is said that such Magistrates as suffer the people to live in ungodliness fall short in returning spiritual Recompence I answer By this Doctrine most of the free Inhabitants of the world who live in ignorance of God and in abominable Religions without him must yet be supposed to choose and set up such Ministers or Servants of civil Justice amongst them who during their termes of administration or service should not suffer their Choosers and Makers to enjoy their owne Conscience but force them to that which their Officers shall judge to be Godliness but the neck of no free people can bow to such a Yoak and Tyrany Peace But lastly to that Argument of Rom. 13. from the title which God gives to Magistrates to wit Gods Ministers and to the Distinction of Spiritual Ministers for spiritual and civil Ministers for civil matters Master Cotton replies If Magistrates be Gods Ministers or Servants then must they do his work and be for God in matters of Religion And further saith he Magistracy is of God for light of Nature and not onely for civil things but also in matters of Religion and he produceth divers instantces of Pagans zeal for their Religion and worship Truth Because Magistrates are Gods Servants or Ministers civil and receive civil wages for their civil service will it therefore follow that they must attend and that chiefly and principally a spiritual work That noble-man or Lord that sets one to keep his children and another to keep his sheep expects not of him appointed to keep his sheep though a Minister or Servant to attend upon the keeping of his children nor expects he of the waiter on his children to attend the keeping of his sheep T is true that Magistrasie is of God but yet no otherwise then Mariage is being an estate meerly civil and humane and lawfull to all Nations of the World that know not God T is true that Magistrates be of God from the light of nature but yet as the Religions of the World and the worlds zealous contending for them with persecuting of others are from the Father of lies and murther from the beginning so seldome is it seen that the nations of the world have persecuted or punished any for error but for the truth condemned for error Peace Alas who sees not that all nations and people bow down to Idels and Images as all the world did to Nebuchaduezzars Image If any amongst them differ from them it is commonly in in some truths which God hath sent amongst them for witnessing of which they are persecuted Truth Your observation deare peace is evident from the cases of those Philosophers by Master Cotton alledged how weak and poor therefore is that Argument from the zeal of Pagans c. It is evident that such Builders frame by no other then that of nature depraved and rotten and not by the Goulden reed of the glorious gospel of Christ Jesus Examination of CHAP. LI. Peace IN the discourse concerning that terme Evil Master Cotton produceth Pareus who makes that Evil punishable by the Magistrate fourfold natural civil moral and spiritual Truth That excellent and holy witness of Christ Jesus in many of his precious truths Pareus being here produced without Scripture or Argument for the Magistrates punishing of the fourth sort of evil to wit spiritual nor answering my Arguments brought against such an Interpretation gives me occasion of no further answer to Master Cotton or him in this place Peace Whereas it was alleadged that the Elders of the New English Churches in the model prohibite expresly the Magistrates from the punishing or taking notice of some Evils and that therefore as they ascribe to the Civil Magistrates more then God gives so they take away and disrobe him of that Authority which God hath cloathed him with Master Cotton replies when we say that the Magistrate is an avenger of evil we mean of all sorts or kindes of evil and not every particular of each kind and further he saith that domestick evils may be healed in a domestick way Truth I readily concur with him that the Magistrate may not punish evils that he knowes not of in a due and orderly way sufficiently proved before him as also that many domestick evils are best healed in a domestick way but yet that Limitation added to wit without acquainting the Church first seems to bind the Magistrates hand where no true Church of Christ is to acquaint with such things yea and further where it is why should the Magistrate be denied to exercise his power in cases meerly civil the old practice of the Popish Church And to whom should the Servant or Child or Wife petition and complaine against oppression unless to the publike Father Master and Husband of the Common-weal And therefore from their own Interpretation they may well spare that strict and literal aception of the word evil and cease to cry Heresie is evil Idolatrie evil Blasphemie evill c. Examination of CHAP. LIII Answering to Chap. LIII LIV LV. Peace IN these three Chapters the last Reason which the Author of the Arguments against persecution produced was discussed to wit that the disâ—â—ples of Christ should be so far from persecuting that contrariwise they ought to bless such as curse them c. and that because of the freeness of Gods grace and the deepness of his counsels calling home them that be enemies persecutors no people yea some at the last hour In answer to which Master Cotton complaineth that two of his Answers were omitted and suspecteth that as children skip over hard places so they were skipt over c. Truth It is true those two answers were omitted not because the chapter was too hard c. but because the Discusser saw nor sees not any controversie or difference between Master Cotton and himself in those passages and also studying brevity and contraction as Master Cotton himself hath done omitting far more and contracting three Chapters in one in this very passage Upon the same ground I see no need of mentioning his Reply in these three Chapters wherein Master Cotton concurs in the point of the necessity of tolerating even notorious offenders in the State in some cases Peace The result of all agitations in this passage is this Master Cotton denies not but that in some cases a notorious malefactor may be tolerated and consequently as I understand him an â—â—reâ—iâ—k seducer c. But that ordinarily it is not lawful to tolerate a seducing teacher and that from the clearness of Gods command Deut. 13. and from the reason of it vers 10 Because he hath sought to turn thee away from the Lord thy God Withal he concludes that all Moses capital Politicks are eternal Truth Thus far is gained that it was no vain exception against Master Cotton's general proposition to wit that it is evil to tolerate notorious evil doers seducing teachers scandalous livers because he sees cause of toleration in
M r Cottons cloake to wit that they will not meddle with the Heretick before he hath sinned against his owne Conscience and so persecute him onely for sinning against his owne Conscience yet I earnestly beseech every Reader seriously to ponder the whole streame and series of M r Cottons Discourse Propositions Affirmations c. through the whole booke and he shall then be able to judge whether it be untrue that his Doctrine tends not to constraine nor restraine Conscience 2. For the matter of fact how can he with any Humilitie before the staming eyes of the most High cry out no such practice when First Their Lawes cry out a Command under Penaltie for all to come to Church though not to be Members which in truth as hath been opened is but a colour and visard deceiving himselfe and others And a cruell Law is yet extant against Christ Jesus muffled up under the hood or vaile of a Law against Anabaptistrie c. Secondly Their practice cryes their Imprisonments Finings Whippings Banishments cry in the Eares of the Lord of Hosts and the louder because of such unchristian figleave cloakes c. Peace Let it be granted sayth M r Cotton that we did both yet this did not make Lawes to binde Conscience but the outward man onely Nor would we sayth he think it fit to binde the outward man against Conscience Truth I cannot discerne the Coherence of these three Affirmations 1. We restraine no man from Worship according to Conscience 2. We make Lawes but to binde the outward man onely And yet againe 3 we thinke not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience M r Cotton lived once under a Popish Law to weare a fooles Coat or Surplice on his back and to make a Conjuring Crosse with his Fingers why should he say that this Law went beyond his back and his fingers and came even to his Conscience If these pettie bonds did binde his Conscience as well as his back and his fingers Oh let not M r Cotton so farre put off the Bowells of Compassion toward Christ Jesus and his Followers yea toward all men as to binde their backs and their Necks their Knees and Hands backward and forward to or from Worship and yet say he binds but the outward man c. Yea and oh let not such uprightnes candor and Integritie as M r Cotton hath been noted for be blemished with such an Evasion as this to wit when it comes to selfe that Conscience his owne or his Friends be offred to be bound c. then he shall flie to his third Evasion saying We think it not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience that is against our Consciences c. What ever becomes sinck or swim of other Mens Peace In the next Passage God needs not sayth M r Cotton the helpe of the Magistrate more in the Second then in the first Table Truth God needeth not absolutely for the matters of the Second Table though respectively because he hath appointed Ordinances unto which he hath graciously referd himselfe But for the first Table he hath no neede at all of carnall weapons no not respectively because he hath appointed Ordinances to thousand-fold more potent suitable and sufficient Peace Whereas it was urged that if Magistrates must use their materiall Sword in keeping of both Tables they must be able to judge of both M r Cotton replies that it is enough that they be able to judge in Principles and Foundations and of the Arrogancie of a tumultuous Spirit for such want not Judgement to censure Apostasie or Heresie Idolatrie c. Truth It is not like that a Carpenter who hath skill sufficient to judge the Principles and Foundations of a house or Building should be unable to judge about the Beames Posts c. 2. With what great darknes have the best of Gods children themselves been covered these many hundreth yeares touching the very Fundamentalls of Gods Worship Peace Whereas it was said further that either they are not fitly qualified Magistrates and Common-weales that want this abilitie to judge c. Or else they must judge according to their Conscience M r Cotton replyes Many Qualifications are required in Husbands Wives Children Servants Ministers Churches the want whereof may make them sinfull but not unlawfull Truth I answer some Relations are Passive as that of children who may be true and lawfull children although they know not that they are children But such Relations as are active in their choice and consent as of Husband Wife Magistrate c. these cannot be lawfull unles they be fitted and qualified to performe the maine and essentiall duties of Husbands Wives Servants Magistrates That Husband Wife Servant cannot be lawfull that are engaged to other Husbands Wives Masters Nor can that Magistrate be lawfull who is a mad-man or Ideot not able to discerne between Right and Wrong and truely were Magistrates bound as to the chiefe part of their Dutie and Office to establish the true Religion c. he were no more then a mad-man as to the first Table that were not spiritually indued with ability of discerning the true Church Ministry Worship c. Peace Now whereas it was further urged that then the Common-weale the Civil Naturall state hath more Light concerning the Church of Christ then the Church it self c Master Cotton replies it followes not because that is a weak Church that knowes no more light then that of the Principles and beside what light the Common-wealth hath it may have received from the Church Truth I answer If Kings and Queens c. be nurcing Fathers and Mothers in a spirituall respect over the Church as is usually alleadged can it be expected but that the Nurse Father or Physician should know more of the Childs state then the Child or Patient himselfe who oftentimes knows not his sicknesse nor that he is sick as oft may be the case of a Church of Christ It is impossible but they must have more light then the Child yea and much more impossible that they should receive their Light and direction from the Child c. Peace We see saith Master Cotton that Magistrates sometimes have more Light in matters of Religion then the Church it self as David and Hezekiah Truth This 1 confirmes what I said that these Kings being appointed by God Formers and Reformers of the Church of Judah they must needs have more light in the matter of Reformation then the Church it selfe to be reformed 2 I must deny that David and Hezekiah were other then types of Christ Jesus both in his owne person and in such who in his absence are by him deputed to manage the spirituall power and sword of his holy and spirituall Kingdome Peace Yea but alas saith Master Cotton there is no colour that because Magistrates are bound to discerne and serve Christ with their power that therefore they may punish Christ and Christians Truth True
an objection that this distinction concerns not Truth or errour but the manner of holding or divulging Master Cotton affirmes the distinction to speak expresly of things unlawfull and erroneous and therefore that it cannot be said with Truth that the distinction concernes not truth and error Truth The truth is this the former distinction speakes of matter and this distinction seems wholly to intend the manner of holding forth The words were these Again in points of Doctrine and Worship less principal either they are held forth in a meek and peaceable way though the things be erroneous and unlawful or they are held forth with such Arrogance and Impetuousness as tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace In which although things erroneous and unlawful are mentioned yet who sees not but that those words are brought in by the way of Parenthesis which may or may not be left out and the distinction be whole and intire And therefore Master Cotton doth not well to spend precious time and life upon seeming advantages Peace Yea but saith he why is this distinction blamed when the discusser himself acknowledgeth that there may be a way and manner of holding forth which may tend to break the civil peace Truth That which was excepted most against in the distinction was the persecuting language of arrogance impetuousness boisterousness without declaring what that was to which Master Cotton answers that the discussers request was not that he should compile a discourse but return an answer to the letter of his friend as also that he charged none of Gods children with such things I reply as formerly Master Cotton's memory though otherwise excellent herein faileth for such a request the discusser never made unto him by letter or otherwise 2. Although he charged not Gods people with arrogance and impetuousness yet mostly and commonly Gods children though meek and peaceable are accused to be arrogant impetuous c. and 't is the common notorious language of persecutors against them Peace Concering those six instances wherein Gods children were occasion of great opposition and spiritual hostility yea and of breach of civil peace notwithstanding the matter delivered was holy and the manner peaceable Master Cotton answers they nothing concern the distinction which speaks of holding forth things erroneous and unlawful for the matter and for the manner in a way of arrogance and impetuousness to the disturbance of civil peace Truth I reply first it speaks not only of erroneous and unlawful things though erroneous and unlawful things be admitted in way of Parenthesis as before 2. He describes not what this arrogance and impetuousness is but wraps up all in one general dark cloud wherein the best and most zealous of Gods Prophets and servants are easily wrapt up as proud arrogant and impetuous Examination of CHAP. IX Peace IN this Chapter I remember you affirmed that one cause of civil dissention and uproar was the lying of a State under false worship whence it endures not the preaching of light and truth c. Master Cotton answers This is not to the purpose because this is by accident Truth It is as much to the purpose to declare in the examination of the breach of civil peace about matters of Religion I say to declare the true cause of such troubles and uproares as it is in the search after the leaks of a ship to declare where the leake is indeed when many are said to be where they are not 2. Whereas he confesseth that vigilant and faithful ones are not so troubled at the false Religion of Jew or Gentile as not to tolerate them amongst them in a civil body he alleadgeth for instance that the Indians subjected to their government are not compelled to the confession or acknowledgement of their Religion I reply first who sees not herein unchristian partiality that Pagans Barbarians who happily might more easily be brought from their natural Religion to a new forme then any other I say that they should be tolerated in their hideous worships of creatures and devils while civil people his countrymen yea it may be the precious sons and daughters of the most high God shall be courted fined whipt banished c. for the matters of their conscience and worship to the true and living God 2. Is not this passage contradictory to all Master Cottons whole discourse in this book which pleades for the purity of Religion to be maintained by all Magistrates and civil governments within their jurisdictions and the suppressing of the contrary under the penalty of the destruction of their lands and countries and accordingly hath not the practice of New England answered such a doctrine and yet saith he we tolerate the false Religion of Jew or Gentile Peace Possibly Dear Truth the distinction between Jew Pagan and Christian may satisfie for the present Master Cottons conscience so to write and practise for thus he addeth But if Christians shall apostate or if Jews and Pagans be blasphemous and seducing then c. Truth Who knows not but that the very Religion of Jew or Pagan is a blaspheming of the true Religion Revel 2. I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not but are the Synagogue or church of Sathan And whereas Master Cotton alleadgeth for proof of this Pauls blaming of false teachers for being troublers to the churches of Galatia Gal. 5. and Acts 15 c. Who that puts this inference into Christs balance but will see the lightness of it thus The churches of Christ are to draw forth the sword and power of Christ and are not to suffer such as with false doctrine trouble their peace Ergo Therefore the civil state must not permit such persons to live in the world c. Peace The second cause I remember you alleadged of civil disturbances and hubbubs about Religion was the praeposterous way of healing of corruptions in Religion as by whips stocks imprisonment c. unto this Master Cotton answers Then the Mariners casting Jonah over-boord for his sin was the cause of the storme Truth I answer if that extraordinary and miraculous instance be sufficient ground for Magistrates casting over-boord whomsoever they judge Hereticks then all civil states and ships must so practise in stormes and troubles on sea or shore to wit throw over-boord put to death not only Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers c. but the best of Gods Prophets or servants for neglect of their duty Ministery c. which was Jonahs case And if so doth not this set up and all the world over by land or sea all Kings and Magistrates all Masters of ships and captaines to be the spiritual and Ecclesiastical Judges of the religion and spiritual neglects of all their subjects or Passengers Such doctrine I cannot imagine would have relished with Master Cotton in his passage to New England and I humbly desire of God that he may never tast the bitter fruit of this Tree of which yet so many thousands
of Gods servants have fed and himself not a little to the Lords praise and his own in former times Peace Whereas you argued it to be light alone that was able to dispell and scatter the mists and fogs of darkness in the souls and consciences of men Master Cotton answers The judgements of God are as light that goeth forth Hos 6. 3. Isa 26. 9. and the false Prophet repenting will acknowledge this Zech. 13. 6. Thus was I wounded in the house of my friends Truth But doth Master Cotton indeed believe that not only publike Magistrates but also each private father and mother as that place of Zechary literately taken carries it must now in the dayes of the Gospel wound and pierce yea run through and kill their Son the false Prophet would he justifie a parent so practising though it were in the neglect of the publike Magistrate who happily may be of the same Religion with the false prophet Will not this doctrine reach extend to the pulling down deposing and killing of all such governors and governments which God in his gracious providence hath set up amongst all peoples in all parts and dominions of the world yea and harden the heart of Pharoah the very Pope himself in his King-killing and State-killing doctrine Peace If ever Master Cotton wake in this point he will tell all the world that it is more Gospel-like that Parents Brethren Fathers Friends impartially fulfill this of Zechary 13. and Deut. 13. spiritually in the friendly wounding yea and zealous slaying by the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God which is the word of God comming forth of the mouth of Christ Jesus Ephes 5. Revel 1. Truth And it is most true as Master Cotton saith that the judgements of God legally executed or more terribly poured forth in the vials of sword plague and famine they are as heavenly lights shining out from the Father of lights teaching the inhabitants of the world righteousness Yea the creation it self or each creature are as candles and glasses to light and shew us the invisible God and creator but yet these are not the ordinances of Christ Jesus given to his church These are not the Preachings of the word and the opening of the mysteries of salvation which give light and understanding to the simple and convert the soul These are nor that marvailous light unto which the call of Christ Jesus in the preaching of the word had brought the Saints unto whom Peter writes The weapons of Pauls fighting whereby to batter down the high thoughts and imaginations of the sons of men against the sons of God were of another nature 3 Cor. 10. and his directions to Timothy and Titus how to deal with Hereticks and Gainsayers were never heard of to be such till the son of man and son of perdition brought forth such bloody weapons and bloody doctrines in the affaires of Christ Jesus Examination of CHAP. X. Peace IN this passage Master Cotton will subscribe to the whole matter saying This Chapter may stand for us without impeachment and yet in this Chapter is reported the persecution which both rightly informed and erroneous consciences suffer and the blind estate of such blinde guides and blinded consciences who so preach and practice Truth These first words We approve no persecution for conscience fight against his whole endeavour in this book which is to set up the civil throne and judgement-seat over the consciences and soules of men under the pretence of preserving the church of Christ pure and punishing the evil of heresie blasphemy c. 2. They fight against their fellows which follow thus unless the conscience be convinced of the error and perniciousness thereof which is all one as to say We hold no man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless it be for a conscience which we judge dangerous to our Religion No man is to be persecuted for his conscience unless we judge that we have convinced or conquered his conscience T is true all errour is perniciots many wayes to Gods glory to a mans owne soul to other mens souls and consciences yet I understand Master Cotton to say Except we judge the error to be so and so mischievous T is true there is a self-conviction which some consciences smite and wound themselves with But to submit these consciences to the tribunal of the civil Magistrate and Powers of the World how can Master Cotton do this and yet say no man is to be persecuted for his conscience Peace Alas how many thousands and millions of consciences have been persecuted in all Ages and Times iâ— a judicial war and how have their Judges pretended victory and triumph crying out We have convinced or conquered them and yet are they obstinate Truth Hence came that hellish Proverb That nothing was more obstinate then a Christian under which cloud of reproach hath been overwhelmed the most faithful zealous and constant witnesses of Jesus Christ Peace But saith Master Cotton Some blinded consciences are so judicially punished by God as his in Irelond that burnt his child in imitation of Abraham Truth In such cases it may be truly said the Magistrate beares not the sword in vaine either for the punishing or preventing of such sins whether uncleanness theft cruelty or persecution And therefore such consciences as are so hardned by Gods judgement as to smite their fellow-servants under the pretence of zeale and conscience as in the instance of Saul his zeal for the children of Israel against the Gibeonites they ought to be supprest and punished to be restrained and prevented And hence is seasonable the saying of King Iames that he desired to be secured of the Papists concerning civil obedience which security by wholesome Lawes and other wayes according to the wisdome of each state each state is to provide for it self even against the delusions of hardned consciences in any attempt which meerly concernes the civil state and Common-weale Examination of CHAP. XI Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton takes himself wronged that he should be thought to lay this down as a conclusion viz. that it is not lawful to persecute Iesus Christ Truth What difference is there in saying It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed and to say It is not lawful to persecute Christ Iesus was it not all one in effect for Christ to say Take up thy bed and walk as to say Thy sins are forgiven thee Peace He adds It is no matter of wonder to lay down the principles of Religion for a proof as Gamaliel did Truth Who sees not a vast difference between Master Cottons and Gamaliels speech Gamaliel speaks of that particular controversie concerning Christs person and profession which the Iews so gainsayed and persecuted Gamaliel fitly aggravateth their opposition by the danger of their course if possibly it might prove to be the Truth which they persecuted Master Cotton is to lay down not a particular answer
but general conclusions and notwithstanding that in the course of his Book he maintaines such and such persecution yet he layes this down as his first conclusion It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Iesus in his Truths and Servants and that I say never persecutor professed to do without a Maske or covering Peace What of that saith Master Cotton for although they do not persecute Christ as Christ yet they do it and it is no matter of wonder to tell them as Christ tells Paul It is not lawful for them so to do Truth Doubtless whatever persecutors profess and what Apologies soever they make in all the particular cases for which Gods servants are persecuted yet the Saints of God have dealt faithfully to tell Persecuters that they persecute Christ himself and to breath out the fire of Gods judgements against them even out of their own mouth But what is this to a conclusion laid down for so Christ laid not down his expostulation with Paul as a conclusion as Master Cotton doth by way of teaching but as a conviction by way of reproofe Peace Yet persecutors saith he have persecuted Christ as Christ for the Scribes and Pharises said This is the heir come let us kill him and Iulian persecuted Iesus as Iesus And if a Christian in Turkie shall seek to gaine a Turke to Christianity they will persecute such a Christian and in him Iesus as Iesus Truth It is said Acts 3. that the Iews persecuted Christ out of ignorance for though they had sufficient knowledge to convince them yet did they not persecute Christ out of a clearely convinced conscience for then it could not be out of ignorance And yet it was sufficient that so great a power of Gods Spirit appeared in the evidence of Christs works as to make their sin to be against the Spirit of God yet had they their mask and covering as is evident For this is not the true Christ or Messiah say they but a deceiver a witch working by the power of the devil a blasphemer a seducer a Traitor c. Againe although wretched Iulian persecuted the very name of Christ and Iesus whom formerly he had acknowledged and professed Yet was it still under a mask or covering to wit that he was not the true Son of God nor his worship the Truth but his Roman gods were true c. And the same say the Turkes in persecuting Christians and in them Christ Iesus as aâ— Prophet inferiour to their onely great and true Prophet Mahomet And lastly neither Scribes nor Pharisees nor Iulian nor Turkes did or do persecute Christ Iesus otherwise then as they were and are bound so to do by Master Cottons doctrine as shall further appear notwithstanding his plea that such Magistrates must forbeare to punish untill they be better informed Peace But let tyrants and persecutors profess what they will saith Master Cotton yet this varieth not the truth nor impeacheth the wisdome of the conclusion Truth Sweet peace how can I here chuse but in the first place observe that great mystery of the waking sleep of the most precious servants of the most high God in the affaires of his worship and the Kingdome of his dear Son Awake for what fiery censures justly poureth forth this our excellent Adversarie against the oppressours of conscience entituling them with the names of tyrants and persecutors notwithstanding their vaine professions pretences apologies and pleas for their tyranny and Bloodshed Againe how fast asleep in his so zealous pleading for the greatest tyranny in the world throughout his whole book though painted and washed over with faire pretences c 2. He granteth upon the point the truth which was affirmed and he denyed to wit that no persecutor of Christ ever persecuted him as the Son of God as Iesus but under some mask or covering as thousands of black and bloody clouds of persecuting witnesses in this case most lamentably make it evident and apparent Peace Master Cottons next charge is very heavy against the discusser for exalting himself above God in the discerning of Master Cottons fellowship with persecutors notwithstanding his profession against such persecution Truth The Lord Jesus saw in the Iews such a contrariety between their professions and practises even in this case of persecution Mat. 23. 2. Himself in effect but even now said the same of all persecutors What ever pretences they make saith he and they will pretend great things of love to Christ and kiss him ten thousand times when treasons and slaughters are is in their courses And will Master Cotton say that Christ Iesus exalted himself above God inspying out so great a mystery It is no new thing that Master Cotton should be apt to say with David That man that hath done this thing shall die not duely considering and pondering that our selves are sons of blood and children of death condemned by our own mouth if the righteous Iudge of the whole world should deal severely with us Peace But Master Cotton for a close of this Chapter complaines of his own suffering of bitter persecution and the Lord Iesus in him being unjustly slandered except the discusser can prove that any doctrine of his tendeth to persecute any of the servants of Christ Truth Let a mans doctrine and practise be his witnesses and let every soul judge in the fear of God whether the doctrine of this Book maintaining such and such a persecution to be an holy truth wash'd white in the blood of the Lamb agree not lamentably with all their imprisonings banishings c. inflicted upon so many several sorts of their own countrimen friends and brethren in the wilderness for matter of Religion and conscience amongst which the Lord Jesus will be heard at last to have said Why persecutest thou me why banishest and whippest thou me c 2. Will not all persecuting prelates Popes c. take heart from hence according to their several religions and consciences to persecute the heretick blasphemer seducer c. although they all will say with Master Cotton It is not lawful to persecute a conscience rightly informed that is Christ Jesus in his truths or servants Peace But the discusser saith Master Cotton is a bitter persecutor in slandering him and Christ Jesus in him for a persecutor Truth I see not but Master Cotton though of Davids spirit may be guilty of Sauls lamentable complaint that David persecuted him and that he could finde none to pity him Who knows not that all and our own Popish Bishops in Queen Maries yea and of late times our Protestant Bishops against the non-conformists have been wont to cry out what bitter persecution themselves have suffered from the slanderous censures and reproaches of the servants of Christ Jesus against them Who yet have shot no other arrowes at them but the faithful declarations and discoveries of Gods holy truth and the evil of the opposing and persecuting of it and
intends not such a clearness of self-condemning but either that the admonitions of the Lord are so evident and clear that either if he in his own conscience before God improved them seriously and duely they would clear up the truth of God unto him or else the checks of conscience are such as are recorded to have been Cant. 5. in the members of Christ in the Church of the Jews and Master Cotton cannot render a sufficient reason why they may not also be found in the members of the churches of the Christians Peace I perceive indeed dear truth the wonderful effects of a strange tongue in the church of Christ The noise and sound of a Greek word heretick in poor English â—ares hath begot a conclusion that a person refusing once or twice admonition for some point of Doctrine is such an heretick or monster that he cannot possibly be a child of God whereas Master Cotton granting that a child of God may possibly refuse once and twice admonition and so come to be excommunicated What doth he then in plaine English but say that a child of God may be obstinate to excommunication or rejection that is in Greek be an heretick And what is this but contrary to his former Assertion that a childe of God cannot be heretically obstinate to rejection c. Truth Questionless no child of God but in temptation may sin heretically that is obstinately upon once or twice admonition against the checks and whisperings of his own conscience and against that evidence of light which afterward he wondreth how he could despise and this rejecting or casting forth of the visible society of Christ Jesus and his servants is not for destruction but humiliation and salvation in the day of the Lord Jesus Peace I judge that no son of peace in a sober and peaceable minde can judge as Master Cotton here doth this to be an image of clouts Truth Nor can I learn that the discusser so abounded in time and leasure as to make such images as Master Cotton insinuates It is not unknown to many witnesses in Plymmouth Salem and Providence that the discussers time hath not been spent though as much as any others whosoever altogether in spiritual labours and publike exercise of the word but day and night at home and abroad on the land and water at the How at the Oare for bread yea and I can tell that when these discussions were prepared for publike in London his time was eaten up in attendance upon the service of the Parliament and City for the supply of the poor of the City with wood during the stop of coale from Newcastle and the mutinies of the poor for firing T is true he might have run the rode of preferment as well in Old as New England and have had the leasure and time of such who eat and drink with the drunken and smite with the fist of wickedness their fellow servants But God is a most holy witness that these meditations were fitted for publike view in change of roomes and corners yea sometimes upon occasion of travel in the country concering that business of fuell in variety of strange houses sometimes in the fields in the midst of travel where he hath been forced to gather and scatter his loose thoughts and papers Peace Well notwithstanding Master Cottons bitter censure some persons of no contemptible note nor intelligence have by letters from England informed the discusser that these Images of clouts it hath pleased God to make use of to stop no small leakes of persecution that lately began to flow in upon dissenting consciences and amongst others to Master Cottons own and to the peace and quietness of the Independants which they have so long and so wonderfully enjoyed Truth I will end this Chapter with that famous distinction of the Lord Jesus Digging Begging Stealing are the three wayes by the which all that pretend to be Christs Stewards are maintained They that cannot digg can begg the glittering preferments of this present evil world and the wages of Balaam They that cannot dig can steal in the wayes of fraud oppression extortion c. But by the mercy of the most high the discusser hath been inabled to get his bread by as hard digging as most diggers in New or old England have been put to and let all men judge whether such as can beg or steal and cannot dig or such as chuse neither to beg nor steal but dig have most time and leasure to make such images of clouts c. Examination of CHAP. XV. Peace IN this passage Dear Truth we hear a sound of Agreement Master Cotton consenteth that this third of Titus evinceth no civil rejection but excommunication out of the Church of Christ and he saith That no sillable of his conclusion lookes at more And whereas it might be objected That excommunication cannot fitly be called persecution he answers yes and quotes Luk. 21. 12. John 16. 2. Truth Were it not for the fierce hands of angry Esaus this shril sweet voice might pass for Jacobs What ever Master Cottons ends and intentions were of which I cannot but judge chatitably the eye of God alone discerneth but for Master Cottons words sillables and arguings let all impartial readers and consciences judge of these four considerations First Whether the word persecution do not in all proper and ordinary speech signifie penal and corporal punishment and affliction 2. Whether the point in question agitated between the prisoner and Master Cotton throughout the book concern not only penal and corporal afliction and whether it can be imagined that the prisoner or the discusser or any that plead for the purity of Christs ordinances could ever plead against excommunicating an heretick or wilful offendor out of the Church of Christ And although the Scriptures by Master Cotton quoted do mention excommunication as an unjust oppression yet they speak also oâ— corporal afflictions imprisonments bringing before judgement-seats and killing also 3. It could be told in what countrey at a publike sentence of banishment of a certaine person a text of Scripture Rom. 16. 17. parrallel with this of Tit. 3. was alleadged by the chief judge in court for a ground not of spiritual excommunication but of civil out of the Commonweal 4. Were it not more for the name of God for the honour of his truth and the comfort of Master Cotton plainely and ingenuously to acknowledge his misapplying of this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. then to cover it by so thin and poor a plea viz. that he intends by persecution excommunication out of the Church of Christ Examination of CHAP. XVI Peace MAster Cotton here grants a toleration to Jews Turkes Pagans yea and Antichristians with one exception to wit so that they continue not to seduce c. Truth But it must be remembred that before and after he maintaines persecution against Apostates blasphemers and idolatours and then who knows not how all these
Christ Jesus would not pray Iohn 17. Examination of CHAP. XXII Peace IN this Chapter was urged the scope of the Lord Jesus to wit to foretell the Antichristian state opposing the true Christian church and worship as also to comfort and strengthen the hearts of his followers against the grievances ariâ—ing therefrom and where it was urged that the church consisteth onely of good ground and that the three sorts of Bad ground visibly so declared are properly in the world and not in the church Master Cotton answers First Did not Christ preach to all these sorts of hearers in the church of the Jews Truth That national church of the Iews in its first visible constitution consisted onely of good ground Now that the other three sorts of hearers were in the church of the Iews it was an accident and corruption when they grew incurable and received not the admonitions of the Lord by the Lord Iesus and his servants preaching unto them the Lord cast them out of his sight destroyed that nationall church and established the Christian church Now what is this to the permitting of known hypocrites in the Christian church to the worlds end since that the proper seat of known hypocrisie and of all other wickedness is the world which indeed properly consisteth of the three sorts of Bad ground as the church and Garden of Christ of the honest and good ground Peace But further If saith Master Cotton the children of the church-members be in the church then they growing up to yeers become some of them like the high-way and some like the stony and some like the thorny ground Truth Admit the Christian church were constituted of the natural seed and off-spring which yet Master Cotton knows will never be granted to him and I believe will never be proved by him yet he knows that upon the discovery of any such portion of ground in the church the church is bound to admonish and upon impenitency after admonition to cast them into the world the proper place of such kind of hearers and professors Peace Master Cotton proceeds to a third answer to wit Though it be not the proper work of the church to bring up their own children to become the sincere people of God And Christ hath given his Church and his Gospel preached to it to lye like leaven in three pecks of meal till all be leavened Mat. 13. 31. And he hath given Pastors and Teachers as well for the gathering of the Saints as for the edification of the Body of Christ Truth I answer the proper work of the Pastors and Teachers is to feed the sheep and flock and not the Heards the wild Beasts in the world And although it is the duty of parents to bring up their children in the nurture and fear of the Lord yet what if those children refuse to frequent the Assemblies of the Church and what if those three sorts of bad ground or hearers will not come within the bounds of the Pastors and Teachers feeding hath not the Lord Iesus appointed other Officers in the same Ephes 4. for the gathering of the Saints that is sending out of the Church of Christ Apostles or Messengers to preach Christ Iesus to the three sorts of bad ground to labour to turn them into good ground But alas to salve up all this the civil sword is commonly run for to force all sorts of ground to come to church instead of the sending forth Rom. 10. the heavenly sowers according to the Ordinance of Christ Iesus Peace But what say you to his fourth answer viz. There is no such Resemblance between the high-way-ground and good ground as between the Tares and the wheate nor would the servants wonder at Tares in the high-way nor ask about their plucking up Truth I answer Let the high-way stony and thorny ground be considered in their several qualities of prophaneness stouiness and worldliness and all the sons of men throughout the whole world naturally are such and t is no wonder nor would the servants of Christ be so troubled as to desire their plucking up out of the world But yet againe consider all these sorts of men as professing the name and anointing of Christ Iesus in a false and counterfeit Antichristian way and then it may well be wondred whence such monstrous kind of Christians or anointed ones arose And Gods people may easily be tempted rather to desire their rooting out of the world then the rooting out of any such sorts of ground or men professing any other Religion Jewish Mahometan or Pagan Antichristian and false Christians being more opposite to the kingdome of Christ Jesus and more dangerous by how much more a counterfeit and Traytor is worse then a professed Fox an Antichristian whether Papist or Protestant worse then a Jew a Pagan Whether Indian Turke or Persian Examination of CHAP. XXIII Peace Still of the Tares THese tares saith Master Cotton are not such sinners as are opposite and contrary for then none should be opposite or contrary but they Truth I acknowledge as Master Cotton here observeth two sorts of persons opposite and contrary to Christ Jesus and his Kingdome First All sorts of sinners scandalous in their lives and courses 2. More especially opposite in point of Religion and worship as all idolaters and especially Antichristians Now every man by nature the best and wisest is opposite and contrary to Christ his word and kingdome but an idolater and Antichristian is more especially opposite to his glorious Name Truth and Ordinances And therein properly lyes the mystery of iniquity brought in by the man of sin that lawless person 2 Thess 2. most opposite or contrary to Christ Jesus the Son of God and Son of Righteousness Peace But this is a begging of the question saith Master Cotton for the question is about visible worshippers such as were discovered and declared to be what they were as well by their fruit as by their clads and therefore againe saith Master Cotton these tares were the seed and children of the Devil for why should they be called the seed of the One and the children of the Other Truth I answer the Lord Jesus distinguisheth thus He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man and the good seed are the children of the Kingdome he that soweth the tares is the devil and these tares are the children of the evil or evil one Hence by way of opposition these children of evil or evil ones being visibly such as are opposite to the children of the kingdome they cannot be hypocrites in the church untill they are discovered These children therefore of the evil one opposite to the visible kingdome and so to visible Christ Jesus in point of his kingdome church and worship though they be the children of the devil in a sence yet can they be no other but the children of the false Christ or Antichrist in the way of a false church and worship Peace Yea
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
That dead men cannot die nor be infected with false doctrine and such is the State of all men all nations all the world over until the life of Christ Jesus quicken them Master Cotten replies First Dead men may be made worse and more the children of hell then before Mat. 23. and therefore such as so corrupt them are worthy in a way of due proceeding of a twofold death Secondly Such as profess the truth of the doctrine and worship of Christ they live a kind of spiritual life though not such as accompany salvation else how are false teachers and such as are led by them said to be twice dead pluckt up by the roots Jud. 12. Truth Dead men may be made worse that is more to rot and stink yet this is no taking away of any life And therefore there is no proportionable reason why the seducers should suffer a temporal death having neither taken away spiritual nor natural life only thus he may be justly liable to a spiritual death for endeavouring to hinder a spiritual life by furthering any in their natural state of spiritual death 2. For that place of Iude Master Cotton knows that Beza propounds two senses First Twice dead that is a certaine number for an uncertaine Secondly This sence urged by Master Cotton which if it be to be admitted yet is it but in appearance as his life which in hypocrisie he professed was but in shew and appearance he being never raised up from the spiritual death to a spiritual life and therefore really never suffered the loss of a spiritual life which he never had And yet as in typical Israel it stood with Gods justice to take away the life of the seducer which seduced an Israelite from the God of Israel or but attempted to do it so stands it with the holy justice of God to cut him off eternally who but attempteth to take away or hinders the spiritual and eternal life of any Peace Master Cotton in the next place presumes on advantage that the discusser should say that none are infected with natural plagues or spiritual but such are thereto appointed c. Truth It is plaine that the discusser alleadged not that to diminish or lessen sin let it have its due aggravation but as was said before in case of the not final deceiving of the elect so was it here spoken not to derogate fâ—om Gods meanes and remedies against natural or spiritual infection but to abate the needless feares of men who are apt to cry out Except the civil sword be drawn and so therewith the world set together by the eares the world cannot be preserved from infection Peace Whereas the discusser had affirmed that Christ Jesus had not left his people destitute of spiritual means against spiritual infections This is true saith Master Cotton but it falleth out sometimes that when the church hath cast out an heretick yet he may destroy the faith of many as did Hymeneus and Philetus 2 Tim. 2. 17. and if the Magistrates sword do here rust c. such leaven may leaven the whole country c. as Arrianisme leavened the world by Constantines indulgence Againe saith he it may be the heretick was never a member of the church how then shall the church do Truth Who can marvel at this that the dunghill of this world worldly men under the power of Satan unto whom the obstinate person the heretick is cast I say that they many of them receive worldly doctrine which the church as filth casts out c. 2. As Paul saith concerning the salvation of Gods children Let the world perish yet the foundation of God remaineth sure he knows who are his and how to provide meanes to save them though the world still act it self wallowing and tumbling like Swine in one puddle of wickedness after another 3. Master Cotton should read a little further in the same Scripture quoted by him where he finds not a tittle of Pauls directing Timothy to stir up the secular power as the Pope speakes to cut off Hymeneus and Philetus to prevent infection but tels him that the servants of God must not strive but must quiet themselves with patience waiting if peradventure God will please to give repentance Peace Methinks this Answer may also â—ully satisfie his second supposition to wit if that the heretick was never of the church Truth Yea what hath the church to do that is judicially with him that is without and what hath the civil state to judge him for who in civil matters hath not transgrest In vaine therefore doth Master Cotton suggest a persecuting or hunting after the souls or lives of such as being cast out of the church keep private conventicles c. Peace How grievous is this language of Master Cotton as if he had been nourished in the chappels and cloisters of persecuting prelates and priests the Scribes and Pharisees As if he never had heard of Jesus Christ in truth and meekness For surely as the discusser observed Christ Jesus never appointed the civil sword an Antidote or remedy in such a case notwithstanding Master Cotton replies that the civil sword was appointed a remedy in this case by Moses not Christ Deut. 13. Truth Moses in the old Testament was Christs servant yet Moses being but a servant dispensed his power by carnal rites and ceremonies laws rewards and punishments in that holy nation and that one land of Canaan But when the Lord Jesus the Son and Lord himself was come to bring the truth and life and substance of all those shadowes to break down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile and to establish the Christian worship and kingdome in all Nations of the world Master Cotton will never prove from any of the books and institutions of the New Testament that unto those spiritual remedies appointed by Christ Jesus against spiritual maladies he added the help of the carnal sword Peace But Christ saith Master Cotton never abrogated the carnal sword in the new which he appointed in the old Testament and the reason of the law to wit an offence of thrusting away from the Lord is perpetual Truth If it appear as evidently it doth that this king Jesus the King of Israel wears his sword the Antitype of the Kings of Israel their swords in his mouth being a sharpe two-edged sword then the answer is as clear as the Sun that scatters the clouds and darkeness of the night Besides Master Cotton needs not flie to the Popes argument for childrens baptisme to wit to say that Christ never abrogated Dâ—â—â— 13. therefore c. For Master Cotton knows the profession of the Lord Jesus Iohn 18. that his kingdome was not earththly and therefore his sword cannot be earthly Master Cotton knows that Christ Iesus commanded a sword to be put up when it was drawn in the cause of Christ and addeth a dreadful threatning that all that take the sword that is the carnal sword for his cause shall
principles also Papist and Protestant lead them necessarily to dispose and kill their heretical Apostate blaspheming Magistrates Peace But why should Master Cotton â—â— sinuate any affection in the discusser to that Tyrant of all earthly Tyrants the Pope Truth To my knowledge Master Cotton and others have thought the discusser too zealous against the bloody beast yea and who knows not this to be the ground of so much sorrowful difference between Master Cotton and the discusser to wit that the discusser grounds his separation from their churches upon their not seperating from that man of sin For Old England having compelled all to church compel'd the Papists and the Pope himself in them The daughter New England separaring from her mother in Old England yet maintaines and practises communion with the Parishes in Old Who sees not then but by the links of this mystical chaine New England Churches are still fastned to the Pope himself Peace Master Cottons third reply is this that it is not like that such Christians will be faithful to their prince who grow false and disloyal to their God and therefore consequently the civil Magistrate must see that the church degenerate and apostate not at least so far as to provoke Christ to depart from them Truth This is indeed the down right most bloody and Popish Tenent of persecuting the degenerate heretical and Apostate people of deposing yea and killing Apostatical and heretical princee and rulers The truth is the great Gods of this world are God-belly God-peace God-wealth God-honour God-pleasure c. These Gods must not be blasphemed that is evil spoke of no not provoked c. The servants of the living God being true to their Lord and Master have opposed his glory greatness honour c. to these Gods and to such religions worships and services as commonly are made but as a mask or vaile or covering of these Gods Peace I have long been satisfied that hence proceeds the mad cry of every Demetrius and crafts-Master of false worship in the world Great is our Diana c. These men blaspheme our goddess disturbe our City They are false to our Gods how will they be true to us Hence that bloody Act of Parliament in Henry the fifth his dayes made purposely against that true servant and witness of God in those points of Christianity which he knew and other servants of God with him the Lord Cobham concluding Lollardy not only to be heresie that is indeed true Christianity but also treason against the Kings person whence it followed that these poor Lollards the servants of the most high God were not only to be burnt as hereticks but hanged as traitors Truth Accordingly it pleased God to honour that noble Lord Cobham both with hanging and burning as an heretick against the church as a traiter against the king And hence those divelish accusations and bloody huntings of the poor servants of God in the reign of Francis the second in Paris because it was said that their meetings were to cousult and act against the life of the king Peace If this be the touchstone of all obedience will it not be the cut-throat of all civil relations unions and covenants between Princes and people and between the people and people For may not Master Cotton also say he will not be a faithful servant nor she a faithful wife nor he a faithful husband who grow false and disloyal to their God And indeed what doth this yea what hath this truly-ranting doctrine that plucks up all relations wrought but confusion and combustion all the world over Truth Concerning faithfulness it is most true that godliness is profitable for all things all estates all relations yet there is a civil faithfulness obedience honesty chastity c. even amongst such as own not God nor Christ else Abraham and Isaac dealt foolishly to make leagues with ungodly Princes Besides the whole Scripture commands a continuance in all Relations of government marriage service notwithstanding that the grace of Christ had appeared to some and the rest it may be an husband a wife a Magistrate a Master a servant were false and disloyal in their several kinds and wayes unto God or wholly ignorant of him 4. Grant people and Princes to be like Iulian Apostate from the true service of God and consequently to grow less faithful in their places and respective services yet what ground is there from the Testament of Christ Jesus upon this ground of their Apostacie to prosecute them as Master Cotton saith The civil Magistrate must keep the church from Apostatizing so as to cause Christ to depart from them 5. Can the sword of steel or arme of flesh make men faithful or loyal to God Or careth God for the outward Loyalty or Faithfullness when the inward-man is false and treacherous Or is there not more danger in all matters of trust in this world from an hyyocrite a dissembler a turncoat in his religion from the fear or favour of men then from a resolved Jew Turke or Papist who holds firme unto his principles c. Or lastly if one Magistrate King or Parliament call this or that heresie apostacie c. and make men â—ay so will not a stronger Magistrate King Parliament Army that is a stronger arm or longer and more prosperous sword call that heresie and Apostacie Truth and Christianity and make men call it so and do not all experiences and our own most lamentable in the changes of our English Religions confirme this 6. Lastly As carnal policy ever fals into the pit it digs and trips up its own heels so I shall end this passage with two paradoxes and yet dear peace thou and I have found them most lamentably true in all ages Peace God delights to befool the wise and high in their own conceit with paradoxes even such as the wisdome of this world thinks madness but I attend to hear them Truth First then The straining of mens cinsciences by civil power is so far from making men faithful to God or man that it is the ready way to render a man false to both my ground is this civil and corporal punishment do usually cause men to play the hypocrite and dissemble in their Religion to turn and return with the tide as all experience in the nations of the world doth testifie now This binding and rebinding of conscience contrary or without its own perswasion so weakens and defiles it that it as all other faculties loseth its strength and the very nature of a common honest conscience Hence it is that even our own histories testifie that where the civil sword and carnal power hath made a change upon the consciences of men those consciences have been given up not only to spiritual but even to corporal filthiness and bloody and mad oppressing each other as in the Marian bloody times c. Peace Indeed no people so inforced as the Papists and the
Constantine had done the like before to hereticks the Arrian Bishops against the Orthodox Saints Also it is related as a different matter from the former vers 15. that he had power to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed And this fire comes not down upon the Saints but the earth Truth Master Cotton I think knows that the discusser is not alone in this interpretation If he propose any other more suitable to Christ Iesus I hope the discusser desires thankfully to embrace it But this fire being not literal but mystical in imitation of the true prophet Elijah and also as the true witnesses cause fiery judgements descend from heaven upon the enemies of the truth so the false witnesses cause fire to descend against the faithful and sure it is as the discusser related that the Popish Bishops in France and England and other places have ever constantly cryed out that the just judgements of God are brought down by them upon the hereticks which is no smal wonder that the hearts of the sons of men should be so hardened against the light of truth in truths witnesses notwithstanding the acts of Constantine and the Arrian Bishops long before Peace But this fire saith Master Cotton comes down from heaven upon the earth Truth True but it may well imply no more then in the open view and face of all men in this world Peace And lastly saith he it is said that he causeth that as as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed which is a different effect Truth Because it comes from a different cause with respect not to the first Beast himself but only to his picture or image and implies that fiery judgements descend not onely upon such as refuse to worship the first or second beast but the very picture of the beast likewise Examination of CHAP. XXXVIII Peace MAster Cotton here first observing the discussers agreement with him that this instruction 2 Tim. 2. to be meek and patient to all men is properly directive to the Ministers of the Gospel he concludes that therefore hitherto his answer was not perplext and ravelled Truth Many plaine threads may be drawn forth of a perplext and ravelled string as it seemes to me the many particulars of different natures here wrapt up together were Peace Yea but he seems to disown those words unconverted Christians in Crete and more then once in the Chapter toucheth the discussers credit c. Truth I know the discusser desires unfainedly with the Lords assistance rather to die a thousand deaths then willingly to impeach the least of holy or civil truths and therefore affirmeth in this case that at his pleasure the copy not which he received from Master Cotton for there never passed such writings between them as Master Cotton often affirmeth but which he received from another with the correction of Master Cottons own hand to it shall be ready for himself or any to view Peace However Master Cotton maintaining the tearms of unconverted converts from Ier. 3. 10. Iudah turned unto me but not with all her heart but fainedly so Iudas Anâ—â—â—as and Sapphira Balaam the Niâ—â—laitans Iezabel in Thyatira as also the children of believing parents born in the Church who though holy yet cannot be conceived to be truely holy Truth Were the question about hypocrites counterfeits and trayters in the church and kingdome of Christ these words might here rightly be alleadged but Master Cottons words being these unconverted Christians in Crete whom Titus as an Evangelist was to seek and to convert I conceive that Master Cotton will not affirm that the office of an Evangelist was to seek to convert the church though possibly an hypocrite may be turned from his hypocrisie by an Evangelist or private man in the church 2. He makes in the very words a distinction between these unconverted Christians and those Iews and Gentiles in the Church who saith he though carnal yet were not convinced of the error of their way And to conclude this Chapter the discusser readily with thanks acknowledgeth Master Cottons words that it is not probable that Timothy was now at Ephesus and that the subscription added to the second Epistle of Timothy in the English translation is justly to be suspected Examination of CHAP. XXXIX Peace MAster Cotton here argues That if the Magistrate be a Prophet and opposed in his doctrine he ought from this Scripture 2 Tim. 2. meekly to bear the opposition waiting if God peradventure will give repentance yet withal by the way he observeth that if the Magistrate be a prophet he may do some things as a Magistrate which he may not do as a Prophet Truth Of this no question but what is this to a coercive Magisterial power in spiritual things which is the question 2. Since that Master Cotton acknowledgeth that Magistrates may be prophets and that divers Magistrates of New English churches have spoken as prophets eminently able in their churches what should be the reason I ask by the way that their Churches hear no more of such their propheticall gifts but that their talent's wrapt up c. Peace Of this let their consciences give account to Jesus Christ whom they call the King of their churches and the fountaine of such heavenly abilities But to proceed Master Cotton grants that Magistrates ought to bear in the church oppositions against their prophecyings but not continued opposings nor seduings c. Truth What is then the waiting here commanded until God peradventure will give repentance Peace It is true saith Master Cotton it is not in the power of man to give repentance but God alone Neither is it in mans power saith he to give repentance to scandalous persons against the civil state and yet the discusser acknowledgeth that the civil Magistrate ought to punish these Truth It is not the Magistrates work and office in the civil state to convert the heart in true repentance unto God and Christ The civil state respecteth conformity and obedience to civil laws though indeed the works and office of the Ministers of Christ Jesus are commonly laid upon the Magistrates shoulders and they pretending themselves the Ministers of Christ Jesus armed with the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God the Word of God do commonly flye unto and put more confidence in the sword of steel in the hand of their civil Ministers the Magistrates Peace The sword of steel hath done wonderful things throughout the whole world in matters of Religion and woful and wonderful as was formerly observed hath Religious changes been in the English nation and that by the power of the civil sword backward and forward and that in the space of a few yeers in the reigne of four or five Princes But this saith Master Cotton is no more then befell the church of Iudah in the dayes of Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah Truth Englands changes will
Peace Master Cottons second Answer is that the persecuting Emperors and governors of Provinces under them attended not to the conviction of christians nor did they endeavour to make it appear that the Christians sinned against the light of their consciences and therefore no marvel if it bred in the people a just opinion of the cruelty of persecutors and of the innocency of christians Truth Let it be granted that the Roman Emperors did not attend to nor endeavour this yet the Roman Popes and all the Antichrist governors of their mystical Provinces Bishops and Preists have professedly compassed Sea and Land to make a Proselyte Peace T is true the history of the death of the Saints slaughtered by such persecutors abundantly testifie this and yet their persecution will be found no other then cruelty and murther and the opinion of it will never be razed out of the heart of Gods people whatever the whole world which wonders after and worships the beast think to the contrary Truth And I add that herein Master Cottons former position to wit that hereticks must be punished by the civil sword for sinning against the light of their own conscience accords fully with the Popish clamors the hereticks mouths are stopped they are convinced they have not a word to say and yet they are obstinate away with them hang them burn them Peace Master Cotton saith It is an untrue intimation of the discusser that Antoninus forbod the persecuting of christians upon any such ground Truth That it may not rest upon the discussers credit or discredit I think it not unseasonable if I present to English eyes the English testimony of the diligent and praise worthy-Chronicler John Speede who also ingageth Eusebiâ—s his credit and thus relateth the effect of Antoninus his mind in these words The Emperor Caesar Marcus Auâ—â—lâ—us Antoninus c. Unto the Commons of Asia Sendeth Greeting I Doudt not but the Gods themselves have a care that wicked persons shall be brought to light for it doth much more appertaine to them then it doth to you to punish such as refuse to yeeld them worship but this course which you take doth confirme them whom you persecute in this their opinion of you That you are impious men and meer Atheists whereby it commeth to pass that they desire in the quarrel of their GOD rather to die then to yeeld to the will of such as you are and to embrace your form of Religion Let it not seem unseasonable to call to your remembrance the Earthquakes which lately have happsned and which are yet to your great terrour and grief because I understand that in such like Accidents you â—ast the Envy of such common misfortune upon their Shoulders whereby their confidence and trust in their GOD is much the more increased Whereas you being ignorant of the true causes of such things do both neglect the worship of the other Gods and also banish and persecute the servants of the immortal GOD whom the Christians do worship and you persecute to the death all the embracers of that profession In the behalf of these men many of the Provinces President have written before to my Father of famous memory to whom he answered That they should not be molested unless they were proved to have practised Treason against the Imperial State and concerning the same matter some have given notice to me to whom I answered with like moderation as my Father did before me And by our Edict do ordaine That if any hereafter be found thus busie in molesting these kind of men without any their offence We command that he that is accused upon this point be absolved albeit he be proved to be such an one as he is charged to be that is a Christian and he that is his accuser shall suffer the sanâ—e Punishment which he sought to procure unto the other In this passage the wise and experienced Emperor observeth many reasons for the toleration of Christians and insinuates that the persecuting of the Christians confirmed them in their opinion that their persecutors were not only cruel for that is the least that can be implied in persecution but also as the words run impious men and meer Atheists Peace Dear Truth your observation forceth from my peaceable mind this Testimony which oft to my grief and horror mine eares have heard many persons I hope in their persons chosen of the Lord having as they conceived suffered persecution from the hands and by the means of many worthy men both of Magistracy and Ministry of New England I say they have been by such persecution so far from being wrought on c. that they have been moulded into a strong apprehension that it was impossible that such their persecutors should be men of any fear of God but meer dissemblers time-servers Jehues reformers for their own ends of honor ease and liberty from the cross of Christ which apprehension although the discusser to my knowledge hath often labored to root out of many yet could he hardly prevaile to stir it so groslly odious unchristian or antichristian appears the ugly face of persecution c. Examination of CHAP. XLI Peace IN the discussing of the prophecy of Isaiah and Micah concerning the breaking of swords into plowshares and speares into pruning-hooks truely interpreted to foretell the meek temper of Christians in bringing others to Christ Jesus Master Cotton excepts against the discussers observation upon Master Cottons similitude from Wolves which he would have driven out from the sheepfold The observation was this or to this effect That if civil power might force the wolves out it might force the sheep in Truth The discusser denied not the use of Christs spiritual power for the life of his sheep and destruction of the Wolves but heaven and earth shall fall before this truth to wit That power that driveth Wolves out may drive sheep in If spiritual power drive out the wolfe spiritual also drives in the sheep but if civil power to wit by swords whips prisons burnings c. drives out the spiritual or mystical Wolfe the same undeniably must drive in the sheep Peace Yea but Master Cotton too too weakly would please himself upon the word same a father saith he with a staffe or sword may drive away dogs that might by the way worry or bite his children going to School may he therefore with a staffe or sword drive his children to School and are wolves to be driven away and sheep brought into the fold by the same instruments The dog that teares a wolfe if he tear the sheep also will finde an halter c. Truth Master Cotton hath had a name for a man of Moses spirit of a meek and gentle temper he cannot but know he hath lost that name with thousands â—earing God by not putting that difference between the Wolves and the sheep the Egyptians and the Israelites as Moses did Moses killed the Egyptian he reproves the Israelite All that
Christs Ministers in the Gospel and Christs Ministers in the civil state Truth There is a mistake in it for although Christ hath all power delivered to him in heave and earth yet as touching his spiritual church or kingdome he disclaimes it to be of the world or worldly Hence cannot the civil state or officers thereof be called Christs as if they were of Christs institution and appointment himself being their spiritual head And therefore it is that the Spirit of God cals him the head of the body which is the church and the Ministers and officers of this his kingdome and body Christs Ministers or servants Beside Master Cotton will not say that the kingdomes of the world are yet become the Lord Christs In what manner also those kingdomes shall become his we have need of the holy Spirit to evidence and demonstrate to us Peace To the fifth query whether as men deal with wolves these wolves at Ephesus were intended by Paul to be killed their braines dasht out with stones staves halberts guns c. in the hands of the elders of Ephesus Master Cotton replies Elders must keep within the bounds of their calling But such courses were commanded the people of God by order from the Judges Deut. 13. And where it was added that comparing Things spiritual with spiritual spiritual and mystical wolves should be spiritually and mystically slaine Master Cotton replies True but in destroying religion they also disturbe the civil state and accordingly are to be dealt withal by civil Justice as Achan was for troubling Israel Iosh 7. 25. Truth This acknowledgement of Master Cotton that these wolves must spiritually be killed their braines dasht out by the elders and Saints might if the Lord should graciously so please easily satisfie himself and all men that the type of Israel stoning and killing corporally is here fulfilled in all dreadful abundance spiritually Peace Yea but saith Master Cotton they disturbe the civil state as Achan did Truth I answer Achan troubling of Israel the people of the Lord must figure out any such like troubling Gods Israel the church of Christ for which he is accordingly to be spiritually stoned or executed For as touching the civil state of the nations of the world who can prove and Master Cotton will not affirme that they are as the national church of the Iews was but being meerly civil are armed with civil power and weapons for their civil defence against all disturbers of their civil state as also Master Cotton confesseth the spiritual state is furnished with spiritual power against all the disturbers of its spiritual peace and safety Peace Now whereas it was further added that under pretence of driving away the wolves and preserving the sheep that streams of the blood of Saints have been spilt c. Master Cotton replies belike it is a milky and peaceable and Gospel-like Doctrine that the wolves hereticks are to be tolerated not an haire strook from their heads but for the poor sheep for whom Christ died let them perish unless Christ mean to preserve them alone with his immediate hand and no care of them belongs to the civil Magistrate Truth I have here in this discourse shewed with what honorable and tender respect every civil Magistrate is bound to honor and tender Christ Iesus in his christian sheep and shepherds but withall that it is against christianity for the civil Magistrate or civil state to imagine that all a whole nation was or ever will be called to the union of Gods Spirit in communion with God in Christ Also that it is against civil justice for the civil state or officers thereof to deal so partially in matters of God as to permit to some the freedome of their consciences and worships but to curbe and suppress the consciences and souls of all others of their free-born people c. Peace To end this Chapter whereas it was said is not this to take Christ and to make him a temporal king by force Is not this to make his kingdom of this world and to set up a civil and temporal Israel To bound out a new holy land of Canaan yea and to set up a Spanish inquisition in all parts of the world to the speedy destruction of millions of souls and to the frustrating of the sweet end of the coming of the Lord Iesus which was to save mens souls and to that end not to destroy mens bodies by his own blood To this Master Cotton replies when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Rev. 11. it is not by making Christ a temporal king but by making temporal kings nursing fathers to the Church Truth If the Scripture At the sound of the seventh trumpet which is the last of the great woes when the time of Gods wrath shall be come be to be understood of the removing of the kingdomes of the world unto Christ Master Cotton cannot excuse Christ Iesus from being a temporal king and the kings of the earth to be but as inferior and subordinate officers For if they administer Christs kingdome temporally as deputies officers or Ministers temporally he is much more then himself a temporal king and Monarch Peace Methinks also if that committing of all judgement to the Son Iohn 5. be meant of Temporal judgement in spiritual things then can he not be said not to be a temporal king then can he not be said when those words were spoken and ever since not to have exercised a temporal government The contrary whereof is most true both at his first coming and ever since in all generations it having been his portion and the portion of his followers to be judged by this world although himself and his judge the world spiritually and will shortly pass an eternal sentence upon all the children of men Peace Master Cotton addeth this will not set up a civil or temporal Israel unless all the members of the Commonwealth be compelled to be members of the church Truth If that will do it then Christ must be a temporal king I say then when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord for shall not the kings of the earth compel all Christs sheep to submit unto Christ Iesus their heavenly shepherd Peace Yea secondly will it not prove that all those common-weals where men are compelled explicitly or implicitly to be members of the church are holy lands of Canaan and if so Oh that Master Cotton and other worthy servants of God may timely consider whether an explicit forcing of all men to come to church because men cannot be denied to be members at least by implication with such members and congregations with whom they do ordinarily assemble and congregate although they be injuriously indeed but injuriously kept off from communion and participation of all ordinances which is indeed their right and due if they be though but implicitly constrained and forced to partake of any Againe
also called by the Prophets Ichovah's Land Emanuels land which names and titles I think Master Cotton will not say are competent and appliable to any other Lands or Countries under the Gospel but onely to the Spiritual Canaan or Israel the Church and people of God the true and onely Christendome Peace But Fourthly saith he they are called Gods and shall they not attend Gods work Truth In the state of Israel they were Gods deputies to attend the causes of Israel the then onely Church of God But Master Cotton can produce no parallel to that but the Christian Churches and people of God not national but Congregational c. 2. Grant the Magistrates to be as Gods or strong ones in a Resemblance to God in all Nations of the world yet that is still within the compass of their calling which being confessed to be essentially civil the civil work of these servants of the Common-weal is Gods work as well as Paul calls in a sence the work of the servants of the Family Gods work for which he pays the wages Eph. 5. Lastly for spiritual causes we know the Lord Iesus is call'd God Psal 45. Heb. 1. whose Scepter and Kingdome being essentially spiritual the administrations which he hath appointed are also spiritual and of an heavenly and soul Nature Peace Master Cotton Fifthly adds Revel 17. The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Truth How the Kingdomes of the World shall become the Kingdomes of Christ is no smal mystery and controversie but grant it to be true that either Christ Iesus personally or by his Deputies the Saints shall rule all the Nations of the world in hearing and determining all civil Controversies Yet why doth Master Cotton draw an Argument from this Prophecie of what shall be in one Age or Time of the World and to come to prove an Vniversal power and Exercise of such power in all Ages and times since Christ Iesus his first comming to this day Peace Me thinks Master Cotton may as well argue that because it was prophesied that a Virgin should conceive and bring forth a child in Gods appointed season that therefore all Virgins must so conceive and so being in forth all ages of the world But Lastly saith Master Cotton although the nations have not that typical holiness which the nation of Israel had Yet all the Churches of the Saints have as much truth and realty of holiness as Israel had And therefore what holy care of Religion lay upon the Kings of Israel in the Old Testament the same lyeth now upon Christian Kings in the New Testament to protect the same in their Churches Truth Oh how neer the precious Iewels and Bargains of Truth come sometimes Gods Saints and yet miss of the finding and going through with it The chucrhes of the New Testament Master Cotton grants succeed the Church of Israel The Kings and Governours therefore of the churches of Christ must succeed those Kings What King and Governours of Israel are now to be found in the Gospel but Christ Iesus and his Servants deputed in his absence which are all of a spiritual consideration What is this to the Nations Kings and Governours of the world where few Kings few Nobles few Wise are cald to profess Christ Is not Christ Iesus the onely King of Israel and are not all his holy ones made Kings and Priests unto God And unto his Saints and his spiritual officers Administration in the midst of them is his Kingdomes power committed in his absence This spiritual power however the Pope and prelates Kings and Princes Parliaments and General Courts and their respective Officers of Justice to be honoured and obeyed in civil things I say however they have challenged and assumed this Kingly Power of the Son of God yet the King of Kings Christ Jesus hath begun to discover and will never leave until he hath made it clear as the Sun Beames that he is robd of his crown and will shake and break all the nations and Powers of the world until his Heavenly crown be again restored Examination of CHAP. LI. Peace TO the fourth Argument Rom. 13. from the civil rewards due to Magistrates to wit custom Tribute c. Master Cotton replies That even the contributions of the Saints are called carnal things shall therefore their work be called carnal It is true saith he the contributions of the Saints are called holy because they are given to God for his service about holy things So the reward given to Magistrates is for their service about Righteous things And it is righteous saith he to preserve the purity of Doctrine VVorship and Government which if Magistrates do not they do not deserve all their wages Truth It is true that money or monies-worth is the same for value in the contribution of the Saints and in that of custome tribute and yet Master Cotton grants a Holiness of the Saints contribution which he doth not affirme of custome tribute c. There is also a two fold way disputed of preserving of the purity of Doctrine worship c. First That which I plead for by spiritual weapons appointed by Christ Iesus Secondly that of Civil weapons Force of Armes c. which Master Cotton affirmes and I deny to be ever appointed by Christ Iesus or able to accomplish a spiritual end but the Contrary Peace Me thinks Master Cottons addition not a little concernes my self in the peace of all Citties and Kingdomes for if as Master Cotton saith Magistrates shall not deserve all their wages except they preserve the purity of Doctrine worship c. which upon the point is that Doctrine Worship and Government Master Cotton approves of what is this in effect but to deny tribute custome subsidies c. to Caesar the Kings and Governours of the Earth if they prove Hereticks Idolaters c. I cannot see but this in plaine English tendeth to little less then the Popish bloudy Doctrine of deposing heretical Kings c. But Master Cotton further adds that spiritual wages are to be paid to Magistrates 1 Tim. 2. to wit Prayers Intercessions c. If therefore saith he the Magistrates suffer their Subjects to live a quiet life in ungodliness and Dishanesty the Magistrate fals short of returning spiritual recompence for the spiritual Duties and services performed for them Truth Those prayers are not the proper wages paid to Magistrates for their work for then should they not be paid as the Spirit of God there exhorteth to all men whether Magistrates or not Peace And I may add nor paid to those Magistrates that are Idolatrous Blasphemous Persecutors But those prayers were to be poured forth for such Magistrates such as most of the Magistrates in the world then were and are Those prayers then were a general Duty to be paid to all men and especially to the chiefe and principal Kings and all that are in Authority Truth Now further wherein it
therefore Master Cotton elsewhere saith they must suspend to deal in Church matters untill they can judge c. And this First implies their light and judgement absolutely necessary in all such matters of the Church about which they are to Judge and act as often I affirme 2 I aske what kind of spirituall Physicians will Master Cotton have who shall be bound to suspend their power all their lives long unlesse they have skill to judge of Diseases will not the similitude hold against such spirituall Fathers Nurces Physicians who all their life long yea the greatest number beyond compare of all their spirituall Fathers upon the face of the Earth must wholly suspend from acting in spirituall diseases or cases to wit in reforming establishing c. 3 Although it excuseth not 't is true such Magistates Princes Common-wealths for making this Doctrine their ground of persecuting Christ and Christians yet doubtlesse it makes their sin the greater who feed them with such bloody Doctrines and so consequently occasion them upon the rocks of such fals and dangerous and bloudy practices Exam of Chap. 70. replying to Chap. 73. Peace IN this Chap. Dear Truth lye many stones of offence at which the feet of the unwary most easily many stumble I hope your carefull and steady hand may be a blessed Instrument of their Removall As First although Master Cotton subscribe unto Luther that the Government of the Civill Magistrate doth extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods of the subject yet saith he he may and ought to improve that power over their Bodies and Goods to the good of their Souls Truth Sweet Peace my hand the hand of Christ assisting shall not be wanting but what offence can be taken at the propositions Pea. The proposition like an aple of Sodom is fair and specious untill you crush it by examination For by maintaining the Magistrates power over the Bodies and Goods of the subject for the good of his Soul it is clear in this Chapter and others foregoing and following that Master Cottons words drive at no lesse then a seising upon and plundering of the goods the Imprisoning whipping Banishing and killing the Bodies of the poor people and this under the Cloak and colour of saving their Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus Truth The Civil State and Common-weal may be compared to a peice of Tapistry or rich Arras made up of the severall parts and parcels of the Families thereof Now by the Law of God Nature and Nations a Father hath a power over his Child the Husband over the Wife the Master over c. and doubtlesse they are to improve that power and Authority for the good of the souls of their Children Yoak-fellows c. But shall we therefore say that the Father and the Husband hath power under Christ over the conscienies and religion of the Child or Wife as a Father or Husband had under Moses Numb 30. Parents are commanded in the Gospel to bring up their Children in the instruction and fear of the Lord the Husband is commanded to labour to win and save his Wife with no other power then the Wife also her Husband whether Turke or Jew Antichristian or Pagan but such a power and sword to be improved as Mr. Cotton here pretends for soul-good Master Cotton will never finde in the Testament of Christ Jesus The Plain English is what ever be the Cloak or cover which the States Kings and Rulers of this world use in this case this terme for souls good is no more then the old Popish Jesabels painting pro salute animae pro redemptione animae or as that noble St. John observed in a speech at Guild-hall that the Kings party made use of the name of Peace as the Papists used the name of God In nomine Domini c. Peace It is most lamentable to see how the Kings of the Earth are grosly flattered by their Clergy into as grosse a belief that they are most Catholick Kings as in Spain most Christian Kings as in France Defendors of the Faith in England Hence those two bloody Persecutors of Luther Charles the Fifth and Henry the Eighth were celebrated even upon the posts of the doors in Guild-Hall Carolus Henricus vivant defensor uturque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesiae Peace And yet to what other end have or doe ordinarily the Kings of the Earth use their power and authority over the Bodies and Goods of their Subjects but for the filling of their pauâ—ches like Wolves or Lions never pacified unlesse the peoples bodies goods and Souls be sacrificed to their God-belly and their owne Gods of profit honour pleasure c. Peace But in the second place Master Cotton affirmes that by procuring the good of their souls they may much advance the good of their bodies and outward man also Truth This Proposition is as fair as the former but in the searching and crushing is as rotten for however it is most true as he quoteth 1 Tim. 4. that Godlinesse hath the promise of this Life and of a better and also that such as seek first the Kingdome of God may expect outward mercies to be cast upon them yet these promises can never by any rule of Christ be stretched to proue outward prosperity and flourishing to the followers of Christ Jesus in this present evill world Peace He that is in a pleasant Bed and Dreame though he talke Idly and insensibly yet is loath to be awaked Truth Those sweet promises supply Gods servants with what outward blessings his holy Wisdome seeth they have need of for his service But when wil Master Cotton indeed witnesse against a Nationall Church and cease to mingle Heaven and Earth the Church and worldly state together when will he cease to propose the rich and peaceable victorious and flourishing Nationall State of the Jewes as the Type of the Carnall peace and worldly wealth and honour of the spirituall Nation and Kingdome of Christ Jesus when will he more plainely and simply conforme the members to the head Christ Jesus in the Holinesse Glory of his spirituall poverty shame and sufferings Peace I have in the experience of many Ages observed the flourishing prosperity of many Cities Common wealths and Nations where no sound of Christ hath come and that for hundreths yea some thousands of years together as hath formerin this discourse been instanced Truth You have found that when the Red and Black and Pale horse of War Famine and Death have thundered upon the Nations it hath not been upon the decay of a State Religion but most commonly upon the rejecting and persecuting of the Preachers and Witnesses against it Peace Yea Master Cotton himselfe observeth that such of Gods servants as grow fattest in Godlinesse grow not outwardly in wealth but God keepeth them low in outward estate Truth I conclude this passage with an observation of constant experience ever since the Son of God ascended the
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
but lastly saith Master Cotton that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated the children of the wicked one or wickedness will agree to hypocrites Truth It will indeed if we respect their inside which is only visible to the invisible King as Judas in his profession but it cannot agree to such hypocrites as are undiscovered by their fruits in the church but unto such hypocrites as are discovered in their blades and fruit and so consequently are not fit to live with other sinners in the world I doubt not but Master Cotton will say That although a member of a Church prove a theife adulterer murtherer in the eyes of a Brother that sees and knows his secret wickedness yet that brother is censurable as a slanderer if he should report these evils though to the Church untill according to visible order he could produce good proof and evidence Examination of CHAP. XXIV Peace Still of the Tares MAster Cotton here seems to me with the Familists to confound heaven and earth together the matters of Worship and Ordinances of Religion with the affaires and businesses of this life for saith he such as stand for the kingdome of Satan as all evil men do they stand in opposition to the Kingdome of Christ Truth Master Cotton is not now to be taught the distinction between the church and Commonweale nor that a national church is not of Christ Jesus his institution yet as this discourse strongly inclines to erect a national church so doth this present answer to the confusion both of Church and Commonweale It is true a covetuous Iew that blasphemeth Christ Jesus stands for Satan against Christ But by his covetousness in one kinde as covetousness is opposite to Righteousness and contentation c. and for Sathan against Christ in another sence that is in a Religious and Spiritual sence as he prefers Moses before Christ Jesus and denies the true Messiah to be yet come in the flesh A cruel Turk stands for Satan against Christ by his cruelty in one sence to wit in opposition to Christs mercy gentleness patience c. but by his belief in Mahomet preferring him before Christ he opposeth him in his Kingdome and Worship To come neerer a drunken English Dutch or Frenchman stands for Satan against Christ as their drunkenness is opposite to Christs sobriety temperance c. but against Christ in another sence as they profess the wayes of Antichristian idolatry and superstition And not to observe this distinction is with some Familists to run upon quick-sands of confounding the spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus his worship and ordinances with the kingdomes of this world and the common affaires thereof in natural and civil consideration Peace But though Christ saith Master Cotton should command other offenders to be let alone beside Antichristians yet he should not contradict any ordinances for the punishment of offenders c. because saith he No law of God nor just law of man commands the the rooting out of hypocrites though the church be bound to endeavour as much as in them lies to heale their hypocrisie Truth Hypocrisie discovered in the fruit of it is not to be let alone in the church or State For neither church of Christ nor civil state can long continue safe if hypocrites or traitors under what pretence soever be permitted to break forth in them without due punishment and rooting out this hypocrisie being especially that great sin against which Christ Iesus so frequently and so vehemently inveighed and against which he denounced the sorest of plagues â—nd judgements Truth By whose command and by what meanes and ordinances by whose power and authority but by the command meanes and power of Christ Jesus And I further aske If faithful admonition be not one good means of healing and if that lye not in the churches power and if the hypocrite after faithful admonition once or twice submit not to the voice of Christ Iesus I ask where the Lord Iesus commandeth to make a stop and not to cast forth and reject whomsoever wilfully obstinate Peace Doubtless dear Truth many will be apt to say Master Cotton intends secret and close hypocrisie Truth And I doubt not but himself will say That this is not our question but of known and unmasked hypocrisie as himself hath formerly declared and such as here he expresseth come under ordinances of healing Peace But further saith Master Cotton it is not true that Antichristians are to be let alone untill the end of the world Why Because Christ commanded excommunication c. Truth I am astonisht and wonder why Master Cotton here speaketh of excommunication a spiritual ordinance of Christ Iesus in his spiritual kingdome or city when the dispute onely concerns temporal excommunication or cutting off Let them alone that is in civil State I wonder also how he should imagine the discusser in this Chapter to affirme that Antichristians are to be let alone in the church unto the end of the world when it was the very scope of his argument in this Chapter to prove that the speech of Christ Jesus let them alone must needs be understood of letting idolaters and Antichristians alone in the civil state and in the world because otherwise if he had meant Let them alone in the church he should contradict himself who hath appointed meanes for the disturbing and purging out the corrupt leaven both of persons and practices out of his church and kingdome Peace The same answer indeed will easily be returned to his last supposition of any Popish spirit conspiring against the life of King and Parliament The whole scope of this book professeth and in this Chapter the discusser professedly argueth that Christ Jesus hath appointed that civil offenders against the civil state ought not to be let alone But Master Cotton adds If Popish Priests and Jesuits be rightly expounded to be the Rivers and fountaines of water which drive the dead sea of Antichristian pollutions up and down all Nations in Europe and in some cases are to drink blood Then are they not to be let alone but duely supprest and cut off from conveying up and down idolatrous heretical and seditious wickedness Rev. 16. 4. 7. Truth The exposition of this Scripture will be further examined in the sequel and found no true exposition That Rivers and fountaines of water drive the sea up and down For rivers and fountaines however they come from the salt-water yet lose they the savour of the salt-sea and yeeld a savour of the earth through which they make their passages and again they run into the sea and are themselves driven up and down and swallowed up in the sea Nor will it be found a true exposition according to Godliness and Christianity which commandeth patience and waiting not fire and sword to gaine sayers and opposites Nor lastly will it be found a true exposition agreeing with Master Cottons own profession in some passage of this book wherein he holds forth great