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
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
some cases Peace Yea but saith he In ordinary cases it is not lawful to tolerate from Deut. 13. Truth I am of Master Cotton's minde It is not lawful for Israel that is the Church of God to tolerate and the reason it pleaseth the Lord to alleadge is eternal But what is this to the nations of the world the states cities and kingdoms thereof Let Master Cotton finde out any such land or state that is the Church and Israel of God Yea Master Cotton confesseth in a fore-going passage that the Church is the Israel of God Then must he with me acknowledge that this Deut. 13. only concerns the Israel or Church of God whom Christ Jesus furnished with spiritual weapons against such spiritual offenders Peace But I wonder that Master Cotton should say that Moses capitals are eternal Truth I wonder not because I have seen in print sixteen or seventeen capital evils a great part of them of a spiritual nature censured with death in New England And yet again me thinks it is wonderful since Master Cotton knows how many of Moses capitals were of a ceremonial nature The breach of the sabbath the not coming to keep the passeover for neglect whereof the Israelites were to be put to death how can Master Cotton make these eternal in all nations Peace How many millions of millions of Heads and not a few of the highest in our own and other Nations would soon feel the capital calamity of such a capital bloody Tenent if Master Cotton swayed the Scepter of some of the worlds former or present Caesars Truth And yet I readily affirm that spiritually and mystically in the Church and Kingdom of Christ such evils are to be spiritually and so eternally punished CHAP. LIV Replying to Chap. LVI Examined Peace IN this 56 Chap. were observed two evils in Mr. Cottons conjoyning of seducing teachers and scandalous livers as the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress and punish Unto which Master Cotton replies First That he no where makes it the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work to suppress seducing teachers and scandalous livers saying that it ought to be the care of the church to suppress and punish seducing teachers and scandalous livers in a church-way as well as the Magistrates in a civil way Truth By this Doctrine Master Cotton will seem to deny it to be the Magistrates proper and adequate object to punish scandalous livers because the church also saith he is to make it her work also It is true if a scandalous liver be of the church and fall into any scandal she by the ruls and power of Christ ought to recover him in the spirit of meekness but yet the punishing of him with temporal punishment who will deny it to be the proper work of the civil state But Secondly what if the seducing teacher or scandalous liver be neither of them members of the Church and the church hath nought to do to judge them without will not Master Cotton then affirm the seducing Teacher or scandalous liver to be the proper and adequate object of the Magistrates care and work Peace When it was excepted against that things of such a different nature and kind as seducing Teachers and scandalous livers should be coupled together at the civil Bar Master Cotton replies that both these agree in one common kind to wit they are evil and destructive to the common good of Gods people which ought to be preserved both in church and Commonweal If a man shall say saith he that the work of creation on the sixth day was either of man or of Beast is here any such commiâ—ture Truth Were Master Cotton the worlds Monarch what bloody reformations or destructions rather would he fill the world withal if he walk by such rules and principles for what religions or almost men all the world over would he finde not opposite and destructive to Gods people 2. But Secondly an historical narration of Gods works on man or Beast Birds Fishes and all creatures Coelestial and Terrestial is one thing But to mix them together in doings or sufferings inconsistent with and improper to their kinds is another thing far different and insufferable As for a man to affirme that a man and a beast â—in'd against their Maker and therefore were justly punished with spiritual blindness and hardness of heart loss of Gods Image c. The same difference and no less is between transgressors against the heavenly state and kingdome of Christ and the earthly state or Commonweal of Cities kingdomes c. Peace Master Cotton adds that it is more tolerable for seducing Teachers to seduce those who are in the same gall of bitterness as for Pagans to seduce Pagans c. Truth That is but in the degree and so according to his supposition must be punished gradually but what is this to prove seducing Teachers as well as scandalous livers the joynt object of the civil sword Peace Why doth Master say it is more tolerable for Pagans to seduce Pagans Antichristians Antichristians What Scripture doth he produce for this toleration this indulgence this partiality All that is here said is this We look at it as more tolerable Truth One thing is shroudly to be suspect in this matter and that is a most unchristian partiality in directing the sword of the Magistrate to fall heaviest on such seducers only as trouble his conscience his Doctrine Worship and Government suppose in some of the Cities of Holland Poland or Turkie where some freedome is that Jews Pagans Antichristians and Christians that is Christians of Master Cottons conscience together with Turkes were commingled in civil cohabitation and commerce together Why now shall that Turke that hath seduced one of Master Cottons conscience to Mahumetaniâ—me be more punished for that crime then for turning a Jew Pagan or Papist to his Relief and worship What warrant shall the Magistrate of such a city or place finde to their souls either for striking at all with the civil sword in such a case or else in dealing such partial blows among the people Peace I fear that Gods own people of this opinion see not the deceitfulness of their own heart crying up the Christian Magistrate the Christian Magistrate Nursing fathers Nursing mothers c. when all is but to escape the bitter sweeting of Christs cross so dashing in pieces the most wise councels of the father concerning his blessed Son and his followers to whom he hath ordinarily alotted in this world the portion of sorrow and suffering and of raigning and triumphing after the battel fought and victory obtained in the world approaching Peace But Master Cotton will say that in such fore-mentioned cases such Magistrates must suspend punishments for religion c. Truth I say consequently all or most of the Magistrates in the world must suspend and none but some few of his conscience by his doctrine shall
Institution and Appointment of the last will and Testament of Christ Jesus 2. I beleeve and profess that such persons such Churches are got neerest to Christ Jesus on whose forehead are written these blessed characters of the true Lord Jesus Christ First content with a poor and low condition in worldly things 2. An holy cleansing from the filthines of false worships and worldly conversations 3. An humble and constant endeavour to attain in their simplicity purity to the Ordinances and appointments of Christ Iesus 4. Are so far from smiting killing and wounding the Opposites of their profession and worship that they resolve themselves patiently to bear and carry the Cross and Gallows of their Lord and Master and patiently to suffer with him In the number of such his poor servants who as unfeignedly desire notwithstanding my plea against Persecutors and Persecution I say as unfeignedly desire to suffer as cheerfully with Christ Iesus as gloriously to reign with him desires to be Thine unfeigned though unworthiest of all the Followers of IESUS Roger Williams The Bloody Tenent yet more Bloody By Master Cottons attempting to wash it with the Blood of the Lambe Examination of CHAP. I. Truth BLest be the God of truth and peace sweet peace that once againe we finde a corner and a few hours to entertaine our sweet embraces and discourses about that Bloody Tenent of Persecution for cause of conscience Peace It is indeed Jehovah's work and it is marvellous in our eyes that ' midst this worlds combustions such a corner and such hours are found Truth Dear friends the longer absent meet the sweeter and have cause to spend each minute to his praise who wonders works and this not the least that we two see each others face at all in these tempestuous dayes and vale of tears How harshly were our last conferrings entertained by some How were our selves suspected and traduced for counterfeits and our pious and peaceable Meditations cruelly condemned to the devouring flames Truth That ever was our portion ever since the earthen pots arose against their glorious Potter and no better lot we must expect while the time doth last that is determined Peace Mean while t is yet our lamentation that so many of our darlings whom we have tendred as our eyes have both in Print and Pulpit cried out against us and amongst the rest one of thy dearest eldest children too too worthy to be the defender of the Bloody Tenent of Persecution Truth Our love shall cover his shame and nakedness and our wisdoms pity his heavy labour Blackamore-washings and so great expence of precious time and spirit in labouring to wash this so deeply bloody and Blackamore Tenent in the blood of the Lamb of God Peace So parents and true friends love and pity theirs though sick though froward and distracted and let our Bowels yearne over him who teares out ours who knows but once before he sleep his last in the pit of rottenness he may awake and give glory to the God of peace and truth of patience and long suffering whose thoughts whose wayes whose love whose pity hath no bounds nor limits toward them whom he hath loved before the worlds foundation O let these blessed buds of hope and sweet desires dear Truth put forth in pious fruits of renewed endeavors and let me once againe prefer my suit for your impartial weighing of what replies objections pleadings he hath brought against us Truth For the God of Peace for the Prince of Peace his sake yea for his servants sake for Zions sake I will not be silent and know at last I shall prevaile to scatter and dispell the mists and fogs that for a while arise to cloud and choak us Peace First then what cause should move this so able a defendant to leap over all our first addresses both to the high Court of Parliament and to every Reader and what may be conjectured why himself directs a word to neither in this controversie Truth I desire my Rejoynder may be as full of love as truth yet some say Master Cotton is wise and knows in what door the wind blows of late he is not ignorant what sad complaints in letters printings conferences so many of Gods people and of his own conscience and judgement of Independency have poured forth against New Englands persecuting c. He knows what Bars New Englands bloody Tenent and practice may put to his brethrens just desires and suits for moderation and toleration to non-conforming consciences T is true his conscience and the credit of his way compels his reply but the times advise him with as little noise as may be and it seems with no great willingness that that high and searching house of Englands Parliament should search and scan his Meditations Peace Well if the name of God were truely called upon them and as his title intimateth the great controversies of these present times are herein handled If all that is here presented be truly practised and he desire to buy and sell by one measure and to be no otherwaies measured unto then he measureth unto others why should not that renowned Court be more particularly and expresly attended with so high and needful examinations But now enough of that I long to see that weighed which is presented take up those holy weights of thine which may faithfully discover how light or ponderous each parcel is in Gods most holy presence Master Cotton first complaines against the publishing of his private letter with an Answer thereunto he faulteth the discusser for punishing his conscience against the discussers own Tenent of liberty of conscience for breach of rule in first publishing to the world before private admonition and telling the Church Truth How justly may I begin with the defenders own conclusion of this first Chapter He that setteth forth of his way in the first entrance of his journey no marvel if he wander all the day after For First the discusser never wrote any such letter to Master Cotton as Master Cotton so often affirms and mentioneth throughout his Book The like mistake he fals into in some other passages which shall be gently toucht at and passed by as the failing of memory Peace It is often seen that small matters in the first steps and entrance of a business prove ominous and although love bids us lay the blame on memory yet since Nil sine providentia Deus est maximus in minimis and not a Sparow nor a Haire fals without him methinks such a stumble in the threshold should have one sad consideration in Master Cottons brest so long as he resides in the chamber of this discourse Truth To my knowledge there was no such letter or intercourse passed between Master Cotton and the discusser but what I have heard is This One Master Hall of Roxbury presented the prisoners Arguments against persecution to Master Cotton who gave this present controverted Answer with the which Master
Hall not being satisfied he sends them unto the discusser who never saw the said Hall nor those Arguments in writing though he well remember that he saw them in print some yeers since and apprehending no other but that Master Cottons Answer was as publike as Master Cottons profession and practice of the same Tenent was and is what breach of rule can Master Cotton say it was to answer that in the streets which Master Cotton proclaimeth on the House top Peace But grant it had been a private letter and the discourse and the opinion private yet why doth he charge the discusser with breach of rule in not using orderly wayes of Admonition and telling the Church when Master Cotton himself in this Book blames the discusser for disclaiming Communion with their Church and they also after he was driven by banishment from civil habitation amongst them had sent forth a bull of excommunication against him in his absence Such practise the Lord Jesus and his first Apostles or Messengers never taught nor any that are truely their successors ever will But to end this Chapter in the last place why doth Master Cotton complaine of the loss of the liberty of his conscience and of the punishing of his conscience by the publishing of his letter aggravating it because the discusser pleads for liberty of conscience Is he indeed on the Lord Jesus mind for the sparing mens bodies and present life for their souls and eternal lives sake Doth he indeed plead for liberty of conscience Let the following discourse and this present passage manifest how tender he is of his own conscience and of the liberty of it But how censorious and senseless of the pangs and agonies of other mens conscience and spirits and sorrows As if his alone were the Apple of his eye but Theirs like the brawny hoofs of the roaring Bulls of Bashan Peace Complaines Master Cotton of persecution for such dealing against him I never heard that disputing discoursing and examining mens Tenents or Doctrines by the word of God was in proper English acceptation of the word persecution for conscience well had it been for New England that no servant of God nor witness of Christ Jesus could justly take up no other complaint against New England for other kinds of persecution surely the voice of Christ Jesus to Paul Saul Saul why persecutest thou me was for another kind of persecution Truth Deare Peace if the Bishops of Old England or new had never stirred up the Civil Magistrate to any other suppressing of mens consciences nor no other persecuting then discussing disputing c. they should never have needed to have been charged so publikely in the face of the world with the bloody Tenent of persecution for cause of conscience Examination of CHAP. II. Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton much complaines that he is charged in the Title to maintaine persecution for cause of conscience and professeth That he would have none be punished for conscience unless his errour be fundamental or seditiously or turbulenly promoted and that after due conviction of conscience and that it may appear he is not punished for his conscience but for sinning against his conscience Truth Persecution for conscience is in plaine English hunting for conscience and Master Cotton being a son of wine as the Jews speak in their Proverb is loth to be counted a son of vinegar and therefore would avoid the word persecuting or hunting as something too wilde and fierce an expression more sutable to the bloody sons of vinegar and gall the Roman Emperors Popes and Bishops and he much desires to have the word persecuting changed for the word punishing a tearm more proper to true Justice But is not this the guise and profession of all that ever persecuted or hunted men for their Religion and conscience are not all histories and experiences full of the pathetical speeches of persecutors to this purpose You will say you are persecuted for your conscience you plead conscience Thou art a heretick the devil hath deceived thee thy conscience is deluded c. And 2. Whether such punishing as Master Cotton assigneth to that threefold degree of heretical wickedness chap. 5. to wit To hold a fundamental error To persist therein after conviction and lastly To seduce others thereunto Or these five summed up page 186 of his book subverters of the Christian Faith persisters therein after conviction blasphemers idolaters seducers I say such a punishing which he affirmes to be death and killing will not amount to make up a persecution for cause of conscience let the Spanish Inquisitions be an instance who when they torture and rack and kill and burn for such crimes yet varnish they and guild all over with the painted Title of Gods Glory holy zeal just punishment of hereticks blasphemers c. Peace But Master Cotton blameth that he should be charged with the Doctrine of persecution by consequence Truth Let his whole book and the prosecuting of this controversie be judge whether it be only drawn from consequences and not express Tearms And for the washing of this bloody Tenent in the blood of the Lambe Time hath and will discover that such a Blackamore cannot be washed in the blood of Christ himself without Repentance for they that washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Revelations the 7. were true penitents untill therefore that persecutors repent of this bloody Doctrine and practice they must hear as the men of Judah did the prophet Isaiahs thunder Isa 1. Your hands are defiled with blood wash you make you clean c. Examination of CHAP. III. Peace BUt what knot in a Bulrush is that which Master Cotton observes the discusser findes in his first distinction of persecution for cause of conscience Truth For the matter upon the point they both agree as Master Cotton hath penned himself that persecution for cause of conscience is not onely when a man is punished for professing such Doctrines and Worships as he believes to be of God but also when he is punished for renouncing such Doctrine and not practising such Worships which he believes are not of God c. All the difference is this that the discusser saith This should have been expressed in the distinction Master Cotton saith it was implied and therefore the observing of the not expressing of it was but a knot in a Bulrush Peace T is wofully true that the peace of the Saints and the peace of the world hath been lamentably broake and distracted in punishing or persecuting of men but especially the Saints upon both these grounds but yet the records of time and experience will tell us that since the Apostasie from the truth of Jesus the rising of Antichrist and the setting up of many State Religions the forest and frequentest punishing or hunting of the children of God hath been as in the case of Nebuchadnezzars Image for not bowing down to the State-Images for not coming
to Church for not obeying the Laws for withstanding the Kings oâ— Queens or Parliaments proceedings Truth Your observation is most serious and seasonable and your complaint as true as lamentable for since all States and Governments of the world which lies in wickedness set up their State or Commonweal-Religions Nebuchadnezzars golden Images and Jeroboams golden Calves the types of the State-Worships of after Ages whereby others are made to sin and bow down to their seeming glorious worships and since the dissenters refusers non-conformers non-covenanters the witnesses of God against such abominations are but few and what positive worship they hold or practice commonly is most retired and flying into private corners by reason of the violence of the persecution they are hence soonest in all places of their abode and more speedily and immediately called for and sought out in the several Parish-towns where they live to bow down to the common-Image the beastly and Calvish inventions of the Ieroboams of this perishing world and for refusing to subscribe to conforme to come to Church to do as their neighbours for being wiser then their Teachers their Fathers their Magistrates the Country the Parliament the Kingdome and sometimes the whole world in their Oecumenical or worldly Councels they are thus punished and hunted for their conscience for Gods for Jesus sake which is a point Master Cotton will say if the blood of his dear Redeemer split in the blood of his servants kindly affect him of greater weight then knots in bulrushes Examination of CHAP. IV. Peace IN the second distinction to wit of fundamentals without right belief whereof a man cannot be saved Master Cotton upon the point confesseth it was a just reproof and saith that he meant only of the first sort of foundations that concern salvation and not of those that concerne the foundation of the Church and Christian Religion Truth It is strange that Master Cotton should so distinguish of foundations when the holy Scripture attributes salvation to those foundations of the Church and the order of it The Lord added to the Church such as should be saved and the like figure whereunto Baptisme now saveth us and concerning the resurrection that we are saved by hope Rom. 8. Besides are not those first foundations which he saith concerne salvation foundations also of the Christian Religion If not of the Christian then I demand of what Religion are they foundations Peace It cannot therefore be denyed but that his distinction of fundamentals was most dangerous tending directly to condemne the generation of the righteous who have been generally for many generations ignorant of the Christian way of worship But what say you to this reply touching how far the New English implicite Parishes compare and partake with those of old Truth How far those Churches cannot be cleered from not comming out from the Parish-worship from being themselves implicitely Parish-Churches notwithstanding their Fig-leaves c. and from being persecutors of such as endeavour to cover their nakedness with better clothing will appear with Christs assistance in the examination of his reply to the Answer of his Letter Examination of CHAP. V. Peace THe discourse of this chapter is larger and more controversial and therefore dear Truth requires your most serious and deeper examination of it Master Cotton here distinguisheth worship into true and false and infers that if true worship fellowship with God is held but if false fellowship with God is lost And whereas he was thereupon minded by the discusser to have lived in a false Ministery in England and to have practised the false worship of the Common Prayer he labours to clear both and in particular he saith It is not truly said that the Spirit of God maketh the Ministery one of the foundations of the Christian religion Heb. 6. For it is saith he only a foundation of Christian order not of faith or religion and he adds The Apostle puts an express difference between faith and order Col. 2. 5. What can be said thereunto Truth 1. Alas what buildings can weak souls expect from such Master-builders when Master Cotton is so confounded about the very foundations In the former Chapter he distinguisheth between foundations that concern salvation and those that concern the the Church and Christian religion here he distinguisheth between those of Christian order and those of Faith or Christian religion In the former he opposeth faith against religion and order here he opposeth faith and religion to order Grant his memory in so short a turn failed him yet doubtless his mistakes about the foundation of Christian religion are most gross and inexcusable Truth 2. I finde no such distinction in the Testament of Christ Jesus between the Christian order and the Christian religion as if the order of the Church of God I might say the Church it self and the Ministery of it were no part of the Christian religion It is true Coloss 2. speaks of faith and order but yet denies not the Christian Church and the order of it to be any part of the Christian religion It is true that sometimes faith implies the particular grace of believing and yet sometimes it is put for the whole Christian religion as Jude 1. contend for the faith once delivered so that if Master Cotton confesseth the Ministery of the Word Heb. 6. to be a foundation of Christian or Church-order he cannot deny it to be a foundation of the Christian religion or worship reduced to those two of Faith and Order Peace What answer you to his saying It is not a true and a safe speech to call the fellowship and blessing of God vouchsafed to corrupt Churches or Ministers or ministrations unpromised or beyond a word of promise of God Against which he alleadgeth Ier. 13. That God will be merciful to his peoples iniquities and 2 Chron. 30. Gods mercy to every one that prepareth his heart c. although he be not cleansed after the preparation c. Truth The promises hold forth no blessing or fellowship of God to false worships against which all the holy Scripture denounceth cursings both in the old and new Testament nor in particular doth that of Ieremy promise any pardon of sin but to the repentant though most true also is that distinction of particular repentance for known sins and general for sins unknown Such was the sin it may be of the Israelites 2 Chron. 30. in their want of such their legal cleansing But I add how can that one act of covering or conniving at ceremoniall uncleanness about a true worship be brought to prove a promise of Gods blessing and fellowship to a constant course of a false and invented way of prayer by the Latine or English Masse-book as some have rightly called it Peace Concerning Ordination Master Cotton saith that it is no essential part of a call to the Ministery no more then Coronation is essential to the Office of a King And Jehoshua the high priest did not lose fellowship
excepts not Peace The difference or controversie in this Chapter lies in two things First In the similitudes used from companies and societies voluntarily entering into combinations which are distinct from the City 2. In the nature of the Church which he maintaines to be a society whose order the City is bound to preserve as well as any of their civil orders or societies Truth To begin with the first Master Cotton replies That although such societies be not of the essence of the City yet they are of the integral and conservant causes of the City and so the disturbance of any of those orders or societies in the City disturbes the City it self But I answer The similitude was used more especially from a colledge of Physitians or a society of Merchants Turkish East-Endies c. and consequently any other of that kinde voluntarily combining together for the better inriching of themselves in the improvement of their faculties for publike good at least so pretended It was never intended that if such necessary Trades Callings c. as he mentioneth be dissolved and ruined that there would be no disturbance of the peace of the City But that if such oâ— such a way and order of men of those faculties I mentioned voluntarily combine and voluntarily also dissolve yet all this may may be without any breach of civil and publike peace Peace If so much more the church of Christ which is a spiritual society voluntarily uniting may dissolve I say much more without the breach of the peace of the city which is of a civil and humane nature as is confessed and was urged in the instances of Ephesus c. Truth 2. We are wont when we speak of keeping or breaking the Peace to speake of Words or Actions of Violence Sedition Vproare c. for Actions of the Cases Pleas and Traverses may be and yet no peace broken when men submit to the Rule of State for the composing of such differences c. Therefore it is that I affirme that if any of Christs Church have difference with any other man in civill and humane things he ought to be judged by the Law But if the Church have spiritual controversies among themselves or with any other or if God take away the Candlestick as he threatned the Church in Ephesus all this may be and yet no civil peace broken Yea amongst those that profess the same God and Christ as the Papists and Protestants or the same Mahomet as the Turks and Persians there would no civil Peace be broken notwithstanding their differences in Religion were it not for the bloody Doctrine of Persecution which alone breaks the bounds of civil peace and makes Spiritual causes the causes of their bloodie dissentions I observe therefore a twofold Fallacie in Master Cottons reply First he fallaciously mingles Peace and Prosperity together for though it be true that under the terme Peace all good things are sometimes concluded yet when we speak of Hereticks or Schismaticks breaking the civil peace or strowing Doctrines tending to break the civill peace we must understand some such words or acts of violence wherein the bounds and orders of the City Laws and Courts are violated taking it for granted for this is the Supposition that the Lawes of the City be meerly civil and humane Hence then I affirme that there is no Doctrine no Tenent so directly tending to break the Cities peace as this Doctrine of persecuting or punishing each other for the cause of conscience or Religion Againe it is a second Fallacie to urge your order of the Church and the Excellency thereof and that therefore it is a Breach of the civil peace when the Order of the church is not preserved For although it is most true that sooner or later the God of heaven punisheth the nations of the world for their Idolatries Superstitions c. yet Master Cotton himself acknowledgeth as was affirmed that many glorious flourishing cities there are all the world over wherein no church of Christ is extant Yea that the Common-weale of Rome flourished five hundred years together before ever the name of Christ was heard in it which so great a Glory of so great a continuance mightily evinceth the distinction of the civill peace of a State from that which is Christian Religion It is true as Master Cotton tells us that the Turks have plagued the Antichristian world for their Idolatries Yet History tels us that one of their Emperours Mahomet was the man that first broke up and desolated two most glorious ancient cities Constantinople which had flourished 1120 yeares since its first building by Constantine and Athens which from Solons giving of it Laws had flourished two thousand yeares notwithstanding their Idolatries c. Truth It is apparent that then the Christian Religion gloriously flourished contrary to Master Cottons observation when the Roman Emperours too not power to themselves to reform the abuses in the Christian Church but persecuted it and then the church was ruined and overwhelmed with Apostacy and Antichristianism when the Emperours took that power unto themselves And then it was as Master Cotton elsewhere confesseth that Christianitie lost more even in Constantines time then under bloody Nero Domitian c. Peace It cannot be denied dear Truth but that the Peace of a civil State of all States excepting that of typical Israel was and is meerly and essentially civil But Master Cotton saith further Although the Inward Peace of a church is Spiritual yet the outward Peace of it Magistrates must keep in a way of Godliness and Honestie 1 Tim. 2. 1. Truth The Peace of a church of Christ the onely true Christian State Nation Kingdom or city is Spiritual whether internal in the Soul or external in the administration of it as the peace of a civil State is civil internal in the mindes of men and external in the administration and conversation of it and for that place of Timothy it hath been fully spoken to in this discourse and the Discusser hath as yet seen no exception against what hath been spoken Peace But further saith Master Cotton although the peace of a Country be civil yet it is distracted by disturbing the peace of the Church for God cut short the Coasts of the civil State when Jehu shortned his Reformation 2 King 10. 31 32. Truth Master Cotton denies not but confessed in his discourse concerning Baptism that Canaan was Typical and to be cast out of that Land was to be cast out of Gods â—ight which proves thus much That the church of Christ the Israel now neglecting to reform God will cut this Israel short But what is this to a meerly civil State which may flourish many hundreds yea some thousands of yeers together as I before instanced when the Name of the true Lord Jesus Christ is not so much as heard of within it Peace Lastly saith he the church is a Society as well as the Societies of Merchants Drapers
c. and it is just to preserve the Society of the church as well as any other Society Truth When we speak of the balances of Justice we must distinguish between the Balances of the Sanctuary and the Balances of the World or civil States It is spiritual justice to preserve spiritual right and for that end the spiritual King thereof hath taken care It is civil Justice to preserve the civil rights and the Rights of a civil society ought justly to be preserved by a civil State and yet if a company of men combine themselves into a civil society by voluntary agreement and voluntarily dissolve it it is not justice to force them to continue together Peace The church can least of all be forced for as it is a spiritual society and not subject to any civil Judicature though some say that a church in New England was cited to appear before a civil Court so is the combination of it voluntary and the dissolution of it in part or whole is voluntary and endures no Civil violence but as a virgin in point of marriage nec cogit nec cogitur she forceth not nor can be forced by any civil power Truth But lastly if it be justice to preserve the Society of the church is it not partiality in a meer civil State to preserve one onely society and not the persons of other Religious societies and consciences also But the Truth is this mingling of the church and the world together and their orders and societies together doth plainly discover that such churches were never called out from the world and that this is only a secret policy of flesh and blood to get protection from the world and so to keep with some little stilling of conscience from the Cross or Gallowes of Jesus Christ Truth Yea but hear saith Master Cotton those excellent penmen of the Spirit both the Father and the Son David and Solomon First David Psalme 122 They shall prosper that love the peace of Jerusalem and Solomon Where the righteous rejoyce there is great glory Prov. 28. Now saith he what is the church but a congregation of righteous men If the rejoycing of the Church be the glory of a Nation surely the disturbing and destroying and dissolving the church is the shame and confusion of a Nation Truth The outward prosperity of a Nation was a typical figurative blessing of that national and figurative church of Israel in Canaan It is now made good spiritually to them that love the spiritual Jerusalem for though godliness hath a promise of things of this life convenient yet persecution is the common and ordinary portion of the Saints under the Gospel thoughâ— that cup be infinitely sweetned also to them that drink of it with Christ Jesus by the measure and increase of a hundred fold for one even with persecution in this life 2. It is true the rejoycing of a Church of Christ is the glory of any Nation and the contrary a shame yet this proveth not that God vouchsafeth to no state civil peace and temporal glory except it establish and keep up a Church of Christ by force of armes for the contrary we have mentioned and Master Cotton confesseth the flourishing of States ignorant of Christ from Age to Age yea and as I have mentioned even to two thousand yeers in Athens six generations before it heard of Christ and fourteen generations since with the sprinking for some time of the knowledge of Christ Jesus in it Peace 2. But consider saith Master Cotton the excellency and preheminence of the church that the world is for it and would not subsist but for it c. Truth T is true glorious things are spoken of the City of God c. yet for many Ages together Master Cotton confesseth the Nations of the world may subsist flourish without it and though it be the duty of the Nations of the world to countenance and cherish the church of Christ yet where is there any commission either in the New or Old Testament that the Nations of the world should be the judges governors and defenders of Christ Iesus his spiritual kingdome and so bound to take up Armes and smite with the civil sword among so many pretenders for that which they believe to be the church of Christ Peace 3. saith he It is matter of just displeasure to God and sad grief of heart to the church when civil states looke at the state of the church as of little or no concernment to themselves Zech. 1. 19. Lam. 1. 13. Truth Grant this and that the most jealous God will awake in his season for these sins and for the persecutions idolatries and blasphemies which the Nations live in yet what is this for warrant to the Nations as before to judge and rule the church of Christ yea and under the colour of defending Christs faith and preserving Christs church pure to tear Christ out of heaven by persecuting of his Saints on earth and to fire the world with devouring flames of bloody wars and this onely for the sweet sake of the prince of peace Peace Dear Truth we are now upon an high point and that which neerly concerns my self the peace of the world and the Nations of it Master Cotton saith further God winketh at the Nations in the time of their ignorance and suffers the Nation to flourish many hundred yeers together as did the Empire of Rome yet when the church of Christ comes to be planted amongst them then as he brought the Turkes upon the Romans for their persecuting the church and not preserving it in purity so consequently will he do unto the Nations of the world Truth I answer the most righteous Judge of the whole world hath plauged the Nations of the world both before Christs coming and since for their pride and cruelty against his people for their idolateries blasphemies c. Yet Master Cotton acknowledgeth that many states have flourished many hundred yeers together when no true church of Christ hath been found in them and Master Cotton will never prove that God ever commanded the Nations and governments of the world to gather or constitute his churches and to preserve them in purity For God gave his ordinances both before and since Christ to his people onely whom he chuseth and calleth out of the World and the Nations of it and he hath punished and dissolved them for their obstinate neglect thereof And for the Roman Empire and the Emperors thereof the Christian Religion and the purity thereof never lost so much as when the Emperors were perswaded of Master Cottons bloody Tenent as Master Cotton and all men seen in History and Christianity must confess Peace But further although saith Master Cotton the peace of the church be a spiritual inward peace yet there is an outward peace of the church due to them from Princes and Magistrates in a way of godliness and honesty 1 Tim. 2. But in a way of ungodliness and
idolatry it is an wholesome faithfulness to the church if Princes trouble the outward peace of the church that so the church finding themselves wounded and pricked in the house of their friends they may repent and return to their first husband Zech. 13. Hof 2. Truth The peace of the Church is not only inward between God and themselves but as the Argument importeth to which Master Cotton answereth the peace of the Church external and outward is spiritual essentially differing from the peace of the civil state which is meerly civil and humane When the peace of the churches Antioch Corinth Galatia was disturbed by spiritual oppositions the Lord never sent his Saints for civil help to maintaine their spirituall peace though the Lord did send Paul to the higher civil powers to preserve his civil peace when he was molested and oppressed by the Jews and Romans 2. For that place of Timothy though I have fully spoken to it in this discourse elswhere yet this now It proves not because the church must pray for civil Rulers that so they may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty that therefore civil rulers are supream rulers and judges Ecclesiastical next unto Christ Jesus of what is godliness holiness c. since God hath chosen few wise or noble to know godliness And although it is true that Gods end of vouchsafing peace and quietness is that his Churches might walk in his fear and in the wayes of godliness yet it doth not hence follow that Magistrates were the causes of the Churches walking in the fear of God and being edified but only of enjoying Rest from Persecution Act. 9. 3. Although Gods chastisement call to repentance and although the false Prophet in the church of Israel was to be wounded and slaine as they are now to be cut off spiritually from the church of spiritual Israel yet was it so in all the other Nations of the world Or did Christ Iesus appoint it to be so in all the Nations of the world since his coming which is the great question in difference 4. And indeed what is this but to add coals to coals and wood to fire to teach the Nations of the world to be briars and thorns butchers and tormentors to the Lilies and Lambes of the most holy and innocent Lamb of God Christ Iesus Peace But God saith Master Cotton cut Israel short in their civil state or Nation when they cut short their reformation 1 King 10. Truth Master Cotton elswhere denying a National church which is bounded with natural and earthly limits it is a wonder how he can apply that instance of National Israel to the now spiritual Nation and Israel of God May he not as well promise earthly peace and prosperity then most to abound to Gods people when they most prosper and flourish in holiness zeal c. The contrary whereof to wit persecution is most evident in all the New Testament and all mens new and fresh experience Peace To end this Chapter Master Cotton affirmes that civil peace to speak properly is not only a peace in civil things for the object but the peace of all the persons in the City for the subject The church is one society in the City as well as the society of Merchants Drapers c. And if it be civil justice to protect one then the other also Truth Civil peace will never be proved to be the peace of all the subjects or Citizens of a City in spiritual Things The civil state may bring into order make orders preserve in civil order all her members But who ordained that either the spiritual estate should bring in and force the civil state to keep civil order oâ— that the civil state should sit judge and force any of her subjects to keep spiritual order The true and living God is the God of order spiritual civil and natural Natural is the same ever and perpetual civil alters according to the constitutions of peoples and nations spiritual he hath changed from the national in one figurative-land of Canaan to particular and congregational churches all the world over which order spiritual natural or civil to confound and abrogate is to exalt mans folly against the most holy and incomprehensible wisdome of God c. Examination of CHAP. VII Peace IN his description of Arrogancy and impetuousness Master Cotton tels us that he that refuseth to subject his Spirit to the Spirit of the prophets that shall oppose such as dissent with clubs swords and censorious reproaches or reject communion with the church c. his practise tends to the disturbing of civil or church-peace or both Truth It is a fallacious mingling of clubs swords reproaches c. with refusing to submit to the Spirit of prophecie in the Prophets and rejecting of communion c. For a man may out of true and upright conscience to God as Master Cotton will not deny refuse to submit to a whole true church having the Truth of God on his side and may withdraw from communion with a church obstinate in sin and this without breach of civil peace and therefore the mingling or confounding of these spiritual resistances or disturbances with guns swords c. is a mingling and confounding of heaven and earth together 2. In that he saith these wayes tend to the disturbance of either civil or church-peace or both he speakes too like the doubtful oracles of Apollo which will be true however the event fall out but yet he toucheth not the Truth of the question which concernes civil peace only against the disturbers of which I grant the civil powers to be armed with a civil sword not in vaine and concerning which divers cases were propounded of seeming Arrogance and impetuousness in Gods servants and yet they fell not justly under any censure of breach of civil peace Peace T is true saith Master Cotton because they were not wayes of Arrogance not Impetuousness Truth But will Master Cotton give way that any conscience but his own may freely preach and dispute against the state-religion freely reprove the highest in sharpest language for matter of religion refuse conformity to the common established religion and worship disclaime subjection to the civil powers in spiritual cases preach against the common policy and seeming wisdome of the State even to a seeming hazarding of all and lastly occasion great tumults and uproars which were the six cases alleadged If Master Cotton granteth this freedome to other consciences beside his own why preacheth he persecution against such a liberty which other consciences beside his own believe they justly challenge If to no other conscience then his own it is not his saying ten thousand times that his conscience is true and others false nor any other distinction in the world can clear him from most unrighteous and unchristian partiality Examination of CHAP. VIII Peace IN this Chapter dear Truth lies a charge concerning thy self For whereas thou answerest
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
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
four sorts Jews Turkes Pagans and Antichristians are full of blasphemy and idolatry Now in case rhey seduce not they are to be persecuted as idolaters and blasphemers how then are they to be tolerated Peace It could not be had not this holy man been catcht with sipping at the bloody cup of the great whore that Master Cottons affirmations and doctrines should thus quarrel among themselves But further I see not the equality of his yoaking the Oxe and the Asse together when he further coupleth seducing of people into worship of false Gods confidence of a mans own merit c. which are spiritual matters with seducing into seditions conspiracies against the lives and estates of such Princes as will not submit their conscience to the Bishop of Rome Truth Your observation dear peace is seasonable the former are meer Religious and spiritual the latter are meerly civil against which the civil state is bound to defend it self with civil weapons Peace In the next place Master Cotton chargeth the discusser with want of reason truth and candor for observing how unfitly those Scriptures of Phil. 3. Rom. 14. are produced to prove a tolleration of lesser errors And he affirmes that he never intended that what the Churches might not tolerate the Cities might not c. Truth The point is tolerating or persecuting by the civil state whatever therefore be Master Cottons intentions it is apparant unless the Cities and Churches of Rome and Philippi be confounded together as commonly they are in case of persecution I say it is then apparent that there is no Scripture brought for the civil state its tolerating of points of lesser moment nor are these Scriptures brought to any purpose in hand but prophaned Peace But observe his Argument The civil state tollerates petty theeves and lyers to live in Towns Cities c. Truth No well ordered State or City can suffer petty Theeves and lyers without some punishment and we know how severely in the State of England even theeves have been punished even with death it self but Master Cotton is against such cruelty for he pleades for tollerating of lesser errors even in points of Religion and worship 2. If tollerating of lesser errours be granted upon this ground viz. till God may be pleased to manifest his truth is not the same a ground for tollerating of greater as the holy spirit of God argues 2 Tim. 2. trying if God may be pleased to give repentance Peace Yea but saith he the greater will infect and so is more dangerous and the tolleration is the more unmerciful and cruel to the souls of many Truth Lyars and Theeves infect also even the Civil state and a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe and therefore as the Commonweal ought not upon that ground to tollerate petty theeves and lyars so hath Christ Jesus provided in his holy kingdom and City against lesser evils and upon this ground that a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe But yet Christ Jesus hath not spoken where he gives command for this thing to the Corinthians or Galatians that such persons so leavened should together with their being put out of the Church for obstinacy in a little leaven be put out of the world or civil state The one the Church being his Garden the other the Commonweal being the high wayes Field c. the proper place for men as men to abide in Examination of CHAP. XVII Peace COncerning the holding forth of errour with an arrogant and boysterous spirit to the disturbance of civil peace Master Cotton moderates the matter that he would not have such put to death unless the civil peace be destroyed to the destruction of the lives and souls of men Truth I cannot but here first observe the confounding of heaven and earth together the Church and the world lives and souls c. as if all were of one nature 2. Neither blessed Paul nor I need to be accused of cruelty in that grant of Paul if alleadged Acts 25. for there will not be found ought but a willingness to bear a righteous sentence of death in some crimes committed against the civil state 3. Master Cotton may here observe how justly as he speaks of the heretick he condemnes himself for it is too bloody a Tenent saith he that every man that holdeth errour in a boysterous and arrogant way to the disturbance of civil peace ought to be punished with death Is not this the whole scope of his discourse from Deut. 13. and other abrogated repealed laws to prove what was just and righteous in the land of Israel so bloody a Tenent and course to be inforced in all Nations all the world over Peace Master Cotton excepteth against that speech But if the matter be of a spiritual or divine nature There is no error saith he can be of divine nature though it may be spiritual Truth Master Cotton may hear Solomon here saying unto him Be not overwise c. For first the words are not If the errour be of a divine nature but if the matter that is the controversie cause c. be of a spiritual or divine nature which distinction between humane and divine things I conceive is the same with that of wisdome it self dividing between God and Caesar Give to God c. And so though no errour be of a spiritual or divine nature taking the words in their highth yet the matter in question may be of some spiritual or divine consideration belonging to God and his worship and not concerning the Commonweal or Civil state of men which belong to Caesars care 2. Taking spiritual as it is used sometimes in the holy Scripture as opposite to flesh and blood I see no ground for that distinction between spiritual and divine God is a spirit and the spiritual man discerneth All things In such places and their like to my understanding spiritual and divine are the same thing Peace But I marvel at the next passage how can Master Cotton with any colour of reason or charity conceive the discusser so reasonless and senceless as to intend by these words Such onely break the Cities or Kingdomes peace as call for prison and sword against hereticks as if as Master Cotton infers and saith that murtherers seditious persons rebels traitors were none of them such viz. Peace-breakers Truth This word onely can onely have a faire respect to such as are charged by their opinions of Religion and worship to break the Peace of the Commonweale who of what conscience soever they are may freely enjoy their conscience and worship either of many and false Gods or of the true God in a false way and yet not be guilty of the breach of civil peace but onely they I say they onely in this consideration who by their doctrine and practice cry out for prison and fire and sword against hereticks c. Peace As the devil appeared an Angel of light in Samuels mantle So John Hus and Jerome
he meaneth such as manifestly openly visibly walk in the true profession of Christianity and such as openly and visibly walk in the lyes of false and Antichristian doctrine and worship That distinction of secret and open Hypocrisie is seasonable secret implies such a dissimulation as may lie hid under the true outward profession of Christ Jesus as in Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira c. Open hypocrisie implies the profession of the man of sin sitting in the Temple of God or over the Temple of God pretending the Name of Christ and yet apparantly and visibly false and counterfeit and but pretending when such pretences and shewes are brought to the Touchstone of true Christianity Peace Your observation is true as also a second That these hypocritical doctrines and practices are to be tollerated to the end of the world this he sets down in general not instancing in particular what doctrine and practises are to be tollerated and on the other hand the whole drift of his Booke maintaineth that such persons doctrines or practices that are idolatrous or blasphemous or infectious are not to be tollerated or permitted at all which passages to my understanding have not harmony among themselves For what is all the whole Religion of every Antichrist but a Mass or Chaos of Hypocrisie Idolatry Heresie Blasphemy Poysons c. Besides Master Cotton had dealt more plainly with this holy Scripture if he had explained what he meant by such doctrines and practises comming neer the truth and set down the bounds how neer as to make them Tares Truth Dear Peace Who knows not that the weeds of the wilderness come neer the flowers of the Garden the counterfeit may come neer the life and the false mettal the true gold And though it be true that some doctrines and practices be not so gross as other yet they differ but as the Scripture speaks as whores and whoremongers amongst themselves some are more proper and fine and young and painted some are old deformed c. And yet the finest weeds counterfeits and whores are unsufferable in the Garden in the Commonweale house and bed of Christ Though yet in the civil Commonweale the vilest spiritual strumpet may challenge a civil Being if in civil things unreproveable Examination of CHAP. XIX Peace BUt in this Chapter Master Cotton in the issue granteth that the Tares signifie persons by Christs own interpretation For them that do iniquity may seem to be an explanation of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All scandals that is persons holding forth of scandalous and corrupt doctrines and practices like unto true and sound Truth Yet withall he chargeth the discusser with lightness and inconstancy for endeavouring to prove that corrupt doctrines and practices are not to be tollerated and yet saith he the discusser pleades that such persons ought to be tollerated Whereas the discusser twice in this Chapter expresly distinguisheth between toleration in the Church and tolleration in the world and affirmeth that although the Church of Christ Jesus cannot tollerate either persons or practices which are false and Antichristian yet the civil state the world ought to tolerate and permit both And therefore Master Cottons inconsiderate charge of contradiction will not stick because of those divers respects or States the spiritual and civil as it was no contradiction in Christ Iesus to affirme that Iohn Baptist was Elias when Iohn himself affirmeth that he was not Elias For in several respects the Negative of John and the Affirmative of Jesus were both true Examination of CHAP. XX. Peace IN this passage to my understanding Master Cotton after much seeming contestation and disagreement yet in conclusion he shakes hands and agrees with the discusser in the maine point in question Truth Your observation reacheth home for let it be granted that the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should not signifie All weeds sprung up with the wheat but one kind of weed and that in special which Master Cotton saith Dioscorides describeth Let it be granted to be the same with Lolium and that there is a great similitude between the Tares and the Wheat while they are in the blade some of which particulars are controversial yet it no way opposeth that which the discusser maintaineth to wit the easiness of discerning these tares to be tares when they are grown up to blade and fruit And therefore Master Cotton at the last confesseth that even these tares unknown hypocrites according to his own exposition ought to be suffered in the church of Christ to the harvest or end of the world Peace I cannot but wonder how Master Cotton should once imagine that it might possibly stand with the order piety and safety of the profession of Christ Jesus that such a generation of known hypocrites should be perpetually suffered Truth Doubtless the Lord Jesus was not of Master Cottons minde who so vehemently warned his followers to take heed of the leaven of hypocrisie Beside if known hypocrites may be suffered and not cast out Why may not known hypocrites be taken in And what is then become of the true matter of the church to wit true living stones of a spiritual life and nature so far as outwardly can be discerned Peace This assertion hath so foule a representation that Master Cotton is forced to draw this vaile over and therefore he adds untill the fruits of hypocrites grow notoriously scandalous Truth I cannot fathom how these two agree First known hypocrites may be tolerated untill the worlds end 2. Tolerated no longer then untill the fruits of the hypocrisie grow notoriously scandalous For will not all reason and experience ask this question How comes it that this friend subject and Spouse of Christ is now a known dissembler traitor whore unless by some scandalous fruits so declaring and uncasing of them If the shameful fruits of the unclean person 1 Cor. 5. were sufficient to denominate him a wicked person why were they not sufficient to warrant Paul to say Put away therefore that wicked person from amongst you Peace But let us mind the Scripture quoted If saith Master Cotton foolish Virgins be cast out of the church the wise Virgins may be found sometimes sleeping as well as they Truth Neither good wheate nor wise Virgins are to be cast out of the church of Christ while they appear to be so yet since Master Cotton elsewhere grants that a child of God good wheat and a wise Virgin may so stand out against the church of Christ in some passion that he may be cast out c. How much more then ought the tares and foolish Virgins while so appearing be excluded 2. If the wise Virgins be received into heaven as the foolish shut out will it not evidently follow even the contrary to that for which Master Cotton alleadgeth this Scripture to wit That when hypocrites are discovered they are to be kept out and consequently to be cast out of the church of Christ except Master
Cotton will say that the kingdome of Christ on earth may receive and keep in her bosome such stinking weedes declared so to be which the kingdome of Christ in heaven abhors Who questions but while the hypocrisie of these foolish Virgins lay hid in their empty vessels that outwardly they appeared as wise as the wise Virgins But when the fruits of their hypocrisie discovered them to be fools how can Master Cotton according to the truth as it is in Jesus affirme that foolish Virgins known hypocrites are to be kept in and not cast out of the church of Christ unto the end of the world Peace O how contrary is this to the very fundamentals essence nature and being of a church or Spouse of Christ Jesus which is by the confession of Papists and Protestants a society of wise Virgins visibly Saints holy and faithful persons a society of such persons as outwardly profess to love Christ Jesus uprightly Cant. 1. and to be espoused to him 1 Cor. 11. Truth Yea and how contrary is this to the nature of Christ Iesus whose heart is all one fire towards the daughters of Ierusalem Cant. 4. and how contrary to the charge that great and solemn charge of the Lord Iesus to all his followers to take heed of that leaven which is hypocrisie which if suffered will leaven the whole lumpe and render the garden and spouse of Christ a filthy dunghill and whore-house of rotten and stinking whores and hypocrites Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace MAster Cotton here endeavors to prove as many have done before that the Field which the Lord Iesus interprets the world was meant by him to be the Church as he is said to love the world Iohn 3. to be propitiation for the sins of the world 1 Ioh. 2. Truth In these and many other places of like nature it pleaseth the Spirit of God to set forth his love to mankinde distinct from all other creatures As also the impartiality of his love calling his chosen out of all sorts of sinners mankinde all the world over and yet it cannot be denyed but that the Scriptures speak frequently of the world and of the church in a far distinct and contrary acceptation So as when he nameth the church it cannot signifie the world and when the world he cannot be said to intend the church the reasons therefore on either side must be expended and weighed in the fear of God why the Field here called by Christ the world cannot be intended to be the church of Christ Peace Your right distinguishing is a right dividing of the word of Truth but saith Master Cotton it cannot be the world in proper signification for which he aleadgeth three reasons First Because there had been saith he no place for the servants wonder at the appearing of the tares verse 27. for what wonder that the world should be so full of fornicators c Was it ever otherwise Truth It is true that the world lyeth in wickedness and is full of fornicators idolaters c. and yet it was some thousands of yeers when the world was not full of Christian that is anointed or holy fornicators holy idolaters c. That is indeed and truth Antichristian and that alone is the point in question about which this answer of Master Cotton hovers but comes not neer it This is indeed a most dreadful and wonderful point of the wisdome justice and patience of God so to suffer so many millions of men and women to arrogate to themselves the name and profession of the most holy living God and his holy Son Christ Iesus to be called Christians anointed or holy and yet upon the point to hate the holiness truth and spirit of Christ Iesus Truth This is doubtless to me what ere Master Cotton imagines a wonderful mystery in all Ages since these tares were first sown to see I say so many millions of holy idolaters holy murtherers holy whoremongers holy theeves c. The blasphemy of this is so wonderful and dreadful that I cannot sufficiently wonder at him that wonders not how this comes to pass Truth The like I answer to his second Reason that it is true that we read not that ever any of the Ministers or Prophets of Christ ever essayed to pluck up all such vicious notorious persons out of the world as they demanded concerning the tares for then indeed as the Spirit implies 1 Cor. 5. the whole state of the world would be overthrown but yet this hinders not but there may be a desire in Gods servants to pluck up this or that sect or sort of people Jews Turks or Antichristians Peace Dear Truth you make me call to minde the desire of Christs disciples that fire might descend from heaven not to consume all fornicators idolaters all cruel and unclean persons out of the world yet that particular unmerciful superstitions Town of the Samaritans they desired that fire might come from heaven and consume them Truth Indeed this desire of the disciples is no strange desire for what else do All they desire which permit not in the civil state any Religion worship or conscience but their own Nay far beyond that were the whole worlds neck under their imperial yoake the many millions of millions of blasphemers and idolaters of all sorts if they will not be convinced at their word must be cut off from all natural and civil being in the world by Fire and Sword Peace His third reason is That the discusser reckoned up as paralel goats and sheep wheate and tares as generally said he others do and he addeth that in the purest church after the ruine of Antichrist there shall be goats and sheep wise and foolish Virgins untill the coming of Christ to judgement Mat. 25. Truth Although the discusser spake of that eternal separation between wheat and tares sheep and goats approaching yet he never said that the tares and goats signified hypocrites in the Church which is the point in question Nor dare I subscribe to that opinion that after the destruction of Antichrist when purest times of the church shall come that there shall be such a mixt estate in the church of Christ untill the coming of Christ to judgement For first Although goats were clean for food and sacrifice yet it is apparant that as they are for the left hand So they are visibly known by every child where goats and sheep are kept And to image that visible hypocrites such as tares goats unprofitable servants foolish Virgins c. shall in a mixt way make up Christs churoh and that in the purest times of the church of which there are so many and wonderful prophecies is to me not onely to frame a church estate point blank cross to the purity of those churches but even to the first Apostolical churches yea and against that frame of church estate in New England where Master Cotton hath professed though now it is said the door is wider against receiving in
such members as are visibly foolish Virgins goats c. Peace Master Cottons second answer is that if the Field be the world as the tares Antichristians and false Christians yet they were first sown in the field of the church Truth Not so for although there might be many infirmities and distempers yea some great corruptions in the first Christian body the church of Christ notwithstanding that Antichrist is an Apostate yet it will not follow that the tares were first sown in the true church because Sathan might easily raise up some professors of the name of Christ which the true church would never admit And as Sathan might raise up persons congregations worships which were not according to Christ So might he easily raise up churches congregations and societies of such tares with whom the churches of Christ might refuse society So saith John There are many Antichrists whom yet we cannot well imagine that they were in the churches of the Lord Jesus There came false Apostles to the Church at Ephesus but yet that church examined and found them lyars And so long as the churches were watchful those tares kept in the world But when the churches began to be sleepy the Tares might undiscerned creep into the church This may be as well as when Apostates fall off from the church go out from it because they were never of it and also as well as that the church of Christ may drowzily neglect to purge out the old leaven of persons and things which may soon overspread and over-run the whole lumpe and garden of the church of Christ untill it be turned againe into one common field of the world together Peace Master Cottons third answer is That Antichristians must not be tolerated unto the end of the world because God will put it into the heart of faithful princes to hate the whore and after that we read of a visible state of New Jerusalem before the end of the world Rev. 20. 21 22. Truth It is not said that those princes that shall hate the whore shall be faithful princes and since Master Cotton seems to hold that by way of ordinance and so in obedience the Kings of the earth shall with the sword destroy Antichrist I desire his proof for any such prophecy For 1. It is not said that God will put it into their hearts to hate the whore And we finde that they shall hate the lambe as well as hate the whore For they shall make war with the lambe and the lamb shall overcome them as comes to pass after the ruine of the whoâ—e Rev. 19. 2. Judgement may be executed upon the whore by way of mutual judgement each upon others when in the midst of their spiritual whoredoms and drunkenness with the Saints blood they shall fall out with the whore as useth to be in whoredome and turn their whorish loves into outragious fury and the very description of their fury looks this way for it is not the property of sober and faithful men though repenting of their whoredoms to make a woman naked though a whore and to eat her flesh as it is said those shall do But grant as we most hopefully do the whores consumption by the ten hornes of the Beast and the flourishing of new Jerusalem upon the earth Rev. 20. 21 22. before the end of the world all which are great disputes among the people of God yet I judge it necessary that two or three queries be satisfied for the further clearing of the holy minde of the Lord in this particular 1. Whether as some have and do argue the end of the world in this Parable and other Scriptures do expresly and undeniably signifie the end of the world and judgement-day literally and not some other mystical period of time since the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 usually translated world is of various signification and sometimes signifies and Age. 2. Whether those ten Kings which shall destroy the whore shall be absolutely Christian true Saints followers of Jesus they and their Armies or else remaining Antichristian hornes of the Beast shall yet execute the judgement of God upon the great whore as Jehu remaining both hypocritical and idolatrous yet dashe out the braines of that great whore Iezabel and executed judgement upon Baals Priests yea and even as Henry the eighth tumbled the Pope out of his chaire in England and thousands of his Popelings with him he supprest and threw the whore Iezabel the church of Rome out of Englands window and yet continued to burn the Saints of Iesus upon his six Popish and bloody Articles 3. Whether that mighty Army of Gog and Magog which is mustered up after the thousand yeers raigne of Christ be not in part made up of the â—en hornes even after the whore of Romes consumption as before in Henry the eighth his case which horns with their peoples Christ will have yet to be tolerated as Tares in the field of the world though not in the Church of Christ Peace What think you of Master Cottons grant that the first fruits of Antichristians may be tares sown in the field of the church which afterwards grow to be Briars and Thornes Truth I observe that to be tares of Antichristian worshippers and briars and thornes oppressers and persecutors are both of them of a false and Antichristian nature which ought to be far from imitation of the Rose of Sharon or the Lily of the vallies But 2. Are there no tares that is hypocrites but in the church and must all the briars and thornes oppressors and persecutors c. have no root from the wilde world but from the garden of Christs church Peace Now whereas it was urged that it stood not with the wisdome and love of Christ interpreting this parable and opening what the field was to call the field the world when he meant the church Master Cotton answers that Paul by the same wisdome useth the same word 2 Cor. 5. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself Truth Paul in using that figure of the world for all sorts of men in the world doth not undertake to interpret a Parable which before he had proposed unto and at the request of the Corinthians as the Lord Iesus doth at the request of his disciples And where Master Cotton saith that it is no more an improper speech to call the church the world then to speak of Christ as dying for the world when he dyed for the church Truth I finde it not to be said that Christ died for the world but grant that it hath pleased the Lord in his most infinite wisdome to cause the tearm of the world to be used in various significations yet let any instance be given of any Scripture wherein the Lord opposing the church to the world the wheat to tares doth not distinguish between the church redeemed out of the world and the world it self which is said to lye in wickedness and to be such as for which
Christ Jesus would not pray Iohn 17. Examination of CHAP. XXII Peace IN this Chapter was urged the scope of the Lord Jesus to wit to foretell the Antichristian state opposing the true Christian church and worship as also to comfort and strengthen the hearts of his followers against the grievances ariâ—ing therefrom and where it was urged that the church consisteth onely of good ground and that the three sorts of Bad ground visibly so declared are properly in the world and not in the church Master Cotton answers First Did not Christ preach to all these sorts of hearers in the church of the Jews Truth That national church of the Iews in its first visible constitution consisted onely of good ground Now that the other three sorts of hearers were in the church of the Iews it was an accident and corruption when they grew incurable and received not the admonitions of the Lord by the Lord Iesus and his servants preaching unto them the Lord cast them out of his sight destroyed that nationall church and established the Christian church Now what is this to the permitting of known hypocrites in the Christian church to the worlds end since that the proper seat of known hypocrisie and of all other wickedness is the world which indeed properly consisteth of the three sorts of Bad ground as the church and Garden of Christ of the honest and good ground Peace But further If saith Master Cotton the children of the church-members be in the church then they growing up to yeers become some of them like the high-way and some like the stony and some like the thorny ground Truth Admit the Christian church were constituted of the natural seed and off-spring which yet Master Cotton knows will never be granted to him and I believe will never be proved by him yet he knows that upon the discovery of any such portion of ground in the church the church is bound to admonish and upon impenitency after admonition to cast them into the world the proper place of such kind of hearers and professors Peace Master Cotton proceeds to a third answer to wit Though it be not the proper work of the church to bring up their own children to become the sincere people of God And Christ hath given his Church and his Gospel preached to it to lye like leaven in three pecks of meal till all be leavened Mat. 13. 31. And he hath given Pastors and Teachers as well for the gathering of the Saints as for the edification of the Body of Christ Truth I answer the proper work of the Pastors and Teachers is to feed the sheep and flock and not the Heards the wild Beasts in the world And although it is the duty of parents to bring up their children in the nurture and fear of the Lord yet what if those children refuse to frequent the Assemblies of the Church and what if those three sorts of bad ground or hearers will not come within the bounds of the Pastors and Teachers feeding hath not the Lord Iesus appointed other Officers in the same Ephes 4. for the gathering of the Saints that is sending out of the Church of Christ Apostles or Messengers to preach Christ Iesus to the three sorts of bad ground to labour to turn them into good ground But alas to salve up all this the civil sword is commonly run for to force all sorts of ground to come to church instead of the sending forth Rom. 10. the heavenly sowers according to the Ordinance of Christ Iesus Peace But what say you to his fourth answer viz. There is no such Resemblance between the high-way-ground and good ground as between the Tares and the wheate nor would the servants wonder at Tares in the high-way nor ask about their plucking up Truth I answer Let the high-way stony and thorny ground be considered in their several qualities of prophaneness stouiness and worldliness and all the sons of men throughout the whole world naturally are such and t is no wonder nor would the servants of Christ be so troubled as to desire their plucking up out of the world But yet againe consider all these sorts of men as professing the name and anointing of Christ Iesus in a false and counterfeit Antichristian way and then it may well be wondred whence such monstrous kind of Christians or anointed ones arose And Gods people may easily be tempted rather to desire their rooting out of the world then the rooting out of any such sorts of ground or men professing any other Religion Jewish Mahometan or Pagan Antichristian and false Christians being more opposite to the kingdome of Christ Jesus and more dangerous by how much more a counterfeit and Traytor is worse then a professed Fox an Antichristian whether Papist or Protestant worse then a Jew a Pagan Whether Indian Turke or Persian Examination of CHAP. XXIII Peace Still of the Tares THese tares saith Master Cotton are not such sinners as are opposite and contrary for then none should be opposite or contrary but they Truth I acknowledge as Master Cotton here observeth two sorts of persons opposite and contrary to Christ Jesus and his Kingdome First All sorts of sinners scandalous in their lives and courses 2. More especially opposite in point of Religion and worship as all idolaters and especially Antichristians Now every man by nature the best and wisest is opposite and contrary to Christ his word and kingdome but an idolater and Antichristian is more especially opposite to his glorious Name Truth and Ordinances And therein properly lyes the mystery of iniquity brought in by the man of sin that lawless person 2 Thess 2. most opposite or contrary to Christ Jesus the Son of God and Son of Righteousness Peace But this is a begging of the question saith Master Cotton for the question is about visible worshippers such as were discovered and declared to be what they were as well by their fruit as by their clads and therefore againe saith Master Cotton these tares were the seed and children of the Devil for why should they be called the seed of the One and the children of the Other Truth I answer the Lord Jesus distinguisheth thus He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man and the good seed are the children of the Kingdome he that soweth the tares is the devil and these tares are the children of the evil or evil one Hence by way of opposition these children of evil or evil ones being visibly such as are opposite to the children of the kingdome they cannot be hypocrites in the church untill they are discovered These children therefore of the evil one opposite to the visible kingdome and so to visible Christ Jesus in point of his kingdome church and worship though they be the children of the devil in a sence yet can they be no other but the children of the false Christ or Antichrist in the way of a false church and worship Peace Yea
but lastly saith Master Cotton that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated the children of the wicked one or wickedness will agree to hypocrites Truth It will indeed if we respect their inside which is only visible to the invisible King as Judas in his profession but it cannot agree to such hypocrites as are undiscovered by their fruits in the church but unto such hypocrites as are discovered in their blades and fruit and so consequently are not fit to live with other sinners in the world I doubt not but Master Cotton will say That although a member of a Church prove a theife adulterer murtherer in the eyes of a Brother that sees and knows his secret wickedness yet that brother is censurable as a slanderer if he should report these evils though to the Church untill according to visible order he could produce good proof and evidence Examination of CHAP. XXIV Peace Still of the Tares MAster Cotton here seems to me with the Familists to confound heaven and earth together the matters of Worship and Ordinances of Religion with the affaires and businesses of this life for saith he such as stand for the kingdome of Satan as all evil men do they stand in opposition to the Kingdome of Christ Truth Master Cotton is not now to be taught the distinction between the church and Commonweale nor that a national church is not of Christ Jesus his institution yet as this discourse strongly inclines to erect a national church so doth this present answer to the confusion both of Church and Commonweale It is true a covetuous Iew that blasphemeth Christ Jesus stands for Satan against Christ But by his covetousness in one kinde as covetousness is opposite to Righteousness and contentation c. and for Sathan against Christ in another sence that is in a Religious and Spiritual sence as he prefers Moses before Christ Jesus and denies the true Messiah to be yet come in the flesh A cruel Turk stands for Satan against Christ by his cruelty in one sence to wit in opposition to Christs mercy gentleness patience c. but by his belief in Mahomet preferring him before Christ he opposeth him in his Kingdome and Worship To come neerer a drunken English Dutch or Frenchman stands for Satan against Christ as their drunkenness is opposite to Christs sobriety temperance c. but against Christ in another sence as they profess the wayes of Antichristian idolatry and superstition And not to observe this distinction is with some Familists to run upon quick-sands of confounding the spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus his worship and ordinances with the kingdomes of this world and the common affaires thereof in natural and civil consideration Peace But though Christ saith Master Cotton should command other offenders to be let alone beside Antichristians yet he should not contradict any ordinances for the punishment of offenders c. because saith he No law of God nor just law of man commands the the rooting out of hypocrites though the church be bound to endeavour as much as in them lies to heale their hypocrisie Truth Hypocrisie discovered in the fruit of it is not to be let alone in the church or State For neither church of Christ nor civil state can long continue safe if hypocrites or traitors under what pretence soever be permitted to break forth in them without due punishment and rooting out this hypocrisie being especially that great sin against which Christ Iesus so frequently and so vehemently inveighed and against which he denounced the sorest of plagues â—nd judgements Truth By whose command and by what meanes and ordinances by whose power and authority but by the command meanes and power of Christ Jesus And I further aske If faithful admonition be not one good means of healing and if that lye not in the churches power and if the hypocrite after faithful admonition once or twice submit not to the voice of Christ Iesus I ask where the Lord Iesus commandeth to make a stop and not to cast forth and reject whomsoever wilfully obstinate Peace Doubtless dear Truth many will be apt to say Master Cotton intends secret and close hypocrisie Truth And I doubt not but himself will say That this is not our question but of known and unmasked hypocrisie as himself hath formerly declared and such as here he expresseth come under ordinances of healing Peace But further saith Master Cotton it is not true that Antichristians are to be let alone untill the end of the world Why Because Christ commanded excommunication c. Truth I am astonisht and wonder why Master Cotton here speaketh of excommunication a spiritual ordinance of Christ Iesus in his spiritual kingdome or city when the dispute onely concerns temporal excommunication or cutting off Let them alone that is in civil State I wonder also how he should imagine the discusser in this Chapter to affirme that Antichristians are to be let alone in the church unto the end of the world when it was the very scope of his argument in this Chapter to prove that the speech of Christ Jesus let them alone must needs be understood of letting idolaters and Antichristians alone in the civil state and in the world because otherwise if he had meant Let them alone in the church he should contradict himself who hath appointed meanes for the disturbing and purging out the corrupt leaven both of persons and practices out of his church and kingdome Peace The same answer indeed will easily be returned to his last supposition of any Popish spirit conspiring against the life of King and Parliament The whole scope of this book professeth and in this Chapter the discusser professedly argueth that Christ Jesus hath appointed that civil offenders against the civil state ought not to be let alone But Master Cotton adds If Popish Priests and Jesuits be rightly expounded to be the Rivers and fountaines of water which drive the dead sea of Antichristian pollutions up and down all Nations in Europe and in some cases are to drink blood Then are they not to be let alone but duely supprest and cut off from conveying up and down idolatrous heretical and seditious wickedness Rev. 16. 4. 7. Truth The exposition of this Scripture will be further examined in the sequel and found no true exposition That Rivers and fountaines of water drive the sea up and down For rivers and fountaines however they come from the salt-water yet lose they the savour of the salt-sea and yeeld a savour of the earth through which they make their passages and again they run into the sea and are themselves driven up and down and swallowed up in the sea Nor will it be found a true exposition according to Godliness and Christianity which commandeth patience and waiting not fire and sword to gaine sayers and opposites Nor lastly will it be found a true exposition agreeing with Master Cottons own profession in some passage of this book wherein he holds forth great
toleration and gentleness to other consciences both English and Barbarians Examination of CHAP. XXV Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton affirms that hypocrites even they that are discerned to be such yet they are not to be purged out except they break forth into such notorious fruits of hypocrisie as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe for otherwise saith he we may roote out the best wheate in Gods field c. Truth I answer sâ—â—â—â— hypocrites and all hypocrisie is so odious in Gods sight and so vehemently inveighed against by Christ Jesus what should be the cause why the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisie should finde greater favour and connivence in the church of Christ then the leaven of any other sin since all ought to be purged out 1 Cor. 5. 2. Contrary to what Master Cotton saith to wit That no man meerly for hypocrisie and want of life and power of Godliness ought to be proceeded against the Spirit of God by Paul saith That such kind of professours of the name of Christ should arise that should pretend a form of godliness but not shew forth the power thereof from which he commandeth us to turn away 1 Tim. 3. Peace But Master Cotton excepteth Except saith he they break forth into some notorious scandalous fruits of hypocrisie Truth How shall an hypocrite be discovered and known to be an hypocrite or traitor in church or civil state but by some such notorious scandalous fruits as tend to the leavening of the whole lumpe Come to particulars was Iudas Ananias and Sapphira Simon Magus Demas or any other discovered to be Hypocrites when they broke forth into treachery lying covetousness and might the church proceed against such If it be denied I ask to what end the Lord hath given those holy rules of admonition c. will it prove ought but prophaning of the name of the Lord to pretend our clear discerning of the Scripture and ordinances and not to practise them If it be yeelded against these fruits of hypocrisie discovering men to be hypocrites why do we plead for a dispensation and not for the wheat of the Field and flowers of the garden but for the most stinking and loathsome tares and weeds to be continued in the holy garden of Christ Jesus Peace But many hypocrites saith Master Cotton fall not within the censure of that Scripture 2 Thess 3. 6. Withdraw from every brother that walketh disorderly for many hypocrites follow their callings and are so far from being burthensome unto others that they are after choaked with the cares and businesses of the world and yet are not behind in liberal contribution to pious uses Truth But is not this halting between God and Baal yea is not this pleading for Baal for hypocrisie hypocrites and dissemblers false and Antichristian counterfeits to be permitted not onely in the wilderness of the world which I contend for but also even in the Garden House Bed and bosome of God What if men be civil and follow their callings Men that know not God so do What though they be liberal to pious uses millions of Papists are and have been so according to their consciences when as yet they are choaked with cares and businesses of this world How express is the charge of the Lord Jesus to with-draw from such notwithstanding their forme of Godliness and contribution to Godly uses when they declare not the power of godliness 1 Tim. 3. 2. Not to eate with them and therefore to seperate from such a brother as is covetuous 1 Cor. 5. as well as from an idolater drunkard c. The Church of Christ is a congregation of Saints a flock of sheep humble meek patient contented with whom it is monstrous and impossible to couple cruel and persecuting lyons subtle and hypocritical Foxes contentious biting dogs or greedy and rooting swine so visibly declared and apparant Examination of CHAP. XXI Peace IN this Chapter four answers were given by the discusser to that great objection of the mischief that the Tares will do in the field of the world if let alone and not pluckt up The first was That if the tares offend against Civility or civil state God hath armed the civil state with a civil sword c. Master Cotton replies what if their conscience incite them to civil offences I answer the conscience of the civil Magistrate must incite him to civil punishment as a Lord Maior of London once answered That he was born to be a Judge to a Thief that pleaded he was born to be a thief If the conscience of the worshippers of the Beast incite them to prejudice prince or state Although these consciences be not as the conscience of a thief commonly convinced of the evil of his fact but perswaded of the lawfulness of their actions yet so far as the civil state is endammaged or endangered I say the sword of God in the hand of civil Authority is strong enough to defend it self either by imprisoning or disarming or other wholesome meanes c. while yet their consciences ought to be permitted in what is meerly point of worship as prayer and other services and administrations Hence the wisdome of God in that 13 Rom. reckoned by Master Cotton the Magâ—a Charta for civil Magistrates dealing in matters of Religion I say there it pleaseth God expresly to reckon up the particulars of the second table chalking out as it were by his own finger the civil sphear or circle in which the civil Magistrate ought to act and execute his civil power and Authority Peace The second answer of the discusser was that the church or spiritual City hath laws and Armories to defend it self Master Cotton excepteth saying That if their members be leavened with Antichristian Idolatry and Superstition and yet must be tolerated in their idolatry and superstitious worship will not a litle leaven leaven the whole lumpe and how then is the church guarded Truth The question is whether idolatrous and Antichristian worshippers may be tolerated in civil state in the City in the Kingdome c. under any civil power Master Cotton answers no they will do mischief The reply is against any civil mischief though wrought conscientiously the civil state is strongly guarded Secondly Against the spiritual mischief the church or City of Christ is guarded with heavenly Armories wherein there hang a thousand Bucklers Cant. 4. and most mighty weapons 2 Cor. 10. In the church of Christ such worshippers ought not to be tolerated but cast out c. That is true saith Master Cotton but yet their leaven will spread I answer What is this but to make the most powerful appointments of Christ Jesus those mighty weapons of God terrible censures and soul punishments in his kingdome but as so many woodden daggers and leaden swords childrens Bull-beggars and scarcrows and upon the point so base and beggarly that without the help of the Cutlers shop or Smiths forge the church or
kingdome of Christ cannot be purged from the leaven of idolatry and superstition Peace Me thinks the Lord Jesus was of another mind Mat. 18. when he accounted it sufficient to cut off the obstinate Let him be as a Gentile or publican and in the very similitude of leaven here used by Master Cotton Paul counted it sufficient to purge out the leaven 1 Cor. 5. if that evil person were put away from the midst of them that is from their holy and spiritual society Paul never asks as Master Cotton doth since we have not to our spiritual armes armes of flesh and a civil sword to help our spiritual how shall the safety of the church be guarded But let 's proceed The third Answer was That the elect cannot be finally deceived Master Cotton replies It is true but God provides meanes of preservation c. And Jezabels tolerating in Thiatira made the church guilty Truth This Argument was not used in derogation of Gods meanes spiritual in spiritual things civil in civil c. but by way of supposition of the worst as Job spake in another case How helpest thou the Arme that hath no strength Not but that in ordinary submission to means man ought to help the Lord against the mighty The sum is this rather let the Lord alone to help himself without meanes then to help the Lord to save his elect who cannot by vertue of his love and decree finally be deceived by any such means as are none of his own appointing 2. It is true that the church at Thyatira tolerating Jezabel to seduce was guilty yea and I add the City of Thiatira was guilty also if it tolerated Iezabel to seduce to fornication But what is this to the point of the issue to wit Whether the City of Thiatria should be guilty or not in tolerating Iezabel in that which the City judgeth to be idolatry and false worship Jezabels corporal whoredoms sinning against civility or state of the City the City by her Officers ought to punish lest civil order be broken and civility be infected c. but Iezabels spiritual whoredomes the civil state ought not to deal with but there being a church of Christ then in Thiatria and the spiritual whoredomes there taught and practised I say the church in Thyatira which in the name and power of Christ was armed sufficiently to pass and inflict a dreadful spiritual censure which God will confirme and ratifie most assuredly and undoubtedly in heaven Peace Two reasons more were alleadged out of the Text. The first was that by plucking up the tares the good wheate it self by such hurries and persecutions about Religion should be indangered to be plucked up which Master Cotton salveth thus to wit If Gods people themselves for their idolatry and superstition should be cut off it will be for warning unto others c. Truth Oh ungodly unchristian that is bloody and Antichristian doctrin by which under pretence of punishing hereticks schisâ—aticks and seditious persons the Son of God the Lord of Lords and King of Kings hath so many millions of times in his servants been persecuted slaine and crucified As for the world it lies in wickedness is a wilderness of sin over-grown with idolatry and superstition The Antichristian falsly called Christian world in most abundant and over-flowing measure hath wondred after and magnified the Beast Rev. 13. The two witnesses prophesie in sackcloth against this beast in all parts of his dominion by whom also they are persecuted and slaine and yet we read not that they judge or censure or fight for themselves with any other weapons then by the word of their prophecie the blood of the Lamb their patient sufferings the not loving of their lives unto the death Peace The second reason out of the parable was That the Angels of God have in charge to bundle up these tares for the burning Master Cotton replies two things First so these Angels will gather into bundles for the burning murtherers robbers c. who are not yet to be tolerated Truth I answer If a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. with respect to civil matters I say the civil state must judge and punish the offender else the civil state cannot stand but must return to barbarisme But if a man call Master Cotton murtherer witch c. in spirttual matters as deceiving and bewitching the peoples souls if he can prove his charge Master Cotton ought to give God the glory and and repent of such wickedness If he cannot prove his charge but slander Master Cotton yet is the slander of no civil nature and so not proper to any civil court but is to be cast out as we see commonly suits of law are rejected when brought into Courts which take no proper cognizance of such cases Peace What relief then hath Master Cotton or any so charged in this case Truth The court of heaven the church of Christ calls such a slanderer to repentance whether he be within the church or without though orderly proceeding lies only against him that is within If he be obstinate how dreadful is the sentence against such a slanderer both in earth and in heaven how dreadful the delivering up to hardness of heart a greater plague on Pharaoh then all the devouring plagues of Egypt how dreadful the delivering up to Satan the paw and jaw of the roaring Lyon infinitely far more terrible had we eyes to see it then to be thrown with Daniel to the devouring Lyon There is no reason in the world therefore for theeves and murtherers to be tolerated unto the last day without sentence and punishment because transgressors against spiritual state may be tolerated to live in the world yet punished for spiritual transgression with a greater censure and sorer punishment then if all their bones and flesh were rackt and torn in pieces with burning pincers Peace Master Cotton and others will say The idolaters and seducers were censured spiritually under Moses and yet were they also put to death Truth I desire Master Cotton to shew me under Moses such spiritual censures and punishments beside the cutting off by the civil sword which if he cannot do and that since the Christian Church antitypes the Israelitish and the Christian laws and punishments the laws and punishments of Israel concerning religion I may truely affirme that that civil state which may not justly tolerate civil offenders c. yet may most justly tolerate spiritual offenders of whose Delinquency it hath no proper cognizance Peace Lastly Master Cotton urgeth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2. should rather be translated presence then coming Truth Admit it though many able translators in divers languages rather translate it coming and that Antichrist shall not be consumed by the breath of the mouth of the Lord Jesus before his last coming to judgement yet then Master Cotton must give another interpretation of this end of the world and the Angels and
the fire then is usually given however the tares shall be bundled up for the everlasting burnings and are at present under a dreadful sentence and punishment and therefore not offending in civil things the civil state may the better tolerate them in matters of religion and conscience and Paul himself if opposed by them might the better wait with patience if God peradventure will give them repentance c. Examination of CHAP. XXVII Peace IN this Chapter those three particulars by which the Ministers of Christ are commanded to let the Tares alone Master Cotton evades by calling them so many slippery evasions c. Truth I believe neither the interpretations nor the intentions of the Author were evasive for a faithful witness will not lye though a false witness will utter deceit however the fire shall try The truth is the greater part and especially the former of Master Cottons answer in this Chapter comes not neer the point of the issue for that is not whether the Saints may pray or prophecy against idolaters and false worshippers but whether or no for their present temporal destruction and extirpation Perce Unto this Master Cotton saith Yes for the present destruction of some or other Antichristian idolaters in every age and he adds it might as well be said that a Minister of Christ should not denounce present or speedy destruction to any murtherers whoremongers c. because though some of them may fall under grievous plagues yet there will never want a company of such evil doers untill the great harvest or end of the world Againe saith he Though a Minister denounce not present destruction yet he cannot let them alone no more then the feller of an Oake that gives many a stroake before the last c. 2. It is not credible saith he that some of the Angels that poure out their vials upon the Antichristian state shall not be Ministers And when the ten horns shall burn the City of Rome it is not credible that they will do it without some excitement from the Angels Truth The instance brought of murtherers whoremongers c. is most improper because we all agree that present corporal or civil punishment is due to murtherers whoremongers c. and other like transgressors against the civil state of all Nations and peoples all the world over and this in all Ages and Times but Master Cotton himself acknowledgeth that many prophecies and periods are set for the continuance of the Antichristian state and the idolatry and desolations thereof and that those perieds shall be accomplished before the judgement day nor will it appear that those ten Kings that shall in the fulfilling of this prophecy burn the whore shall do it by way of ordinance and obedience to Gods command otherwise then he permitted Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus and other Tyrants of the world as the fishes of the sea one to devoure and swallow up another And for that instance of the wood-man selling of the Oake I grant that the prayers of the Saints hasten the whores downfal and the opening of these prophecies make way for Gods time but what is this to a present downfal before the time appointed Againe That it is not credible but that some of the Angels should be messengers of the Gospel I answer Master Cotton knows that the English word messengers and the Greek word Apostles are the same but no such messengers Master Cotton allows of And that the word messengers in the Apostles sence should imply Pastors and Teachers which Master Cotton now only allows of I finde not in the Testament of Christ Jesus That those Angels should be the witnesses and the Prophets in sackcloth seemes more credible And I may well affirme the contrary to Master Cottons credible that it is incredible that any servant or messenger of the King of Peace should stir up the civil Magistrate to cut off those by the civil sword whose repentance he is bound to wait for with patience bearing in the interim their oppositions and gainsayings 2 Tim. 2. Peace T is most true according to the testimony of Christ Jesus and most contrary to the tenents and practice of the Romish bloody Popes and their followers that Christs Ministers are wisdomes Maidens Prov. 9. sent forth in heavenly Beauty and chastity with meek and loving yet vehement perswasions to call in the foolish of the world to partake of wisdomes dainties but dear truth deliver your minde concerning the last passage to wit Elijahs act in stirring up Ahab to kill all the Priests and prophets of Baal This act saith Master Cotton was not figurative but moral for saith he Ahab could not be a figure of Christ nor Israel after their Apostacie a type of the true Church Beside blasphemers ought to die by the law and Ahab forfeited his own life because he did not put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy 1 Kings 20. Truth Christ Jesus is considered two wayes Christ in his person and Christ mystical in his church represented by the Governors thereof Some say that Israel was not in Ahabs time excommunicated and cut off from Gods sight untill their final carrying out of the land of Canaan 2 Kings 17. and that Israel remained though none of Gods in respect of her apostacy yet Gods in respect of covenant untill the execution of the sentence of excommunication or divorce And therefore that Ahab as King of Israel Gods people untill Israel ceased to be Israel was a figure of Christ that is Christ in his presence in his governors in his church though faln to idolatry under admonition not yet cast off But 2. grant the church false and Ahab King of a false church how will it appear that Elijahs Act was a moral act and so presidential to all Kings and Nations Peace Because saith Master Cotton it is moral equity that blasphemers and apostate idolaters seducing others to idolatry should be put to death Levit. 24. 16. Deut. 13. 5. Truth Those Scriptures concern a ceremonial land in a ceremonial time before Christ and in the same Lev. 24. the command is equally given for the lampe in the Tabernacle and the shew-bread as well as for the idolater Peace But Benhadad saith Master Cotton was no Israelite nor was his blasphemy belched out in the land of Israel Truth It is most true that blasphemers in Israel and blasphemers against Israel and the God of it were put to death It is also true in the antitype and substance since the coming of Christ that blasphemers in Israel and blasphemers against Israel the church of God are spiritually to be put to death by the two-edged sword coming forth of the mouth of Christ Rev. 1. and this Gospel-punishment is much more dreadful and terrible then the punishment of the first blasphemers under Moses or the prephets Peace Methinks also if Ahab were now presidentiall and that which he should have done to Benhadad presidential then is there now no spiritual
what eyes and eares such blasphemous and bloody titles are to be lookt upon and heard by the chaste eyes and ears of Christs Doves Christ Iesus will one day and shortly make appear Truth But what contradiction will be in the later to wit That every one must do his utmost in Gods business when this former to wit to be a defender of the Faith is constantly denied to be any of the businesses of civil officers and the preservation of the civil state which charge and worke by the civil state can only lawfully and therefore possibly be committed to them For otherwise to take these words in a literal sence without respect to the rules and limits of Gods order and righteonsness what is it but to fire the world with wild-fire of blind zeale and to tumble down all Gods beauteous structures and buildings into a Chaos and confusion of Antichristian Babylon And this especially by the meanes of such who think and say that they cannot serve God with all their might except they punish blaspemers and fight against blasphemous nations and subdue not only the holy land from the Turk but even all the world from their idolatries and blasphemies if it lie in their power which spirit whether it be the spirit of the Son of God and Prince of peace or the spirit of the world the spirit of the son of perdition let every mans own spirit search and judge in the holy fear and presence of God Peace But further saith Master Cotton it was unnecessary yea folly and preposterous to have complained to Herod Pilate Caesar against the Heresies of the Pharisees For if a poor sheep should complain to the Wolves of the Wolves heresies would not the whole kennel of Wolves rise up against him c Would it not have disturbed the civil state by putting them into jealousies of a new kingdome and it was necessary the Gospel should first be known and received believed and professed before any could be complained of for Apostacie from it into heresie Truth Master Cotton cannot deny but that most of the Magistrates of the world by far are such as Herod Pilate Caesar were without God and enemies to him yea also in that little paâ—t of the world which is called Protestant Now if they are but kennels of Wolves compared with Christs sheep as Master Cotton expresseth I first demand how poorely hath Christ Jesus in all ages provided for and furnished his people with such main pillars of their spiritual joyes light and confidence as godly and Christian Magistrates Peace It is as cleer as the Sun beams that if ever Christ Jesus had intended such an ordinance in and over his church he would never have been so mistaken as to supply his sheep in all ages and in all parts of the world with kennels of Wolves in stead of godly and Christian Shepherds Truth But secondly Grant them to be kennels of Wolves in Master Cottons sence yet what bar is this to any from presenting and to them from receiving such complaints as are proper to their cognizance to their duty and calling were they truely called of God and Christ to such a service to wit to govern in spiritual Ecclesiastical or Church causes what though a Magistrate be a drunkard whoremonger opperssour is it not the duty of the people to complain to him of drunkards thieves whoremongers oppressors whom if he punish not but countenance c. yet have such petitioners discharged their consciences and left the guilt upon the right head who should be an head of civil righteousness but is an head of wickedness and iniquity Peace By this argument of Master Cottons the poor widow that sued for right to the unjust Judge that neither feared God nor regarded man took a foolish and a prestoperous course though commended by the Lord Jesus Luk. 18. Truth Indeed as Master Cotton saith If we look at the probability of any wholesome fruit from such trees we cannot expect grapes from such briars not figs from such thistles But looking at the providence of God who ruleth and over ruleth the hearts of Kings and all Magistrates as in the case of the poor widow and thousand others as also at what is their Duty and profession to wit to invite cheerfully their subjects to bring their complaints to them as also what is the duty of the wronged and oppressed to wit to deliver and discharge their own souls I see not but it is safe sea sonable and a duty to cry even to the unjust Judge for Justice as that poor woman did Peace Yea were Caesar Herod Pilate by virtue of their places offices and duties Ecclesiastical Judges and ought to have suppressed the heresies and blasphemies of the Pharisees why should it be impossible but they might have removed the Pharisees offence as many Kings of England and France though evil themselves have stirred mightily upon complaints of their subjects against the Popish Pharisees of their times yea the highest of them the Pope himself And if Master Cottons doctrine be true why must not the Magistrate be sought unto that a true Gospel be received and believed Why may not the civil power be a judge in the first receiving of the Gospel as afterward for the preserving and restoring of it Truth Such is the brightness of the Gospel of Christ Iesus and the dread and the power of the two-edged sword coming out of his mouth subduing and slaying the highest opposites and adversaries that it will prove to be unnecessary foolish and preposterous to run to any other sword or censures then those alone of Christs so mighty and so powerful were they rightly administred as the Popish and Protestant world pretendeth Peace Lastly Master Cotton professeth he knows not how Magistrates can know the Son and kiss him and acknowledge his kingdome and submit their crowns to it love his truth be nursing Fathers and Mothers to his church and yet not be defenders of it Truth If kings must submit their crowns to this kingdome of Christ must it not undeniablly follow that the kingdom of Christ Iesus is far greater and higher then their thrones and crowns for none will submit to the lesser weaker c. And if so what weakness is it yet to expect that the inferiour power and authority to wit civil and earthly must defend the highest and most glorious crown and throne of Christ Iesus Like as if a poor Indian Canon should submit it self to some Royal Navy and yet must be this Navies defender or a few naked Americans submit to some Army or kingdome and yet these poor naked ones must bear and that seriously without Iâ—sting the title of their defenders Truth Master Cotton and those of his bloody judgement are not contented that the civil powers defend the bodies and goods of the Saints from oppressors from persecutors c. that love and affection by all gracious means be exprest more to the Saints then to other people of
their dominions that all true Christian meanes be used for the spreading of the name and truth of the Lord Iesus I say this serves not the turn and gives not content except also the Magistrate defend by civil sword the purity of the doctrine and the ordinances of Christ Iesus in his church in punishing and suppressing the contrary by arme of flesh whether within or without the church Peace In this last respect I must speak an high and bold word to wit That the poorest youth or maid who hath more knowledge and graâ—e of Christ then a king or Emperour hath as well sometimes it hath and may come to pass may be a greater contender for the truth and a great defender of the faith of Iesus then the king or Emperor and so consequently then all the kings of the whole world Truth Paul was set for the defence of the Gospel and consequently every believer in Iesus according to his measure of grace received and therefore your word is not more bold then true For spiritual defences are most proper to a spiritual estate and so accordingly most potent prevalent and mighty Examination of CHAP. XXXI Peace HEre first Master Cotton will not own it that the title of Iudges of spiritual causes be given to Civil Magistrate Truth The Parliament of England established King Henry the eighth supreame head and Governor over the church of England and what is this but supreme Iudge in all Ecclesiastical causes What though the tearme judge be stumbled at by some and the tearm head will not down with others yet take but what Master Cotton grantâ— And as the devil himself lay hid under Samuels mantle so under Master Cottons tearm of fathers mothers shepherds that is spiritual fathers mothers shepherds must of necessity be concluded an headship and power and office of judging when this child doth a miss when these sheep go astray who are schismaticks who hereticks who sheep who Wolves that the sheep may be corrected and reduced and the Wolves braines knockt out Peace They may judge saith Master Cotton but not with a church but politick power and for want of which and for giving their kingdome to the Beast Revel 17. 12 13. God saith he opened a way for the Turkes to break in and destroy the third part of Christendome Rev. 9. 14. to 21. Truth Let it be under what cloake or colour or notion soever let it be politick indeed and subtle or plaine and simple yet it seemes it is true that he must judge which will not be owned in plaine tearms but as a Protector a Father or a Shepheard Secondly Those Scriptures quoted do not lay a guilt upon the ten horns or kings for suffering the beast in their dominions but for giving their power and authority unto him Thirdly the civil peace was not dissolved but preserved for many hundred yeers before the Turkes rose to punish either the Eastern or Western part of Antichristian Christendome So that a false religion doth not immediately and instantly dissolve the civil peace but kingdomes and states professing false religions may flourish T is true God in his deep councels and times brings judgements eternal and temporal upon false worshipping states especially where the truth of Christ is presented and persecuted Yet divers ages of temporal prosperity to the Antichristian kingdom prove that common Assumption and maxime false to wit that the church and Commonweale are like Hipocrates twins weep and laugh flourish and fade live and die together Peace I cannot reach the bottome of this next passage of Master Cotton viz. that Magistrates may be subject to the church and lick the dust of her feet and yet be supreme governors of the church also In spiritual matters saith he and in a right administration of them he is subject but is civil things and in the corrupt administration of church-affaires so far corrupt as tendeth to the disturbance of civil peace there the Magistrates saith he are supream governors even over the churches in their own dominions Truth Who sees not here but by this Doctrine Magistrates must judge when the church is rightly administred and when it is corruptly administred And that whatever the Ministers of the church or the whole church judge that is nothing for the Magistrate if he be supream governor he must judge and what is this but even in the very same respect I say in one and the same respect to make them high and low up and down mountaines and vallies supream governors and so above the church anon ageâ— to lick the dust of the feet of the church which Master Cotton will as soon make good as bring the East and the West together Besides as elsewhere I observed what if the people will have no kings governors c. nay no Parliament nor general courts but leave vast interregnums or Ruptures of government yea conclude upon frequent changes as all nations of the world have had great changes this way shall the churches of Christ Jesus be without an head a governor defender protector What a slavery doth this bloody doctrine bring the faire Spouse of Christ into Peace In the passage concerning Saul Master Cotton observeth that Saul was not taken away for exercising civil power against spiritual wickedness in the case of witches Truth Saul was king of Israel the church of God and a typical king the anointed or Christ of God and Master Cotton himself will subcribe to the confession of Nathaniel to Christ Iesus Thou art the king of Israel which he was and is in his own most holy person as also in his Ministers and governors during his absence It was now Sauls duty to put literal witches to death in his Christian Israel his church and Congregation It is true Saul forsaking the God of Israel perished for other wickedness and among other his sins for persecuting or hunting righteous David and therein Saul is a type and warning to all the apostates and persecuting Sauls of the earth that desperation and desperate self-destruction attend them Peace But whither tends this last passage concerning David We read not saith Master Cotton that he did exercise any spiritual power as a King but as a prophet Will he commend Sauls kingly acting in spiritual things as just and shall not David whose name and throne were most eminently figurative of Christ Jesus be found a king in Israel the house and church of God Truth The patern of David Solomon and the good kings of Israel and Judah is the common and great argument of all that plead for Magistrates power in spiritual cases And indeed what power was that but spiritual which he exercised in bringing up the Arke expresly said to be done by king David 2 Sam. 6. What power was that but kingly put forth in ordering and disposing the services of the Priests and Levites and singers 1 Chron. 16 Peace Master Cotton not ignorant of this it may be was not
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
perish by it Peace And for the perpetuity of the reason of the law you formerly fully satisfied that even in the dayes of grace for him that shall thrust away an Israelite from his God there is upon his obstinacy a greater punishment beyond all imagination to wit a spiritual cutting off from the land of Canaan then under Moses which was but from the temporall the type and shadow But Master Cotton proceedeth alleadging that the Minister of God must have in a readiness to execute vengeance on him that doth evil and evil it is saith he to thurst away Gods people from him Truth Every lawful Magistrate whether succeeding or elected is not only the Minister of God but the Minister or servant of the people also what people or nation soever they be all the world over and that Minister or Magistrate goes beyond his commission who intermeddles with that which cannot be given him in commission from the people unless Master Cotton can prove that all the people and inhabitants of all nations in the world have spiritual power Christs power naturally fundamentally and originally residing in them as they are people and inhabitants of this world to rule Christs Spouse the church and to give spiritual power to their officers to exercise their spiritual laws and commands otherwise it is but prophaning the holy name of the most high It is but flattering of Magistrates it is but the accursed trusting to an arme of flesh to perswade the rulers of the earth that they are Kings of the Israel or church of God who were in their institutions and government immediately from God the rulers and gavernors of his holy church and people Peace Grant saith Master Cotton that the evil be spiritual and concern the inner man and not the civil state yet that evill will be destructive to such a City it shall not rise up the second â—ime Nâ—hâ—â—s 1. 9. Truth Although that it pleaseth God sometimes to bring a people to utter destruction for their idolatry against himself and cruelty against his people yet we see the Lord doth not presently and instantly do this but after a long course of many ages and generations as was seen in Nineve her self and since in Athens Constantinople and Rome both Pagan and Antichristian And therefore the example here by Master Cotton produced gives not the least colour of warrant for the civil state presently and immediately to execute vengeance for idolatry or heresie upon persons or Cities now all the world over as he gave commandment to that typical nation of Israel which is now also to be fulfilled spiritually upon the spiritual Israelite or Israelitish City a particular church or people falling away from the living God in Christ Jesus Peace Whereas it was said by the discusser that the civil Magistrate hath the charge of the bodies and goods of the subjects and the spiritual officers of the church or kingdome of Christ the charge of their souls and soul safety Master Cotton answers First If it were so that the civil Magistrate had the charge of the bodies and goods onely of the subject yet that might justly excite to watchfulness against such pollution of religion as tends to apostacy for God will visit city and country with publike calamity if not with captivity for the churches sake The idolatry and worship of Christians saith he brought the Turkish captivity upon the citys and countries of Asia Truth By soul and soul safety I think Master Cotton understands the same with the discusser to wit the matters of religion and spiritual worship If the Magistrate hath received any such charge or commission from God in spiritual things doubtless as before the people have received it originally and fundamentally as they are a people But now if neither the nations of the world as peoples and nations have received this power originally and fundamentally nor can they derive it Ministerially to their civil officers by what name or title high or low soever they be distinguished Oh what presumption what prophaning of Gods most holy name what usurpation over the souls and consciences of men though it come under the vaile or vizard of saving the City or kingdome yea of saving of souls and honoring of God himself Beside God is not wont to visit any country or people in general for the sin of his people but for their own idolatries and cruelty toward his people as all histories will prove And for this instance of the Turkes I say it was not the idolatry and image-worship alone of the Antichristians but joyned with their other sins which brought Gods vengeance by the Turks upon them as was said above from Revel 9. and especially their Antichristian cruelty grounded upon this bloody doctrine of persecution Both these Antichristian states and since also the Turkish Monarchy have flourished many generations in external and outward prosperity and glory notwithstanding their religion is false and although it is true that in the time and period appointed all nations shall drink of the cup of Gods wrath for their nationall sins both against the first and second table in matters concerning God and man Peace How satisfie you Master Cottons second answer or question to wit Did ever God commit the charge of the body to any Governor to whom he did not commit in his way the care of their souls also Truth There is a twofold care and charge of souls manifested in holy Scripture First That which in common belongs to all to love our neighbor as our selves to endeavor the present and eternal welfare both of superiors inferiors equals friends and enemies and this by prayers exhortations reproofs examples of justice loving kindness sobriety godliness c. But what is this to the second charge by way of office which in the old Testament was given not only to Priests and Levites but to the governors and rulers of the Iewish state of which state being mixed of spiritual and civil they were the head and governors as it was Israel a nation of worshippers of the true God And therein were they the types and forerunners of Christ Jesus the true King of Israel as he is called Joh. 1. The cure and charge of souls now saith Master Cotton in this Chapter belongeth by vertue of office to the spiritual officers of Christs kingdom I add and during the desolation of Zion and the time of the apostacy from Christs visible kingdome belongeth to the two Prophets and witnesses of truth Rev. 11. but not to the kings rulers nations and civil states of the world who can be no true parallel or antitype to the Israel or people of God Peace Master Cotton objects Jehosaphat sent abroad preachers throughout all the Cities of Judah and if that were a type of Christ it were to act that now which typed out Christ and he fulfilled in his own person Truth Christ Jesus sends out preachers three waies First In his own person as
on them In which respect God hath crowned the supream court of Parliament with everlasting honour in breaking the jaws of the oppressing Bishops c. Oh that such glorious Justice may not be blemished by erecting in their stead a more refined but yet as cruel an Episcopacy 2. If the offence be of a spiritual nature is there no spiritual way of judging except the church of Christ be granted visible during Antichrists Apostacy Hath not Christ Jesus given power to his two prophets even all the Raigne of the Beast to speak fire Revelations the 11. to shut up heaven to turn the waters into blood to smite the earth with all manner of plagues and this untill the time of the finishing of their prophecie or Testimony when their great slaughters shall prepare the way for the downfal of Antichrist and their own most glorious raising and exaltation There was no Chapter 34 which probably was Master Cottons oversight or the Printers therefore I pass to Chapter 35. Examination of CHAP. XXXV Peace HEre whereas it was said if it were the Magistrates duty or office to punish hereticks c. then he is both a temporal and Ecclesiastical officers Master Cotton answers It follows not except the Magistrate were to punish with Ecclesiastical censures his punishment is meerly civil whether imprisonment banishment or death Truth I reply first the statutes of the English nation and the oath of supremacy have proved the Kings and Queens of England heads and governors of the church of England And if to be an head or governor be not an office let Master Cotton be againe requested to ponder the instance given which he passeth by in silence deny it ingenuously he cannot and to justifie it I hope his light from heaven will not suffer him although yet he would â—aine excuse it by saying they punish only with civil punishment imprisonment banishment or death Therefore 2. Here lies the mystery of iniquity and the Babel and confusion of it that either according to Popish Tenents the kings of the earth must give their power to the beast and enslave themselves under the name and vizard of the secular power to be the Popes executioners or according to Protestant Tenents to wit that Kings and Governours be heads of the church and yet be furnished with no Church-power nor spirituall censures Peace It would be thought some mystical and monstrous thing that Kings and Governors should be obliged to act in civil Judicature and yet be furnished with no civil power but ought to punish onely with spirituall or Church-censures Truth The blinde and the lame mans robbing the Orchard is here verified The Minister though a blindeguide he is the seer but wanting legs and strength of civil power he is carried upon the civil Magistrates shoulders whose blindness the subtle Clergy abuseth c. but both together rob the Orchard of the most high and sureaâ—enging God Truth I conceive it true that the Kings and Governors of the national church of Israel had a national power and had the Kord Jesus been pleased to have continued national churches the Lings and governors of such states might well as they of Israel were have been both Temporal and Ecclesiastical officers Peace But now the Lord Jesus abolishing that national state and instituting and appointing his worshippers and followers to be the Israel of God the holy nation and proper Antitype of the former Israel it seems most unchristian that either the work or the title should remaine whether with open or a masked face or vizard Truth Therefore as it pleased God in wonderful wisdome and inconceiâ—eable depths of councel for a while to continue a national church national covenant c. and to take them away as unsufficient beggarly and weak either for the further advancement of his own glory or salvation of men so hath he taken away the administration thereof by carnal weapons armes of flesh c. In stead of fire and sword and stoning the oppositâ—es in stead of imprisonment banishment death he hath appointed exhortations reprehensions denunciations excommunications and together with preaching patient waiting if God peradventure will give repentance Lastly If the civil Magistrate must imprison and banish and put to death in spiritual cases and the civil Magistrate is but a Minister or servant of the people and so of God and if the people make the laws and give the Magistrate his commission and power doth it not follow by this doctrine that the people of the nations of the world are fundamentally and originally both Temporal and Ecclesiastical And then what is become of the foundations of the Christian faith And also are not hereby the people and nations of the world whatever care be had to the contrary to restraine incouraged according to their several consciences I say encouraged and hardened in their bloody wars imprisonings banishings and putting to death for cause of conscience Peace Whereas it was said to be Babel or confusion for the church to punish the offences of such as are not within its jurisdiction with spiritual censures or the civil state spiritual offences with corporal or temporal weapons Master Cotton answers No confusion for so Paul directs the church of Corinth Truth That very Parenthesis which Master Cotton stumbleth at takes away his answer For as it would be confusion for the church to censure such matters and of such persons as belong not to the church So is it confusion for the state to punish spiritual offenders for they are not within the sphear of a civil jurisdiction The body or Commonweal is meerly civil the Magistrate or head is a civil head and each member is a civil member and so far forth as any of this civil body are spiritual or act spiritually they and their actions fall under a spiritual cognizance and judicature Peace The reason saith Master Cotton is the same for there be offences which tend to provoke wrath against the civil state Ezra 7. Why should there be wrath against the king or his sons Truth This reason indeed Master Cotton often inculcates and beates upon it that the Pagan kings of Persia were of his mind â— I believe Master Cotton out of a zeal to God but the Pagan kings out of a slavish terror which never prevailed so far that I know of as to bring them to a kindly repentance of their own idolatries or a true love to the God of Israel or his people Peace However your former answer is to me sufficient to wit that thousands of famous Towns Cities and Kingdomes have flourished in peace and tranquillity for many ages and generations where God hath had no house and not only where it was by the civil state neglected but also wholly persecuted Truth In the time appointed and full ripeness of their sins the vengeance of God after patience many generations abused hath surely and fearefully visited yet in the interim it is clear it is no ground
of a necessity of present punishing of false worshippers and idolaters least present wrath fall upon the King or his Son Peace Now whereas it was said an intollerable burthen laid upon the Magistrates back together with the care of the Commonweal to be charged also with the spiritual c. Master Cotton answers 1. That the Magistrate ought to seek out meaneâ— of grace for the people 2. To remove idolatry and idolatrous Teachers 3. It is commonly added that he ought to preserve the church pure by reformation Truth I reply This work charged upon the kings governors and Magistrates in the world makes the weight of their care and charge far greater then ever was the charge of the kings of Israel and Judah For their people were miraculously brought into covenant with God to their hands like a bridge or house or ship ready built and needed only keeping up in reparation yea an heavier yoak then either their or our fathers were able to bear considering all the several different consciences religions and worships of all mankind naturally and the many different opinions factions and sects which daily do arise and that conscientiously and zealously unto death All these must by Master Cottons doctrine lie before the bar beside all civil cases c. Peace T is memorable that Paul himself that had the care of all the churches would not be intangled with civil affaires further then his own necessities did call for and sometimes the necessities of his companions but this yoak put upon the necks of Magistrates is as full of temporal as spiritual care And as it is impossible for them to bear So the Lord in his holy season may please to teach them as he hath taught some already through his grace to lay that spiritual Burthen upon the shoulders of their only King of Saints Christ Jesus to whom the supream power and care of souls and churches doth alone belong Whereas it was further said that the Magistrate is to cherish and to cleave unto the Saints and to defend them from civil violence but the spiritual care of them belongs to spiritual officers appointed by Christ Jesus to that end Master Cotton replies this is but a pretence because the discusser acknowledgeth no churches extant c. Truth Although amongst so many pretending churches the discusser be not able to satisfie himself in the rightly gathering of the Churches according to the true order of Christ Jesus yet this is far from a pretence because the institution of any state government order c. is one thing and the administration and execution which may be interrupted and eclipsed is another Peace Indeed Ieremy could not rightly have been judged a pretender when he mourned for and lamented the desolations of the temple priests elders altar sacrifice c. and neither he nor Daniel nor any of Gods prophets or servants could during the time of the desolation and captivity acknowledge either temple or altar or sacrifice right extant upon the face of the earth Truth He that saith the Sun Christ Jesus is not to be seen in our Horizon or Hemisphere in his absence or when he suffers an Eclipse cannot be said to deny that the Lord Jesus his holy ordinances ought to be visible in the worship and service of God Although the discusser be not satisfied in the period of the times and the manner of his glorious appearing yet his soul uprightly desires to see and adore and to be thankful to Master Cotton yea to the least of the disciples of Christ Jesus for any coal or sparke of true light amongst so many false and pretended candles and candlesticks pretending the glorious name of the Lord Jesus Christ Peace Next Master Cotton demands what reason can be given why the Magistrate ought to break the teeth of lyons ought to suppress such as offer civil violence and not of the Wolves that make havock of their souls who are more mischievous then the lyon as the Pope of Rome then the Pagan Emperors He wonders the discusser should favor the Pope more then the Emperour except it be that he symbolizeth rather with Antichrist then with Caesar Truth It may here suffice to say two things not to repeat other passages First The civil state and Magistrate are meerly and essentially civil and therefore cannot reach without the transgressing the bounds of civility to judge in matters spiritual which are of another sphere and nature then civility is Now it is most just and proper that if any member of a civil body be opprest the body should relieve it As also it is just and proper that the spirituall state or body should relieve the soul of any in that spiritual combination oppressed Therefore Secondly for spiritual and religious oppressions the king of kings Christ Iesus hath sufficient providedly in his spiritual kingdome therefore Acts 20 Paul gives the charge against those spiritual Wolves to the elders of the church at Ephesus and not to civil Magistrates of the city which Paul should have done notwithstanding they were worshippers of Diana if it had been their duty to have broke the teeth of those spirituall Wolves c. Peace It is indeed one thing to prohibite the Pope the prelates the Presbyterians the Independents or any from forcing any in the matters of their respective consciences and accordingly to take the sword from such mens hands or as their executioners to refuse to use it for them It is another thing to leave them freely to their own consciences to defend themselves as well as they can by the two-edged sword of the spirit which is the word of God which all the several sorts of pretenders say they have received from Iesus Christ Truth The renowned Parliament of England hath justly deserved a crown of honour to all posterity for breaking the teeth of the oppressing Bishops and their courts but to wring the sword out of the hands of a few prelates and to suffer it willingly to be wrung out of their own hands by many thousand Presbyterians or Independants what is it but to change one wolfe or lyon for another or in stead of one to let loose the Dens of thousands Peace But why should Master Cotton insinuate the discusser to glance a more obsequious eye upon the Pope then upon the Emperor Truth I fear Master Cotton would create some evil opinion in the heart of the civil Magistrate that the discusser is as the bloody Iews told Pilate no friend to Caesar whereas upon a due search it will be sound clear as the light that it is impossible that any that subscribe ex animo to the bloody Tenent of persecution can ex animo be a friend to Magistracy The reason is all persecutors whether priests or people care onely for such Magistrates as suite the end the great bloody end of persecution of whom they either hope to borrow the sword or whom they hope to make their executioners Their very
Mahumeâ—ans and no people more filthy in soul and body and no people in the world more bloody and persecuting but I listen for your second paradox Truth Secondly This Tenent of the Magistrates keeping the church from Apostatizing by practising civil force upon the consciences of men is so far from preserving Religion pure that it is a mighty Bulwark or Barricado to keep out all true Religion yea and all godly Magistrates for ever coming into the World Peace Doubtless this will seem a hard riddle yet I presume not too hard for the fingers of time and truth to unty and render easie Truth Thus I unty it If the civil Magistrate must keep the church pure then all the people of the Cities Nations and kingdomes of the world must do the same much more for primarily and fundamentally they are the civil Magistrate Now the world saith John lyeth or is situated in wickedness and conscquently according to its disposition endures not the light of Christ nor his golden candlestick the true Church nor easily chooseth a true Christian to be her officer or Megistrate for she accounts such false to her Gods and Religion and suspects their faithfulness c. Peace Hence indeed is it as I now conceive that so rarely this world admitâ—eth or not long continueth a true servant of God in any place of trust â—â—d credit except some extraordinary hand of God over-power or else his servants by some base staires of Flattery or worldly compliance ascend the chaire of Civil-power But to proceed saith Master Cotton It was the duty of Jehosaphat Hezekiah c. to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings because they were an holy people and is it not the duty of godly Princes to reduce their backsliding Churches to their primitive purity It is true saith he David and Solomon were types of Christ but so were not the other Kings of Israel and Judah who were the one the kings of Israel all Apostates and the other the kings of Judah many of them Apostate from Christ And Secondly If they were saith he all types of Christ yet Christ being the Antitype Christ hath abolished them all and so it were sacriledge or Antichristian usurpation for any king to be set over Christians Or if they were types of Christ in respect of their kingly office over the Church alone was it typical in Solomon to put Joab a murtherer to death or Adonijah a traitor and so consequently unlawful for Christian Princes to put murtherers and traitors to death Further saith he What those kings might do in type Christ Jesus might much more do in his own person as the Antitype but he put no man to death in his own person and therefore they were not types but servants of Christ and paterns and examples to Christian Magistrates yea Ahab who should have put Benhadad to death for his blasphemy Truth I understand those kings of Israel and Judah untill their cutting off or excommunicating out of the land of Canaan to be yet visible members of the church of Israel and Judah and as kings of Israel and Judah types of Christ Jesus partly in his own person who did that being the true spiritual king of Israel which they did or should have done in that typical national church or land of Israel and 2 partly in the officers of his kingly power and government of his church which officers and church falling away untill an absolute cutting off are the Antitypes in respect of visible government of those former kings of Israel and Judah Peace Can it be imagined that those wicked Kings Jeroboam Baasha Ahab c. were figures of Christ Jesus Truth Master Cotton himself grants David and Solomon types of Christ Jesus and yet how abominable and monstrous some of their practices we must therefore distinguish between their persons and sins and frailties As kings of Israel Gods Church and people doubtless they were the figures of the K. of Israel Christ Iesus yea it is probable that the land of Canaan with the officers and governors thereof before Christ time was but a figure of the spiritual land or Christian church with the officers governors administrations therof good and evil Although the applying of the times and persons each to other requires a more then ordinary guidance of the finger or holy Spirit of God Peace I remember that some of eminent note for knowledge and godliness have not stuck to affirme that the Gentile Prince Cyrus as he was called Gods servant anointed or Christ Isa 44 I say that he in a respect as a restorer of Gods people was a figure of Christ Iesus Truth It is not improbable but that the most holy and only wise whose works are known unto himself from the beginning of the world did by such famous instruments of mercy to the literal Iew type out Christ Iesus and his heavenly instruments mercy and goodness to the mystical and spiritual Christian Iews c. Examination of CHAP. XXXVI and XXXVII Peace IN these passages Master Cotton first questions having not his copy by him the truth of some expressions printed as his Truth It is at hand for Master Cotton or any to see that copy which he gave forth and corrected in some places with his own hand and every word verbatiâ—â— here published 2. To the answer it self or reproof of the Lord Iesus given to his disciples for their bloody and rash zeal desiring fire to come down from heaven c. we both agree that Christs rebuking of his disciples did not hinder the Ministers of the Gospel from proceeding in a Church-way c. 2. That false â—persecution in a churchway is as odious and dreadful a persecution as any prosecution â— a court of civil justice as also that this is not the point intended though it be reckoned up with the rest Peace I marvel at that which follows where Master Cotton saith that it never fell from his pen in any writing of his viz. that it is lawful for a eivil Magistrate to inflict corporal punishment upon such as are contrary indeed in matters of Religion and therefore he passeth by the discussers reasons as which might well have been spared being brought but against a shadow of his own fancy Truth I am not able to imagine what Master Cotton meanes by such as are contrary minded against whom he will not in this Chapter maintaine any corporal punishment to be inflicted when in so many of his writings and throughout his whole book he maintaines corporal punishment and that to death it self in many cases against the idolatrous the blasphemous the heretical the seducing yea the degenerate and Apostate Peace Love bids us take this passage as a pang of reluctancy in his other wise-holy and peaceable breast against such unholy bloody Tenents But what say you to the passage about the second beast bringing fire from heaven Rev. 13. This was no wonder saith Master Cotton for
Constantine had done the like before to hereticks the Arrian Bishops against the Orthodox Saints Also it is related as a different matter from the former vers 15. that he had power to cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed And this fire comes not down upon the Saints but the earth Truth Master Cotton I think knows that the discusser is not alone in this interpretation If he propose any other more suitable to Christ Iesus I hope the discusser desires thankfully to embrace it But this fire being not literal but mystical in imitation of the true prophet Elijah and also as the true witnesses cause fiery judgements descend from heaven upon the enemies of the truth so the false witnesses cause fire to descend against the faithful and sure it is as the discusser related that the Popish Bishops in France and England and other places have ever constantly cryed out that the just judgements of God are brought down by them upon the hereticks which is no smal wonder that the hearts of the sons of men should be so hardened against the light of truth in truths witnesses notwithstanding the acts of Constantine and the Arrian Bishops long before Peace But this fire saith Master Cotton comes down from heaven upon the earth Truth True but it may well imply no more then in the open view and face of all men in this world Peace And lastly saith he it is said that he causeth that as as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed which is a different effect Truth Because it comes from a different cause with respect not to the first Beast himself but only to his picture or image and implies that fiery judgements descend not onely upon such as refuse to worship the first or second beast but the very picture of the beast likewise Examination of CHAP. XXXVIII Peace MAster Cotton here first observing the discussers agreement with him that this instruction 2 Tim. 2. to be meek and patient to all men is properly directive to the Ministers of the Gospel he concludes that therefore hitherto his answer was not perplext and ravelled Truth Many plaine threads may be drawn forth of a perplext and ravelled string as it seemes to me the many particulars of different natures here wrapt up together were Peace Yea but he seems to disown those words unconverted Christians in Crete and more then once in the Chapter toucheth the discussers credit c. Truth I know the discusser desires unfainedly with the Lords assistance rather to die a thousand deaths then willingly to impeach the least of holy or civil truths and therefore affirmeth in this case that at his pleasure the copy not which he received from Master Cotton for there never passed such writings between them as Master Cotton often affirmeth but which he received from another with the correction of Master Cottons own hand to it shall be ready for himself or any to view Peace However Master Cotton maintaining the tearms of unconverted converts from Ier. 3. 10. Iudah turned unto me but not with all her heart but fainedly so Iudas Anâ—â—â—as and Sapphira Balaam the Niâ—â—laitans Iezabel in Thyatira as also the children of believing parents born in the Church who though holy yet cannot be conceived to be truely holy Truth Were the question about hypocrites counterfeits and trayters in the church and kingdome of Christ these words might here rightly be alleadged but Master Cottons words being these unconverted Christians in Crete whom Titus as an Evangelist was to seek and to convert I conceive that Master Cotton will not affirm that the office of an Evangelist was to seek to convert the church though possibly an hypocrite may be turned from his hypocrisie by an Evangelist or private man in the church 2. He makes in the very words a distinction between these unconverted Christians and those Iews and Gentiles in the Church who saith he though carnal yet were not convinced of the error of their way And to conclude this Chapter the discusser readily with thanks acknowledgeth Master Cottons words that it is not probable that Timothy was now at Ephesus and that the subscription added to the second Epistle of Timothy in the English translation is justly to be suspected Examination of CHAP. XXXIX Peace MAster Cotton here argues That if the Magistrate be a Prophet and opposed in his doctrine he ought from this Scripture 2 Tim. 2. meekly to bear the opposition waiting if God peradventure will give repentance yet withal by the way he observeth that if the Magistrate be a prophet he may do some things as a Magistrate which he may not do as a Prophet Truth Of this no question but what is this to a coercive Magisterial power in spiritual things which is the question 2. Since that Master Cotton acknowledgeth that Magistrates may be prophets and that divers Magistrates of New English churches have spoken as prophets eminently able in their churches what should be the reason I ask by the way that their Churches hear no more of such their propheticall gifts but that their talent's wrapt up c. Peace Of this let their consciences give account to Jesus Christ whom they call the King of their churches and the fountaine of such heavenly abilities But to proceed Master Cotton grants that Magistrates ought to bear in the church oppositions against their prophecyings but not continued opposings nor seduings c. Truth What is then the waiting here commanded until God peradventure will give repentance Peace It is true saith Master Cotton it is not in the power of man to give repentance but God alone Neither is it in mans power saith he to give repentance to scandalous persons against the civil state and yet the discusser acknowledgeth that the civil Magistrate ought to punish these Truth It is not the Magistrates work and office in the civil state to convert the heart in true repentance unto God and Christ The civil state respecteth conformity and obedience to civil laws though indeed the works and office of the Ministers of Christ Jesus are commonly laid upon the Magistrates shoulders and they pretending themselves the Ministers of Christ Jesus armed with the two-edged sword of the Spirit of God the Word of God do commonly flye unto and put more confidence in the sword of steel in the hand of their civil Ministers the Magistrates Peace The sword of steel hath done wonderful things throughout the whole world in matters of Religion and woful and wonderful as was formerly observed hath Religious changes been in the English nation and that by the power of the civil sword backward and forward and that in the space of a few yeers in the reigne of four or five Princes But this saith Master Cotton is no more then befell the church of Iudah in the dayes of Ahaz Hezekiah Manasseh and Iosiah Truth Englands changes will
be found upon examination incomparably greater and wrought in the eighth part of the time that the changes of the church of Iudah were And yet this instance will not infringe that the civil sword of the Magistrate in a national way is ordinarily able to turn about a Nation to and againe to and from a truth of God in national hypocrisie and therefore most wisely hath the most holy and only wise by the most golrious brightness of his person and wisdom of the Father Christ Jesus abolished his own national and state church whether explicit or implicit that the two-edged sword of the word of the Lord in the mouths of his true messengers might alone be brandished and magnified Peace Master Cotton concludeth this Chapter with the observation that the revolt of England againe to Popery wanteth Scripture-light Truth He that loves Christ Iesus in sincerity cannot but long that Christ Iesus would speedily be pleased with the breath of his mouth to consume that man of sin But yet that worthy servant of God according to his conscience Master Archer doth not barely propose his opinion but also his Scripture-grounds which I believe compared with all former experiences will seem to be of great and weighty consideration and call all that wait for Christ Iesus to beg his Spirit deeply to weigh and ponder them Examination of CHAP. XL. Peace TO the several allegations concerning the woful slavery of all opposites of Christ Iesus and the mighty power of free grace only able to release them Master Cotton replies So is it with scandalous offenders against the Civil state and yet this doth not restraine Magistrates from executing just judgements upon them c. And he adds that better a dead soul in a dead body and that seducers die without faith then murther and seduce many precious souls from the faith Truth The Lord Iesus commanding to give God the things that be Gods and to Caesar the things that be Caesars gives all his followers a clear and glorious torch of light to distinguish between offenders against God in a spiritual way and offenders against Caesar his Lawes state and government in a civil way T is true slatterers and time-servers use to make Religion and justice the two pillars of a State and so indeed do all such states in the world as maintaine a state-Religion invented and maintained in civil policy to maintaine a civil state But all men that have tasted of history or travel are witnesses sufficient of these two particulars First concerning justice that if the sword and balances of justice in a sort or measure be not drawn and held forth against scandalous offenders against civil state that civil state must dissolve by little and little from civility to barbarisme which is a wilderness of life and manners Peace Yea the very barbarians and Pagans of the world themselves are forced for their holding and hanging together in barbarous compaines to use the ties and knots and bands of a kind of civil justice against scandalous offenders against their Commonweale and profit Truth But too many thousands of Cities and states in the world have and do flourish for many generations and ages of men wherein whatever Caesar gets God cannot get one penny of his due in any bare permission or toleration of his religion and worship Peace Dear Truth these two points being so constantly proved I can but wonder that Master Cotton or any servant of Christ Iesus should cry out to the Caesars of this world to help the eternal God to get his due because Christ Iesus grants them a civil sword in civil cases to preserve their civil states from barbarisme and confusion Truth That worthy Emperor Antoninus Pius in his letters for the Christians plainly tels the governors of his provinces that the gods were able to punish those that sinned against their worship evidently declaring by that light of conscience and knowledge which God had lighted up in his soul the vast difference between offenders in the civil state and offendors against the true and only religion and worship about which the whole world disagreeth and is hist together by this bloody tenent I say hist together by the ears and throat in blood and fire as the tide of times major vote armies and armes of flesh prevaile Peace Ah Dear truth is there is no Balme in Gâ—â—ead no balances no sword of spiritual justice in the City and kingdome of Christ Jesus but that the officers thereof must run to borrow Caesar Are the Armories of the true king Solomon Christ Jesus disarmed Are there no spiritual swords girt upon the thighs of those valiant ones that should guard his heavenly bed except the sword of steel be run for from the cutlers shop Is the Religion of Christ Jesus so poor and so weak and feeble grown so cowardly and base since Paul spake so gloriously of it and the weapons of it 2 Cor. 10. that neither the souldiers nor Commanders in Christs Army have any courage or skill to withstand sufficiently in all points a false teacher a false prophet a spiritual cheater or deceiver Truth This must all that follow Jesus bitterly lament that not a spiritual sword or spear is to be found in the spiritual Israel of God but that his poor Israelites are forced down to the Philistins of this worlds Smiths c. And that the princes of Zion are become feeble like harts without pasture as Jeremy complaineth in his Lamentations Peace Now whereas it was added that a civil sword hardens the followers of false teachers in the suffering of their leaders and begets an impression of the falshood of that religion which cannot uphold it self all the world over but with such instruments of violence c. Master Cotton replies that the Magistrate ought not to draw out his sword against seducers untill he hath used all good means for conviction c. and then saith he he should be cruel to Christs Lambs in sparing the Foxes c. Truth Who knows not this to be the plea and practise of all Popish persecutors in all ages to compass sea and land to reduce the heretick to the union and bosome of the church not only with promises threatnings c but oftimes with solemn disputations and sometimes writings and waitings before they come to the definitive sentence and deliver him to the secular power and so to the use of those desperate remedies of hanging burning c. How do the bloody Popes and the bloody Bonners in their hypocritical letters and bloody sentences profess their lamentable grief at errors and heresies their clemency and mercy and great pains taken to reduce that wandring to return the lost childe to heal the scabbed sheep yea and when they are forced as they say for the saving of the flock from infection to deliver such sheep to the secular power as their butchers and executioners yet beseech they that power and that
most hypocritically without shame in the bowels of Christ Jesus to Minister justice with such moderation that if it be possible the hereticks soul may be saved but however the flock may be preserved from such â—damnable Doctrine Peace Master Cotton will here blame the alleadging of this for the Popish Religion is false but their true c. Truth T is true the Papists Religion is false yet Master Cotton cannot pass without suspition to be too neer of kin to the bloody Papist to whom they are so neer in practice The Lord Jesus gave an everlasting rule to his poor servants to discern all false prophets by to wit their fruits and bloody practices But Secondly The holy Spirit of God in this 2 to Tim. now insisted on not only commands Timothy to exhort the opposite but patiently to wait and attend Gods will if peradventure God will give repentance and that they may recover themselves c. Peace Master Cotton will not deny together with meek exhortation patient waiting c. Truth Why then doth he limit the holy one of Israel to dayes or moneths Three months was by the law in Massachusets in New England the time of patience to the excommunicate before the secular power was to deal with him But we finde no time limited nor no direction given to Timothy or his successors to prosecute the opposite before Caesar bar in case God vouchsafed not repentance upon their means and waiting 3. Christ Jesus hath not been without bowels of compassion in all his gracious care and provision he hath made for his sheep and lambs against the spiritual Wolves and Foxes although we read not a word of the arme of flesh and sword of steel appointed by himself for their defence in his most blessed last Will and Testament 4. Lastly to that instance of the Donatists and Papists suppressed by the civil sword no question but as before a civil sword is able among civil people to make a whole nation or world of hypocrites and yet experience also testifies however Master Cotton makes it but accidental that it is the common and ordinary â—ffect of the civil sword drawn forth as they speak against hereticks seducers c. to harden the seducers and seduced by their sufferings and to beget no other opinion in their hearts then of the cruelty and weakness of the heart and cause of their persecutors Peace There hath been no small noise of Master Goâ—â—ons and his friends being disciplined or as the Papists call it discipled in the Schoole of the New English churches It is worth the inquiry to ask what conviction and conversion hath all their hostilities captivatings courtings imprisonings chainings banishings c. wrought upon them Truth Shall I speak my thoughts without partiality I am no more of Master Gortons Religion then of Master Cottons and yet if Master Cotton complaine of their obstinacy in their way I cannot but impute it to this bloody tenent and practice which ordinarily doth give strength and vigour spirit and resolution to the most erroneous when such unrighteous and most unchristian proceedings are exercised against them Peace Touching the Edict of Antoninus Pius concerning persecution of Christians and the opinion it begat in their hearts of the cruelty of their persecutors Master Cotton answers first the Pagan Religion is not of God but the Religion of Christians came down from Heaven in the Gospel-truth Truth This is most true to him that believeth that there is but one God one Lord one Spirit one baptism one body c. according to Christ Jesus his institution and that from that blessed estate the Apostacy hath been made and that all other Gods Lords Spirits Faiths Baptisms or churches are false But what is this to many millions of men and women in so many kingdomes and nations Cities and parts of the world who believe as confidently their lies of many Gods and Christs all which they believe as the Ephesians of their Diana and of the image of Jupiter and as Master Cotton of the way of his Religion that they come down from heaven Peace Doubtless according to their belief all the peoples of those nations kingdoms and countries wherein the name of Christ is sounded whether of the greek church or the latine whether of Popish or Protestant profession will say as Master Cotton my religion came down from heaven in the Gospel of Truth c. Truth Now then either the sword of steel must decide this controversie according to the bloody tenent of persecution in the suppressing of hereticks blasphemers idolaters and seducers by the strength of an arme of flesh or else the two-edged-sword of the Spirit of God the word of God coming out of the mouth of Christ Jesus in the mouths of his servants which will either humble and subdue the Rebels or cut most deep and kill with an eternal vengeance Peace But saith Master Cotton it will beget an opinion of cruelty to murther innocents but not to put to death murtherers of souls Truth I answer beside that great and common difference of civil murther and spiritual there is a second to wit that in the murther of an innocent the conscience of a murtherer is opened and commonly the mouth confesseth I am a murtherer I have killed an innocent but run through all the coasts and quarters of the whole world and the very consciences of so many thousands of soul murtherers are rootedly satisfied and perswaded that they are so far from being murtherers as that they are so many saviours of the souls of men and Priests and Ministers of the most high God or Gods c. Peace For instance if a man say Master Cotton is a subject of the state of England and a Minister of that worship which he believeth to be true confirmed by argument and light sufficient to his understanding soul and conscience How many thousand are there fellow subjects with Master Cotton to the English state yet of a contrary mind to Master Cotton in matter of Gods worship yea how many are there it may be thousands professing a Ministery contrary to Master Cottons and the like may be found in other nations and parts of the world Truth What true reason of justice peace or common safety of the whole can be rendred to the world why Master Cottons conscience and Ministry must be maintained by the sword more then the consciences and Ministeries of his other fellow-subjects Why should he be accounted I mean at the bar of civil justice I say accounted a soul Saviour and all other Ministers of other Religions and consciences soul-murtherers and so be executed as murtherers or forced to temporize or turn from their Religion which is but hypocrisie in Religion against their conscience which is ten thousand times worse and renders men when they sin against their conscience not only hypocrites but Atheists and so fit for the practise of any evil murthers adulteries treasons c
contradict Master Cottons church way though before dear brethren familiar and intimate he not only drives them out as wolves blasphemers seducers c. by his pretended spiritual weapons of Christ Jesus but also by civil sword imprisoning banishing whipping c. But more particularly The discusser indeed useth this word the same power but not as Master Cotton seemeth to understand it for the same weapon He hath in this very place printed the discussers words that a staff is for the wolfe and a rod or hook for the sheep The dog that teares the wolf is but to affright the sheep and consequently the father that hath a stick or rod for the child But yet these swords staves-sticks and rods are all of the same nature in general that is of a material temporal and civil nature which may be used about natural wolves sheep children c. And if they may be used also about spiritual or mystical wolves to force them out it is as cleare as the Sun-Beames that they may be used that is such civil weapons as are fit for mystical wolves to force them into the sheepfold And thus have all Popish persecutors practised in our own and other countries to wit by civil power as well as by their own pretended spiritual in forcing their supposed sheep to church and to conformity as well as by whips and Prisons Ropes and Fires driving out the supposed wolves or hereticks Peace In the close of this Master Cotton adds that Rev. 6. 6. the Antichristian wolves shall drink blood for they are worthy Truth I have in former passages declared the misconceit of Master Cotton and others as touching that Scripture and that although they shall drink blood filled out of the cups of Gods righteous vengeance yet not by judicial prosecution in civil courts for spiritual offences although yet it is most righteous for the kings and powers of the earth meerly with respect to these wolves their oppressions and bloodsheddings to repay them again with the like smart and paine and kinds of punishment Peace Yea and t is for ever memorable that while the kings of the earth have given their power to the beast against the bodies of the Saints what cups of blood hath the righteous hand of the most high filled to Antichristian kings and kingdomes by the bloody Turkes and by their own more bloody wars sometimes for the empty puffs of their titles and honors but as frequently for God as they pretend and for his Religion Examination of CHAP. XLII Peace IN this Chapter Master Cotton chargeth the discusser for making work to wit for examining more particularly the similitude of wolves brought in by Master Cotton himself yet he consenteth with him in the first quaery that those Wolves of which Paul warns the elders at Ephesus were mystical and spiritual wolves yet he adds that such cannot be good subjects loving neighbors faire dealers because they spiritually are not such and he argues that then it will be no advantage to civil states when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord and that then they may do as good service to the civil state who bring the wrath of God upon them by their apostacy as they that bring dow blessings from heaven by profession and practise of the true religion in purity Truth I desire that this reply be well pondred for it will be found dangerously destâ—â—ctive to the very roots of all civil relations converse and dealing yea and any civil being of the world it self For if none be peaceable subjects loving neighbors faire dealers but such of Master Cottons conscience and religion which he conceives to be the only true religion what will become of all other states governments cities towns peoples families neighbors upon the face of the earth I say what will become of them especially if power were in Master Cottons hand to deal with them as Wolves Peace Alas too too frequent experience tels us in all parts of the world that many thousands are far more peaceable subjects more loving and helpful neighbors and more true and fair dealers in civil conversation then many who account themselves to be the only religious people in the world Truth But againe What the state of things shall be and what the manner of the administration of Christs kingdome when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Master Cotton doth not express and for wrath brought upon civil states for their apostacy I' desire Master Cotton to shew where ever God destroyed any Nation in the world one only excepted for Apostacy from his truth and worship Yea and where was ever Israel the only true national church that Master Cotton will acknowledge meerly for apostasie destroyed without general ripeness in other sins also and especially for their persecuting of such as declared their apostasie superstition and will-worship from God unto them Peace In the next place Master Cotton granting that the charge given to watch against these Wolves was not given to the Magistrates of the City of Ephesus but to the elders of the church of Christ in Ephesus he yet chargeth the discusser with a palpable and notorious slander for saying that many of those charges and exhortations given by the Lord Jesus to the shepherds and Ministers of the churches are commonly attributed by the answerer in this discourse to the civil Magistrate Truth This heavy charge of Master Cottons against the discusser will be found to be a fruit of Anger and passion and not of reason and moderation as also his denyal that one of those charges given to Ministers were directed by him to Magistrates For if Master Cotton or any please to view over Master Cottons allegations from the New Testament in this discourse he shall finde that Tit. 3. reject the heretick a charge given by the Lord Jesus to Titus and the church at Crete is brought for the proof of the Magistrates punishing imprisoning banishing killing the heretick idolater c. The like charges of Christ Jesus sent to the Ministers and churches of Asia for tolerating amongst them Balaam and Jezabel are produced to prove prosecutions against false Prophets and professors in the City and Commonweal Yea although Master Cotton name not Act. 20. yet in that Master Cotton affirmeth that Magistrates with the civil sword must drive away Wolves from the sheepfold of Christ the church meaning spiritual wolves false teachers he may be truly said to quote all such Scriptures as give charge against such Wolves Peace Indeed Master Cotton more then once pleaseth himself with this similitude of Wolves to prove the Magistrates piety and pity to the sheep in slaying and driving away the wolves false teachers c. Truth Hence was it for commonly where state-Religions are set up the Magistrate is but the Ministers Cane through whom the Clergy speaks I say probably hence from such misapplyed Scriptures in their churches that in
their solemn civil general court at the banishment of one poor man amongst them hunted out as a wolf or heretick the governor who then was standing up alleadged for a ground of their duty to drive away such by banishment that famous charge of Christ Jesus to his Ministers and Church at Rome Rom. 16 Marke them that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine which you have received and avoid that is by banishment By all which and more it may be found how Sathan hath abused their godly minds and apprehensions in causing them so to abuse the holy writings of truth and Testament of Christ Jesus and that how ever they deny it in express tearms yet by most impregnable consequence and implication they make up a kind of national church and as the phrase is a Christian state and government of church and Commonweale that is of Christ and the world together Peace To proceed it being further inquired into whether in all the New Testament of Christ Jesus there be any such word of Christ either by way of command Promise or example countenancing the civil state to meddle with these mystical Wolves if in civil things peaceable and obedient Master Cotton replieth that this condition of peaceable and obedient implies a contradiction to the nature and practise of wolves How can saith he wolves be peaceable and obedient unless restrained Can there be peace Jehu so long as the whoredomes of Jezabel and her witchcrafts are so many And when it might be objected that spiritual whoredomes and witchcrafts might stand with civil peace He answers No verily for the whoredomes and witchcrafts of the Jezabel of Rome took away civil peace from the earth and brought the Turks to oppress both the peace of Christian churches and Commonweals Rev. 9. 15 21. Truth I wonder since Master Cotton in this very passage mentioneth the spiritual wolves whores and witches as well as natural and moral How he can imagine that a spiritual wolf or witch to wit so or so in matters of spiritual worship and religion might not possibly be peaceable and obedient in civil things Peace Yea but he alleadgeth the whoredomes of the Jezabel of Rome Truth Why was not the State of England the Kings and Queens and Parliaments thereof lawful as kings and states though overwhelmed and overspread universally with the Romish abominations If such wolves whores and witches could yeeld no civil obedience could they then exercise by the same argument any civil authority And shall we then conclude all the former Popish kings and Parliaments and consequently lawes unlawful because in spiritual things they were as Wolves c. tearing and burning the poor sheep of Christ will it not then be unlawful for any man that is perswaded the whole nation where he lives is idolatrous spiritually whorish c. I say unlawful for him to live in such a state although he might with freedome to his own conscience whither will such kind of arguing drive at last but to pluck up up the roots of all states and peoples in the world as not capable to yeeld civil obedience or exercise civil authority except such people Magistrates c. as are of Master Cottons church and religion Peace Methinks experience were there no Scripture nor reason might tell us how peaceable and just neighbors and dealers many thousands and millions of Jews Turks Antichristians and Pagans are to be found notwithstanding their spiritual whoredoms witchcrafts c. Truth Yea and why doth Master Cotton alleadge the Jezabel of Rome and the comming in of the Turks It is true God brought in the Armies of the Turkes upon the Eastern Empire which yet flourished many ages even in their apostacies before their destruction by the Turkes And how many ages and generations hath Iezabel of Rome sitten as a Queen in triumphant peace and glory even since the rising of the Turks and so shall sit probably in greater and greater untill the time of her appointed judgement and downfal If Christ Jesus were a true Prophet Iohn 16. outward peace prosperity riches honor is the portion of this world notwithanding their idolatries apostacies blasphemies But the portion of Christs followers like his own and both like a woman in travel paine and sorrow yea poverty and persecution untill the great day of refreshing neer approaching Peace Master Cotton againe sends us to Revelations the 16. 4 5 6 7. Truth And I must also send Master Cotton and the Reader to our disproving of that proof abovesaid Further whereas he calls Rom. 13. the great Charter for all Magistrates to deal in spiritual matters I have and shall manifest in the examinations upon that place how weak a warrant it is for the civil state and the officers thereof to conceive themselves spiritual Physitians by vertue of their office appointed by God in spiritual and soul-evils Peace Whereas it was urged that Magistrates beside their skil in civil laws and government must be able if Master Cottons bloody tenent be true as judges and heads to determine spiritual causes and controversies and that by the sight of his own eyes and not other mens Master Cotton replies that Magistrates ought to be skilled in the fundamentals of religion and that their ignorance excuseth not Truth In this passage Master Cotton waâ—eth that inference That then Magistrates must be heads and judges in spiritual causes That inference cannot possibly be avoided if we grant it their duty as Master Cotton seemes to do to pass sentence in the fundamentals of religion and in those points which have been and are so greatly controverted among all sorts of men that name the name of Christ 2. If Magistrates must thus judge reforme c. where hath been the care of Christ Iesus to appoint in all parts of the world such Magistrates as might take care of his religion and worship why hath he not furnished them with some capacity and ability to the work Peace It is lamentable to think that most of the Magistrates in the world beyond compare know not so much as whether there be a Christ or no. Truth If Christ Iesus had forgotten himself for three hundred yeers together furnishing his church with no other heads but of Wolves Bear Lyons and Tygers the Romane Emperors yet after a little refreshing by Constantine Theodosius c. why should he still forget himself even a thousand yeers together providing no other heads but bloody and Popish kings and Emperors Peace What think you dear truth of Master Cottons grant of Gallios not being bound to judge in matters of religion because he had no Law from Caesar whose deputy he was Truth I answer what if he had not a law from Caesar if yet he had a law from Christ Iesus as Master Cotton implies Or will Master Cotton suspend the execution of Christs will upon the kings states or peoples minds that choose such Magistrates to be their deputies in the Commonweale But the
truth is concerning Gallio whatever he was in his person and however he did evil in suffering the peace to be broken yet will Master Cotton never prove that he had calling from either God or man to go beyond his civil Magistracy and office to intermeddle with matters of a spiritual nature and that Gallio knew well enough and other Magistrates of the world shall know in the Lords most gracious appointed season Peace The discusser ending this Chapter with the infallible safety of Gods chosen notwithstanding all ravenous wolves c. Master Cotton replies from Deut. 13. that God was able to keep his sheep in Israel yet they that seduced them were to be put to death Truth That argument was not alleadged with the derogation to any of Gods holy ordinances which concern the calling or preserving of such whom God hath chosen to salvation but only to discover the over-busie fear of Gods loosing any of his chosen to salvation by the jaws of spiritual wolves c. For Deut. 13. Let Master Cotton produce such a miraculous nation or people as I may call it so brought out of the land of Egypt into covenant with God c. and I shall readily grant that seducers of such a people from such a God are worthy to die a thousand deaths But if Master Cotton will now tell me that the Christian congregational church is the Israel of God and the coming forth of Egypt is now mystical and spiritual why will he not content himself with a mystical and spiritual death to be inflicted upon him that shall seduce an Israelite from the Lord his God Examination of CHAP. XLIII Peace UPon the fifth query to wit whether the elders of the church at Ephesus were not sufficiently furnished by the Lord Jesus to drive away these spiritual and mystical wolves Master Cotton replies by granting that they were furnished with sufficient power to cast them out of the church but being cast out they had not sufficient power to drive them away from conferring and corrupting the members of the church or other godly ones out of the church and he adds that it is no dishonour to Christ nor impeachment to the sufficiency of his ordinances left by Christ that in such a case the minister of justice in the civil state should assist the Ministers of the Gospel in the church state Truth This grant and this addition do as ill agree as light and darkeness Christ and Belial together For is the church or kingdome of Christ Jesus sufficiently furnished that is in it self without the help of the civil Magistrate to excommunicate to cast these wolves out of the Fold Oh let M. Cotton then and all that love Christ Jesus in truth observe what evidently follows then is this church of Christ sufficiently furnished to receive such persons in againe upon repentance then sufficiently furnished at first to be congregated together by Christs means to ordaine their officers to judge of doctrines and persons and all this necessarily upon Master Cottons grant without the help of the civil Magistrates Peace Yea and it seemes to me incredible and unreasonable that Christ Jesus should have left power and authority sufficient to take and bind a rebel against his kingdome to arraigne him and pass sentence upon him yea and execute him in the cutting off such an offendor from the land of the living delivering him over into the power of that roaring Lyon the devil And yet that Christ Iesus should not have left power sufficient in such publick high and solmne actions of his kingdome to declare sufficient cause of such proceedings by which all men may see the goings of the Son of God in his church and kingdome or if willfully blind may justly be further hardned Truth The place from Titus alleadged unto which many other Scriptures testifie I say that place doth evidently shew that the power of Christ Iesus left in the hand of his churches and elders was not only sufficient to cast out such wolves but even to stop or muzzle their mouthes whatever their gainsaying be whether by conferring preaching printing c. which takes off the plea of the great need of the civil sword to correct the conference of such persons c. when by the words of Paul it is here plaine that they can perform such conferences no otherwise but with a stopt or muzled mouth Let it be produced where Christ Iesus in such cases writes to the Magistrates either of Crete or Ephesus or any other civil jurisdiction where the churches were resident to help the Ministers and churches with their civil powers after they had cast forth any person obstinate Doubtless Christ Iesus in Paul and other of his servants would have written to some or such Magistrates in some place or others having occasion to write to so many churches about such cases Peace It will possibly be said it had been in vaine for they were idolaters and persecutors Truth The Lord is pleased throughout the whole Scripture in the mouths of his servants and prophets to call for duties at the hands of all men notwithstanding their natural hardness and inability that so he might drive them to see their duty and misery and remedy alone in God by Christ Jesus Peace I see now that this hindring of conference c. by the civil sword is nothing else but a conformity with the Pope in defending his Canons and with the Turk in guarding his Alcoran by fire and sword with whom and their ways Christ Jesus hath no conformity nor communion nor with their carnal sword his two-edged sword that proceedeth out of his mouth Rev. 1. Beside Christ Jesus hath not onely furnished his church with power sufficient to excommunicate but every one of his followers with a compleat armour from head to foot helmet breast-plate sword and Target and and spiritual shoes Ephes 6. in which respect the least of Christs servants are inabled to stop the mouth of Papists Pope Turks and devils Peace Yea all experience shews how Christ Jesus little David in the least of his servants hath been able with those plaine smooth stones out of the brook of holy Scripture to lay groveling in their spiritual gore the stoutest Champions Popes Cardinals Bishops Doctors of the Antichristian Philistins Truth I add if the elders and churches and ordinances of Christ have such need of the civil sword for their maintenance and protection I mean in spiritual things sure the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be excused for not being careful either to express this great ordinance in his will and Testament or else to have furnished the civil state and officers thereof with ability and hearts for this their great duty and employment to which he hath called them the contrary whereof in all Ages in all nations and in all experience hath ever been most lamentably true Peace I am not clear dear truth in the distinction Master Cotton makes of
Christs Ministers in the Gospel and Christs Ministers in the civil state Truth There is a mistake in it for although Christ hath all power delivered to him in heave and earth yet as touching his spiritual church or kingdome he disclaimes it to be of the world or worldly Hence cannot the civil state or officers thereof be called Christs as if they were of Christs institution and appointment himself being their spiritual head And therefore it is that the Spirit of God cals him the head of the body which is the church and the Ministers and officers of this his kingdome and body Christs Ministers or servants Beside Master Cotton will not say that the kingdomes of the world are yet become the Lord Christs In what manner also those kingdomes shall become his we have need of the holy Spirit to evidence and demonstrate to us Peace To the fifth query whether as men deal with wolves these wolves at Ephesus were intended by Paul to be killed their braines dasht out with stones staves halberts guns c. in the hands of the elders of Ephesus Master Cotton replies Elders must keep within the bounds of their calling But such courses were commanded the people of God by order from the Judges Deut. 13. And where it was added that comparing Things spiritual with spiritual spiritual and mystical wolves should be spiritually and mystically slaine Master Cotton replies True but in destroying religion they also disturbe the civil state and accordingly are to be dealt withal by civil Justice as Achan was for troubling Israel Iosh 7. 25. Truth This acknowledgement of Master Cotton that these wolves must spiritually be killed their braines dasht out by the elders and Saints might if the Lord should graciously so please easily satisfie himself and all men that the type of Israel stoning and killing corporally is here fulfilled in all dreadful abundance spiritually Peace Yea but saith Master Cotton they disturbe the civil state as Achan did Truth I answer Achan troubling of Israel the people of the Lord must figure out any such like troubling Gods Israel the church of Christ for which he is accordingly to be spiritually stoned or executed For as touching the civil state of the nations of the world who can prove and Master Cotton will not affirme that they are as the national church of the Iews was but being meerly civil are armed with civil power and weapons for their civil defence against all disturbers of their civil state as also Master Cotton confesseth the spiritual state is furnished with spiritual power against all the disturbers of its spiritual peace and safety Peace Now whereas it was further added that under pretence of driving away the wolves and preserving the sheep that streams of the blood of Saints have been spilt c. Master Cotton replies belike it is a milky and peaceable and Gospel-like Doctrine that the wolves hereticks are to be tolerated not an haire strook from their heads but for the poor sheep for whom Christ died let them perish unless Christ mean to preserve them alone with his immediate hand and no care of them belongs to the civil Magistrate Truth I have here in this discourse shewed with what honorable and tender respect every civil Magistrate is bound to honor and tender Christ Iesus in his christian sheep and shepherds but withall that it is against christianity for the civil Magistrate or civil state to imagine that all a whole nation was or ever will be called to the union of Gods Spirit in communion with God in Christ Also that it is against civil justice for the civil state or officers thereof to deal so partially in matters of God as to permit to some the freedome of their consciences and worships but to curbe and suppress the consciences and souls of all others of their free-born people c. Peace To end this Chapter whereas it was said is not this to take Christ and to make him a temporal king by force Is not this to make his kingdom of this world and to set up a civil and temporal Israel To bound out a new holy land of Canaan yea and to set up a Spanish inquisition in all parts of the world to the speedy destruction of millions of souls and to the frustrating of the sweet end of the coming of the Lord Iesus which was to save mens souls and to that end not to destroy mens bodies by his own blood To this Master Cotton replies when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdomes of the Lord Rev. 11. it is not by making Christ a temporal king but by making temporal kings nursing fathers to the Church Truth If the Scripture At the sound of the seventh trumpet which is the last of the great woes when the time of Gods wrath shall be come be to be understood of the removing of the kingdomes of the world unto Christ Master Cotton cannot excuse Christ Iesus from being a temporal king and the kings of the earth to be but as inferior and subordinate officers For if they administer Christs kingdome temporally as deputies officers or Ministers temporally he is much more then himself a temporal king and Monarch Peace Methinks also if that committing of all judgement to the Son Iohn 5. be meant of Temporal judgement in spiritual things then can he not be said not to be a temporal king then can he not be said when those words were spoken and ever since not to have exercised a temporal government The contrary whereof is most true both at his first coming and ever since in all generations it having been his portion and the portion of his followers to be judged by this world although himself and his judge the world spiritually and will shortly pass an eternal sentence upon all the children of men Peace Master Cotton addeth this will not set up a civil or temporal Israel unless all the members of the Commonwealth be compelled to be members of the church Truth If that will do it then Christ must be a temporal king I say then when the kingdomes of the earth shall become the kingdoms of the Lord for shall not the kings of the earth compel all Christs sheep to submit unto Christ Iesus their heavenly shepherd Peace Yea secondly will it not prove that all those common-weals where men are compelled explicitly or implicitly to be members of the church are holy lands of Canaan and if so Oh that Master Cotton and other worthy servants of God may timely consider whether an explicit forcing of all men to come to church because men cannot be denied to be members at least by implication with such members and congregations with whom they do ordinarily assemble and congregate although they be injuriously indeed but injuriously kept off from communion and participation of all ordinances which is indeed their right and due if they be though but implicitly constrained and forced to partake of any Againe
saith Master Cotton it is no Spanish inquisition to preserve the sheep of Christ from the ravening of the wolves but this rather which is the practice of the discusser to promote the principal end of the Spanish inquisition to advance the Romish tyranny idolatry and apostacie by proclaiming impunity to their whorish and wolvish emissaries Truth If the Nations of the world must judge as they must by Master Cottons doctrine who are Christs sheep and who are wolves which is a whore spiritually and which the true Spouse of Christ and accordingly persecute the whores and wolves this then they must do according to their conscience or else as Master Cotton elsewhere they must suspend What is this but either to set up a Spanish inquisition in all territories or else to hang up all matters of religion by this suspension he speakes of untill the civil states of the world become christian and godly and able to judge c. and what is this in effect but to practise the very thing which he chargeth on the discusser to wit a proclaimning an impunity all the world over except only in some very few and rare places where some few godly Magistrates may be found rightly informed that is according to his own conscience and religion Peace Yea further which I cannot without great horror observe what is this but to give a woful occasion at least to all Magistrates in the world who will not suspend their bloody hands from persecuting until Master Cotton shall absolve them from their suspension and declare them godly and informed and fit to draw their swords in matters of religion I say occasion at least to all the civil powers in the world to persecute as most commonly they have ever done and do Christ himself the Son of God in his poor Saints and servants Truth Yea if Master Cotton and his friends of his conscience should be cast by Gods providence whose wheels turn about continually in the depth of his councels wonderfully I say should they be cast under the reach of opposite swords will they not produce Master Cottons own bloody tenent and doctrine to warrant them according to their consciences to deal with him as a wolfe an idolater an heretick and as dangerous an emissary and seducer as any whom Master Cotton so accounteth But lastly Master Cotton hath no reason to charge the discusser with an indulgence or partiality toward Romish and wolvish emissaries his judgement and practise is known so far different that for departing too far from them as is pretended he suffers the brands and bears the marks of one of Christs poor persecuted hereticks to this day All that he pleaded for is an impartial liberty to their consciences in worshiping God as well as to the consciences and worships of other their fellow-subjects Peace When Mathias the second king of Hungary Bohemia c. afterward Emperor granted to his Protestant subjects the liberty of their consciences doubtless it had been neither prudence nor justice to have denyed equal liberty to all of them impartially But to finish this Chapter Master Cotton lastly affirmeth that it is not frustrating of the sweet end of Christs coming which was to save souls but rather a direct advancing of it to destroy if need be the bodies of those wolves who seek to destroy the souls of those for whom Christ died and whom he bought with his own blood Truth The place referred to was Luk. 9. where the Lord Jesus professeth unto the rash zeal of his Disciples desiring that fire might come down from heaven upon the refusers of Christ that he came not to destroy mens lives but to save them from whence it appears that Christ Jesus had no such intent as Master Cotton seems to make him to have had to wit to save souls by destroying of bodies but to save soul and body and that for soul sake for religion sake for his sake the bodies of none should be destroyed but permitted to enjoy a temporal being which also might prove a means of their eternal life and salvation as it may be was the very case of some of those Samaritans Examination of CHAP. XLIV Peace THe next Scripture produced by the prisoner against persecution for cause of conscience was 2 Cor. 10. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God c. unto which Master Cotton answers that he speaks not there of civil Magistrates It was replied True for in spiritual things the civil weapons were improper though in civil things most proper and suitable Master Cotton now replying grants that it is indeed improper for a Magistrate to draw his sword in matters spiritual yet saith he about matters spiritual they may as to protect in peace and to stave of disturbers and destroyers of them And he adds if it were unfitting for carpenters to bring axes and hammers to build up the spiritual kingdome of the church of Christ yet their tooles are fit to build Scaffolds for hearing Truth It is strange and in my understanding suits not with the rest of Master Cottons discurse to wit that which Master Cotton here acknowledgeth that a Magistrate is not to draw his sword in spiritual things but only about them when throughout the discourse he maintaines that the Magistrate must suppress the heretick blasphemer idolater seducer that he must reforme the church punish the apostate and keep the church in her purity which whether they be spiritual matters or no let such as be spiritual judge Peace He is saith Master Cotton to draw his sword about spiritual matters to protect in peace as a carpenter may build Scaffolds c. Truth If Master Cotton mean civil peace he knows we agree for all the officers of peace and justice ought to attend that work But if he mean spiritual to wit that by his sword he is to provide that no man dispute against his religion that no man preach nor write against it let it be well weighed whether the sword be not now used in spiritual matters As also whether in such cases and others before mentioned the civil Magistrate be not bound by Master Cottons doctrine to interpose as Judge in these controversies to pass sentence and to punish whom he judgeth delinquent notwithstanding that both parties and both religions are right and righteous and holy in their own perswasions and consciences Peace Beside I know you deny not civil conveniences in Gods worship and therefore when there is need upon occasion the help of a carpenter to build Scaffolds Truth True but since Master Cotton compares the work of the Magistrate to the building of a carpenters Scaffold let us in the fear of God consider if this similitude like some Scaffolds be not all too weak whereon to hazard so mighty a weight and burthen For what should we think of such a carpenter that after he hath built his Scaffold for people more conveniently to hear the
word of God suffers no man to preach in the whole country where his Scaffolds are set up but whom he pleaseth nor no doctrine to be taught but what he liketh no church to be gathered no persons to make up this church no persons to receive the Sacrament but what he approves of yea and further with broad axes and hammers and other tooles of violence should compel all persons directly or indirectly to come to church to make use of his Scaffold c. Whether this be not the true state of the business the Carpenters Son Christ Jesus will shortly more and more discover and break and tumble down those painted Scaffolds and fairest houses which are not built and framed according to the first most blessed line and rule of his holy institution and appointments Examination of CHAP. XLV Peace UPon the unfitness alleadged of spiritual weapons to batter a natural or artificial hold and consequently the unfitness of natural and carnal weapons to batter the spiritual strong holds in the heart Master Cotton replies that he allows not the civil state to make use of their civil weapons to batter down idolatry and heresie in the souls of men But if saith he the idolater or heretick grow obstinate worseand worse deceiving himself c. Now he maketh not use of stocks and whips which will but exasperate the malady but of death and banishment that may cut him off from the opportunity of spreading his leaven c. Truth Methinks in this passage Master Cotton resembleth an armed man who being almost convinced or overcome by the Spirit of God in the former part of this passage granting how unproper and unfit carnal weapons be in spiritual matters yet being loath to yeeld and holding up the goodness of his cause he recovers again and grows more fierce and violent for bearing more gentle stroaks of stocks and whips he cuts deeper with no less then quick and dreadful gashings of death or Banishment that the world were he one of the worlds Monarchs may be rid of such 〈…〉 Peace Oh How can Master Cotton wash this Tenent from blood Truth Yea whether this tenent be not invented as once that learned chancellor of England said of all violence against conscience for an end or interest or as that incarnate devil the Pope said more plainly of the fable of Christ for honor and profit shall further be examined Peace But who can read the bloody colour in this book and yet believe what Master Cotton elsewhere saith that he holds not persecution for cause of conscience Truth Lastly I aske whether is it not the same skill and power of Physick and Surgery that preserves the body and each member in health and welfare with that which cuts off as Master Cotton speaks the Gangrene c and since also t is in vaine to go about when the next way is as good or better what means then Master Cotton to bring in the Magistrate using spiritual means in all lenity and wisdome against heresie and idolatry in the souls of men since death or banishment will effect the cure so quickely Peace To proceed whereas it was urged that although civil weapons were proper in spiritual matters yet they were not necessary c. Master Cotton replies this is but a meer pretence because the discusser saith he denies all Church officers and Church weapons Truth This formerly was cleered from all appearance of pretence because during all the reign of the beast the discusser granteth the impregnable power of the spiritual weapons of Christs witnesses Rev. 11. although he see not extant the true form and order of the kingdome of Christ Jesus which at first he was pleased to establish Peace Master Cotton adds Although spiritual weapons are mighty to purge out leaven and to mortifie the flesh of offenders yet that is not a supersedeas to civil Magistrates to neglect to punish those sins which the church hath censured if the person censured do proceed to subvert the truth of the Gospel or the peace of the church or the souls of the people Truth Why must the Magistrate stay until the party censured do proceed so and so Why could not he have spared the drawing forth of any spiritual weapons since they are so effectual to do that which was not in the power and reach of the spiritual Why was not the first obstinacy which merited the spiritual stroaks and cersures worthy of the exercise of the civil Magistrates power and zeale Peace Me thinks this is an evident demonstration that men repose more confidence however they deceive themselves to the contrary in the sword of steel that hangs by the side of the civil officer then in the two-edged sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ Jesus Rev. 1. Truth The truth is such doctrine makes Christs spiritual sword but serviceable and subordinate unto the temporal or worldly powers and presents the church but making essayes and trials of that cure which death and banishment gilded over with pretence of Gods glory c. they think will not faile to effect c. Peace More plainly therefore writes another Author of Master Cottons mind thus It is known by experience that one reproof or threatning from the Magistrate hath been known to do more then an hundred admonitions from the Minister Truth Yea no question to force a nation or a world of men to play the idolaters hypocrites c. but Gods true servants of whom these three famous Jews are type Dan. 3. know that God whom they serve is able to deliver them from such fiery threatnings and executions But if he please to try them as his gold in such fiery tryals they will not bow down to invented gods or worships Peace Methinks dear truth such Ministers deal upon the point and in effect with the civil Magistrate just as that ambitious Pope with the Emperors to wit make them hold the stirrop while they mount c. But I grieve c. What think you therefore of Master Cottons censure of the rest of the discourse in this Chapter to wit that it is but as Jude speaks clouds without waters words without matter c. Truth I will say no more but this Happily through Gods mercy Master Cottons censure may occasion some to view what he despiseth yea and happily to finde some heavenly drops out of those contemned empty clouds Examination of CHAP. XLVI Peace THe 13 to the Rom. which the answerer quotes is a fort of of such importance in so many controversies depending between the Papist and the Protestant and between many Protestants among themselves that all seek to gaine and win it In this present controversive I finde a wonderful wresting of this holy Scripture even by many holy and peaceable though herein violent and sinful hands and let the charge be examined in the fear of God whether slanderous as Master Cotton intimates or true and righteous Master Cotton freely grants that this
13 to the Rom. exhorteth unto subjection to Magistrates and love to all men which are duties of the second table But yet withal he answers that is will not follow that Magistrates have nothing to do with the violation of the first table and further saith that it is a plaine case that amongst the duties of the second table people may be exhorted to honor their Magistrates and children may be exhorted to honour their Parents but will it saith he thence follow that Magistrates have nothing to do with matters of religion in the church or parents in the family Truth I answer the scope of the discourse was to prove that it pleaseth the Spirit of God in Paul here only to treat of the duties of the second table unto which limitation or restriction Master Cotton speaks not at all but only granteth in general that it speaketh of the duties of the second table And I still urge and argue that the spirit of God discoursing so largely in this Scripture of the duties of Magistrates and people and treating only of civil things in that civil relation between Magistrates and people points as with a finger of God at their error that wrest this Scripture to maintaine the power of Magistrates and civil states in the spiritual and church estate of the kingdome of Christ Peace But what may be said to Master Cottons argument Truth I answer If people are bound to yeeld obedience in civil things to civil officers of the state Christians are much more bound to yeeld obedience according to God to the spiritual officers of Christs kingdome But how weak is this argument to prove that therefore the civil officers of the state are constituted rulers or governors preservers and reformers of the Christian and spiritual state which differs as much from the civil as the heavens are out of the reach of this earthly Globe and Element Examination of CHAP. XLVII Peace AGainst the Judgement of those blessed worthies alleadged Calvin and Beza confining this passage of Rom. 13. to the second table Master Cotton here opposeth their judgement for the Magistrates power in matters of religion in other writings of theirs yea and from this very Scripture Truth This their judgement for the Magistrates power was granted and premised before yet let the expressions of those worthy men produced by the discusser on this Chapter be faithfully weighed and it will cleerly appear that as James speaks those excellent men endeavoured to bring from the same fountaines sweet water and bitter which is monstrous and contradictory Peace The pith of what Master Cotton further saith in this Chapter I conceive is couched in these demands Are not saith he all duties of righteousness to man commanded in the second table as well as all duties of holiness to God are commanded in the first table Is it not a duty of righteousness belonging to the people of God to enjoy the free passage of religion c. Is it not an injurious dealing to the people of God to disturbe the truth of religion with heresie the holiness of worship with idolatry the purity of government with tyranny and he concludes If so then these wayes of unrighteousness are justly punishable by the second table Truth I answer It hath pleased the Father of lights to open the eyes of thousands of his servants in thâ—se later times to discerne a fine spun fallacy in the tearm of unrighteousness and injury which being twofold spiritual against religion or spiritual state civil against the worldly or civil state It is no civil injury which he grants is the business of this 13 to the Romanes in matters of the second table for any man to disturbe or oppose a doctrine worship or government spiritual Christ Jesus and his messengers and servants did and do profess a spiritual war against the doctrine worship and government of the Jewish the Turkish and other Pagan and Antichristian religions of all sorts and sects churches and societies These all againe oppose and fight against his doctrine worship government And yet this war may be so managed were men but humane civil and peaceable that no civil injury may be commieted on either side Peace We may then well take up as Master Cotton doth Beza's own words on Rom. 13. 4. The civil sword must take vengeance on them that do evil It must therefore follow that hereticks are not evil doers which is gross c. Or else that Pauls speech is to be restrained to a certaine sort of evil deeds to wit such as they call corporal sins of which he saith he disputeth largely elsewhere Truth And so through the help of the most high shall I in proving that the second sort to wit external corporal civil evils between man and man city and city kingdomes and Nations in this faln estate of mankind wherein all civility and humanity it self are violated are alone and only intended in this Scripture by the holy Spirit of God and Paul his penman Examination of CHAP. XLVIII Peace TO the second argument to wit the incompetency of those higher powers to which Paul requires subjection which in his time were the ignorant and Pagan persecuting Emperors and their subordinate governors under them Master Cotton replies First It is one thing to yeeld subjection to the righteous decrees of ignorant and Pagan Magistrates And another thing to obey their ordinances in matters of faith and worship and government of the church The former of these Christians did yeeld unto the Romane Magistrates even subjection unto the death the other they did not nor ought to yeeld as knowing God was rather to be obeyed then man Truth Subjection may be either to lawful governors or but pretenders and usurpers Again subjection to lawful rulers may be in cases pertaining to their cognizance or in cases which belong not to their but another court or tribunal which undue proceeding is not tolerable in all well-ordered states We use also to say that subjection is either active or passive Now although we finde the Lord requiring and his servants yeelding all active or passive obedience to the Romane Emperors and their deputies yet finde we not a tittle of the Lords requiring or his people yeelding any kind of subjection to those Romane Emperors or their deputies in the matters of Christian religion except it be of so many hundred thousand of their bodies as the bodies of Lambs to the devouring jaws of those bloody lyons and devillish Monsters of more then barbarous cruelty Peace But Secondly saith Master Cotton although the Roman Emperors were incompetent Judges yet the Word of Christ which commandeth a duty commandeth also the necessary means which tend to that duty and therefore giving them a power and charge to execute vengeance on evil doers and that in matters of spiritual unrighteousness against the Church as in matters of civil unrighteousness against the Commonweal it behooved them to try and listen after the
true Religion to heare and try all Truth Master Cotton may here be intreated to take notice of his own distinction of unrighteousness which a little before he seemed to me to forget for here he rightly distinguisheth between spiritual matters of unrighteousness against the church and civil unrighteousness against the Commonweal I therefore urge as before that the civil Magistrate although he punish according to his civil place and calling civil unrighteousness against the state yet he hath no warrant from Master Cottons argument nor any from the Lord Jesus Christ to punish spiritual unrighteousness against the church and why then should that tearm of unrighteousness so generally and fallaciously go undistinguished and Master Cotton thus promisâ—uoâ—sly proclaime idolatry is unrighteousness heresie is unrighteonsness and therefore the civil Magistrate is bound to punish c 2. But oh that this maxime alleadged by Master Cotton might receive its due weight and consideration hath Christ commanded all means as well as the duty what then is the reason that since as Master Cotton argues that Christ hath commanded all the civil powers of the world such a spiritual duty and yet I say that all or most of the civil states of the world beyond comparison are not furnished by Christ with those chief means of grace and light whereby to try and search as Master Cotton exhorteth Or in some few places where means of light are vouchsafed with hearts and spirits unto such a duty May we not here say that men make Christ Jesus in appointing such officers such a duty without furnishing them accordingly to forget that maxime of his Type Solomon Prov. 26. He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the leg and drinketh dammage Did not Christ know as well as John that all the world lay in wickedness that all the world in a respect was then Roman Paganish and that all the world in after-ages would wonder after the beast and become Roman Popish Or can we imagine that Christ Jesus did not foresee the cutting off of legs and the cup of dammage and loss which he must drink in sending his minde and will into the world by such foolish instruments Peace Surely Master Cotton would never advise the civil state ty send a weighty cause and the lives of souldiers with such captaines Nor will he set an unruly childe under the rod of such teachers or reformers He will not set forth his Farme or betrust his cattel no not his very hogs to such keepers Truth On the other hand let the government of Christs kingdome be laid upon the right shoulders and we shall finde the admirable wisdome and care of Christ in the affaires of his kingdom in appointing such messengers or Apostles to gather and found his churches as also ordinary Pastors Shepherds or teachers for their feeding and building up c. The qualification of these the Spirit of God hath expresly and exactly recorded wherein according to the principle mentioned by Master Cotton Christ Jesus his highest care and wisdome shines most gloriously in appointing the means as well as the duty it self Peace But Master Cotton addeth that the causes of religion wherein we allow the civil Magistrate to be Judges are so fundamental and palpable that no Magistrate studious of Religion in the fear of God cannot but judge such as cannot they ought to forbear c. the exercise of their power either in protecting or punishing matters of Religion till they learn so much knowledge of the truth as may inable them to discerne of things that differ This forbearance of theirs saith he is not for want of authority in their callings nor for want of duty in their consciences but want of evidence to them in the cause In which case Magistrates are wont to forbear their exercise of power and judgement even in civil cases Truth O the miserable allowance which Master Cotton hath brought the kings and governors of the world unto We allow them saith he to judge in such fundamentals and palpable causes c. Oh with what proud and domineering feet do all Popes tread upon the necks even of the highest kings and Emperors The Magistrate must wait at their gates for their poor allowance They shall judge and they shall not judge They shall judge that which is gross and palpable and enough to hold the people in slavery and to force them to sacrifice to the Priests belly but the more sublime and nicer mysteries they must not judge or touch but attend upon the tables of the Priests infallibility Peace Concerning fundamentals dear truth you have well observed that since the apostacy and the worlds wondring after the beast even Gods servants themselves untill yesterday have not so much as heard of such a kind of church and so consequently of such a Christ the head of it as Master Cotton now professeth For no other matter and forme of a church about which Master Cotton justly contends was known I say among Gods people themselves till yesterday then the matter and form of the stone or woodden Parish-church Truth Yea an happy man were Mr. Cotton could he rectifie and settle those foundations which are yet so controverted amongst Gods servants to wit the Doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands Peace You may also mention other foundations which want not their great disputes among the servants of Christ Truth But further that Christ Jesus the wisdome of the Father should commit his wife his church to be governed in his absence by such who generally know not the church and Saints but cruelly and blasphemously persecute them with fire and sword and this with charge to suspend most Magistrates of the world and that all their dayes from generation to generation as appeareth in all parts of the world which is such a monstrous and blasphemous Paradox that common reason cannot digest nor suffer Peace If Merchants and owners of ships should commit their vessels to such men as wanted ability to steer their courses nay could not tell what a ship was yea were never like to know all their dayes surely it were not only matter of admiration but even of laughter and derision among all the sons of men Truth But further How weak is that distinstion which Master Cotton makes between authority of calling and duty and evidence in the cause when in all judicatures in the whole world even amongst the Pagans there is necessarily supposed beside these three a fourth to wit ability or skill of discerning or judging in such cases Now cognizance of the cause or evidence of the cause may be wanting in most able judges where matters are not proper or not ripe for hearing and trials whereas our dispute is of the very ability or skil of judging which Master Cotton himself confesseth is wanting except in such Magistrates as fear God which will be found to be but a little flock especially compared with the
many thousands and ten thousands of those who neither know God nor Christ nor care to know them and this in all the states regions and civil governments of the world Eamination of CHAP. XLIX Peace COncerning Pauls appeale to Caesar it was argued that Paul appealed to Caesar even in spiritual things which that Paul did not nor could not do without the committing of five great evils was pleaded in this Chapter Master Cotton â—â—phes no more but this The reasons are but Bulrushes Truth Whether they are so or no or rather the Bulrushes and weak things of God which the gates of hell shall never be able to shake let the Saints judge in the fear of God Peace Master Cotton adds further in this Chapter that Paul pleadeth he was not guilty in any of those things whereof the Jews accused him those things saith he concerned the Law of the Jews and the Temple which were matters of religion and for trial thereof he appealed to Caesar Truth Lysias the chief captaine in his letter to Felix the Governor Chap. 24. distinguisheth vers 29. into questions of the Jews Law and secondly matters worthy of death or bonds Now t is true the Jews charged Paul with offences against religion their Law and the Temple Secondly against the civil state and with sedition For the first although it is apparent that all the scope of Pauls preaching was to exalt Christ Jesus and to preach down Moses â—aw yet at this present time of his apprehension he had seen cause to honour Moses his institutions at Jerusalem which was the wisdome of God in him for a season for the Jews sake and his own glory-sake And he had not at this present so much as disputed with any in the temple which was not so hainous a matter in Pauls eye as it is well known by his constant practice Secondly for matters of civil crime he pleadeth that he stirred up no mâ—n â—oâ— in the Synagogue nor City and prefesseth Chap. 25. that if he had committed ought worthy of death he would not wave death T is true that Paul was charged by the Iews with both these kinds of offences religious and civil according to Lysius his distinction but that Paul appealed to Caesar for tryal that is for trial of his person and cause in any religious respect as it cannot be collected from the Scripture or Paul own words so those five reasons against it will evidently disprove it if they be well and throughly weighed in the balance of the Sanctuary in the sight and fear of God Peace I cannot in my understanding clear Master Cottons own words from destroying one another T is true saith he those five sins might have been charged upon Paul with some colour if he had appealed to Caesar whether his religion or Ministery or Ministration were of God or no But yet saith he he might appeal whether his religion Ministry or Ministration were guilty of any capital crime against the Law of the Iews or the temple or against Caesar Truth Indeed what difference is there between the judging whether this Ministery deserve death supposing a false Ministery is worthy of death or judging whether it be of God or false and idolatrous must not he that sits judge of the desert and punishment judge also of the crime and fact whether so or not Peace When Master Cotton shall affirme and truly that the Magistrates of Israel were to judge a false prophet to death will he not also grant that they were to judge whether such persons so charged were false prophets or no Truth Yea and when Master Cotton shall affirme as unjustly that civil Magistrates in all nations of the world ought to kill or banish hereticks blasphemers seducers out of their dominions and jurisdictions doth he intend that they shall try and examine whether they be such and such or no But blessed be the Father of lights who hath now opened the eyes of so many thousands of his people to discern the difference between the Forts and Bulwarks of God here called Bulrushes and those strong holds and high imaginations of men erected against the crown and kingdome of the Lord Iesus which in Gods holy season shall more and more be found to be but straws and Bulrushes Examination of CHAP. L. Peace TO the arguing against the Magistrates civil power in Spiritual causes taken from the nature of the Magistrates weapons a material earthly and worldly sword distinguished from the two-edged sword of Christs spiritual power in the mouth of Christ Master Cotton replies First the Magistrate must governe his people in Righteousness and it is Righteous to defend his people in their Spiritual Rights as well as in their civil Rights This distinction of spiritual and civil Righteousness doth truely anatomize the cause It is righteous for the Magistrates to defend their subjects in their civil Rights for it is within the compass of his calling being essentially civil And unless we also grant him a spiritual calling and office which is the Point denied 't is beyond his calling and compass to judge of what is spiritual Right and wrong and accordingly to pass a spiritual sentence and and execute and inflict spiritual punishment Peace Methinks I may add if the Magistrate be bound to defend his Subjects in their spiritual rights then as he is bound impartially to defend all his subjects in their several and respective civil Rights so is he bound as impartially to defend all his subjects in their several and respective spiritual Rights and so accordingly to defend the Iews the Papists and all several sores of Protestants in their severall and respective consciences or else he must sit down in Christs stead and produce a Royal charter from the New Testament of Christ Iesus to judge difinitively which is the onely right to pass sentence and execute spiritual punishment on all offenders c. Peace But Master Cotton adds a second the sword was Material and civil in the Old Testament I answer If Master Cotton granted a national church under the Gospel his Argument were good but when he grants that national church under the Jews as afterward in this chapter he doth did type out the Christian church or churches in the Gospel why must he not grant that material Sword of the Church of Israel types out the spiritual sword of Christ Iesus proceeding out of his mouth and cutting off offenders spiritually with spiritual and soul punishments And I add As the sword was material so also was the Tabernacle and Temple worldly and material which he denies not to be typical of the spiritual Temple of Christ and his Church in the New Testament Peace Master Cotton adds Thirdly that the Magistrates Sword may well be call'd the Sword of God as the Sword of War Iudg. 7. Truth As it was call'd Iehovahs Sword in that typical Land So must it needs be typical as well as the Land it self which is
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
be found fit to use the civil sword in matter of Religion and that is in plaine English to fight only for his conscience Peace But to proceed it will be hard saith Master Cotton for the discusser to finde Antichristian seducers clear from disobedience to the civil laws of the state in case that Antichrist to whom they are sworn shall excommunicate the civil magistrate and prescribe the civil state to the invasion of his followers Truth Most properly seducing teachers sin against the church and spiritual kingdome of Christ Jesus which if erected and governed according to Christ Jesus she is a Castel or Fort sufficiently provided with all sorts of heavenly ammunition against all sorts of her spiritual adversaries yea and in the desolation of the churches during the Apostacy Christ Jesus as I have elsewhere observed hath not left his witnesses destitute of terrible defence against all gainesayers But grant what Master Cotton supposeth such seducers from obedience to the civil state c. Such as the Seminaries and bringers over of Pope Pius the 5 his Bul against Queen Elizabeth c. The answer is short and plaâ—â— civil officers bear not the sword in vain when the civil state is assaulted as the spiritual officers and governors of the church bear not in vain the spiritual and two-edged sword coming out of the mouth of Christ Peace Whereas now secondly there was observed by the Discusser in such coupling of seducing teachers scandalous livers a silent and implicite justification of the Jews and Gentiles their coupling Christ Jesus and his followers as seducing teachers with scandalous livers Christ between two thieves c. The sum of what Master Cotton replies is that the Lord Jesus and his followers suffering under those names weakens not the hand of Authority to punish such who are seducing teachers scandalous livers Truth It hath ever been the portion of the Lord Jesus and his followers for the most part theirs onely to be accounted seducing teachers deceivers and cheaters of the people blasphemous against God seditious against the State and accordingly to be numbred as Christ Jesus between two thieves both in esteem and punishment with scandalous and notorious malefactors and this for no other cause but cause of conscience in spiritual matters and most commonly for differing from and witnessing against the several State and City-Religions and Worships wherein they lived Peace If the Jews notwithstanding their fair colours to the contrary walking in the doctrine of Persecution for conscience justified their fathers for murthering the Prophets c. I cannot dear Truth but subscribe to your sorrowful observation that Master Cotton and others otherwise excellent servants of God in coupling seducing teachers and scandalous livers as the proper object for the civil sword to strike at they do no other but act the Jews true Antitype coupling Christ Jesus the seducing teacher with Barabbas the scandalous liver and murtherer Truth Yea and who sees not how often Barabbas the scandalous liver is cried out of the Magistrates hands by the scandalous people while Christ Jesus in his servants is cried to the Cross to the Gallows to the Stake to Banishment c. Their Persecutors also are applauded for not persecuting men for their Consciences but righteously legally and with great sorrow punishing them for sinning against their own conscience for disturbing of the civil State and peace for contemning of Magistrates Kings Queens and Parliaments for blaspheming God and for seducing and destroying the souls of the people CHAP. 55. Replying to CHAP. 66. Exam Peace THe Discusser admired in this Chap how Mr. Cotton should alledge Revel 2. Christs charge against the Church of Pergamus for tollerating them that hould the Doctrine of Balaam and against the Church of Thiatira for tollerating Jezabell to teach and seduce M r Cotton here replies that he meant not in alledging those Scriptures to prove it unlawfull for Magistrates to tollerate seducing Teachers but unlawfull for Churches adding that the Letter of the Prisoner was so stated in generall tearmes that he knew not upon the point what Tolleration or Persecution should be meant or intended otherwise then generall against all Persecution for Conscience withall affirming that an unjust Excommunication is as true Persecution as unjust Banishment Truth It is true what M r Cotton saith An unjust Excommunication is as true Persecution as an unjust Banishment and therefore some may justly complaine against M r Cotton and others for practicing such persecution in both kindes being not onely banished from their civill State but unjustly and after the Popes way Excommunicated also from their Churches but of that more elsewhere 2. We doe not in ordinarie English read but that the word Persecution is taken for civill corporall violence and punishment inflicted on the body for some spirituall and religious matter according to the Lord Christ his words to Paul Actâ— 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me 3. The passages in the Letter shew that the whole scope of the Letter was to contend against outward violence and corporall affliction in matters of Conscience Peace It may not be a lost Labour Deare Truth to draw a taste of some passages in the Letter Truth For further satisfaction my paines shall be a pleasure and first From the Arguments from holy Scripture observe Luc. 9. the Lord Christ reproving his two zealous Disciples You know not of what Spirit you are of The Son of Man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Againe That of the Prophets Isaiah and Micah They shall breake their Swords into Mattocks and their Speares into Sithes Againe Christs charge unto his Disciples that they should be so farre from persecuting those that would not be of their Religion that when they were persecuted they should pray and blesse c. Peace These holy Passages Me thinks are not unlike the Stones in Davids sling smooth and plaine enough yet powerfull and dreadfull both against this Goliah Tenent of persecution and also prove a corporall persecution intended Truth Now a taste of the speeches of severall Kings produced by the prisoner 1. That of King James God never loves to plant his Church by Violence and Bloudshed 2. That of Stephen King of Poland I am King of Men not of Consciences of Bodies not of Soules 3. Of the King of Bohemia When ever Men have attempted any thing in this violent course the issue hath been ever pernicious and the cause of great and wonderfull Innovations 4. Another of King James That he was resolved not to persecute or molest or suffer to be persecuted or molested any Person whatsoever for matter of Religion In the third place a taste of the Speeches of the ancient Writers produced by the Prisoner 1. That of Hilarius That Church which formerly by enduring misery and imprisonment was knowne to be the true Church doth now terrifie others by imprisonment banishment and miserie
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
therefore Master Cotton elsewhere saith they must suspend to deal in Church matters untill they can judge c. And this First implies their light and judgement absolutely necessary in all such matters of the Church about which they are to Judge and act as often I affirme 2 I aske what kind of spirituall Physicians will Master Cotton have who shall be bound to suspend their power all their lives long unlesse they have skill to judge of Diseases will not the similitude hold against such spirituall Fathers Nurces Physicians who all their life long yea the greatest number beyond compare of all their spirituall Fathers upon the face of the Earth must wholly suspend from acting in spirituall diseases or cases to wit in reforming establishing c. 3 Although it excuseth not 't is true such Magistates Princes Common-wealths for making this Doctrine their ground of persecuting Christ and Christians yet doubtlesse it makes their sin the greater who feed them with such bloody Doctrines and so consequently occasion them upon the rocks of such fals and dangerous and bloudy practices Exam of Chap. 70. replying to Chap. 73. Peace IN this Chap. Dear Truth lye many stones of offence at which the feet of the unwary most easily many stumble I hope your carefull and steady hand may be a blessed Instrument of their Removall As First although Master Cotton subscribe unto Luther that the Government of the Civill Magistrate doth extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods of the subject yet saith he he may and ought to improve that power over their Bodies and Goods to the good of their Souls Truth Sweet Peace my hand the hand of Christ assisting shall not be wanting but what offence can be taken at the propositions Pea. The proposition like an aple of Sodom is fair and specious untill you crush it by examination For by maintaining the Magistrates power over the Bodies and Goods of the subject for the good of his Soul it is clear in this Chapter and others foregoing and following that Master Cottons words drive at no lesse then a seising upon and plundering of the goods the Imprisoning whipping Banishing and killing the Bodies of the poor people and this under the Cloak and colour of saving their Souls in the day of the Lord Jesus Truth The Civil State and Common-weal may be compared to a peice of Tapistry or rich Arras made up of the severall parts and parcels of the Families thereof Now by the Law of God Nature and Nations a Father hath a power over his Child the Husband over the Wife the Master over c. and doubtlesse they are to improve that power and Authority for the good of the souls of their Children Yoak-fellows c. But shall we therefore say that the Father and the Husband hath power under Christ over the conscienies and religion of the Child or Wife as a Father or Husband had under Moses Numb 30. Parents are commanded in the Gospel to bring up their Children in the instruction and fear of the Lord the Husband is commanded to labour to win and save his Wife with no other power then the Wife also her Husband whether Turke or Jew Antichristian or Pagan but such a power and sword to be improved as Mr. Cotton here pretends for soul-good Master Cotton will never finde in the Testament of Christ Jesus The Plain English is what ever be the Cloak or cover which the States Kings and Rulers of this world use in this case this terme for souls good is no more then the old Popish Jesabels painting pro salute animae pro redemptione animae or as that noble St. John observed in a speech at Guild-hall that the Kings party made use of the name of Peace as the Papists used the name of God In nomine Domini c. Peace It is most lamentable to see how the Kings of the Earth are grosly flattered by their Clergy into as grosse a belief that they are most Catholick Kings as in Spain most Christian Kings as in France Defendors of the Faith in England Hence those two bloody Persecutors of Luther Charles the Fifth and Henry the Eighth were celebrated even upon the posts of the doors in Guild-Hall Carolus Henricus vivant defensor uturque Henricus Fidei Carolus Ecclesiae Peace And yet to what other end have or doe ordinarily the Kings of the Earth use their power and authority over the Bodies and Goods of their Subjects but for the filling of their pauâ—ches like Wolves or Lions never pacified unlesse the peoples bodies goods and Souls be sacrificed to their God-belly and their owne Gods of profit honour pleasure c. Peace But in the second place Master Cotton affirmes that by procuring the good of their souls they may much advance the good of their bodies and outward man also Truth This Proposition is as fair as the former but in the searching and crushing is as rotten for however it is most true as he quoteth 1 Tim. 4. that Godlinesse hath the promise of this Life and of a better and also that such as seek first the Kingdome of God may expect outward mercies to be cast upon them yet these promises can never by any rule of Christ be stretched to proue outward prosperity and flourishing to the followers of Christ Jesus in this present evill world Peace He that is in a pleasant Bed and Dreame though he talke Idly and insensibly yet is loath to be awaked Truth Those sweet promises supply Gods servants with what outward blessings his holy Wisdome seeth they have need of for his service But when wil Master Cotton indeed witnesse against a Nationall Church and cease to mingle Heaven and Earth the Church and worldly state together when will he cease to propose the rich and peaceable victorious and flourishing Nationall State of the Jewes as the Type of the Carnall peace and worldly wealth and honour of the spirituall Nation and Kingdome of Christ Jesus when will he more plainely and simply conforme the members to the head Christ Jesus in the Holinesse Glory of his spirituall poverty shame and sufferings Peace I have in the experience of many Ages observed the flourishing prosperity of many Cities Common wealths and Nations where no sound of Christ hath come and that for hundreths yea some thousands of years together as hath formerin this discourse been instanced Truth You have found that when the Red and Black and Pale horse of War Famine and Death have thundered upon the Nations it hath not been upon the decay of a State Religion but most commonly upon the rejecting and persecuting of the Preachers and Witnesses against it Peace Yea Master Cotton himselfe observeth that such of Gods servants as grow fattest in Godlinesse grow not outwardly in wealth but God keepeth them low in outward estate Truth I conclude this passage with an observation of constant experience ever since the Son of God ascended the
would better befit the pen of a Jew then a Christian a follower of Moses then of Jesus Christ who although he will not fayle to take care for his in Earthly Providences that make it their chiefe worke to seeke his Kingdome yet he maketh as I may say Christs Crosse the first Figure in his Alphabet taking up his Crosse and Gallowes in most ordinarie persecution which with selfe-deniall are the assured Tearmes his Servants must resolve to looke for 'T is true he promiseth and makes good an hundreth Fathers Mothers Brothers Sisters Wives Children Houses and Lands But M r Cotton well knowes it is with persecution And how this outward prosperitie agrees with Imprisonments Banishments hanging burning for Christs sake the Martyrs or Witnes of Jesus in all Ages and the cry of the Soules under the Altar may bring againe to his Remembrance if New Englands peace profit pleasure and Honour have lulld him into a Forgetfulnesse of the principles of the true Lord Jesus Christ Peace But M r Cotton remembreth not the Proposition to be his to wit that the Magistrates power extendeth no further then the Bodies and Goods of the Subject Truth M r Cotton hinted not his least dissent from Luther as he otherwayes useth to doe if he disowne c. Secondly He grants it true in the object to wit that the object of the Magistrates power is the Body and Goods of the Subject though not in the End which he saith is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well to administer the Common-weale Now I aske what is this Common-weale Peace The Spirit of God distinguisheth in the New Testament between the Common weales of the Nations of the World and the Common-weale of Israel The Common-weale of Israel M r Cotton will not affirme now to be a Church Provinciall Nationall Oâ—cumenicall but Particular and Congregationall Truth If so then the finall cause of both these Common weales or States cannot be the same But although the End of the Civill Magistrate be excellent to wit well to administer the Common-weale yet the end of the Spirituall Common-weale of Israel and the Officers thereof is as different and transcendent as the Heaven is from the Earth Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can it be well with the Common-wealth that injoyes bodily health and worldly wealth if there be no Christ no Church there and how was it with the Romane Empire which the Red-horse of War and Black horse of Famine and Pale horse of Pestilence would have ruined if she had not cast away her Idols Truth Concerning this instance of Rome Master Cotton here acknowledgeth it abounded in worldly blessings till the Lord Jesus came riding forth upon the White Horse of the Gospel And Master Cotton may remember that from the Foundation of her rising and Glory laid by Romulus untill Christs time it flourished about 750 years in a long chaine of generations succeeding each other in worldly prosperity and yet no Church nor Christ to uphold it so far is Master Cottons Romish instance from countenancing Mr. Cottons Roman Doctrine Peace But when Christ came saith Master Cotton and was neglected then the Red and Black and Pale horse had almost destroyed her if she had not cast away her Idols Truth I answer Rome the head of the Empire cannot be said to neglect Christ untill the bloody Tenent of persecution arose amongst them I say not to neglect Christ more nor so much as other States for there were so many of the Romanes and so glorious professors of Christ Jesus that all the world over the Faith and Christian obedience of the Romanes was renowned 2 The Roman Impire cannot be said to cast away her Idols but to change as the Portugals did in the East-Indies her Idols her more grosse and Pagan Idols for more refined beautified Idols painted over with the name of Christ the true God holines c. and this in the glorious dayes of Constantine or not long after The Church of Christ Jesus which under persecution remained a wise and spouse of Christ Jesus now degenerates and apostates into an Whore in the times of her ease security and prosperity Whole Cities Nations and the whole world forced and ravished into a whore or Antichristian Christian 3 As far as the East is from the West so far is the world and nations and Empire of it from the holinesse of Christ Jesus holy Spirit Truth and Saints With what appearance then of Christs holinesse glory c. can Master Cotton advance the world the Roman Empire to be as he here speaks the Advancer of the scepter of Christ Jesus Peace If this Roman Empire be that dreadfull Beast in Daniels prophecy more strange and terrible then the rest yea and more terrible to Christ Jesus and his servants then was the former Babilonian Lion or Persian Beare or Grecian Leopard what truth of Jesus is this that advanceth this dreadfull bloody Beast to be the Advancer of the Scepter that is the Church and Government the Truth and Saints of Christ Jesus Peace Glorious things Dear Truth are recorded of Constantine and other glorious Emperors Truth The Beast was sweet Peace the Beast still although it pleased God to give some refreshing and reviving to his persecuted servants by Constantine and other blessed instruments yet Constantines favour was a bitter sweeting his superstitiâ—us zeal laying the Foundation for after Vsurpations and Abominations 4 But further for neer 1000 years together both before and after Christs time Rome grew and flourished with little alterations of her glory in comparison untill this very time that Master Cotton cals the casting away of her Idols For not before but after Constantines advancing of Christians to wealth and honour c. I say neer about 300 years together interchangably after his time untill Pipinus and Charles the Great the City and state of Rome was almost ruined and destroyed by the often dreadfull incursions of the Goths and Vandals Huns Longobards and other furious Nations So contrary to the truth of Jesus is this fleshly doctrine of worldly wealth and prosperity and also this very instance of Rome and her glory here discussed Peace Master Cotton ends with prayer and blessing to God as James speakes and bitter and cutting cursings and censures to man the poor Discusser who saith Master Cotton seduceth himselfe and others and delights to doe it and against the light of grace and conscience against reason and experience Truth The Discusser is as humbly confident of Grace and Conscience Reason and Experience yea the God of all Grace Christ Jesus his holy Spirit Angels Truth and Saints to be on his side as Master Cotton otherwise can be but the day shall try the Fire and Time shall try which is the Gold of Truth and Faithfulnesse and which the Drosse and Stubble of Lyes and Errour In the meane time I dare pronounce from the Testimony of Christ Jesus that in all
Controversies of Religion That Soul that most possesseth it selfe in patient suffering and dependeth not on the arme of flesh but upon the arme of God Christ Jesus for his comfort and protection that Soul is most likely in my observation to see and stand for the Truth of Christ Jesus Peace In the next place Master Cotton denyes to compell to the Truth by penalties but onely by withdrawing such favours as are comely and safe for such persons Truth I have formerly answered and doe that a great Load may be made up by Parcels and particulars as well as by one masse or bulke and that the backs of some men especially Merchants may be broke by a withdrawing from them some Civill priviledges and rights which are their due as well as by afflicting them in their Purses or Flesh upon their backs 2 Christ Jesus was of another opinion who distinguisheth between Gods due and Caesars due and therfore with respect to God his cause and Religion it is not lawfull to deprive Caesar the Civil Magisteate nor any that belong to him of their Civil and Earthly rights I say in this respect although that a man is not Godly a Christian sincere a Church member yet to deprive him of any Civill right or Priviledge due to him as a Man a Subject a Citizen is to take from Caesar that which is Caesars which God indures not though it be given to himselfe Peace Experience oft-times tell us that however the stream of just Priviledges and Rights hath out of Carnal Policy been stopt by Gods people when they have got the Staffe into their hands in divers Lands and Countreys yet hath that streame ever returned to the greater calamity and tryal of Gods people Truth But thirdly it hath been noted that even in New-England penalties by Law have been set to force all to come to Church which will appear upon a due search to be nothing else but an outward profession of force and violence for that Doctrine which they suppose is the Truth Peace Concerning coming to Church wee tolerate saith Master Cotton Indians Presbyterians Antinomians and Anabaptists and compell none to come to Church against their conscience and none are restrained from hearing even in England Truth Compelling to come to Church is apparant whether with or against their Conscience let every man look to it The toleration of Indians is against professed principles and against the stream of all his present dispute as before I proved Touching the Magistrates duty of suppressing Idolatry Witchcraft Blasphemy c. such Indians as are pofessedly subject to English in N. England notoriously continue and abound in the same which if they should not permit it as apparant their subjection is hazarded T is true this Toleration is a Duty from God but a sin in them because they professe it their Duty to suppresse Idolatry Blasphemy adde Master Cotton may say we not onely tolerate the Indians in their abominable and barbarous worships but which may seem most incredible we tolerate the Indians also in that which by our civil principles we ought to tolerate no subject in that is in abominable lying whoring cursing thieving without any active course of restraint c. T is true Those Indians submitting to their Government as it may be Master Cotton will say to the ten Commandements yet living in all kind of Barbarisme live some miles more remote how ever they are they say their subjects were every miles distance an hundreth Peace But is there any such and professed tolleration of Antinomians Presbyterians Anabaptists as is here insinuated Truth I know of no toleration of Presbyterian Antinomians Anabaptists worshipping God in any meetings separate from the common Assemblies If any such persons be amongst them like Church-Papists it is their sin that they separate not from such opposite Assemblies and Worships and it is the sin of such assemblies to tolerate such persons after due admonitions in the name of Christ rejected But further Master Cotton grants a Communion in hearing in a Church-Estate by Church members but not in any as are no Church-members but come in as the Pagan Infidell 1 Cor. 14. Truth Communion is twofold First open and professed among Church-Members Secondly Secret and implicite in all such as give their presence to such Worships without witnessing against them For otherwise how can a Church-Papist satisfie the Law compelling him to come to Church or a Protestant satisfie a Popish Law in Popish Countries but by this Cloake or Covering hiding and saving of themselves by bodily presence at Worship though their Heart be farre from it Peace Whereas it was said that Conscionable Papists and all Protestants have suffered upon this ground especially of refusing to come to each others Church or meeting M r Cotton replies They have suffred upon other points and such as have refused to come to Church have not refused because such hearing implanted them into Church-Estate but out of feare to be leavened Truth 'T is true many have suffred upon other points but upon due Examination it will appeare that the great and most universall Tryall hath been amongst both Papists and Protestants about coming to Church and that not out of feare of being leavened for what Religion is ordinarily so distrustfull of its owne strength as of Countenancing what they believe false by their presence and appearance Exam of Chap. 71. replying to Chap. 74. Peace COncerning the Papists testimonie against persecution M r Cotton replyes First why may not their Testimonie be wicked as well as their Booke confest so to be Secondly He grants that Conversion of Soules ought not to be but by Spirituall meanes Truth It is true the Authour of the Letter calls their booke wicked and themselves the Authours of persecution yet their Testimonie is in part acknowledged by M r Cotton to be true and will further appeare so to be upon Examination But whether M r Cotton allow of no other Armes then Spirituall to be used about Spirituall conversion it hath and will be further examined Peace Whereas the Papists alledge Matth. 10. that Christ Jesus sent his Ministers as sheepe among Wolves not as Wolves among sheepe to kill imprison c. M r Cotton grants this true yet adds that this hindreth not Excommunication Tit. 3. nor miraculous Vengeance against Spirituall Wolves Acts 13. where there is a gift nor their Prayers against such 2 Tim. 4. 4. nor their stirring up of the Civill power against them as Elijah did Ahab and the people against the Prophets of Baal 1 Kings 18. 40. Truth Concerning the two first we agree for the third the Prayers of Gods people against Gods Enemies we finde two-fold First Generall against all secondly Particular against some and that two-fold First for Gods Vengeance in Gods time leaving it to his holy Wisdome as Paul prayd against Alexander Secondly For present Vengeance as the Disciples desired in the case of Christ Luke 9. And against
himselfe Heard he not that famous powerfull Sermon of Stephen Saw he not his glorious and most heavenly Death and having so much to doe with the Saints could he otherwise choose but heare and see many heavenly passages tending to his soules conviction Peace Yea why should M r Cotton pinch upon Apostates from the truth of Religion and Seducers he cannot choose but know how many thousands and millions of men and women in the world are Hereticall Blasphemers Seducers that never yet made profession of that which he accounteth True Religion True Yea and to plead thy case Deare Peace why should M r Cotton couple Murtherers and Adulterers with Apostates and Seducers Doth not even the naturall Conscience and Reason of all men put a Difference Doe not even the most bloudie Popes and Cardinalls Gardiners and Bonners put a difference between the crimes of Murther Treason Adulterie for which although the offendour repent c. yet he suffers punishment and the crimes of Heresie Blasphemie c. which upon Recantation and Confession are frequently remitted Peace I remember it was high Treason in H. 8. his dayes to deny the Kings spirituall Supremacie as well as to kill his person and yet upon Confession and Recantation we finde that the very Conscience of those bloudy men could distinguish between these Treasons Truth 'T is true this bloudie Tenent of persecution was lamentably drunke with bloud in the dayes of that Henry as well as afterwards in the dayes of his bloudie daughter Marie and yet in Henry his dayes we finde John Haywood recanting his so cald Treason against the Kings Supreamacie in spirituall things and is cleared When famous and faithfull Cromwell for words pretended to be spoken by him against the Kings person must pay his noble Head But to End this Chapter most true it is that multitudes of people in all parts of bloudie Christendome and not a few in England in Henry the 7. and Henry the 8. his dayes have escaped with a Recantation and Abjuration for spirituall Treasons when principles of Reason and Civill Government have taught men for their common safetie to thinke of other punishments for Murtherers Adulterers Traytours Exam of Chap. 73. replying to Chap. 76. Discussing the Testimonie of Optatus Peace MAster Cotton having alledged Optatus justifying Macarius his putting Hereticks to Death from the Example of Moses Phinehas and Elijah it was answered that these shafts were drawen not out of Christs but Moses Quiver M r Cotton replyes did ever any Apostle or Evangelist make the Judiciall Lawes of Moses concerning Life and Death ceremoniall and typicall Truth What ever the Apostles of Christ did in this matter yet sure it is Evident that M r Cotton himselfe makes some of Moses Lawes which he calls Judiciall to be but ceremoniall and typicall Peace Me thinks M r Cotton should never grant that who layes so much waight upon Moses practices and the morall and perpetuall ground of them Truth Well take for an Instance this very case of putting to Death Idolaters and false Prophets he grants this in this very Chapter to be typicall in the State of the Jewes for Israell sayth he being the Church of God and in Convenant with God their Example will onely extend to the like Execution of all the false Prophets in the Church of God Peace Such a Candle lighted up in the Conscience and Judgement and Confession of M r Cotton may if the Father of Lights so please light up many Candles more to M r Cottons owne and the eyes of others Truth Yea if the Father of Lights so please M r Cotton will looke back and see that if the Example of Israel extend no further then to the Church of God then those Lawes of Moses concerning Religion cannot but be typicall and ceremoniall for what is morall and perpetuall none can deny to concerne all Men in all Nations where no Church or House of God was ever erected 2. Peace If M r Cotton say it extends but to the Church of God what Church of God can M r Cotton meane but a particular Congregation for he professeth against Nationall Provinciall c. And yet how can he meane a particular Church since he grants the Church of Christ armed with no other weapons then spirituall like unto the Head and King thereof Christ Jesus 3. Truth If M r Cotton will grant the Church of Christ to have been extant upon Earth during the first three hundred yeares of her fiery tryalls he must grant that then the Church of Christ was furnished by Christ Jesus with no other weapons but spirituall for all the Civill powers of the World seemed to be against them All which time by M r Cottons Doctrine the Church of Christ his heavenly Garden must needs be over-growne with Hereticks Idolaters false Prophets for want of a Civill Sword c. Or if they were not as sure it is the Spouse and Garden of Christ was never fairer since As M r Cotton grants the Example typicall and extending onely to the Church of God so must he then also grant these false Prophets and Idolaters to be put to Death by the Churches power which is onely spirituall and Israels materiall Sword will then appeare to be a type of the two-edged sword of Christ Jesus in the Gospel Peace It is true sayth Master Cotton what the Discusser sayth that Christ Jesus gave no Ordinance Precept or President in the Gospel for killing men for Religion and no more sayth he for the breach of Civill Justice Civill Magistrates therefore must either walke without Rule or fetch their Rules of Righteousnesse from Moses and the Prophets who have expounded him in the Old Testament Truth If M r Cotton please more awfully to observe weigh the minde of Christ Jesus his New Testament in this point he will not onely heare himselfe subscribing to Caesars Right in Civill matters but also by his servant Peter establishing all other formes of Civill Government which the peoples or Nations of the World shall invent or create for their civill being Common-weale or wellfare Yea he may remember that Christ Jesus by his Servant Paul commandeth the Magistrate to punish Murther Theft Adulterie c. for he expresly nameth these Civill Transgressions together with the civill Sword the Avenger of them Rom. 13. Peace I cannot well conceive what M r Cotton meanes by saying that Moses and the Prophets expounded Christ Jesus in the Old Testament Truth Nor I They did speake or prophecie of Christ they did type or figure him to come with his sufferings and Glory but as John sayth Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ that is the fullfilling opening and expounding came by Jesus Christ Peace Hence indeed I remember that Christ Jesus Luc. 24. expounded to his Disciples out of Moses and the Prophets the things written of him But more particularly touching Moses Macarius did well sayth M r Cotton in putting Hereticks
to Death from the Example of Moses putting Idolaters to Death Exod 32. and the Idolater to Death Levit. 24. Truth These Instances by M r Cottons Confession extend no further then the Church of God and then I desire my abovesaid Answer may be uprightly weighed And I adde the former Instance of putting Death the three thousand Israelites about the Goulden Câ—lfe by the hand of the Levites may most lively seeme to typifie the zealous Execution of spirituall Justice in the Israel of God the Church of Christ by the true Ministers of Christ Jesus the true Antitype of that zealous Tribe of Levi. Peace Concerning Phineas whereas it was said that the flaying of the Israelitish Prince and Daughter of Midian was not for spirituall but for corporall fulthinesse Master Cotton answereth and urgeth the Israelites eating of their Sacrifices and joyning to Baal-peor Also that single Fornication was no capitall crime Truth It is most true the people committed both spirituall and corporall Filthines as very often they goe together but the Justice of God reckoned with these two sinners for and in the midst of their corporall Filthines which although it were not capitall in Israell yet the committing of it with so high an hand of presumption and small sinnes committed presumptuously in Israell were Death was enough to make it worthy of so sharpe and sudden a Destruction Peace Concerning Phineas his act M r Cotton acknowledgeth that it is no president for Ministers of the Gospel so to act but withall sayth it is praesidentiall for Magistrates Truth Phineas his Act whether of ordinarie or extraordinary Justice how can it be praesidentiall to the Civill Magistrate in a particular Church where the weapons are onely spirituall And M r Cotton grants these Examples extend no further then the Church Such as maintaine a Nationall Church which M r Cotton doth not have some colour to urge this Example for a president for in a civill State civill Officers civill Lawes civill Weapons civill punishments and rewards are proper as are also and onely Spirituall Officers spirituall Lawes spirituall punishments and Rewards in a spirituall State Peace Concerning Eliah M r Cotton excepteth against the number eight hundred and fiftie as too many by halfe Truth It is true the number of Baals Prophets were foure hundred and fiftie false Prophets enough to one poore true but yet Eliah numbers Jezabells foure hundred trencher Chaplins with them for sayth he Now therefore send and gather unto me all Israel unto Mount Carmel and the Prophets of Baal foure hundred and fiftie and the Prophets of the Grove foure hundred which eate at Jezabells Table Peace But how ever sayth M r Cotton here was no type nor Figure for Actions of morall Justice though sometimes extraordinary yet they are never figurative but with such as turne all the Scripture into an Allegorie Truth To make the shadowes of the old Testament and the Substance or Body of the New all one is but to confound and mingle Heaven and Earth together for the state of the Law was ceremoniall and figurative having a worldly Tabernacle with vanishing and beggarly Rudiments And I believe it might not onely be said that Abrahams lying with his handmaid Hagar was an Allegorie but that the whole Church of Israell Roote and Branch from first to last included figurative and Allegoricall Kernells were the Husks and Shells disclosed with more humbly diligent and spirituall teeth and fingers Peace I cannot but assent unto you that to render the old Testament Allegoricall in an humble sobrietie your Instance with many more give sufficient warrant Truth Yet I adde in answer to M r Cottons charge of turning all Scripture into an Allegorie that to deny the Historie of either Old or New Testament or to render the New Testament which expounds and fullfills the ancient figures Allegoricalls are both absurd and impious Peace But how sayth M r Cotton can an Act of morall righteousnesse be figurative Truth There is a Fallacie in this tearme morall Righteousnesse for M r Cotton himselfe hath â—â—knowledged a Righteousnesse two-fold A Spirituall Righteousnesse of the Church and a civill of the Common-weale M r Cotton also acknowledgeth Israel to be a Typicall people their land a typicall Land their Ministry and Worship typicall How can M r Cotton then deny but that the weapons of this people their punishments and rewards c. so far as concerned this their mixed figurative and typicall state were figurative and ceremoniall also And so not parts of morall civill Righteousnesse or common to all other Nations and peoples in the World Peace I cannot readily assent to M r Cotton that morall Actions of Civill Righteousnesse could not be figurative with this ceremoniall typicall and figurative people for their warre it selfe which if lawfull is an Act of civill morall Righteousnesse Paul seemes to make figurative of the spirituall Warres of the Christian Israel and Church of God Truth Yea and it is easie to observe that not onely their spirituall Worship c. not onely Acts of morall and civill Righteousnesse in peace and warre c. but even their very naturall Actions and Excrements in warres against their Enemies were figurative and typicall full of heavenly and spirituall Instruction which the unbelieving Jewes then saw not but the believing saw as they saw Christ Jesus in the Sacrifices and all their observations leading to the blessed Son of God the Messiah the Annointed or Christ to come and his Eternall Kingdome Peace M r Cotton in the next place takes offence that the Fact of Elijah should be called miraculous and askes if it be a miracle for Elijah with the aide of so many thousand Israelites to put to Death foure hundred and fiftie men Truth M r Cotton mistakes the word for the word is not fact but passage which compriseth not onely the slaughter of these their Priests but the whole matter and busines as the putting of the Worship of the true God to the Tryall of Fire from Heaven the descending of Fire from Heaven the devouring of the Sacrifice and licking up of so much water and upon this so great a number of their Priests the Fathers Shepheards and Gods of the people so thunder-smitten as from Heaven with so sudden and dreadfull a slaughter what can these be but an extraordinary Inspiration in the Prophet a supernaturall descent and operation of Fire yea and an extraordinary and wonderfull change in the heart of the People And I doubt not but M r Cotton doth sometimes give an heavenly and spirituall signification to all these figurative and miraculous Mysteries Peace But I wonder at the next words Though Christ sayth he gave no such Commission to Ministers of the Gospel to put false Prophets to Death as Elijah did yet the Act of Dutie was an ordinary dutie of morall Righteousnesse belonging to such as beare the Sword Anon againe he writes This Example will
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
judgement of the great whore p. 55 Christs church by institution properly consisting of good ground p. 57. The nature of the Jewish church ibid. The nature of Christs true Apostles or Messengers p. 58 Antichristians monsters in Religion p. 59 Two sorts of sinners p. 60 Two sorts of Hypocrites ibid. Two sorts of opposites to Christ Jesus p. 61 The Rivers and Fountaines of Blood Rev. 16. p. 63 Of hypocrites in the profession of Christianity p. 64 Corrupt consciences distinguished p. 66 Toleration of idolaters considered ibid. Civil weapons in spirituals blur and slight the spiritual p. 67 The toleration of Jezabel in Thyatria p. 68 The difference between spiritual and civil slander p. 69 The dreadful nature of Christs spiritual punishments ibi The punishments in the national Church of Israel were material and corporeal p. 70 Touching Prayer against present destruction of the Tares p. 71 Pastors and teachers are not Apostles or messengers ib. Elijah stirring up Ahab to slay the Baalites p. 72 Touching the state of Israel in the Apostacy of Jeroboam and more of the Baalites p. 72 Touching Apostles or Messengers p. 74 Touching fundamentals p. 75 Persecuting of Christ Jesus by a Law p. 76 The greatest blasphemy against Christ Jesus that ever was yet not punished but spiritually ibid. Pauls appeal to Caesar more examined p. 78 Few Magistrates in the world that bear the very name of of Christ Jesus p. 79 Fewer truely Christians ibid. Mystical and most cruel Surgery ibid. To serve God with all our might literally taken horribly abused p. 80 The title of defender of the Faith in England p. 81 A bold but true Word touching defend or of the faith p. 83 The title of supream head of the church examined p. 84 The plague of the Turkes upon the antichristian world p. 84 Whether Saul was a type of Christ and the Kings of Israel c. p. 85 The Priests and Clergy in all nations the greatest peace-breakers p. 88 Touching the seducer and seducing p. 89 Bishop Longlands subtle and bloody oaths of inquisition against seducing christians ibid. Causes of destruction to a nation p. 90 All nations Cities and Towns of the world parts of the world c. p. 91 Changes of state Religions ibid. The state of Israel unparalleled p. 92 The punishments of Christ sorer then the punishments of Moses ibi That of Jude twice dead examined p. 93 Of spiritual infection p. 94 The sword of typical Israel a type of Christs spiritual sword p. 95 Magistrates cannot receive from the people a spiritual power p. 69 The proper charge of the civil Magistrate p. 97 The plague of the Turke upon the Antichristian world p. 98 A twofoldcare and charge of souls ibid. Christ the true King of Israel ibid. Christs threefold sending of Preachers p. 99 No true office of Ministery since the Apostacy but that of Prophesie ibid. Great neglects charged on Christ Jesus p. 100 Pretended order monstrous disorder p. 101 The Parliaments high justice against oppressors p. 102 The title head of the church p. 103 The civil Magistrate no spiritual officer now as in Israel p. 104 All commonweals that ever have been are or shall be in the world excepting that of typical Israel meerly civil p. 105 The decrees of Pagan kings for Israel and the God of it considered ibid. The Ministers lay heavy load upon the Magistrates back ibid. The great desolation of the visible order of Christs Saints and servants p. 107 The Wolves at Ephesus considered Act. 20 p. 108 The duty of the civil Magistrate in spirituals ibid. The changing of Persecutors is one thing the abolishing of persecution another ibid. The persecuting cleargy no cordial friends to Magistracy ibid Master Cotton and Bellarmine all one for the deposing heretical princes p 109 The Lord Cobham his troubles in Henry the fifths dayes p 110 Civil society plucke up by the roots ibid. A turn-coat in Religion more faithless then a resolved Jew Turk or Papist 111 Doctor Pearnes turning and returning and turning againe in Religion p. 111 Consciences yeelding to be forced lose all conscience ibid. Two strange Paradoxes about force in spirituals p. 112 How the kings of Israel and Judah were Types â—f Jesus Christ to come p. 113 Cyrus called Christ a figure of Christ p. 114 The fire from Heaven Revel 13. p. 115 All truth not only heavenly but moral civil c. precious p. 116 Many excellent Prophets in eminency and power and yet may not use a civil but a spiritual sword in spirituals p. 117 More confidence commonly put in the civil sword then the spiritual p. 118 Englands changes in Religion compared with those of Judah ibid. Whether England may not possibly receive the Pope againe 119 The Religions of the world politick inventions to maintaine a civil state p. 120 The absolute necessity of some order of Government all the world over ibid. The Emperor Antoninus Pius his distinction and Edict against persecution p. 120 123 The degeneracy of Christianity now professed p. 121 The horrible dâ—ssâ—mbling of some persecutors ibid. Too short a time set for repentance in New England p. 122 False Teachers commonly hardned by persecution ibid. The great sufferings of Master Gotton and his friends in England p. 123 The difference between spiritual and corporal murther p. 124 Civil Justice ought impartially to permit one conscience as well as another p. 124 The difference of the persecution of the Romane Emperors and Roman Popes p. 125 The difference between the persecuted for conscience and punished for civil crimes p. 127 Every true Moses will make a difference between Israelites and Egyptians p. 128 Whether a Commonweal may prosper in the permission of divers Religions p. 129 Cups of blood given into the hand of persecuting nations p. 129 Scripture perverted from the spiritual to the civil state p. 131 The Magistrate usually but the Clergies Cane and Trumpet ibid. Rom. 16. 17. grosly abused by a Governor in New England ibid. The bloody Tenent plucks up the Nations and all civil being p. 132 Romes glory and downfal p. 133 The civil state and officers thereof cannot be spiritual Judges ibid. The case of Gallio p. 134 The sufficiency of Christs spiritual weapons p. 135 A vaine fear of false Teachers p 136 Christ Iesus nor Paul addrest themselves to the civil state ibid. Turke and Pope and the generality of all Protestants against free conference p. 137 David and Goliah Types ibid. Difference between spiritual and civil Ministers p. 138 Israels corporcal killing types of spiritual ibid. The duty of the civil state in spirituals p. 139 The kingdomes of the world becoming Christs ibid. Touching forcing men to Church p. 140 A Spanish inquisition all the world over p. 141 Master Cotton kindling a twofold fire ibid. Mathias the second Emperor granting liberty of conscience p. 142 Christian weapons considered ibid. A fallacious distinction of using the civil sword not in but about spiritual matters p. 143 Wonderful strange
Carpenters p. 144 Master Cotton slights stocks and whips c. and provokes to banish and kil hereticks c. ibid. All civil violence in spirituals is for an interest p. 145 The civil sword esteemed more powerful then the spiritual p. 146 That great fort of Rom. 13. considered p. 147 The civil Magistrate not charged with the keeping of two tables ibid. Calvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. p. 148 Vnrighteousness civil and spiritual ibid. Spiritual wars without civil disturbance p. 149 Of the Romane Emperors power in spirituals p. 150 Foul imputation against Christ Jesus and yet his wise provision for his Kingdome p. 151 The Clergies evil dealing with the civil magistrate p. 152 The nature of the Church and of Christs true order but lately discovered since the Apostacy ibid. Spiritual Courts and Judges p. 153 Touching Pauls appeal to Caesar p. 154 155. Spiritual rights and civil p. 156 The true and only Christendome p. 157 Christ Jesus robbed of his crown p. 158 Of custome tribute c. p. 159 Of praying for Magistrates p. 160 Civil Ministers and spiritual ibid. The God of heaven hath many sorts of Ministers p. 161 Ordinarily the truth is persecuted ibid. Touching the tearm evil Rom. 13. p. 162 The civil Magistrate robbed of his civil power ibid. Of toleration which Master Cotton in cases makes large enough p. 163 The land of Israel a type p. 164 Touching false and seducing teachers p. 165 The great difference of sin against the civil or spiritual estate p. 166 The gross partiality of the bloody doctrine of persecution ibid. Gods children much labor to shift off the cross of Christ p. 167 Christ Jesus between two theeves p. 168 The horrible hypâ—câ—isie of all persecutors ibid. Christs charge to Pergamus and Thyatira against toleration examined p. 169 The word persecution how ordinarily taken ibid. Famous speeches of some kings against persecution p. 170 No civil state or country can be truly called Christian although true Christians be in it p. 171 Nursing fathers dealt with all as children p. 172 Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all consciences and Religions in the world p. 173 All persecutors hold the Popes traiterous doctrine of deposing Hereticks c. p. 174 The Popish and Protestant Clargy set the Popish and Protestant world on fire for their maintenance ibid. The Dutch device to win their Clergy to toleration of other Religions p. 175 All that profess to be Christs Ministers must resolve to dig or beg or steal ibid. All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus p. 176 Of letting the Tares alone p. 177 A speech of King James considered p. 178 Touching compelling to come to Church to hear p. 179 A second speech of King James proving it possible that a Papist may yeeld civil obedience ibid. The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned books against civil obedience p. 180 All England was Catholick and yet the Pope renounced ibid. A twofold holding the Pope as head ibid. The two English sisters Laws concerning conscience p. 181 Cautions for preventing disturbance by Papists ibid. Other Nations well provide against distractions and tumults from opposite consciences p. 182 Neerer competitors to the truth among our selves then the Papist ibid. The admired prudence of the Parliament in preserving civil peace p. 183. Increase of Papists unlikely as things stand in England ibid Master Jo. Robinson from Holland as touching permission of Papists his testimony p. 184 A third speech of King James considered ibid. Persecution ordinarily the mark of a false Church ibid. Stephen King of Poland his speech ibid. The spiritual power of Christ intrusted not with civil but spiritual Ministers p. 185 An excellent argument used in Parliament against the persecuting Bishops ibid. Two wayes of disturbing and destroying Religion p. 186 The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from heaven ibid. Daniels councel to Belshazzar preserveth Parliaments and nations ibid. Israel a miraculous nation p. 187 Two sorts of nations in the world ibid. Touching the true Christ and the false p. 188 The King of Bohemia his speech p. 189 Spiritual Rapts and violence upon conscience p. 189 Amnon his ravishing of Tamat a Type p. 190 The Judge of conviction of conscience ibid. Wars for Religion p. 191 The bloody tenent guilty of all the blood of Papists and Protestants formerly and lately spilt p. 192 Touching national Churches ibid. Practical denying of Christ Jesus the greatest p. 193 Two high transgressions objected against Master Cotton p. 194 Touching Julian his toleration p. 199 Touching the infection of false doctrine ibid. King James and Queen Elizabeth their persecutions compared p. 200 Fit qualification of Princes p. 201 Master Cotton suspends most part of the Magistrates in the world from acting in matters of Religion ib. Constantines Edict as to Religion p. 202 Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus ibid. Vnchristian Tribunals and proceedings p. 203 Touching excommunication in Israel p. 204 Spiritual blessings and cursings the Antitypes of Corporal in Israel p. 205 Holy and spiritual Constables prisons stocks posts gibbets Tyburnes c. ibid. A true Christ a true sword a false Christ a false sword p. 206 Queen Elizabeth her wars against the Papists ibid. The Wars of the Waldenses p. 207 Christian weapons wars and victories p. 208 Gideons army typical ibid. The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted p. 209 Poverty and persecution the most common companions of Gods Church p. 210 The sins of Gods children ibid. Christs witnesses in all Ages p. 211 A true wife of Christ no persecuter ibid. The difference between excommunication and persecution ibid. Difference between a spiritual and civil state p. 212 The civil powers made the Clergies executioners p. 213 Spiritual judgements more terrible since Christ then corporal before his coming p. 214 A twofold way of constraint p. 215 What it is to walk according to mans light ibid. Conviction twofold p. 216 The maintenance of the New English Ministers ibid. Of propagating Religion by the sword p. 217 Touching the Indians of New England p. 218 219 Propriety of Language necessary to all Preachers p. 220 Conscience a close prisoner in New England c. p. 221 Publike Marriage of a soul to Christ ibid. Spream Authority in spirituals p. 222 Mysteries of false Christs p. 225 The true Christ despised for his poverty ibid. A base esteem of the spiritual sword ibid. Earthly Christs need earthly supports p. 226 The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist ibid. Satans two wayes of quenching the candle of Christianity p. 227 A note of the French Massacre ibid. The pretended disputes in Queen Maries dayes p. 228 The late Synodical disputes ibid. A bloody and most unchristian speech ibid. The rash madness of persecutors against themselves p. 229 Pleasantness of wit sanctified c. ibid. The Churches of New England proved an implicite national Church ibid. A