Cotton will say that the kingdome of Christ on earth may receive and keep in her bosome such stinking weedes declared so to be which the kingdome of Christ in heaven abhors Who questions but while the hypocrisie of these foolish Virgins lay hid in their empty vessels that outwardly they appeared as wise as the wise Virgins But when the fruits of their hypocrisie discovered them to be fools how can Master Cotton according to the truth as it is in Jesus affirme that foolish Virgins known hypocrites are to be kept in and not cast out of the church of Christ unto the end of the world Peace O how contrary is this to the very fundamentals essence nature and being of a church or Spouse of Christ Jesus which is by the confession of Papists and Protestants a society of wise Virgins visibly Saints holy and faithful persons a society of such persons as outwardly profess to love Christ Jesus uprightly Cant. 1. and to be espoused to him 1 Cor. 11. Truth Yea and how contrary is this to the nature of Christ Iesus whose heart is all one fire towards the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 4. and how contrary to the charge that great and solemn charge of the Lord Iesus to all his followers to take heed of that leaven which is hypocrisie which if suffered will leaven the whole lumpe and render the garden and spouse of Christ a filthy dunghill and whore-house of rotten and stinking whores and hypocrites Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace MAster Cotton here endeavors to prove as many have done before that the Field which the Lord Iesus interprets the world was meant by him to be the Church as he is said to love the world Iohn 3. to be propitiation for the sins of the world 1 Ioh. 2. Truth In these and many other places of like nature it pleaseth the Spirit of God to set forth his love to mankinde distinct from all other creatures As also the impartiality of his love calling his chosen out of all sorts of sinners mankinde all the world over and yet it cannot be denyed but that the Scriptures speak frequently of the world and of the church in a far distinct and contrary acceptation So as when he nameth the church it cannot signifie the world and when the world he cannot be said to intend the church the reasons therefore on either side must be expended and weighed in the fear of God why the Field here called by Christ the world cannot be intended to be the church of Christ Peace Your right distinguishing is a right dividing of the word of Truth but saith Master Cotton it cannot be the world in proper signification for which he aleadgeth three reasons First Because there had been saith he no place for the servants wonder at the appearing of the tares verse 27. for what wonder that the world should be so full of fornicators c Was it ever otherwise Truth It is true that the world lyeth in wickedness and is full of fornicators idolaters c. and yet it was some thousands of yeers when the world was not full of Christian that is anointed or holy fornicators holy idolaters c. That is indeed and truth Antichristian and that alone is the point in question about which this answer of Master Cotton hovers but comes not neer it This is indeed a most dreadful and wonderful point of the wisdome justice and patience of God so to suffer so many millions of men and women to arrogate to themselves the name and profession of the most holy living God and his holy Son Christ Iesus to be called Christians anointed or holy and yet upon the point to hate the holiness truth and spirit of Christ Iesus Truth This is doubtless to me what ere Master Cotton imagines a wonderful mystery in all Ages since these tares were first sown to see I say so many millions of holy idolaters holy murtherers holy whoremongers holy theeves c. The blasphemy of this is so wonderful and dreadful that I cannot sufficiently wonder at him that wonders not how this comes to pass Truth The like I answer to his second Reason that it is true that we read not that ever any of the Ministers or Prophets of Christ ever essayed to pluck up all such vicious notorious persons out of the world as they demanded concerning the tares for then indeed as the Spirit implies 1 Cor. 5. the whole state of the world would be overthrown but yet this hinders not but there may be a desire in Gods servants to pluck up this or that sect or sort of people Jews Turks or Antichristians Peace Dear Truth you make me call to minde the desire of Christs disciples that fire might descend from heaven not to consume all fornicators idolaters all cruel and unclean persons out of the world yet that particular unmerciful superstitions Town of the Samaritans they desired that fire might come from heaven and consume them Truth Indeed this desire of the disciples is no strange desire for what else do All they desire which permit not in the civil state any Religion worship or conscience but their own Nay far beyond that were the whole worlds neck under their imperial yoake the many millions of millions of blasphemers and idolaters of all sorts if they will not be convinced at their word must be cut off from all natural and civil being in the world by Fire and Sword Peace His third reason is That the discusser reckoned up as paralel goats and sheep wheate and tares as generally said he others do and he addeth that in the purest church after the ruine of Antichrist there shall be goats and sheep wise and foolish Virgins untill the coming of Christ to judgement Mat. 25. Truth Although the discusser spake of that eternal separation between wheat and tares sheep and goats approaching yet he never said that the tares and goats signified hypocrites in the Church which is the point in question Nor dare I subscribe to that opinion that after the destruction of Antichrist when purest times of the church shall come that there shall be such a mixt estate in the church of Christ untill the coming of Christ to judgement For first Although goats were clean for food and sacrifice yet it is apparant that as they are for the left hand So they are visibly known by every child where goats and sheep are kept And to image that visible hypocrites such as tares goats unprofitable servants foolish Virgins c. shall in a mixt way make up Christs churoh and that in the purest times of the church of which there are so many and wonderful prophecies is to me not onely to frame a church estate point blank cross to the purity of those churches but even to the first Apostolical churches yea and against that frame of church estate in New England where Master Cotton hath professed though now it is said the door is wider against receiving in
Institution and Appointment of the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus 2. I beleeve and profess that such persons such Churches are got neerest to Christ Jesus on whose forehead are written these blessed characters of the true Lord Jesus Christ First content with a poor and low condition in worldly things 2. An holy cleansing from the filthines of false worships and worldly conversations 3. An humble and constant endeavour to attain in their simplicity purity to the Ordinances and appointments of Christ Iesus 4. Are so far from smiting killing and wounding the Opposites of their profession and worship that they resolve themselves patiently to bear and carry the Cross and Gallows of their Lord and Master and patiently to suffer with him In the number of such his poor servants who as unfeignedly desire notwithstanding my plea against Persecutors and Persecution I say as unfeignedly desire to suffer as cheerfully with Christ Iesus as gloriously to reign with him desires to be Thine unfeigned though unworthiest of all the Followers of IESUS Roger Williams The Bloody Tenent yet more Bloody By Master Cottons attempting to wash it with the Blood of the Lambe Examination of CHAP. I. Truth BLest be the God of truth and peace sweet peace that once againe we finde a corner and a few hours to entertaine our sweet embraces and discourses about that Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of conscience Peace It is indeed Jehovah's work and it is marvellous in our eyes that ' midst this worlds combustions such a corner and such hours are found Truth Dear friends the longer absent meet the sweeter and have cause to spend each minute to his praise who wonders works and this not the least that we two see each others face at all in these tempestuous dayes and vale of tears How harshly were our last conferrings entertained by some How were our selves suspected and traduced for counterfeits and our pious and peaceable Meditations cruelly condemned to the devouring flames Truth That ever was our portion ever since the earthen pots arose against their glorious Potter and no better lot we must expect while the time doth last that is determined Peace Mean while t is yet our lamentation that so many of our darlings whom we have tendred as our eyes have both in Print and Pulpit cried out against us and amongst the rest one of thy dearest eldest children too too worthy to be the defender of the Bloody Tenent of Persecution Truth Our love shall cover his shame and nakedness and our wisdoms pity his heavy labour Blackamore-washings and so great expence of precious time and spirit in labouring to wash this so deeply bloody and Blackamore Tenent in the blood of the Lamb of God Peace So parents and true friends love and pity theirs though sick though froward and distracted and let our Bowels yearne over him who teares out ours who knows but once before he sleep his last in the pit of rottenness he may awake and give glory to the God of peace and truth of patience and long suffering whose thoughts whose wayes whose love whose pity hath no bounds nor limits toward them whom he hath loved before the worlds foundation O let these blessed buds of hope and sweet desires dear Truth put forth in pious fruits of renewed endeavors and let me once againe prefer my suit for your impartial weighing of what replies objections pleadings he hath brought against us Truth For the God of Peace for the Prince of Peace his sake yea for his servants sake for Zions sake I will not be silent and know at last I shall prevaile to scatter and dispell the mists and fogs that for a while arise to cloud and choak us Peace First then what cause should move this so able a defendant to leap over all our first addresses both to the high Court of Parliament and to every Reader and what may be conjectured why himself directs a word to neither in this controversie Truth I desire my Rejoynder may be as full of love as truth yet some say Master Cotton is wise and knows in what door the wind blows of late he is not ignorant what sad complaints in letters printings conferences so many of Gods people and of his own conscience and judgement of Independency have poured forth against New Englands persecuting c. He knows what Bars New Englands bloody Tenent and practice may put to his brethrens just desires and suits for moderation and toleration to non-conforming consciences T is true his conscience and the credit of his way compels his reply but the times advise him with as little noise as may be and it seems with no great willingness that that high and searching house of Englands Parliament should search and scan his Meditations Peace Well if the name of God were truely called upon them and as his title intimateth the great controversies of these present times are herein handled If all that is here presented be truly practised and he desire to buy and sell by one measure and to be no otherwaies measured unto then he measureth unto others why should not that renowned Court be more particularly and expresly attended with so high and needful examinations But now enough of that I long to see that weighed which is presented take up those holy weights of thine which may faithfully discover how light or ponderous each parcel is in Gods most holy presence Master Cotton first complaines against the publishing of his private letter with an Answer thereunto he faulteth the discusser for punishing his conscience against the discussers own Tenent of liberty of conscience for breach of rule in first publishing to the world before private admonition and telling the Church Truth How justly may I begin with the defenders own conclusion of this first Chapter He that setteth forth of his way in the first entrance of his journey no marvel if he wander all the day after For First the discusser never wrote any such letter to Master Cotton as Master Cotton so often affirms and mentioneth throughout his Book The like mistake he fals into in some other passages which shall be gently toucht at and passed by as the failing of memory Peace It is often seen that small matters in the first steps and entrance of a business prove ominous and although love bids us lay the blame on memory yet since Nil sine providentia Deus est maximus in minimis and not a Sparow nor a Haire fals without him methinks such a stumble in the threshold should have one sad consideration in Master Cottons brest so long as he resides in the chamber of this discourse Truth To my knowledge there was no such letter or intercourse passed between Master Cotton and the discusser but what I have heard is This One Master Hall of Roxbury presented the prisoners Arguments against persecution to Master Cotton who gave this present controverted Answer with the which Master
such members as are visibly foolish Virgins goats c. Peace Master Cottons second answer is that if the Field be the world as the tares Antichristians and false Christians yet they were first sown in the field of the church Truth Not so for although there might be many infirmities and distempers yea some great corruptions in the first Christian body the church of Christ notwithstanding that Antichrist is an Apostate yet it will not follow that the tares were first sown in the true church because Sathan might easily raise up some professors of the name of Christ which the true church would never admit And as Sathan might raise up persons congregations worships which were not according to Christ So might he easily raise up churches congregations and societies of such tares with whom the churches of Christ might refuse society So saith John There are many Antichrists whom yet we cannot well imagine that they were in the churches of the Lord Jesus There came false Apostles to the Church at Ephesus but yet that church examined and found them lyars And so long as the churches were watchful those tares kept in the world But when the churches began to be sleepy the Tares might undiscerned creep into the church This may be as well as when Apostates fall off from the church go out from it because they were never of it and also as well as that the church of Christ may drowzily neglect to purge out the old leaven of persons and things which may soon overspread and over-run the whole lumpe and garden of the church of Christ untill it be turned againe into one common field of the world together Peace Master Cottons third answer is That Antichristians must not be tolerated unto the end of the world because God will put it into the heart of faithful princes to hate the whore and after that we read of a visible state of New Jerusalem before the end of the world Rev. 20. 21 22. Truth It is not said that those princes that shall hate the whore shall be faithful princes and since Master Cotton seems to hold that by way of ordinance and so in obedience the Kings of the earth shall with the sword destroy Antichrist I desire his proof for any such prophecy For 1. It is not said that God will put it into their hearts to hate the whore And we finde that they shall hate the lambe as well as hate the whore For they shall make war with the lambe and the lamb shall overcome them as comes to pass after the ruine of the whoâ—e Rev. 19. 2. Judgement may be executed upon the whore by way of mutual judgement each upon others when in the midst of their spiritual whoredoms and drunkenness with the Saints blood they shall fall out with the whore as useth to be in whoredome and turn their whorish loves into outragious fury and the very description of their fury looks this way for it is not the property of sober and faithful men though repenting of their whoredoms to make a woman naked though a whore and to eat her flesh as it is said those shall do But grant as we most hopefully do the whores consumption by the ten hornes of the Beast and the flourishing of new Jerusalem upon the earth Rev. 20. 21 22. before the end of the world all which are great disputes among the people of God yet I judge it necessary that two or three queries be satisfied for the further clearing of the holy minde of the Lord in this particular 1. Whether as some have and do argue the end of the world in this Parable and other Scriptures do expresly and undeniably signifie the end of the world and judgement-day literally and not some other mystical period of time since the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usually translated world is of various signification and sometimes signifies and Age. 2. Whether those ten Kings which shall destroy the whore shall be absolutely Christian true Saints followers of Jesus they and their Armies or else remaining Antichristian hornes of the Beast shall yet execute the judgement of God upon the great whore as Jehu remaining both hypocritical and idolatrous yet dashe out the braines of that great whore Iezabel and executed judgement upon Baals Priests yea and even as Henry the eighth tumbled the Pope out of his chaire in England and thousands of his Popelings with him he supprest and threw the whore Iezabel the church of Rome out of Englands window and yet continued to burn the Saints of Iesus upon his six Popish and bloody Articles 3. Whether that mighty Army of Gog and Magog which is mustered up after the thousand yeers raigne of Christ be not in part made up of the â—en hornes even after the whore of Romes consumption as before in Henry the eighth his case which horns with their peoples Christ will have yet to be tolerated as Tares in the field of the world though not in the Church of Christ Peace What think you of Master Cottons grant that the first fruits of Antichristians may be tares sown in the field of the church which afterwards grow to be Briars and Thornes Truth I observe that to be tares of Antichristian worshippers and briars and thornes oppressers and persecutors are both of them of a false and Antichristian nature which ought to be far from imitation of the Rose of Sharon or the Lily of the vallies But 2. Are there no tares that is hypocrites but in the church and must all the briars and thornes oppressors and persecutors c. have no root from the wilde world but from the garden of Christs church Peace Now whereas it was urged that it stood not with the wisdome and love of Christ interpreting this parable and opening what the field was to call the field the world when he meant the church Master Cotton answers that Paul by the same wisdome useth the same word 2 Cor. 5. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Truth Paul in using that figure of the world for all sorts of men in the world doth not undertake to interpret a Parable which before he had proposed unto and at the request of the Corinthians as the Lord Iesus doth at the request of his disciples And where Master Cotton saith that it is no more an improper speech to call the church the world then to speak of Christ as dying for the world when he dyed for the church Truth I finde it not to be said that Christ died for the world but grant that it hath pleased the Lord in his most infinite wisdome to cause the tearm of the world to be used in various significations yet let any instance be given of any Scripture wherein the Lord opposing the church to the world the wheat to tares doth not distinguish between the church redeemed out of the world and the world it self which is said to lye in wickedness and to be such as for which
too too like that Distinction of the bloudie Bishop against the poore Martyr or Witnes of Jesus which M r Fox mentioneth The Scripture is sufficient for Salvation but not for Instruction There is need of Tradition c. The Sword of the Spirit sayth M r Cotton is absolutely sufficient for these foure to wit the Conviction Conversion Mortification and Salvation of the offendour the Heretick yea and for a fifth for Expiation and cleansing of the Church from the Fellowship of that Guilt but there is a sixth to wit Infection and there the Sword of the Spirit is too weake and the Sword of the Magistrate must helpe Peace What sound and modest Reason can be almost pretended why the holy Ordinances Appointments and provisions of the Lord Jesus who is the Wisdome of the Father whose is all power in Heaven and in Earth and whose Heart is all on Fire with Love to his people should be so weake in suppressing the Enemies of his Kingdome that all the Counsell Order and Power he hath left in his Absence are not able to resist the Infection of false Doctrine without the helpe of the Powers of the World his professed Enemie unto whom who so is a Friend sayth John he cannot but be an Enemie unto God Oh what should be the mysterie that the two-edged Sword of Gods mighty Spirit is sufficient for Conviction for Conversion Mortification Expiation Salvation but yet not powerfull enough against Infection Truth There is written evidently on the Forehead of this plea as on the forehead of the great Whore Revel 17. Mysterie The Aegyptian Onions as I may so speake are full of Spirituall Infoldings or Mysteries One or two I shall briefly unfold or peele First the Clergie sacrilegiously so called in all Ages since the Apostasie have like some proud and daintie Servants disdain'd to serve a poore despised Christ a Carpenter one that came at last to the Gallowes c. And therefore have they ever framed to Themselves rich and Lordly pompous and Princely temporall and Worldly Christs in stead of the true Lord Jesus Christ the spirituall King of his Saints and people And however it suits well the common End to retaine the Name of Christ as the Lord Jesus prophesied many false Christs should arise and many should come in his Name c. yet most sure it will be found that a temporall Crowne and Dignitie Sword and Authoritie Wealth and Prosperitie is the White that most of those called Scholars Ministers Bishops aime and levell at How many thousand of them will readily subscribe to the pleas of the French Bishops against the Lord Peter disputing before Philip the French King for temporall Jurisdiction and Peters two Swords in the hands of Christs Ministers Peace M r Cotton is not far off for howsoever He and some will say with him one Sword is enough for a Presbyter or Elder enough for Conviction Conversion Mortification Expiation and Salvation yet one Sword is not enough against Infection and therefore it is needfull though we are not of the opinion of those French Prelates and others that challenged to themselves the Sword of temporall jurisdiction into their owne hands yet it is needfull that it be at our call in the hands of our Executioners the Civill Magistrates Truth It is impossible that temporal and worldly Christs should walke with the legs of a spirituall supportment but as in respect of outward Government they spring from the Earth and the World it is impossible I say but their Feeding and Aliment Defence and Protection should be of the nature of the Root and Eliment from whence they arise Peace It is objected was the Church of the Jewes temporall that was assisted and protected with a temporall Sword Truth The Spirit of God tels us Heb. 8 10. of a worldly Sanctuary of a weake and old vanishing Covenant to wit a Nationall Covenant and Ordinances of a Jewish Church Peace It is againe said how can the Discusser extoll the Sword of the Spirit only and acknowledge no Churches Truth Although the Discusser cannot to his Souls satisfaction conclude any of the various and severall sorts of Churches extant to be those pure golden Candlesticks framed after the first patterne Rev. 1. Yet doth he acknowledge golden Candlesticks of Christ Jesus extant those golden Olive trees and candlesticks his Martyrs or Witnesses standing before the Lord and testifying his holy Truth during all the Reign of the Beast Rev. 11. Hence although we have not satisfaction that Luther or Calvin or other precious Witnesses of Christ Jesus erected Churches or Ministeries after the first patterne as they conceived they did yet doth he affirm them to have been Prophets and witnesses against the Beast and furnished sufficiently with spirituall Fire in their mouthes mightily able to consume or humble their Enemies as Eliah did with the Captains sent out against him Peace I will object no more please you Dear Truth to passe on to the 2nd viz. the Ministry of the Spirits pretended insufficiency against Infection why should not the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus be powerful enough against creepers into Houses against such as lead captive silly souls against such as destroy the faith of some c. as well as in the first Churches and Assemblies professing his holy name and worship Truth Search his Will and Testament and we find no other but spiritual means prescribed and bequeathed by the Lord Jesus to Paul to Peter or any of the holy Apostles or Messengers Peace I must needs acknowledge that the poor servants of Christ for some hundereth of years after the departure of the Lord enjoyed no other power no other Sword nor Shield but spirituall until it pleased the Lord to try his children with Liberty and ease under Constantine a soarer Tryall then befell them in 300 years persecution under which temporall protection munificence and bounty of Constantine together with his temporall Sword drawne out against her spirituall enemies the Church of Christ soon surfeited of the too much honey of worldly ease authority profit pleasure c. Truth Deare Peace the second mistery is this In all ages the world hath been o'respread with the delusions and abominations of false worship invented by Sathan and his Instruments in opposition to the pure worship of the God of Heaven Against these the Lord Jesus hath not been wanting to stir up his witnesses servants and souldiers fighting for their Lord and Master spiritually c. These witnesses when Sathan hath not been able to vanquish and overcome them by disputing writing c. but hath ever lost that way he hath been forced to run to the fleshly Armories of temporall weapons and punishments and to fetch in the powers of the world So hoping to dash out the Candle of Truth and break the candlesticks thereof the witnesses of Christ Jesus This Sathan hath ever practised one of these two wayes sometimes
Christ Jesus shall please for the further manifestation of his holy Truth and Glory to permit those able and worthy men to proceed to fortifie and defend their Modell I hope he will also please to assist the Discusser or some other of his poore servants to batter downe with the Spirituall Artillerie of his Word and Testament such weake and loose and unchristian Fortifications Peace But with what a deepe and unrighteous charge doth M r Cotton end against the poore Discusser as a Proclaimer of peace to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth Grant M r Cotton in many excellent Truths of Jesus a sweet sounding Silver Trumpet Grant the Discusser as base a Rams-horne harsh and contemptible Grant that for the peace of the Civill State the being of the Nations and the World the safetie of the good Wheate the Righteous and the calling home of the Elect to God Jewes and Gentiles the Discusser proclaimes a civill being and civill peace to Erroneous Consciences not sinning against humane and civill Principles Yet what Peace hath this Rams-horne proclaimed as M r Cotton insinuates when throughout this whole Booke from first to last the Proclamation soundeth ouâ— open warre against all false Worshippers Peace I am a joyfull witnes of warre proclaimed from the God of Truth from the Sun of Righteousnesse from the Spirit of Holines from the flames of Fire those mighty Angells from all the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus from all his holy Truths and Ordinances Warre to their Consciences Preachings Writings Disputations a warre present a warre perpetuall and without Repentance a warre eternall and everlasting Truth Deare Peace our goulden sand is out we now must part with an holy Kisse of heavenly Peace and Love M r Cotton speakes and writes his Conscience Yet the Father of Lights may please to shew him that what he highly esteemes as a Tenent washt white in the Lambes bloud is yet more black and abominable in the most pure and jealous eye of God Peace The Blackmores Darknes differs not in the darke from the fayrest white Truth Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousnesse hath broke forth and dayly will to a brighter and brighter Discoverie of this deformed Ethiopian And for my selfe I must proclaime before the most holy God Angells and Men that what ever other white and heavenly Tenents M r Cotton houlds yet this is a fowle a black and a bloudie Tenent A Tenent of high Blasphemie against the God of Peace the God of Order who hath of one Bloud made all Mankinde to dwell upon the face of the Earth now all confounded and destroyed in their Civill Beings and Subsistences by mutuall flames oâ— warre from their severall respective Religions and Consciences A Tenent warring against the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus denying his Appearance and Comming in the Flesh to put an end to and abolish the shadowes of that ceremoniall and typicall Land of Canaan A Tenent fighting against the sweete end of his comming which was not to destroy mens Lives for their Religions out to save them by the meeke and peaceable Invitations and perswasions of his peaceable Wisdomes Maideâ—â— A Tenent fowly charging his Wisedome Faithfullnes and Love in so poorly providing such Magistrates and Civill Powers all the World over as might effect so great a charge pretended to be committed to them A Tenent lamentably guilty of his most precious bloud shed in the bloud of so many hundreth thousand of his poore servants by the civill powers of the World pretending to suppresse Blasphemies Heresies Idolatries Superstition c. A Tenent fighting with the Spirit of Love Holines and Meeknes by kindling fiery Spirits of false zeale and Furie when yet such Spirits know not of what Spirit they are A Tenent fighting with those mighty Angels who stand up for the peace of the Saints against Persia Grecia c. and so consequently all other Nations who fighting for their severall Religions and against the Truth leave no Roome for such as feare and love the Lord on the Earth A Tenent against which the blessed Soules under the Altar cry loud for vengeance this Tenent having cut their Throats torne out their Hearts and powred forth their Bloud in all Ages as the onely Heretickes and Blasphemers in the World A Tenent which no Vncleannes no Adulterie Incest Sodomie or Beastialitie can equall this ravishing and forcing explicitly or implicitly the very Soules and Consciences of all the Nations and Inhabitants of the World A Tenent that puts out the very eye of all true Faith which cannot but be as free and voluntarie as any Virgin in the World in refusing or embracing any spirituall offer or object A Tenent loathsome and ugly in the eyes of the God of Heaven and serious sonnes of men I say loathsome with the palpable filihs of grosse dissimulation and bypocrisie Thousands of Peoples and whole Nations compelled by this Tenent to put on the fowle vizard of Religious bypocrisie for feare of Lawes losses and punishments and for the keeping and hoping for of favour libertie worldly commoditie c. A Tenent wofully guiltie of hardning all false and deluded Consciences of whatsoever Sect Faction Heresie or Idolatrie though never so horrid and blasphemous by cruelties and violences practiced against them all false Teachers and their Followers ordinarily contracting a Brawnie and steelie hardnesse from their sufferings for their Consciences A Tenent that shuts and bars out the gracious prophesies and promises and discoveries of the most glorious Sun of Righteousues Christ Jesus that burnes up the holy Scriptures and forbids them upon the point to be read in English or that any tryall or search or truly free disquisition be made by them when the most able diligent and conscionable Readers must pluck forth their owne eyes and be forced to reade by the which soever praedominant Cleargies Spectacles A Tenent that seales up the spirituall graves of all men Jewes and Gentiles and consequently stands guiltie of the damnation of all men since no Preachers nor Trumpets of Christ himselfe may call them out but such as the severall and respective Nations of the World themselves allow of A Tenent that fights against the common principles of all Civilitie and the very civill being and combinations of men in Nations Cities c. by commixing explicitly or implicitly a spirituall and civill State together and so confounding and overthrowing the puritie and strength of both A Tenent that kindles the devouring flames of combustions and warres in most Nations of the World and if God were not infinitly gracious had almost ruind the English French the Scotch and Irish and many other Nations Germane Polonian Hungarian Bohemian c. A Tenent that bowes downe the backs and necks of all civill States and Magistrates Kings and Emperours under the proud feete of that man and monster of sinne and pride the Pope and all Popish and proud Cleargie-men
so many holy so many wise in such a holy way as you believe you are in To say nothing of strong drinkes and wines the fat and sweet of this and other Lands These and others are snares which without abundant strength from God will catch and hould the strongest feete Sir I have knowne you strong in repelling strong Temptations but I cannot but feare and lament that some of these and others have been too strong and potent with you Fifthly We not onely use to say proverbially but the Spirit of God expressly tells us that there is a minde-bewitching a betwitching of the very Consciences and spirits of men That as in Witchcraft a stronger and supernaturall power layes hould upon the powers of Nature with a suppressing or elevating of those powers beneath or above themselves So is it with the very Spirits and Consciences of the most Intelligent and Conscientious when the Father of Spirits is pleased in his righteous displeasure and jealousie so to suffer it to be with ours Sir I from my Soule honour and love the persons of such whom I you and themselves may see have been Instrumentall in your bewitchinâ— Why should it be thought inconsistent with the holy wisdome of God to permit wise and holy and learned persons to wander themselves and mislead others when the holy Scripture and Experience tells us of the dangerous Councells and wayes of as wife and learned and holy as now breath in either Old or New English aire Sir I had thought to have named one or two who may justly be suspected though otherwise worthily beloved but I have chose rather to present an hint for that 's enough to so intelligent a Breast if but willing to make an Impartiall Review and Examination of Passages between the most High and your in most Soule in secret Therefore sixthly for a sixt ground of suspecting your Soule and Spirit and Conscience in this particular of persecution which I now instance in may you please Sir without offence to remember that as it is in such as have exceeded in Wine their speech will bewray them So it is in Spirituall Cups and Intoxications The Maker and Searcher of our hearts knowes with what Bitternes I write as with Bitternes of Soule I have heard such Language as this to proceed from your selfe and others who formerly have fled from with crying out against persecutours you will say this is your Conscience You will say you are persecuted and you are persecuted for your Conscience No you are Conventiclers Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers You deserve to be hanged rather then one shall be wanting to hang him I will hang him my selfe I am resolved not to leave an Heretick in the Countrey I had rather so many Whores and VVhoremongers and Thieves came amongst us Oh Sir you cannot forget what Language and Dialect this is whether not the same unsavourie and ungodly blasphemous and bloudie which the Gardiners and Bonners both former and later used to all that bowed not to the State goulden Image of what Conscience soever they were And indetd Sir if the most High be pleased to awaken you to render unto his holy Majestie his due praises in your truely broken-hearted Confessions and Supplications you will then proclaime to all the VVorld that what profession soever you made of the Lambe yet these Expressions could not proceed but from the Dragons mouth Oh remember and the most holy Lord bring it to your Remembrance that you have now a great price in your hand to bring great Glory to his holy Name great Rejoycing to so gracious a Redeemer in whom you professe is all your Healing and Salvation great Rejoycing to the holy Spirit of all true Consolation whom yet so long you have grieved and sadded great Rejoycing to those blessed Spirits attending upon the Lambe and all his and terrible to his persecutours great Rejoycing and Instruction to all that love the true Lord Jesus notwithstanding their wandrings among so many false Christs mourning and lamenting after him in all parts of the World where his Name is sounded Your Tallents are great your Fall hath been so Your Eminencie is great the Glory of the most High in Mercy or Justice toward you will be great also Oh remember it is a dangerous Combat for the Potsheards of the Earth to fight with their dreadfull Potter It is a dismall Battle for poore naked feete to kick against the Pricks It is a dreadfull voyce from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Endicot Endicot why huntest thou me why imprisonest thou me why finest why so bloudily whippest why wouldest thou did not I hould thy bloudie hands hang and burne me Yea Sir I beseech you remember that it is a dangerous thing to put this to the may be to the venture or hazzard to the possibilitie Is it possible may you well say that since I hunt I hunt not the life of my Saviour and the bloud of the Lambe of God I have fought against many severall sorts of Consciences is it beyond all possibilitie and hazard that I have not fought against God that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them Sir I must be humbly bold to say that 't is impossible for any Man or Men to maintaine their Christ by the Sword and to worship a true Christ to fight against all Consciences opposite to theirs and not to fight against God in some of them and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jesus Christ Oh remember whether your Principles and Consciences must in time and opportunitie force you 'T is but worldly policie and Compliance with Men and Times Gods mercy over-ruling that houlds your hands from murthering of thousands and ten thousands were your Power and Command as great as once the bloudie Roman Emperours was The truth is and your selfe and others have said it by your Principles such whom you count Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers ought to be put to Death You cannot be faithfull to your Principles and Consciences if you satisfie them with but imprisoning fining whipping and banishing the Hereticks and by saying that banishing is a kinde of Death as some chiefe with you in my case formerly have said it Sir 'T is like you knew or have heard of the man that said he would never Conforme publikely although he did subscribe in private for his Libertie sake of Preaching That although he did conforme in some things yet in all he never would That although he did himselfe yeeld yet he would not molest and inforce others That although he yeelded that others did molest them yet himselfe would never persecute and yet did all But oh poore dust and Ashes like stones once roling downe the Alpes like the Indian Canoes or English Boats loose and adrist where stop we untill infinite mercy stop us especially when a false fire of zeale and Conscience drives us though against the most holy and eternall himselfe Oh remember the
of the Bloudie Tenent Euc. 9. Prov. 9. The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent Peace her Repose and Tabernacle The Bloudie Tenent of persecution compared The maskes and vizards of the bloudie Tenent Truth Peace their meetings seldome and short in this world * Matters touching the pâ—â—ce of the English and Indians about which the said Governour did write to R. W. Great love formerly between the said Governour Endicot and R. W. before his Banishment * The Seale wherewith the Governours Leter to R. W. was sealed Persecutours conclude no Conscience in the whole World but their owne All persecutours render the most innocent most odious Cromwell the second a Refuge of the oppressed This Rejoynder was sent to England long since and hoped to have been published Abuse of light most dangerous The power of Conscience though Erroneous True false Witnesses both Confident The Common Prayers the Composers of it What 's sweet with man stâ—nks often in Gods nostrills Sathans policie in proposing Motives and Baits to wise and excellent Saints Spirituall Witchcraft Mysticall Drunkennesse and the drunken Language of it The language of persecutours A price and a Heart blessed Companions The horrible dangerous path which all persecutours or Hunters walke in The least 〈…〉 sparke of persecution tends to bloud and will proceed except God mightlly stop it Gods most dreadfull Judgements against persecutours Death is a Boanerges Gray hayres are Gods Alarums An APPENDIX To the Cleargie of the foure great Parties professing the Name of Christ Jesus in England Scotland and Ireland viz. The Popish Prelaticall Presbyterian and Independent WORTHY SIRS I Have pleaded the Cause of your severall and respective Consciences against the bloudie Doctrine of Persecution in my former Labours and in this my present Rejoynder to M r Cotton And yet I must pray leave without offence to say I have impartially oppos'd and charg'd your Consciences also so farre as Guiltie of that bloudie Doctrine of persecuting each other for your Consciences You foure have torne the seameles Coate of the Son of God The seameles Coat of Christ Jesus torne into foure pieces and the three Nations torne into Thousands into foure pieces and to say nothing of former Times and Tearings you foure have torne the three Nations into thousands of pieces and Distractions The two former of you the Popish and Protestant Prelaticall are Brethren So are the latter the Presbyterian and Independent But oh how Rara est c What Concord what Love what pitie hath ever yet appear'd amongst you when the providence of the most High and onely wise hath granted you your Pattents of mutuall and successive Dominion and precedencie Just like two men whom I have knowne breake out to Blowes and Wrastling so have the Protestant Bishops fought and The Battells of the Cleargie wrastled with the Popish and the Popish with the Protestant The Presbyterian with the Independent and the Independent with the Presbyterian And our Chronicles and Experiences have told this Nation and the World how he whose Turne it is to be brought under hath ever felt an heavie wrathfull hand of an unbrotherly and unchristian persecutour Meane while what outcries for a Sword a Sword at any price All Court the Magistrate for his Sword his Money on any Tearmes wherewith to take finall Revenges on such their Blasphemous and Hereticall Adversaries and Corrivalls Hence is it that the Magistrate hath been so courted his person adored and Deified and his Religion magnified and Exalted Amongst the People some have thought and said How hath the shining of the Magistrates Money and Sword out-shin'd the Nobilitie of his person or the Christianitie of his Conscience For when the person changes and Religion too how grossely notorious have been the Cleargies Changes also For Instance how For which any person and Religion hath serv'd the Turne have they Pernified tack't and turn'd about as the wind hath blowne from Poperie to Protestanisme from Protestanisme to Poperie and from Poperie to Protestanisme againe and this within the Compasse of about a dozen yeares as the Purse and Sword-Bearers were changed what ever the persons of those Princes male or female Men or Children or their Consciences Popish or Protestant were Yea how justly in the late Kings book if his are the Cleargie The late K. charging his Cleargie c. of England charged with horrible breach of Vows and Oaths of canonicall obedience to their Fathers the Bishops against whom in the Turne of the Times and the Sword-Bearers they turned to the Scotch Presbyters their fathers dreadful Enemies and persecutours Now as to the persecuting each of other I confesse the Wolfe the persecutour devoures the Goate the Swine yea the very The Wolfe in plea with the Lambe will be alwaies Judge Fox and other Creatures as well as the inoffensive Sheepe and Lambe Yet as the Lord Jesus made use of that excellent Fable or Similitude of a Wolfe getting on a Sheepes-skin so may I not unseasonably make use of that of the Wolfe and the poore Lambe coming downe to drinke upon the same Brooke and Streame together The Wolfe cruell and strong drinks above and aloft The Lambe innocent and weake drinks upon the Streame below The Wolfe questions and quarrells the Lambe for corrupting and defiling the Waters The Lambe not daring to plead how easily the Wolfe drinking higher might transfer Defilement downeward but pleads Improbabilitie and Impossibilitie that the waters descending could convey defilement upwards This is the Controversie This the plea But who shall judge Be the Lambe never so innocent his plea never so just his Adversary the Wolfe will be his Judge and being so cruell and so strong soone teares the Lambe in pieces Thus the cruell Beast arm'd with the power of the Kings Revel 17. sits Judge in his owne Quarrels against the Lambe about the drinking at the Waters And thus sayth M r Cotton the Judgement ought to passe upon the Heretick not for matter of Conscience but for sinning against his Conscience Object Mâ— thinks I heare the great charge against the Independent partie to be the great pleaders for Libertie of Conscience c. Answ Oh the horrible Deceipt of the hearts of the sons of Men And what Excellent Physick can we prescribe to others till our Soule as Job said come to be in their soules cases What need have we to be more vile with Job before God to walke in holy sence of selfe Insufficiencie to cry for the blessed Leadings of the holy Spirit of God to guide and leade our Heads and Hearts uprightly For to draw the Curtaine and let in the Light alittle doe The wonderfull Mysterie of Libertie of Conscience not all persecutours themselves zealously plead for Freedome for Libertie for Mercie to Mens Consciences when themselves are
might some way from the State or you receive reliefe and succour Considering that the very Nations Constitution hath occasioned parents to traine up persons to give themselves to studies though in truth but in a way of Trade Bargaining before God yet 't is according to the Custome of the Nation who ought therefore to share also in the fault of such Priests and Ministers who in all changes are ejected I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits to perswade The Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England and possesse yours with a true sence of three particulars First of the yoakes of Soule-oppression which lye upon the necks of most of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations of the whole world as if Chams Curse from Noah were upon them Servants of Servants are they and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God which call for the purest Libertie I confesse the World lyes in wickednesse and loveth darknesse more then Soule Bondage the greatest light but why should you helpe on those yoaks and force them to receive a Doctrine to pray to give thanks c. without an Heart yea and in the many changes and cases incident against their Heart and Soules Consent Secondly of the bloudines of that most bloudie Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it c. Some professors true and false Sheepe and Goats are daily found to differ in their Apprehensions perswasions professions and that to Bonds and Death What now shall these be wrackt their Soules their Bodies their purses c Yea if they refuse deny oppose the Doctrine of Christ Jesus whether Jewes or Gentiles why should you call for Fire from Heaven which suits not with Christ Jesus his Spirit The Bloudinesse of the Bloudie Tenent or Ends Why should you compell them to come in with any other Sword but that of the Spirit of God who alone perswaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem and can in his holy season prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet Thirdly Of that Biass of selfe-love which hales and swayes our minds to hould so fast this bloudie Tenent You know it is the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers c. That sets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too as Pauls day and night to work rather Little of the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus yet extant and our self-selfe-love biasseth us to Inventions Traditions and Doctrines of persecutions then the progresse and puritie and simplicitie of the Crowne of Christ Jesus should be debased or hindred This Spirit will cause you leave with joy Benefices and Bishopricks Worlds and Lives for his sake the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths of whose Love you know doth infinitely passe your most knowing Comprehensions and Imaginations There is but little of this Spirit extant I feare will not be untill we see Christ Jesus slaine in the slaughter of the Witnesses Then Joseph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the slaughtered bodie of most precious Saviour and Nicodemus will goe by day to buy and bestow his sweetest spices on his infinitly sweeter Soules beloved The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit unfeinedly and heartily wisheth you Your most unworthy Countriman R. Williams FINIS The Principal CONTENTS TRuth and peace rarely meet page 1 Many excellent men plead for persecution p. 2 New Englands persecution guilty of the persecution in Old p. 3 The first occasion of publishing the bloody tenent p 4 Master Cotton complains of being persecuted and yet writes so much for persecution p. 5 The word persecution in plain English what it is ibi Master Cotton would change the word persecuting into punishing p. 6 State worships the ordinary occasion of persecution p. 7 Ordination of Ministers and Coronation of Kings unfitly compared p. 11 Master Cotton pleading for Common Prayer p. 11 12 Three causes for which Master Cotton pleads for persecution p. 13 Christs church may be gathered and dissolved with no disturbance of civil peace p. 14 Persecution breaks all civil peace p. 15 Civil peace may be kept long and flourish even where Christ is not heard of yea disowned c. p. 16 Christianity lost most under reforming Emperors ibid. The societies or Churches of Saints are meerly voluntary in combining or dissolving p. 17 Christs Spouse is chosen out of this world p. 18 No civil state can judge the spiritual p. 19 The difference of spiritual and civil peace p. 20 When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted and when most persecuted then flourish most in godliness p. 21 A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil disturbance p. 22 Six instances of zeal in Scripture charged with yet free from breach of civil peace p. 23 The Indians subjected to the English permitted while English fearing God in New England persecuted p. 25 Jonah's casting over board pleaded by Master Cotton as a ground for persecution examined p. 26 The killing of the false prophet Zech. 13. 6. p. 27 Conviction of conscience p. 28 The violation of civil peace though out of conscience to be punished p. 29 Gamaliells councel considered p. 30 Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver blasphemer seducer c. p. 31 Gods people fast asleep and yet awake ibid A deep mystery in persecution p. 32 Wolves complaining of being persecuted by the sheep p. 33 The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed Mystery p. 34 A challenge to the Devil himself touching the persecution of hereticks p. 34 All Antichristian hunters make Titus the third their Den or Fortress p. 35 The horrible abusing and prophaning of that word Heretick p. 36 A child of God may possible be an Heretick p. 37 The straights in which the bloody tenent and this Rejoynder also were composed p. 38 Thâ—se Preachers who will not Preach without money must beg or steal ibid. Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers stealers p. 39 Persecution usually taken for a corporal not a spiritual punishment ibid. Very severe but not Christian and more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England p. 41 The civil and spirituall life confounded p. 42 Gods right and Caesars p. 43 The great peace breakers ibid. English Diana's p. 44. Gross partiality to private interests ibid. England in all ages guilty of much persecution p. 45 Two seasonable Petitions of any persecuted ibid. The Parable of the Tares grosly abused p. 46 Hypocrisie both open and secret p. 47 Spiritual whoredome against God in his worship may be in the midst of pure civil relations p. 48 The parable of the wise and foolish Virgins p. 50. A true church or society of Christ cannot consist of visible Hypocrites p. 51 The Field of the World ibid The Mystery of christians and antichriastians p. 52 The first rise of Antichristians argued p. 54 Touching the