Arrians or Papists or other poor deluding and deluded souls This seeming colour of Impartiall Justice serves wofully that murtherous enemy of all Mankind for a Stale or Covert under which his bloudie Game goes on of persecuting or hunting the harmless Deer the children of the living God For the sake then of the dear Saints and Followers of Jesus for his holy sake and Truth for the holy name and Truth of the most holy Father of Lights the God of it thy compassionate eye is here presented with a Second Conference and view of Mr. Cottons Reply and artificial bloudie washing of the Bloudie Tenent The Battel about any Truth of God in Christ is fought and managed by that most high and glorious Michael the Arch-Angel and Son of God attended with all his Holy Angels the Messengers and Witnesses of his Truth on the one side On the other side by that great red Dragon whose bloudie Followers Devils and men of all sorts and Nations but especially the Roman bloudie Emperor and Roman Popes with Lyon-like Furie and Fox-like craft have suck'd the Bloud and broke the Bones and devoured the Flesh of so many hundred thousand thousands of the King of Kings his spiritual Hinds and Roes in this their bloudie hunting So that aptly I had almost said Prophetically wrote one of their own Roman Poets of the lamentable condition of the harmlesse Deer above other Creatures Dente tuetur Aper defendunt Cornua Taurum Imbelles Damae quid nisi Praeda sumus 'T is a lamentable and cruel sight to see the sons of one poor man and woman all the Globe of the world over like Babels builders so vastly disagreeing about a God and his Worship 'T is lamentable to see these one Mans sons Murthered and Massacred in mutual slaughters as for other pretended Causes So this especially of Conscience and Religion 'T is yet more lamentable and never enough to be lamented that while the Sons of Men do but their kind the Sons of God the sons of the God of Place the Lillies Doves and Spouses of Jesus should thus discord and jart about this Christ their hope that like the very Turks and Persians contending about their Mahomet his Successors the Children of God should tear out each others Throats about the last Will and Testament of the Son of God their elder brother That Ephraim should be against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah yet all sons of one and professors of one God of Israel But oh the low and shallow comprehensions of the sons of men who as a Rotten thing saith Job consumeth Oh the depths of the Councels and workings of the most High most Holy and only wise outshooting all the Generations of men who heat and know no more then Jonathans Lad Is not the Arrow beyond thee c. His holy Wisdom hath an heavenly Reason to touch a little upon this sorrowfull string of that bloudie Device and Sale of innocent Joseph by his own Brethren the sons of one Israel and God He knowes why so holy a Leader of such a miraculous People as I may truly call them why Aaron I say was so left to the horrible ungratefull and outragious importunities of this then the only People of God as to frame a Beastly worship and to turn the most glorious and dreadfull Godhead into the similitude of a Beast that eaâ—eth grasse He knowes why the Israel of God Rebels as Moses passionately called them should so often grieve the holy Spirit of God with their murmurings and be so near to dash out the brains of their most faithfull Leaders He knowes why two Parts or Angles of that Heavenly Triangle Moses Aaron and Miriam so neer in Earthly and Heavenly Relations I say why that rare Pair Aaron and Miriam should yet envie and mutiny against their so dear a Brother and so meek and heavenly a Ruler Moses His heavenly wisdom hath a reason of that wonderfull Shrinking of an Army of 32 thousand Israelits into one poor 300 left behind and found only fit for Gods battels against the Midianits A reason why those two famous Champions Samson and David should find so great discouragement to their fighting of Gods Battels the men of Judah basely binding Samson and the chief of Davids own Brethren flying in his face with open Railings A reason of that all most utter consumption of one whole Tribe of Israels 12. by the furious flames of the Zeal and Indignation of the eleven These things happened not by chance but as the Apostle speaks in Types in curious and wonderfull figures so that his holy wisdom knowes why Israel must be so weary of Samuel and himself and like the Nations of the World must have a King to be their Champion and fight their Battels Why Saul this desired King the King of Gods own choice and Israels why yet he must hunt an innocent David as a Flea in the bosom or a Partridg on the mountains until he hath slain himself to set the Crown on Davids head A reason of that long continued Faction of so many Tribes against this Davids Crown and that Israel so importunate so impatient for a King should now powre out each others blood about a Successor whether a David or the son of Persecution Saul Ishbosheth A reason when David wears both Crowns in one and hath all that a most gracious God could espie out fit for David to receive that yet he wants a wife that had so many and rather then a Davids sinfull Desires and Whordomes shall want a Covering the blood of Vriah that is fire or zeal of God shall die and make up one to cover them O the Depths of the Councels of the holy one of Israel why there being but 12 Tribes in all 10 Tribes of his own people should tear away from 2 and after many Captivities of the one and the other both the one and the other now are scattered from each other upon the face of the Earth and as yet no certain Tidings what 's befaln to the 10 Tribes of the Israel of God He knowes why to leave an upright perfect Asaâ—'s heart to such folly and wrath as to lay a Faithfull Prophet admonishing him from God by the heels Yea why the Followers of the meek Lamb of God should burn in such Vnchristian Flames as to call for fire from Heaven to consume the contemners and despisâ—rs of their Lord and Master who quencheth the fire of their rash zeal with this mild Check You know not of what Spirit you are of Why such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bitternesse as the Word is should rise between two Turtle Doves Paul and Barrabas and that about their most laborious and most dangerous Ministeries Why one cries Paul another Apollo another Caphas another Christ even in the first established Churches This holy Plot this heavenly designe of the most holy and
would better befit the pen of a Jew then a Christian a follower of Moses then of Jesus Christ who although he will not fayle to take care for his in Earthly Providences that make it their chiefe worke to seeke his Kingdome yet he maketh as I may say Christs Crosse the first Figure in his Alphabet taking up his Crosse and Gallowes in most ordinarie persecution which with selfe-deniall are the assured Tearmes his Servants must resolve to looke for 'T is true he promiseth and makes good an hundreth Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters Wives Children Houses and Lands But M r Cotton well knowes it is with persecution And how this outward prosperitie agrees with Imprisonments Banishments hanging burning for Christs sake the Martyrs or Witnes of Jesus in all Ages and the cry of the Soules under the Altar may bring againe to his Remembrance if New Englands peace profit pleasure and Honour have lulld him into a Forgetfulnesse of the principles of the true Lord Jesus Christ Peace But M r Cotton remembreth not the Proposition to be his to wit that the Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject Truth M r Cotton hinted not his least dissent from Luther as he otherwayes useth to doe if he disowne c. Secondly He grants it true in the object to wit that the object of the Magistrates power is the Body and Goods of the Subject though not in the End which he saith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well to administer the Common-weale Now I aske what is this Common-weale Peace The Spirit of God distinguisheth in the New Testament between the Common weales of the Nations of the World and the Common-weale of Israel The Common-weale of Israel M r Cotton will not affirme now to be a Church Provinciall Nationall Oâ—cumenicall but Particular and Congregationall Truth If so then the finall cause of both these Common weales or States cannot be the same But although the End of the Civill Magistrate be excellent to wit well to administer the Common-weale yet the end of the Spirituall Common-weale of Israel and the Officers thereof is as different and transcendent as the Heaven is from the Earth Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can it be well with the Common-wealth that injoyes bodily health and worldly wealth if there be no Christ no Church there and how was it with the Romane Empire which the Red-horse of War and Black horse of Famine and Pale horse of Pestilence would have ruined if she had not cast away her Idols Truth Concerning this instance of Rome Master Cotton here acknowledgeth it abounded in worldly blessings till the Lord Jesus came riding forth upon the White Horse of the Gospel And Master Cotton may remember that from the Foundation of her rising and Glory laid by Romulus untill Christs time it flourished about 750 years in a long chaine of generations succeeding each other in worldly prosperity and yet no Church nor Christ to uphold it so far is Master Cottons Romish instance from countenancing Mr. Cottons Roman Doctrine Peace But when Christ came saith Master Cotton and was neglected then the Red and Black and Pale horse had almost destroyed her if she had not cast away her Idols Truth I answer Rome the head of the Empire cannot be said to neglect Christ untill the bloody Tenent of persecution arose amongst them I say not to neglect Christ more nor so much as other States for there were so many of the Romanes and so glorious professors of Christ Jesus that all the world over the Faith and Christian obedience of the Romanes was renowned 2 The Roman Impire cannot be said to cast away her Idols but to change as the Portugals did in the East-Indies her Idols her more grosse and Pagan Idols for more refined beautified Idols painted over with the name of Christ the true God holines c. and this in the glorious dayes of Constantine or not long after The Church of Christ Jesus which under persecution remained a wise and spouse of Christ Jesus now degenerates and apostates into an Whore in the times of her ease security and prosperity Whole Cities Nations and the whole world forced and ravished into a whore or Antichristian Christian 3 As far as the East is from the West so far is the world and nations and Empire of it from the holinesse of Christ Jesus holy Spirit Truth and Saints With what appearance then of Christs holinesse glory c. can Master Cotton advance the world the Roman Empire to be as he here speaks the Advancer of the scepter of Christ Jesus Peace If this Roman Empire be that dreadfull Beast in Daniels prophecy more strange and terrible then the rest yea and more terrible to Christ Jesus and his servants then was the former Babilonian Lion or Persian Beare or Grecian Leopard what truth of Jesus is this that advanceth this dreadfull bloody Beast to be the Advancer of the Scepter that is the Church and Government the Truth and Saints of Christ Jesus Peace Glorious things Dear Truth are recorded of Constantine and other glorious Emperors Truth The Beast was sweet Peace the Beast still although it pleased God to give some refreshing and reviving to his persecuted servants by Constantine and other blessed instruments yet Constantines favour was a bitter sweeting his superstitiâ—us zeal laying the Foundation for after Vsurpations and Abominations 4 But further for neer 1000 years together both before and after Christs time Rome grew and flourished with little alterations of her glory in comparison untill this very time that Master Cotton cals the casting away of her Idols For not before but after Constantines advancing of Christians to wealth and honour c. I say neer about 300 years together interchangably after his time untill Pipinus and Charles the Great the City and state of Rome was almost ruined and destroyed by the often dreadfull incursions of the Goths and Vandals Huns Longobards and other furious Nations So contrary to the truth of Jesus is this fleshly doctrine of worldly wealth and prosperity and also this very instance of Rome and her glory here discussed Peace Master Cotton ends with prayer and blessing to God as James speakes and bitter and cutting cursings and censures to man the poor Discusser who saith Master Cotton seduceth himselfe and others and delights to doe it and against the light of grace and conscience against reason and experience Truth The Discusser is as humbly confident of Grace and Conscience Reason and Experience yea the God of all Grace Christ Jesus his holy Spirit Angels Truth and Saints to be on his side as Master Cotton otherwise can be but the day shall try the Fire and Time shall try which is the Gold of Truth and Faithfulnesse and which the Drosse and Stubble of Lyes and Errour In the meane time I dare pronounce from the Testimony of Christ Jesus that in all
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
only wise God thus to permit the contentions and divisions of his own Servants as it displaies Himself only Perfect and Excellent and all the best of men in all Ages but farthing-candles yea smoaking Firebrands As it brightly proves the admirable consent and Angelical Harmony of the holy Scripture relating Histories and in those Histories infolding Prophesies fulfill'd before mens daily view thousands of years after As it makes us see our spiritual Povertie and Beggary and infinit need of Mercy and Grace and Peace from Heaven and drives us to continual Prayers and cries for mercifull supplies from thence As it disrelisheth this present sweetest life yea the very life of Spiritual Love in the Communion of the Saints of God themselves if compared with the most pure and spiritual and absolute Joyes and Life approaching So doth this heavenly Councel of the most High aboundantly stop the mouths of all malicious who although they delight to scratch their Athenian Itch of hearing Novelties new things Newes yet stumble they at this stumbling-block of Novelties new Churches new Ministers new Discipline new Baptism new Light The ancient of days say they the God of Peace and Love cannot be in such Divisions The old Bishops were better the old Popes themselves more tollerable But this is but the barking of malice against Gods holyness which his true servants desire to partake of Against Gods Truth which his servants must contend for yea though it be one against another against Gods Councels who hath so laid his holy project that what he now sets out in a clear Light and fairer Print is the very same had we inlightned eyes to see it with the old edition of former times more dark and rude in Ceremonies Types and figures I cannot but foresee variety of divers Passions and Affections in a Variety of Beholders of this present Controversie Some will please themselves and their curiosities in the Noveltie of such discourses some will rejoice to see the light appear and yet mourn in the lamentable differences of such who profess the same God and Christ about it Some will be angry and cry out of Blasphemy against their Gods their Bellies and their Titles c. Some will fear disturbances of the Civil and some of the Spiritual peace and Christianity Yet some will truely desire to search and know the will of God humbly desirous to do it on earth as the Angels doe it in heaven The Courteous Reader may please to see that in the first Conference of Peace and Truth there was Discust a Modell of New English Church and Civill Power which Mr. Cotton in his Reply waved and referred to others of the New English Elders to Reply unto which whether they have so done as yet I have not heard Together with Mr. Cottons Reply to the Bloudy Tenent there was also added a Reply of Mr. Cotton to an Answer of his Letter The Examination of this Reply I desired and intended should have been here presented But the streights of time being constantly drunk up by necessary Labours for bread for many depending on me the discharge of Engagements and wanting helps of transcribing I say the streights of time were such that the Examination of that Reply could not together with this be fitted for Publick view though with the Lords assistance will not delay to follow Touching Mr. Cotton I present two words First for his Person Secondly for his Work For his Person although I rejoyce that since it pleased God to lay a Command on my Conscience to come in as his poor Witnesse in this great Cause I say I rejoice it hath pleased him to appoint so able and excellent and Conscionable an Instrument to bolt out the Truth to the bran So I can humbly say it in his holy presence it is my constant heaviness and souls grief as to differ from any fearing God so much more ten thousand times from Mr Cotton whom I have ever desired and still desire highly to esteem and dearly to respect for so great a portion of mercy and grace vouchsafed unto him and so many Truths of Christ Iesus maintained by him And therefore notwithstanding that some of no common Judgement and respect to him have said that he wrote his washing of the Bloudie Tenent in Bloud against Christ Iesus and Gall against me yet if upon so slippery and narrow a passage I have slpit notwithstanding my constant resolution to the contrary into any Tearm or Expression unbeseeming his Person or the Matter the cause of the most high in hand considered I humbly crave pardon of God and Mr. Cotton also Secondly concerning his Work I call to mind a speech of one of eminent Note in N. England observing a disposition in men for one man to deifie another and that some of no small note had said they could hardly believe that God would suffer Mr. Cotton to err the Speech was this I fear that God may leave Mr. Cotton to some great error that men may see he is a man c. But concerning his Work the observant Reader will soon discover that whatever Mr. Cottons Stand is yet he most weakly provides himself of very strange Reserves and Retreats to point with the finger at 2 or 3 most frequent and remarkable First when he seems to be overwhelmed with the lamentable and doleful cries of the Souls under the Altar crying out for Vengeance on their Persecutors that dwell upon the Earth He often retreats and professeth to hold no such Doctrin of persecuting the Saints no nor of any for cause of Conscience nor that the Magistrate should draw forth his Sword in matters of Religion When it is urged that through this whole Book he Persecutes or Hunts by name the Idolater the Blasphemer the Heretick the Seducer and that to Death or Banishment and amongst other Expressions useth this for one If there be stones in the streets the Magistrate need not run for a Sword to the Smiths shop nor to the Ropier for an Halter to punish Hereticks c. Mr. Cotton retreats into the Land of Israel and calls up Moses and his Laws against Idolaters Blasphemers Seducers c When he is Challenged and that by his own frequent confession in his Book for producing the Pattern of a National Church when he stands only for a Congregationall for producing that national church of Israel so miraculous so typical as a Copie or Samplar for the Nations and Peoples of the World who have no such miraculous and Typicall respect upon them Mr. Cotton retreats to Moral Equity that the Seducer and he that kills a Soul should die When it is urged that Christ Iesus at his so long typed out coming abolished those National shadowes and erected his Spiritual Kingdom of Israel appinted Spiritual Officers Punishments c. and that those Scriptures Tit. 3 against the Hereticks and Rev. 2. against Baalam and Iezabel prove only a spiritual death and
kingdome of Christ cannot be purged from the leaven of idolatry and superstition Peace Me thinks the Lord Jesus was of another mind Mat. 18. when he accounted it sufficient to cut off the obstinate Let him be as a Gentile or publican and in the very similitude of leaven here used by Master Cotton Paul counted it sufficient to purge out the leaven 1 Cor. 5. if that evil person were put away from the midst of them that is from their holy and spiritual society Paul never asks as Master Cotton doth since we have not to our spiritual armes armes of flesh and a civil sword to help our spiritual how shall the safety of the church be guarded But let 's proceed The third Answer was That the elect cannot be finally deceived Master Cotton replies It is true but God provides meanes of preservation c. And Jezabels tolerating in Thiatira made the church guilty Truth This Argument was not used in derogation of Gods meanes spiritual in spiritual things civil in civil c. but by way of supposition of the worst as Job spake in another case How helpest thou the Arme that hath no strength Not but that in ordinary submission to means man ought to help the Lord against the mighty The sum is this rather let the Lord alone to help himself without meanes then to help the Lord to save his elect who cannot by vertue of his love and decree finally be deceived by any such means as are none of his own appointing 2. It is true that the church at Thyatira tolerating Jezabel to seduce was guilty yea and I add the City of Thiatira was guilty also if it tolerated Iezabel to seduce to fornication But what is this to the point of the issue to wit Whether the City of Thiatria should be guilty or not in tolerating Iezabel in that which the City judgeth to be idolatry and false worship Jezabels corporal whoredoms sinning against civility or state of the City the City by her Officers ought to punish lest civil order be broken and civility be infected c. but Iezabels spiritual whoredomes the civil state ought not to deal with but there being a church of Christ then in Thiatria and the spiritual whoredomes there taught and practised I say the church in Thyatira which in the name and power of Christ was armed sufficiently to pass and inflict a dreadful spiritual censure which God will confirme and ratifie most assuredly and undoubtedly in heaven Peace Two reasons more were alleadged out of the Text. The first was that by plucking up the tares the good wheate it self by such hurries and persecutions about Religion should be indangered to be plucked up which Master Cotton salveth thus to wit If Gods people themselves for their idolatry and superstition should be cut off it will be for warning unto others c. Truth Oh ungodly unchristian that is bloody and Antichristian doctrin by which under pretence of punishing hereticks schisâ—aticks and seditious persons the Son of God the Lord of Lords and King of Kings hath so many millions of times in his servants been persecuted slaine and crucified As for the world it lies in wickedness is a wilderness of sin over-grown with idolatry and superstition The Antichristian falsly called Christian world in most abundant and over-flowing measure hath wondred after and magnified the Beast Rev. 13. The two witnesses prophesie in sackcloth against this beast in all parts of his dominion by whom also they are persecuted and slaine and yet we read not that they judge or censure or fight for themselves with any other weapons then by the word of their prophecie the blood of the Lamb their patient sufferings the not loving of their lives unto the death Peace The second reason out of the parable was That the Angels of God have in charge to bundle up these tares for the burning Master Cotton replies two things First so these Angels will gather into bundles for the burning murtherers robbers c. who are not yet to be tolerated Truth I answer If a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. with respect to civil matters I say the civil state must judge and punish the offender else the civil state cannot stand but must return to barbarisme But if a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. in spirttual matters as deceiving and bewitching the peoples souls if he can prove his charge Master Cotton ought to give God the glory and and repent of such wickedness If he cannot prove his charge but slander Master Cotton yet is the slander of no civil nature and so not proper to any civil court but is to be cast out as we see commonly suits of law are rejected when brought into Courts which take no proper cognizance of such cases Peace What relief then hath Master Cotton or any so charged in this case Truth The court of heaven the church of Christ calls such a slanderer to repentance whether he be within the church or without though orderly proceeding lies only against him that is within If he be obstinate how dreadful is the sentence against such a slanderer both in earth and in heaven how dreadful the delivering up to hardness of heart a greater plague on Pharaoh then all the devouring plagues of Egypt how dreadful the delivering up to Satan the paw and jaw of the roaring Lyon infinitely far more terrible had we eyes to see it then to be thrown with Daniel to the devouring Lyon There is no reason in the world therefore for theeves and murtherers to be tolerated unto the last day without sentence and punishment because transgressors against spiritual state may be tolerated to live in the world yet punished for spiritual transgression with a greater censure and sorer punishment then if all their bones and flesh were rackt and torn in pieces with burning pincers Peace Master Cotton and others will say The idolaters and seducers were censured spiritually under Moses and yet were they also put to death Truth I desire Master Cotton to shew me under Moses such spiritual censures and punishments beside the cutting off by the civil sword which if he cannot do and that since the Christian Church antitypes the Israelitish and the Christian laws and punishments the laws and punishments of Israel concerning religion I may truely affirme that that civil state which may not justly tolerate civil offenders c. yet may most justly tolerate spiritual offenders of whose Delinquency it hath no proper cognizance Peace Lastly Master Cotton urgeth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2. should rather be translated presence then coming Truth Admit it though many able translators in divers languages rather translate it coming and that Antichrist shall not be consumed by the breath of the mouth of the Lord Jesus before his last coming to judgement yet then Master Cotton must give another interpretation of this end of the world and the Angels and
the fire then is usually given however the tares shall be bundled up for the everlasting burnings and are at present under a dreadful sentence and punishment and therefore not offending in civil things the civil state may the better tolerate them in matters of religion and conscience and Paul himself if opposed by them might the better wait with patience if God peradventure will give them repentance c. Examination of CHAP. XXVII Peace IN this Chapter those three particulars by which the Ministers of Christ are commanded to let the Tares alone Master Cotton evades by calling them so many slippery evasions c. Truth I believe neither the interpretations nor the intentions of the Author were evasive for a faithful witness will not lye though a false witness will utter deceit however the fire shall try The truth is the greater part and especially the former of Master Cottons answer in this Chapter comes not neer the point of the issue for that is not whether the Saints may pray or prophecy against idolaters and false worshippers but whether or no for their present temporal destruction and extirpation Perce Unto this Master Cotton saith Yes for the present destruction of some or other Antichristian idolaters in every age and he adds it might as well be said that a Minister of Christ should not denounce present or speedy destruction to any murtherers whoremongers c. because though some of them may fall under grievous plagues yet there will never want a company of such evil doers untill the great harvest or end of the world Againe saith he Though a Minister denounce not present destruction yet he cannot let them alone no more then the feller of an Oake that gives many a stroake before the last c. 2. It is not credible saith he that some of the Angels that poure out their vials upon the Antichristian state shall not be Ministers And when the ten horns shall burn the City of Rome it is not credible that they will do it without some excitement from the Angels Truth The instance brought of murtherers whoremongers c. is most improper because we all agree that present corporal or civil punishment is due to murtherers whoremongers c. and other like transgressors against the civil state of all Nations and peoples all the world over and this in all Ages and Times but Master Cotton himself acknowledgeth that many prophecies and periods are set for the continuance of the Antichristian state and the idolatry and desolations thereof and that those perieds shall be accomplished before the judgement day nor will it appear that those ten Kings that shall in the fulfilling of this prophecy burn the whore shall do it by way of ordinance and obedience to Gods command otherwise then he permitted Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus and other Tyrants of the world as the fishes of the sea one to devoure and swallow up another And for that instance of the wood-man selling of the Oake I grant that the prayers of the Saints hasten the whores downfal and the opening of these prophecies make way for Gods time but what is this to a present downfal before the time appointed Againe That it is not credible but that some of the Angels should be messengers of the Gospel I answer Master Cotton knows that the English word messengers and the Greek word Apostles are the same but no such messengers Master Cotton allows of And that the word messengers in the Apostles sence should imply Pastors and Teachers which Master Cotton now only allows of I finde not in the Testament of Christ Jesus That those Angels should be the witnesses and the Prophets in sackcloth seemes more credible And I may well affirme the contrary to Master Cottons credible that it is incredible that any servant or messenger of the King of Peace should stir up the civil Magistrate to cut off those by the civil sword whose repentance he is bound to wait for with patience bearing in the interim their oppositions and gainsayings 2 Tim. 2. Peace T is most true according to the testimony of Christ Jesus and most contrary to the tenents and practice of the Romish bloody Popes and their followers that Christs Ministers are wisdomes Maidens Prov. 9. sent forth in heavenly Beauty and chastity with meek and loving yet vehement perswasions to call in the foolish of the world to partake of wisdomes dainties but dear truth deliver your minde concerning the last passage to wit Elijahs act in stirring up Ahab to kill all the Priests and prophets of Baal This act saith Master Cotton was not figurative but moral for saith he Ahab could not be a figure of Christ nor Israel after their Apostacie a type of the true Church Beside blasphemers ought to die by the law and Ahab forfeited his own life because he did not put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy 1 Kings 20. Truth Christ Jesus is considered two wayes Christ in his person and Christ mystical in his church represented by the Governors thereof Some say that Israel was not in Ahabs time excommunicated and cut off from Gods sight untill their final carrying out of the land of Canaan 2 Kings 17. and that Israel remained though none of Gods in respect of her apostacy yet Gods in respect of covenant untill the execution of the sentence of excommunication or divorce And therefore that Ahab as King of Israel Gods people untill Israel ceased to be Israel was a figure of Christ that is Christ in his presence in his governors in his church though faln to idolatry under admonition not yet cast off But 2. grant the church false and Ahab King of a false church how will it appear that Elijahs Act was a moral act and so presidential to all Kings and Nations Peace Because saith Master Cotton it is moral equity that blasphemers and apostate idolaters seducing others to idolatry should be put to death Levit. 24. 16. Deut. 13. 5. Truth Those Scriptures concern a ceremonial land in a ceremonial time before Christ and in the same Lev. 24. the command is equally given for the lampe in the Tabernacle and the shew-bread as well as for the idolater Peace But Benhadad saith Master Cotton was no Israelite nor was his blasphemy belched out in the land of Israel Truth It is most true that blasphemers in Israel and blasphemers against Israel and the God of it were put to death It is also true in the antitype and substance since the coming of Christ that blasphemers in Israel and blasphemers against Israel the church of God are spiritually to be put to death by the two-edged sword coming forth of the mouth of Christ Rev. 1. and this Gospel-punishment is much more dreadful and terrible then the punishment of the first blasphemers under Moses or the prephets Peace Methinks also if Ahab were now presidentiall and that which he should have done to Benhadad presidential then is there now no spiritual
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
performed in the whole World and that Ex Officio to wit the Establishing Governing Reforming c. the Church the Spouse and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Peace 2. The Church and Servants of Christ had great hurt notwithstanding M r Cottons contrary beliefe by the Emperours persecuting of whom they judged hereticall partly in that the Arrians were hardned by their sufferings and Arrianisme increased by the sufferings of the professours of it as also that the Christians were more severely persecuted as hath often also come to passe in the Interchanges between the Papist and the Protestant when the Arrians came to weare the Sword and the Orthodox Christians were under Hatches Truth 3. But that the whole World that wonders after and worshippeth the Beast should yet possibly be of the small Number that follow the Lambe and stand opposite to the Beast on Mount Zion That the World upon whom the vialls of plagues and vengeance are to be powred according to the infallible Prophecies not to speak of the World from other Scriptures that this whole World I say should be brought into such an Onenes with Christ Jesus seemes so crosse to the fundamentall Enmitie between Christs Seede and the Serpents to the priviledges of the Saints to the puritie of Christ to the streame of Scripture and in particular to the sweete last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus and the nature of his particular Flocks c. That I cannot wonder sufficiently how any man professing but a small Knowledge of the Mysteries and Kingdome of Christ Jesus should be so vailed so obscured so to write of the state of Christs Church and the World as M r Cotton doth Peace Christ Jesus Blessed Truth gave not thankes to his most holy most wise Father in vaine for hiding from Wise and Prudent and opening to Babes and Sucklings Truth 4. But further Such a Conversion of People from Idolatrie to Christianitie as fits them to be professours of the Sonne of God but yet not fits them for the Fellowship of Christians in Church State I finde not in the Testament of Christ Jesus Surely the Conversion of the Thessalonians was not such 2 Thess 1. Who turned not onely from Idolls but to serve the living and true God which service of God in Christ no Soule uprightly in love with Christ Jesus but in its measure longs after as vehemently and cordially as ever chast Spouse after her dearest earthly Husbands presence and Enjoyment Cant. 1. 3. 5. Peace Gods Spirit in John describes one Difference c. between the true Spirit and Professours and the fâ—â—se to wit that such as acknowledge that is truely as I conceive Christ Jesus to become in the flesh are borne of God Truth Yea therefore consequently such a Spirit cannot be of Jesus that makes such a profession of Christ Jesus as the Devills themselves may make and even for want of Regeneration and Personall Grace the professours are not fit for the Fellowship of the true Christian Worship and Worshippers 5. But lastly if M r Cotton or any of his bloudie Judgement woare the Imperiall Crowne of the Worlds Majestie what slaughters shall we imagine the World should heare and feele Whether would such fierie zeale transport Men Yea what an Earthly Dunghill Religion and Worship should the most High God be served with fit onely for the Dunghill Gods and Goddesses whom all Asiâ— as the Towne-clarke speakes and the World worshippeth Peace If the Report of M r Cottons interpreting that Scripture of Serving God with all our Might c. be true to wit of employing our Civill Armes and Forces to the utmost and that against other Peoples professing Idolatrie and Antichristianisme His Conscience as I conceive must needs force on and presse after an universall Conquest of all Consciences and under that like those bloudie Spaniards Turkes and Popes lay under that faire cloake the Rule and Dominion over all the Nations of the Earth Truth But may not M r Cotton better listen to the voyce of the Lord Jesus saying to him and such of his bloudie Tenent You know not of what Spirit you are of Were the Emperours too favourable as M r Cotton sayth in but Banishing How keene a Sword would M r Cotton draw against so many Millions of Gangreene Soules throughout the Turkish and the Popish World Peace Oh how farre different would M r Cottons Sword be from the Sword of the Spirit of God proceeding from the Mouth of Christ Jesus yet sharpe enough with two edges piercing between Soule and Spirit c. Truth Yea how farre different from the Meeke Spirit of the Lambe of God who came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them yea how different from the former make and noted gentle Temper of M r Cottons own Spirit now over-heat and enflamed by his unmercifull and bloudie Tenent Exam of Chap. 62. replying to Chap. 65. Peace VVHen M r Cotton was justly observed to use the Language of Lyon-like persecution in these words More and greater Princes then these you mention have not tollerated Hereticks and Schismaticks notwithstanding their pretence of Conscience and their arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their suffrings He defendeth such Language by the Scripture Freedome in such Tearmes against Sinners which sayth he the Discusser acknowledgeth Truth In holy Scripture are many Expressions full of Holinesse Gravitie Love Meeknesse c. which yet are wrested by us poore Men to unholy and unchristian Ends and purposes How many wofully pervert many grave and heavenly Passages and Expressions of holy Scripture to base and filthy Jeasting How many from some sharp Expressions of Christ Jesus and Paul in cases take licence to raile and call Men all to naught in Wrath Revenge and Passion And how many out of pride and false zeale trampling upon the Heads and Consciences of all Men are ready not in an holy Meeke and Christian way but in a Pharisaicall Bishop-like and Pope-like way to roare and thunder out against Gods meekest Servants the odious tearmes of Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers c. Which tearmes though used in holy Scripture yet never in such a way as commonly and constantly the bloudie and persecuting expresse themselves in Peace But what or whom meanes M r Cotton in this passage what Language have they learned who in point of worship have left Zion but not the Gates and Suburbes of Babylon for they set up Bull-warkes of Impunitie to secure them Truth Surely M r Cotton knowes that none that plead against the Civill Power and Weapons in Spirituall Matters but they also maintaine that there ought to be in vigorous use the Spirituall and two edged Sword that comes forth of Christs Mouth not for the Impunitie but for the Ruine and Destruction of all Babells â—raâ—s and Abominations Peace M r Cotton spends many lines and quotes Austin to prove that Julians End of tollerating Heresie to grow was to choake
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