him which affirming what doth he else but affirme that he may be constrained deposed punished that is persecuted Peace Indeed such kinde of punishment as to displace men to keepe them out from all offices or places of Trust and Credit because of difference of Conscience may prove in the particular a greater affliction and punishment then a Censure a Fine Imprisonment yea sometimes more bitter to some Spirits then Death it selfe Truth Yea and M r Cottons ground is both unsafe and darke and needs a candle of Light to discover the bottome and compasse of it Such saith he as walke not according to their Light are neither true servants to God nor Man but First what meanes here M r Cotton by Light Light in this sence is commonly taken two wayes First For that is Light indeed to wit the precious Light of Gods revealed will Secondly That which so appeares to be to a mans minde and Conscience but may be a falshood a lye a mistake and darknesse M r Cotton had done well to have distinguished for before he blamed King James for walking according to his Light and although upon the point he makes the Civill Magistrates in all parts of the World the Heads Protectours and Governours of Christs Church yet if the eyes of these Heads see not by his Light he cuts off these Heads forbidding them to act as Heads and to walke according to their Light they must as often he tells us suspend untill they have Light c. 2. Peace Beside it comes oft to passe that the Light which shines by preaching or practice of others although it be a meane sufficient to convince if God please to blesse it yet untill the Consciences of men be convinced of the Light of it I Judge it cannot properly be said to be the Light of their Consciences nor they to sin against the Light of their Consciences 3. Truth Yea and there is a morall vertue a morall fidelitie abilitie and honestie which other men beside Church members are by good nature and education by good Lawes and good examples nourished and trained up in that Civill places of Trust and Credit need not to be Monopolized into the hands of Church-Members who sometimes are not fitted for them and all others deprived and despoiled of their naturall Civill Rights and Liberties Peace But what say you Deare Truth to M r Cottons Apologie for New England for as for constraint in old he is silent he sayth he knowes not of any constraint upon any to come to Church to pay Church Duties and sayth it is not so in his Towne Truth If M r Cotton be forgetfull sure he can hardly be ignorant of the Lawes and Penalties extant in New England that are or if repeald have been against such as absent Themselves from Church Morning and Evening and for Non-payment of Church-Duties although no Members For a Freedome of Not paying in his Towne it is to their commendation and Gods praise who hath shewed him and others more of his holy Truth Yet who can be ignorant of the Sessments upon all in other Townes of the many Suits and Sentences in Courts for Non-payment of Church-Duties even against such as are no Church Members Of the Motions and pleadings of some not the meanest of their Ministers for Tithes And how ever for my part I beleeve M r Cotton ingeniously willing that none be forced expresly to pay to his Maintenance yet I question whether he would work if he were not well payd And I could relate also what is commonly reported abroad to wit that the rich Merchants and people of Boston would never give so freely if they were forced yet now they are forced to give for shame I take it in the Publike Congregation The Indians of this Countrie have a Way calld Nanówwe or Giving their Commodities freely by which they get better bargaines then if they stood stiffly on their Tearmes of Anaqúshento or Trading And when not satisfied to the utmost they grudge revile c. It cannot be but that to such Deceitfulnesse of Heart M r Cotton is subject as well as others though Love bids me and others to hope the best Peace The close of this Chapter seemes strange and wonderfull for M r Cotton acknowledged that Propagation of Religion ought not to be by the Sword and yet instantly againe maintaines he the use of the Sword when persons which then must be judged by the Civill State blaspheme the true God and the true Religion and also seduce others to damnable Heresie and Idolatrie But this sayth he is not the Propagation of Religion but the preserving of it and if it doe conduce to Propagation it is onely Removendo prohibens Truth What is this Removendo prohibens but as the weeding of a Field or Garden And every Husbandman will say that the end of such his work is the propagation and increase of his graine and fruit as well as the making of his fence and planting and sowing of his Field or Garden What therefore is this Confession though with this Distinction but in truth an acknowledgement of what in Words and Tearmes he yet denies with Hilarie to wit a propagating of Christian Religion and Truth by the Civill Sword 2. Besides it is the same hand and power that plucks up the weedes and plants the Corne and consequently that same hand and Sword that destroyes the Heretick may make the Christian c. Exam of Chap. 67. replying to Chap. 70. Peace COncerning Tertullians speech and especially that Branch to win that By the Law of naturall equitie Men are not to be compelled to any Religion but permitted to believe or not believe at all Mr. Cotton answers that they doe permit the Indians but it will not therefore be safe to toller te the publicke Worship of Devills or Idolls The Discusser replied that they doe permit the Indians in their Paganish Worship and therefore were partiall to their Countrymen and others M r Cotton answers that it is not true that they doe so permit the Indians what ever they may doe privately That the Indians submit to the ten Commandements and that some of their Ministers have preached to them in English which hath been interpreted That one now preacheth in their owne Language Further That they permit
spake in another case that the New English Congregations and Churches would be as thin as the Presbyterians complained theirs to have been when the people once began to taste the Freedome and Libertie of their Consciences from the slaves whip c. Peace In the next Passage the Discusser having excepted against M r Cottons distinguishing betweene Members of the Church and such as have given their names to Christ M r Cotton replies they are not all one and quotes Esa 65. 5 6. Truth Let the place be viewed and that place will be found to speake of no such Difference It speaks of the Lords promise to Eunuches and Strangers laying hould on the Lords Covenant and joyning themselves to the Lord which I conceive M r Cotton will not deny to be in a Church way in which condition the Lord gives the Eunuches a name better then of Sonnes and Daughters Peace In the next Passage M r Cotton upon Tertullians speech affirmes that a false Religion will hurt because the Red Horse followes the White c. Truth I answer Gods Judgements by Warre Famine Pestilence plaguing false Religions in his time though after many hundreth yeares patience as hath form â—ly been opened is one thing and the present hurting or profiting of others is another Peace In the next place M r Cotton takes offence that the Discusser should insinuate M r Cotton to have a hand in the Modell of Church Government Truth I answer M r Cottons words in the End of his Answer to the Prisoner where he speakes of this Treatise or Modell sent to some of the Brethren of Salem seemed to hould out the probabilitie of it How ever M r Cotton subscribeth to the rest of the Elders as he here sayth their words being rightly understood Peace Further M r Cotton here affirmes that the want of a Law for Religion in any State provokes the Wrath of God as the want of a King in Israel Judg. 21. 25. Truth This Scripture proves no more but that the want of a King Magistrate Governour or Civill Officer of Justice provokes the Wrath of God and endangereth the people against which the Discusser never affirmed but against their Kingly or Civill Authoritie in spirituall cases since Christ Jesus abolished that Nationall Church Peace But sayth M r Cotton the best Good of a Citie is Religion and therefore there should be a Law for it Truth To this I have spoken largely in discussing of that Modell unto which I know not of any Reply yet made by Himselfe or any of those worthy men whom he makes the Authours of it Peace But further whereas the Discusser had said that the weedes of the Wildernesse will not hurt the Garden nor poyson the Body if not suffred to grow in the Garden nor taken into the Body M r Cotton grants that Christ hath ordained Gardiners for his Garden and Physick and Physicians for his Body Yet withall he makes the Civill Officers to be as Supervisors Superintendents and consequently Bishops Governours and Heads of the Church or Churches and over the spirituall Officers of Christ Jesus Truth What is this but to establish Henry the 8. a Spirituall Civill Magistrate and Head of the Church in the roome of the Pope Contrary to which I have discoursed in the discussing of the Modell in the bloudie Tenent Peace But what thinke you of M r Cottons interpretation of Tertullians minde to wit that Tertullian should meane that the Christian Religion would not hurt nor disturbe the Romane Civill State Truth I conceive it cannot stand for although it be true that the Christian Religion hurts no Civill State but infinitly the contrary yet M r Cotton will not deny that the Christian Religion not of it selfe but through the corruption of the Civill State may provoke a Civill State many wayes and therefore Tertullian must meane otherwayes to wit every Man must stand or fall in his owne Religion and the Religion of one man will neither hurt nor save another Therefore to end this Passage Tertullians words may not unfitly be thus applied The Religion of the Protestants if permitted by the Papists will neither hurt nor profit the Papists The Religion of the Independents will nether hurt nor profit the Presbyterians if they permitted it And the Religion and Worship of other Consciences in old or New England will neither hurt nor profit the Independents where the power of tollerating or not tollerating lies in the hands and power of the Independents Exam of Chap. 68. replying to Chap. 71. Peace HEre M r Cotton urgeth two mistakes First in the quoting of Jerome secondly in naming Tertullian for Jerome Truth Possible it is they are neither the mistakes of the Prisoner nor Discusser but either the Scribe or Printers may share with them or if they were their owne mistakes although the Prisoner wrote in close prison in Newgate and the Discusser in multitude of Distractions yet they are justly to be blamed for their least sleepines in the handling of the matters of the most High Peace But Jeromes words saith M r Cotton imply more then a spirituall cutting off for Jerome immediatly subjoyneth these words Arius was but a sparke but because he was not speedily supprest his Flame depopulated all the World which cannot be meant sayth he of cutting off by Excommunication which proceeded against him once and twice Truth I cannot be easily induced to believe that Jerome intended to complaine of Constantine who was not sparing at the first to put forth his temporall Arme and power against Arrius But this is certaine his words are these Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit and the Scriptures quoted by him 1 Cor. 5. Gal. 5. as M r Cotton yeeldeth prove onely a spirituall cutting off So that it seemes not rationall for Jerome to run from the Spirituall Sword about which he is now conversant to the carnall and temporall Sword of which those Scriptures as M r Cotton acknowledgeth discourse not Peace But let no man say sayth M r Cotton that this grant of his That Heresie must be cut off by the Sword of the Spirit doth imply an absolute sufficiencie in the Sword of the Spirit to cut it downe according to 2 Cor. 10. â—â— 5. For though spirituall Weapons be absolutely sufficient to the End for which God hath appointed them as hath been opened above to wit for the conviction and if he belong to God for the conversion of the offendour for the mortifying of his flesh and for the saving of his Soule and for the cleansing of the Church from the Fellowship of that Guilt Yet if an Heretick will still continue obstinate and persist in seducing creepe into Houses leade captive sillie Soules and destroy the Faith of some it may be of many such Gangrenes would be cut off by another Sword which in the hand of the Magistrate is not borne in vaine Truth This answer of M r Cotton lookes
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
that is in the common field of the world together Secondly Not onely Antichrist may oppose some Antichristians but the Israel of God may oppose Israel Ephraim may be against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah in severall respects Have not the Presbyterians been against the Independents and the Independents against the Presbyterians and both against such aâ— seperate from the uncleannesses of them both No wonder then when one Antichristian Faction prevailes to crush another and therein wraps up Christ Jesus himselfe as an Antichristian that Christ Jesus should finde some Friends and Votes against the Oppressing Faction though the number of the oppressours doe farre exceede and cast the cause most commonly against Christ Jesus as a Male factor a Drunkard a Glutton a Deceiver a mad-man possest with a Devill a Seducer a Blasphemer c. Peace But to the second let us Examine the Reasons against Austins Argument with M r Cottons defence of them The first answer was that soule-killing was of a large extent in Scripture which may reach to many sins that are not capitall M r Cotton replyes the Answer reacheth not the point for as every killing of the Body is not a capitall crime so neither is every killing of the soule but such as is more voluntary and presumptuous and joyned with some grosse and murtherous intent Truth Austin and M r Cotton spake in generall without distinction of soule-murther and killing the Title and sound of soule-murther and soule-killing should not be cast abroad like Thunder and Lightning with a late excuse that we intend not every soule-murther and killing Peace Your second Argument was from the Dissimilitude of bodily and spirituall Death Body-killing is but once and for ever but a soule killed may recover c. M r Cotton replyes that the very attempt of soule-killing is capitall Deut. 13. 10. Truth First then the Dissimilitude or Difference remaines good between the murthering of the body and the killing of the soule or inner man contrary to his Answer foregoing Secondly Concerning this attempting I have spoken elsewhere and proved that spiritually it may be made good against a Christian Israelite falling away from Christ and seducing others but literally against such attempting against any mans present Religion or Worship in any Civill State all the World over it cannot be taken because the whole world the Nations and peoples of it cannot parallell this State of Israel whence this plea is taken Peace I presume Deare Truth you would not excuse and extenuate the punishment of a Soule-Traitour and seducer now under the Gospel Truth No I aggravate the least attempt of soule-murther and the least prejudice or hindrance to Eternall Life infinitly above what is temporall and corporall murther when either Husband or Wife Brother or Sister King or Queene Synod or Parliament shall lay a stumbling block in the heavenly way or grieve or offend the least of the littles ones of Christ Jesus and such dreadfull punishment shall all even the highest and greatest finde who now seeme to forget the Millstone Peace The third argument was from the different punishment which Christ Jesus hath appointed for Soul-killing to wit by the two edged sword which comes out of Christs mouth which is able to cut downe Heresie and to slay the soul of Hereticks everlastingly Master Cotton replies this answer hath been removed above Church censures are sufficient to heal the Heretick if he belong to God and to remove the guilt of his wickednesse from the Church but not to prevent spreading c. nor to cleâ—se the Common-wealth from such rebellion as hath been taught by him against the Lord. Truth Above hath also been shewen the soveraigne excellency and power of Christs spirituall meanes against spirituall infection Above hath also been shewen the two-fold Common-wealth First the Civil and natural Secondly the spiritual religious and Christian Rebellion also against the Lord hath been proved two-fold First spirituall against himselfe in point of his more immediate worship and service for which he hath provided not onely the vengeance of eternall fire approaching according to the degrees and hainousnesse of such rebellion but also present spirituall punishment far exceeding all corporall punishment and torment in the world 2 Rebellion against God is temporall and more mediate as it is a resistance opposition or violation of any Civil state or order appointed by God or Men. Now to confound these together and to hover in generall tearms of Rebellion against the Lord is to blow out the Candle or Light and to make a noise in the dark with a sound and cry of a guilty Land a guilty State soul-murtherers soul-killers hereticks blasphemers seducers rebels against the Lord kill them kill them c. Suppose these soul-murthering Hereticks Seducers c. be as full of vexation and mischief as the Musketoes or Wolves in New England or other Countries It were to be wished but never can be hoped in this world that every Civil state City and Towne in the world were free from such mysticall and soul-vermin The poor Planter and Farmer is glad if his house and chamber if his yard and field his family and cattel may be tolerably clear from such annoyances however the Woods and Wildernes abound with them They that are of such fierie pragmaticall restles spirits that they content not themselves to keep the Farme and House of the Church of Christ free from such Infection annoyance but rage that such vermin are suffered in the worlds Wood c. It is pity but they had their ful employment and taske to catch and kill even all the swarmes and Heards of all the Muskeetoes and Wolves which either the Wildernes of America or the whole World can afford them 4. Peace Accordingly the Fourth Argument was from Christs tolerating of soule-killers to live in the field of the World though not in the Garden of the Church M r Cotton replyes this hath been largely and fully refeld above Truth It is true the Discusser alledged and M r Cotton refuted the Exposition of this Parable but whether of them according to the minde of Christ Jesus let every reader uprightly judge with feare and trembling at the word of the Lord. Peace The Fifth Argument was from the Impossibilitie of killing and soule by a Heretick M r Cotton answers this is against Paul himselfe 1 Cor. 8. 11. Truth As I spake unto the Argument of the Impossibilitie of the perishing of any of Gods Elect so here the using of such an Argument is far from undervaluing or neglecting of any of the meanes or Ordinances naturall or spirituall which God hath graciously appointed but to condemne the over-wise and over-busie Heads and Hands of Men adding their Inventions to Gods Appointments as if weake and insufficient whereas Gods number of living and dead are certaine and though the meanes which he hath appointed for life should faile
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
not extend to the Idolaters of the World First Because many thousand thousand of them are exempt from the civill Magistracie of Christians Secondly They were never in Covenant with God to whom onely the Law of Moses concerning the punishment of Idolaters extended Thirdly Though the Israelites were Idolaters yet Elijah spared them because of their simplicitie and Ignorance Truth I answer first if Christ Jesus gave no such Commission as is confessed then woe to all those Popish and Protestant Priests who have by theft or flatterie or other evill meanes got Commissions from the Civill powers of the World whereby to maintaine their own honours and profits of Bishopricks and Benefices c. they smite with the fist and sword of wickednes or under a pretence of holy Orders in themselves put over the drudgery of Execution to their enslaved Seculars Secondly If these need no Commission because to put to Death the false Prophets and Idolaters is an Act of morall Righteousnesse how agrees that Position and these three together First onely Christian Magistrates said M r Cotton must act in these cases Secondly They must act against such onely as are Church-members Thirdly They must not act against such Church-members as commit Idolatrie out of simplicitie or Ignorance Peace Deare Truth if it passe your capacitie to reconcile these in point of Truth it must needs passe mine to see how such Doctrines can stand with any civill peace or order in the world Truth To affirme such Actions to be ordinarie duties of morall Righteousnesse belonging to such as beare the Sword and yet not to be practiced but by such Magistrates as are most rarely found in the World and on such a people in such an Order as is most rare in the Nations of the World is to me all one as to call all Fathers and Masters in the World to such ordinary Duties as belong to every Father and Master of a Familie Or to call Masters and Commanders of Ships to such ordinary duties as belong to all Masters of Ships in the World Or Captaines and Commanders in Warre to such ordinarie Duties as belong to all Captaines and Commanders in the World and then at last to tell them It is true the Duties are ordinary and common to all Fathers Masters Commanders Captaines but these Duties are to be performed onely by such Fathers Masters Captaines and Commanders and in such Families Ships and Armies as are not ordinarie to be found in the World Peace I see not but the Similitude doth fully reach for indeed although such a people so and so in Covenant with God according to M r Cotton were true visible Churches according to Christs Institution and so consequently their Magistrates truely Christian yet compare such Magistrates with the rest of the Magistrates of the World who as lawfully beare the Sword as Themselves and compare such a people so and so in Church-Covenant with the rest of the people and Nations of the World and we shall not finde them ordinary and common but rather as six fingers wonders and monsters to all other parts of the World yea even to the very Popish and Protestant parts of the World also But to end this Chapter The other fact of Elijah in slaying the Captaines with their fifties M r Cotton acknowledgeth not to be alledged by any other Authour in this Controversie but onely by the Discusser to make himselfe work in such Cobweb-Evasions Truth M r Cotton forgetteth for Elijah his Act from Luc. 9. hath been mentioned by others and answered too by Master Cotton in this present Booke and Controversie And for the Cob-webs let the poore Witnesses of Christ be esteemed as Spiders and their Testimonie and Witnes but as Cob-webs yet let them not be discouraged but lay hould like Solomons Spider with the hand of spirituall Diligence and let all such their heavenly Cob-webs be in Kings Pallaces And let them know their Cobwebs be of such a strength that how ever the cruell Beezome of persceution may sweepe them downe out of this World yet in pomt of Truth and true Christian power and worth neither Pope nor Prelate neither Presbyterian nor Independent persecutour nor Baalzebub himselfe the God of Flies shall ever be able to sweepe them downe or breake through them Exam of Chap. 74. and 75. replying to Chap. 77. and 78. Peace IN Chap. 74. One passage cannot be past by to wit God hath laid this charge upon Magistrates in the Old Testament to punish Seducers and the Lord Jesus never tooke off this Charge in the New Testament Who is this Discusser that he should account Paul himselfe or an Angel from Heaven accursed that should leave this Charge upon Magistrates which God laid on and Christ never tooke off Truth This is but a Repetition of what hath formerly been examined unto which therefore I briefly say It will never be found true that God hath laid this charge upon all Magistrates in the World as he did upon the Magistrates in Israel to punish Seducers Secondly God laying this charge upon the Governours and Magistrates in Israel the Church of God in the type lays it still upon Christ Jesus and his Governours spirituall under him in his spirituall Israel which Kingdome he administreth with Lawes Punishments and Weapons Spirituall All this M r Cotton in this Controversie hath acknowledged Thirdly When he saith Christ Jesus never tooke off this Charge First I answer let that Parable which he mentioneth be the Tryall of it in the feare of God Secondly God having now in these last times declared his will by his Sonne Where hath his blessed Sonne spoken to us to build no more Temples to erect no more Altars to offer no more Sacrifices And yet these and the whole frame of that typicall State we justly abrogate both from the words of Christ and his first Messengers which are plaine and easie enough to such whose eyes it pleaseth God to open although in expresse Tearmes Christ Jesus hath not given an expresse Catalogue of all such particulars to be abolished Peace In the next passage M r Cotton deeply chargeth the poore Discusser with partialitie falshood upon which Grounds he turnes off all the Consequences which the Discusser observed to follow upon M r Cottons Conclusions Truth It is true the Authour of the Letter expresseth Libertie of Conscience to such as feare God indeed M r Cotton subscribes but presently razeth out his Subscription in these words following which he hath againe now reprinted to wit But the Question is whether an Heretick after once or twice Admonition and so after Conviction and any other scandalous and hainous offendour may be tollerated either in the Church without Excommunication or in the Common-weale without such punishment as may preserve others from dangerous and damnable Infection Peace Who sees not but this bloudie Tenent I meane these words now recited doth not onely restraine Libertie of Conscience to
such as feare God indeed and speakes fire and fagot to all the world beside But also under the name of Heretick and Seducer throwes into the Furnace most commonly and ordinarily all such as feare God Christ Jesus and his Messengers and Ministers not excepted who have alwayes been and are accounted the chiefest Hereticks Blasphemers Deceivers and Seducers in this World Truth I adde the Consequences therefore remaine good that either All the Inhabitants of the World must come into the estate of men fearing God Or else dissemble Religion and fearing God in hypocrisie Or else be driven out of the World Then also the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall and of Magistrates fearing or not fearing God The People must judge I say who feare God indeed and are by them to be permitted and who are the Hereticks and to be punished which who may not see to be the driving of the world out of it selfe and the bloudie routing up of all Societies of Men Peace This charge of partialitie and falshood you have Deare Truth to my understanding shielded the poore Discusser from Can you now helpe his Forehead and his Heart which M r Gotton in the next passage chargeth with another notorious and impudent falshood in relating out of a printed booke an Answer of the New English Ministers to Questions sent unto them from their Brethren in old which answer M r Cotton sayth he cannot finde Truth So much Gall and Vinegar hath M r Cotton powred forth in this whole passage from the first to the last of it that no sober minded man fearing God and knowing M r Cottons former temper of Spirit but will confesse two things First that this bloudie Tenent of persecution hath infected and inflamed his very naturall Temper and former sweet peaceable disposition Secondly his Eye being thus bloudshot is so weakened in its former and otherwise excellent sight that it now questions no Difference between the Mountaines and the Molehills for at the worst in common probabilitie of Reason there can be but a mistake in the Discusser concerning this passage Peace If the Discusser have no sparke of the feare of God yet if but common crvilitie and honestie or least respect of common credit among men it were impossible for him to forge so grossely in matters lately printed publike and obvious to every eye Truth The truth is whether there be different Editions or different Copies printed let M r Cotton and whom it concerns take care of it for the Discusser is confidently resolved that if this passage for the substance of it be not printed and to be read in print of all men in their names he will then willingly beare and lye under the charge of a false forehead and heart which M r Cotton in such heate and anger imputes unto him Exam of Chap. 76. replying to Chap. 79. Peace IN this short Chapter the Discusser is charged with Ignorance and uncharitablenes for thinking amisse of the Penmen of the Answer to the Questions to wit that he should conceive that the passage to New England should change the Judgement or Consciences of Men. Truth The Discusser professeth and I know in truth to bewaile his Ignorance and uncharitablenes yet upon a second review of the words it will be found there was not an Imputation of such a conceit to those worthy Authors or any man but an Item unto all men occasioned by the Confidence expressed that they doubted not but those godly brethren of old England should agree with them here in New if they were in New England together This Item or Caveat will appeare to be given not by way of positive Charge nor in the least derogating from the holy and blessed use of free and humble Conference but to take off the Edge of such Confidence of agreeing in New England when the Differences of Gods people have been and are yet so great in Old and New and so many Conferences and Disputations of Truth and Peace have not yet raised that blessed Agreement of which the Answer to the Questions would make no doubt Peace Me-thinkes there should be little hope of their comming to New-England when the New-English Ministers had got the Advantage of the higher ground and Carnall Sword for their Religion to Friend and had exprest their Judgement of their conceiving it not safe that if they should not agree their severall wayes of Worshipping God should be permitted in one Common-weale Truth Yea and I believe still the Consequence was truely gathered by the Discusser how ever M r Cotton hath so charged his Forehead and Heart for it to wit That the New English Ministers could not as their Conscience stood advise the Magistrates of New-England to permit that which their Consciences and Judgements taught them was not safe c. Peace These passages occasion me to remember a serious Question which many fearing God have made to wit Whether the promise of Gods Spirit blessing Conferences be so comfortably to be Expected in New-England because of those many publike sinnes which most of Gods people in New-England lye under and one especially to wit the framing a Gospel or Christ to themselves without a crosse not professing nor practicing that in Old except of late in times of Libertie which they professedly come over to enjoy with Peace and Libertie from any crosse of Christ in New Truth I know those thoughts have deeply possessed not a few considering also the sinne of the Pattents wherein Christian Kings so calld are invested with Right by virtue of their Christianitie to take and give away the Lands and Countries of other men As also considering the unchristian Oaths swallowed downe at their comming forth from old England especially in superstitious Land his time and domineering And I know these thoughts so deeply afflicted the Soule and Conscience of the Discusser in the time of his Walking in the Way of New Englands Worship that at last he came to a perswasion that such sinnes could not be Expiated without returning againe into England or a publike acknowledgement and Confession of the Evill of so and so departing To this purpose before his Troubles and Banishment he drew up a Letter not without the Approbation of some of the Chiefe of New-England then tender also upon this point before God directed unto the King himselfe humbly acknowledging the Evill of that part of the Pattent which respects the Donation of Land c. This Letter and other Endeavours tending to wash off publike sinnes to give warning to others and above all to pacifie and to give Glory unto God it may be that Councell from Flesh and Bloud supprest and Worldly policie at last prevailed for this very cause amongst others afterward re-examined to banish the Discusser from such their Coasts and Territories Peace But from Violence to the Discusser or any other M r Cotton in the next passage protests his Innocencie and insinuates the Discusser to be
to intrap intangle and bewilder themselves that they may learne to confesse him onely and infinitly wise and be more humble in themselves as fooles and lyars and lesse bitter in their Judgements and Censures on the poore Vnderlings and Outcasts Truth O that M r Cotton who grants the Godly may fall into such fowle sinnes of Heresie and Schisme may also be godly jealous over himselfe and others fearing God in old or New England that also possibly they may fall into the very sinne of persecuting the Sonne of God himselfe especially since it is the Lot of Christ Jesus beyond all compare both in Himselfe and his Followers to be accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer Seducer and Deceiver Peace To the second and third Charge M r Cotton complains of false dealing in that the Discusser should render his words as if he charged such to be obstinate persons that yeelded not to once or twice Admonition and that for every Errour when he speakes onely of persisting in Heresie or turbulent Schisme Truth For answer let M r Cottons Conclusions in the beginning of this Booke be remembred Wherein he maintaines that a Man of an Erroueous and blind Conscience in Fundamentall and weighty points and persisting in the Errour of his way is not persecuted for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Whence it followes that the Civill Courts of the World must judge whether the matter be fundamentall and weighty whether the partie have been rightly once and twice admonished and whether he persist in the Errour of his Way that is whether he be obstinate after such Admonition and must then be persecuted though as the Conclusion wofully concludeth not for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Peace Yea but the Discusser sayth M r Cotton dealeth falsly in carrying my words as if I had said that Godly persons in whatsoever Errour they hould if they yeeld not to once or twice Admonition they must needs be obstinate whereas he saith he speakes not of every Errour but of persisting in Heresie and turbulent Schisme Truth The Discusser did not so say or so carry it as M r Cotton insinuates but this he saith that even in the place of Righteousnesse and Judgement as Salomon saith Iniquitie and such Iniquitie in all civill Courts of the World and in all Ages of the World usually hath been found that as in multiplying glasses a Flea is made an Elephant c. So the poore witnesses of Christ have been proclaimed and persecuted for Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers c. not onely for not houlding the Popes Transubstantiation Auricular Confession Purgatorie and those waightier points of the Beasts worship but reading a piece of a Leafe of Scripture or any good booke is Heresie Eating a piece of Flesh in Lent yea the slight breaches of the smallest Traditions of the Elders and State Worships accounted Heresie Blasphemie c. Peace Hence was it I think that the Naturalist could tell us in the Fable of the Fox and the Lyon that the Fox ran not away in vaine upon the Proclamation of the departure of all horned Beasts as knowing that if the bloudie persecutours of the World shall say the plainest Ears are hornes that is the smallest Errours yea the plainest Truths are Heresies it is in vaine for any Innocent to plead they are but Eares c. Truth Yea hence it was that in that famous or rather most infamous Councell of Constance the blessed Servant and witnes of Christ Jesus John Hus was as it were stobd to Death before his burning with tearmes of Heresie Heretick Heresiarck yea though he held as the Pope and the Councell held even in those points for which they condemned him because beside their hatred of his Holines witnessing against their Filthines themselves would say from his writings that he did hould so and so against their Popish Tenents which he himselfe profest he never did Peace In the next place Deare Truth are two Passages related by the Discusser from New England To which M r Cotton gives no credit 2. He sayth If such words were spoken they might be spoken upon such waights as might hould waight c. Truth For the Stories and the Discussers mistakes willing mistakes as M r Cotton seemes to insinuate I know the Discusser humbly desires like a true Traveller to his heavenly Countrey to heare of and see and acknowledge and forsake every false path and step by the helpe of Christ that the poorest childe though but a naked Pagan shall hint him of But why should the Stories seeme incredible that suite so wofully fit with the Common Tenents Peace It may be M r Cotton will not believe it nor approve it But there are not two but ten witnesses to testifie such Stories were it seasonable to relate and inlarge such particulars Truth Let M r Cotton then please to understand to passe by particular names of the former Stories which are ready to be declared to any charitable and loving Enquirie that his bloudie Tenent is a bitter Roote of many bitter branches not onely bitter to spirituall tasts but even to the tast of Civilitie and Humanitie it selfe But since the names of persons are so desired I shall relate not out of any personall disrespect to M r Streete and the people of Cohannet aliàs Taunton my loving friends what many testifie that the said reputed Minister M r Streete publikely and earnestly perswaded his Church-members to give Land to none but such as might be fit for Church-members yea not to receive such English into the Towne or if in the Towne yet not to Land that if they lived in the Towne or place yet they might be knowne to be but as Gibeonites hewers of wood and drawers of water for the service of them that were of the Church Peace I know what troublesome Effects followed in the same place and what Breaches of Civill and humane Societie What Departures of divers and Barres to the comming of others to the spoile and hindrance of a most likely and growing Plantation But to proceede Deare Truth you cannot more faithfully and carefully labour to discharge the Discusser of falshoods then M r Cotton endeavours to lay them on For to the former three behould in the next passage foure more For first the Discusser is charged to report M r Cotton as expressing Confidence in this cause which M r Cotton sayth he expressed not Secondly He reports M r Cotton to say that he to wit M r Cotton had removed the grounds of this Errour whereas M r Cotton saith he said not so but that he had spoken so much for that End Thirdly He foisteth in the name of great Errour which though it be so yet M r Cotton did not so stile it Fourthly That M r Cotton should conclude that to be a great Errour that persons are not to be persecuted for cause of Conscience when he states the Question so that none
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
the Conscience of the Magistrate may know First That the carriage of the Lord Jesus about this case when the Question was precisely put to him was extraordinary and strange For although unto other Questions even of the Pharisees Herodians Sadduces the High Priest and Pilate he gave more or lesse first or last punctuall Resolutions yet here he condemnes the sinne yet he neither confirmes nor disanulls this punishment but leaves the Question in all probabilitie and leaves the severall Nations of the World to their owne severall Lawes and Agreements as is most probable according to their severall Natures Dispositions and Constitutions and their common peace and wellfare Secondly The Lord Jesus 1 Pet. 2. approveth of the severall humane Ordinances or Creations which the severall peoples and Nations of the World shall agree upon for their common peace and subsistence Hence are the severall sorts of Governments in the Nations of the World which are not framed after Israels Patterne And hence consequently the Lawes Rewards and Punishments of severall Nations vastly differ from those of Israell which doubtles were unlawfull for Gods people to submit unto except Christ Jesus had at least in generall approved such humane Ordinances and Creations of Men for their common peace and wellfare Peace Me-thinks M r Cotton and such as literally stick to the punishment of Adultery Witchcraft c. by Death must either deny the severall Governments of the World to be lawfull according to that of Peter and that the Nature and Constitutions of peoples and Nations are not to be respected but all promiscuously forced to one common Law or els they must see cause to moderate this their Tenent which else proves as bloudie a Tenent in civill affaires as persecution in affaires religious Truth Yea of what wofull consequence must this prove to the state of Holland and Low-Countries to the State of Venice to the Cantons of Switzerland to our owne deare State of England and others who have no King as Israells last established Government had especially no King immediately designed as Israells in the Roote was Yea what becomes of all Christianitie and of Christs Church and Kingdome in the World for ever if it want the Government of a King for sayth Bishop Hall in his Contemplation on Michaes Idolatrie in plaine and expresse words No King therefore no Church Peace To end this passage upon the former grounds methinks the Conscience of a New English Magistrate being calld to be a Magistrate in Old England may in Faith execute any other punishment according to Law established beside Death upon Adulterers And the New English Colonies may be exhorted to rectifie their wayes and to moderate such their Lawes which cannot possibly put on the face of morall Equitie from Moses c. Truth Your Satisfaction Deare Peace now praesupposed I proceed and grant with that Limitation forementioned that Christ Jesus neither abrogated Moses Moralls nor Judicialls yet who will deny that Moses established beside the two former a third to wit Lawes meerly figurative typicall and ceremoniall proper and peculiar to that Land and people of Israel Those Lawes necessarily wrapt up that Nation and people in a mixt constitution of Spirituall and Temporall Religious and Civill so that their Governours of Civill State were Governours of the Church and the very Land and People were by such Governours to be compelled to observe a ceremoniall puritie and Holines But Christ Jesus erected another Common-weale the Common-weale of Israel the Christian Common-weale or Church to wit not whole Nations but in every Nation where he pleaseth his Christian Congregation c. Peace Deare Truth I cannot count him a peaceable childe of mine that rests not herewith satisfied M r Cottons next Exception is against your excepting against a Magistrates Membership in a Church-estate joyned with an Head-ship over it to establish reforme c. as being impossible that a Magistrate should sit Head and Supreame on the spirituall Bench yet stand as a delinquent at the spirituall Barre of Christ Jesus M r Cotton answers that in severall respects a Magistrate may be a nursing Father and Judge in causes Ecclesiastiall and yet be subject to Christs censure in the offensive Government of himselfe against the Rules of the Gospel And where it might be said that the Church is subject to the Magistrate in civill causes and the Magistrate is subject to the Church in spirituall cases M r Cotton answers this easeth not the Difficultie for suppose sayth he the Magistrate fall into Murther Adulterie c. which are civill Abuses shall the Church tollerate him herein And he concludes Let the like Power be granted to the civill Magistrate to deale faithfully with the Church in the notorious Transgression of the first Table as is granted to the Church to deale with the Magistrate in the notorious Transgression of the second Table and the Controversie is ended Truth This Answer and instance of M r Cotton carries a seeming Beautie with it but bring it to the Triall of the Testament of Christ Jesus and it will appeare to be but a vanishing Colour For there is a vast Difference The sins of each Church-member whether against the first or second Table are proper to the Cognizance and Judgement of the Church as the sinne of the Incestuous person was punished by Christs Ordinances in the Church at Corinth as well as the Abuse of the Lords Supper But it is not so with the civill Magistrate whose Office is essentially civill one and the same all the world over among all Nations and people For having no spirituall power as the Authours of the Modell afterwards acknowledge he cannot possibly act as a Civill Magistrate in spirituall matters though as a Church-member he may in Church-estate as also may the rest of the Members of that spirituall Body Peace Me-thinks it it cleare as the Light that if that incestuous person in the Church of Corinth had beene a Magistrate of the Citie of Corinth the Church might justly have proceeded against him because all sinne is directly opposite to the holy Kingdome of Christ But in that abuse of the Lords Supper which was meerly unchristian neither that Magistrate nor all the Magistrates of Corinth or the World to helpe him could justly punish the Church because that Supper in the Institution and Spirituall use of it was not onely of the Nature of the Suppers of the meates and drinks of the Citie of Corinth but also of a divine and spirituall Institution of a heavenly and mysticall Nature and Observation But to Conclude this piece and the whole M r Cotton corrects himselfe for putting in his Sickle into the Harvest of his Brethren unto whom he refers the defence of their Modell and for himselfe ends with desires that Christ Jesus would blast that peace which he sayth the Examiner proclaimeth to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth If
Christ Jesus shall please for the further manifestation of his holy Truth and Glory to permit those able and worthy men to proceed to fortifie and defend their Modell I hope he will also please to assist the Discusser or some other of his poore servants to batter downe with the Spirituall Artillerie of his Word and Testament such weake and loose and unchristian Fortifications Peace But with what a deepe and unrighteous charge doth M r Cotton end against the poore Discusser as a Proclaimer of peace to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth Grant M r Cotton in many excellent Truths of Jesus a sweet sounding Silver Trumpet Grant the Discusser as base a Rams-horne harsh and contemptible Grant that for the peace of the Civill State the being of the Nations and the World the safetie of the good Wheate the Righteous and the calling home of the Elect to God Jewes and Gentiles the Discusser proclaimes a civill being and civill peace to Erroneous Consciences not sinning against humane and civill Principles Yet what Peace hath this Rams-horne proclaimed as M r Cotton insinuates when throughout this whole Booke from first to last the Proclamation soundeth ouâ— open warre against all false Worshippers Peace I am a joyfull witnes of warre proclaimed from the God of Truth from the Sun of Righteousnesse from the Spirit of Holines from the flames of Fire those mighty Angells from all the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus from all his holy Truths and Ordinances Warre to their Consciences Preachings Writings Disputations a warre present a warre perpetuall and without Repentance a warre eternall and everlasting Truth Deare Peace our goulden sand is out we now must part with an holy Kisse of heavenly Peace and Love M r Cotton speakes and writes his Conscience Yet the Father of Lights may please to shew him that what he highly esteemes as a Tenent washt white in the Lambes bloud is yet more black and abominable in the most pure and jealous eye of God Peace The Blackmores Darknes differs not in the darke from the fayrest white Truth Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousnesse hath broke forth and dayly will to a brighter and brighter Discoverie of this deformed Ethiopian And for my selfe I must proclaime before the most holy God Angells and Men that what ever other white and heavenly Tenents M r Cotton houlds yet this is a fowle a black and a bloudie Tenent A Tenent of high Blasphemie against the God of Peace the God of Order who hath of one Bloud made all Mankinde to dwell upon the face of the Earth now all confounded and destroyed in their Civill Beings and Subsistences by mutuall flames oâ— warre from their severall respective Religions and Consciences A Tenent warring against the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus denying his Appearance and Comming in the Flesh to put an end to and abolish the shadowes of that ceremoniall and typicall Land of Canaan A Tenent fighting against the sweete end of his comming which was not to destroy mens Lives for their Religions out to save them by the meeke and peaceable Invitations and perswasions of his peaceable Wisdomes Maideâ—â— A Tenent fowly charging his Wisedome Faithfullnes and Love in so poorly providing such Magistrates and Civill Powers all the World over as might effect so great a charge pretended to be committed to them A Tenent lamentably guilty of his most precious bloud shed in the bloud of so many hundreth thousand of his poore servants by the civill powers of the World pretending to suppresse Blasphemies Heresies Idolatries Superstition c. A Tenent fighting with the Spirit of Love Holines and Meeknes by kindling fiery Spirits of false zeale and Furie when yet such Spirits know not of what Spirit they are A Tenent fighting with those mighty Angels who stand up for the peace of the Saints against Persia Grecia c. and so consequently all other Nations who fighting for their severall Religions and against the Truth leave no Roome for such as feare and love the Lord on the Earth A Tenent against which the blessed Soules under the Altar cry loud for vengeance this Tenent having cut their Throats torne out their Hearts and powred forth their Bloud in all Ages as the onely Heretickes and Blasphemers in the World A Tenent which no Vncleannes no Adulterie Incest Sodomie or Beastialitie can equall this ravishing and forcing explicitly or implicitly the very Soules and Consciences of all the Nations and Inhabitants of the World A Tenent that puts out the very eye of all true Faith which cannot but be as free and voluntarie as any Virgin in the World in refusing or embracing any spirituall offer or object A Tenent loathsome and ugly in the eyes of the God of Heaven and serious sonnes of men I say loathsome with the palpable filihs of grosse dissimulation and bypocrisie Thousands of Peoples and whole Nations compelled by this Tenent to put on the fowle vizard of Religious bypocrisie for feare of Lawes losses and punishments and for the keeping and hoping for of favour libertie worldly commoditie c. A Tenent wofully guiltie of hardning all false and deluded Consciences of whatsoever Sect Faction Heresie or Idolatrie though never so horrid and blasphemous by cruelties and violences practiced against them all false Teachers and their Followers ordinarily contracting a Brawnie and steelie hardnesse from their sufferings for their Consciences A Tenent that shuts and bars out the gracious prophesies and promises and discoveries of the most glorious Sun of Righteousues Christ Jesus that burnes up the holy Scriptures and forbids them upon the point to be read in English or that any tryall or search or truly free disquisition be made by them when the most able diligent and conscionable Readers must pluck forth their owne eyes and be forced to reade by the which soever praedominant Cleargies Spectacles A Tenent that seales up the spirituall graves of all men Jewes and Gentiles and consequently stands guiltie of the damnation of all men since no Preachers nor Trumpets of Christ himselfe may call them out but such as the severall and respective Nations of the World themselves allow of A Tenent that fights against the common principles of all Civilitie and the very civill being and combinations of men in Nations Cities c. by commixing explicitly or implicitly a spirituall and civill State together and so confounding and overthrowing the puritie and strength of both A Tenent that kindles the devouring flames of combustions and warres in most Nations of the World and if God were not infinitly gracious had almost ruind the English French the Scotch and Irish and many other Nations Germane Polonian Hungarian Bohemian c. A Tenent that bowes downe the backs and necks of all civill States and Magistrates Kings and Emperours under the proud feete of that man and monster of sinne and pride the Pope and all Popish and proud Cleargie-men