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
performed in the whole World and that Ex Officio to wit the Establishing Governing Reforming c. the Church the Spouse and Kingdome of Christ Jesus Peace 2. The Church and Servants of Christ had great hurt notwithstanding M r Cottons contrary beliefe by the Emperours persecuting of whom they judged hereticall partly in that the Arrians were hardned by their sufferings and Arrianisme increased by the sufferings of the professours of it as also that the Christians were more severely persecuted as hath often also come to passe in the Interchanges between the Papist and the Protestant when the Arrians came to weare the Sword and the Orthodox Christians were under Hatches Truth 3. But that the whole World that wonders after and worshippeth the Beast should yet possibly be of the small Number that follow the Lambe and stand opposite to the Beast on Mount Zion That the World upon whom the vialls of plagues and vengeance are to be powred according to the infallible Prophecies not to speak of the World from other Scriptures that this whole World I say should be brought into such an Onenes with Christ Jesus seemes so crosse to the fundamentall Enmitie between Christs Seede and the Serpents to the priviledges of the Saints to the puritie of Christ to the streame of Scripture and in particular to the sweete last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus and the nature of his particular Flocks c. That I cannot wonder sufficiently how any man professing but a small Knowledge of the Mysteries and Kingdome of Christ Jesus should be so vailed so obscured so to write of the state of Christs Church and the World as M r Cotton doth Peace Christ Jesus Blessed Truth gave not thankes to his most holy most wise Father in vaine for hiding from Wise and Prudent and opening to Babes and Sucklings Truth 4. But further Such a Conversion of People from Idolatrie to Christianitie as fits them to be professours of the Sonne of God but yet not fits them for the Fellowship of Christians in Church State I finde not in the Testament of Christ Jesus Surely the Conversion of the Thessalonians was not such 2 Thess 1. Who turned not onely from Idolls but to serve the living and true God which service of God in Christ no Soule uprightly in love with Christ Jesus but in its measure longs after as vehemently and cordially as ever chast Spouse after her dearest earthly Husbands presence and Enjoyment Cant. 1. 3. 5. Peace Gods Spirit in John describes one Difference c. between the true Spirit and Professours and the fâ—â—se to wit that such as acknowledge that is truely as I conceive Christ Jesus to become in the flesh are borne of God Truth Yea therefore consequently such a Spirit cannot be of Jesus that makes such a profession of Christ Jesus as the Devills themselves may make and even for want of Regeneration and Personall Grace the professours are not fit for the Fellowship of the true Christian Worship and Worshippers 5. But lastly if M r Cotton or any of his bloudie Judgement woare the Imperiall Crowne of the Worlds Majestie what slaughters shall we imagine the World should heare and feele Whether would such fierie zeale transport Men Yea what an Earthly Dunghill Religion and Worship should the most High God be served with fit onely for the Dunghill Gods and Goddesses whom all Asiâ— as the Towne-clarke speakes and the World worshippeth Peace If the Report of M r Cottons interpreting that Scripture of Serving God with all our Might c. be true to wit of employing our Civill Armes and Forces to the utmost and that against other Peoples professing Idolatrie and Antichristianisme His Conscience as I conceive must needs force on and presse after an universall Conquest of all Consciences and under that like those bloudie Spaniards Turkes and Popes lay under that faire cloake the Rule and Dominion over all the Nations of the Earth Truth But may not M r Cotton better listen to the voyce of the Lord Jesus saying to him and such of his bloudie Tenent You know not of what Spirit you are of Were the Emperours too favourable as M r Cotton sayth in but Banishing How keene a Sword would M r Cotton draw against so many Millions of Gangreene Soules throughout the Turkish and the Popish World Peace Oh how farre different would M r Cottons Sword be from the Sword of the Spirit of God proceeding from the Mouth of Christ Jesus yet sharpe enough with two edges piercing between Soule and Spirit c. Truth Yea how farre different from the Meeke Spirit of the Lambe of God who came not to destroy Mens lives but to save them yea how different from the former make and noted gentle Temper of M r Cottons own Spirit now over-heat and enflamed by his unmercifull and bloudie Tenent Exam of Chap. 62. replying to Chap. 65. Peace VVHen M r Cotton was justly observed to use the Language of Lyon-like persecution in these words More and greater Princes then these you mention have not tollerated Hereticks and Schismaticks notwithstanding their pretence of Conscience and their arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their suffrings He defendeth such Language by the Scripture Freedome in such Tearmes against Sinners which sayth he the Discusser acknowledgeth Truth In holy Scripture are many Expressions full of Holinesse Gravitie Love Meeknesse c. which yet are wrested by us poore Men to unholy and unchristian Ends and purposes How many wofully pervert many grave and heavenly Passages and Expressions of holy Scripture to base and filthy Jeasting How many from some sharp Expressions of Christ Jesus and Paul in cases take licence to raile and call Men all to naught in Wrath Revenge and Passion And how many out of pride and false zeale trampling upon the Heads and Consciences of all Men are ready not in an holy Meeke and Christian way but in a Pharisaicall Bishop-like and Pope-like way to roare and thunder out against Gods meekest Servants the odious tearmes of Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers c. Which tearmes though used in holy Scripture yet never in such a way as commonly and constantly the bloudie and persecuting expresse themselves in Peace But what or whom meanes M r Cotton in this passage what Language have they learned who in point of worship have left Zion but not the Gates and Suburbes of Babylon for they set up Bull-warkes of Impunitie to secure them Truth Surely M r Cotton knowes that none that plead against the Civill Power and Weapons in Spirituall Matters but they also maintaine that there ought to be in vigorous use the Spirituall and two edged Sword that comes forth of Christs Mouth not for the Impunitie but for the Ruine and Destruction of all Babells â—raâ—s and Abominations Peace M r Cotton spends many lines and quotes Austin to prove that Julians End of tollerating Heresie to grow was to choake
partiality the bloody doctrine of persebution Great shifting â—o â—sâ—â—â— Christs cross Christian weapons Christ Jesus betwen two Thieves The horible Hypocrisie of all persecutors Christs charge to Pergamus and Thiatira against Tolleration examined False Excommunication one kinde of persecution The word Persecution how ordinarily it is taken Persecution ordinarily implies corporall violence Speeches of Princes against Persecution No Civill Christian State Christs Sword Nurcing Fathers-dealt withall as children Active obedience cannot be given but to a competent Judge Persecutors if it were in their power would and are bound to persecute all Consciences and Religions in the World All persecutors hould the Popes trayterous Doctrine of deposing haereticall Princes The Popish and Protestant Clergie set the Popish and Protestant World on fire for their Maintenance The Dutch device to winne their Clergie to Tolleration of other Religions All that professe to be Christs Ministers must Dig or Beg or Steale All Antichristians are fundamentally opposite to Christ Jesus Touching the Tares Policie store but Pietie rare in Princes A Speech of King James considered No Man to he forced from his owne worship 〈…〉 c. Touching compelling to come to Church and to heare A second Speech of King James Papists may yeeld Civill obedience The Parliament at Paris although Popish yet condemned Bookes and Tenents against Civill obedience All England Papists and yet the Pope renounced A twofold holding the Pope as Head The two Sisters Lawes concerning Conscience Ceales of moderation and kindnesse may melt an Enemie as David melted Saul c. Cautions for preventing of disturbance by Papists c. Sufficient Provisions are made in other Nations against Distractions and Tumults from opposite Consciences and Worships Nâ—erâ—â— Comâ—â—tition home-bred oppositions most of all exâ—sperate c. The admired Prudence of the Parliament in preserving Civill Peace Increase of Papists unlikely in England M r John Robinson deceased his Testimonie in a Manus from Holland A third Speech of King James considered Persecution ordinarily the marke of a False Church Stephen King Poland his 〈…〉 The Spirituall Power of Christ Jesus betrusted not with Civill but spirituall Ministers An Argument used in Parliament against the Persecuting Bishops Of disturbance of Religion The Bishops as Tyrants justly suppressed and the Parliament therein prospered from Heaven Daniells Counsel to Bel-shazzar preserveth Parliaments Kingdomes Touching the Nationall Church of Israell Israell a miraculous Nation Two sorts of the Nations of the World Touching the true and false Christs King of Bohemia his Speech Spirituall Rapes All persecutours contumeliously object against Conscience Amnon his ravishing of Tamar a Type A Query who shall judge whether Conscience be convict Church Papists and Protestants also ravished Wars for Religion The bloudie Tenent Guiltie of all the bloud of Papists and Protestants lately spilt The strongest Arme sword the ordinarie Judge of the Conviction of Conscience Touching the Nationall Church of England Reall denying the greatest denying of Christ Jesus Two high Transgressions objected against M r Cotton Touching the Romane Emperours practices in Religious Affaires Christs Garden gaines by violent Stormes and looseth by sweete Sun-shines The Romane Emperours The Arrians persecuted and persecuting The great Difference between this World and Christ A Christianitie strange from Christ Antichristian Christianitie The bloudie Tenent tends to an universall Conquest of the whole World The bloudie Tenent in its colours No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing Scripture of God is The Language of persecutours Julian his Tolleration Touching Infection of false Doctrine c. Hypocrites tollerated in the Church but not in the World Touching the Persecution of K James and Q Elizabeth Touching the Qualification of Princes Touching Magistrates suspending from acting in matters of Religion Monstrous partialitie Constantines Edict Foule imputations cast on Christ Jesus Vnchristian Tribunalls Dent. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 16. Vnchristianly conjoyned Touching Excommunication in Israel Ans Spirituall Blessings and Curses the Antitypes of Corporall before Christ Great oversight imputed to Christ Jesus If civill punishments for spirituall offences they must be inflicted by holy and Christian Instruments and Officers A true Christ a true Sword a false Christ a false Sword Q Elizabeth her wars against the Papists The Warres of the Waldenses Acts 8. 11. Christian weapons Christs Sword Christs Warres and Victories Revel 17. Gideons Army typicall The Christian Church doth not persecute but is persecuted Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church The sins of Gods children Christs Witnesses A true Wife of Christ no persecutour Touching persecution what it is Difference between a civill and spirituall State The nature of spirituall punishment The nature of Christs spirituall Government The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Executioners Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ then corporall before his coming The cutting off or Excommunicating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall A twofold wâ—y of constraint What it is to walke according to a mans Light Conviction twofold Sufficient in it selfe or to the partie efficacious Touching the Maintenance of the new English Ministers Of propagating Religion by the Sword Touching the Indians of New-England Worshipping of God and Christ before the foundation of Repentance is nothing but Antichristian disorder Touching preaching to the Indians in New-England Proprietie of Language necessary to the true preaching of Christ Jesus to any people Conscience to God in Worship a close Prisoner in New-England and no Petitioner could obtaine its Libertie Publikâ— marriage or giving ones selfe to Christ Judges 21. 25 Considered Supreame Authoritie in Spiritualls Tertullians Speech of one Religion not hurting or profiting another Considered * M r Cottons and Mr Edwards Gangrenes have little differd Blasphemie against the holy Scripture Mysteries of false Christs The true Christ despised for his povertie A base esteeme of the Spirituall Sword Earthly Christs need earthly supports The state of Christianity during the reigne of Antichrist Constantines peace a greater tryal and danger to Christians then 300 years persecution Sathans two wayes of quenching the Candle of Christianity The French Massacre must doe what their pretended disputation could not effect Pretended disputes in Q. Maries days ending in fiery flames The late Synodicall disputes A bloody and most unchristian speech The rash fury and madnesse of persecutors even against themselves Pleasantnesse of wit sanctified glorifies the giver The pretended particulâ—r Churches of N. E. indeed but a Nationall Church No permission of any Religion or worship but one in N. E. therefore are the Churches but a Nationall Church in the mould them c. Where the Supream Authority in a Church is Civill the Body cannot but be like the head and all make up but one Civil or Nationall mixt Church like the Jewish Nationall Church The purging a Countrey of Hereticks declares that Countrey is explicitly or implicitly a National Church A State Maintenance proveth a State Church Synods assembled by
only wise God thus to permit the contentions and divisions of his own Servants as it displaies Himself only Perfect and Excellent and all the best of men in all Ages but farthing-candles yea smoaking Firebrands As it brightly proves the admirable consent and Angelical Harmony of the holy Scripture relating Histories and in those Histories infolding Prophesies fulfill'd before mens daily view thousands of years after As it makes us see our spiritual Povertie and Beggary and infinit need of Mercy and Grace and Peace from Heaven and drives us to continual Prayers and cries for mercifull supplies from thence As it disrelisheth this present sweetest life yea the very life of Spiritual Love in the Communion of the Saints of God themselves if compared with the most pure and spiritual and absolute Joyes and Life approaching So doth this heavenly Councel of the most High aboundantly stop the mouths of all malicious who although they delight to scratch their Athenian Itch of hearing Novelties new things Newes yet stumble they at this stumbling-block of Novelties new Churches new Ministers new Discipline new Baptism new Light The ancient of days say they the God of Peace and Love cannot be in such Divisions The old Bishops were better the old Popes themselves more tollerable But this is but the barking of malice against Gods holyness which his true servants desire to partake of Against Gods Truth which his servants must contend for yea though it be one against another against Gods Councels who hath so laid his holy project that what he now sets out in a clear Light and fairer Print is the very same had we inlightned eyes to see it with the old edition of former times more dark and rude in Ceremonies Types and figures I cannot but foresee variety of divers Passions and Affections in a Variety of Beholders of this present Controversie Some will please themselves and their curiosities in the Noveltie of such discourses some will rejoice to see the light appear and yet mourn in the lamentable differences of such who profess the same God and Christ about it Some will be angry and cry out of Blasphemy against their Gods their Bellies and their Titles c. Some will fear disturbances of the Civil and some of the Spiritual peace and Christianity Yet some will truely desire to search and know the will of God humbly desirous to do it on earth as the Angels doe it in heaven The Courteous Reader may please to see that in the first Conference of Peace and Truth there was Discust a Modell of New English Church and Civill Power which Mr. Cotton in his Reply waved and referred to others of the New English Elders to Reply unto which whether they have so done as yet I have not heard Together with Mr. Cottons Reply to the Bloudy Tenent there was also added a Reply of Mr. Cotton to an Answer of his Letter The Examination of this Reply I desired and intended should have been here presented But the streights of time being constantly drunk up by necessary Labours for bread for many depending on me the discharge of Engagements and wanting helps of transcribing I say the streights of time were such that the Examination of that Reply could not together with this be fitted for Publick view though with the Lords assistance will not delay to follow Touching Mr. Cotton I present two words First for his Person Secondly for his Work For his Person although I rejoyce that since it pleased God to lay a Command on my Conscience to come in as his poor Witnesse in this great Cause I say I rejoice it hath pleased him to appoint so able and excellent and Conscionable an Instrument to bolt out the Truth to the bran So I can humbly say it in his holy presence it is my constant heaviness and souls grief as to differ from any fearing God so much more ten thousand times from Mr Cotton whom I have ever desired and still desire highly to esteem and dearly to respect for so great a portion of mercy and grace vouchsafed unto him and so many Truths of Christ Iesus maintained by him And therefore notwithstanding that some of no common Judgement and respect to him have said that he wrote his washing of the Bloudie Tenent in Bloud against Christ Iesus and Gall against me yet if upon so slippery and narrow a passage I have slpit notwithstanding my constant resolution to the contrary into any Tearm or Expression unbeseeming his Person or the Matter the cause of the most high in hand considered I humbly crave pardon of God and Mr. Cotton also Secondly concerning his Work I call to mind a speech of one of eminent Note in N. England observing a disposition in men for one man to deifie another and that some of no small note had said they could hardly believe that God would suffer Mr. Cotton to err the Speech was this I fear that God may leave Mr. Cotton to some great error that men may see he is a man c. But concerning his Work the observant Reader will soon discover that whatever Mr. Cottons Stand is yet he most weakly provides himself of very strange Reserves and Retreats to point with the finger at 2 or 3 most frequent and remarkable First when he seems to be overwhelmed with the lamentable and doleful cries of the Souls under the Altar crying out for Vengeance on their Persecutors that dwell upon the Earth He often retreats and professeth to hold no such Doctrin of persecuting the Saints no nor of any for cause of Conscience nor that the Magistrate should draw forth his Sword in matters of Religion When it is urged that through this whole Book he Persecutes or Hunts by name the Idolater the Blasphemer the Heretick the Seducer and that to Death or Banishment and amongst other Expressions useth this for one If there be stones in the streets the Magistrate need not run for a Sword to the Smiths shop nor to the Ropier for an Halter to punish Hereticks c. Mr. Cotton retreats into the Land of Israel and calls up Moses and his Laws against Idolaters Blasphemers Seducers c When he is Challenged and that by his own frequent confession in his Book for producing the Pattern of a National Church when he stands only for a Congregationall for producing that national church of Israel so miraculous so typical as a Copie or Samplar for the Nations and Peoples of the World who have no such miraculous and Typicall respect upon them Mr. Cotton retreats to Moral Equity that the Seducer and he that kills a Soul should die When it is urged that Christ Iesus at his so long typed out coming abolished those National shadowes and erected his Spiritual Kingdom of Israel appinted Spiritual Officers Punishments c. and that those Scriptures Tit. 3 against the Hereticks and Rev. 2. against Baalam and Iezabel prove only a spiritual death and
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
the wife or the wife to the husband Yea whether they spake any thing though never so little out of any line of holy Scriptures or any of Wickliffes books or any good English writings By which abhorred practices the fathers caught in this bloody Bishops oath vehemently forced upon all suspected the fathers I say were forced to accuse and betray their children the children their fathers husbands their wives wives their husbands for fear of horrible death on the one side or else of running upon the rocks of Perjury on the other side Peace Hold dear truth and stop my spirit is wounded with such relations Truth O how were the Saints and Christ Jesus in them wounded with such tenents and practices Peace Master Cotton will salve this up with what he elsewhere saith thus Longlands and the Papists religion and the religion of England was then false in that kings time Truth What then No pious and sober man can hold all mâ—n devoid of conscience to God except himself In all religions sects and consciences the sons of men are more or less zealous and precise though it be in falshood 2. But let it be granted that the religion persecuted is false and that a false religion like leaven will spread as did this idolatry of Michal Jeroboam and others and grant that this idolatry will bring judgements from heaven in the end yet I desire Master Cotton or any knowing man to answer to these two questions 1. Where finde we since the comming of Christ Jesus a land like Canaan a state-religion a City or Town-religion wherein the Townes or Cities or kingdomes apostacie may be feared as Master Cotton here writes of Lâ—â—sh and consequently the Townes or Cities captivity for that sin 2. Where read we of the destruction of a land for idolatry or images without a ripeness in other sins and especially of violence and oppression of which persecution is the greatest And therefore to follow Master Cottons instance of the Turks beside idolatry which saith Master Cotton brought the plague of the Turks Rev. 9. read we not also in that Scripture and in all histories of their detestable and wonderful whoredomes witchcrafts thefts slaughters and murthers amongst which this bloody Tenent of persecution was ever in most high esteem c. Peace Indeed Bâ—â—â—â— hath been filled with blood of all sorts Râ—â—â—lations the 18. but in especial manner hath the whâ—re been drunk with the blood of the Saints and witnesses of Jesus Revel 17. Truth Hence then not idolatry onely but that bloody doctrine of persecution the great fire-brand and incendiary of all Nations and Commonweals brought in the bloody Turkes to revenge Gods truth and witnesses slaine by the idolatrous and bloody Antichristians Peace I something question that it can be proved that the most righteous Judge of the whole world ever destroyed state or nation for idolatry but where this bloody doctrine of persecution was joyned with it that is until he had graciously sent witnesses against such idolatries and till such witnesses were despised and persecuted and therefore here comes in seasonably the sad exprobration of the Lord Jesus against Jerusalem threatning the ruine and desolation of it Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem which killest the Prophets and stonest them which were sent unto thee c Truth I add lastly Let it be granted that a soul is corrupted with a false religion and that that false Religion like a leaven in time hath corrupted the state Yet first that state or land is none else but a part of the world and if so since every part more or less in degree follows the nature of the whole it is but natural and so lieth as the whole world doth in wickedness and so as a state or part of the world cannot but alter from one false way or path to another upon this supposition as before that no whole state kingdome City or Town is Christian in the new Testament Secondly Grant this state to be so corrupted or altered from one corrupt religion to another yet that state may many ages enjoy civil peace and worldly prosperity as all histories and experience testifies Thirdly That idolatry may be rooted out and another idolatrous religion of the conquerer as in the Roâ—aâ—e and other conquests brought in or the religion may be changed something to the better by the coming of new Princes to the crown as we see in Henry the eighth King Edward and Queen Elizabeth in our own Nation and of late times Lastly A soul oâ— souls thus leavened may be reduced by repentance as often it pleaseth God so to work why then should there as Master Cotton intimates such a peremptory bloody sentence be thundred out as life for life c. Peace But saith Master Cotton false prophets in the old Testament were to die but for attempting and the reason was not from any typical holiness of the land but from the dangerous wickedness of the attempting to thrust away a soul from God which is a greater injury then to deprive a man of bodily life Truth The reason to me appears plainly typical with respect to that holy nation and the seducers seeking to turn the soul away from the Lord their God who had brought them forth from the land of Egypt by such signes miracles c. Let Master Cotton now produce any such nation in the whole world whom God in the New Testament hath literally and miraculously brought forth of Egypt or from one land into another to the truth and purity of his worship c. then far be it but I should acknowledge that the seducer is fit to be put to death But draw away the curtaine of the shadow and let the substance appear not a whole Nation City c. but the Christian church brought by spiritual signes and wonders from the Egypt of this world in all nations of the world where the Gospel comes Justly therefore he that seduceth a soul from his God in Christ and so endangereth to leaven that only true Christian state or kingdome the church of Christ he ought to die upon his obstinacy without mercy as well under Christ as under Moses Yea he is worthy of a sorer punishment as saith the Spirit of God who trampleth under feet the blood of Christ such a deceiver or seducer except he repent is to be cut from the presence of the Lord and to lose an eternal life He that is cut off from material Israel might yet repent and live eternally but he that is cut off from mystical Israel under the Gospel that is for obstinacy in sin the proper hereticke he is cut off to all eternity which punishment as it is infinitely transcendent and more dreadful in the nature and kind of it so answereth it fully and infinitely that clause of Master Cotton to wit To thrust a soul from God is a greater injury then to deprive a man of his bodily life Peace Now whereas the discusser added
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