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
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
Civill Power prove the Churches of the same Nature with the Head that acts and calls them Touching the difference between the Church of the Jewes and the Christian Churches The holy Land of Canaan a Nonesuch A Figure of the Chrâ—stian The weapons of the Jewes and Christians compared No Speare nor Sword in Israel new-New-England loath to be accounted persecutours Lawes concerning Gods Worship Dangerous distinctions Touching keeping of both Tables Of Magistrates Judgement in Spirituals c. Of Qualifications of Magistrates Of Magistrates Abilities David and Hezekiah figurative Kings c. Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion Wofull Soul-saving The power of Parents Husbands Magistrates in spirituals 1 Cor. 7. The tearme Souls-good commonly but a paint c. The promises of temporall mercies considered Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children Of Lawes binding Conscience Persecution the ordinarie Portion of Christs Followers Two States wonderfully favoured by God upon mercy shewed to oppressed Consciences formerly Holland and now the State of England Bodies and Goods the Magistrates object Oppression in Bodies Goods and Minde Wealth Honour and Prosperitie seldome attending Christs true Followers What is the CoÌ„mon weale of Israel The Roman Empire flourisheth in worldly glory without Christ The Citie of Rome famous for prosessing Christ Jesus Christs Spouse most chast under persecution The Roman Monarchy bloody to the Saints Constantine a friend and enemy to Christs Spouse The state of the Romane Empire before and after Christ God will not wrong nor have Caesar wronged Concerning toleration in New England Witnesse the bloody whipping of Obadiah Homes for the point of Baptisme lately at Bostonâ— Communion Spirituall two-fold The great Triall among Papists Protestants concerning comming to Church Touching prayers for Vengeance upon Gods Enemies Stirring up of the Civill State to persecure The bloudie Tenent of persecution is alone the King killing and Stare-killing Doctrine Amoninus Pius his Edict for the Christians Transgression against the Spirituall or Civill peace Persecutours of Christs Sheepe pretend to save them and kill none but Wolves Antichristian Ministers great Thieves Hireling Ministers Fryars in Chancers time and the Cleargie in our time considered The Turkes themselves will be Muslemanni or right beleevers The horrible partialite of persecutors Misticall sheep Paul his striking Elimas blind considered Of the power of miracles Spirituall sheep and wolves considered The Pope and all proud Popish Priests and Cleargie use the Civill Powers but as Dogs The Protestant Cleargie their dealing with Magistrates A suspending or hanging up of Magistrates The great spirituall differences of these late Times Of rest from persecution Gods children may possibly fight each against the other 〈…〉 Antichristians against Antichristians but principally against Christ Touching spirituall murther Touching Seducers The hainousnes of spirituall stumbling blocks Punishing of Seducers Common-weale twofold and Rebellion twofold Mysticall Wolves and Muskeetoes Of Soule-killing Touching State Religions Gods children Gods Citie Nation and Kingdome A State Religion a prison A forc't Religion Of the late Warres The bloudie Tenent guilty of the Rivers of Bloud c. Warres for Religion Constantines warres for the Christians Constantines Edict against forcing in Religion Never any true Nationall Religion in the World but one Touching Pauls blasphemy before his Conversion Of Apostates Fallacious mixture and confusion Spirituall Treason recanted forgiven but not so by way ofcourse the Civill An Instance from â—â— Haywood and the Lord Cromwell in King Henry the 8. his dayes Of Moses Judicialls The first three hundred years after Christ The Primitive Church the purest and yet without a Civill Sword Christ no Author of Civill violence for Religion The Levites killing 3000. Exod 32. typicall Phineas his Act. The spirituall Civill State vastly different in their frame Lawes Officers c. Elijah and the Baalites The types and figures of the old Testament Righteousnes two fold The state oâ— Israel typicall Not only morall but naturall Actions of the Israelites typicall Whether Eliahs procuring the slaughter of the Baalites was Typicall or Morall No Commission from Christ for corporall punishment in religious matters Strange and monstrous duties of Morall Righteousnesse Gods children are wonders and monsters accounted Elijah his slaying the Captaines and their fifties Wonderfull Spiders and Cobwebs Prov 30 Touching Seducers and their punishments Christ Jesus abolished former figures though he name not each of them in particular The Mysterie of the Bloudy Tenent The bloudie consequences of the bloudy Tenent The sad Effects of the bloudie Tenent on M r Cottons owne Spirit A lamentable Character of the change of M r Cottons Spirit Differences of Gods own children in Old and New England Profession of Christ Jesus in New-England not so like to be true as that which was persecuted in Old The great â—in of New-Englands former Pattents The Authours tryalls about the Pattents of New-England Gods children may be guilty of bloudy persecution for the hiding of their spirituall uncleannessee Gods mercy in stopping New-Englands persecution by the mercy of old England the mother to dissenting Consciences Holy Cranmer and Cromwell joyning with persecutours of Christ Jesus out of great weaknes in H. 8. his dayes The most famous passages of Cromwell Lambert in H. the 8. his dayes Of Admonition and Conviction Conviction two-fold Of Conviction of Hereticks Conviction sufficient externall by the word and efficient internall by Gods Spirit Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer Seducer and Deceiver that ever was in this world Small matters accounted Heresies The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councell at Constance The bloudie Tenent destroying civilitie and humane Societie out of the World All Men are confident in their owne opinions The persecutour of Turks Pagans Jewes or Antichristiane is in a greater errour then any of them The bloudie Fruits of the bloudie Tenent Touching confidence in opinions Freedome of Conscience hath ever been a Peace-maker in all NatioÌ„s where it hath appeared And especially at this houre in England How Christ delights in bloud Of persecuting Apostates A monstrous suspension or hanging up of Magistrates Allegations of Scriptures ought seriously to be mad and answered Millions of Turks Jewes and Antichristians are far from the due charge of Apostasie The mysterie of the red Horse of War A spirituall and Civill peace Two wofull opinions bewitching the Nations The 3 great Causes of the downfall of the Church of Rome Touching a New English Modell of Church and civill power * Writing to â—â—â— M r Hall Deepe Censures for none or innocent mistakes Touching Moses his Judicialls Israel in a kinde a miraculous people Touching punishment of Adulterie All Civill Government Gods Ordinance True Republikes Common-weales without Kings A wonderfullâ— saying of Bishop Hall The State of Israel Of Magistrates being nursing Fathers c. Of Magistrates Power in Spiritualls Of the sins of Magistrates A case touching the Magistrates punishing the Sin of Church members The direfull state of false Worshippers The Portraiture
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
righteous is it with God to send them persecution Quaere why Master Cotton leaps over the Epistles to the Parliament and Reader N. E. Persecution guilty of the persecution in old especially since this Rejoynder by their Law for Banishing such as hold not childrens Baptisme and their late fourscore and ten bloody lashes to the body of the Lord Jesus in the sufferings of his faithful witness Obadiah Holines at Boston meerly about that point of Baptisme â—he occasion of â—â—blishing the â—â—oody Tenent Master Cotton blames the discusser for not walking in contradictions Vnchristian partiality Master Cotton complaining of being persecuted by the discusser Persecution in plaine English is hunting Master Cottons tender conscience can hardly digest to be a persecutor but a punisher Gods children commonly persecuted for not yeelding to State-worships Act. 2. 2 Pet. 3. Ordination of Christs Ministry undfily compared to the coronation of Kings Master Cotton pleads for Common prayer Examination of Num. 6. 20. Acts 6. Three causes for which Master-Cotton maintaines persecution Christs Church may be gathered and dissolved without disturbance of civil Peace The doctrine and practise of Persecution breaks the peace where-ever it comes The Civil peace of a place or people is one thing and the welfare or presperity in health wealth c. another The Cities of the world enjoy peace and prosperity where Christ is not heard of Christianity lost most under such Emperours as claimed Christs power to reform the Church c. The Societies or Churches of the Saints are meerly voluntary in combinning or dissolving Christs Church is called out of the world The flourishing of civil states No Civil state can either by Christs Testimony or true reason be judge of the Ecclesiastical and spiritual Difference of spiritual and civil peace When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil resistance or disturbance Six instances of holy zeal in Scripture far from arrogance or impetuousness These were aleadged from Scripture in the bloody Tenent and acknowledged by Master Cotton The Indians prosessing subjection to the English in New England permited in their devillish worships when English fearing God persecuted Vnchristian conclusions Jonahs casting over-boord a ground of persecution c. examined The killing of the false Prophet Zech. 13. 6. examined Esa 26. Hos 6. 2. examined 2 Cor. 10. conviction of conscience The violation of civil peace though out of consciencâ— to be punished An over-ruling finger of God ordering Master Cotton to alleadge Gamaliel sure he had forgotten Master John Goodwins excellent labour in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or fighting against God Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver brasphemer seduced Cant. 5. I sleep yet my heart waketh A deep mystery in persecution Wolves complaining that the sheep persecute them The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed mystery Rev. 6. A challenge to the devil himself All Antichristian 〈…〉 persecutors make Tit. 3. their den and Fortress Tit. 3. Discussed The horrible abusing and profaning of that word Heretick Great sins of Gods own children A child of God may possibly be an Heretick For which service through the hurry of the times and the necessity of his departure he lost his recompence to this day The straights of the discussers time in composing of the Bloody Tenent * I prejudice not the free and comfortable supplies of temporals which the Saints ought to make so their Teachers in spirituals only I affirme that such as will not teach will out money they must and do beg or steal Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers Stealers Persecution not properly noâ— usually taken for any spiritual punishment Examination of Phil. 3. and Rom. 14. Very severe but not Christian more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England The civil and spiritual life confounded God Caesar The great peace breakers English Diana's Gross partiality to private interests England in all Ages guilty of much persecution Two seasonable petitions of any persâ—outed The Parable of the Tares The Parable of Tares grosly abused Hypocrisie secret and open hypocrisie Spiritual whoredome in worship may and doth in all Nations subsist with Civil Beings Relations c. Of the Tares Of the wise and foolish Virgius No true church of Christ consisting of visible hypocrites The field of the World The mystery of Antichristians or false Christians Master Cotton knows not his own desire The first rise of Antichristians argued The judgement of the great whore Christs Church by 〈…〉 properly consisting of good ground The â—â—â—uâ—e of Jewish Church The nature of Christs true Apostles Antichristians monsters in rereligion Two sorts of sinners Two sorts of hypocrites Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus The rivers and fountaines of blood Rev. 16. Of hypocrites in profession of Christianity Corrupt consciences distinguished Tolleration of idolaters considered Civil weapons in spirituals blur and flight the spiritual The tolleration of Jezabel in Thyatira Christ Jesus under pretence persecuted The weapons of the Saints Rev. The difference between civil and spiritual slander The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments Not such spiritual punishments in the national church of Israel Prayer against present destruction of tares Pastors and Teachers not Apostles and messengers Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites Concerning Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam * Hence Baalls Priests Monks Friars and Bishops have not been civilly actually slaine in England c. but spiritually by Gods word the sword of his spirit cashiered and cut off eternally Touching Christs Apostles or messengers Touching fundamentals Laws for persecuting of Christ Jesus The Pharisees blaspheming of Christ Jesus * Magistrates kings high priests Herod â—ad kings good kings c. Acts 25. 11. considered No appeals to the civil powers in matters meerly spiritual Few Magistrates in the world know Christ Jesus Mystical and cruel Surgery The title of defender of the faith To serve God withal our might literally taken horribly abused Christ Jesus hath rarely furnished his people with godly Magistrates Defendor of the faith A bold but a true word The title of supream head oath of supremacy c. The plague of the Turkes upon the Antichrististian world The Civil Magistrate no governor over the spiritual kingdome of Christ Whether Saul a type of Christ The kings of Israel and Judah types The priests and Clergy in all Nations the greatest peace-breakers Touching the seducer Of seducing Bishop Longlands subtle Oaths of inquisition Canses of destruction to a Nation All nations Cities Towns c. are part of the world Change of Religions The state of Israel unparlleld The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses Of Seducing What meant by twice dead Of Infection The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power The charge of the civil Magistrate The plague of the Turkes A twofold care and
civil state maintenance proveth a state Church p. 231 Synods assembled by civil power cannot be but civil also p. 231 The holy Land and Country of Canaan a None-such p. 232 The weapons of the Jews and Christians compared p. 233 New English loath to be accounted persecutors p. 234 Laws concerning Gods worship p. 234 240 Touching the Magistrates keeping of both Tables p. 235 Of Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion p. 237 Woful soul-saving ibid. The tearm souls Good commonly but a paint p. 238 Worldly prosperity ever dangerous to Gods children p. 239 Holland and England wonderfully prospered upon mercy shewn to consciences p. 241 Bodies and goods not conscience subject to civil powers p. 242 What is the Commonweal of Isreal p. 243 The Romane Emperor flourished long though without Christ p. 244 Christs spouse most chast under persecution ibid. Constantine a friend and an enemy to Christs spouse p. 245 Concerning toleration in New England p. 247 Papists and Protestants both force to Church p. 248 Prayers for vengeance upon persecutors p. 249 The bloody Tenent of persecution is a King-killing and Sure killing p. 250 Pâ—rsecutors pretend to save but kill p. 251 Hireling Ministers ibid. Friers in Chaucers time and the Clergy in our time considered The Turkes will be Muselmanni that is true believers p. 253 Mystical sheep and wolves p. 253 254 Pauls striking Elimas blind considered p. 254 The Clergy using the Magistrate as dogs p. 256 The great spiritual differences of these times p. 257 Gods children may possibly fight each against other p. 258 Spiritual murtherers and seducers p. 259 261 Commonweal and Common-woe twofold p. 259 Mystical wolves and Muskeeto's p. 261 A state and forc't Religion a prison p. 262 Of Constantines wars for the Christians p. 263 Never any true Religion in the world but one p. 264 Touching Pauls blasphemy before his conversion ibid. An instance from John Haywood and the Lord Cromwel in K. Henry the eighth his days p. 265 Of Moses Judicials p. 266 The first Christians the purest and yet the civil sword was against them p. 267 The Levites killing 3000 Exod. 32 typical p. 268 Phineasâ— his act considered ibid. Elijah and the Baalites and other figurative passages of the Old Testament p. 269 270 Strange and monstrous duties of Moral righteousness p. 271 Gods children are monsters accounted c. p. 272 Elijah his slaying the Captains and their Fifties ibid. Wonderful Spiders and Cobwebs ibid. Touching Seducers and their punishments p. 273 The sad effects of the Bloody Tenent on M. Cotton's own spirit p. 274 275 The differences of Gods people in Old and New England p. 276 The great sin of New Englands former Patents p. 276 277 Old England curbing New Englands persecutions ibid. Holy Cranmer and Cromwel joyning with bloody persecutors in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 The famous passages of Cromwel and Lambert in Hen. 8. his days p. 278 Conviction twofold p. 279 280 Christ Jesus accounted the greatest Heretick Blasphemer and Seducer in the world p. 381 Small matters accounted Heresies ibid. The barbarous usage of John Hus in the Councel at Constance p. 282 The Bloody Tenent destroys civility out of the world p. 282 285 All men confident in their own way p. 284 He that persecutes Jews Turks Pagans or Antichristians is in a greater errour then any of them ibid. Freedom of conscience a great peace-maker p. 286 287 Of persecuting Apostates p. 287 288 Two woful opinions bewitching the Nations p. 289 Three great causes of the downfal of the Church of Rome p. 290 Touching the New English model of Church and Civil power p. 290 M. Cotton ' s too deep censuring p. 291 Israel a miraculous people p. 292 Touching the punishment of adultery among the Jews p. 293 All civil Government Gods Ordinance ibid. True Commonweals many without Kings p. 294 A wonderful saying of Bishop Hall ibid. Magistrates nursing fathers and their sins p. 295 296 The Pourtraicture of the Bloody Tenent p. 297 c. Compared with other Opinions and Practices p 301. The Maskes and Vizards of the Bloody Tenent p. 302. Truth and Peace their meeting seldom and short in this World ibid. The Letter of R. W. to Major Endicoâ— Governor of the Massachuset in N. E. upon occasion of the late Persecution at Boston p. 303 Persecutors approve no persecution in the World but their own p. 304 All Persecutors render the innocent most odious p. 305 Cromwel the 2 d a Refuge for the oppessed p. 306 This Rejoynder formerly sent out of N. Eng. but not till now published ibid. Abuse of Light most dangerous ibid. The power of Conscience though erroneous p. 307 The Common Prayer and the Composers of it p. 308 Perfumes with man stinks with God ibid. Of Spiritual Baites and Snares p. 309 Spiritual Witchcraft ibid. Spiritual Drunkenness and the persecuting Language of it p. 310 The horrible Path which Persecutors walk in p. 311 The least beginning of Persecution tends to Blood Gods dreadful judgement against Persecutors p. 312 Gray haires are Gods Alarums p. 313 An appendix to the Cleargie of old and New England Scotland and Ireland p. 314 The Cleargie Court the Magistrate for his Sword and his money 315 The late Kings charge against his Clergie ibid. The Woolf pleading with the Lamb will be judge ibid. All prosecutors in their turns plead for libertie of conscience p. 316 King Charles and his Chaplaias subscribe to libertie of Conscience ibid. About twenty years persecution in New England p. 317 The persecution of the New and old English independent Cleargie p. 317 A briefe touch upon the fifteen proposals of the so called Independent Ministers p. 318 They silently challenge the power of ordination in all England c. ibid. They sell the Spiritual Libertie of Christ ibid FINIS
THE BLOODY TENENT YET More Bloody BY Mr Cottons endevour to wash it white in the BLOOD of the LAMBE Of whose precious Blood spilt in the Blood of his Servants and Of the blood of Millions spilt in former and later Wars for Conscience sake THAT Most Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience upon a second Tryal is found now more apparently and more notoriously guilty In this Rejoynder to Mr Cotton are principally I. The Nature of Persecution Examined II. The Power of the Civill Sword in Spirituals Examined III. The Parliaments permission of Dissenting Consciences Justified Also as a Testimony to M r Clarks Narrative is added a Letter to Mr Endicet Governor of the Massachusets in N. E. By R. WILLIAMS of Providence in New-England London Printed for Giles Calvert and are to be sold at the black-spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1652. TO THE MOST HONORABLE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Common-wealth of ENGLAND Most Noble Senators ONE of the greatest Spirits and as active as later times have yeelded Charles the fifth tired out with Affairs of State resigns up all and sits down to end his dayes in quiet Contemplation I doubt not but many of your Honorable Heads have felt the thorny Crown of these late years troubles so sharp so weighty that your tired Spirits would joyfully embrace if not with Charles the fifth a totall Cessation yet like some faithfull tired Judge after so long and troublesome a Tearm at least some breathing short Vacation Although I dare not as to Englands peace and safety admit desires of your Totall Cessation or long vacation yet common Gratitude for such incomparable labours expences hazards c. from whence the God of heaven hath vouchsafed such rare and incomparable preservations deliverances enjoyments c. I say common gratitude cannot onely wish you heartily pray for earnestly your eternal Rest and most joyfull Harvest in the Heavens but also all the possible breathing hours and cool retired shades of Contemplation and self-enjoyment amidst the scorching Travels of so many vexing and tedious Actions You cannot ever renowned Patriots but like some grave Commanders of Fleets and Armies who have brought their Ships and followers through tempestuous stâ—rms and bloody fights to joyful Rest and Harbours You cannot but look back with Admirings with Praisings with Resolvings to cast you Crowns and Heads and Hearts and Hands for the remaining Minutes of the short Candle of your life at his Feet in whose most High and most gracious Hands have all your Breaths and wayes been In the review of the multitude of your Actings and Sufferings your Battells and Victories Dangers and Deliverances you cannot no man can but observe and see a naked Arm from Heaven fighting for you but most especially since the times and houres you gratified the most High Eternall King of Kings now more then ever Englands King with these two famous Subsidies if I may in humble Reverence so call them The first of Mercy and Moderation to the poor oppressed Consciences of the English Nation amidst the throng of which he graciously will yea he hath acknowledged that some of his own dear Children the Sonnes and Daughters of the God of Heaven have been relieved and succoured by you The second your high and impartiall drawing of the Sword of Justice upon the great and highest offendors Since which two wonderfull Subsidies the most wilfully blind must be forced to see the glorious Goings of the God of Heaven with your Councels and Armies and the discharge of his holy promise in honouring you who have so highly in so rare and unparalleld Travels and Hazards honored him Concerning the first of these Subsidies I was humbly bold some few yeares since to present you with a Conference between Peace and Truth touching a most bloudy Murtherous Malefactor the bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of Conscience a notorious and common Pyrate that takes and robbs that fires and sinkes the Spirituall Shipps and Vessels the Consciences of all men of all sorts of all Religions and Perswasions whatsoever It hath pleased Master Cotton a Man incomparably too worthy for such a service to attempt the washing of this bloody Tenent as hee speakes in the blood of the Lamb CHRIST JESUS though one part of the Conference to wit the Examination of a N. English Modell of Church and Civill Power he leaveth to the washing of some other of the N. English Ministers the Authors of that Modell of whose washings as yet I have not heard of This present discourse presents your Honours with the second part of the Conference between Peace and Truth and hath examined Mr. Cottons Reply and washings I summe up the multitude of my Thoughts touching your Honours Consideration of this point in these three most humble Petitions First I most humbly and earnestly beseech your Honours to mind the Difference between State Necessity of Freedome to different Consciences and the Equity and Piety of such a Freedome State Policie and Necessity of Affairs drew from great Constantine with his Colleague Licinius that famous Edict of Freedome to all mens Consciences whom yet afterward he persecuted But a Successor of his of late years Maximilian the second comes neerer the Life of the Businesse when he conscientiously profest in a solemne Speech to the Bishop of Olmuts in Bohemia There is no sin ordinarily greater against God said he then to use violence against the Consciences of men Your Honours will find if the Father of Spirits please to spare you time and Spirits to mind this Cause and Controversie that all violence to Conscience turns upon these two Hinges First of Restraining from that worshipping of a God or Gods which the Consciences of men in their respective worships all the world over believes to be true Secondly of Constraining to the practising or countenancing of that whereof their Consciences are not perswaded In the practice of both these the Histories of our own Nation will tell us besides the forraigne how sharp and zealous the strongest Swords of England have ever us'd to be And yet of the practice of both what a Propheticall passage of our late troubles and King did the foresaid Maximilian expresse to Henry the third of France in his passage from Poland to France to claim the French Crown to this effect Sir remember that when men think to get Heaven by using violence to the Consciences of men they oftentimes lose that which they might peaceably have kept on Earth Some have said that worldly policie perswaded as well as State-necessity compelled the States of Holland to a prudent permission of different Consciences And that the said State-Policie perswaded some Dutch to wish that England might not tolerate least a permission of Conscience in England should break down the Bridge and Passage into their parts of Freedome in causes of Conscience Those prudent and prosperous States have gone
own 7 hils haue flown fild all Protestant and Popish ears and hearts and tongues with either admiration exulting or furious rage and indignation Yet what avails these glorious flames and furious whirling of your zealous Chariots if yet they are but Jehu's If Sathan the God of this world possesse the Throne of Pride and Ostentation in your bosoms Come see my zeal which I have for the God of Israel yea though you should go on where Jehu left and shoot home where he fell short yet what avails it that the God of Israel be in Iehu's mouth when God-selfe God-honour c. fill his breast heart What gains he by the slaughter of Princes Priests and Gods when Israel it self is but an Apostate state from the true worship of the God of Israel and Iehu himself according to the purity of Gods word and ordinances at Ierusalem reformed not so much as his own privâ—t heart censcience Alas what solid joy most zealous Worthies shall a Crown of leaves a temporal reward Iehu's wages bring to your Noble Heads Breasts if you heare not at last that saving Call to all humble and selfe-denying Followers of Jesus Come ye blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Your admired publick patience so wonderfully assaulted so wonderfully loaden with such mightie Trials from Mans from Gods hand with such mighty Losses mighty Defeats mighty Labours Hazards mighty Reproaches c. I say your unwearied Patience hath stood like some mighty Rock or Anvill invincible Yet who can stile this Patince or State-policie if your private Howses and Breasts swell and swarm with rebellious Passions Impatiences Revenges If in the furnaces of your own private afflictions and in the powrings out and changes of the most High upon you your Drosse and Lees of unmortified unsanctified Spirits remain uncleansed if you most humbly kisse not the Rods of the most High chastising you by sicknesses by lesses and other trialls humbly thankfull and longing to declare the Spirits of true Children truly desiring more and more to partake of his Divine Nature and Holinesse Yea what avails the Crown of your enduring Constancy that have rid out so long a storm held out so long a siege not fainted in such tedious Travels Labours Oppositions Treacheries Discouragements but gloriously cast Anchor in the Port of Patience if yet your personall Righteousness passe away as the morning dew melted with the warme beams of victorious and prosperous Success If your own professions of Christ Jesus prove but a fading colour and not died in the right Grain of the pretious blood of the Son of God Your Honours well remember that the main point of Luthers Reformation and before him of the Hussites in Germany and Bohemia and before them of the Wicklevists in England and before them of the Waldenses in France consisted chiefly about Repentance and Faith in the blood of Christ That the main Contentions of Calvin and since him of the most Reformers have turn'd upon the hinge of the Form of the Church and the Administrations thereof the lamentable though pretious Fuell of those fires of strife among the wisest holiest and learnedst of the Followers of Christ Jesus in these times You know the Lord Jesus prophesied That many false Christs should arise and the Scriptures more then once give the title of Christ to the Ghurch whence it is evident That every severall Modell Platform and profession of a Church is the profession of a various and different Christ Your Honours also know he spake most true being Truth it Selfe that said That which is most highly esteemed amongst men is abomination in the sight of God Luke 16. Hence such may the glorious profession of Christs or Churches be as may ravish the eyes and hearts of men and from which the jealous eys of the true Lord Jesus turn away as from the false and counterfeit with indignation Beside the Counterfeit in holy Scripture how famous was the Pageant of that counterfeit King of England which so haunted with long vexations one of the wisest of Englands Kings Henry the seventh How wonderfully even to astonishment did the imposture of Richard Duke of York proclaiming Henry an usurper and â—alse I say how wonderfully did that monstrous imposture take that not onely Foraigners where that Counterfeit most kept the Arch-Duke the King of France the King of Scots the King of Romanes the Irish Nation c. were deceived with that feigned King but also so many gallant men of our own Nation even to the wisest and highest as that famous Stanley Lord Chamberlain the Preserver and Râ—iser of King Henry himselfe lamentably lost their Heads and Lives about that pretended King Now counterfeit Spirituall delusions of false and counterfeit Christs as they are deeper and stronger so they find more easie possession of the Ears and Souls of men so wofully prepared by naturall self-deceivings On six principall Pillars or Foundations saith the holy Spirit Heb. 6. 6. is built the fabrick of of true Christianity On Repentance on Faith on Baptismes on laying on of Hands on the Resurrection and the Eternall Judgement Concerning the two middle ones of these there are and have been mighty and lamentable differences among the Scholars of Jesus who yet agree in the other foure of Repentance and Faith the Resurrection and Eternall Judgement Whatsoever your Honours apprehensions are of the foure last I beseech you as you love your lives to Eternity make sure of the two first and ply with Sails and Oars day and nights and give not rest to your souls till you have anchored in some blessed assurance that although you find not satisfaction in the many frames of Churches pretending yet that you have saved as once you know a wise and honorable personage said the Bird in your Bosome and that those your very eyes which have seen so much of Christ Jesus and so many wonderfull changes and have been rotten awhile in their holes in Death shall joyfully possesse and fill their holes again and be gloriously blessed with the sight of a Redeemer when these Heavens and this Earth shal passe away For which humbly and uncessantly prayes Your Honours most unworthy yet unfainedly devoted Roger Williams Your Honours wanting time to read much may please to view in a few minutes the Portraicture and Map of the whole Bloody Tenent in the latter end of the last Chapt. Chap. 79. To the several Respective General Courts especially that of the Massachusets in N. ENGLAND Honored and beloved Friends and Countreymen WHile You sit drie on your safe American Shoars by Gods most gracious Providence and have beheld the dolefull tossings of so many of Europs Nations yea of our dearest Mother aged England in a Sea of Tears and Bloud I am humbly bold to present your Eyes and Hearts with this not unseasonable discourse of Bloud of the
only wise God thus to permit the contentions and divisions of his own Servants as it displaies Himself only Perfect and Excellent and all the best of men in all Ages but farthing-candles yea smoaking Firebrands As it brightly proves the admirable consent and Angelical Harmony of the holy Scripture relating Histories and in those Histories infolding Prophesies fulfill'd before mens daily view thousands of years after As it makes us see our spiritual Povertie and Beggary and infinit need of Mercy and Grace and Peace from Heaven and drives us to continual Prayers and cries for mercifull supplies from thence As it disrelisheth this present sweetest life yea the very life of Spiritual Love in the Communion of the Saints of God themselves if compared with the most pure and spiritual and absolute Joyes and Life approaching So doth this heavenly Councel of the most High aboundantly stop the mouths of all malicious who although they delight to scratch their Athenian Itch of hearing Novelties new things Newes yet stumble they at this stumbling-block of Novelties new Churches new Ministers new Discipline new Baptism new Light The ancient of days say they the God of Peace and Love cannot be in such Divisions The old Bishops were better the old Popes themselves more tollerable But this is but the barking of malice against Gods holyness which his true servants desire to partake of Against Gods Truth which his servants must contend for yea though it be one against another against Gods Councels who hath so laid his holy project that what he now sets out in a clear Light and fairer Print is the very same had we inlightned eyes to see it with the old edition of former times more dark and rude in Ceremonies Types and figures I cannot but foresee variety of divers Passions and Affections in a Variety of Beholders of this present Controversie Some will please themselves and their curiosities in the Noveltie of such discourses some will rejoice to see the light appear and yet mourn in the lamentable differences of such who profess the same God and Christ about it Some will be angry and cry out of Blasphemy against their Gods their Bellies and their Titles c. Some will fear disturbances of the Civil and some of the Spiritual peace and Christianity Yet some will truely desire to search and know the will of God humbly desirous to do it on earth as the Angels doe it in heaven The Courteous Reader may please to see that in the first Conference of Peace and Truth there was Discust a Modell of New English Church and Civill Power which Mr. Cotton in his Reply waved and referred to others of the New English Elders to Reply unto which whether they have so done as yet I have not heard Together with Mr. Cottons Reply to the Bloudy Tenent there was also added a Reply of Mr. Cotton to an Answer of his Letter The Examination of this Reply I desired and intended should have been here presented But the streights of time being constantly drunk up by necessary Labours for bread for many depending on me the discharge of Engagements and wanting helps of transcribing I say the streights of time were such that the Examination of that Reply could not together with this be fitted for Publick view though with the Lords assistance will not delay to follow Touching Mr. Cotton I present two words First for his Person Secondly for his Work For his Person although I rejoyce that since it pleased God to lay a Command on my Conscience to come in as his poor Witnesse in this great Cause I say I rejoice it hath pleased him to appoint so able and excellent and Conscionable an Instrument to bolt out the Truth to the bran So I can humbly say it in his holy presence it is my constant heaviness and souls grief as to differ from any fearing God so much more ten thousand times from Mr Cotton whom I have ever desired and still desire highly to esteem and dearly to respect for so great a portion of mercy and grace vouchsafed unto him and so many Truths of Christ Iesus maintained by him And therefore notwithstanding that some of no common Judgement and respect to him have said that he wrote his washing of the Bloudie Tenent in Bloud against Christ Iesus and Gall against me yet if upon so slippery and narrow a passage I have slpit notwithstanding my constant resolution to the contrary into any Tearm or Expression unbeseeming his Person or the Matter the cause of the most high in hand considered I humbly crave pardon of God and Mr. Cotton also Secondly concerning his Work I call to mind a speech of one of eminent Note in N. England observing a disposition in men for one man to deifie another and that some of no small note had said they could hardly believe that God would suffer Mr. Cotton to err the Speech was this I fear that God may leave Mr. Cotton to some great error that men may see he is a man c. But concerning his Work the observant Reader will soon discover that whatever Mr. Cottons Stand is yet he most weakly provides himself of very strange Reserves and Retreats to point with the finger at 2 or 3 most frequent and remarkable First when he seems to be overwhelmed with the lamentable and doleful cries of the Souls under the Altar crying out for Vengeance on their Persecutors that dwell upon the Earth He often retreats and professeth to hold no such Doctrin of persecuting the Saints no nor of any for cause of Conscience nor that the Magistrate should draw forth his Sword in matters of Religion When it is urged that through this whole Book he Persecutes or Hunts by name the Idolater the Blasphemer the Heretick the Seducer and that to Death or Banishment and amongst other Expressions useth this for one If there be stones in the streets the Magistrate need not run for a Sword to the Smiths shop nor to the Ropier for an Halter to punish Hereticks c. Mr. Cotton retreats into the Land of Israel and calls up Moses and his Laws against Idolaters Blasphemers Seducers c When he is Challenged and that by his own frequent confession in his Book for producing the Pattern of a National Church when he stands only for a Congregationall for producing that national church of Israel so miraculous so typical as a Copie or Samplar for the Nations and Peoples of the World who have no such miraculous and Typicall respect upon them Mr. Cotton retreats to Moral Equity that the Seducer and he that kills a Soul should die When it is urged that Christ Iesus at his so long typed out coming abolished those National shadowes and erected his Spiritual Kingdom of Israel appinted Spiritual Officers Punishments c. and that those Scriptures Tit. 3 against the Hereticks and Rev. 2. against Baalam and Iezabel prove only a spiritual death and
of Prage are declared for devils with the pictured devils upon their heads and under this cloud of heresie and black name of hereticks most commonly have suffered in all ages the true messengers of Christ Jesus Thus cryed they out Acts 17. These are they that have turned the world upside down and are come hither also and thus did they set the City all on an uproare And Acts 19. not the worshippers of Christ fill'd the whole City with confusion but the worshipers of Diana who filled the heavens with that Bedlam Outery of two houres continuance Great is Diana of the Ephesians Truth With as little reason and peaceableness of spirit hath our English Nation used to cry Great is the Church of Rome Great is our holy Father the Pope Great the Mass Great the Virgin Mary Great the General Councels c. And in later times Great the Church of England Great the Christian Magistrate Great the Ministery and Bishops of England Great the swearing and covenant of the people c. and such as dissent from us in these points and practices persecute them as hereticks and disturbers of the common civil peace Peace In the rest of this Chapter Master Cotton makes three grants with his exceptions annexed Truth Please you dear peace to mention them in one and accordingly I shall weigh them in the balance together Peace 1. Saith he The many causes which the discusser before wrote of are all of them allowed but none of them concern holding forth of errors which is the point in hand 2. Saith he It is easily granted that they do break the Cities or kingdoms peace who cry out for prisons and swords against such who cross their judgement or practice in religion to wit saith he unless their religion be of God and the crossing of it be such as destroyeth and subverteth the Religion of God 3. It is also easily granted saith he that many complaine most who are most in fault themselves Truth To these three I may answer thus in one The Mystery of preaching or holding forth the witness of the Truth of Jesus is interpreted by many to be the Mystery of the first seal the white horse and the being persecuted or slaughtered for the word of God and testimony of Jesus to be the Mystery of the third seal where the souls under the Altar cry to the Lord for vengeance against their persecutors These mysteries are sealed up and they are the Lords letters not to be opened and read by every one but as sealed letters be by such to whom they are directed Peace It follows therefore that in the midst of all the cries of Iews Pagans Turkes and Antichristians Our Religion is the Religion of God You are an heretick you are a persecutor We are true Christians we are persecuted c. that the hearts of Gods children must be comforted and staid up with the sight of this Mystery And doubtless it is most commonly though not alwayes true that the imprisoned fined whipt banished hanged burned c. in point of Religion have been so inhumanely oppressed for the word of God and the Testimony of Iesus Our own Chronicles Records of England and blessed Master Fox will in part evidence to us that scarce a King or Queen of England hath past since Richard the second his time but the blood of the witnesses of Iesus more or less hath been spilt in their Raignes as the blood of Hereticks Schismaticks c. and but few drops of the blood of any Heretick indeed have faln to the ground Truth The discusser therefore humbly to my knowledge desireth according to Master Cottons wish to reflect upon his own way and humbly to beg of God two things for himself and all in any measure censured and persecuted as hereticks First Iosephs innocency purity chastity in all those points and questions wherein they are charged and condemned unclean Secondly Iesephs patience to bear the accusations censures imprisonments c. from the tongues and hands of them who are notoriously unclean and guilty before the zealous and revenging eye and hand of God Examination of CHAP. XVIII Peace MAny of the following leaves and Chapters dear truth are spent upon that great and heavenly parable of the Tares a knot about which so many holy fingers dead and living have been so laboriously exercised all professing to unty yet some by seeming to untie have tyed the knot the faster Truth It is no wonder sweet peace to finde Master Cotton so intangled both in his answers and replies touching this Parable for men of all sorts in former ages have been so intangled before him To which purpose with thy patience I shall relate a notable passage recorded by that excellent witness or Martyr of God Master Fox in his book of Acts and Monuments t is this In the story of Master George Wisehart that famous Scotch witness of Christ Iesus in the dayes of King Henry the eighth there preached at the arraignment of the said Wiseheart one Iohn Winryme subprior of the Abbey of Saint Andrews he discoursed on the Parable of the Tares he interpreted the Tares to be hereticks and yet contrary to this very Scripture as Master Fox himself observeth though elswhere himself also maintaining it the duty of the civil Magistrate to suppress hereticks I say the said Winryme concludeth that hereticks ought not to be let alone until the harvest but to be supprest by the power of the civil Magistrate So that memorable it is that both the Popish Prior and that truely Christian Fox were intangled in contradictions to their own writings about the interpreting of this Heavenly Scripture Peace O what cause therefore have all that follow Iesus to beg of Iesus as the Disciples did the blessed Key of David to unloose this holy mistery In the entrance therefore of this discourse the discusser observing Master Cottons exposition to be fallacious and the Tares to be interpreted either persons or doctrines or practices he blames that Master Cotton gives no argument for proof of such an interpretation Master Cotton replies First Neither did the Author of the letter give reason for his interpretation 2. That they both gave one interpretation For the Author of the letter said that some expounded the Wheat and Tares to signifie such as walk in truth and such as walk in lyes now are not saith Master Cotton hypocrites and some corrupt doctrines and practices coincident with such as walk in lyes c Truth I answer First it might be both their failing not to strengthen their interpretations with some light and evidence from Scripture or reason although the Prisoners failing the less as being forced to write by shifts and difficulties in prison and so the shorter when Master Cotton had free liberty to inlarge and confirm without control c. 2. When the prisoner interprets the Tares to be such as walk in lyes it will be found evident upon examination that
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
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
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
or Tolleration As for the Exceptions following Unlesse they maintaine Fundamentall Heresie and unlesse they sin actually These pull backe againe with the Left hand what merciful Freedome he had given before with the Right 3. But lastly by this Interpretation of Let them alone by way of permission and praediction it appeares that M r Cottons Thoughts are not without checks and doubtings what these Tares might be For sayth he if by Tares are meant grosse offendours whereas before he spent much precious time to prove the Tares to be a kinde of closer Hypocrite Moreover all permission is of Evill for some Good so he the permission of Tares for the Wheate sake In which respect as I conceive the good Wheate is not so tendred nor the Word of Christ so attended to by such as presume in pretence for the good wheate sake to pluck up those Tares unto whom Christ Jesus for the good Wheate sake hath for a Time granted a permission Exam of Chap. 58. replying to Chap. 61. Peace VVHereas the Discusser professedly waved any Argument from the number of Princes witnessing in profession or practice against persecution for cause of Conscience M r Cotton replyes that this is a yeelding of the Invaliditie of the Argument But 2. that he urgeth not the number but the greater pietie and presence of God with those Princes who have professed and practiced against Tolleration Truth As I would not use an Argument from the number of Princes about an heavenly matter as knowing that the Kings and Rulers of the Earth commonly minde their owne Crownes Honours and Dominions more then Gods and such Princes as are called Christian use Gods Name Crowne and Ordinances as Jeroboam used Gods Name and Jezabell used Fasting and prayer for the advancement of their owne Crownes and persecuting of the Innocent and Righteous So neither would I rest in the Qualitie Greatnes or Goodnes of any That which I attend in this Argument is the Ground and Reasons of their Speeches which may also have this Consideration to boote that they are the Speeches of such who sit at the helme of great States and were not ignorant of the Affaires of States and what might conduce to the peace or disturbance to the wealth or woe of a Common-weale To their Ground and Reasons therefore I attend in the next Chapter Exam of Chap. 59. replying to Chap. 62. Peace IN this Chap. the Consideration of the Speeches themselves M r Cotton sayth he passed by because either the Reasons wanted waight or did not impugne the cause in hand as First That Speech of King James God never loved to plant his Church by Bloud It is farre from us sayth M r Cotton to compell men to yeeld to the Fellowship of the Church by bloudie Lawes or Penalties Neverthelesse this hindreth not but that his Blood may justly fall upon his owne head that shall goe about to supplant and destroy the Church of Christ Truth How light or how impertinent soever these Speeches may seems to M r Cotton yet to others fearing God also they are most sollid and waighty This Speech of King James seemes impertinent in this cause because sayth M r Cotton we compell no man by bloudy Lawes and Penalties to yeeld themselves to the Fellowship of the Church I answer as Saul by persecuting of David in the Land of Canaan and thrusting him forth of Gods Heritage did as it were bid him goe serve other Gods in other Countries So he that shall by bloudie Lawes and Penalties force any man from his owne Conscience and Worship doth upon the point say unto him in a language of bloud Come be of my Religion c. 2. Peace Why should not Men as well be forced to the Truth as forced from their Errours and Erroneous practices Since to keepe to the Similitude it is the same Power that sets a plant and plucks up weedes which is true mystically in the spirituall worke of Christ Jesus in his heavenly planting by his Word and Spirit 3. Truth I adde if men be compelled to come to Church under such a penaltie for Absence as hath been practiced in Old and New England How can M r Cotton say there is no forcing to the Fellowship of the Church when howsoever with the Papists he makes so great difference which Christ never made between the Lords Supper and the Word and Prayer and say that men may be forced to the hearing of the Word but not to the Supper Yet the consciences of thousands will testifie that it is as truely grievous to them to be forced to the one as to the other and that they had as lief be forced to the meat as to the Broth to the more inward and retired chambers and closets as into the Hall or Parlor being but partâ— of the same house c. Peace And I may adde Deare Truth that the bloudie Imprisonments Whippings and Banishments that have cryed and will cry in New England will not be stild untill the cry of Repentance and the bloud of the Lambe Christ Jesus put that cry to silence But to the second Speech of King James No marvell sayth M r Cotton that I past by that Speech to wit that Civill obedience may be performed by the Papists for I found it not in the Letter and beside how can Civill obedience be performed by Papists when the Bishop of Rome shall Excommunicate a Protestant Prince dissolve the Subjects Oath c. Truth I answer King James professing concerning the Oath of Allegiance which he tendred to the Papists and which so many Papists tooke that he desired onely to be secured for Civill Obedience to my understanding did as much as say that he beleeved that a Papist might yeeld Civill obedience as they did in taking this Oath as quiet and peaceable Subjects some of them being employed in places of Trust both in his and in Queene Elizabeths dayes What though it be a Popish Teâ—eâ—â— that the Pope may so doe and what though Bellarmine and others have maintained such bloudie Tenents yet it is no Generall Tenent of all Papists and it is well knowne that a famous Popish Kingdome the whole Kingdome of France assembled in Parliament in the yeare so calld 1610. condemned to the Fire the booke of Johannes Marianus for mainteining that very Tenent And two moneths after Bellarmines booke it selfe was condemned to the Fire also by the same Parliament for the same detestable Doctrine as the Parliament calld it as tending to destroy the higher Powers which God hath ordained stirring up the Subjects against their Princes absolving them from their Obedience stirring them up to attempt against their Persons and to disturbe the common peace and quiet Therefore all Persons who ever under Paine of High Treason were forbidden to print sell or keepe that booke c. Peace This passage being so late and so famous in so neere a Popish Countrie I wonder how M r Cotton
could chaine up all Papists in an Impossibilitie of yeelding Civill obedience when a whole Popish Kingdome breakes and abhorres the chaines of such bloudy and unpeaceable Doctrines and Practices 2. Experience hath proved it possible for Men to hould other maine and fundamentall Doctrines of that Religion and yet renounce the Authoritie of the Pope as all England did under King Henry 8. when the six bloudie Articles were maintained and practiced and in them the Substance of that Idolatrous Religion although the Power of the Pope of Rome was generally acknowledged no other then of a forreigne Bishop in his owne Diocesse 3. But grant the English Catholicks maintaine the Supreame Authoritie of the Pope even in England it must be considered and declared how farre If so farre as to owne his Power of absolving from obedience against which the aforesaid Parliament of Paris declared the wisdome of the State knowes how to secure it selfe against such Persons But if onely as Head of the Church in spirituall matters they give Assurance for Civill obedience why should their Consciences more then others be oppressed Peace M r Cotton as all men and too justly in this Controversie alledgeth the Papists practices what ever professions otherwise have been So long as they hould the Pope they are sure of a Dispensation to take any Oath subscribe to any Engagement and of Absolution for the Acting of any Crime of Treason or Murther against the chiefest States-men and the State it selfe Truth What is it that hath rendred the Papists so inraged and desperate in England Ireland c What is it that hath so imbittered and exasperated their minds but the Lawes against their Consciences and Worships Peace The two Sisters Lawes compared Maries and Elizabeths concerning mens Consciences while Maries were certainly written with bloud against the Protestants Elizabeths may seeme to be written with milke against the Papists Truth Deare Peace Chaines of Gold and Diamonds are chaines and may pinch and gall as sore and deepe as those of Brasse and Iron c. all Lawes to force even the grossest Conscience of the most besotted Idolaters in the world Jew or Turke Papist or Pagan I say all such Lawes restraining from or constraining to Worship and in matters meerly Spirituall and of no Civill nature such Lawes such Acts are chaineâ— are yoakes not possibly to be fitted to the Soules neck without oppression and exasperation Peace It is no wonder indeed that the Brains of those of the Popish Faith are so distempered and enraged by yoakes clapt on the neck of their Consciences when Solomon the wisest observes it common that Civill oppression how much more Soule-oppression the most grievous and intollerable doth use to render the Braines of men otherwayes most sober and judicious madde and desperate 2. Truth I answer secondly grant the Practices of the Papists against the Civill State fowle dangerous c. yet why should there not be hope according to the rules of pietie in Scripture and policie in Experience that the coales of mercy and moderation may melt the Head of an Enemie as hard as any stone or mettall and render imbittered Enemies loving Friends combined and resolved for their common safetie and Liberties Thirdly Against the feare of Evill practices the Wisdome of the State may securely provide by just cautions and provisoes as of Subscribing the Civill Engagement of yeelding up their Armes the Instruments of mischiefe and disturbance of being noted as the Jewes are in some parts by some distinction of or on their Garments or otherwise according to the Wisdome of the State And without such or the like sufficient cautions given it is not Civill Justice to permit justly suspected persons dangerous to the civill peace to abide out of places of Securitie and safe Restraint Peace If such a course were steered with the Consciences of that Religion yet are there some Objections waighty concerning the Body of the People First There will be alwayes danger of tumâ—lâ—s and uproares between the Papists and the Protestants 1. Truth Sweet Peace thou mayst justly be tender of the quiet repose and secure Tranquilitie of all men and with All men if it be possible as the Scripture speakes as thou art â—n heavenly daughter of the God of peace and love But yet thou knowest the Wisdome of the English State needâ— not be taught from abroad where Liâ—ertie abroad is granted to the Popish oâ— Protestanâ— Consciences of making safe and sufficient provision against all Tumults and feare of uproares 2. But secondly it is too too fully and lamentably true that the Congregations or Churches of the severall sortâ— of such as in whole or in part seperate from the Parish worship and â—orshipperâ— are â—arrâ— more odious to and doe more exâ—sperâ—â—e a thousand times the Parish Assemblies then the Papistâ— or Catholiques themselues are or doe So that if the People were let loose to take their choice of exercising violence and furie either upon a â—opish oâ— a Protestant Seperate Assembly it is cleare from the greater corrivation and competition made by the Protestants that seperate to the true Church true Government true Worship true Ministrie true Seales c. the rage of the People would mount up incomparably fiercer against the one then the other Hence iâ— was the Papists ever found more favour with the last two Kings and theiâ— Bishops then the Puritants so called did and the seperate Assemblâ—es were not so maligned by them as the Nonconâ—ormists noâ— they so much as the very conforming Puritants And therefore suitably it was bâ—lcht out from a fowle-mouth 〈…〉 a Chaplâ—ine to one of the late Bishops Aâ—plaguâ— said â—â— on all Conforming Puritants they doe us most mischiefe Notwithstanding all this and the bitter Indignation of People against these Sectaries so called and their Assemblies yet the most holy wisdome of the Father of Lights hath taught the Parliament of England that wonderfull skill in the midst of so many Spirituall oppositions to preserve the Civill peace from the dangerâ— and occasions of civill Tumults and Distractions Peace Admit the civill peace be kept inviolate yet how satisfie we the feares and jealousies of many who cry out of danger of Infection and that Jezabels Doctrine will leaven and seduce the Land c. Truth I will not here repeate what in other parts of this booke I have presented touching that Point of Infection At present I answer First It is to me most improbable that except the Body of the Nation face about from Protestanisme to Poperie as in Queene Maries dayes that the number of Protestants turning Papists will be great in a Protestant Nation especially if such securitie be taken as was above-mentioned and otherwise as the State shall order c. together with such publick notes and markes before mentioned on the People of that Way because of their former practices Secondly Yea why should not rather the glorious Beames of
Controversies of Religion That Soul that most possesseth it selfe in patient suffering and dependeth not on the arme of flesh but upon the arme of God Christ Jesus for his comfort and protection that Soul is most likely in my observation to see and stand for the Truth of Christ Jesus Peace In the next place Master Cotton denyes to compell to the Truth by penalties but onely by withdrawing such favours as are comely and safe for such persons Truth I have formerly answered and doe that a great Load may be made up by Parcels and particulars as well as by one masse or bulke and that the backs of some men especially Merchants may be broke by a withdrawing from them some Civill priviledges and rights which are their due as well as by afflicting them in their Purses or Flesh upon their backs 2 Christ Jesus was of another opinion who distinguisheth between Gods due and Caesars due and therfore with respect to God his cause and Religion it is not lawfull to deprive Caesar the Civil Magisteate nor any that belong to him of their Civil and Earthly rights I say in this respect although that a man is not Godly a Christian sincere a Church member yet to deprive him of any Civill right or Priviledge due to him as a Man a Subject a Citizen is to take from Caesar that which is Caesars which God indures not though it be given to himselfe Peace Experience oft-times tell us that however the stream of just Priviledges and Rights hath out of Carnal Policy been stopt by Gods people when they have got the Staffe into their hands in divers Lands and Countreys yet hath that streame ever returned to the greater calamity and tryal of Gods people Truth But thirdly it hath been noted that even in New-England penalties by Law have been set to force all to come to Church which will appear upon a due search to be nothing else but an outward profession of force and violence for that Doctrine which they suppose is the Truth Peace Concerning coming to Church wee tolerate saith Master Cotton Indians Presbyterians Antinomians and Anabaptists and compell none to come to Church against their conscience and none are restrained from hearing even in England Truth Compelling to come to Church is apparant whether with or against their Conscience let every man look to it The toleration of Indians is against professed principles and against the stream of all his present dispute as before I proved Touching the Magistrates duty of suppressing Idolatry Witchcraft Blasphemy c. such Indians as are pofessedly subject to English in N. England notoriously continue and abound in the same which if they should not permit it as apparant their subjection is hazarded T is true this Toleration is a Duty from God but a sin in them because they professe it their Duty to suppresse Idolatry Blasphemy adde Master Cotton may say we not onely tolerate the Indians in their abominable and barbarous worships but which may seem most incredible we tolerate the Indians also in that which by our civil principles we ought to tolerate no subject in that is in abominable lying whoring cursing thieving without any active course of restraint c. T is true Those Indians submitting to their Government as it may be Master Cotton will say to the ten Commandements yet living in all kind of Barbarisme live some miles more remote how ever they are they say their subjects were every miles distance an hundreth Peace But is there any such and professed tolleration of Antinomians Presbyterians Anabaptists as is here insinuated Truth I know of no toleration of Presbyterian Antinomians Anabaptists worshipping God in any meetings separate from the common Assemblies If any such persons be amongst them like Church-Papists it is their sin that they separate not from such opposite Assemblies and Worships and it is the sin of such assemblies to tolerate such persons after due admonitions in the name of Christ rejected But further Master Cotton grants a Communion in hearing in a Church-Estate by Church members but not in any as are no Church-members but come in as the Pagan Infidell 1 Cor. 14. Truth Communion is twofold First open and professed among Church-Members Secondly Secret and implicite in all such as give their presence to such Worships without witnessing against them For otherwise how can a Church-Papist satisfie the Law compelling him to come to Church or a Protestant satisfie a Popish Law in Popish Countries but by this Cloake or Covering hiding and saving of themselves by bodily presence at Worship though their Heart be farre from it Peace Whereas it was said that Conscionable Papists and all Protestants have suffered upon this ground especially of refusing to come to each others Church or meeting M r Cotton replies They have suffred upon other points and such as have refused to come to Church have not refused because such hearing implanted them into Church-Estate but out of feare to be leavened Truth 'T is true many have suffred upon other points but upon due Examination it will appeare that the great and most universall Tryall hath been amongst both Papists and Protestants about coming to Church and that not out of feare of being leavened for what Religion is ordinarily so distrustfull of its owne strength as of Countenancing what they believe false by their presence and appearance Exam of Chap. 71. replying to Chap. 74. Peace COncerning the Papists testimonie against persecution M r Cotton replyes First why may not their Testimonie be wicked as well as their Booke confest so to be Secondly He grants that Conversion of Soules ought not to be but by Spirituall meanes Truth It is true the Authour of the Letter calls their booke wicked and themselves the Authours of persecution yet their Testimonie is in part acknowledged by M r Cotton to be true and will further appeare so to be upon Examination But whether M r Cotton allow of no other Armes then Spirituall to be used about Spirituall conversion it hath and will be further examined Peace Whereas the Papists alledge Matth. 10. that Christ Jesus sent his Ministers as sheepe among Wolves not as Wolves among sheepe to kill imprison c. M r Cotton grants this true yet adds that this hindreth not Excommunication Tit. 3. nor miraculous Vengeance against Spirituall Wolves Acts 13. where there is a gift nor their Prayers against such 2 Tim. 4. 4. nor their stirring up of the Civill power against them as Elijah did Ahab and the people against the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18. 40. Truth Concerning the two first we agree for the third the Prayers of Gods people against Gods Enemies we finde two-fold First Generall against all secondly Particular against some and that two-fold First for Gods Vengeance in Gods time leaving it to his holy Wisdome as Paul prayd against Alexander Secondly For present Vengeance as the Disciples desired in the case of Christ Luke 9. And against
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 new- 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-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
no other then a Devill an Accuser of the Brethren for imputing to them any such Evill c. Truth He that reads how hard the Heart of holy David grew in the sinne of Whoredome and Murther untill the Lord awakened him will lesse wonder that Spirituall Whoredome and murtherous violence may possesse the Heart of Gods Davids and holiest Servants now and that without blush or shame or least appearance of Relenting Doth not all this whole Traverse of M r Cotton maintaine a persecution even unto Death of such whom the Civill State shall judge Hereticks Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers c. Doth not this very Chapter expressely justifie persecution upon the Subverters of the Christian Faith obstinate after Conviction upon Blasphemers Idolaters Seducers And is M r Cotton not informed what successe his Doctrine hath had that if a mercifull God had not prevented not Courting nor Fining nor Imprisoning nor Whipping nor Banishing had been punishment sufficient to men and women for cause of Conscience in New-England but even Death it selfe according to the Principles of persecution had been inflicted Peace M r Cotton will urge that Gods people will not be such Hereticks c. Truth I might urge M r Cottons owne grant of such sinnes in Gods owne people for which they may be justly Excommunicated but I will rather produce an Instance in our Nation of England None fearing God will easily deny the Eminent Godlines of Cranmer Cromwell in King Henry the eight his dayes At that very time when King Henry himselfe disputed in so famous an Assembly against the blessed witnesse of Christ Jesus John Lambert Finde we not also holy Cranmer disputing before the King and that Stately Assembly against this poore Servant of God for that horrible and monstrous Idoll of Transubstantiation Peace Finde we not then also holy and zealous Cromwell at the Kings command reading that bloudie Sentence of Death against that blessed Lambe of Christ Jesus who was thus worried to Death not onely by the bloudie Wolves the Bishops but even by those holy Lambes of Christ Cranmer and Cromwell also Truth This was that blessed Lambert a true Follower of the Lambe of God Christ Jesus who cryed out in the midst of the Flames None but Christ None but Christ and well might he so cry Not Cranmer not Cromwell who after so much Light in Disputations yet persisted in their Heresie and Idolatry and partaking with violence against this holy man that he might well cry out None but Christ None but Christ Exam of Chap. 77. replying to Chap. 80. Peace AS it is Deare Truth oftentimes in Journies the worst way and saddest weather attends the Journies End So here M r Cotton neere our close chargeth upon the Discusser a threefold wresting of his words and accordingly so much false-dealing Truth It is sad on the Discussers part if this be done by him either by a willfull or a negligent hand Peace Yea and it is sad on M r Cottons part if the Charge be not reall and substantiall Truth M r Cotton acknowledgeth his words to be these The Godly will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when they are convinced in Conscience of the sinfullnesse of their way The first charge therefore against the Discusser is that he confoundeth Admonition with Conviction for saith M r Cotton Admonition ought not to be dispenced untill the offendour be convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfullnesse of his Way Truth For answer hereunto the Discusser to my knowledge humbly appealeth to the Searcher of all Hearts that he hath not willingly nor wittingly falsified M r Cottons words in a tearme or syllable And indeed whether he hath wronged him at all or be not rather unjustly trampled under the feete of weake and passionate charges the Discusser appealeth to M r Cottons owne Conscience awaked if God so please out of this bloudie Dreame Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton Admonition is one thing and Conviction in their owne Conscience is another for though sayth he Admonition ought not to be dispenced till after Conviction yet it may fall out that the Church through mistake proceedeth to Admonition before the offendour be convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfulnesse of his Way Truth Passing gently by the want of Equitie in M r Cotton to the Discusser in condemning him of falshood for taking Admonition for Conviction when he makes it but a mistake in the Church to practice the one for or before the other I answer I know not that sutable Distinction between Admonition and Conviction as M r Cotton carrieth it saying that how ever the Church may through mistake practice Admonition before Conviction yet Admonition ought not to proceede untill after Conviction in a mans owne Conscience for finde we not the words of Reprooving Rebuking Admonishing Exhorting a brother indifferently used both in the Old and New Testament And doth not that very word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 18. Reprove him imply Conviction as well as Reproofe or Admonition for doth it not signifie Convincingly reprove him Peace I have heard indeed that Conviction is twofold First Externall and legall before men in Civill or Spirituall Judicature Secondly Effectuall and inward in the Court of a mans own Conscience before God which internall alwayes followes not the Externall Truth No such Externall Conviction may be legall before men but not in the fight of God and a mans owne Conscience as we see in the case of Naboth who was legally convict of Blasphemy when acquitted by God and his owne Conscience As also in those Consciences of which Paul speakes seared with hot irons which Consciences notwithstanding the abundance of Light from heaven convincing yet are not brought from believing Lyes Peace Yea but it seemes by M r Cottons words that the Church that is according to his way the Major part of the Church must judge that the Heretick is convinced in his own Conscience of the sinfullnesse of his way before she proceedeth to Admonition Truth For my part I cannot reconcile these three Propositions comprized by M r Cotton in these few lines First the Godly will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when they are convinced in Conscience of the sinfullnesse thereof Secondly The Church is to judge of the Conviction of such a Godly mans Conscience Thirdly Although such a Godly man be convinced of the sinfulnesse of his way yea although he will not persist in Heresie or turbulent Schisme when he is thus convinced in Conscience of the sinfulnesse thereof yet then is the Church to proceede to Admonition For thus he sayth Admonition ought not to be dispenced till after Conviction Peace If M r Cotton spake of the first Conviction to wit the Externall I could subscribe but now speaking of that internall in a mans owne Conscience I see it pleaseth God most holy and onely wise to permit the best and wisest of his Servants
the Conscience of the Magistrate may know First That the carriage of the Lord Jesus about this case when the Question was precisely put to him was extraordinary and strange For although unto other Questions even of the Pharisees Herodians Sadduces the High Priest and Pilate he gave more or lesse first or last punctuall Resolutions yet here he condemnes the sinne yet he neither confirmes nor disanulls this punishment but leaves the Question in all probabilitie and leaves the severall Nations of the World to their owne severall Lawes and Agreements as is most probable according to their severall Natures Dispositions and Constitutions and their common peace and wellfare Secondly The Lord Jesus 1 Pet. 2. approveth of the severall humane Ordinances or Creations which the severall peoples and Nations of the World shall agree upon for their common peace and subsistence Hence are the severall sorts of Governments in the Nations of the World which are not framed after Israels Patterne And hence consequently the Lawes Rewards and Punishments of severall Nations vastly differ from those of Israell which doubtles were unlawfull for Gods people to submit unto except Christ Jesus had at least in generall approved such humane Ordinances and Creations of Men for their common peace and wellfare Peace Me-thinks M r Cotton and such as literally stick to the punishment of Adultery Witchcraft c. by Death must either deny the severall Governments of the World to be lawfull according to that of Peter and that the Nature and Constitutions of peoples and Nations are not to be respected but all promiscuously forced to one common Law or els they must see cause to moderate this their Tenent which else proves as bloudie a Tenent in civill affaires as persecution in affaires religious Truth Yea of what wofull consequence must this prove to the state of Holland and Low-Countries to the State of Venice to the Cantons of Switzerland to our owne deare State of England and others who have no King as Israells last established Government had especially no King immediately designed as Israells in the Roote was Yea what becomes of all Christianitie and of Christs Church and Kingdome in the World for ever if it want the Government of a King for sayth Bishop Hall in his Contemplation on Michaes Idolatrie in plaine and expresse words No King therefore no Church Peace To end this passage upon the former grounds methinks the Conscience of a New English Magistrate being calld to be a Magistrate in Old England may in Faith execute any other punishment according to Law established beside Death upon Adulterers And the New English Colonies may be exhorted to rectifie their wayes and to moderate such their Lawes which cannot possibly put on the face of morall Equitie from Moses c. Truth Your Satisfaction Deare Peace now praesupposed I proceed and grant with that Limitation forementioned that Christ Jesus neither abrogated Moses Moralls nor Judicialls yet who will deny that Moses established beside the two former a third to wit Lawes meerly figurative typicall and ceremoniall proper and peculiar to that Land and people of Israel Those Lawes necessarily wrapt up that Nation and people in a mixt constitution of Spirituall and Temporall Religious and Civill so that their Governours of Civill State were Governours of the Church and the very Land and People were by such Governours to be compelled to observe a ceremoniall puritie and Holines But Christ Jesus erected another Common-weale the Common-weale of Israel the Christian Common-weale or Church to wit not whole Nations but in every Nation where he pleaseth his Christian Congregation c. Peace Deare Truth I cannot count him a peaceable childe of mine that rests not herewith satisfied M r Cottons next Exception is against your excepting against a Magistrates Membership in a Church-estate joyned with an Head-ship over it to establish reforme c. as being impossible that a Magistrate should sit Head and Supreame on the spirituall Bench yet stand as a delinquent at the spirituall Barre of Christ Jesus M r Cotton answers that in severall respects a Magistrate may be a nursing Father and Judge in causes Ecclesiastiall and yet be subject to Christs censure in the offensive Government of himselfe against the Rules of the Gospel And where it might be said that the Church is subject to the Magistrate in civill causes and the Magistrate is subject to the Church in spirituall cases M r Cotton answers this easeth not the Difficultie for suppose sayth he the Magistrate fall into Murther Adulterie c. which are civill Abuses shall the Church tollerate him herein And he concludes Let the like Power be granted to the civill Magistrate to deale faithfully with the Church in the notorious Transgression of the first Table as is granted to the Church to deale with the Magistrate in the notorious Transgression of the second Table and the Controversie is ended Truth This Answer and instance of M r Cotton carries a seeming Beautie with it but bring it to the Triall of the Testament of Christ Jesus and it will appeare to be but a vanishing Colour For there is a vast Difference The sins of each Church-member whether against the first or second Table are proper to the Cognizance and Judgement of the Church as the sinne of the Incestuous person was punished by Christs Ordinances in the Church at Corinth as well as the Abuse of the Lords Supper But it is not so with the civill Magistrate whose Office is essentially civill one and the same all the world over among all Nations and people For having no spirituall power as the Authours of the Modell afterwards acknowledge he cannot possibly act as a Civill Magistrate in spirituall matters though as a Church-member he may in Church-estate as also may the rest of the Members of that spirituall Body Peace Me-thinks it it cleare as the Light that if that incestuous person in the Church of Corinth had beene a Magistrate of the Citie of Corinth the Church might justly have proceeded against him because all sinne is directly opposite to the holy Kingdome of Christ But in that abuse of the Lords Supper which was meerly unchristian neither that Magistrate nor all the Magistrates of Corinth or the World to helpe him could justly punish the Church because that Supper in the Institution and Spirituall use of it was not onely of the Nature of the Suppers of the meates and drinks of the Citie of Corinth but also of a divine and spirituall Institution of a heavenly and mysticall Nature and Observation But to Conclude this piece and the whole M r Cotton corrects himselfe for putting in his Sickle into the Harvest of his Brethren unto whom he refers the defence of their Modell and for himselfe ends with desires that Christ Jesus would blast that peace which he sayth the Examiner proclaimeth to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth If
partiality the bloody doctrine of persebution Great shifting â—o â—sâ—â—â— Christs cross Christian weapons Christ Jesus betwen two Thieves The horible Hypocrisie of all persecutors Christs charge to Pergamus and Thiatira against Tolleration examined False Excommunication one kinde of persecution The word Persecution how ordinarily it is taken Persecution ordinarily implies corporall violence Speeches of Princes against Persecution No Civill Christian State Christs Sword Nurcing Fathers-dealt withall as children Active obedience cannot be given but to a competent Judge Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all Consciences and Religions in the World All persecutors hould the Popes trayterous Doctrine of deposing haereticall Princes The Popish and Protestant Clergie set the Popish and Protestant World on fire for their Maintenance The Dutch device to winne their Clergie to Tolleration of other Religions All that professe to be Christs Ministers must Dig or Beg or Steale All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus Touching the Tares Policie store but Pietie rare in Princes A Speech of King James considered No Man to he forced from his owne worship 〈…〉 c. Touching compelling to come to Church and to heare A second Speech of King James Papists may yeeld Civill obedience The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned Bookes and Tenents against Civill obedience All England Papists and yet the Pope renounced A twofold holding the Pope as Head The two Sisters Lawes concerning Conscience Ceales of moderation and kindnesse may melt an Enemie as David melted Saul c. Cautions for preventing of disturbance by Papists c. Sufficient Provisions are made in other Nations against Distractions and Tumults from opposite Consciences and Worships Nâ—erâ—â— Comâ—â—tition home-bred oppositions most of all exâ—sperate c. The admired Prudence of the Parliament in preserving Civill Peace Increase of Papists unlikely in England M r John Robinson deceased his Testimonie in a Manus from Holland A third Speech of King James considered Persecution ordinarily the marke of a False Church Stephen King Poland his 〈…〉 The Spirituall Power of Christ Jesus betrusted not with Civill but spirituall Ministers An Argument used in Parliament against the Persecuting Bishops Of disturbance of Religion The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from Heaven Daniells Counsel to Bel-shazzar preserveth Parliaments Kingdomes Touching the Nationall Church of Israell Israell a miraculous Nation Two sorts of the Nations of the World Touching the true and false Christs King of Bohemia his Speech Spirituall Rapes All persecutours contumeliously object against Conscience Amnon his ravishing of Tamar a Type A Query who shall judge whether Conscience be convict Church Papists and Protestants also ravished Wars for Religion The bloudie Tenent Guiltie of all the bloud of Papists and Protestants lately spilt The strongest Arme sword the ordinarie Judge of the Conviction of Conscience Touching the Nationall Church of England Reall denying the greatest denying of Christ Jesus Two high Transgressions objected against M r Cotton Touching the Romane Emperours practices in Religious Affaires Christs Garden gaines by violent Stormes and looseth by sweete Sun-shines The Romane Emperours The Arrians persecuted and persecuting The great Difference between this World and Christ A Christianitie strange from Christ Antichristian Christianitie The bloudie Tenent tends to an universall Conquest of the whole World The bloudie Tenent in its colours No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing Scripture of God is The Language of persecutours Julian his Tolleration Touching Infection of false Doctrine c. Hypocrites tollerated in the Church but not in the World Touching the Persecution of K James and Q Elizabeth Touching the Qualification of Princes Touching Magistrates suspending from acting in matters of Religion Monstrous partialitie Constantines Edict Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus Vnchristian Tribunalls Dent. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. Vnchristianly conjoyned Touching Excommunication in Israel Ans Spirituall Blessings and Curses the Antitypes of Corporall before Christ Great oversight imputed to Christ Jesus If civill punishments for spirituall offences they must be inflicted by holy and Christian Instruments and Officers A true Christ a true Sword a false Christ a false Sword Q Elizabeth her wars against the Papists The Warres of the Waldenses Acts 8. 11. Christian weapons Christs Sword Christs Warres and Victories Revel 17. Gideons Army typicall The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church The sins of Gods children Christs Witnesses A true Wife of Christ no persecutour Touching persecution what it is Difference between a civill and spirituall State The nature of spirituall punishment The nature of Christs spirituall Government The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Executioners Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ then corporall before his coming The cutting off or Excommunicating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall A twofold wâ—y of constraint What it is to walke according to a mans Light Conviction twofold Sufficient in it selfe or to the partie efficacious Touching the Maintenance of the new English Ministers Of propagating Religion by the Sword Touching the Indians of New-England Worshipping of God and Christ before the foundation of Repentance is nothing but Antichristian disorder Touching preaching to the Indians in New-England Proprietie of Language necessary to the true preaching of Christ Jesus to any people Conscience to God in Worship a close Prisoner in New-England and no Petitioner could obtaine its Libertie Publikâ— marriage or giving ones selfe to Christ Judges 21. 25 Considered Supreame Authoritie in Spiritualls Tertullians Speech of one Religion not hurting or profiting another Considered * M r Cottons and Mr Edwards Gangrenes have little differd Blasphemie against the holy Scripture Mysteries of false Christs The true Christ despised for his povertie A base esteeme of the Spirituall Sword Earthly Christs need earthly supports The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist Constantines peace a greater tryal and danger to Christians then 300 years persecution Sathans two wayes of quenching the Candle of Christianity The French Massacre must doe what their pretended disputation could not effect Pretended disputes in Q. Maries days ending in fiery flames The late Synodicall disputes A bloody and most unchristian speech The rash fury and madnesse of persecutors even against themselves Pleasantnesse of wit sanctified glorifies the giver The pretended particulâ—r Churches of N. E. indeed but a Nationall Church No permission of any Religion or worship but one in N. E. therefore are the Churches but a Nationall Church in the mould them c. Where the Supream Authority in a Church is Civill the Body cannot but be like the head and all make up but one Civil or Nationall mixt Church like the Jewish Nationall Church The purging a Countrey of Hereticks declares that Countrey is explicitly or implicitly a National Church A State Maintenance proveth a State Church Synods assembled by
judgement of the great whore p. 55 Christs church by institution properly consisting of good ground p. 57. The nature of the Jewish church ibid. The nature of Christs true Apostles or Messengers p. 58 Antichristians monsters in Religion p. 59 Two sorts of sinners p. 60 Two sorts of Hypocrites ibid. Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus p. 61 The Rivers and Fountaines of Blood Rev. 16. p. 63 Of hypocrites in the profession of Christianity p. 64 Corrupt consciences distinguished p. 66 Toleration of idolaters considered ibid. Civil weapons in spirituals blur and slight the spiritual p. 67 The toleration of Jezabel in Thyatria p. 68 The difference between spiritual and civil slander p. 69 The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments ibi The punishments in the national Church of Israel were material and corporeal p. 70 Touching Prayer against present destruction of the Tares p. 71 Pastors and teachers are not Apostles or messengers ib. Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites p. 72 Touching the state of Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam and more of the Baalites p. 72 Touching Apostles or Messengers p. 74 Touching fundamentals p. 75 Persecuting of Christ Jesus by a Law p. 76 The greatest blasphemy against Christ Jesus that ever was yet not punished but spiritually ibid. Pauls appeal to Caesar more examined p. 78 Few Magistrates in the world that bear the very name of of Christ Jesus p. 79 Fewer truely Christians ibid. Mystical and most cruel Surgery ibid. To serve God with all our might literally taken horribly abused p. 80 The title of defender of the Faith in England p. 81 A bold but true Word touching defend or of the faith p. 83 The title of supream head of the church examined p. 84 The plague of the Turkes upon the antichristian world p. 84 Whether Saul was a type of Christ and the Kings of Israel c. p. 85 The Priests and Clergy in all nations the greatest peace-breakers p. 88 Touching the seducer and seducing p. 89 Bishop Longlands subtle and bloody oaths of inquisition against seducing christians ibid. Causes of destruction to a nation p. 90 All nations Cities and Towns of the world parts of the world c. p. 91 Changes of state Religions ibid. The state of Israel unparalleled p. 92 The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses ibi That of Jude twice dead examined p. 93 Of spiritual infection p. 94 The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword p. 95 Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power p. 69 The proper charge of the civil Magistrate p. 97 The plague of the Turke upon the Antichristian world p. 98 A twofoldcare and charge of souls ibid. Christ the true King of Israel ibid. Christs threefold sending of Preachers p. 99 No true office of Ministery since the Apostacy but that of Prophesie ibid. Great neglects charged on Christ Jesus p. 100 Pretended order monstrous disorder p. 101 The Parliaments high justice against oppressors p. 102 The title head of the church p. 103 The civil Magistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel p. 104 All commonweals that ever have been are or shall be in the world excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil p. 105 The decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered ibid. The Ministers lay heavy load upon the Magistrates back ibid. The great desolation of the visible order of Christs Saints and servants p. 107 The Wolves at Ephesus considered Act. 20 p. 108 The duty of the civil Magistrate in spirituals ibid. The changing of Persecutors is one thing the abolishing of persecution another ibid. The persecuting cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracy ibid Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes p 109 The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the fifths dayes p 110 Civil society plucke up by the roots ibid. A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist 111 Doctor Pearnes turning and returning and turning againe in Religion p. 111 Consciences yeelding to be forced lose all conscience ibid. Two strange Paradoxes about force in spirituals p. 112 How the kings of Israel and Judah were Types â—f Jesus Christ to come p. 113 Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ p. 114 The fire from Heaven Revel 13. p. 115 All truth not only heavenly but moral civil c. precious p. 116 Many excellent Prophets in eminency and power and yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals p. 117 More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual p. 118 Englands changes in Religion compared with those of Judah ibid. Whether England may not possibly receive the Pope againe 119 The Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state p. 120 The absolute necessity of some order of Government all the world over ibid. The Emperor Antoninus Pius his distinction and Edict against persecution p. 120 123 The degeneracy of Christianity now professed p. 121 The horrible dâ—ssâ—mbling of some persecutors ibid. Too short a time set for repentance in New England p. 122 False Teachers commonly hardned by persecution ibid. The great sufferings of Master Gotton and his friends in England p. 123 The difference between spiritual and corporal murther p. 124 Civil Justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another p. 124 The difference of the persecution of the Romane Emperors and Roman Popes p. 125 The difference between the persecuted for conscience and punished for civil crimes p. 127 Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians p. 128 Whether a Commonweal may prosper in the permission of divers Religions p. 129 Cups of blood given into the hand of persecuting nations p. 129 Scripture perverted from the spiritual to the civil state p. 131 The Magistrate usually but the Clergies Cane and Trumpet ibid. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a Governor in New England ibid. The bloody Tenent plucks up the Nations and all civil being p. 132 Romes glory and downfal p. 133 The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual Judges ibid. The case of Gallio p. 134 The sufficiency of Christs spiritual weapons p. 135 A vaine fear of false Teachers p 136 Christ Iesus nor Paul addrest themselves to the civil state ibid. Turke and Pope and the generality of all Protestants against free conference p. 137 David and Goliah Types ibid. Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers p. 138 Israels corporcal killing types of spiritual ibid. The duty of the civil state in spirituals p. 139 The kingdomes of the world becoming Christs ibid. Touching forcing men to Church p. 140 A Spanish inquisition all the world over p. 141 Master Cotton kindling a twofold fire ibid. Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience p. 142 Christian weapons considered ibid. A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters p. 143 Wonderful strange
Carpenters p. 144 Master Cotton slights stocks and whips c. and provokes to banish and kil hereticks c. ibid. All civil violence in spirituals is for an interest p. 145 The civil sword esteemed more powerful then the spiritual p. 146 That great fort of Rom. 13. considered p. 147 The civil Magistrate not charged with the keeping of two tables ibid. Calvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. p. 148 Vnrighteousness civil and spiritual ibid. Spiritual wars without civil disturbance p. 149 Of the Romane Emperors power in spirituals p. 150 Foul imputation against Christ Jesus and yet his wise provision for his Kingdome p. 151 The Clergies evil dealing with the civil magistrate p. 152 The nature of the Church and of Christs true order but lately discovered since the Apostacy ibid. Spiritual Courts and Judges p. 153 Touching Pauls appeal to Caesar p. 154 155. Spiritual rights and civil p. 156 The true and only Christendome p. 157 Christ Jesus robbed of his crown p. 158 Of custome tribute c. p. 159 Of praying for Magistrates p. 160 Civil Ministers and spiritual ibid. The God of heaven hath many sorts of Ministers p. 161 Ordinarily the truth is persecuted ibid. Touching the tearm evil Rom. 13. p. 162 The civil Magistrate robbed of his civil power ibid. Of toleration which Master Cotton in cases makes large enough p. 163 The land of Israel a type p. 164 Touching false and seducing teachers p. 165 The great difference of sin against the civil or spiritual estate p. 166 The gross partiality of the bloody doctrine of persecution ibid. Gods children much labor to shift off the cross of Christ p. 167 Christ Jesus between two theeves p. 168 The horrible hypâ—câ—isie of all persecutors ibid. Christs charge to Pergamus and Thyatira against toleration examined p. 169 The word persecution how ordinarily taken ibid. Famous speeches of some kings against persecution p. 170 No civil state or country can be truly called Christian although true Christians be in it p. 171 Nursing fathers dealt with all as children p. 172 Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all consciences and Religions in the world p. 173 All persecutors hold the Popes traiterous doctrine of deposing Hereticks c. p. 174 The Popish and Protestant Clargy set the Popish and Protestant world on fire for their maintenance ibid. The Dutch device to win their Clergy to toleration of other Religions p. 175 All that profess to be Christs Ministers must resolve to dig or beg or steal ibid. All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus p. 176 Of letting the Tares alone p. 177 A speech of King James considered p. 178 Touching compelling to come to Church to hear p. 179 A second speech of King James proving it possible that a Papist may yeeld civil obedience ibid. The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned books against civil obedience p. 180 All England was Catholick and yet the Pope renounced ibid. A twofold holding the Pope as head ibid. The two English sisters Laws concerning conscience p. 181 Cautions for preventing disturbance by Papists ibid. Other Nations well provide against distractions and tumults from opposite consciences p. 182 Neerer competitors to the truth among our selves then the Papist ibid. The admired prudence of the Parliament in preserving civil peace p. 183. Increase of Papists unlikely as things stand in England ibid Master Jo. Robinson from Holland as touching permission of Papists his testimony p. 184 A third speech of King James considered ibid. Persecution ordinarily the mark of a false Church ibid. Stephen King of Poland his speech ibid. The spiritual power of Christ intrusted not with civil but spiritual Ministers p. 185 An excellent argument used in Parliament against the persecuting Bishops ibid. Two wayes of disturbing and destroying Religion p. 186 The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from heaven ibid. Daniels councel to Belshazzar preserveth Parliaments and nations ibid. Israel a miraculous nation p. 187 Two sorts of nations in the world ibid. Touching the true Christ and the false p. 188 The King of Bohemia his speech p. 189 Spiritual Rapts and violence upon conscience p. 189 Amnon his ravishing of Tamat a Type p. 190 The Judge of conviction of conscience ibid. Wars for Religion p. 191 The bloody tenent guilty of all the blood of Papists and Protestants formerly and lately spilt p. 192 Touching national Churches ibid. Practical denying of Christ Jesus the greatest p. 193 Two high transgressions objected against Master Cotton p. 194 Touching Julian his toleration p. 199 Touching the infection of false doctrine ibid. King James and Queen Elizabeth their persecutions compared p. 200 Fit qualification of Princes p. 201 Master Cotton suspends most part of the Magistrates in the world from acting in matters of Religion ib. Constantines Edict as to Religion p. 202 Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus ibid. Vnchristian Tribunals and proceedings p. 203 Touching excommunication in Israel p. 204 Spiritual blessings and cursings the Antitypes of Corporal in Israel p. 205 Holy and spiritual Constables prisons stocks posts gibbets Tyburnes c. ibid. A true Christ a true sword a false Christ a false sword p. 206 Queen Elizabeth her wars against the Papists ibid. The Wars of the Waldenses p. 207 Christian weapons wars and victories p. 208 Gideons army typical ibid. The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted p. 209 Poverty and persecution the most common companions of Gods Church p. 210 The sins of Gods children ibid. Christs witnesses in all Ages p. 211 A true wife of Christ no persecuter ibid. The difference between excommunication and persecution ibid. Difference between a spiritual and civil state p. 212 The civil powers made the Clergies executioners p. 213 Spiritual judgements more terrible since Christ then corporal before his coming p. 214 A twofold way of constraint p. 215 What it is to walk according to mans light ibid. Conviction twofold p. 216 The maintenance of the New English Ministers ibid. Of propagating Religion by the sword p. 217 Touching the Indians of New England p. 218 219 Propriety of Language necessary to all Preachers p. 220 Conscience a close prisoner in New England c. p. 221 Publike Marriage of a soul to Christ ibid. Spream Authority in spirituals p. 222 Mysteries of false Christs p. 225 The true Christ despised for his poverty ibid. A base esteem of the spiritual sword ibid. Earthly Christs need earthly supports p. 226 The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist ibid. Satans two wayes of quenching the candle of Christianity p. 227 A note of the French Massacre ibid. The pretended disputes in Queen Maries dayes p. 228 The late Synodical disputes ibid. A bloody and most unchristian speech ibid. The rash madness of persecutors against themselves p. 229 Pleasantness of wit sanctified c. ibid. The Churches of New England proved an implicite national Church ibid. A