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
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
Bloudy Tenents of Persecution Oppression and Violence in the Cause and matters of Conscience and Religion It is a Second Conference of Peace and Truth an Examination of the worthily honoured and beloved Mr. Cottons Reply to a former Conference and Treatise of this Subject And although it concern all Nations which have persecuted and shed the Bloud of Jesus the Bloudie Roman Empire with all the Savage Lyons thereof Emperours and Popes the bloudie Monarchies of Spain and France and the rest of Europs Kingdoms and States which under their several Vizards and Preteness of Service to God have in so many thousands of his Servants Murthered so many thousand times over his dear Son yea although it concern that Bloudie Turkish Monarchy and all the Nations of the World who practise violence to the Conscience of any Christian or Antichristians Jews or Pagans yet it concerns your selves with all due respect otherwise be it spoken in some more eminent degrees Partly as so many of yours of chief note beside Mr. Cotton are engaged in it partly as N. England in respect of Spiritual and Civil State professeth to draw nearer to Christ Jesus then other States and Churches and partly as N. England is believed to hold and practise such a Bloudie Doctrine notwithstanding Mr Cottons Vails and Pretences of not persecuting men for conscience but punishing them only for sinning against conscience and of but so and so not persecuting but punishing Hereticks Blasphemers Idolators Seducers c. It is Mr. Cottons great mistake and forgetfulnesse to charge me with a publick examination of his privat Letter to me whereas in Truth there never passed such Letters between himself and me about this Subject as he alledgeth But the Prisoners Arguments against Persecution with Mr. Cottons Answer thereunto which I examined I say these were unexpectedly and solemnly sent to me as no privat thing with earnest desire of my consideration or Animadversions on them These Agitations between Mr. Cotton and others so sent unto me as also the Model of Church and Civil Power by Gods Providence coming to hand I say they seem'd to me to be of too too Publick a nature And in which my soul not only heard the dolefull cry of the souls under the Altar to the Lord for Vengeance but their earnest sollicitations yea and the command of the Lord Jesus for Vindication of their blouds and lives spilt and destroyed by this Bloudie Tenent though under never so Fair and Glorious Shewes and Colours The most holy and allseeing knowes how bitterly I resent the least difference with Mr. Cotton yea with the least of the followers of Jesus of what conscience or worship soever How mournfully I remember this stroak as I believe on Mr. Cottons eye and the eyes of so many of Gods precious children and servants in these and other parts that those eyes so peircing and heavenly in other holy and precious Truths of God should yet be so over-clouded and bloudshotten in this I grieve I must contest and maintain this contestation with in other respects so dearly beloved and so worthy Adversaries And yet why mention I or respect I man that is but Grass and the children of men that must die whose Brains Eyes and Tongues even the holyest and the highest must shortly sink and rot in their skuls and holes Without remembring therefore who my Adversarie is nor all the Wormwood and the Gall so frequently in Mr. Cottons Reply against me I fully and only level with an upright and single eye the Lord Jesus graciously assisting against that fowl and monstrous bloudie Tenent and Doctrin which hath so slily like the old Serpent the Author of it crept under the shade and shelter of Mr. Cottons Patronage and Protection My end is to discover and proclaim the crying and horrible guilt of the bloudie Doctrin as one of the most Seditious Destructive Blasphemous and Bloudiest in any or in all the Nations of the World notwithstanding the many fine Vails Pretences and Colours of not persecuting Christ Jesus but Hereticks not Gods Truth or Servants but Blasphemers Seducers not Persecuting men for their Conscience but for sinning against their Conscience c. My end is to perswade Gods Judah especially to wash their hands from Bloud to cleanse their hearts and wayes from such Vnchristian practices toward all that is man capable of a Religion and a Conscience but most of all toward Christ Jesus who cries out as he did to Saul in the sufferings of the least of his Servants Old England Old England New England New England King King Parliaments Parliaments General Courts General Courts Presbyterians Presbyterians Independents Independents c. Why persecute you me It is hard for you to kick against the Pricks My end is to prepare the Servants and Witnesses of Jesus what Truth soever of his they testifie for that great and general and most dreadfull slaughter of the witnesses which I cannot but humbly fear and almost believe is near approaching and will be Vshered in provoak'd and hastned by the preud security worldly pomp fleshly confidence and bloudy violences of Gods own children wofully exercised each against other and so rendred wofully ripe for such an Vniversal and dreadfull Storm and Tempest My end and scope is to put a Christian barr and just and merciful Spoaks in the wheels of such zealous reforming Jehues who under the Vizard and Name of Baals Priests may possibly be induced to account it good service unto God to kill and burn his precious Servants My end is that the greatest Sons of Bloud the Papists may know when ever as the Saints in Queen Maries days confessed when ever it shall please the jealous God for the sins of his Saints to turn the Wheels of his most deep and holy Providences and to give the Power to the Paw of the Beast against his Saints and Truths for their last dreadfull slaughter as Daniel and John do clearly seem to tell us I say those Sons of Bloud the bloudie Papists may know that their bloudy Doctrin of persecution was disclaimed by some whom they call Sectaries That equall and impartiall favour was pleaded to the Catholicks as wel as to their own or other mens Souls and Consciences And that if that great Whore shall yet proceed not only to drink the wine of their carnal Jollitie in the Bowles of the holy Ordinances of Christs Temple and Sanctuary but also to drink more drunk in the bloud of his Saints and witnesses This Testimony may stand as a Character of Bloud fixed by the hand of Gods eternal Truth and Peace upon the Gates of their bloudie Courts and upon the forehead of their bloudie Judges who under what pretence soever hunt and persecute the Souls and Consciences of any Child of God or Man My truly honoured and beloved Countrimen vouchsafe me I beseech you that humane and Christian Libertie to say that I fear your Spirits are
cutting off from Christ Jesus his holy land of life and peace his church kingdom Mr. Cotton retreats and confesseth Christs Kingdom is spiritual not national but congregational and that those Scriptures hold forth a Spiritual cutting off and he so produceth them to prove the heretick so to be cut off alledging that the question was put in general tearms that he knew not what Persecution should be intended and that an unjust excommunication is as sore a persecution as an unjust banishment When he is urged with the nature of the consciences even of all men to God or Gods in their worships he professeth that he is wronged that he doth not hold that any man should be persecuted for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience When al the consciences in the world cry out against him for setting up the civil power officers and Courts of civil Iustice to judg of the conviction of mens souls and consciences Mr. Cotton retreats to his last refuge and saith that although this be the duty of all the Magistrates in the world yet not any of them must meddle to punish in Religion untill they be informed which is upon the point untill he is sure they will draw their swords for his Conscience Church c. against all other as heretical blasphemous The monstrous Partiality of such suspending c. of hanging up all the Magistrates in the world except a few of his own perswasion and that from so principall and main a part of their Office and that so many thousands in the Nations of the world all the world over and that constantly and perpetually all their dayes If it please the most jealous and righteous God to hide it I say the monstrousnesse of such a Suspension from Mr. Cottons eyes yet thousand and ten thousands will behold and wonder at it But fearing to exceed in discourse at dore let every mercifull and compassionate Reader freely enter in and search the in most Rooms and Closets If thou truly love the Truth and Peace thou art too neer of kin to the Prince of Peace and Truth it self long to escape the Hunters If the fourty two moneths of the Beasts reign and the two hundred and threescore dayes of the prophesie of the Witnesses of Jesus in Sackcloth be expired yet I fear the three dayes and a halfe of the greatest slaughter of the Witnesses is not over Yet fear not what must be suffered although the Devill cast not onely some but all Christs Witnesses into Prison yea although he murther and fling out the Karkasses of the Saints to shame and injury yet the mighty Spirit of God will raise them on their feet again and into heavenly glory out of this shame shall they ascend in the sight of their bloody enemies How many and how various are the Disputings c. about what should be this three dayes and a halfes calamity How many hope this storm is over how many fear it is now a breeding Yet why should we fear so short a draught though of a bitter Cup when tempered by the gracious hand of an Heavenly Father begun by so dear an Elder Brother so sweet a Saviour The Revelations of John and the Revelations of Gods wonderfull Providences seem to proclaim wonderfull and dreadfull Discoveries of the Son of God approaching And it is as sure as that there is a Lord Jesus Christ that God will subdue all his enemies that he will shortly break and make all his followers tread on the proudest Necks born up this day in the world even the grandest Seigniories of the Turkish and Popish Empires the two so mighty opposers of the Son of God And it is not improbable both their ruines and downfall must be from some top and pinacle of glorious prosperity and furious outrage against their Antichristian and Christian enemies The chiefest European enemies of the All devouring Turk though all that bear the name of Christ are his enemies are more especially the Pope the Emperour the King of Spain and the Venetians by whom Christ Jesus probably will dash that mighty Empire into pieces as he seems to have prophesied of old by his servant Daniel yet probably as I said before this downfall must be from some more eminent height of Turkish bloody pride and glory which that blasphemous and bloody Monarchy shall immediatly before attain unto The sorest enemies of the Roman Popes are the witnesses of the Truths of Jesus whom he hath not left himself without during the 42 moneths of the reign of this mighty and dreadfull Beast Against these blessed followers of the Lamb must probably the rage of this bloody Beast rise high in that his great slaughter of them and triumph three days and an half over them Rev. 11. and this not long before his own eternall downfall Many have been the Interpretations of that prophesie and some late Applications of the witnesses and Time to particular persons and Times of late But with all due respect to the Apprehensions of any studious of the truth of Jesus I conceive the matter is of a more generall consideration For in all that world over that wondred after the Beast hath Christ Jesus raised up a Generation or kind of Witnesses bearing testimony against him This witnesse more or lesse to the severall Truths of Jesus he hath been pleased to maintain before and since Luthers time especially The finishing of the Testimony must probably be generall not only in England but in the rest of the Protestant Nations which finishing of the witnesse probably wil consist in the matters of the purity of his worship and the Government of the Lord Jesus in his own holy Appointments and Institutions The slaughter of these witnesses must also probably be generall and in the three dayes and half triumph over them generall upon which follows that most glorious and generall rising of the witnesses unto their glory promised Rev. 11. I confess in this plea for freedom to all Consciences in matters meerly of worship I have impartially pleaded for the freedom of the consciences of the Papists themselves the greatest enemies and persecutors in Europe of the Saints and Truths of Jesus Yet I have pleaded for no more then is their due and right and what ever else shall be the Consequent it shall stand for a monument and testimony against them and be an aggravation of their former present or future cruelties against Christ Jesus the Head and all that uprightly love him his true Disciples and Followers It is true I have not satisfaction in the clear discovery of those holy Prophesies Periods set down and prefixed by the holy Spirit in Daniel John c. concerning the Kingdom of Christ Jesus Yet two things I professe in the holy presence of God Angels and Men. First my humble Desires and Resolution the Lord assisting to contend for the true and visible worship of the true and living God according to the
Institution and Appointment of the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus 2. I beleeve and profess that such persons such Churches are got neerest to Christ Jesus on whose forehead are written these blessed characters of the true Lord Jesus Christ First content with a poor and low condition in worldly things 2. An holy cleansing from the filthines of false worships and worldly conversations 3. An humble and constant endeavour to attain in their simplicity purity to the Ordinances and appointments of Christ Iesus 4. Are so far from smiting killing and wounding the Opposites of their profession and worship that they resolve themselves patiently to bear and carry the Cross and Gallows of their Lord and Master and patiently to suffer with him In the number of such his poor servants who as unfeignedly desire notwithstanding my plea against Persecutors and Persecution I say as unfeignedly desire to suffer as cheerfully with Christ Iesus as gloriously to reign with him desires to be Thine unfeigned though unworthiest of all the Followers of IESUS Roger Williams The Bloody Tenent yet more Bloody By Master Cottons attempting to wash it with the Blood of the Lambe Examination of CHAP. I. Truth BLest be the God of truth and peace sweet peace that once againe we finde a corner and a few hours to entertaine our sweet embraces and discourses about that Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of conscience Peace It is indeed Jehovah's work and it is marvellous in our eyes that ' midst this worlds combustions such a corner and such hours are found Truth Dear friends the longer absent meet the sweeter and have cause to spend each minute to his praise who wonders works and this not the least that we two see each others face at all in these tempestuous dayes and vale of tears How harshly were our last conferrings entertained by some How were our selves suspected and traduced for counterfeits and our pious and peaceable Meditations cruelly condemned to the devouring flames Truth That ever was our portion ever since the earthen pots arose against their glorious Potter and no better lot we must expect while the time doth last that is determined Peace Mean while t is yet our lamentation that so many of our darlings whom we have tendred as our eyes have both in Print and Pulpit cried out against us and amongst the rest one of thy dearest eldest children too too worthy to be the defender of the Bloody Tenent of Persecution Truth Our love shall cover his shame and nakedness and our wisdoms pity his heavy labour Blackamore-washings and so great expence of precious time and spirit in labouring to wash this so deeply bloody and Blackamore Tenent in the blood of the Lamb of God Peace So parents and true friends love and pity theirs though sick though froward and distracted and let our Bowels yearne over him who teares out ours who knows but once before he sleep his last in the pit of rottenness he may awake and give glory to the God of peace and truth of patience and long suffering whose thoughts whose wayes whose love whose pity hath no bounds nor limits toward them whom he hath loved before the worlds foundation O let these blessed buds of hope and sweet desires dear Truth put forth in pious fruits of renewed endeavors and let me once againe prefer my suit for your impartial weighing of what replies objections pleadings he hath brought against us Truth For the God of Peace for the Prince of Peace his sake yea for his servants sake for Zions sake I will not be silent and know at last I shall prevaile to scatter and dispell the mists and fogs that for a while arise to cloud and choak us Peace First then what cause should move this so able a defendant to leap over all our first addresses both to the high Court of Parliament and to every Reader and what may be conjectured why himself directs a word to neither in this controversie Truth I desire my Rejoynder may be as full of love as truth yet some say Master Cotton is wise and knows in what door the wind blows of late he is not ignorant what sad complaints in letters printings conferences so many of Gods people and of his own conscience and judgement of Independency have poured forth against New Englands persecuting c. He knows what Bars New Englands bloody Tenent and practice may put to his brethrens just desires and suits for moderation and toleration to non-conforming consciences T is true his conscience and the credit of his way compels his reply but the times advise him with as little noise as may be and it seems with no great willingness that that high and searching house of Englands Parliament should search and scan his Meditations Peace Well if the name of God were truely called upon them and as his title intimateth the great controversies of these present times are herein handled If all that is here presented be truly practised and he desire to buy and sell by one measure and to be no otherwaies measured unto then he measureth unto others why should not that renowned Court be more particularly and expresly attended with so high and needful examinations But now enough of that I long to see that weighed which is presented take up those holy weights of thine which may faithfully discover how light or ponderous each parcel is in Gods most holy presence Master Cotton first complaines against the publishing of his private letter with an Answer thereunto he faulteth the discusser for punishing his conscience against the discussers own Tenent of liberty of conscience for breach of rule in first publishing to the world before private admonition and telling the Church Truth How justly may I begin with the defenders own conclusion of this first Chapter He that setteth forth of his way in the first entrance of his journey no marvel if he wander all the day after For First the discusser never wrote any such letter to Master Cotton as Master Cotton so often affirms and mentioneth throughout his Book The like mistake he fals into in some other passages which shall be gently toucht at and passed by as the failing of memory Peace It is often seen that small matters in the first steps and entrance of a business prove ominous and although love bids us lay the blame on memory yet since Nil sine providentia Deus est maximus in minimis and not a Sparow nor a Haire fals without him methinks such a stumble in the threshold should have one sad consideration in Master Cottons brest so long as he resides in the chamber of this discourse Truth To my knowledge there was no such letter or intercourse passed between Master Cotton and the discusser but what I have heard is This One Master Hall of Roxbury presented the prisoners Arguments against persecution to Master Cotton who gave this present controverted Answer with the which Master
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
c. and it is just to preserve the Society of the church as well as any other Society Truth When we speak of the balances of Justice we must distinguish between the Balances of the Sanctuary and the Balances of the World or civil States It is spiritual justice to preserve spiritual right and for that end the spiritual King thereof hath taken care It is civil Justice to preserve the civil rights and the Rights of a civil society ought justly to be preserved by a civil State and yet if a company of men combine themselves into a civil society by voluntary agreement and voluntarily dissolve it it is not justice to force them to continue together Peace The church can least of all be forced for as it is a spiritual society and not subject to any civil Judicature though some say that a church in New England was cited to appear before a civil Court so is the combination of it voluntary and the dissolution of it in part or whole is voluntary and endures no Civil violence but as a virgin in point of marriage nec cogit nec cogitur she forceth not nor can be forced by any civil power Truth But lastly if it be justice to preserve the Society of the church is it not partiality in a meer civil State to preserve one onely society and not the persons of other Religious societies and consciences also But the Truth is this mingling of the church and the world together and their orders and societies together doth plainly discover that such churches were never called out from the world and that this is only a secret policy of flesh and blood to get protection from the world and so to keep with some little stilling of conscience from the Cross or Gallowes of Jesus Christ Truth Yea but hear saith Master Cotton those excellent penmen of the Spirit both the Father and the Son David and Solomon First David Psalme 122 They shall prosper that love the peace of Jerusalem and Solomon Where the righteous rejoyce there is great glory Prov. 28. Now saith he what is the church but a congregation of righteous men If the rejoycing of the Church be the glory of a Nation surely the disturbing and destroying and dissolving the church is the shame and confusion of a Nation Truth The outward prosperity of a Nation was a typical figurative blessing of that national and figurative church of Israel in Canaan It is now made good spiritually to them that love the spiritual Jerusalem for though godliness hath a promise of things of this life convenient yet persecution is the common and ordinary portion of the Saints under the Gospel thoughâ— that cup be infinitely sweetned also to them that drink of it with Christ Jesus by the measure and increase of a hundred fold for one even with persecution in this life 2. It is true the rejoycing of a Church of Christ is the glory of any Nation and the contrary a shame yet this proveth not that God vouchsafeth to no state civil peace and temporal glory except it establish and keep up a Church of Christ by force of armes for the contrary we have mentioned and Master Cotton confesseth the flourishing of States ignorant of Christ from Age to Age yea and as I have mentioned even to two thousand yeers in Athens six generations before it heard of Christ and fourteen generations since with the sprinking for some time of the knowledge of Christ Jesus in it Peace 2. But consider saith Master Cotton the excellency and preheminence of the church that the world is for it and would not subsist but for it c. Truth T is true glorious things are spoken of the City of God c. yet for many Ages together Master Cotton confesseth the Nations of the world may subsist flourish without it and though it be the duty of the Nations of the world to countenance and cherish the church of Christ yet where is there any commission either in the New or Old Testament that the Nations of the world should be the judges governors and defenders of Christ Iesus his spiritual kingdome and so bound to take up Armes and smite with the civil sword among so many pretenders for that which they believe to be the church of Christ Peace 3. saith he It is matter of just displeasure to God and sad grief of heart to the church when civil states looke at the state of the church as of little or no concernment to themselves Zech. 1. 19. Lam. 1. 13. Truth Grant this and that the most jealous God will awake in his season for these sins and for the persecutions idolatries and blasphemies which the Nations live in yet what is this for warrant to the Nations as before to judge and rule the church of Christ yea and under the colour of defending Christs faith and preserving Christs church pure to tear Christ out of heaven by persecuting of his Saints on earth and to fire the world with devouring flames of bloody wars and this onely for the sweet sake of the prince of peace Peace Dear Truth we are now upon an high point and that which neerly concerns my self the peace of the world and the Nations of it Master Cotton saith further God winketh at the Nations in the time of their ignorance and suffers the Nation to flourish many hundred yeers together as did the Empire of Rome yet when the church of Christ comes to be planted amongst them then as he brought the Turkes upon the Romans for their persecuting the church and not preserving it in purity so consequently will he do unto the Nations of the world Truth I answer the most righteous Judge of the whole world hath plauged the Nations of the world both before Christs coming and since for their pride and cruelty against his people for their idolateries blasphemies c. Yet Master Cotton acknowledgeth that many states have flourished many hundred yeers together when no true church of Christ hath been found in them and Master Cotton will never prove that God ever commanded the Nations and governments of the world to gather or constitute his churches and to preserve them in purity For God gave his ordinances both before and since Christ to his people onely whom he chuseth and calleth out of the World and the Nations of it and he hath punished and dissolved them for their obstinate neglect thereof And for the Roman Empire and the Emperors thereof the Christian Religion and the purity thereof never lost so much as when the Emperors were perswaded of Master Cottons bloody Tenent as Master Cotton and all men seen in History and Christianity must confess Peace But further although saith Master Cotton the peace of the church be a spiritual inward peace yet there is an outward peace of the church due to them from Princes and Magistrates in a way of godliness and honesty 1 Tim. 2. But in a way of ungodliness and
idolatry it is an wholesome faithfulness to the church if Princes trouble the outward peace of the church that so the church finding themselves wounded and pricked in the house of their friends they may repent and return to their first husband Zech. 13. Hof 2. Truth The peace of the Church is not only inward between God and themselves but as the Argument importeth to which Master Cotton answereth the peace of the Church external and outward is spiritual essentially differing from the peace of the civil state which is meerly civil and humane When the peace of the churches Antioch Corinth Galatia was disturbed by spiritual oppositions the Lord never sent his Saints for civil help to maintaine their spirituall peace though the Lord did send Paul to the higher civil powers to preserve his civil peace when he was molested and oppressed by the Jews and Romans 2. For that place of Timothy though I have fully spoken to it in this discourse elswhere yet this now It proves not because the church must pray for civil Rulers that so they may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty that therefore civil rulers are supream rulers and judges Ecclesiastical next unto Christ Jesus of what is godliness holiness c. since God hath chosen few wise or noble to know godliness And although it is true that Gods end of vouchsafing peace and quietness is that his Churches might walk in his fear and in the wayes of godliness yet it doth not hence follow that Magistrates were the causes of the Churches walking in the fear of God and being edified but only of enjoying Rest from Persecution Act. 9. 3. Although Gods chastisement call to repentance and although the false Prophet in the church of Israel was to be wounded and slaine as they are now to be cut off spiritually from the church of spiritual Israel yet was it so in all the other Nations of the world Or did Christ Iesus appoint it to be so in all the Nations of the world since his coming which is the great question in difference 4. And indeed what is this but to add coals to coals and wood to fire to teach the Nations of the world to be briars and thorns butchers and tormentors to the Lilies and Lambes of the most holy and innocent Lamb of God Christ Iesus Peace But God saith Master Cotton cut Israel short in their civil state or Nation when they cut short their reformation 1 King 10. Truth Master Cotton elswhere denying a National church which is bounded with natural and earthly limits it is a wonder how he can apply that instance of National Israel to the now spiritual Nation and Israel of God May he not as well promise earthly peace and prosperity then most to abound to Gods people when they most prosper and flourish in holiness zeal c. The contrary whereof to wit persecution is most evident in all the New Testament and all mens new and fresh experience Peace To end this Chapter Master Cotton affirmes that civil peace to speak properly is not only a peace in civil things for the object but the peace of all the persons in the City for the subject The church is one society in the City as well as the society of Merchants Drapers c. And if it be civil justice to protect one then the other also Truth Civil peace will never be proved to be the peace of all the subjects or Citizens of a City in spiritual Things The civil state may bring into order make orders preserve in civil order all her members But who ordained that either the spiritual estate should bring in and force the civil state to keep civil order oâ— that the civil state should sit judge and force any of her subjects to keep spiritual order The true and living God is the God of order spiritual civil and natural Natural is the same ever and perpetual civil alters according to the constitutions of peoples and nations spiritual he hath changed from the national in one figurative-land of Canaan to particular and congregational churches all the world over which order spiritual natural or civil to confound and abrogate is to exalt mans folly against the most holy and incomprehensible wisdome of God c. Examination of CHAP. VII Peace IN his description of Arrogancy and impetuousness Master Cotton tels us that he that refuseth to subject his Spirit to the Spirit of the prophets that shall oppose such as dissent with clubs swords and censorious reproaches or reject communion with the church c. his practise tends to the disturbing of civil or church-peace or both Truth It is a fallacious mingling of clubs swords reproaches c. with refusing to submit to the Spirit of prophecie in the Prophets and rejecting of communion c. For a man may out of true and upright conscience to God as Master Cotton will not deny refuse to submit to a whole true church having the Truth of God on his side and may withdraw from communion with a church obstinate in sin and this without breach of civil peace and therefore the mingling or confounding of these spiritual resistances or disturbances with guns swords c. is a mingling and confounding of heaven and earth together 2. In that he saith these wayes tend to the disturbance of either civil or church-peace or both he speakes too like the doubtful oracles of Apollo which will be true however the event fall out but yet he toucheth not the Truth of the question which concernes civil peace only against the disturbers of which I grant the civil powers to be armed with a civil sword not in vaine and concerning which divers cases were propounded of seeming Arrogance and impetuousness in Gods servants and yet they fell not justly under any censure of breach of civil peace Peace T is true saith Master Cotton because they were not wayes of Arrogance not Impetuousness Truth But will Master Cotton give way that any conscience but his own may freely preach and dispute against the state-religion freely reprove the highest in sharpest language for matter of religion refuse conformity to the common established religion and worship disclaime subjection to the civil powers in spiritual cases preach against the common policy and seeming wisdome of the State even to a seeming hazarding of all and lastly occasion great tumults and uproars which were the six cases alleadged If Master Cotton granteth this freedome to other consciences beside his own why preacheth he persecution against such a liberty which other consciences beside his own believe they justly challenge If to no other conscience then his own it is not his saying ten thousand times that his conscience is true and others false nor any other distinction in the world can clear him from most unrighteous and unchristian partiality Examination of CHAP. VIII Peace IN this Chapter dear Truth lies a charge concerning thy self For whereas thou answerest
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
four sorts Jews Turkes Pagans and Antichristians are full of blasphemy and idolatry Now in case rhey seduce not they are to be persecuted as idolaters and blasphemers how then are they to be tolerated Peace It could not be had not this holy man been catcht with sipping at the bloody cup of the great whore that Master Cottons affirmations and doctrines should thus quarrel among themselves But further I see not the equality of his yoaking the Oxe and the Asse together when he further coupleth seducing of people into worship of false Gods confidence of a mans own merit c. which are spiritual matters with seducing into seditions conspiracies against the lives and estates of such Princes as will not submit their conscience to the Bishop of Rome Truth Your observation dear peace is seasonable the former are meer Religious and spiritual the latter are meerly civil against which the civil state is bound to defend it self with civil weapons Peace In the next place Master Cotton chargeth the discusser with want of reason truth and candor for observing how unfitly those Scriptures of Phil. 3. Rom. 14. are produced to prove a tolleration of lesser errors And he affirmes that he never intended that what the Churches might not tolerate the Cities might not c. Truth The point is tolerating or persecuting by the civil state whatever therefore be Master Cottons intentions it is apparant unless the Cities and Churches of Rome and Philippi be confounded together as commonly they are in case of persecution I say it is then apparent that there is no Scripture brought for the civil state its tolerating of points of lesser moment nor are these Scriptures brought to any purpose in hand but prophaned Peace But observe his Argument The civil state tollerates petty theeves and lyers to live in Towns Cities c. Truth No well ordered State or City can suffer petty Theeves and lyers without some punishment and we know how severely in the State of England even theeves have been punished even with death it self but Master Cotton is against such cruelty for he pleades for tollerating of lesser errors even in points of Religion and worship 2. If tollerating of lesser errours be granted upon this ground viz. till God may be pleased to manifest his truth is not the same a ground for tollerating of greater as the holy spirit of God argues 2 Tim. 2. trying if God may be pleased to give repentance Peace Yea but saith he the greater will infect and so is more dangerous and the tolleration is the more unmerciful and cruel to the souls of many Truth Lyars and Theeves infect also even the Civil state and a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe and therefore as the Commonweal ought not upon that ground to tollerate petty theeves and lyars so hath Christ Jesus provided in his holy kingdom and City against lesser evils and upon this ground that a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe But yet Christ Jesus hath not spoken where he gives command for this thing to the Corinthians or Galatians that such persons so leavened should together with their being put out of the Church for obstinacy in a little leaven be put out of the world or civil state The one the Church being his Garden the other the Commonweal being the high wayes Field c. the proper place for men as men to abide in Examination of CHAP. XVII Peace COncerning the holding forth of errour with an arrogant and boysterous spirit to the disturbance of civil peace Master Cotton moderates the matter that he would not have such put to death unless the civil peace be destroyed to the destruction of the lives and souls of men Truth I cannot but here first observe the confounding of heaven and earth together the Church and the world lives and souls c. as if all were of one nature 2. Neither blessed Paul nor I need to be accused of cruelty in that grant of Paul if alleadged Acts 25. for there will not be found ought but a willingness to bear a righteous sentence of death in some crimes committed against the civil state 3. Master Cotton may here observe how justly as he speaks of the heretick he condemnes himself for it is too bloody a Tenent saith he that every man that holdeth errour in a boysterous and arrogant way to the disturbance of civil peace ought to be punished with death Is not this the whole scope of his discourse from Deut. 13. and other abrogated repealed laws to prove what was just and righteous in the land of Israel so bloody a Tenent and course to be inforced in all Nations all the world over Peace Master Cotton excepteth against that speech But if the matter be of a spiritual or divine nature There is no error saith he can be of divine nature though it may be spiritual Truth Master Cotton may hear Solomon here saying unto him Be not overwise c. For first the words are not If the errour be of a divine nature but if the matter that is the controversie cause c. be of a spiritual or divine nature which distinction between humane and divine things I conceive is the same with that of wisdome it self dividing between God and Caesar Give to God c. And so though no errour be of a spiritual or divine nature taking the words in their highth yet the matter in question may be of some spiritual or divine consideration belonging to God and his worship and not concerning the Commonweal or Civil state of men which belong to Caesars care 2. Taking spiritual as it is used sometimes in the holy Scripture as opposite to flesh and blood I see no ground for that distinction between spiritual and divine God is a spirit and the spiritual man discerneth All things In such places and their like to my understanding spiritual and divine are the same thing Peace But I marvel at the next passage how can Master Cotton with any colour of reason or charity conceive the discusser so reasonless and senceless as to intend by these words Such onely break the Cities or Kingdomes peace as call for prison and sword against hereticks as if as Master Cotton infers and saith that murtherers seditious persons rebels traitors were none of them such viz. Peace-breakers Truth This word onely can onely have a faire respect to such as are charged by their opinions of Religion and worship to break the Peace of the Commonweale who of what conscience soever they are may freely enjoy their conscience and worship either of many and false Gods or of the true God in a false way and yet not be guilty of the breach of civil peace but onely they I say they onely in this consideration who by their doctrine and practice cry out for prison and fire and sword against hereticks c. Peace As the devil appeared an Angel of light in Samuels mantle So John Hus and Jerome
he meaneth such as manifestly openly visibly walk in the true profession of Christianity and such as openly and visibly walk in the lyes of false and Antichristian doctrine and worship That distinction of secret and open Hypocrisie is seasonable secret implies such a dissimulation as may lie hid under the true outward profession of Christ Jesus as in Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira c. Open hypocrisie implies the profession of the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God or over the Temple of God pretending the Name of Christ and yet apparantly and visibly false and counterfeit and but pretending when such pretences and shewes are brought to the Touchstone of true Christianity Peace Your observation is true as also a second That these hypocritical doctrines and practices are to be tollerated to the end of the world this he sets down in general not instancing in particular what doctrine and practises are to be tollerated and on the other hand the whole drift of his Booke maintaineth that such persons doctrines or practices that are idolatrous or blasphemous or infectious are not to be tollerated or permitted at all which passages to my understanding have not harmony among themselves For what is all the whole Religion of every Antichrist but a Mass or Chaos of Hypocrisie Idolatry Heresie Blasphemy Poysons c. Besides Master Cotton had dealt more plainly with this holy Scripture if he had explained what he meant by such doctrines and practises comming neer the truth and set down the bounds how neer as to make them Tares Truth Dear Peace Who knows not that the weeds of the wilderness come neer the flowers of the Garden the counterfeit may come neer the life and the false mettal the true gold And though it be true that some doctrines and practices be not so gross as other yet they differ but as the Scripture speaks as whores and whoremongers amongst themselves some are more proper and fine and young and painted some are old deformed c. And yet the finest weeds counterfeits and whores are unsufferable in the Garden in the Commonweale house and bed of Christ Though yet in the civil Commonweale the vilest spiritual strumpet may challenge a civil Being if in civil things unreproveable Examination of CHAP. XIX Peace BUt in this Chapter Master Cotton in the issue granteth that the Tares signifie persons by Christs own interpretation For them that do iniquity may seem to be an explanation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All scandals that is persons holding forth of scandalous and corrupt doctrines and practices like unto true and sound Truth Yet withall he chargeth the discusser with lightness and inconstancy for endeavouring to prove that corrupt doctrines and practices are not to be tollerated and yet saith he the discusser pleades that such persons ought to be tollerated Whereas the discusser twice in this Chapter expresly distinguisheth between toleration in the Church and tolleration in the world and affirmeth that although the Church of Christ Jesus cannot tollerate either persons or practices which are false and Antichristian yet the civil state the world ought to tolerate and permit both And therefore Master Cottons inconsiderate charge of contradiction will not stick because of those divers respects or States the spiritual and civil as it was no contradiction in Christ Iesus to affirme that Iohn Baptist was Elias when Iohn himself affirmeth that he was not Elias For in several respects the Negative of John and the Affirmative of Jesus were both true Examination of CHAP. XX. Peace IN this passage to my understanding Master Cotton after much seeming contestation and disagreement yet in conclusion he shakes hands and agrees with the discusser in the maine point in question Truth Your observation reacheth home for let it be granted that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should not signifie All weeds sprung up with the wheat but one kind of weed and that in special which Master Cotton saith Dioscorides describeth Let it be granted to be the same with Lolium and that there is a great similitude between the Tares and the Wheat while they are in the blade some of which particulars are controversial yet it no way opposeth that which the discusser maintaineth to wit the easiness of discerning these tares to be tares when they are grown up to blade and fruit And therefore Master Cotton at the last confesseth that even these tares unknown hypocrites according to his own exposition ought to be suffered in the church of Christ to the harvest or end of the world Peace I cannot but wonder how Master Cotton should once imagine that it might possibly stand with the order piety and safety of the profession of Christ Jesus that such a generation of known hypocrites should be perpetually suffered Truth Doubtless the Lord Jesus was not of Master Cottons minde who so vehemently warned his followers to take heed of the leaven of hypocrisie Beside if known hypocrites may be suffered and not cast out Why may not known hypocrites be taken in And what is then become of the true matter of the church to wit true living stones of a spiritual life and nature so far as outwardly can be discerned Peace This assertion hath so foule a representation that Master Cotton is forced to draw this vaile over and therefore he adds untill the fruits of hypocrites grow notoriously scandalous Truth I cannot fathom how these two agree First known hypocrites may be tolerated untill the worlds end 2. Tolerated no longer then untill the fruits of the hypocrisie grow notoriously scandalous For will not all reason and experience ask this question How comes it that this friend subject and Spouse of Christ is now a known dissembler traitor whore unless by some scandalous fruits so declaring and uncasing of them If the shameful fruits of the unclean person 1 Cor. 5. were sufficient to denominate him a wicked person why were they not sufficient to warrant Paul to say Put away therefore that wicked person from amongst you Peace But let us mind the Scripture quoted If saith Master Cotton foolish Virgins be cast out of the church the wise Virgins may be found sometimes sleeping as well as they Truth Neither good wheate nor wise Virgins are to be cast out of the church of Christ while they appear to be so yet since Master Cotton elsewhere grants that a child of God good wheat and a wise Virgin may so stand out against the church of Christ in some passion that he may be cast out c. How much more then ought the tares and foolish Virgins while so appearing be excluded 2. If the wise Virgins be received into heaven as the foolish shut out will it not evidently follow even the contrary to that for which Master Cotton alleadgeth this Scripture to wit That when hypocrites are discovered they are to be kept out and consequently to be cast out of the church of Christ except Master
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
such members as are visibly foolish Virgins goats c. Peace Master Cottons second answer is that if the Field be the world as the tares Antichristians and false Christians yet they were first sown in the field of the church Truth Not so for although there might be many infirmities and distempers yea some great corruptions in the first Christian body the church of Christ notwithstanding that Antichrist is an Apostate yet it will not follow that the tares were first sown in the true church because Sathan might easily raise up some professors of the name of Christ which the true church would never admit And as Sathan might raise up persons congregations worships which were not according to Christ So might he easily raise up churches congregations and societies of such tares with whom the churches of Christ might refuse society So saith John There are many Antichrists whom yet we cannot well imagine that they were in the churches of the Lord Jesus There came false Apostles to the Church at Ephesus but yet that church examined and found them lyars And so long as the churches were watchful those tares kept in the world But when the churches began to be sleepy the Tares might undiscerned creep into the church This may be as well as when Apostates fall off from the church go out from it because they were never of it and also as well as that the church of Christ may drowzily neglect to purge out the old leaven of persons and things which may soon overspread and over-run the whole lumpe and garden of the church of Christ untill it be turned againe into one common field of the world together Peace Master Cottons third answer is That Antichristians must not be tolerated unto the end of the world because God will put it into the heart of faithful princes to hate the whore and after that we read of a visible state of New Jerusalem before the end of the world Rev. 20. 21 22. Truth It is not said that those princes that shall hate the whore shall be faithful princes and since Master Cotton seems to hold that by way of ordinance and so in obedience the Kings of the earth shall with the sword destroy Antichrist I desire his proof for any such prophecy For 1. It is not said that God will put it into their hearts to hate the whore And we finde that they shall hate the lambe as well as hate the whore For they shall make war with the lambe and the lamb shall overcome them as comes to pass after the ruine of the whoâ—e Rev. 19. 2. Judgement may be executed upon the whore by way of mutual judgement each upon others when in the midst of their spiritual whoredoms and drunkenness with the Saints blood they shall fall out with the whore as useth to be in whoredome and turn their whorish loves into outragious fury and the very description of their fury looks this way for it is not the property of sober and faithful men though repenting of their whoredoms to make a woman naked though a whore and to eat her flesh as it is said those shall do But grant as we most hopefully do the whores consumption by the ten hornes of the Beast and the flourishing of new Jerusalem upon the earth Rev. 20. 21 22. before the end of the world all which are great disputes among the people of God yet I judge it necessary that two or three queries be satisfied for the further clearing of the holy minde of the Lord in this particular 1. Whether as some have and do argue the end of the world in this Parable and other Scriptures do expresly and undeniably signifie the end of the world and judgement-day literally and not some other mystical period of time since the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usually translated world is of various signification and sometimes signifies and Age. 2. Whether those ten Kings which shall destroy the whore shall be absolutely Christian true Saints followers of Jesus they and their Armies or else remaining Antichristian hornes of the Beast shall yet execute the judgement of God upon the great whore as Jehu remaining both hypocritical and idolatrous yet dashe out the braines of that great whore Iezabel and executed judgement upon Baals Priests yea and even as Henry the eighth tumbled the Pope out of his chaire in England and thousands of his Popelings with him he supprest and threw the whore Iezabel the church of Rome out of Englands window and yet continued to burn the Saints of Iesus upon his six Popish and bloody Articles 3. Whether that mighty Army of Gog and Magog which is mustered up after the thousand yeers raigne of Christ be not in part made up of the â—en hornes even after the whore of Romes consumption as before in Henry the eighth his case which horns with their peoples Christ will have yet to be tolerated as Tares in the field of the world though not in the Church of Christ Peace What think you of Master Cottons grant that the first fruits of Antichristians may be tares sown in the field of the church which afterwards grow to be Briars and Thornes Truth I observe that to be tares of Antichristian worshippers and briars and thornes oppressers and persecutors are both of them of a false and Antichristian nature which ought to be far from imitation of the Rose of Sharon or the Lily of the vallies But 2. Are there no tares that is hypocrites but in the church and must all the briars and thornes oppressors and persecutors c. have no root from the wilde world but from the garden of Christs church Peace Now whereas it was urged that it stood not with the wisdome and love of Christ interpreting this parable and opening what the field was to call the field the world when he meant the church Master Cotton answers that Paul by the same wisdome useth the same word 2 Cor. 5. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Truth Paul in using that figure of the world for all sorts of men in the world doth not undertake to interpret a Parable which before he had proposed unto and at the request of the Corinthians as the Lord Iesus doth at the request of his disciples And where Master Cotton saith that it is no more an improper speech to call the church the world then to speak of Christ as dying for the world when he dyed for the church Truth I finde it not to be said that Christ died for the world but grant that it hath pleased the Lord in his most infinite wisdome to cause the tearm of the world to be used in various significations yet let any instance be given of any Scripture wherein the Lord opposing the church to the world the wheat to tares doth not distinguish between the church redeemed out of the world and the world it self which is said to lye in wickedness and to be such as for which
Christ Jesus would not pray Iohn 17. Examination of CHAP. XXII Peace IN this Chapter was urged the scope of the Lord Jesus to wit to foretell the Antichristian state opposing the true Christian church and worship as also to comfort and strengthen the hearts of his followers against the grievances ariâ—ing therefrom and where it was urged that the church consisteth onely of good ground and that the three sorts of Bad ground visibly so declared are properly in the world and not in the church Master Cotton answers First Did not Christ preach to all these sorts of hearers in the church of the Jews Truth That national church of the Iews in its first visible constitution consisted onely of good ground Now that the other three sorts of hearers were in the church of the Iews it was an accident and corruption when they grew incurable and received not the admonitions of the Lord by the Lord Iesus and his servants preaching unto them the Lord cast them out of his sight destroyed that nationall church and established the Christian church Now what is this to the permitting of known hypocrites in the Christian church to the worlds end since that the proper seat of known hypocrisie and of all other wickedness is the world which indeed properly consisteth of the three sorts of Bad ground as the church and Garden of Christ of the honest and good ground Peace But further If saith Master Cotton the children of the church-members be in the church then they growing up to yeers become some of them like the high-way and some like the stony and some like the thorny ground Truth Admit the Christian church were constituted of the natural seed and off-spring which yet Master Cotton knows will never be granted to him and I believe will never be proved by him yet he knows that upon the discovery of any such portion of ground in the church the church is bound to admonish and upon impenitency after admonition to cast them into the world the proper place of such kind of hearers and professors Peace Master Cotton proceeds to a third answer to wit Though it be not the proper work of the church to bring up their own children to become the sincere people of God And Christ hath given his Church and his Gospel preached to it to lye like leaven in three pecks of meal till all be leavened Mat. 13. 31. And he hath given Pastors and Teachers as well for the gathering of the Saints as for the edification of the Body of Christ Truth I answer the proper work of the Pastors and Teachers is to feed the sheep and flock and not the Heards the wild Beasts in the world And although it is the duty of parents to bring up their children in the nurture and fear of the Lord yet what if those children refuse to frequent the Assemblies of the Church and what if those three sorts of bad ground or hearers will not come within the bounds of the Pastors and Teachers feeding hath not the Lord Iesus appointed other Officers in the same Ephes 4. for the gathering of the Saints that is sending out of the Church of Christ Apostles or Messengers to preach Christ Iesus to the three sorts of bad ground to labour to turn them into good ground But alas to salve up all this the civil sword is commonly run for to force all sorts of ground to come to church instead of the sending forth Rom. 10. the heavenly sowers according to the Ordinance of Christ Iesus Peace But what say you to his fourth answer viz. There is no such Resemblance between the high-way-ground and good ground as between the Tares and the wheate nor would the servants wonder at Tares in the high-way nor ask about their plucking up Truth I answer Let the high-way stony and thorny ground be considered in their several qualities of prophaneness stouiness and worldliness and all the sons of men throughout the whole world naturally are such and t is no wonder nor would the servants of Christ be so troubled as to desire their plucking up out of the world But yet againe consider all these sorts of men as professing the name and anointing of Christ Iesus in a false and counterfeit Antichristian way and then it may well be wondred whence such monstrous kind of Christians or anointed ones arose And Gods people may easily be tempted rather to desire their rooting out of the world then the rooting out of any such sorts of ground or men professing any other Religion Jewish Mahometan or Pagan Antichristian and false Christians being more opposite to the kingdome of Christ Jesus and more dangerous by how much more a counterfeit and Traytor is worse then a professed Fox an Antichristian whether Papist or Protestant worse then a Jew a Pagan Whether Indian Turke or Persian Examination of CHAP. XXIII Peace Still of the Tares THese tares saith Master Cotton are not such sinners as are opposite and contrary for then none should be opposite or contrary but they Truth I acknowledge as Master Cotton here observeth two sorts of persons opposite and contrary to Christ Jesus and his Kingdome First All sorts of sinners scandalous in their lives and courses 2. More especially opposite in point of Religion and worship as all idolaters and especially Antichristians Now every man by nature the best and wisest is opposite and contrary to Christ his word and kingdome but an idolater and Antichristian is more especially opposite to his glorious Name Truth and Ordinances And therein properly lyes the mystery of iniquity brought in by the man of sin that lawless person 2 Thess 2. most opposite or contrary to Christ Jesus the Son of God and Son of Righteousness Peace But this is a begging of the question saith Master Cotton for the question is about visible worshippers such as were discovered and declared to be what they were as well by their fruit as by their clads and therefore againe saith Master Cotton these tares were the seed and children of the Devil for why should they be called the seed of the One and the children of the Other Truth I answer the Lord Jesus distinguisheth thus He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man and the good seed are the children of the Kingdome he that soweth the tares is the devil and these tares are the children of the evil or evil one Hence by way of opposition these children of evil or evil ones being visibly such as are opposite to the children of the kingdome they cannot be hypocrites in the church untill they are discovered These children therefore of the evil one opposite to the visible kingdome and so to visible Christ Jesus in point of his kingdome church and worship though they be the children of the devil in a sence yet can they be no other but the children of the false Christ or Antichrist in the way of a false church and worship Peace Yea
but lastly saith Master Cotton that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated the children of the wicked one or wickedness will agree to hypocrites Truth It will indeed if we respect their inside which is only visible to the invisible King as Judas in his profession but it cannot agree to such hypocrites as are undiscovered by their fruits in the church but unto such hypocrites as are discovered in their blades and fruit and so consequently are not fit to live with other sinners in the world I doubt not but Master Cotton will say That although a member of a Church prove a theife adulterer murtherer in the eyes of a Brother that sees and knows his secret wickedness yet that brother is censurable as a slanderer if he should report these evils though to the Church untill according to visible order he could produce good proof and evidence Examination of CHAP. XXIV Peace Still of the Tares MAster Cotton here seems to me with the Familists to confound heaven and earth together the matters of Worship and Ordinances of Religion with the affaires and businesses of this life for saith he such as stand for the kingdome of Satan as all evil men do they stand in opposition to the Kingdome of Christ Truth Master Cotton is not now to be taught the distinction between the church and Commonweale nor that a national church is not of Christ Jesus his institution yet as this discourse strongly inclines to erect a national church so doth this present answer to the confusion both of Church and Commonweale It is true a covetuous Iew that blasphemeth Christ Jesus stands for Satan against Christ But by his covetousness in one kinde as covetousness is opposite to Righteousness and contentation c. and for Sathan against Christ in another sence that is in a Religious and Spiritual sence as he prefers Moses before Christ Jesus and denies the true Messiah to be yet come in the flesh A cruel Turk stands for Satan against Christ by his cruelty in one sence to wit in opposition to Christs mercy gentleness patience c. but by his belief in Mahomet preferring him before Christ he opposeth him in his Kingdome and Worship To come neerer a drunken English Dutch or Frenchman stands for Satan against Christ as their drunkenness is opposite to Christs sobriety temperance c. but against Christ in another sence as they profess the wayes of Antichristian idolatry and superstition And not to observe this distinction is with some Familists to run upon quick-sands of confounding the spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus his worship and ordinances with the kingdomes of this world and the common affaires thereof in natural and civil consideration Peace But though Christ saith Master Cotton should command other offenders to be let alone beside Antichristians yet he should not contradict any ordinances for the punishment of offenders c. because saith he No law of God nor just law of man commands the the rooting out of hypocrites though the church be bound to endeavour as much as in them lies to heale their hypocrisie Truth Hypocrisie discovered in the fruit of it is not to be let alone in the church or State For neither church of Christ nor civil state can long continue safe if hypocrites or traitors under what pretence soever be permitted to break forth in them without due punishment and rooting out this hypocrisie being especially that great sin against which Christ Iesus so frequently and so vehemently inveighed and against which he denounced the sorest of plagues â—nd judgements Truth By whose command and by what meanes and ordinances by whose power and authority but by the command meanes and power of Christ Jesus And I further aske If faithful admonition be not one good means of healing and if that lye not in the churches power and if the hypocrite after faithful admonition once or twice submit not to the voice of Christ Iesus I ask where the Lord Iesus commandeth to make a stop and not to cast forth and reject whomsoever wilfully obstinate Peace Doubtless dear Truth many will be apt to say Master Cotton intends secret and close hypocrisie Truth And I doubt not but himself will say That this is not our question but of known and unmasked hypocrisie as himself hath formerly declared and such as here he expresseth come under ordinances of healing Peace But further saith Master Cotton it is not true that Antichristians are to be let alone untill the end of the world Why Because Christ commanded excommunication c. Truth I am astonisht and wonder why Master Cotton here speaketh of excommunication a spiritual ordinance of Christ Iesus in his spiritual kingdome or city when the dispute onely concerns temporal excommunication or cutting off Let them alone that is in civil State I wonder also how he should imagine the discusser in this Chapter to affirme that Antichristians are to be let alone in the church unto the end of the world when it was the very scope of his argument in this Chapter to prove that the speech of Christ Jesus let them alone must needs be understood of letting idolaters and Antichristians alone in the civil state and in the world because otherwise if he had meant Let them alone in the church he should contradict himself who hath appointed meanes for the disturbing and purging out the corrupt leaven both of persons and practices out of his church and kingdome Peace The same answer indeed will easily be returned to his last supposition of any Popish spirit conspiring against the life of King and Parliament The whole scope of this book professeth and in this Chapter the discusser professedly argueth that Christ Jesus hath appointed that civil offenders against the civil state ought not to be let alone But Master Cotton adds If Popish Priests and Jesuits be rightly expounded to be the Rivers and fountaines of water which drive the dead sea of Antichristian pollutions up and down all Nations in Europe and in some cases are to drink blood Then are they not to be let alone but duely supprest and cut off from conveying up and down idolatrous heretical and seditious wickedness Rev. 16. 4. 7. Truth The exposition of this Scripture will be further examined in the sequel and found no true exposition That Rivers and fountaines of water drive the sea up and down For rivers and fountaines however they come from the salt-water yet lose they the savour of the salt-sea and yeeld a savour of the earth through which they make their passages and again they run into the sea and are themselves driven up and down and swallowed up in the sea Nor will it be found a true exposition according to Godliness and Christianity which commandeth patience and waiting not fire and sword to gaine sayers and opposites Nor lastly will it be found a true exposition agreeing with Master Cottons own profession in some passage of this book wherein he holds forth great
toleration and gentleness to other consciences both English and Barbarians Examination of CHAP. XXV Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton affirms that hypocrites even they that are discerned to be such yet they are not to be purged out except they break forth into such notorious fruits of hypocrisie as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe for otherwise saith he we may roote out the best wheate in Gods field c. Truth I answer sâ—â—â—â— hypocrites and all hypocrisie is so odious in Gods sight and so vehemently inveighed against by Christ Jesus what should be the cause why the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie should finde greater favour and connivence in the church of Christ then the leaven of any other sin since all ought to be purged out 1 Cor. 5. 2. Contrary to what Master Cotton saith to wit That no man meerly for hypocrisie and want of life and power of Godliness ought to be proceeded against the Spirit of God by Paul saith That such kind of professours of the name of Christ should arise that should pretend a form of godliness but not shew forth the power thereof from which he commandeth us to turn away 1 Tim. 3. Peace But Master Cotton excepteth Except saith he they break forth into some notorious scandalous fruits of hypocrisie Truth How shall an hypocrite be discovered and known to be an hypocrite or traitor in church or civil state but by some such notorious scandalous fruits as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe Come to particulars was Iudas Ananias and Sapphira Simon Magus Demas or any other discovered to be Hypocrites when they broke forth into treachery lying covetousness and might the church proceed against such If it be denied I ask to what end the Lord hath given those holy rules of admonition c. will it prove ought but prophaning of the name of the Lord to pretend our clear discerning of the Scripture and ordinances and not to practise them If it be yeelded against these fruits of hypocrisie discovering men to be hypocrites why do we plead for a dispensation and not for the wheat of the Field and flowers of the garden but for the most stinking and loathsome tares and weeds to be continued in the holy garden of Christ Jesus Peace But many hypocrites saith Master Cotton fall not within the censure of that Scripture 2 Thess 3. 6. Withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly for many hypocrites follow their callings and are so far from being burthensome unto others that they are after choaked with the cares and businesses of the world and yet are not behind in liberal contribution to pious uses Truth But is not this halting between God and Baal yea is not this pleading for Baal for hypocrisie hypocrites and dissemblers false and Antichristian counterfeits to be permitted not onely in the wilderness of the world which I contend for but also even in the Garden House Bed and bosome of God What if men be civil and follow their callings Men that know not God so do What though they be liberal to pious uses millions of Papists are and have been so according to their consciences when as yet they are choaked with cares and businesses of this world How express is the charge of the Lord Jesus to with-draw from such notwithstanding their forme of Godliness and contribution to Godly uses when they declare not the power of godliness 1 Tim. 3. 2. Not to eate with them and therefore to seperate from such a brother as is covetuous 1 Cor. 5. as well as from an idolater drunkard c. The Church of Christ is a congregation of Saints a flock of sheep humble meek patient contented with whom it is monstrous and impossible to couple cruel and persecuting lyons subtle and hypocritical Foxes contentious biting dogs or greedy and rooting swine so visibly declared and apparant Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace IN this Chapter four answers were given by the discusser to that great objection of the mischief that the Tares will do in the field of the world if let alone and not pluckt up The first was That if the tares offend against Civility or civil state God hath armed the civil state with a civil sword c. Master Cotton replies what if their conscience incite them to civil offences I answer the conscience of the civil Magistrate must incite him to civil punishment as a Lord Maior of London once answered That he was born to be a Judge to a Thief that pleaded he was born to be a thief If the conscience of the worshippers of the Beast incite them to prejudice prince or state Although these consciences be not as the conscience of a thief commonly convinced of the evil of his fact but perswaded of the lawfulness of their actions yet so far as the civil state is endammaged or endangered I say the sword of God in the hand of civil Authority is strong enough to defend it self either by imprisoning or disarming or other wholesome meanes c. while yet their consciences ought to be permitted in what is meerly point of worship as prayer and other services and administrations Hence the wisdome of God in that 13 Rom. reckoned by Master Cotton the Magâ—a Charta for civil Magistrates dealing in matters of Religion I say there it pleaseth God expresly to reckon up the particulars of the second table chalking out as it were by his own finger the civil sphear or circle in which the civil Magistrate ought to act and execute his civil power and Authority Peace The second answer of the discusser was that the church or spiritual City hath laws and Armories to defend it self Master Cotton excepteth saying That if their members be leavened with Antichristian Idolatry and Superstition and yet must be tolerated in their idolatry and superstitious worship will not a litle leaven leaven the whole lumpe and how then is the church guarded Truth The question is whether idolatrous and Antichristian worshippers may be tolerated in civil state in the City in the Kingdome c. under any civil power Master Cotton answers no they will do mischief The reply is against any civil mischief though wrought conscientiously the civil state is strongly guarded Secondly Against the spiritual mischief the church or City of Christ is guarded with heavenly Armories wherein there hang a thousand Bucklers Cant. 4. and most mighty weapons 2 Cor. 10. In the church of Christ such worshippers ought not to be tolerated but cast out c. That is true saith Master Cotton but yet their leaven will spread I answer What is this but to make the most powerful appointments of Christ Jesus those mighty weapons of God terrible censures and soul punishments in his kingdome but as so many woodden daggers and leaden swords childrens Bull-beggars and scarcrows and upon the point so base and beggarly that without the help of the Cutlers shop or Smiths forge the church or
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
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
what eyes and eares such blasphemous and bloody titles are to be lookt upon and heard by the chaste eyes and ears of Christs Doves Christ Iesus will one day and shortly make appear Truth But what contradiction will be in the later to wit That every one must do his utmost in Gods business when this former to wit to be a defender of the Faith is constantly denied to be any of the businesses of civil officers and the preservation of the civil state which charge and worke by the civil state can only lawfully and therefore possibly be committed to them For otherwise to take these words in a literal sence without respect to the rules and limits of Gods order and righteonsness what is it but to fire the world with wild-fire of blind zeale and to tumble down all Gods beauteous structures and buildings into a Chaos and confusion of Antichristian Babylon And this especially by the meanes of such who think and say that they cannot serve God with all their might except they punish blaspemers and fight against blasphemous nations and subdue not only the holy land from the Turk but even all the world from their idolatries and blasphemies if it lie in their power which spirit whether it be the spirit of the Son of God and Prince of peace or the spirit of the world the spirit of the son of perdition let every mans own spirit search and judge in the holy fear and presence of God Peace But further saith Master Cotton it was unnecessary yea folly and preposterous to have complained to Herod Pilate Caesar against the Heresies of the Pharisees For if a poor sheep should complain to the Wolves of the Wolves heresies would not the whole kennel of Wolves rise up against him c Would it not have disturbed the civil state by putting them into jealousies of a new kingdome and it was necessary the Gospel should first be known and received believed and professed before any could be complained of for Apostacie from it into heresie Truth Master Cotton cannot deny but that most of the Magistrates of the world by far are such as Herod Pilate Caesar were without God and enemies to him yea also in that little paâ—t of the world which is called Protestant Now if they are but kennels of Wolves compared with Christs sheep as Master Cotton expresseth I first demand how poorely hath Christ Jesus in all ages provided for and furnished his people with such main pillars of their spiritual joyes light and confidence as godly and Christian Magistrates Peace It is as cleer as the Sun beams that if ever Christ Jesus had intended such an ordinance in and over his church he would never have been so mistaken as to supply his sheep in all ages and in all parts of the world with kennels of Wolves in stead of godly and Christian Shepherds Truth But secondly Grant them to be kennels of Wolves in Master Cottons sence yet what bar is this to any from presenting and to them from receiving such complaints as are proper to their cognizance to their duty and calling were they truely called of God and Christ to such a service to wit to govern in spiritual Ecclesiastical or Church causes what though a Magistrate be a drunkard whoremonger opperssour is it not the duty of the people to complain to him of drunkards thieves whoremongers oppressors whom if he punish not but countenance c. yet have such petitioners discharged their consciences and left the guilt upon the right head who should be an head of civil righteousness but is an head of wickedness and iniquity Peace By this argument of Master Cottons the poor widow that sued for right to the unjust Judge that neither feared God nor regarded man took a foolish and a prestoperous course though commended by the Lord Jesus Luk. 18. Truth Indeed as Master Cotton saith If we look at the probability of any wholesome fruit from such trees we cannot expect grapes from such briars not figs from such thistles But looking at the providence of God who ruleth and over ruleth the hearts of Kings and all Magistrates as in the case of the poor widow and thousand others as also at what is their Duty and profession to wit to invite cheerfully their subjects to bring their complaints to them as also what is the duty of the wronged and oppressed to wit to deliver and discharge their own souls I see not but it is safe sea sonable and a duty to cry even to the unjust Judge for Justice as that poor woman did Peace Yea were Caesar Herod Pilate by virtue of their places offices and duties Ecclesiastical Judges and ought to have suppressed the heresies and blasphemies of the Pharisees why should it be impossible but they might have removed the Pharisees offence as many Kings of England and France though evil themselves have stirred mightily upon complaints of their subjects against the Popish Pharisees of their times yea the highest of them the Pope himself And if Master Cottons doctrine be true why must not the Magistrate be sought unto that a true Gospel be received and believed Why may not the civil power be a judge in the first receiving of the Gospel as afterward for the preserving and restoring of it Truth Such is the brightness of the Gospel of Christ Iesus and the dread and the power of the two-edged sword coming out of his mouth subduing and slaying the highest opposites and adversaries that it will prove to be unnecessary foolish and preposterous to run to any other sword or censures then those alone of Christs so mighty and so powerful were they rightly administred as the Popish and Protestant world pretendeth Peace Lastly Master Cotton professeth he knows not how Magistrates can know the Son and kiss him and acknowledge his kingdome and submit their crowns to it love his truth be nursing Fathers and Mothers to his church and yet not be defenders of it Truth If kings must submit their crowns to this kingdome of Christ must it not undeniablly follow that the kingdom of Christ Iesus is far greater and higher then their thrones and crowns for none will submit to the lesser weaker c. And if so what weakness is it yet to expect that the inferiour power and authority to wit civil and earthly must defend the highest and most glorious crown and throne of Christ Iesus Like as if a poor Indian Canon should submit it self to some Royal Navy and yet must be this Navies defender or a few naked Americans submit to some Army or kingdome and yet these poor naked ones must bear and that seriously without Iâ—sting the title of their defenders Truth Master Cotton and those of his bloody judgement are not contented that the civil powers defend the bodies and goods of the Saints from oppressors from persecutors c. that love and affection by all gracious means be exprest more to the Saints then to other people of
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
pleased with that passage viz. That God will take away such stayes upon whom Gods people rest in his wrath that king David that is Christ Jesus the Antitype in his own spiritual power in the hands of his Saints may spiritually and for ever be advanced Truth This power the General Councels the Popes the Prelates the kings of the earth the civil courts and Magistrates lay claime unto and most of them with bloody hands yea and Gods servants have too long leaned unto and longed after such an arme of flesh which proves most commonly but Sauls arme an oppressing and persecuting and a self killing and destroying power at the last Examination of CHAP. XXXII Peace THis Chapter containes a twofold denyal First saith Master Cotton we hold it not lawful for a Christian Magistrate to compell by civil sword either Pharisee or Pagan or Jew to profess his religion Truth He that is deceived himself with a bad commodity puts it off as good to others Master Cotton believes and would make others believe that it is no compulsion to make laws with penalties for all to come to church and to publike worship which was ever in our fathers dayes held a sufficient trial of their religion and of consenting to or dissenting from the religion of the times Hence by some is that of Luk. 14. alledged Compel them to come in sufficiently fulfilled if they be so far compelled as to be conformable to come to church though it be under the pretence and mask of comming only to hear the word whereby they may be converted But it is needless to stand guessing and guessing at the weight when the scales are at hand the holy word of God by which we all profess to have our weight or to be found too light Peace Master Cotton therefore Secondly denies that a blind Pharisee may be a good subject and as peaceable and profitable to the civil state as any since they destroyed the civil state by destroying Christ Truth When we speak of civil state and their administrations it is most improper and fallacious to wind or weave in the consideration of their true or false religions It is true idolatry brings judgement in Gods time and so do other sins for we read not of idolatry in Sodoms punishment Ezek. 16. notwithstanding there is a present civil state of men combined to live together there in a commonweale which Gods people are commanded to pray for Jerm 29. whatever be the religion there publikly professed Beside the Pharisees destroying Christ were guilty of blood and persecution which is more then idolatry c. and cries to heaven for vengeance Peace It cannot therefore with any shew of charity be denyed but that divers priests of Babel might be civil and peaceable notwithstanding their religion and conscience Truth Yea it is known by experience that many thousands of Mahumetan Popish and Pagan Priests are in their persons both of as civil and courteous and peaceable a nature as any of the subjects in the state they live in The truth is that herein all the priests in the world Mahumetan Pepish Pagan and Protestant are the greatest peace-breakers in the world as they fearing their own cause never rest stirring up Princes and people against any whether Gods or the devils instruments that shall oppose their own religion and conscience that is in plaine English their profits honours and bellies Examination of CHAP. XXXIII Peace THe entrance of this Chapter dear truth looks in mine eye like one of the bloody fathers of the inquisition and breaths like Paul in his mad zeal and frenzy slaughters against the Son of God himself though under the name or brand of a seducer as all persecutors have ever done For saith Master Cotton he that corrupteth a soul with a corrupt religion layeth a spreading leaven which corrupteth a state as Michals idolatry corrupted Laish Judg. 19. and that Apostacy was the captivity of the land and the worshipping of images brought the plague of the Turkes and therefore it is lex talionis that calleth for not only soul for soul but life for life Truth Thy tender braine and heart cannot let flie an arrow sharpe enough to pierce the bowels of such a Bloody Tenent Peace The flaming jealousie of that most holy and righteous Judge who is a consuming fire will not ever hear such Tenents and behold such practices in silence Truth Sweet peace long and long may the Almond-tree flourish on Master Cottons head in the armes of true Christianity and true Christian honour And let New Englands Colonies flourish also if Christ so please untill he come againe the second time But that he who is love it self would please to tell Master Cotton and the Colonies and the world the untrueness uncharitableness numercifulness and unpeaceableness of such conclusions For is not this the plaine English and the bottome to wit If the spirit of Christ Jesus in any of his servants sons oâ— daughters witnessing against the abominations or stinks of Antichrist shall perswade one soul man or woman to fear God to come out of Babell c. to refuse to bow down to and to come out from communion with a state-golden-image and not to touch what it is perswaded is an unclean thing That man or woman who was the Lambs and the Spirits instruments thus to inlighten and perswade one soul he hath saith this tenent laid a leaven which corrupteth the state that is the laud town city kingdome or Empire of the world that leaven shall bring the captivity ruine and destruction of the state and therefore Lex Talionis not only soul for soul in the next but life for life also in this present world Peace All thy witnesses dear truth in all ages have borne the brand and black mark of seducers and still shall even Christ Jesus himself to the last of his holy army and followers against his enemies Truth How famous or rather abominably infamous hath been the practice of all persecutors this way I shall pick out one instance a very stinking weed out of Babels desart to let pass all the bloody bulls and their roarings and threatning of Councels Popes and Emperors Kings Bishops Commissaries c. against the Waldensians Wickleviaâ—s the Hussites Hugonites Lutheraus Calvinists c. their infections and seducings To let pass former and latter persecutions in our own English Nation which hath been as France Spaine Italy Low-countries c. also a slaughter-house of Christs lambs one instance more pertinent then many we have in the raigne of that wise and mighty prince Henry the eighth of bloody Longland Lincolnes Bishop acting to the life Master Cottons Tenent against seducers throughout his Diocess What oaths did he exact what articles did he invent to find out the meetings the conventicles the conferences of any poor servants of God men and women day or night whether the father read to the child or the childe to the father the husband to
the wife or the wife to the husband Yea whether they spake any thing though never so little out of any line of holy Scriptures or any of Wickliffes books or any good English writings By which abhorred practices the fathers caught in this bloody Bishops oath vehemently forced upon all suspected the fathers I say were forced to accuse and betray their children the children their fathers husbands their wives wives their husbands for fear of horrible death on the one side or else of running upon the rocks of Perjury on the other side Peace Hold dear truth and stop my spirit is wounded with such relations Truth O how were the Saints and Christ Jesus in them wounded with such tenents and practices Peace Master Cotton will salve this up with what he elsewhere saith thus Longlands and the Papists religion and the religion of England was then false in that kings time Truth What then No pious and sober man can hold all mâ—n devoid of conscience to God except himself In all religions sects and consciences the sons of men are more or less zealous and precise though it be in falshood 2. But let it be granted that the religion persecuted is false and that a false religion like leaven will spread as did this idolatry of Michal Jeroboam and others and grant that this idolatry will bring judgements from heaven in the end yet I desire Master Cotton or any knowing man to answer to these two questions 1. Where finde we since the comming of Christ Jesus a land like Canaan a state-religion a City or Town-religion wherein the Townes or Cities or kingdomes apostacie may be feared as Master Cotton here writes of Lâ—â—sh and consequently the Townes or Cities captivity for that sin 2. Where read we of the destruction of a land for idolatry or images without a ripeness in other sins and especially of violence and oppression of which persecution is the greatest And therefore to follow Master Cottons instance of the Turks beside idolatry which saith Master Cotton brought the plague of the Turks Rev. 9. read we not also in that Scripture and in all histories of their detestable and wonderful whoredomes witchcrafts thefts slaughters and murthers amongst which this bloody Tenent of persecution was ever in most high esteem c. Peace Indeed Bâ—â—â—â— hath been filled with blood of all sorts Râ—â—â—lations the 18. but in especial manner hath the whâ—re been drunk with the blood of the Saints and witnesses of Jesus Revel 17. Truth Hence then not idolatry onely but that bloody doctrine of persecution the great fire-brand and incendiary of all Nations and Commonweals brought in the bloody Turkes to revenge Gods truth and witnesses slaine by the idolatrous and bloody Antichristians Peace I something question that it can be proved that the most righteous Judge of the whole world ever destroyed state or nation for idolatry but where this bloody doctrine of persecution was joyned with it that is until he had graciously sent witnesses against such idolatries and till such witnesses were despised and persecuted and therefore here comes in seasonably the sad exprobration of the Lord Jesus against Jerusalem threatning the ruine and desolation of it Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them which were sent unto thee c Truth I add lastly Let it be granted that a soul is corrupted with a false religion and that that false Religion like a leaven in time hath corrupted the state Yet first that state or land is none else but a part of the world and if so since every part more or less in degree follows the nature of the whole it is but natural and so lieth as the whole world doth in wickedness and so as a state or part of the world cannot but alter from one false way or path to another upon this supposition as before that no whole state kingdome City or Town is Christian in the new Testament Secondly Grant this state to be so corrupted or altered from one corrupt religion to another yet that state may many ages enjoy civil peace and worldly prosperity as all histories and experience testifies Thirdly That idolatry may be rooted out and another idolatrous religion of the conquerer as in the Roâ—aâ—e and other conquests brought in or the religion may be changed something to the better by the coming of new Princes to the crown as we see in Henry the eighth King Edward and Queen Elizabeth in our own Nation and of late times Lastly A soul oâ— souls thus leavened may be reduced by repentance as often it pleaseth God so to work why then should there as Master Cotton intimates such a peremptory bloody sentence be thundred out as life for life c. Peace But saith Master Cotton false prophets in the old Testament were to die but for attempting and the reason was not from any typical holiness of the land but from the dangerous wickedness of the attempting to thrust away a soul from God which is a greater injury then to deprive a man of bodily life Truth The reason to me appears plainly typical with respect to that holy nation and the seducers seeking to turn the soul away from the Lord their God who had brought them forth from the land of Egypt by such signes miracles c. Let Master Cotton now produce any such nation in the whole world whom God in the New Testament hath literally and miraculously brought forth of Egypt or from one land into another to the truth and purity of his worship c. then far be it but I should acknowledge that the seducer is fit to be put to death But draw away the curtaine of the shadow and let the substance appear not a whole Nation City c. but the Christian church brought by spiritual signes and wonders from the Egypt of this world in all nations of the world where the Gospel comes Justly therefore he that seduceth a soul from his God in Christ and so endangereth to leaven that only true Christian state or kingdome the church of Christ he ought to die upon his obstinacy without mercy as well under Christ as under Moses Yea he is worthy of a sorer punishment as saith the Spirit of God who trampleth under feet the blood of Christ such a deceiver or seducer except he repent is to be cut from the presence of the Lord and to lose an eternal life He that is cut off from material Israel might yet repent and live eternally but he that is cut off from mystical Israel under the Gospel that is for obstinacy in sin the proper hereticke he is cut off to all eternity which punishment as it is infinitely transcendent and more dreadful in the nature and kind of it so answereth it fully and infinitely that clause of Master Cotton to wit To thrust a soul from God is a greater injury then to deprive a man of his bodily life Peace Now whereas the discusser added
That dead men cannot die nor be infected with false doctrine and such is the State of all men all nations all the world over until the life of Christ Jesus quicken them Master Cotten replies First Dead men may be made worse and more the children of hell then before Mat. 23. and therefore such as so corrupt them are worthy in a way of due proceeding of a twofold death Secondly Such as profess the truth of the doctrine and worship of Christ they live a kind of spiritual life though not such as accompany salvation else how are false teachers and such as are led by them said to be twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jud. 12. Truth Dead men may be made worse that is more to rot and stink yet this is no taking away of any life And therefore there is no proportionable reason why the seducers should suffer a temporal death having neither taken away spiritual nor natural life only thus he may be justly liable to a spiritual death for endeavouring to hinder a spiritual life by furthering any in their natural state of spiritual death 2. For that place of Iude Master Cotton knows that Beza propounds two senses First Twice dead that is a certaine number for an uncertaine Secondly This sence urged by Master Cotton which if it be to be admitted yet is it but in appearance as his life which in hypocrisie he professed was but in shew and appearance he being never raised up from the spiritual death to a spiritual life and therefore really never suffered the loss of a spiritual life which he never had And yet as in typical Israel it stood with Gods justice to take away the life of the seducer which seduced an Israelite from the God of Israel or but attempted to do it so stands it with the holy justice of God to cut him off eternally who but attempteth to take away or hinders the spiritual and eternal life of any Peace Master Cotton in the next place presumes on advantage that the discusser should say that none are infected with natural plagues or spiritual but such are thereto appointed c. Truth It is plaine that the discusser alleadged not that to diminish or lessen sin let it have its due aggravation but as was said before in case of the not final deceiving of the elect so was it here spoken not to derogate fâ—om Gods meanes and remedies against natural or spiritual infection but to abate the needless feares of men who are apt to cry out Except the civil sword be drawn and so therewith the world set together by the eares the world cannot be preserved from infection Peace Whereas the discusser had affirmed that Christ Jesus had not left his people destitute of spiritual means against spiritual infections This is true saith Master Cotton but it falleth out sometimes that when the church hath cast out an heretick yet he may destroy the faith of many as did Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. and if the Magistrates sword do here rust c. such leaven may leaven the whole country c. as Arrianisme leavened the world by Constantines indulgence Againe saith he it may be the heretick was never a member of the church how then shall the church do Truth Who can marvel at this that the dunghill of this world worldly men under the power of Satan unto whom the obstinate person the heretick is cast I say that they many of them receive worldly doctrine which the church as filth casts out c. 2. As Paul saith concerning the salvation of Gods children Let the world perish yet the foundation of God remaineth sure he knows who are his and how to provide meanes to save them though the world still act it self wallowing and tumbling like Swine in one puddle of wickedness after another 3. Master Cotton should read a little further in the same Scripture quoted by him where he finds not a tittle of Pauls directing Timothy to stir up the secular power as the Pope speakes to cut off Hymeneus and Philetus to prevent infection but tels him that the servants of God must not strive but must quiet themselves with patience waiting if peradventure God will please to give repentance Peace Methinks this Answer may also â—ully satisfie his second supposition to wit if that the heretick was never of the church Truth Yea what hath the church to do that is judicially with him that is without and what hath the civil state to judge him for who in civil matters hath not transgrest In vaine therefore doth Master Cotton suggest a persecuting or hunting after the souls or lives of such as being cast out of the church keep private conventicles c. Peace How grievous is this language of Master Cotton as if he had been nourished in the chappels and cloisters of persecuting prelates and priests the Scribes and Pharisees As if he never had heard of Jesus Christ in truth and meekness For surely as the discusser observed Christ Jesus never appointed the civil sword an Antidote or remedy in such a case notwithstanding Master Cotton replies that the civil sword was appointed a remedy in this case by Moses not Christ Deut. 13. Truth Moses in the old Testament was Christs servant yet Moses being but a servant dispensed his power by carnal rites and ceremonies laws rewards and punishments in that holy nation and that one land of Canaan But when the Lord Jesus the Son and Lord himself was come to bring the truth and life and substance of all those shadowes to break down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile and to establish the Christian worship and kingdome in all Nations of the world Master Cotton will never prove from any of the books and institutions of the New Testament that unto those spiritual remedies appointed by Christ Jesus against spiritual maladies he added the help of the carnal sword Peace But Christ saith Master Cotton never abrogated the carnal sword in the new which he appointed in the old Testament and the reason of the law to wit an offence of thrusting away from the Lord is perpetual Truth If it appear as evidently it doth that this king Jesus the King of Israel wears his sword the Antitype of the Kings of Israel their swords in his mouth being a sharpe two-edged sword then the answer is as clear as the Sun that scatters the clouds and darkeness of the night Besides Master Cotton needs not flie to the Popes argument for childrens baptisme to wit to say that Christ never abrogated Dâ—â—â— 13. therefore c. For Master Cotton knows the profession of the Lord Jesus Iohn 18. that his kingdome was not earththly and therefore his sword cannot be earthly Master Cotton knows that Christ Iesus commanded a sword to be put up when it was drawn in the cause of Christ and addeth a dreadful threatning that all that take the sword that is the carnal sword for his cause shall
the twelve and the seventy Secondly By his visible kingly power left in the hand of his true churches and the officers and governors thereof In which sence that church of Antioch and the governors thereof rightly invested with the kingly power of Christ Jesus sent forth Paul and Barnabas with prayer and fasting and saying on of hands And Paul and others of Christs messengers being furnished with this kingly power not only planted churches but also ordained elders visited these churches or visible cities of Judah that knowledge and teaching and the word of God might dwel plenteously among them Thirdly Christ Iesus as king of his church and head of his body during the distractions of his house and kingdome under Antichrists apostacy immediately by his own holy Spirit stirs up and sends out those fiery witnesses Rev. 11. to testifie against Antichrist and his several abominations For as for lawful calling to a true ordinary Ministery neither Wickliff in England nor Waldâ—â— in France nor Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prauge in Bohemia nor Luther in Germany nor multitudes more of famous preachers and prophets of Christ both in these countries and also in Spaine Italy c. I say no true ordinary Ministerial calling can they ever shew but Christ Jesus by the secret motion of his own holy Spirit extraordinarily excited in couraged and sent them abroad as an Angel or messenger Rev. 14. with the everlasting Gospel c. Peace To apply these three wayes or any of them to the civil Magistrates and rulers of the world of whom Iehosaphat in that his act should be a type is but to prophane the holy name of God to leane upon and â—dolize an arme of flesh c. Truth I grant the civil Magistrate is bound to countenance the true Ministers of Christ Iesus to incourage protect and defend them from injuries but to send them armed as the Popes Legats and Priests with a sword of steel and to compel people to hear and obey them this savours more of the spirit of the Pope his courses and practises Yea of Mahomet his Mussel-men Dâ—rgâ—es c. then the Lambe of God and his followers Peace What Iehosophat Asa Hezekiah Iosiah c. did they did not only by perswasion countenance example by which all are bound to further the preaching of Christ Iesus but also by force of armes and corporal punishments Truth Yea even to the death it self and this is not a bare sending out of Ministers as Master Cotton gives the instance For by his argument all rulers kings and Emperors and other states of the world ought to embrue their hands in the blood of the many thousands and millions of millions of the poor people if they forsake not their idolatry and embrace the religion which they say is Christian and the only true Peace No saith Master Cotton this ought not to be because only godly and truly Christian Magistrates may so put forth this power of Christ others must stay until they be informed Truth Can it enter into any Christian heart to believe that Christ Jesus should so loosly provide for his affaires so slightly for his name and Fathers work and so regardlesly for his dearest Spouse as to leave so high a care and charge with such as generally and constantly throughout the whole world are ignorant of yea and opposite to the very name of Christ and true Christianity Peace Surely if this payment were offered to the governour as Malachy saith to the world or governments of it it would not pass Truth I never knew a king or captaine councellor or constable officers of high or low condition rightly called according to to God who were not invested with ability more or less for the maine and principal points of their charge and duty Peace It seemes indeed a marvelous and yet it is Master Cottons conclusion that such Magistrates yea all or most of the Magistrates that ever have been since Christ and now extant upon the face of the earth must sit down stay and suspend and that all their life long from the executing of the maine and principal part of their office to wit in matters concerning the conscience religion and worship of the people Truth Yea Secondly in a due survey of the whole universe and globe of this world will one of a thousand or ten thousand according to Master Cottons disabling of them from the chief part of their office be found I will not say fit to be but to be at all lawful civil Magistrates or rulers according to Gods ordinance of Magistracy but meer shadows or images set on high with empty names or titles only of Magistrates Peace Master Cotton adds Although the good of souls is the proper or adequate object of the spiritual officers of Christ and the bodies and goods of the people the proper or adequate object of the civil Magistrate yet in order to the good of their souls he ought to procure spiritual helpes and to prevent spiritual evils Truth I reply If he mean as it is clear he doth that the civil Magistrate ought to do this not only as a Christian by spiritual meanes but as a civil Magistrate by force of armes It is not in order but monstrous disorder for then he the civil Magistrate must sit Judge judicially and formally in those spiritual causes and cases which Master Cotton grants are proper and adequate objects of the spiritual officers which Christ hath appointed Peace Yea why may not saith Master Cotton the Magistrate use his power spiritually in order to the good of bodies as the officers of Christ dehort from idleness and intemperance of meats and drinks c. in order to the good of souls Truth The spiritual officers in dehorting from these evils or any other of that kind interfere not nor take cognizance of that which belongs not to their spiritual court for holiness in all manner of conversation is the circle wherein they ought to see all their spiritual subjects to walk If the spiritual officers should cause by force of armes their people to walk justly temperately c. as Master Cotton saith the civil Magistrate in order to the good of bodies ought to deal in spiritual and soul-matters I say then the eyes of the civil Magistrate would begin to open and to see the horrible disorder and Babylonish confusion of that which is here masked under the abused name of order Peace Master Cotton closeth up this chapter with very bitter censures against the discusser Truth The discusser may well reply that although since the apostacy he sees not the visible thrones and tribunals of Christ Jesus according to his first institution erected and although the civil Magistrate hath not the power of Christ in matters of religion yet they that slay the Lords sheep are not exempted from all judgement For if the offenders slay them corporally the Lord hath armed the civil Magistrate with the sword of God to take vengeance
principles also Papist and Protestant lead them necessarily to dispose and kill their heretical Apostate blaspheming Magistrates Peace But why should Master Cotton â—â— sinuate any affection in the discusser to that Tyrant of all earthly Tyrants the Pope Truth To my knowledge Master Cotton and others have thought the discusser too zealous against the bloody beast yea and who knows not this to be the ground of so much sorrowful difference between Master Cotton and the discusser to wit that the discusser grounds his separation from their churches upon their not seperating from that man of sin For Old England having compelled all to church compel'd the Papists and the Pope himself in them The daughter New England separaring from her mother in Old England yet maintaines and practises communion with the Parishes in Old Who sees not then but by the links of this mystical chaine New England Churches are still fastned to the Pope himself Peace Master Cottons third reply is this that it is not like that such Christians will be faithful to their prince who grow false and disloyal to their God and therefore consequently the civil Magistrate must see that the church degenerate and apostate not at least so far as to provoke Christ to depart from them Truth This is indeed the down right most bloody and Popish Tenent of persecuting the degenerate heretical and Apostate people of deposing yea and killing Apostatical and heretical princee and rulers The truth is the great Gods of this world are God-belly God-peace God-wealth God-honour God-pleasure c. These Gods must not be blasphemed that is evil spoke of no not provoked c. The servants of the living God being true to their Lord and Master have opposed his glory greatness honour c. to these Gods and to such religions worships and services as commonly are made but as a mask or vaile or covering of these Gods Peace I have long been satisfied that hence proceeds the mad cry of every Demetrius and crafts-Master of false worship in the world Great is our Diana c. These men blaspheme our goddess disturbe our City They are false to our Gods how will they be true to us Hence that bloody Act of Parliament in Henry the fifth his dayes made purposely against that true servant and witness of God in those points of Christianity which he knew and other servants of God with him the Lord Cobham concluding Lollardy not only to be heresie that is indeed true Christianity but also treason against the Kings person whence it followed that these poor Lollards the servants of the most high God were not only to be burnt as hereticks but hanged as traitors Truth Accordingly it pleased God to honour that noble Lord Cobham both with hanging and burning as an heretick against the church as a traiter against the king And hence those divelish accusations and bloody huntings of the poor servants of God in the reign of Francis the second in Paris because it was said that their meetings were to cousult and act against the life of the king Peace If this be the touchstone of all obedience will it not be the cut-throat of all civil relations unions and covenants between Princes and people and between the people and people For may not Master Cotton also say he will not be a faithful servant nor she a faithful wife nor he a faithful husband who grow false and disloyal to their God And indeed what doth this yea what hath this truly-ranting doctrine that plucks up all relations wrought but confusion and combustion all the world over Truth Concerning faithfulness it is most true that godliness is profitable for all things all estates all relations yet there is a civil faithfulness obedience honesty chastity c. even amongst such as own not God nor Christ else Abraham and Isaac dealt foolishly to make leagues with ungodly Princes Besides the whole Scripture commands a continuance in all Relations of government marriage service notwithstanding that the grace of Christ had appeared to some and the rest it may be an husband a wife a Magistrate a Master a servant were false and disloyal in their several kinds and wayes unto God or wholly ignorant of him 4. Grant people and Princes to be like Iulian Apostate from the true service of God and consequently to grow less faithful in their places and respective services yet what ground is there from the Testament of Christ Jesus upon this ground of their Apostacie to prosecute them as Master Cotton saith The civil Magistrate must keep the church from Apostatizing so as to cause Christ to depart from them 5. Can the sword of steel or arme of flesh make men faithful or loyal to God Or careth God for the outward Loyalty or Faithfullness when the inward-man is false and treacherous Or is there not more danger in all matters of trust in this world from an hyyocrite a dissembler a turncoat in his religion from the fear or favour of men then from a resolved Jew Turke or Papist who holds firme unto his principles c. Or lastly if one Magistrate King or Parliament call this or that heresie apostacie c. and make men â—ay so will not a stronger Magistrate King Parliament Army that is a stronger arm or longer and more prosperous sword call that heresie and Apostacie Truth and Christianity and make men call it so and do not all experiences and our own most lamentable in the changes of our English Religions confirme this 6. Lastly As carnal policy ever fals into the pit it digs and trips up its own heels so I shall end this passage with two paradoxes and yet dear peace thou and I have found them most lamentably true in all ages Peace God delights to befool the wise and high in their own conceit with paradoxes even such as the wisdome of this world thinks madness but I attend to hear them Truth First then The straining of mens cinsciences by civil power is so far from making men faithful to God or man that it is the ready way to render a man false to both my ground is this civil and corporal punishment do usually cause men to play the hypocrite and dissemble in their Religion to turn and return with the tide as all experience in the nations of the world doth testifie now This binding and rebinding of conscience contrary or without its own perswasion so weakens and defiles it that it as all other faculties loseth its strength and the very nature of a common honest conscience Hence it is that even our own histories testifie that where the civil sword and carnal power hath made a change upon the consciences of men those consciences have been given up not only to spiritual but even to corporal filthiness and bloody and mad oppressing each other as in the Marian bloody times c. Peace Indeed no people so inforced as the Papists and the
Mahumeâ—ans and no people more filthy in soul and body and no people in the world more bloody and persecuting but I listen for your second paradox Truth Secondly This Tenent of the Magistrates keeping the church from Apostatizing by practising civil force upon the consciences of men is so far from preserving Religion pure that it is a mighty Bulwark or Barricado to keep out all true Religion yea and all godly Magistrates for ever coming into the World Peace Doubtless this will seem a hard riddle yet I presume not too hard for the fingers of time and truth to unty and render easie Truth Thus I unty it If the civil Magistrate must keep the church pure then all the people of the Cities Nations and kingdomes of the world must do the same much more for primarily and fundamentally they are the civil Magistrate Now the world saith John lyeth or is situated in wickedness and conscquently according to its disposition endures not the light of Christ nor his golden candlestick the true Church nor easily chooseth a true Christian to be her officer or Megistrate for she accounts such false to her Gods and Religion and suspects their faithfulness c. Peace Hence indeed is it as I now conceive that so rarely this world admitâ—eth or not long continueth a true servant of God in any place of trust â—â—d credit except some extraordinary hand of God over-power or else his servants by some base staires of Flattery or worldly compliance ascend the chaire of Civil-power But to proceed saith Master Cotton It was the duty of Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings because they were an holy people and is it not the duty of godly Princes to reduce their backsliding Churches to their primitive purity It is true saith he David and Solomon were types of Christ but so were not the other Kings of Israel and Judah who were the one the kings of Israel all Apostates and the other the kings of Judah many of them Apostate from Christ And Secondly If they were saith he all types of Christ yet Christ being the Antitype Christ hath abolished them all and so it were sacriledge or Antichristian usurpation for any king to be set over Christians Or if they were types of Christ in respect of their kingly office over the Church alone was it typical in Solomon to put Joab a murtherer to death or Adonijah a traitor and so consequently unlawful for Christian Princes to put murtherers and traitors to death Further saith he What those kings might do in type Christ Jesus might much more do in his own person as the Antitype but he put no man to death in his own person and therefore they were not types but servants of Christ and paterns and examples to Christian Magistrates yea Ahab who should have put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy Truth I understand those kings of Israel and Judah untill their cutting off or excommunicating out of the land of Canaan to be yet visible members of the church of Israel and Judah and as kings of Israel and Judah types of Christ Jesus partly in his own person who did that being the true spiritual king of Israel which they did or should have done in that typical national church or land of Israel and 2 partly in the officers of his kingly power and government of his church which officers and church falling away untill an absolute cutting off are the Antitypes in respect of visible government of those former kings of Israel and Judah Peace Can it be imagined that those wicked Kings Jeroboam Baasha Ahab c. were figures of Christ Jesus Truth Master Cotton himself grants David and Solomon types of Christ Jesus and yet how abominable and monstrous some of their practices we must therefore distinguish between their persons and sins and frailties As kings of Israel Gods Church and people doubtless they were the figures of the K. of Israel Christ Iesus yea it is probable that the land of Canaan with the officers and governors thereof before Christ time was but a figure of the spiritual land or Christian church with the officers governors administrations therof good and evil Although the applying of the times and persons each to other requires a more then ordinary guidance of the finger or holy Spirit of God Peace I remember that some of eminent note for knowledge and godliness have not stuck to affirme that the Gentile Prince Cyrus as he was called Gods servant anointed or Christ Isa 44 I say that he in a respect as a restorer of Gods people was a figure of Christ Iesus Truth It is not improbable but that the most holy and only wise whose works are known unto himself from the beginning of the world did by such famous instruments of mercy to the literal Iew type out Christ Iesus and his heavenly instruments mercy and goodness to the mystical and spiritual Christian Iews c. Examination of CHAP. XXXVI and XXXVII Peace IN these passages Master Cotton first questions having not his copy by him the truth of some expressions printed as his Truth It is at hand for Master Cotton or any to see that copy which he gave forth and corrected in some places with his own hand and every word verbatiâ—â— here published 2. To the answer it self or reproof of the Lord Iesus given to his disciples for their bloody and rash zeal desiring fire to come down from heaven c. we both agree that Christs rebuking of his disciples did not hinder the Ministers of the Gospel from proceeding in a Church-way c. 2. That false â—persecution in a churchway is as odious and dreadful a persecution as any prosecution â— a court of civil justice as also that this is not the point intended though it be reckoned up with the rest Peace I marvel at that which follows where Master Cotton saith that it never fell from his pen in any writing of his viz. that it is lawful for a eivil Magistrate to inflict corporal punishment upon such as are contrary indeed in matters of Religion and therefore he passeth by the discussers reasons as which might well have been spared being brought but against a shadow of his own fancy Truth I am not able to imagine what Master Cotton meanes by such as are contrary minded against whom he will not in this Chapter maintaine any corporal punishment to be inflicted when in so many of his writings and throughout his whole book he maintaines corporal punishment and that to death it self in many cases against the idolatrous the blasphemous the heretical the seducing yea the degenerate and Apostate Peace Love bids us take this passage as a pang of reluctancy in his other wise-holy and peaceable breast against such unholy bloody Tenents But what say you to the passage about the second beast bringing fire from heaven Rev. 13. This was no wonder saith Master Cotton for
most hypocritically without shame in the bowels of Christ Jesus to Minister justice with such moderation that if it be possible the hereticks soul may be saved but however the flock may be preserved from such â—damnable Doctrine Peace Master Cotton will here blame the alleadging of this for the Popish Religion is false but their true c. Truth T is true the Papists Religion is false yet Master Cotton cannot pass without suspition to be too neer of kin to the bloody Papist to whom they are so neer in practice The Lord Jesus gave an everlasting rule to his poor servants to discern all false prophets by to wit their fruits and bloody practices But Secondly The holy Spirit of God in this 2 to Tim. now insisted on not only commands Timothy to exhort the opposite but patiently to wait and attend Gods will if peradventure God will give repentance and that they may recover themselves c. Peace Master Cotton will not deny together with meek exhortation patient waiting c. Truth Why then doth he limit the holy one of Israel to dayes or moneths Three months was by the law in Massachusets in New England the time of patience to the excommunicate before the secular power was to deal with him But we finde no time limited nor no direction given to Timothy or his successors to prosecute the opposite before Caesar bar in case God vouchsafed not repentance upon their means and waiting 3. Christ Jesus hath not been without bowels of compassion in all his gracious care and provision he hath made for his sheep and lambs against the spiritual Wolves and Foxes although we read not a word of the arme of flesh and sword of steel appointed by himself for their defence in his most blessed last Will and Testament 4. Lastly to that instance of the Donatists and Papists suppressed by the civil sword no question but as before a civil sword is able among civil people to make a whole nation or world of hypocrites and yet experience also testifies however Master Cotton makes it but accidental that it is the common and ordinary â—ffect of the civil sword drawn forth as they speak against hereticks seducers c. to harden the seducers and seduced by their sufferings and to beget no other opinion in their hearts then of the cruelty and weakness of the heart and cause of their persecutors Peace There hath been no small noise of Master Goâ—â—ons and his friends being disciplined or as the Papists call it discipled in the Schoole of the New English churches It is worth the inquiry to ask what conviction and conversion hath all their hostilities captivatings courtings imprisonings chainings banishings c. wrought upon them Truth Shall I speak my thoughts without partiality I am no more of Master Gortons Religion then of Master Cottons and yet if Master Cotton complaine of their obstinacy in their way I cannot but impute it to this bloody tenent and practice which ordinarily doth give strength and vigour spirit and resolution to the most erroneous when such unrighteous and most unchristian proceedings are exercised against them Peace Touching the Edict of Antoninus Pius concerning persecution of Christians and the opinion it begat in their hearts of the cruelty of their persecutors Master Cotton answers first the Pagan Religion is not of God but the Religion of Christians came down from Heaven in the Gospel-truth Truth This is most true to him that believeth that there is but one God one Lord one Spirit one baptism one body c. according to Christ Jesus his institution and that from that blessed estate the Apostacy hath been made and that all other Gods Lords Spirits Faiths Baptisms or churches are false But what is this to many millions of men and women in so many kingdomes and nations Cities and parts of the world who believe as confidently their lies of many Gods and Christs all which they believe as the Ephesians of their Diana and of the image of Jupiter and as Master Cotton of the way of his Religion that they come down from heaven Peace Doubtless according to their belief all the peoples of those nations kingdoms and countries wherein the name of Christ is sounded whether of the greek church or the latine whether of Popish or Protestant profession will say as Master Cotton my religion came down from heaven in the Gospel of Truth c. Truth Now then either the sword of steel must decide this controversie according to the bloody tenent of persecution in the suppressing of hereticks blasphemers idolaters and seducers by the strength of an arme of flesh or else the two-edged-sword of the Spirit of God the word of God coming out of the mouth of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants which will either humble and subdue the Rebels or cut most deep and kill with an eternal vengeance Peace But saith Master Cotton it will beget an opinion of cruelty to murther innocents but not to put to death murtherers of souls Truth I answer beside that great and common difference of civil murther and spiritual there is a second to wit that in the murther of an innocent the conscience of a murtherer is opened and commonly the mouth confesseth I am a murtherer I have killed an innocent but run through all the coasts and quarters of the whole world and the very consciences of so many thousands of soul murtherers are rootedly satisfied and perswaded that they are so far from being murtherers as that they are so many saviours of the souls of men and Priests and Ministers of the most high God or Gods c. Peace For instance if a man say Master Cotton is a subject of the state of England and a Minister of that worship which he believeth to be true confirmed by argument and light sufficient to his understanding soul and conscience How many thousand are there fellow subjects with Master Cotton to the English state yet of a contrary mind to Master Cotton in matter of Gods worship yea how many are there it may be thousands professing a Ministery contrary to Master Cottons and the like may be found in other nations and parts of the world Truth What true reason of justice peace or common safety of the whole can be rendred to the world why Master Cottons conscience and Ministry must be maintained by the sword more then the consciences and Ministeries of his other fellow-subjects Why should he be accounted I mean at the bar of civil justice I say accounted a soul Saviour and all other Ministers of other Religions and consciences soul-murtherers and so be executed as murtherers or forced to temporize or turn from their Religion which is but hypocrisie in Religion against their conscience which is ten thousand times worse and renders men when they sin against their conscience not only hypocrites but Atheists and so fit for the practise of any evil murthers adulteries treasons c
contradict Master Cottons church way though before dear brethren familiar and intimate he not only drives them out as wolves blasphemers seducers c. by his pretended spiritual weapons of Christ Jesus but also by civil sword imprisoning banishing whipping c. But more particularly The discusser indeed useth this word the same power but not as Master Cotton seemeth to understand it for the same weapon He hath in this very place printed the discussers words that a staff is for the wolfe and a rod or hook for the sheep The dog that teares the wolf is but to affright the sheep and consequently the father that hath a stick or rod for the child But yet these swords staves-sticks and rods are all of the same nature in general that is of a material temporal and civil nature which may be used about natural wolves sheep children c. And if they may be used also about spiritual or mystical wolves to force them out it is as cleare as the Sun-Beames that they may be used that is such civil weapons as are fit for mystical wolves to force them into the sheepfold And thus have all Popish persecutors practised in our own and other countries to wit by civil power as well as by their own pretended spiritual in forcing their supposed sheep to church and to conformity as well as by whips and Prisons Ropes and Fires driving out the supposed wolves or hereticks Peace In the close of this Master Cotton adds that Rev. 6. 6. the Antichristian wolves shall drink blood for they are worthy Truth I have in former passages declared the misconceit of Master Cotton and others as touching that Scripture and that although they shall drink blood filled out of the cups of Gods righteous vengeance yet not by judicial prosecution in civil courts for spiritual offences although yet it is most righteous for the kings and powers of the earth meerly with respect to these wolves their oppressions and bloodsheddings to repay them again with the like smart and paine and kinds of punishment Peace Yea and t is for ever memorable that while the kings of the earth have given their power to the beast against the bodies of the Saints what cups of blood hath the righteous hand of the most high filled to Antichristian kings and kingdomes by the bloody Turkes and by their own more bloody wars sometimes for the empty puffs of their titles and honors but as frequently for God as they pretend and for his Religion Examination of CHAP. XLII Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton chargeth the discusser for making work to wit for examining more particularly the similitude of wolves brought in by Master Cotton himself yet he consenteth with him in the first quaery that those Wolves of which Paul warns the elders at Ephesus were mystical and spiritual wolves yet he adds that such cannot be good subjects loving neighbors faire dealers because they spiritually are not such and he argues that then it will be no advantage to civil states when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord and that then they may do as good service to the civil state who bring the wrath of God upon them by their apostacy as they that bring dow blessings from heaven by profession and practise of the true religion in purity Truth I desire that this reply be well pondred for it will be found dangerously destâ—â—ctive to the very roots of all civil relations converse and dealing yea and any civil being of the world it self For if none be peaceable subjects loving neighbors faire dealers but such of Master Cottons conscience and religion which he conceives to be the only true religion what will become of all other states governments cities towns peoples families neighbors upon the face of the earth I say what will become of them especially if power were in Master Cottons hand to deal with them as Wolves Peace Alas too too frequent experience tels us in all parts of the world that many thousands are far more peaceable subjects more loving and helpful neighbors and more true and fair dealers in civil conversation then many who account themselves to be the only religious people in the world Truth But againe What the state of things shall be and what the manner of the administration of Christs kingdome when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Master Cotton doth not express and for wrath brought upon civil states for their apostacy I' desire Master Cotton to shew where ever God destroyed any Nation in the world one only excepted for Apostacy from his truth and worship Yea and where was ever Israel the only true national church that Master Cotton will acknowledge meerly for apostasie destroyed without general ripeness in other sins also and especially for their persecuting of such as declared their apostasie superstition and will-worship from God unto them Peace In the next place Master Cotton granting that the charge given to watch against these Wolves was not given to the Magistrates of the City of Ephesus but to the elders of the church of Christ in Ephesus he yet chargeth the discusser with a palpable and notorious slander for saying that many of those charges and exhortations given by the Lord Jesus to the shepherds and Ministers of the churches are commonly attributed by the answerer in this discourse to the civil Magistrate Truth This heavy charge of Master Cottons against the discusser will be found to be a fruit of Anger and passion and not of reason and moderation as also his denyal that one of those charges given to Ministers were directed by him to Magistrates For if Master Cotton or any please to view over Master Cottons allegations from the New Testament in this discourse he shall finde that Tit. 3. reject the heretick a charge given by the Lord Jesus to Titus and the church at Crete is brought for the proof of the Magistrates punishing imprisoning banishing killing the heretick idolater c. The like charges of Christ Jesus sent to the Ministers and churches of Asia for tolerating amongst them Balaam and Jezabel are produced to prove prosecutions against false Prophets and professors in the City and Commonweal Yea although Master Cotton name not Act. 20. yet in that Master Cotton affirmeth that Magistrates with the civil sword must drive away Wolves from the sheepfold of Christ the church meaning spiritual wolves false teachers he may be truly said to quote all such Scriptures as give charge against such Wolves Peace Indeed Master Cotton more then once pleaseth himself with this similitude of Wolves to prove the Magistrates piety and pity to the sheep in slaying and driving away the wolves false teachers c. Truth Hence was it for commonly where state-Religions are set up the Magistrate is but the Ministers Cane through whom the Clergy speaks I say probably hence from such misapplyed Scriptures in their churches that in
their solemn civil general court at the banishment of one poor man amongst them hunted out as a wolf or heretick the governor who then was standing up alleadged for a ground of their duty to drive away such by banishment that famous charge of Christ Jesus to his Ministers and Church at Rome Rom. 16 Marke them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you have received and avoid that is by banishment By all which and more it may be found how Sathan hath abused their godly minds and apprehensions in causing them so to abuse the holy writings of truth and Testament of Christ Jesus and that how ever they deny it in express tearms yet by most impregnable consequence and implication they make up a kind of national church and as the phrase is a Christian state and government of church and Commonweale that is of Christ and the world together Peace To proceed it being further inquired into whether in all the New Testament of Christ Jesus there be any such word of Christ either by way of command Promise or example countenancing the civil state to meddle with these mystical Wolves if in civil things peaceable and obedient Master Cotton replieth that this condition of peaceable and obedient implies a contradiction to the nature and practise of wolves How can saith he wolves be peaceable and obedient unless restrained Can there be peace Jehu so long as the whoredomes of Jezabel and her witchcrafts are so many And when it might be objected that spiritual whoredomes and witchcrafts might stand with civil peace He answers No verily for the whoredomes and witchcrafts of the Jezabel of Rome took away civil peace from the earth and brought the Turks to oppress both the peace of Christian churches and Commonweals Rev. 9. 15 21. Truth I wonder since Master Cotton in this very passage mentioneth the spiritual wolves whores and witches as well as natural and moral How he can imagine that a spiritual wolf or witch to wit so or so in matters of spiritual worship and religion might not possibly be peaceable and obedient in civil things Peace Yea but he alleadgeth the whoredomes of the Jezabel of Rome Truth Why was not the State of England the Kings and Queens and Parliaments thereof lawful as kings and states though overwhelmed and overspread universally with the Romish abominations If such wolves whores and witches could yeeld no civil obedience could they then exercise by the same argument any civil authority And shall we then conclude all the former Popish kings and Parliaments and consequently lawes unlawful because in spiritual things they were as Wolves c. tearing and burning the poor sheep of Christ will it not then be unlawful for any man that is perswaded the whole nation where he lives is idolatrous spiritually whorish c. I say unlawful for him to live in such a state although he might with freedome to his own conscience whither will such kind of arguing drive at last but to pluck up up the roots of all states and peoples in the world as not capable to yeeld civil obedience or exercise civil authority except such people Magistrates c. as are of Master Cottons church and religion Peace Methinks experience were there no Scripture nor reason might tell us how peaceable and just neighbors and dealers many thousands and millions of Jews Turks Antichristians and Pagans are to be found notwithstanding their spiritual whoredoms witchcrafts c. Truth Yea and why doth Master Cotton alleadge the Jezabel of Rome and the comming in of the Turks It is true God brought in the Armies of the Turkes upon the Eastern Empire which yet flourished many ages even in their apostacies before their destruction by the Turkes And how many ages and generations hath Iezabel of Rome sitten as a Queen in triumphant peace and glory even since the rising of the Turks and so shall sit probably in greater and greater untill the time of her appointed judgement and downfal If Christ Jesus were a true Prophet Iohn 16. outward peace prosperity riches honor is the portion of this world notwithanding their idolatries apostacies blasphemies But the portion of Christs followers like his own and both like a woman in travel paine and sorrow yea poverty and persecution untill the great day of refreshing neer approaching Peace Master Cotton againe sends us to Revelations the 16. 4 5 6 7. Truth And I must also send Master Cotton and the Reader to our disproving of that proof abovesaid Further whereas he calls Rom. 13. the great Charter for all Magistrates to deal in spiritual matters I have and shall manifest in the examinations upon that place how weak a warrant it is for the civil state and the officers thereof to conceive themselves spiritual Physitians by vertue of their office appointed by God in spiritual and soul-evils Peace Whereas it was urged that Magistrates beside their skil in civil laws and government must be able if Master Cottons bloody tenent be true as judges and heads to determine spiritual causes and controversies and that by the sight of his own eyes and not other mens Master Cotton replies that Magistrates ought to be skilled in the fundamentals of religion and that their ignorance excuseth not Truth In this passage Master Cotton waâ—eth that inference That then Magistrates must be heads and judges in spiritual causes That inference cannot possibly be avoided if we grant it their duty as Master Cotton seemes to do to pass sentence in the fundamentals of religion and in those points which have been and are so greatly controverted among all sorts of men that name the name of Christ 2. If Magistrates must thus judge reforme c. where hath been the care of Christ Iesus to appoint in all parts of the world such Magistrates as might take care of his religion and worship why hath he not furnished them with some capacity and ability to the work Peace It is lamentable to think that most of the Magistrates in the world beyond compare know not so much as whether there be a Christ or no. Truth If Christ Iesus had forgotten himself for three hundred yeers together furnishing his church with no other heads but of Wolves Bear Lyons and Tygers the Romane Emperors yet after a little refreshing by Constantine Theodosius c. why should he still forget himself even a thousand yeers together providing no other heads but bloody and Popish kings and Emperors Peace What think you dear truth of Master Cottons grant of Gallios not being bound to judge in matters of religion because he had no Law from Caesar whose deputy he was Truth I answer what if he had not a law from Caesar if yet he had a law from Christ Iesus as Master Cotton implies Or will Master Cotton suspend the execution of Christs will upon the kings states or peoples minds that choose such Magistrates to be their deputies in the Commonweale But the
Christs Ministers in the Gospel and Christs Ministers in the civil state Truth There is a mistake in it for although Christ hath all power delivered to him in heave and earth yet as touching his spiritual church or kingdome he disclaimes it to be of the world or worldly Hence cannot the civil state or officers thereof be called Christs as if they were of Christs institution and appointment himself being their spiritual head And therefore it is that the Spirit of God cals him the head of the body which is the church and the Ministers and officers of this his kingdome and body Christs Ministers or servants Beside Master Cotton will not say that the kingdomes of the world are yet become the Lord Christs In what manner also those kingdomes shall become his we have need of the holy Spirit to evidence and demonstrate to us Peace To the fifth query whether as men deal with wolves these wolves at Ephesus were intended by Paul to be killed their braines dasht out with stones staves halberts guns c. in the hands of the elders of Ephesus Master Cotton replies Elders must keep within the bounds of their calling But such courses were commanded the people of God by order from the Judges Deut. 13. And where it was added that comparing Things spiritual with spiritual spiritual and mystical wolves should be spiritually and mystically slaine Master Cotton replies True but in destroying religion they also disturbe the civil state and accordingly are to be dealt withal by civil Justice as Achan was for troubling Israel Iosh 7. 25. Truth This acknowledgement of Master Cotton that these wolves must spiritually be killed their braines dasht out by the elders and Saints might if the Lord should graciously so please easily satisfie himself and all men that the type of Israel stoning and killing corporally is here fulfilled in all dreadful abundance spiritually Peace Yea but saith Master Cotton they disturbe the civil state as Achan did Truth I answer Achan troubling of Israel the people of the Lord must figure out any such like troubling Gods Israel the church of Christ for which he is accordingly to be spiritually stoned or executed For as touching the civil state of the nations of the world who can prove and Master Cotton will not affirme that they are as the national church of the Iews was but being meerly civil are armed with civil power and weapons for their civil defence against all disturbers of their civil state as also Master Cotton confesseth the spiritual state is furnished with spiritual power against all the disturbers of its spiritual peace and safety Peace Now whereas it was further added that under pretence of driving away the wolves and preserving the sheep that streams of the blood of Saints have been spilt c. Master Cotton replies belike it is a milky and peaceable and Gospel-like Doctrine that the wolves hereticks are to be tolerated not an haire strook from their heads but for the poor sheep for whom Christ died let them perish unless Christ mean to preserve them alone with his immediate hand and no care of them belongs to the civil Magistrate Truth I have here in this discourse shewed with what honorable and tender respect every civil Magistrate is bound to honor and tender Christ Iesus in his christian sheep and shepherds but withall that it is against christianity for the civil Magistrate or civil state to imagine that all a whole nation was or ever will be called to the union of Gods Spirit in communion with God in Christ Also that it is against civil justice for the civil state or officers thereof to deal so partially in matters of God as to permit to some the freedome of their consciences and worships but to curbe and suppress the consciences and souls of all others of their free-born people c. Peace To end this Chapter whereas it was said is not this to take Christ and to make him a temporal king by force Is not this to make his kingdom of this world and to set up a civil and temporal Israel To bound out a new holy land of Canaan yea and to set up a Spanish inquisition in all parts of the world to the speedy destruction of millions of souls and to the frustrating of the sweet end of the coming of the Lord Iesus which was to save mens souls and to that end not to destroy mens bodies by his own blood To this Master Cotton replies when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Rev. 11. it is not by making Christ a temporal king but by making temporal kings nursing fathers to the Church Truth If the Scripture At the sound of the seventh trumpet which is the last of the great woes when the time of Gods wrath shall be come be to be understood of the removing of the kingdomes of the world unto Christ Master Cotton cannot excuse Christ Iesus from being a temporal king and the kings of the earth to be but as inferior and subordinate officers For if they administer Christs kingdome temporally as deputies officers or Ministers temporally he is much more then himself a temporal king and Monarch Peace Methinks also if that committing of all judgement to the Son Iohn 5. be meant of Temporal judgement in spiritual things then can he not be said not to be a temporal king then can he not be said when those words were spoken and ever since not to have exercised a temporal government The contrary whereof is most true both at his first coming and ever since in all generations it having been his portion and the portion of his followers to be judged by this world although himself and his judge the world spiritually and will shortly pass an eternal sentence upon all the children of men Peace Master Cotton addeth this will not set up a civil or temporal Israel unless all the members of the Commonwealth be compelled to be members of the church Truth If that will do it then Christ must be a temporal king I say then when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord for shall not the kings of the earth compel all Christs sheep to submit unto Christ Iesus their heavenly shepherd Peace Yea secondly will it not prove that all those common-weals where men are compelled explicitly or implicitly to be members of the church are holy lands of Canaan and if so Oh that Master Cotton and other worthy servants of God may timely consider whether an explicit forcing of all men to come to church because men cannot be denied to be members at least by implication with such members and congregations with whom they do ordinarily assemble and congregate although they be injuriously indeed but injuriously kept off from communion and participation of all ordinances which is indeed their right and due if they be though but implicitly constrained and forced to partake of any Againe
saith Master Cotton it is no Spanish inquisition to preserve the sheep of Christ from the ravening of the wolves but this rather which is the practice of the discusser to promote the principal end of the Spanish inquisition to advance the Romish tyranny idolatry and apostacie by proclaiming impunity to their whorish and wolvish emissaries Truth If the Nations of the world must judge as they must by Master Cottons doctrine who are Christs sheep and who are wolves which is a whore spiritually and which the true Spouse of Christ and accordingly persecute the whores and wolves this then they must do according to their conscience or else as Master Cotton elsewhere they must suspend What is this but either to set up a Spanish inquisition in all territories or else to hang up all matters of religion by this suspension he speakes of untill the civil states of the world become christian and godly and able to judge c. and what is this in effect but to practise the very thing which he chargeth on the discusser to wit a proclaimning an impunity all the world over except only in some very few and rare places where some few godly Magistrates may be found rightly informed that is according to his own conscience and religion Peace Yea further which I cannot without great horror observe what is this but to give a woful occasion at least to all Magistrates in the world who will not suspend their bloody hands from persecuting until Master Cotton shall absolve them from their suspension and declare them godly and informed and fit to draw their swords in matters of religion I say occasion at least to all the civil powers in the world to persecute as most commonly they have ever done and do Christ himself the Son of God in his poor Saints and servants Truth Yea if Master Cotton and his friends of his conscience should be cast by Gods providence whose wheels turn about continually in the depth of his councels wonderfully I say should they be cast under the reach of opposite swords will they not produce Master Cottons own bloody tenent and doctrine to warrant them according to their consciences to deal with him as a wolfe an idolater an heretick and as dangerous an emissary and seducer as any whom Master Cotton so accounteth But lastly Master Cotton hath no reason to charge the discusser with an indulgence or partiality toward Romish and wolvish emissaries his judgement and practise is known so far different that for departing too far from them as is pretended he suffers the brands and bears the marks of one of Christs poor persecuted hereticks to this day All that he pleaded for is an impartial liberty to their consciences in worshiping God as well as to the consciences and worships of other their fellow-subjects Peace When Mathias the second king of Hungary Bohemia c. afterward Emperor granted to his Protestant subjects the liberty of their consciences doubtless it had been neither prudence nor justice to have denyed equal liberty to all of them impartially But to finish this Chapter Master Cotton lastly affirmeth that it is not frustrating of the sweet end of Christs coming which was to save souls but rather a direct advancing of it to destroy if need be the bodies of those wolves who seek to destroy the souls of those for whom Christ died and whom he bought with his own blood Truth The place referred to was Luk. 9. where the Lord Jesus professeth unto the rash zeal of his Disciples desiring that fire might come down from heaven upon the refusers of Christ that he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them from whence it appears that Christ Jesus had no such intent as Master Cotton seems to make him to have had to wit to save souls by destroying of bodies but to save soul and body and that for soul sake for religion sake for his sake the bodies of none should be destroyed but permitted to enjoy a temporal being which also might prove a means of their eternal life and salvation as it may be was the very case of some of those Samaritans Examination of CHAP. XLIV Peace THe next Scripture produced by the prisoner against persecution for cause of conscience was 2 Cor. 10. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God c. unto which Master Cotton answers that he speaks not there of civil Magistrates It was replied True for in spiritual things the civil weapons were improper though in civil things most proper and suitable Master Cotton now replying grants that it is indeed improper for a Magistrate to draw his sword in matters spiritual yet saith he about matters spiritual they may as to protect in peace and to stave of disturbers and destroyers of them And he adds if it were unfitting for carpenters to bring axes and hammers to build up the spiritual kingdome of the church of Christ yet their tooles are fit to build Scaffolds for hearing Truth It is strange and in my understanding suits not with the rest of Master Cottons discurse to wit that which Master Cotton here acknowledgeth that a Magistrate is not to draw his sword in spiritual things but only about them when throughout the discourse he maintaines that the Magistrate must suppress the heretick blasphemer idolater seducer that he must reforme the church punish the apostate and keep the church in her purity which whether they be spiritual matters or no let such as be spiritual judge Peace He is saith Master Cotton to draw his sword about spiritual matters to protect in peace as a carpenter may build Scaffolds c. Truth If Master Cotton mean civil peace he knows we agree for all the officers of peace and justice ought to attend that work But if he mean spiritual to wit that by his sword he is to provide that no man dispute against his religion that no man preach nor write against it let it be well weighed whether the sword be not now used in spiritual matters As also whether in such cases and others before mentioned the civil Magistrate be not bound by Master Cottons doctrine to interpose as Judge in these controversies to pass sentence and to punish whom he judgeth delinquent notwithstanding that both parties and both religions are right and righteous and holy in their own perswasions and consciences Peace Beside I know you deny not civil conveniences in Gods worship and therefore when there is need upon occasion the help of a carpenter to build Scaffolds Truth True but since Master Cotton compares the work of the Magistrate to the building of a carpenters Scaffold let us in the fear of God consider if this similitude like some Scaffolds be not all too weak whereon to hazard so mighty a weight and burthen For what should we think of such a carpenter that after he hath built his Scaffold for people more conveniently to hear the
word of God suffers no man to preach in the whole country where his Scaffolds are set up but whom he pleaseth nor no doctrine to be taught but what he liketh no church to be gathered no persons to make up this church no persons to receive the Sacrament but what he approves of yea and further with broad axes and hammers and other tooles of violence should compel all persons directly or indirectly to come to church to make use of his Scaffold c. Whether this be not the true state of the business the Carpenters Son Christ Jesus will shortly more and more discover and break and tumble down those painted Scaffolds and fairest houses which are not built and framed according to the first most blessed line and rule of his holy institution and appointments Examination of CHAP. XLV Peace UPon the unfitness alleadged of spiritual weapons to batter a natural or artificial hold and consequently the unfitness of natural and carnal weapons to batter the spiritual strong holds in the heart Master Cotton replies that he allows not the civil state to make use of their civil weapons to batter down idolatry and heresie in the souls of men But if saith he the idolater or heretick grow obstinate worseand worse deceiving himself c. Now he maketh not use of stocks and whips which will but exasperate the malady but of death and banishment that may cut him off from the opportunity of spreading his leaven c. Truth Methinks in this passage Master Cotton resembleth an armed man who being almost convinced or overcome by the Spirit of God in the former part of this passage granting how unproper and unfit carnal weapons be in spiritual matters yet being loath to yeeld and holding up the goodness of his cause he recovers again and grows more fierce and violent for bearing more gentle stroaks of stocks and whips he cuts deeper with no less then quick and dreadful gashings of death or Banishment that the world were he one of the worlds Monarchs may be rid of such 〈…〉 Peace Oh How can Master Cotton wash this Tenent from blood Truth Yea whether this tenent be not invented as once that learned chancellor of England said of all violence against conscience for an end or interest or as that incarnate devil the Pope said more plainly of the fable of Christ for honor and profit shall further be examined Peace But who can read the bloody colour in this book and yet believe what Master Cotton elsewhere saith that he holds not persecution for cause of conscience Truth Lastly I aske whether is it not the same skill and power of Physick and Surgery that preserves the body and each member in health and welfare with that which cuts off as Master Cotton speaks the Gangrene c and since also t is in vaine to go about when the next way is as good or better what means then Master Cotton to bring in the Magistrate using spiritual means in all lenity and wisdome against heresie and idolatry in the souls of men since death or banishment will effect the cure so quickely Peace To proceed whereas it was urged that although civil weapons were proper in spiritual matters yet they were not necessary c. Master Cotton replies this is but a meer pretence because the discusser saith he denies all Church officers and Church weapons Truth This formerly was cleered from all appearance of pretence because during all the reign of the beast the discusser granteth the impregnable power of the spiritual weapons of Christs witnesses Rev. 11. although he see not extant the true form and order of the kingdome of Christ Jesus which at first he was pleased to establish Peace Master Cotton adds Although spiritual weapons are mighty to purge out leaven and to mortifie the flesh of offenders yet that is not a supersedeas to civil Magistrates to neglect to punish those sins which the church hath censured if the person censured do proceed to subvert the truth of the Gospel or the peace of the church or the souls of the people Truth Why must the Magistrate stay until the party censured do proceed so and so Why could not he have spared the drawing forth of any spiritual weapons since they are so effectual to do that which was not in the power and reach of the spiritual Why was not the first obstinacy which merited the spiritual stroaks and cersures worthy of the exercise of the civil Magistrates power and zeale Peace Me thinks this is an evident demonstration that men repose more confidence however they deceive themselves to the contrary in the sword of steel that hangs by the side of the civil officer then in the two-edged sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Jesus Rev. 1. Truth The truth is such doctrine makes Christs spiritual sword but serviceable and subordinate unto the temporal or worldly powers and presents the church but making essayes and trials of that cure which death and banishment gilded over with pretence of Gods glory c. they think will not faile to effect c. Peace More plainly therefore writes another Author of Master Cottons mind thus It is known by experience that one reproof or threatning from the Magistrate hath been known to do more then an hundred admonitions from the Minister Truth Yea no question to force a nation or a world of men to play the idolaters hypocrites c. but Gods true servants of whom these three famous Jews are type Dan. 3. know that God whom they serve is able to deliver them from such fiery threatnings and executions But if he please to try them as his gold in such fiery tryals they will not bow down to invented gods or worships Peace Methinks dear truth such Ministers deal upon the point and in effect with the civil Magistrate just as that ambitious Pope with the Emperors to wit make them hold the stirrop while they mount c. But I grieve c. What think you therefore of Master Cottons censure of the rest of the discourse in this Chapter to wit that it is but as Jude speaks clouds without waters words without matter c. Truth I will say no more but this Happily through Gods mercy Master Cottons censure may occasion some to view what he despiseth yea and happily to finde some heavenly drops out of those contemned empty clouds Examination of CHAP. XLVI Peace THe 13 to the Rom. which the answerer quotes is a fort of of such importance in so many controversies depending between the Papist and the Protestant and between many Protestants among themselves that all seek to gaine and win it In this present controversive I finde a wonderful wresting of this holy Scripture even by many holy and peaceable though herein violent and sinful hands and let the charge be examined in the fear of God whether slanderous as Master Cotton intimates or true and righteous Master Cotton freely grants that this
also called by the Prophets Ichovah's Land Emanuels land which names and titles I think Master Cotton will not say are competent and appliable to any other Lands or Countries under the Gospel but onely to the Spiritual Canaan or Israel the Church and people of God the true and onely Christendome Peace But Fourthly saith he they are called Gods and shall they not attend Gods work Truth In the state of Israel they were Gods deputies to attend the causes of Israel the then onely Church of God But Master Cotton can produce no parallel to that but the Christian Churches and people of God not national but Congregational c. 2. Grant the Magistrates to be as Gods or strong ones in a Resemblance to God in all Nations of the world yet that is still within the compass of their calling which being confessed to be essentially civil the civil work of these servants of the Common-weal is Gods work as well as Paul calls in a sence the work of the servants of the Family Gods work for which he pays the wages Eph. 5. Lastly for spiritual causes we know the Lord Iesus is call'd God Psal 45. Heb. 1. whose Scepter and Kingdome being essentially spiritual the administrations which he hath appointed are also spiritual and of an heavenly and soul Nature Peace Master Cotton Fifthly adds Revel 17. The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Truth How the Kingdomes of the World shall become the Kingdomes of Christ is no smal mystery and controversie but grant it to be true that either Christ Iesus personally or by his Deputies the Saints shall rule all the Nations of the world in hearing and determining all civil Controversies Yet why doth Master Cotton draw an Argument from this Prophecie of what shall be in one Age or Time of the World and to come to prove an Vniversal power and Exercise of such power in all Ages and times since Christ Iesus his first comming to this day Peace Me thinks Master Cotton may as well argue that because it was prophesied that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a child in Gods appointed season that therefore all Virgins must so conceive and so being in forth all ages of the world But Lastly saith Master Cotton although the nations have not that typical holiness which the nation of Israel had Yet all the Churches of the Saints have as much truth and realty of holiness as Israel had And therefore what holy care of Religion lay upon the Kings of Israel in the Old Testament the same lyeth now upon Christian Kings in the New Testament to protect the same in their Churches Truth Oh how neer the precious Iewels and Bargains of Truth come sometimes Gods Saints and yet miss of the finding and going through with it The chucrhes of the New Testament Master Cotton grants succeed the Church of Israel The Kings and Governours therefore of the churches of Christ must succeed those Kings What King and Governours of Israel are now to be found in the Gospel but Christ Iesus and his Servants deputed in his absence which are all of a spiritual consideration What is this to the Nations Kings and Governours of the world where few Kings few Nobles few Wise are cald to profess Christ Is not Christ Iesus the onely King of Israel and are not all his holy ones made Kings and Priests unto God And unto his Saints and his spiritual officers Administration in the midst of them is his Kingdomes power committed in his absence This spiritual power however the Pope and prelates Kings and Princes Parliaments and General Courts and their respective Officers of Justice to be honoured and obeyed in civil things I say however they have challenged and assumed this Kingly Power of the Son of God yet the King of Kings Christ Jesus hath begun to discover and will never leave until he hath made it clear as the Sun Beames that he is robd of his crown and will shake and break all the nations and Powers of the world until his Heavenly crown be again restored Examination of CHAP. LI. Peace TO the fourth Argument Rom. 13. from the civil rewards due to Magistrates to wit custom Tribute c. Master Cotton replies That even the contributions of the Saints are called carnal things shall therefore their work be called carnal It is true saith he the contributions of the Saints are called holy because they are given to God for his service about holy things So the reward given to Magistrates is for their service about Righteous things And it is righteous saith he to preserve the purity of Doctrine VVorship and Government which if Magistrates do not they do not deserve all their wages Truth It is true that money or monies-worth is the same for value in the contribution of the Saints and in that of custome tribute and yet Master Cotton grants a Holiness of the Saints contribution which he doth not affirme of custome tribute c. There is also a two fold way disputed of preserving of the purity of Doctrine worship c. First That which I plead for by spiritual weapons appointed by Christ Iesus Secondly that of Civil weapons Force of Armes c. which Master Cotton affirmes and I deny to be ever appointed by Christ Iesus or able to accomplish a spiritual end but the Contrary Peace Me thinks Master Cottons addition not a little concernes my self in the peace of all Citties and Kingdomes for if as Master Cotton saith Magistrates shall not deserve all their wages except they preserve the purity of Doctrine worship c. which upon the point is that Doctrine Worship and Government Master Cotton approves of what is this in effect but to deny tribute custome subsidies c. to Caesar the Kings and Governours of the Earth if they prove Hereticks Idolaters c. I cannot see but this in plaine English tendeth to little less then the Popish bloudy Doctrine of deposing heretical Kings c. But Master Cotton further adds that spiritual wages are to be paid to Magistrates 1 Tim. 2. to wit Prayers Intercessions c. If therefore saith he the Magistrates suffer their Subjects to live a quiet life in ungodliness and Dishanesty the Magistrate fals short of returning spiritual recompence for the spiritual Duties and services performed for them Truth Those prayers are not the proper wages paid to Magistrates for their work for then should they not be paid as the Spirit of God there exhorteth to all men whether Magistrates or not Peace And I may add nor paid to those Magistrates that are Idolatrous Blasphemous Persecutors But those prayers were to be poured forth for such Magistrates such as most of the Magistrates in the world then were and are Those prayers then were a general Duty to be paid to all men and especially to the chiefe and principal Kings and all that are in Authority Truth Now further wherein it
is said that such Magistrates as suffer the people to live in ungodliness fall short in returning spiritual Recompence I answer By this Doctrine most of the free Inhabitants of the world who live in ignorance of God and in abominable Religions without him must yet be supposed to choose and set up such Ministers or Servants of civil Justice amongst them who during their termes of administration or service should not suffer their Choosers and Makers to enjoy their owne Conscience but force them to that which their Officers shall judge to be Godliness but the neck of no free people can bow to such a Yoak and Tyrany Peace But lastly to that Argument of Rom. 13. from the title which God gives to Magistrates to wit Gods Ministers and to the Distinction of Spiritual Ministers for spiritual and civil Ministers for civil matters Master Cotton replies If Magistrates be Gods Ministers or Servants then must they do his work and be for God in matters of Religion And further saith he Magistracy is of God for light of Nature and not onely for civil things but also in matters of Religion and he produceth divers instantces of Pagans zeal for their Religion and worship Truth Because Magistrates are Gods Servants or Ministers civil and receive civil wages for their civil service will it therefore follow that they must attend and that chiefly and principally a spiritual work That noble-man or Lord that sets one to keep his children and another to keep his sheep expects not of him appointed to keep his sheep though a Minister or Servant to attend upon the keeping of his children nor expects he of the waiter on his children to attend the keeping of his sheep T is true that Magistrasie is of God but yet no otherwise then Mariage is being an estate meerly civil and humane and lawfull to all Nations of the World that know not God T is true that Magistrates be of God from the light of nature but yet as the Religions of the World and the worlds zealous contending for them with persecuting of others are from the Father of lies and murther from the beginning so seldome is it seen that the nations of the world have persecuted or punished any for error but for the truth condemned for error Peace Alas who sees not that all nations and people bow down to Idels and Images as all the world did to Nebuchaduezzars Image If any amongst them differ from them it is commonly in in some truths which God hath sent amongst them for witnessing of which they are persecuted Truth Your observation deare peace is evident from the cases of those Philosophers by Master Cotton alledged how weak and poor therefore is that Argument from the zeal of Pagans c. It is evident that such Builders frame by no other then that of nature depraved and rotten and not by the Goulden reed of the glorious gospel of Christ Jesus Examination of CHAP. LI. Peace IN the discourse concerning that terme Evil Master Cotton produceth Pareus who makes that Evil punishable by the Magistrate fourfold natural civil moral and spiritual Truth That excellent and holy witness of Christ Jesus in many of his precious truths Pareus being here produced without Scripture or Argument for the Magistrates punishing of the fourth sort of evil to wit spiritual nor answering my Arguments brought against such an Interpretation gives me occasion of no further answer to Master Cotton or him in this place Peace Whereas it was alleadged that the Elders of the New English Churches in the model prohibite expresly the Magistrates from the punishing or taking notice of some Evils and that therefore as they ascribe to the Civil Magistrates more then God gives so they take away and disrobe him of that Authority which God hath cloathed him with Master Cotton replies when we say that the Magistrate is an avenger of evil we mean of all sorts or kindes of evil and not every particular of each kind and further he saith that domestick evils may be healed in a domestick way Truth I readily concur with him that the Magistrate may not punish evils that he knowes not of in a due and orderly way sufficiently proved before him as also that many domestick evils are best healed in a domestick way but yet that Limitation added to wit without acquainting the Church first seems to bind the Magistrates hand where no true Church of Christ is to acquaint with such things yea and further where it is why should the Magistrate be denied to exercise his power in cases meerly civil the old practice of the Popish Church And to whom should the Servant or Child or Wife petition and complaine against oppression unless to the publike Father Master and Husband of the Common-weal And therefore from their own Interpretation they may well spare that strict and literal aception of the word evil and cease to cry Heresie is evil Idolatrie evil Blasphemie evill c. Examination of CHAP. LIII Answering to Chap. LIII LIV LV. Peace IN these three Chapters the last Reason which the Author of the Arguments against persecution produced was discussed to wit that the disâ—â—ples of Christ should be so far from persecuting that contrariwise they ought to bless such as curse them c. and that because of the freeness of Gods grace and the deepness of his counsels calling home them that be enemies persecutors no people yea some at the last hour In answer to which Master Cotton complaineth that two of his Answers were omitted and suspecteth that as children skip over hard places so they were skipt over c. Truth It is true those two answers were omitted not because the chapter was too hard c. but because the Discusser saw nor sees not any controversie or difference between Master Cotton and himself in those passages and also studying brevity and contraction as Master Cotton himself hath done omitting far more and contracting three Chapters in one in this very passage Upon the same ground I see no need of mentioning his Reply in these three Chapters wherein Master Cotton concurs in the point of the necessity of tolerating even notorious offenders in the State in some cases Peace The result of all agitations in this passage is this Master Cotton denies not but that in some cases a notorious malefactor may be tolerated and consequently as I understand him an â—â—reâ—iâ—k seducer c. But that ordinarily it is not lawful to tolerate a seducing teacher and that from the clearness of Gods command Deut. 13. and from the reason of it vers 10 Because he hath sought to turn thee away from the Lord thy God Withal he concludes that all Moses capital Politicks are eternal Truth Thus far is gained that it was no vain exception against Master Cotton's general proposition to wit that it is evil to tolerate notorious evil doers seducing teachers scandalous livers because he sees cause of toleration in
some cases Peace Yea but saith he In ordinary cases it is not lawful to tolerate from Deut. 13. Truth I am of Master Cotton's minde It is not lawful for Israel that is the Church of God to tolerate and the reason it pleaseth the Lord to alleadge is eternal But what is this to the nations of the world the states cities and kingdoms thereof Let Master Cotton finde out any such land or state that is the Church and Israel of God Yea Master Cotton confesseth in a fore-going passage that the Church is the Israel of God Then must he with me acknowledge that this Deut. 13. only concerns the Israel or Church of God whom Christ Jesus furnished with spiritual weapons against such spiritual offenders Peace But I wonder that Master Cotton should say that Moses capitals are eternal Truth I wonder not because I have seen in print sixteen or seventeen capital evils a great part of them of a spiritual nature censured with death in New England And yet again me thinks it is wonderful since Master Cotton knows how many of Moses capitals were of a ceremonial nature The breach of the sabbath the not coming to keep the passeover for neglect whereof the Israelites were to be put to death how can Master Cotton make these eternal in all nations Peace How many millions of millions of Heads and not a few of the highest in our own and other Nations would soon feel the capital calamity of such a capital bloody Tenent if Master Cotton swayed the Scepter of some of the worlds former or present Caesars Truth And yet I readily affirm that spiritually and mystically in the Church and Kingdom of Christ such evils are to be spiritually and so eternally punished CHAP. LIV Replying to Chap. LVI Examined Peace IN this 56 Chap. were observed two evils in Mr. Cottons conjoyning of seducing teachers and scandalous livers as the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress and punish Unto which Master Cotton replies First That he no where makes it the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress seducing teachers and scandalous livers saying that it ought to be the care of the church to suppress and punish seducing teachers and scandalous livers in a church-way as well as the Magistrates in a civil way Truth By this Doctrine Master Cotton will seem to deny it to be the Magistrates proper and adequate object to punish scandalous livers because the church also saith he is to make it her work also It is true if a scandalous liver be of the church and fall into any scandal she by the ruls and power of Christ ought to recover him in the spirit of meekness but yet the punishing of him with temporal punishment who will deny it to be the proper work of the civil state But Secondly what if the seducing teacher or scandalous liver be neither of them members of the Church and the church hath nought to do to judge them without will not Master Cotton then affirm the seducing Teacher or scandalous liver to be the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work Peace When it was excepted against that things of such a different nature and kind as seducing Teachers and scandalous livers should be coupled together at the civil Bar Master Cotton replies that both these agree in one common kind to wit they are evil and destructive to the common good of Gods people which ought to be preserved both in church and Commonweal If a man shall say saith he that the work of creation on the sixth day was either of man or of Beast is here any such commiâ—ture Truth Were Master Cotton the worlds Monarch what bloody reformations or destructions rather would he fill the world withal if he walk by such rules and principles for what religions or almost men all the world over would he finde not opposite and destructive to Gods people 2. But Secondly an historical narration of Gods works on man or Beast Birds Fishes and all creatures Coelestial and Terrestial is one thing But to mix them together in doings or sufferings inconsistent with and improper to their kinds is another thing far different and insufferable As for a man to affirme that a man and a beast â—in'd against their Maker and therefore were justly punished with spiritual blindness and hardness of heart loss of Gods Image c. The same difference and no less is between transgressors against the heavenly state and kingdome of Christ and the earthly state or Commonweal of Cities kingdomes c. Peace Master Cotton adds that it is more tolerable for seducing Teachers to seduce those who are in the same gall of bitterness as for Pagans to seduce Pagans c. Truth That is but in the degree and so according to his supposition must be punished gradually but what is this to prove seducing Teachers as well as scandalous livers the joynt object of the civil sword Peace Why doth Master say it is more tolerable for Pagans to seduce Pagans Antichristians Antichristians What Scripture doth he produce for this toleration this indulgence this partiality All that is here said is this We look at it as more tolerable Truth One thing is shroudly to be suspect in this matter and that is a most unchristian partiality in directing the sword of the Magistrate to fall heaviest on such seducers only as trouble his conscience his Doctrine Worship and Government suppose in some of the Cities of Holland Poland or Turkie where some freedome is that Jews Pagans Antichristians and Christians that is Christians of Master Cottons conscience together with Turkes were commingled in civil cohabitation and commerce together Why now shall that Turke that hath seduced one of Master Cottons conscience to Mahumetaniâ—me be more punished for that crime then for turning a Jew Pagan or Papist to his Relief and worship What warrant shall the Magistrate of such a city or place finde to their souls either for striking at all with the civil sword in such a case or else in dealing such partial blows among the people Peace I fear that Gods own people of this opinion see not the deceitfulness of their own heart crying up the Christian Magistrate the Christian Magistrate Nursing fathers Nursing mothers c. when all is but to escape the bitter sweeting of Christs cross so dashing in pieces the most wise councels of the father concerning his blessed Son and his followers to whom he hath ordinarily alotted in this world the portion of sorrow and suffering and of raigning and triumphing after the battel fought and victory obtained in the world approaching Peace But Master Cotton will say that in such fore-mentioned cases such Magistrates must suspend punishments for religion c. Truth I say consequently all or most of the Magistrates in the world must suspend and none but some few of his conscience by his doctrine shall
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
too too like that Distinction of the bloudie Bishop against the poore Martyr or Witnes of Jesus which M r Fox mentioneth The Scripture is sufficient for Salvation but not for Instruction There is need of Tradition c. The Sword of the Spirit sayth M r Cotton is absolutely sufficient for these foure to wit the Conviction Conversion Mortification and Salvation of the offendour the Heretick yea and for a fifth for Expiation and cleansing of the Church from the Fellowship of that Guilt but there is a sixth to wit Infection and there the Sword of the Spirit is too weake and the Sword of the Magistrate must helpe Peace What sound and modest Reason can be almost pretended why the holy Ordinances Appointments and provisions of the Lord Jesus who is the Wisdome of the Father whose is all power in Heaven and in Earth and whose Heart is all on Fire with Love to his people should be so weake in suppressing the Enemies of his Kingdome that all the Counsell Order and Power he hath left in his Absence are not able to resist the Infection of false Doctrine without the helpe of the Powers of the World his professed Enemie unto whom who so is a Friend sayth John he cannot but be an Enemie unto God Oh what should be the mysterie that the two-edged Sword of Gods mighty Spirit is sufficient for Conviction for Conversion Mortification Expiation Salvation but yet not powerfull enough against Infection Truth There is written evidently on the Forehead of this plea as on the forehead of the great Whore Revel 17. Mysterie The Aegyptian Onions as I may so speake are full of Spirituall Infoldings or Mysteries One or two I shall briefly unfold or peele First the Clergie sacrilegiously so called in all Ages since the Apostasie have like some proud and daintie Servants disdain'd to serve a poore despised Christ a Carpenter one that came at last to the Gallowes c. And therefore have they ever framed to Themselves rich and Lordly pompous and Princely temporall and Worldly Christs in stead of the true Lord Jesus Christ the spirituall King of his Saints and people And however it suits well the common End to retaine the Name of Christ as the Lord Jesus prophesied many false Christs should arise and many should come in his Name c. yet most sure it will be found that a temporall Crowne and Dignitie Sword and Authoritie Wealth and Prosperitie is the White that most of those called Scholars Ministers Bishops aime and levell at How many thousand of them will readily subscribe to the pleas of the French Bishops against the Lord Peter disputing before Philip the French King for temporall Jurisdiction and Peters two Swords in the hands of Christs Ministers Peace M r Cotton is not far off for howsoever He and some will say with him one Sword is enough for a Presbyter or Elder enough for Conviction Conversion Mortification Expiation and Salvation yet one Sword is not enough against Infection and therefore it is needfull though we are not of the opinion of those French Prelates and others that challenged to themselves the Sword of temporall jurisdiction into their owne hands yet it is needfull that it be at our call in the hands of our Executioners the Civill Magistrates Truth It is impossible that temporal and worldly Christs should walke with the legs of a spirituall supportment but as in respect of outward Government they spring from the Earth and the World it is impossible I say but their Feeding and Aliment Defence and Protection should be of the nature of the Root and Eliment from whence they arise Peace It is objected was the Church of the Jewes temporall that was assisted and protected with a temporall Sword Truth The Spirit of God tels us Heb. 8 10. of a worldly Sanctuary of a weake and old vanishing Covenant to wit a Nationall Covenant and Ordinances of a Jewish Church Peace It is againe said how can the Discusser extoll the Sword of the Spirit only and acknowledge no Churches Truth Although the Discusser cannot to his Souls satisfaction conclude any of the various and severall sorts of Churches extant to be those pure golden Candlesticks framed after the first patterne Rev. 1. Yet doth he acknowledge golden Candlesticks of Christ Jesus extant those golden Olive trees and candlesticks his Martyrs or Witnesses standing before the Lord and testifying his holy Truth during all the Reign of the Beast Rev. 11. Hence although we have not satisfaction that Luther or Calvin or other precious Witnesses of Christ Jesus erected Churches or Ministeries after the first patterne as they conceived they did yet doth he affirm them to have been Prophets and witnesses against the Beast and furnished sufficiently with spirituall Fire in their mouthes mightily able to consume or humble their Enemies as Eliah did with the Captains sent out against him Peace I will object no more please you Dear Truth to passe on to the 2nd viz. the Ministry of the Spirits pretended insufficiency against Infection why should not the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus be powerful enough against creepers into Houses against such as lead captive silly souls against such as destroy the faith of some c. as well as in the first Churches and Assemblies professing his holy name and worship Truth Search his Will and Testament and we find no other but spiritual means prescribed and bequeathed by the Lord Jesus to Paul to Peter or any of the holy Apostles or Messengers Peace I must needs acknowledge that the poor servants of Christ for some hundereth of years after the departure of the Lord enjoyed no other power no other Sword nor Shield but spirituall until it pleased the Lord to try his children with Liberty and ease under Constantine a soarer Tryall then befell them in 300 years persecution under which temporall protection munificence and bounty of Constantine together with his temporall Sword drawne out against her spirituall enemies the Church of Christ soon surfeited of the too much honey of worldly ease authority profit pleasure c. Truth Deare Peace the second mistery is this In all ages the world hath been o'respread with the delusions and abominations of false worship invented by Sathan and his Instruments in opposition to the pure worship of the God of Heaven Against these the Lord Jesus hath not been wanting to stir up his witnesses servants and souldiers fighting for their Lord and Master spiritually c. These witnesses when Sathan hath not been able to vanquish and overcome them by disputing writing c. but hath ever lost that way he hath been forced to run to the fleshly Armories of temporall weapons and punishments and to fetch in the powers of the world So hoping to dash out the Candle of Truth and break the candlesticks thereof the witnesses of Christ Jesus This Sathan hath ever practised one of these two wayes sometimes
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
therefore Master Cotton elsewhere saith they must suspend to deal in Church matters untill they can judge c. And this First implies their light and judgement absolutely necessary in all such matters of the Church about which they are to Judge and act as often I affirme 2 I aske what kind of spirituall Physicians will Master Cotton have who shall be bound to suspend their power all their lives long unlesse they have skill to judge of Diseases will not the similitude hold against such spirituall Fathers Nurces Physicians who all their life long yea the greatest number beyond compare of all their spirituall Fathers upon the face of the Earth must wholly suspend from acting in spirituall diseases or cases to wit in reforming establishing c. 3 Although it excuseth not 't is true such Magistates Princes Common-wealths for making this Doctrine their ground of persecuting Christ and Christians yet doubtlesse it makes their sin the greater who feed them with such bloody Doctrines and so consequently occasion them upon the rocks of such fals and dangerous and bloudy practices Exam of Chap. 70. replying to Chap. 73. Peace IN this Chap. Dear Truth lye many stones of offence at which the feet of the unwary most easily many stumble I hope your carefull and steady hand may be a blessed Instrument of their Removall As First although Master Cotton subscribe unto Luther that the Government of the Civill Magistrate doth extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods of the subject yet saith he he may and ought to improve that power over their Bodies and Goods to the good of their Souls Truth Sweet Peace my hand the hand of Christ assisting shall not be wanting but what offence can be taken at the propositions Pea. The proposition like an aple of Sodom is fair and specious untill you crush it by examination For by maintaining the Magistrates power over the Bodies and Goods of the subject for the good of his Soul it is clear in this Chapter and others foregoing and following that Master Cottons words drive at no lesse then a seising upon and plundering of the goods the Imprisoning whipping Banishing and killing the Bodies of the poor people and this under the Cloak and colour of saving their Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus Truth The Civil State and Common-weal may be compared to a peice of Tapistry or rich Arras made up of the severall parts and parcels of the Families thereof Now by the Law of God Nature and Nations a Father hath a power over his Child the Husband over the Wife the Master over c. and doubtlesse they are to improve that power and Authority for the good of the souls of their Children Yoak-fellows c. But shall we therefore say that the Father and the Husband hath power under Christ over the conscienies and religion of the Child or Wife as a Father or Husband had under Moses Numb 30. Parents are commanded in the Gospel to bring up their Children in the instruction and fear of the Lord the Husband is commanded to labour to win and save his Wife with no other power then the Wife also her Husband whether Turke or Jew Antichristian or Pagan but such a power and sword to be improved as Mr. Cotton here pretends for soul-good Master Cotton will never finde in the Testament of Christ Jesus The Plain English is what ever be the Cloak or cover which the States Kings and Rulers of this world use in this case this terme for souls good is no more then the old Popish Jesabels painting pro salute animae pro redemptione animae or as that noble St. John observed in a speech at Guild-hall that the Kings party made use of the name of Peace as the Papists used the name of God In nomine Domini c. Peace It is most lamentable to see how the Kings of the Earth are grosly flattered by their Clergy into as grosse a belief that they are most Catholick Kings as in Spain most Christian Kings as in France Defendors of the Faith in England Hence those two bloody Persecutors of Luther Charles the Fifth and Henry the Eighth were celebrated even upon the posts of the doors in Guild-Hall Carolus Henricus vivant defensor uturque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesiae Peace And yet to what other end have or doe ordinarily the Kings of the Earth use their power and authority over the Bodies and Goods of their Subjects but for the filling of their pauâ—ches like Wolves or Lions never pacified unlesse the peoples bodies goods and Souls be sacrificed to their God-belly and their owne Gods of profit honour pleasure c. Peace But in the second place Master Cotton affirmes that by procuring the good of their souls they may much advance the good of their bodies and outward man also Truth This Proposition is as fair as the former but in the searching and crushing is as rotten for however it is most true as he quoteth 1 Tim. 4. that Godlinesse hath the promise of this Life and of a better and also that such as seek first the Kingdome of God may expect outward mercies to be cast upon them yet these promises can never by any rule of Christ be stretched to proue outward prosperity and flourishing to the followers of Christ Jesus in this present evill world Peace He that is in a pleasant Bed and Dreame though he talke Idly and insensibly yet is loath to be awaked Truth Those sweet promises supply Gods servants with what outward blessings his holy Wisdome seeth they have need of for his service But when wil Master Cotton indeed witnesse against a Nationall Church and cease to mingle Heaven and Earth the Church and worldly state together when will he cease to propose the rich and peaceable victorious and flourishing Nationall State of the Jewes as the Type of the Carnall peace and worldly wealth and honour of the spirituall Nation and Kingdome of Christ Jesus when will he more plainely and simply conforme the members to the head Christ Jesus in the Holinesse Glory of his spirituall poverty shame and sufferings Peace I have in the experience of many Ages observed the flourishing prosperity of many Cities Common wealths and Nations where no sound of Christ hath come and that for hundreths yea some thousands of years together as hath formerin this discourse been instanced Truth You have found that when the Red and Black and Pale horse of War Famine and Death have thundered upon the Nations it hath not been upon the decay of a State Religion but most commonly upon the rejecting and persecuting of the Preachers and Witnesses against it Peace Yea Master Cotton himselfe observeth that such of Gods servants as grow fattest in Godlinesse grow not outwardly in wealth but God keepeth them low in outward estate Truth I conclude this passage with an observation of constant experience ever since the Son of God ascended the
would better befit the pen of a Jew then a Christian a follower of Moses then of Jesus Christ who although he will not fayle to take care for his in Earthly Providences that make it their chiefe worke to seeke his Kingdome yet he maketh as I may say Christs Crosse the first Figure in his Alphabet taking up his Crosse and Gallowes in most ordinarie persecution which with selfe-deniall are the assured Tearmes his Servants must resolve to looke for 'T is true he promiseth and makes good an hundreth Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters Wives Children Houses and Lands But M r Cotton well knowes it is with persecution And how this outward prosperitie agrees with Imprisonments Banishments hanging burning for Christs sake the Martyrs or Witnes of Jesus in all Ages and the cry of the Soules under the Altar may bring againe to his Remembrance if New Englands peace profit pleasure and Honour have lulld him into a Forgetfulnesse of the principles of the true Lord Jesus Christ Peace But M r Cotton remembreth not the Proposition to be his to wit that the Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject Truth M r Cotton hinted not his least dissent from Luther as he otherwayes useth to doe if he disowne c. Secondly He grants it true in the object to wit that the object of the Magistrates power is the Body and Goods of the Subject though not in the End which he saith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well to administer the Common-weale Now I aske what is this Common-weale Peace The Spirit of God distinguisheth in the New Testament between the Common weales of the Nations of the World and the Common-weale of Israel The Common-weale of Israel M r Cotton will not affirme now to be a Church Provinciall Nationall Oâ—cumenicall but Particular and Congregationall Truth If so then the finall cause of both these Common weales or States cannot be the same But although the End of the Civill Magistrate be excellent to wit well to administer the Common-weale yet the end of the Spirituall Common-weale of Israel and the Officers thereof is as different and transcendent as the Heaven is from the Earth Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can it be well with the Common-wealth that injoyes bodily health and worldly wealth if there be no Christ no Church there and how was it with the Romane Empire which the Red-horse of War and Black horse of Famine and Pale horse of Pestilence would have ruined if she had not cast away her Idols Truth Concerning this instance of Rome Master Cotton here acknowledgeth it abounded in worldly blessings till the Lord Jesus came riding forth upon the White Horse of the Gospel And Master Cotton may remember that from the Foundation of her rising and Glory laid by Romulus untill Christs time it flourished about 750 years in a long chaine of generations succeeding each other in worldly prosperity and yet no Church nor Christ to uphold it so far is Master Cottons Romish instance from countenancing Mr. Cottons Roman Doctrine Peace But when Christ came saith Master Cotton and was neglected then the Red and Black and Pale horse had almost destroyed her if she had not cast away her Idols Truth I answer Rome the head of the Empire cannot be said to neglect Christ untill the bloody Tenent of persecution arose amongst them I say not to neglect Christ more nor so much as other States for there were so many of the Romanes and so glorious professors of Christ Jesus that all the world over the Faith and Christian obedience of the Romanes was renowned 2 The Roman Impire cannot be said to cast away her Idols but to change as the Portugals did in the East-Indies her Idols her more grosse and Pagan Idols for more refined beautified Idols painted over with the name of Christ the true God holines c. and this in the glorious dayes of Constantine or not long after The Church of Christ Jesus which under persecution remained a wise and spouse of Christ Jesus now degenerates and apostates into an Whore in the times of her ease security and prosperity Whole Cities Nations and the whole world forced and ravished into a whore or Antichristian Christian 3 As far as the East is from the West so far is the world and nations and Empire of it from the holinesse of Christ Jesus holy Spirit Truth and Saints With what appearance then of Christs holinesse glory c. can Master Cotton advance the world the Roman Empire to be as he here speaks the Advancer of the scepter of Christ Jesus Peace If this Roman Empire be that dreadfull Beast in Daniels prophecy more strange and terrible then the rest yea and more terrible to Christ Jesus and his servants then was the former Babilonian Lion or Persian Beare or Grecian Leopard what truth of Jesus is this that advanceth this dreadfull bloody Beast to be the Advancer of the Scepter that is the Church and Government the Truth and Saints of Christ Jesus Peace Glorious things Dear Truth are recorded of Constantine and other glorious Emperors Truth The Beast was sweet Peace the Beast still although it pleased God to give some refreshing and reviving to his persecuted servants by Constantine and other blessed instruments yet Constantines favour was a bitter sweeting his superstitiâ—us zeal laying the Foundation for after Vsurpations and Abominations 4 But further for neer 1000 years together both before and after Christs time Rome grew and flourished with little alterations of her glory in comparison untill this very time that Master Cotton cals the casting away of her Idols For not before but after Constantines advancing of Christians to wealth and honour c. I say neer about 300 years together interchangably after his time untill Pipinus and Charles the Great the City and state of Rome was almost ruined and destroyed by the often dreadfull incursions of the Goths and Vandals Huns Longobards and other furious Nations So contrary to the truth of Jesus is this fleshly doctrine of worldly wealth and prosperity and also this very instance of Rome and her glory here discussed Peace Master Cotton ends with prayer and blessing to God as James speakes and bitter and cutting cursings and censures to man the poor Discusser who saith Master Cotton seduceth himselfe and others and delights to doe it and against the light of grace and conscience against reason and experience Truth The Discusser is as humbly confident of Grace and Conscience Reason and Experience yea the God of all Grace Christ Jesus his holy Spirit Angels Truth and Saints to be on his side as Master Cotton otherwise can be but the day shall try the Fire and Time shall try which is the Gold of Truth and Faithfulnesse and which the Drosse and Stubble of Lyes and Errour In the meane time I dare pronounce from the Testimony of Christ Jesus that in all
such Prayers the Discusser did and doth contend For the fourth in Stirring up of the Civill State against false Prophets I must answer as before Let M r Cotton produce any such Civill State in the World as that Extraordinarie and miraculous State of Israel was and I yeeld it otherwise if the passage be extraordinarie and typing why doth M r Cotton adde fuell to Nebuchadnezzars fierie furnace which hath been so dreadfully hot already and hath devoured so many millions of Gods people Peace Further out of Matth. 10. Whereas the Papists booke says Christs Ministers should be delivered but should not deliver up those whom they are sent unto to convert unto Councells or Prisons or to make their Religion Felonie or Treason M r Cotton answers What is this to Apostates who seeke to subvert the Faith they have profest What is this to them that seeke to subvert States and kill Kings which Doctrine in downe-right tearmes he at last chargeth upon the Authour of the Letter and the Discusser Truth But how falls an Antichristian or Apostate more directly under the stroake of the Civill Sword then a Jew or Turke or Pagan By what rule of God or Christ hath a Magistrate of this World Authoritie so to punish the one above the other And where hath M r Cotton found one Title either in the Letter or in the Discusser which forbids the Magistrate to punish Felonie or Treason whether it be in practice or in Doctrine leading to it Doth not every Leafe and Line breath the contrary to what M r Cotton here insinuateth The Truth is as Potiphars wife accusing Joseph was not cleare her selfe so let this charge be well examined and this will be the Result of it The Papists and the Discusser agree together in asserting one Truth in this Chapter to wit that Gods Messengers ought not to deliver any to Prisons or Councells But in the Doctrine of killing hereticall Kings or Magistrates who sees not but such Papists as â—hould that Doctrine and M r Cotton meete in the end For if the Magistrate prove an Apostate Blasphemer Idolater Heretick Seducer according to M r Cottons Doctrine as well as the Papists such Kings and Magistrates ought as well as thousands of his Subjects in like case be put to Death Peace Againe where the Papists booke argued from Matth. 10 that Christ bids his Ministers to salute an house with peace he sends no Pursevant to ransack and spoile it M r Cotton answers True but if Seducers be there or Rebells or Conspiratours be there God hath armed the Magistrate Rom. 13. Truth M r Cotton too too like the bloudie persecutours of Christ Jesus in all Ages still couples the Seducer and the Rebells together as the Jewes coupled Christ and Barrabbas though Barrabbas finds more favor then the Son of God for Christ as a seducer a Dâ—ceiver c. is commonly executed Barrabas released 'T is true the Magistrates Commission is from God even in the time of the Gospel but Christ Jesus never gave Commission to Magistrates to send Pursevants to ransack an house to search for Seducers and Idolaters who transgresse onely against the Spirituall Kingdome of Christ Jesus but not against Civilitie and the Civill State Peace This Distinction of Evills I remember it pleased God to open some of the Romane Emperours eyes to see upon the occasion of his poore servants Apologies presented unto them Truth You seasonably remember this Deare Peace for although we finde not Antoninus Pius or Aurelius Antoninus to have been Believers in Christ Jesus yet they gave forth their Edicts thaâ— no Christian should be punished meerely for that he was a Christian except some other crime against the Civill State were proved against him And the later of these gave in Expresse charge that such as were their Accusers should be burnt alive Peace If such an Edict or any farre more moderate should come forth in our Time against the great troublers of all Civill States to wit Informers Accusers and Maintainers of the bloudie Doctrine of persecution Doubtles thousands and ten thousands of Men yea not a few of the most zealous Hunters or persecutors would easily submit to the Truth of the Distinction between the crime of a Religion contrary to a State Religion and a crime against the Civill State thereof But to the Papists againe they lastly alledged John 10. that the true Shepheard comes not to kill the sheepe c. Upon this Master Cotton queries But what if the Wolfe the Thiefe come shall the Shepheard use Spirituall Censures when they are not capeable of such stroakes or shall he not seeke helpe from the Magistrate who is to see Gods people live a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godlines and Honestie 1 Tim. 2. Truth I answer and cry out how long how long Lord before thou avenge the bloud of thy holy ones against them that dwell on the Earth both bloudie Papists and bloudie Protestants Out of their owne Mouthes shall Papists and Protestants be condemned for slaughtering Christ Jesus the Shepheard in his poore Sheepe and Servants and especially the bloudie Papist for alledging that Scripture for the Popes bloudie Butcherie Arise Peter kill and Eate yet all pretending to save the sheepe and onely to resist Wolves Thieves c. But more punctually Master Cotton well knowes that in the Mysterie of Antichristianisme many thousand Antichristian Wolves pretend strongly to be the harmeles sheepe of Christ Jesus yea his tender and carefull Shepheards yet are but Antichristian Thieves and Robbers who cannot dig and to beg are ashamed and therefore finde it best to steale and robâ— whole Parishes and Provinces whole Nations c. for Livings for Benefices for Bishopricks Cardinalships Popedomes c. Peace What kinde of Sheepe and Shepheards Christ Jesus will finde out shortly are all those Hirelings Papists or Protestant who no longer peny no longer paternoster no longer pay no longer pray noâ— preach noâ— fast nor convert c. Truth These Babylonian Rivers shall at last be stopt God and Man shall agree to stop them The truth of that holy Mysterie of that great Exchange shall be opened Revel 10. And Peoples eyes shall be opened to see how these mysticall Marchants of the Earth pretending to be the great Sellers of Truth have been the greatest Deceivers and Cheators the greatest Thieves and Robbers in the World Peace But M r Cotton will say Gods people would live at peace in Godlinesse and Honestie 1 Tim. 2. 1. as Paul professeth Acts 25. 8. Truth I remember when old Chaucer puts this Querie to the foure chiefe sorts of Fryers in his Time which of the foure sorts is the best he finds every sort applauding it selfe and concluding the other three sorts of Fryers to be Liars whence in Conclusion he finds them all guilty of Lying in a round before God for all profest themselves to be the only godly men I may now ask
who among all the sorts of Churches and Ministers applaud not themselves like the Fryars in Chaucers dayes to be Christs onely Churches Christs Ministers c. And who among the severall sorts of such as are Gods people indeed believe not their own Godlines or worshipping of God to be onely right and Christian Peace What now if each sort should enjoy Magistrates of their owne profession and Way Truth The bloudie Tenent will unavoydably set them altogether by the Eares to try out by the longest Sword and strongest Arme which Godlines must live in peace and quietnes But as for that Scripture 1 Tim. 2. I have as I believe fully debated it in the Examination of the Modell and made it evident how farre from all Godlines and Honestie that holy Scripture is perverted Peace M r Cotton in the next passage being charged with partiall dealing and a double waight and measure one for himselfe and another for others M r Cotton in effect answereth that it is a true and just Complaint against persecution and persecutours but not against them for they are Righteous and not Apostates Seducers Hereticks Idolaters Blasphemers c. Peace What doth Master Cotton answer but what all religions sects and severall sorts of worshippers in the world all religious Priests and Church-men plead We are Righteous Peace Yea the very Turkes and Mahumetans challenge to themselves true Faith in God yea whether Jews Antichristians or Christians they all call themselves Muselmanni that is the right beleevers Truth It is not so great wonder then if the popish and protestant sects and ministers of worship cry out as men use to doe in suits of Law and pretences to the Crowne We are righteous my title is good and the best We are holy we are Orthodox and godly You must spare us beleeve us honour us feed us protect and defend us in peace and quietnesse Others are Hereticks Apostates Seducers Idolators Blasphemers starve them imprison them banish them yea hang them burne them with fire and sword pursue them Peace When it was urged by way of prevention that persons truly professing Christ Jesus be his sheep and they cannot persecute First Because it is against the nature of Sheep to hunt no not the Wolves that have hunted themselves c. Master Cotton answers First if the similitude be so stretched then if a Magistrate be a sheep he ought not to punish robbers adulterers murtherers c. 2 Paul was a sheep and yet he strook Elimas with blindnesse Acts 13. 3 Saith he when the Wolfe runs upon the sheep it is not against the nature of the true sheep to run to the true sheepherd and is it against the nature of the true Sheepherd to send forth his Dogs to worrie such a VVolfe without incurring the reproach of a persecutour Truth To the first the finger of true Distinction will easily untie these seeming knots Sheep therefore are two-fold naturall and misticall Againe misticall are two-fold First Civill and so all Magistrates have rightly been called Sheepherds and the people sheep 2 Spirituall and so Christ Jesus gave pastors that is Sheepheards and Teachers and all Believers and followers of Jesus are sheep On the contrary there are naturall and misticall wolves of misticall some oppose the spirituall and some the Civill State and some both who must be resisted by the proper sheepheads and proper weapons in each kind and to confound these is to deceive and to be deceived Peace Upon the ground of this Distinction we may easily perceive that a Shepheard in Civil state of what Religion soever he be as a Shepheard of the people he ought to defend them by force of Civill arms from all oppressions of body goods chastily name c. This doth the Magistrate as a Shepheard of the Civil state and people considered in a Civil respect and capacity and this ought all the Magistrates in the world to doe whether they be sheep or no themselves in another respect that is in a spirituall and Christian Truth Yea and if a Magistrate be a sheep or a true Christian who seeth not that he punisheth not the robber adulterer murtherer as a spirituall shepheard with spirituall weapons but as a Civil Shepheard with a Câ—vill stasse sword c T is true Paul was a sheep that is a spirituall sheep he also was a spirituall Shepheard and Elimas was a wolfe opposing spiritually and Paul in his opposition strook him blind Striking is two-fold spirituall and corporall And all the sheep of Christ as spirituall are also Lyons and armed men and so doe strike spiritually Peace It will be said that Paul strook both spiritually and corporally Truth Corporal stroaks may be considered either ordinary or mediate by force of armes fire and sword c. or extraordinary and immediate such as it pleased God to use himselfe and his holy Prophets and Apostles by his power Now 't is true in this second way even in spirituall cases Gods sheep which have been inducd with power above nature that is of miracles have plagued Egypt have burnt up Captaines and their Fifties yea pluckt up Nations and Kingdomes as Jeremie Peter kild Ananias and his wife Paul strook Elimas blind and the two witnesses consume their Enemies with fire out of their mouths If either of these should doe this ordinarily that is by ordinary means for instance if Peter had killed Ananias with a Sword or Paul beat out Elimas his eyes with a Fist or stone they ought to have been punished by the Civil state as oppressors of the people and transgressors against Civill peace c. But performing these executions by a spirituall divine and miraculous power above humane reach all that heard were to acknowledge and feare and tremble at the holy Spirits might of this gift of miracles I say as the Lord Jesus spake touching the gift of Continency he that can receive it let him receive it Peace By what hath been said I see Master Cottons last answer will be more easily satisfied when the VVolfe runneth ravenously saith he upon the sheep is it against the nature of the true sheep to run to their Shepheards and it is not against the nature of the true Sheepherd to send forth his Doggs to worrie such a VVolfe c Truth Master Cotton doubtlesse here intends misticall sheep and Shepheards and VVolves and Doggs and presseth the similitude from the naturall sheep in Civill respect he cannot here mean for that is not the Question whether Wolvish-men oppressing the Civill state are to be resisted and suppressed by civill weapons c. Concerning Spiritual sheep then the first question is If the wolfe runs ravenously upon the Sheep is it against the nature of the true Sheep to run to their Shepheard I answer a spiritual Wolfe a false Teacher c. may be said to run ravenously upon a spirituall sheep by spiritual assault of Argument Dispute Reproach c. The same man as a
civil wolfe for so we must speake to speake properly may also run upon a sheep of Christ by Civill Armes that is in a Civil respect upon Body and Goâ—â—â— c If now the Wolfe ravin the first way the shâ—ep of Christ may and ought to run to the Lord Jesus the great Mr. Shepheard and to such under and in inferiour Shepheards as he hath appointed if he can attain to them If the second way the sheep beside running to Christ Jesus by prayer and to his Ordinances and Officers for advice and comfort may run to the Civil Magistrate appealing to Caesar c. against such uncivill violence and oppression Peace Mine heart joyfully acknowledgeth the Light mine eye seeth in that true and necessary distinction Now to the Second Question is it against the nature of the true Shepheard saith Mr. Cotton to send forth his Doggs to worrie such a wolfe c. Truth M r Cotton here discoursing of Christs sheepe and Christs Shepheards Reason would perswade that the Shepheards or Pastours here intended should be the Shepheards or Pastours appointed by Christ Jesus Ephes 4. Peace If so he should intend it well suits with the spirit of some proud and scornfull pretended Shepheards of Christ Jesus in the World who have used to call their Clarkes Sumners Proctors and Pursevants their hunting Dogs c. Truth But such Dogs as yet the Independent Pastours or Shepheards keepe not Peace Yea but the Pope to speake in M r Cottons phrase yet with all humble respect to Civill Authoritie the blessed Ordinance of God and Man I say the Pope keeps such Dogs good store yea Dogs of all sorts not onely of those lesser kindes but whom he useth as his Dogs the Emperours Kings and Magistrates of the World whom he teacheth and forceth to crouch to lie downe to creepe and kisse his foote and from thence at his beck to flie upon such greedie Wolves as the Waldenses Wicklevists Hussites Hugonites Lutherans Calvinists Protestants Puritans Sectaries c. to imprison to whip to banish to hang to head to burne to blow up such vile Hereticks Apostates Seducers Blasphemers c. But I forget it will be said the Protestants Grounds and practices differ from the Popes as far as Light from Darknes and how ever the Pope useth the secular power and Magistrates thereof but as Dogs and Hangmen yet the Reformed Churches teach and practice better Truth 'T is true sweet Peace the Protestants professe greater honour and subjection to the Civill Magistrate But let plaine English be spoken and it will be found that the Protestant cleargie as they will be calld ride the backs and necks of Civill Magistrates as fully and as heavily though not so pompously as ever the great Whore sat the backs of Popish Princes Peace The Protestant Cleargie hath yeelded up the temporall sword into the hand of the temporall State Kings Governours c. They proclaime the Magistrates Head of the Church Defenders of their Faith the Supreame Judges in all causes as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill Truth 'T is true they make the Magistrate Head of the Church but yet of what Church they please to make and fashion They make him Defendour of the Faith but of what Faith what Doctrine what Discipline what Members they please to admit and account of And this under the penaltie of being accounted either hereticall and so Magistrates worthy themselves to be put to Death or ignorant and so not fit to act as M r Cotton sayth but must suspend their power untill they submit to the Cleargies pretended Light and so be learnd to see and read with the Cleargies Spectacles Peace To this purpose indeed agrees the next passage wherein M r Cotton affirmeth that although all the Magistrates in the World ought to punish Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers yet this must they not doe while their Consciences are blinde and ignorant of the Truth and yet they cease not to be Magistrates sayth he although they cannot performe all the Duties of Magistrates Truth Concerning this stated Dutie of all Magistrates and yet suspending of all ignorant Magistrates from acting according to this their Dutie I have spoken to before and often I now add according to M r Cottons similitude if the Errours of others be as motes in comparison of the beames of this ignorance and blindnesse in Magistrates which he calleth Beames it will be found that he renders thousands of the Magistrates of the World as uncapable to be true Magistrates as an heape of Timber to be an House which wants the beames and principalls Peace The summe of the Difference in the last passage is not great nor any in words for sayth M r Cottons Conclusion If the Difference be onely in the way and manner of the Administration of Christ and the Difference be held forth in a peaceable and Christian way God forbid a Staffe should be shaken against such or a Sword unsheathed Truth Alas where hath lien the great Difference between the Prelates and Presbyterians the Presbyterians and Independants but about the way and Administration of Christs Kingdome for as for matter of Doctrine according to the 39 Articles of the Church of England they have little differd Yea wherein for matter of Doctrine of Faith Repentance and Holinesse have the Churches which make whole seperation or such as goe further to a new Baptisme wherein have they differd from the former and yet we know what Lawes have been and are extant in Old and New England against them and what practices have been felt and may justly be expected both from the Mother and the Daughter if a jealous God and heavenly Father for our unthankfullnesse should once be pleased to finish this late and wonderfull calme and moderation Which yet may justly be feard to prove as Sea-men use to observe but a Winters calme and they ray a Winters calme for then stormes are breeding is as bad as a Summers storme Exam of Chap. 72. replying to Chap. 75. Concerning the Testimonie of Austin Peace MAster Cotton finds two faults in the first entrance First that Antichrist should be said to be too hard for Christ at voting 2. That Austins Testimonie should be put off as a Rhetoricall Evasion Truth To the first it will shortly appeare as the Light at Noone day what packing of Votes and listing and mustring up of Numbers have been in all Ages in all Councells in all Synods in all Parliaments and in all falsely so called Christian Countries against the Lord his Christ and Servants Peace But M r Cotton marvailes that when the case concernes tolleration of Hereticks and Antichristians that Antichrist should procure more Votes against Antichristians and that Christ should procure any Vote though fewer for them Truth To expound this ridle It was never affirmed that Christ hath any Votes for the tollerating of Hereticks or Antichristians in the Religious State or Church of Christ but in the Civil State or Common-weale
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
and notwithstanding all other meanes in the World used by men as helps and hindrances yet his holy End shall not be disappointed but fulfilled Beside the Difference between soule-killing and body-killing is but as M r Cotton here useth the word so much as in us lieth that is by attempt or endeavour which may be many wayes frustrated and disappointed by the holy hand of God and the soule yet saved and live in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace Whereas you said that the imprisoning of Men in a Nationall or State Religion is guiltie of their Destruction together with the monstrous sword of Civill Warres which cuts off Men from all meanes of Repentance M r Cotton answers If the Religion be good it is no Imprisonment If it be naught then there should be no Imprisonment To the second sayth he this Feare is causeles for if Men belong to God he will give Repentance and how ever sayth he Godâ— revealed Will is fullfilled in their just Executions Truth I could here ask M r Cotton where amongst all the Religions and Worships of the sonnes of men he ever met in the whole World with above one Nation which Nationally profest a true Religion and where ever since Christ Jesus ending of the shadowes any State Religion or Nationall Worship can be found true notwithstanding M r Cotton knowes I grant Gods people in Kingdomes Nations Cities Townes c. to be Gods Kingdome Nation Citie c. Peace And since M r Cotton speakes thus of Imprisonment me-thinkes that every peaceable man and woman may bring in here against him at the Tribunall of Christ Jesus an Action of false Imprisonment indeed false every way not onely of the sensible and outward man but of the most noble and inner part the minde the spirit and Conscience for who knowes not that Jerusalem it selfe may be a prison to false-hearted Shimei Who hath not found a pallace a prison when forc't to keepe within it yea confine a man to his own house and home though deare and familiar and most intimate to him his owne house during that force and restraint is a prison to him Truth Yea it is most wofully found evident that the best Religion like the fairest Whores and the most golden and costlie Images yea the most holy and pure and onely true Religion and Worship appointed by God himselfe is a Torment to that Soule and Conscience that is forc't against its owne free love and choice to embrace and observe it And therefore whether the Religion be good oâ—â—aught as M r Cotton here distinguisheth there ought to be no forcing but the soule and minde and conscience of man that is indeed the man ought to be left free as in his Earthly marriage-choice so here ten thousand times rather in his heavenly and spirituall Peace But what say you to his unmercifull conclusion in the bloudshed and destruction of so many thousands and millions formerly and lately slaine and murthered by this bloudie Tenent of persecution Yea the late and lamentable streames of English bloud and the bloud of our neighbours friends Brethren Parents powred forth by these late Episcopall or Bishops Warres M r Cottons conclusion is The revealed will of God sayth he is fullfilled in their just Execution whether they belong to God or no. Truth I wish M r Cotton more mercy from God and a more mercifull minde toward the afflicted and I say as the Lord Jesus said in the case of offence Great offences Nationall offences will come for Religions sake for Nationall Religion sake but woe unto those that beare the guilt of so many thousand slaughters murthers ravishings plunderings c. The Pope the Bishops the Presbyterians the Independants so farre as they have been Authours or Actors in these horrible Calamities out of the perswasion of the bloudie Tenent of persecution for Religion and Conscience the voyce of so many Rivers of bloud cry to Heaven for vengeance against them Peace But may not blessed Truth the sword of Civill power which is from God Rom. 13. be drawne and drunke with bloud for Christ his sake What say you among the many Examples of Religions Warres to the most famous Battles of Constantine against the bloudie persecutour Maxentius Was not Constantine Christs Champion as once that valiant Scanderbeg cald himselfe against the bloudie Turks Truth Sweet Peace the sword of Civill power was Gods sword committed by Gods most wise Providence into the hands of that famous Constantine Doubtles his warre was righteous and pious so farre as he broke the Jawes of the oppressing persecuting Lyons that devoured Christs tender Lambes and sheepe And famous was his Christian Edict wherein Licinius joyned with him when he put forth that imperiall Christian Decree that no mane Conscience should be forced and for his Religion whether to the Romane Gods or the Christian no man should be persecuted or hunted When Constantine broke the bounds of this his owne and Gods Edict and drawes the sword of Civill power in the suppressing of other Consciences for the establishing of the Christian then began the great Mysterie of the Churches sleepe the Gardens of Christs Churches turned into the Wildernesse of Nationall Religion and the World under Constantines Dominion to the most unchristian Christendome Peace I am unquestionably satisfied that there was never any Nationall Religion good in this world but one and since the Desolation of that Nation there was never there shall be never any Nationall Religion good againe and this will be most evident to such as hould the Truth of the continuance of Christs visible Church in the way of particular Congregations 6. But now to the Sixt Argument which M r Cotton thus repeats from the possibilitie of a false Teacher a spirituall Wolves recoverie from the estate of a soule-killer to become a soule-Saviour as it was in the case of Paul And thus he answers If men be such Blasphemers and such Wolves as Paul was before his Conversion neither the Law of God nor man would put such a Man to death who sinned of Ignorance and walked as himselfe professed in all good Conscience even in his former evill times Acts 23. But as for such as apostate from the knowne truth of Religion and seeke to subvert the foundation of it and to draw away others from it to plead for their Tolleration in hope of their Conversion is as much as to proclaime a generall pardon to all malefactours save onely such as sin against the Holy Spirit for he that is a willfull murtherer and adulterer now may come to be converted and die a martyr hereafter Truth I see not why M r Cotton should passe a more charitable censure on Pauls Conscience then on other Mens professing Conscience also and the feare of God nor an harder censure upon other Men to wit that they are convinced and sinne against their owne Conscience more then upon Paul
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
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
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
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
rendring such Laicks and Seculars as they call them but slavish Executioners upon the point of their most imperious Synodicall Decrees and Sentences A Tenent that renders the highest civill Magistrates and Ministers of Justice the Fathers and Gods of their Countries either odious or lamentably grievous unto the very best Subjects by either elapping or keeping on the iron yoakes of cruellest oppression No yoake or bondage comparably so grievous as that upon the Soules necke of mens Religion and Consciences A Tenent all besprinckled with the bloudie murthers stobâ— poysonings pistollings powder-plots c. against many famous Kings Princes and States either actually performed or attempted in France England Scotland Low-Countries and other Nations A Tenent all red and bloudie with those most barbarous and Tyger like Massacres of so many thousand and ten thousands formerly in France and other parts and so lately and so horribly in Ireland of which what ever causes be assigned this chiefly will be found the true and while this continues to wit violence against Conscience this bloudie Issue sooner or later must breake forth againe except God wonderfully stop it in Ireland and other places too A Tenent that stunts the growth and flourishing of the most likely and hopefullest Common weales and Countries while Consciences the best and the best deserving Subjects are forct to flie by enforced or voluntary Banishment from their native Countries The lamentable proofe whereof England hath felt in the flight of so many worthy English into the Low Countries and New-England and from New-England into old againe and other forraigne parts A Tenent whose grosse partialitie denies the Principles of common Justice while Men waigh out to the Consciences of all others that which they judge not fit not right to be waighed out to their owne Since the persecutours Rule is to take and persecute all Consciences onely himselfe must not be touched A Tenent that is but Machevilisme and makes a Religion but a cloake oâ— stalking horse to policie and private Ends of Jeroboams Crowne and the Priests Benefice c. A Tenent that corrupts and spoiles the very Civill Honestie and Naturall Conscience of a Nation Since Conscience to God violated proves without Repentance ever after a very Jade a Drug loose and unconscionable in all converse with men Lastly a Tenent in England most unseasonable as powring Oyle upon those Flames which the high Wisedome of the Parliament by easing the yoakes on Mens Consciences had begun to quench In the sad Consideration of all which Deare Peace let Heaven and Earth judge of the washing and colour of this Tenent For thee sweete heavenly Guest goe lodge thee in the breasts of the peaceable and humble Witnesses of Jesus that love the Truth in peace Hide thee from the Worlds Tumults and Combustions in the breasts of thy truely noble children who professe and endeavour to breake the irony and insupportable yoakes upon the Soules and Consciences of any of the sonnes of Men. Peace Me-thinks Deare Truth if any of the least of these deepe charges be found against this Tenent you doe not wrong it when you stile it bloudie But since in the wofull proofe of all Ages past since Nimrod the Hunter or persecutour before the Lord these and more are lamentably evident and undeniable it gives me wonder that so many and so excellent eyes of Gods servants should not espie so fowle a monster especially considering the universall opposition this Tenent makes against Gods Glory and the Good of all mankinde Truth There have been many fowle opinions with which the old Serpent hath infected and bewitched the sonnes of men touching God Christ the Spirit the Church against Holines against Peace against civill Obedience against chastitie in so much that even Sodomie it selfe hath been a Tenent maintained in print by some of the very pillars of the Church of Rome But this Tenent is so universally opposite to God and man so pernicious and destructive to both as hath been declared that like the Powder-plot it threatens to blow up all Religion all civilitie all humanitie yea the very Being of the World and the Nations thereof at once Peace He that is the Father of Lies and a murtherer from the beginning he knowes this well and that this ugly Blackmore needs a maske or vizard Truth Yea the bloudines and inhumanitie of it is such that not onely M r Cottons more tender and holy Breast but even the most bloudie Bonners and Gardiners have been forced to arme themselves with the faire shewes and glorious pretences of the Glory of God and zeale for that Glory the Love of his Truth the Gospel of Christ Jesus love and pitie to mens soules the peace of the Church uniformitie Order the peace of the Common-weale the Wisedome of the State the Kings Queenes and Parliaments proceedings the odiousnesse of Sects Heresies Blasphemies Novelties Seducers and their Infections the obstinacie of Heretickâ— after all Meanes Disputations Examinations Synods yea and after Conviction in the poore Hereticks owne Conscience Add to these the flattring sound of those glosing Titles the Godly Magistrate the Christian Magistrate the Nurcing Fathers and Mothers of the Church Christian Kings and Queenes But all other Kings and Magistrates even all the Nations of the World over as M r Cotton pleads must suspend and hould their hands and not meddle in matters of Religion untill they be informed c. Peace The dreadfull righteous hand of God the Eternall and avenging God is pulling off these maskes and vizards that thousands and the World may see this bloudie Tenents Beautie Truth But see my heavenly Sister and true stranger in this Sea-like restles raging World see here what Fires and Swords are come to part us Well Our meetings in the Heavens shall not thus be interrupted our Kisses thus distracted and our eyes and cheekes thus weâ— unwiped For me though censured threatned persecuted I must professe while Heaven and Earth lasts that no one Tenent that either London England or the World doth harbour is so hereticall blasphemous seditious and dangerous to the corporall to the spirituall to the present to the Eternall Good of all Mâ—n as is the bloudie Tenent how ever wash't and whited I say as is the bloudie Tenent of persecution for cause of Conscience The Copie of a Letter of R. Williams of Providence in New England to Major Endicot Governour of the Massachusets upon occasion of the late persecution against M r Clarke and Obadiah Holmes and others at Boston the chiefe Towne of the Massachusets in New England SIR HAving done with our transitorie Earthly Affaires as touching the English and the Indians which in Comparison of heavenly and Eternall you will say are but as dung and drosse c. Let me now be humbly bold to remember that Humanitie and pietie which I and others have formerly observed in you and in that hopefull Remembrance to crave your gentle audience with patience and
of Religion is spirituall by false Teachers false Prophets by spirituall Rebells and Traytors against the Worship and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Against which Disturbers or Destroyers if Christ Jesus have not provided sufficient spirituall Defence let Moses his ancient Type be said to exceede him in Faithfulnesse David in holy zeale and affection to the house of God and Solomon in wisdome and heavenly prudence in ordering the Affaires of the holy Worship of God Peace But further whereas it was said that to confound these to wit a Civill and Spirituall Government was Babell and Jewish M r Cotton replyes That is Babell to tollerate and advance Idolatrie 2. Sayth he though Christ hath abolished a Nationall Church-State which Moses set up in the Land of Canaan yet Christ never abolished a Nationall Civill State nor the Judiciall Lawes of Moses which were of Morall Equitie and therefore sayth he If the true Christs bloud goe for the planting of the Church let the false Christs goe for supplanting it Truth I answer Babell was infamous for Pride for Confusion or Disorder for Idolatrie for Tyrannie Now let all persecuting Cities and Kingdomes be examined and see if they have been cleare from any of these and especially from Babells confusion and disorder from monstrous mingling of Spirituall and Civill the Devills Worship with Gods vessells It was no Confusion in the Nationall Church of Israel for the Power of that Nation in the hands of Kings and Civill Rulers to purge that Nationall Church by Nationall force of weapons and Death But since M r Cotton acknowledgeth that Christ hath abolished that Nationall Church and established Congregationall Churches in some of which possibly may be no Civill Magistrate fearing God for few wise or noble are called and consequently few godly or Christian Magistrates professing Christ Jesus What is this but Babell or a Babylonish mixture of the Old and New Testament Nationall and Congregationall Churches power and practices together Peace 2. What if Christ Jesus have not abolished a Nationall Church State it is sufficient that he hath abolished a Nationall Church And if so then in Church matters those Nationall Judicialls and the use of those Nationall Weapons and Punishments in attending upon such a Nationall Church Yea what colour of Morall Equitie is there that all the Nations of the World most of which never heard of Christ should be ruled by such Lawes and Punishments as were peculiarly and miraculously given and appointed to one selected and culd out Nation conceived borne and brought up as I may so speake from first to last by extraordinarie and miraculous dispensation Peace There may be sayth M r Cotton difference between the Nations professing Christianitie and other Nations Truth There is indeed great Difference There are two sorts of Nations or Peoples of the World which shall be Fewell for the devouring flames of the Lord Jesus 2 Thess 1. First such as know not Christ Jesus of which sort the greatest part of the Nations of the World beyond all colour of comparison consist 2. Such as have heard a sound and make some profession of the Name of Christ Jesus and yet obey him not as Lord and King c. Now it is true at the Tribunall of this dreadfull Judge Tyre and Sidon Sodome and Gomorra shall finde an easier doome then shall Bethsaida Chorazin Capernaum Jerusalem c. And M r Cotton need not feare the escaping of a false Christ when all Nations professing Christianitie Papist or Protestant if yet found disobedient to the true Christ shall passe under a more fierie Sentence then all Mahumetane and Pagan Countries Peace M r Cotton will not stick to subscribe to this But the false Christs bloud sayth he ought now to be spilt Truth Since there are so many false Christs as the true Christ Prophesied M r Cotton must unavoydably name and detect and convict those false Christs Popish and Protestant c. upon whom he passeth such a present Sentence He must also direct the way how the true Christ may shed the bloud of the false Christs When M r Cotton hath done this faithfully and impartially according to his Conscience and present Judgement what Reader will not at first view see rising up from such Premises these foure Conclusions First Amongst so many Christs extant that is visible Christs Head and Body in the Christian Antichristian World there can but One Christ be found to be true Secondly That Christ which M r Cotton professeth according to his Conscience will be He. Thirdly All such Christs as are extant beside M r Cottons Head and Body ought impartially to be put to Death as false counterfeit blasphemous c. Fourthly Such as embrace his Christ that is be of his Church and Conscience are bound if they once get power in their hands to pursue with fire and sword and to shed the bloud of all the false Christs that is the severall sorts of false or Antichristian Worshippers Peace Oh how wise and Righteous is the Lord in letting loose the Wolfe and Lyon persecutors and Hunters upon his Sheepe and People that by their owne painfull sence of such bloudie violence and crueltie he may graciously purge out the Malignant venemous Humours of such fowle Antichristian and bloudie Doctrines But to the next the King of Bohemia his saying Whereas it was said that in this Kings Speech M r Cotton had passed by that Foundation in Grace and Nature to wit that Conscience ought not to be violated or forced and that such forcing is no other then a Spirituall Rape M r Cotton replyes It was not passed by but prevented in stating the Question where it was said It is not lawfull to Censure any no not for Errour in Fundamentall Points of Doctrine or Worship till the Conscience of the offendour be first convinced out of the Word of God of the dangerous Errour of his way and then if he will persist it is not out of Conscience but against his Conscience as the Apostle sayth Tit. 3. 11. and so he is not persecuted for cause of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience 1. Truth I answer the forcing of a Woman that is the violent Acting of uneleannesse upon her bodie against her will we count a Rape By Proportion that is a Spirituall or Soule-rape which is a forcing of the Conscience of any Person to Acts of Worship which the Scripture entitles by the name of the Marriage bed Cant. 1. This forcing of Conscience was in an high measure the branded sinne of that great typicall Machiavel Jeroboam who made Israel to Worship before the Golden Calves And this is the abominable practice of the Second Beast who compells all to take the Marke of the first Beast and this is the sinne of the mysticall Ammon the Princes of Europe and of the Antichristian World those mysticall effeminate Ahabs who give their power to the Beast themselves together with that Man of Sinne and
in the Grates and Pits and under Hatches Doth not Gesâ—er tell us of a Gentleman in Germanie who fitting his Pitfall for Wilde Beasts found in the morning a Woman a Wolfe and a Fox in three severall Corners as full of Which all persecutours themselves in their turnes plead for Feare and as quiet and as desirous of Libertie one as well as another Thus bloudie Gardiner and Bonner prisoners during King Edwards dayes yea and that bloudie Queene Mary her selfe all plead the Freedome of their Consciences What most humble Supplications and indeed unanswerable Arguments for Libertie K. Charles and his Chaplains forced to subscribe to Libertie of Conscience of Conscience have the Papists when in Restraint presented and especially in King James his time Yea what excellent Subscriptions to this Soule-Freedome are interwoven in many passages of the late Kings Booke if his Yea and one of his Chaplaines so cald Doctor Jer. Taylour what an Everlasting Monumentall Testimony did he publish to this Truth in that his excellent Discourse of the Libertie of Prophesying Yea the formerly Non-conforming Presbyterian and Independent Scotch and English Old and New what most humble and pious Addresses have they made before the whole World to Princes and Parliaments for just mercy in true Petitions of Right to their Consciences But let this present Discourse and M r Cottons About Twenty years persecution in New England Fig-leave Evasions and Distinctions Let the practices of the Massachusets in New England in twenty yeares persecution and this last of M r Clarke Obadiah Holmes and others be Examined Yea let the Independent Ministers late Proposalls be waighed with the double waight of Gods Sanctuary and it will appeare what Mercy the poore Soules of all Men and Jesus Christ in any of them may expect from the very Independents Cleargie themselves Object But doth not their Proposalls provide a Libertie to such as feare God viz. that they may freely preach without an Ordination and that such as are not free to the publike Assemblies may have Libertie to meete in private Answ It may so please the Father of Lights to shew them that their Lines and Modells and New-Englands Copie also after The persecution of the New and Old English Independent Cleargie which they write and pensill are but more and more refined Images whereby to worship the Invisible God and that still as before the Wolfe the persecutour must judge of the Lambes drinking For instance New Englands Lawes lately published in M r Clarks Narrative tell us how free it shall be for people to gather themselves into Church-estate how free to choose their owne Ministers how free to enjoy all the Ordinances of Christ Jesus c But yet provided so and so upon the point that the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall to wit Whether persons be fit for Church-estate Whether the Gathering be right Whether the peoples choice be right Doctrines right and what is this in truth but to sweare that blasphemous Oath of Supremacie againe to the Kings and Queenes and Magistrates of this and other Nations in stead of the Pope c Into these Prisons and Cages doe those otherwise worthy and excellent Men the Independents put all the Children of God and all the Children of Men in the whole World and then bid them flie and walke at Libertie to wit within the Conjured Circle so far as they please To particularize briefely When they have in their six severall Circuits ejected according to their Proposalls it may be A briefe touch upon the 15 Proposalls of the so calld Independent Ministers hundreths it may be thousands if impartiall of Episcopall and Presbyterian Ministers and that without against their Peoples consent to the present Distressing of thousands and inraging through such Soul-oppressions the whole Nation Then say they it shal be free for all that be able c. to be Preachers though not ordained c. But provided that two Ministers hands at least The Independents implicitly and silently challenge the power of Ordination which upon the point is instead of an Ordination be to their Approbation c. Upon this lock any shall be free to preach Christ Jesus upon this point of the Compasse as I may in humble reverence and with sorrow speake it the Spirit of God shall be free to breath and operate in the Soules of Men By this Plummet and Line Rule and Square and seeming Goulden Reede and Meetewand the Sanctuary must be built and measured c. But further if any shall be of tender Consciences and that the common size will not serve their foote if they shall thinke the Independents Foundations too weak or it may be too strong for their weake Beliefe if they cannot bow downe to their Goulden Image though of the finest and latest Edition and Fashion Why God forbid they should be forc'd to Church The Danger of pawning spirituall Liberties to Civill powers as others they shall enjoy their Libertie and meeteapart in private But provided they acquaint the Civill Magistrate that is as it may fall out who knows how soon and too too often hath faln out the poore Sheepe and Deere of Christ must take Licence of and betray themselves unto the pawes and jawes of their Lyon-like persecutours Heare Oh Heavens give Eare O Earth What is this but like The Dutch Attempts and the Independents on their Friends compared the Treacherous Dutchmen who Capitulate of Leagues of Peace and Amitie with their Neighbour English and in the midst of State Complements some say out of malicious wrath others say t was out of drunken Intoxications at the best thunder out Broad-sides of Fire and Smoake of persecution Object Some possibly may say Your just suffring from the Independents in New England makes you speake Revenges against them in Old Answ What I have suffred in my Estate Body Name Spirit I hope through helpe from Christ and for his sake I have desired to beare with a Spirit of patience and of respect and love even to my persecutours As to particulars I have and must if God so will further debate them with my truely honoured and beloved Adversarie M r Cotton But as to you worthy Sirs men of Learning and men of personall Holines many of you I truely desire to be far from envying your Honours pleasures and Revenues from whence the two former Popish Prelaticall are ejected unto which the two later Presbyterian and Independent are advanced Nor would I The Authours desire as to the Ministrie of the Land now possessed move a Tongue or pen that any of you now possessed should be removed or disturbed untill your Consciences by the holy Spirit of God or the Consciences of the people to whom you serve or minister shall be otherwayes then as you are yet perswaded Much rather would I make another humble plea and that I believe with all the Reason and Justice in the World that such And as to that Ejected who are ejected undone impoverished
might some way from the State or you receive reliefe and succour Considering that the very Nations Constitution hath occasioned parents to traine up persons to give themselves to studies though in truth but in a way of Trade Bargaining before God yet 't is according to the Custome of the Nation who ought therefore to share also in the fault of such Priests and Ministers who in all changes are ejected I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits to perswade The Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England and possesse yours with a true sence of three particulars First of the yoakes of Soule-oppression which lye upon the necks of most of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations of the whole world as if Chams Curse from Noah were upon them Servants of Servants are they and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God which call for the purest Libertie I confesse the World lyes in wickednesse and loveth darknesse more then Soule Bondage the greatest light but why should you helpe on those yoaks and force them to receive a Doctrine to pray to give thanks c. without an Heart yea and in the many changes and cases incident against their Heart and Soules Consent Secondly of the bloudines of that most bloudie Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it c. Some professors true and false Sheepe and Goats are daily found to differ in their Apprehensions perswasions professions and that to Bonds and Death What now shall these be wrackt their Soules their Bodies their purses c Yea if they refuse deny oppose the Doctrine of Christ Jesus whether Jewes or Gentiles why should you call for Fire from Heaven which suits not with Christ Jesus his Spirit The Bloudinesse of the Bloudie Tenent or Ends Why should you compell them to come in with any other Sword but that of the Spirit of God who alone perswaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem and can in his holy season prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet Thirdly Of that Biass of selfe-love which hales and swayes our minds to hould so fast this bloudie Tenent You know it is the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers c. That sets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too as Pauls day and night to work rather Little of the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus yet extant and our selfe-love biasseth us to Inventions Traditions and Doctrines of persecutions then the progresse and puritie and simplicitie of the Crowne of Christ Jesus should be debased or hindred This Spirit will cause you leave with joy Benefices and Bishopricks Worlds and Lives for his sake the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths of whose Love you know doth infinitely passe your most knowing Comprehensions and Imaginations There is but little of this Spirit extant I feare will not be untill we see Christ Jesus slaine in the slaughter of the Witnesses Then Joseph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the slaughtered bodie of most precious Saviour and Nicodemus will goe by day to buy and bestow his sweetest spices on his infinitly sweeter Soules beloved The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit unfeinedly and heartily wisheth you Your most unworthy Countriman R. Williams FINIS The Principal CONTENTS TRuth and peace rarely meet page 1 Many excellent men plead for persecution p. 2 New Englands persecution guilty of the persecution in Old p. 3 The first occasion of publishing the bloody tenent p 4 Master Cotton complains of being persecuted and yet writes so much for persecution p. 5 The word persecution in plain English what it is ibi Master Cotton would change the word persecuting into punishing p. 6 State worships the ordinary occasion of persecution p. 7 Ordination of Ministers and Coronation of Kings unfitly compared p. 11 Master Cotton pleading for Common Prayer p. 11 12 Three causes for which Master Cotton pleads for persecution p. 13 Christs church may be gathered and dissolved with no disturbance of civil peace p. 14 Persecution breaks all civil peace p. 15 Civil peace may be kept long and flourish even where Christ is not heard of yea disowned c. p. 16 Christianity lost most under reforming Emperors ibid. The societies or Churches of Saints are meerly voluntary in combining or dissolving p. 17 Christs Spouse is chosen out of this world p. 18 No civil state can judge the spiritual p. 19 The difference of spiritual and civil peace p. 20 When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted and when most persecuted then flourish most in godliness p. 21 A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil disturbance p. 22 Six instances of zeal in Scripture charged with yet free from breach of civil peace p. 23 The Indians subjected to the English permitted while English fearing God in New England persecuted p. 25 Jonah's casting over board pleaded by Master Cotton as a ground for persecution examined p. 26 The killing of the false prophet Zech. 13. 6. p. 27 Conviction of conscience p. 28 The violation of civil peace though out of conscience to be punished p. 29 Gamaliells councel considered p. 30 Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver blasphemer seducer c. p. 31 Gods people fast asleep and yet awake ibid A deep mystery in persecution p. 32 Wolves complaining of being persecuted by the sheep p. 33 The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed Mystery p. 34 A challenge to the Devil himself touching the persecution of hereticks p. 34 All Antichristian hunters make Titus the third their Den or Fortress p. 35 The horrible abusing and prophaning of that word Heretick p. 36 A child of God may possible be an Heretick p. 37 The straights in which the bloody tenent and this Rejoynder also were composed p. 38 Thâ—se Preachers who will not Preach without money must beg or steal ibid. Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers stealers p. 39 Persecution usually taken for a corporal not a spiritual punishment ibid. Very severe but not Christian and more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England p. 41 The civil and spirituall life confounded p. 42 Gods right and Caesars p. 43 The great peace breakers ibid. English Diana's p. 44. Gross partiality to private interests ibid. England in all ages guilty of much persecution p. 45 Two seasonable Petitions of any persecuted ibid. The Parable of the Tares grosly abused p. 46 Hypocrisie both open and secret p. 47 Spiritual whoredome against God in his worship may be in the midst of pure civil relations p. 48 The parable of the wise and foolish Virgins p. 50. A true church or society of Christ cannot consist of visible Hypocrites p. 51 The Field of the World ibid The Mystery of christians and antichriastians p. 52 The first rise of Antichristians argued p. 54 Touching the