so many holy so many wise in such a holy way as you believe you are in To say nothing of strong drinkes and wines the fat and sweet of this and other Lands These and others are snares which without abundant strength from God will catch and hould the strongest feete Sir I have knowne you strong in repelling strong Temptations but I cannot but feare and lament that some of these and others have been too strong and potent with you Fifthly We not onely use to say proverbially but the Spirit of God expressly tells us that there is a minde-bewitching a betwitching of the very Consciences and spirits of men That as in Witchcraft a stronger and supernaturall power layes hould upon the powers of Nature with a suppressing or elevating of those powers beneath or above themselves So is it with the very Spirits and Consciences of the most Intelligent and Conscientious when the Father of Spirits is pleased in his righteous displeasure and jealousie so to suffer it to be with ours Sir I from my Soule honour and love the persons of such whom I you and themselves may see have been Instrumentall in your bewitchinâ— Why should it be thought inconsistent with the holy wisdome of God to permit wise and holy and learned persons to wander themselves and mislead others when the holy Scripture and Experience tells us of the dangerous Councells and wayes of as wife and learned and holy as now breath in either Old or New English aire Sir I had thought to have named one or two who may justly be suspected though otherwise worthily beloved but I have chose rather to present an hint for that 's enough to so intelligent a Breast if but willing to make an Impartiall Review and Examination of Passages between the most High and your in most Soule in secret Therefore sixthly for a sixt ground of suspecting your Soule and Spirit and Conscience in this particular of persecution which I now instance in may you please Sir without offence to remember that as it is in such as have exceeded in Wine their speech will bewray them So it is in Spirituall Cups and Intoxications The Maker and Searcher of our hearts knowes with what Bitternes I write as with Bitternes of Soule I have heard such Language as this to proceed from your selfe and others who formerly have fled from with crying out against persecutours you will say this is your Conscience You will say you are persecuted and you are persecuted for your Conscience No you are Conventiclers Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers You deserve to be hanged rather then one shall be wanting to hang him I will hang him my selfe I am resolved not to leave an Heretick in the Countrey I had rather so many Whores and VVhoremongers and Thieves came amongst us Oh Sir you cannot forget what Language and Dialect this is whether not the same unsavourie and ungodly blasphemous and bloudie which the Gardiners and Bonners both former and later used to all that bowed not to the State goulden Image of what Conscience soever they were And indetd Sir if the most High be pleased to awaken you to render unto his holy Majestie his due praises in your truely broken-hearted Confessions and Supplications you will then proclaime to all the VVorld that what profession soever you made of the Lambe yet these Expressions could not proceed but from the Dragons mouth Oh remember and the most holy Lord bring it to your Remembrance that you have now a great price in your hand to bring great Glory to his holy Name great Rejoycing to so gracious a Redeemer in whom you professe is all your Healing and Salvation great Rejoycing to the holy Spirit of all true Consolation whom yet so long you have grieved and sadded great Rejoycing to those blessed Spirits attending upon the Lambe and all his and terrible to his persecutours great Rejoycing and Instruction to all that love the true Lord Jesus notwithstanding their wandrings among so many false Christs mourning and lamenting after him in all parts of the World where his Name is sounded Your Tallents are great your Fall hath been so Your Eminencie is great the Glory of the most High in Mercy or Justice toward you will be great also Oh remember it is a dangerous Combat for the Potsheards of the Earth to fight with their dreadfull Potter It is a dismall Battle for poore naked feete to kick against the Pricks It is a dreadfull voyce from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Endicot Endicot why huntest thou me why imprisonest thou me why finest why so bloudily whippest why wouldest thou did not I hould thy bloudie hands hang and burne me Yea Sir I beseech you remember that it is a dangerous thing to put this to the may be to the venture or hazzard to the possibilitie Is it possible may you well say that since I hunt I hunt not the life of my Saviour and the bloud of the Lambe of God I have fought against many severall sorts of Consciences is it beyond all possibilitie and hazard that I have not fought against God that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them Sir I must be humbly bold to say that 't is impossible for any Man or Men to maintaine their Christ by the Sword and to worship a true Christ to fight against all Consciences opposite to theirs and not to fight against God in some of them and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jesus Christ Oh remember whether your Principles and Consciences must in time and opportunitie force you 'T is but worldly policie and Compliance with Men and Times Gods mercy over-ruling that houlds your hands from murthering of thousands and ten thousands were your Power and Command as great as once the bloudie Roman Emperours was The truth is and your selfe and others have said it by your Principles such whom you count Hereticks Blasphemers Seducers ought to be put to Death You cannot be faithfull to your Principles and Consciences if you satisfie them with but imprisoning fining whipping and banishing the Hereticks and by saying that banishing is a kinde of Death as some chiefe with you in my case formerly have said it Sir 'T is like you knew or have heard of the man that said he would never Conforme publikely although he did subscribe in private for his Libertie sake of Preaching That although he did conforme in some things yet in all he never would That although he did himselfe yeeld yet he would not molest and inforce others That although he yeelded that others did molest them yet himselfe would never persecute and yet did all But oh poore dust and Ashes like stones once roling downe the Alpes like the Indian Canoes or English Boats loose and adrist where stop we untill infinite mercy stop us especially when a false fire of zeale and Conscience drives us though against the most holy and eternall himselfe Oh remember the
might some way from the State or you receive reliefe and succour Considering that the very Nations Constitution hath occasioned parents to traine up persons to give themselves to studies though in truth but in a way of Trade Bargaining before God yet 't is according to the Custome of the Nation who ought therefore to share also in the fault of such Priests and Ministers who in all changes are ejected I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits to perswade The Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England and possesse yours with a true sence of three particulars First of the yoakes of Soule-oppression which lye upon the necks of most of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations of the whole world as if Chams Curse from Noah were upon them Servants of Servants are they and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God which call for the purest Libertie I confesse the World lyes in wickednesse and loveth darknesse more then Soule Bondage the greatest light but why should you helpe on those yoaks and force them to receive a Doctrine to pray to give thanks c. without an Heart yea and in the many changes and cases incident against their Heart and Soules Consent Secondly of the bloudines of that most bloudie Doctrine of persecution for cause of Conscience with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it c. Some professors true and false Sheepe and Goats are daily found to differ in their Apprehensions perswasions professions and that to Bonds and Death What now shall these be wrackt their Soules their Bodies their purses c Yea if they refuse deny oppose the Doctrine of Christ Jesus whether Jewes or Gentiles why should you call for Fire from Heaven which suits not with Christ Jesus his Spirit The Bloudinesse of the Bloudie Tenent or Ends Why should you compell them to come in with any other Sword but that of the Spirit of God who alone perswaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem and can in his holy season prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet Thirdly Of that Biass of selfe-love which hales and swayes our minds to hould so fast this bloudie Tenent You know it is the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers c. That sets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too as Pauls day and night to work rather Little of the Spirit of Love from Christ Jesus yet extant and our selfe-love biasseth us to Inventions Traditions and Doctrines of persecutions then the progresse and puritie and simplicitie of the Crowne of Christ Jesus should be debased or hindred This Spirit will cause you leave with joy Benefices and Bishopricks Worlds and Lives for his sake the Heights and Depths Lengths and Breadths of whose Love you know doth infinitely passe your most knowing Comprehensions and Imaginations There is but little of this Spirit extant I feare will not be untill we see Christ Jesus slaine in the slaughter of the Witnesses Then Joseph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the slaughtered bodie of most precious Saviour and Nicodemus will goe by day to buy and bestow his sweetest spices on his infinitly sweeter Soules beloved The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit unfeinedly and heartily wisheth you Your most unworthy Countriman R. Williams FINIS The Principal CONTENTS TRuth and peace rarely meet page 1 Many excellent men plead for persecution p. 2 New Englands persecution guilty of the persecution in Old p. 3 The first occasion of publishing the bloody tenent p 4 Master Cotton complains of being persecuted and yet writes so much for persecution p. 5 The word persecution in plain English what it is ibi Master Cotton would change the word persecuting into punishing p. 6 State worships the ordinary occasion of persecution p. 7 Ordination of Ministers and Coronation of Kings unfitly compared p. 11 Master Cotton pleading for Common Prayer p. 11 12 Three causes for which Master Cotton pleads for persecution p. 13 Christs church may be gathered and dissolved with no disturbance of civil peace p. 14 Persecution breaks all civil peace p. 15 Civil peace may be kept long and flourish even where Christ is not heard of yea disowned c. p. 16 Christianity lost most under reforming Emperors ibid. The societies or Churches of Saints are meerly voluntary in combining or dissolving p. 17 Christs Spouse is chosen out of this world p. 18 No civil state can judge the spiritual p. 19 The difference of spiritual and civil peace p. 20 When Gods people flourish most in godliness then most persecuted and when most persecuted then flourish most in godliness p. 21 A monstrous mingling of spiritual and civil disturbance p. 22 Six instances of zeal in Scripture charged with yet free from breach of civil peace p. 23 The Indians subjected to the English permitted while English fearing God in New England persecuted p. 25 Jonah's casting over board pleaded by Master Cotton as a ground for persecution examined p. 26 The killing of the false prophet Zech. 13. 6. p. 27 Conviction of conscience p. 28 The violation of civil peace though out of conscience to be punished p. 29 Gamaliells councel considered p. 30 Christ Jesus never persecuted as Christ but as a deceiver blasphemer seducer c. p. 31 Gods people fast asleep and yet awake ibid A deep mystery in persecution p. 32 Wolves complaining of being persecuted by the sheep p. 33 The blood of the souls under the Altar is a sealed Mystery p. 34 A challenge to the Devil himself touching the persecution of hereticks p. 34 All Antichristian hunters make Titus the third their Den or Fortress p. 35 The horrible abusing and prophaning of that word Heretick p. 36 A child of God may possible be an Heretick p. 37 The straights in which the bloody tenent and this Rejoynder also were composed p. 38 Thâ—se Preachers who will not Preach without money must beg or steal ibid. Christ Jesus his distinction of Diggers Beggers stealers p. 39 Persecution usually taken for a corporal not a spiritual punishment ibid. Very severe but not Christian and more then Judaical punishment of Theeves in England p. 41 The civil and spirituall life confounded p. 42 Gods right and Caesars p. 43 The great peace breakers ibid. English Diana's p. 44. Gross partiality to private interests ibid. England in all ages guilty of much persecution p. 45 Two seasonable Petitions of any persecuted ibid. The Parable of the Tares grosly abused p. 46 Hypocrisie both open and secret p. 47 Spiritual whoredome against God in his worship may be in the midst of pure civil relations p. 48 The parable of the wise and foolish Virgins p. 50. A true church or society of Christ cannot consist of visible Hypocrites p. 51 The Field of the World ibid The Mystery of christians and antichriastians p. 52 The first rise of Antichristians argued p. 54 Touching the
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
Arrians or Papists or other poor deluding and deluded souls This seeming colour of Impartiall Justice serves wofully that murtherous enemy of all Mankind for a Stale or Covert under which his bloudie Game goes on of persecuting or hunting the harmless Deer the children of the living God For the sake then of the dear Saints and Followers of Jesus for his holy sake and Truth for the holy name and Truth of the most holy Father of Lights the God of it thy compassionate eye is here presented with a Second Conference and view of Mr. Cottons Reply and artificial bloudie washing of the Bloudie Tenent The Battel about any Truth of God in Christ is fought and managed by that most high and glorious Michael the Arch-Angel and Son of God attended with all his Holy Angels the Messengers and Witnesses of his Truth on the one side On the other side by that great red Dragon whose bloudie Followers Devils and men of all sorts and Nations but especially the Roman bloudie Emperor and Roman Popes with Lyon-like Furie and Fox-like craft have suck'd the Bloud and broke the Bones and devoured the Flesh of so many hundred thousand thousands of the King of Kings his spiritual Hinds and Roes in this their bloudie hunting So that aptly I had almost said Prophetically wrote one of their own Roman Poets of the lamentable condition of the harmlesse Deer above other Creatures Dente tuetur Aper defendunt Cornua Taurum Imbelles Damae quid nisi Praeda sumus 'T is a lamentable and cruel sight to see the sons of one poor man and woman all the Globe of the world over like Babels builders so vastly disagreeing about a God and his Worship 'T is lamentable to see these one Mans sons Murthered and Massacred in mutual slaughters as for other pretended Causes So this especially of Conscience and Religion 'T is yet more lamentable and never enough to be lamented that while the Sons of Men do but their kind the Sons of God the sons of the God of Place the Lillies Doves and Spouses of Jesus should thus discord and jart about this Christ their hope that like the very Turks and Persians contending about their Mahomet his Successors the Children of God should tear out each others Throats about the last Will and Testament of the Son of God their elder brother That Ephraim should be against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim and both against Judah yet all sons of one and professors of one God of Israel But oh the low and shallow comprehensions of the sons of men who as a Rotten thing saith Job consumeth Oh the depths of the Councels and workings of the most High most Holy and only wise outshooting all the Generations of men who heat and know no more then Jonathans Lad Is not the Arrow beyond thee c. His holy Wisdom hath an heavenly Reason to touch a little upon this sorrowfull string of that bloudie Device and Sale of innocent Joseph by his own Brethren the sons of one Israel and God He knowes why so holy a Leader of such a miraculous People as I may truly call them why Aaron I say was so left to the horrible ungratefull and outragious importunities of this then the only People of God as to frame a Beastly worship and to turn the most glorious and dreadfull Godhead into the similitude of a Beast that eaâ—eth grasse He knowes why the Israel of God Rebels as Moses passionately called them should so often grieve the holy Spirit of God with their murmurings and be so near to dash out the brains of their most faithfull Leaders He knowes why two Parts or Angles of that Heavenly Triangle Moses Aaron and Miriam so neer in Earthly and Heavenly Relations I say why that rare Pair Aaron and Miriam should yet envie and mutiny against their so dear a Brother and so meek and heavenly a Ruler Moses His heavenly wisdom hath a reason of that wonderfull Shrinking of an Army of 32 thousand Israelits into one poor 300 left behind and found only fit for Gods battels against the Midianits A reason why those two famous Champions Samson and David should find so great discouragement to their fighting of Gods Battels the men of Judah basely binding Samson and the chief of Davids own Brethren flying in his face with open Railings A reason of that all most utter consumption of one whole Tribe of Israels 12. by the furious flames of the Zeal and Indignation of the eleven These things happened not by chance but as the Apostle speaks in Types in curious and wonderfull figures so that his holy wisdom knowes why Israel must be so weary of Samuel and himself and like the Nations of the World must have a King to be their Champion and fight their Battels Why Saul this desired King the King of Gods own choice and Israels why yet he must hunt an innocent David as a Flea in the bosom or a Partridg on the mountains until he hath slain himself to set the Crown on Davids head A reason of that long continued Faction of so many Tribes against this Davids Crown and that Israel so importunate so impatient for a King should now powre out each others blood about a Successor whether a David or the son of Persecution Saul Ishbosheth A reason when David wears both Crowns in one and hath all that a most gracious God could espie out fit for David to receive that yet he wants a wife that had so many and rather then a Davids sinfull Desires and Whordomes shall want a Covering the blood of Vriah that is fire or zeal of God shall die and make up one to cover them O the Depths of the Councels of the holy one of Israel why there being but 12 Tribes in all 10 Tribes of his own people should tear away from 2 and after many Captivities of the one and the other both the one and the other now are scattered from each other upon the face of the Earth and as yet no certain Tidings what 's befaln to the 10 Tribes of the Israel of God He knowes why to leave an upright perfect Asaâ—'s heart to such folly and wrath as to lay a Faithfull Prophet admonishing him from God by the heels Yea why the Followers of the meek Lamb of God should burn in such Vnchristian Flames as to call for fire from Heaven to consume the contemners and despisâ—rs of their Lord and Master who quencheth the fire of their rash zeal with this mild Check You know not of what Spirit you are of Why such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bitternesse as the Word is should rise between two Turtle Doves Paul and Barrabas and that about their most laborious and most dangerous Ministeries Why one cries Paul another Apollo another Caphas another Christ even in the first established Churches This holy Plot this heavenly designe of the most holy 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
pleased with that passage viz. That God will take away such stayes upon whom Gods people rest in his wrath that king David that is Christ Jesus the Antitype in his own spiritual power in the hands of his Saints may spiritually and for ever be advanced Truth This power the General Councels the Popes the Prelates the kings of the earth the civil courts and Magistrates lay claime unto and most of them with bloody hands yea and Gods servants have too long leaned unto and longed after such an arme of flesh which proves most commonly but Sauls arme an oppressing and persecuting and a self killing and destroying power at the last Examination of CHAP. XXXII Peace THis Chapter containes a twofold denyal First saith Master Cotton we hold it not lawful for a Christian Magistrate to compell by civil sword either Pharisee or Pagan or Jew to profess his religion Truth He that is deceived himself with a bad commodity puts it off as good to others Master Cotton believes and would make others believe that it is no compulsion to make laws with penalties for all to come to church and to publike worship which was ever in our fathers dayes held a sufficient trial of their religion and of consenting to or dissenting from the religion of the times Hence by some is that of Luk. 14. alledged Compel them to come in sufficiently fulfilled if they be so far compelled as to be conformable to come to church though it be under the pretence and mask of comming only to hear the word whereby they may be converted But it is needless to stand guessing and guessing at the weight when the scales are at hand the holy word of God by which we all profess to have our weight or to be found too light Peace Master Cotton therefore Secondly denies that a blind Pharisee may be a good subject and as peaceable and profitable to the civil state as any since they destroyed the civil state by destroying Christ Truth When we speak of civil state and their administrations it is most improper and fallacious to wind or weave in the consideration of their true or false religions It is true idolatry brings judgement in Gods time and so do other sins for we read not of idolatry in Sodoms punishment Ezek. 16. notwithstanding there is a present civil state of men combined to live together there in a commonweale which Gods people are commanded to pray for Jerm 29. whatever be the religion there publikly professed Beside the Pharisees destroying Christ were guilty of blood and persecution which is more then idolatry c. and cries to heaven for vengeance Peace It cannot therefore with any shew of charity be denyed but that divers priests of Babel might be civil and peaceable notwithstanding their religion and conscience Truth Yea it is known by experience that many thousands of Mahumetan Popish and Pagan Priests are in their persons both of as civil and courteous and peaceable a nature as any of the subjects in the state they live in The truth is that herein all the priests in the world Mahumetan Pepish Pagan and Protestant are the greatest peace-breakers in the world as they fearing their own cause never rest stirring up Princes and people against any whether Gods or the devils instruments that shall oppose their own religion and conscience that is in plaine English their profits honours and bellies Examination of CHAP. XXXIII Peace THe entrance of this Chapter dear truth looks in mine eye like one of the bloody fathers of the inquisition and breaths like Paul in his mad zeal and frenzy slaughters against the Son of God himself though under the name or brand of a seducer as all persecutors have ever done For saith Master Cotton he that corrupteth a soul with a corrupt religion layeth a spreading leaven which corrupteth a state as Michals idolatry corrupted Laish Judg. 19. and that Apostacy was the captivity of the land and the worshipping of images brought the plague of the Turkes and therefore it is lex talionis that calleth for not only soul for soul but life for life Truth Thy tender braine and heart cannot let flie an arrow sharpe enough to pierce the bowels of such a Bloody Tenent Peace The flaming jealousie of that most holy and righteous Judge who is a consuming fire will not ever hear such Tenents and behold such practices in silence Truth Sweet peace long and long may the Almond-tree flourish on Master Cottons head in the armes of true Christianity and true Christian honour And let New Englands Colonies flourish also if Christ so please untill he come againe the second time But that he who is love it self would please to tell Master Cotton and the Colonies and the world the untrueness uncharitableness numercifulness and unpeaceableness of such conclusions For is not this the plaine English and the bottome to wit If the spirit of Christ Jesus in any of his servants sons oâ— daughters witnessing against the abominations or stinks of Antichrist shall perswade one soul man or woman to fear God to come out of Babell c. to refuse to bow down to and to come out from communion with a state-golden-image and not to touch what it is perswaded is an unclean thing That man or woman who was the Lambs and the Spirits instruments thus to inlighten and perswade one soul he hath saith this tenent laid a leaven which corrupteth the state that is the laud town city kingdome or Empire of the world that leaven shall bring the captivity ruine and destruction of the state and therefore Lex Talionis not only soul for soul in the next but life for life also in this present world Peace All thy witnesses dear truth in all ages have borne the brand and black mark of seducers and still shall even Christ Jesus himself to the last of his holy army and followers against his enemies Truth How famous or rather abominably infamous hath been the practice of all persecutors this way I shall pick out one instance a very stinking weed out of Babels desart to let pass all the bloody bulls and their roarings and threatning of Councels Popes and Emperors Kings Bishops Commissaries c. against the Waldensians Wickleviaâ—s the Hussites Hugonites Lutheraus Calvinists c. their infections and seducings To let pass former and latter persecutions in our own English Nation which hath been as France Spaine Italy Low-countries c. also a slaughter-house of Christs lambs one instance more pertinent then many we have in the raigne of that wise and mighty prince Henry the eighth of bloody Longland Lincolnes Bishop acting to the life Master Cottons Tenent against seducers throughout his Diocess What oaths did he exact what articles did he invent to find out the meetings the conventicles the conferences of any poor servants of God men and women day or night whether the father read to the child or the childe to the father the husband to
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
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
the Sunne of Righteousnesse in the free Conferrings Disputings and Preachings of the Gospel of Truth be more hopefully like to expell those Mists and Fogs out of the minds of Men and that Papists Jewes Turkes Pagans be brought home not onely into the common roade and way of Protestanisme but to the grace of true Repentance and Life in Christ I say why not this more likely by farre then that the mists and fogs of Poperie should over cloud and conquer that most glorious Light Peace 'T is true the holy Historie tells us of one Sampson laying heapes upon heapes of the proudest Philistims of one David and of his Worthies encountring with and slaying their stoutest Gyantâ— and Champions yet it is feared such is the depraved nature of all mankinde and not of the English onely that like a corrupted full Body it sooner sucks in a poysoned breath of Infection then the purest Ayre of Truth c. Truth Grant this I answer therefore thirdly If any of many conscientiously turne Papists I alledge the Experience of a holy wise and learned man experienced in our owne and other States affaires who affirmes that he knew but few Papists increase where much Libertie to Papists was granted yea fewer then where they were restrained Yet further that in his Conscience and Judgement he believed and observed that such Persons as conscientiously turned Papists as believing Poperie the truer way to Heaven and Salvation I say such Persons were ordinarily more conscionable loving and peaceable in their dealings and neerer to Heaven then thousands that follow a bare common trade and roade and name of Protestant Religion and yet live without all Life of Conscience and Devotion to God and consequently with as little love and faithfulnesse unto Men. Peace But now to proceed a third Speech of King James was Persecution is the note of a false Church the wicked are Besiegers the Faithfull are besieged upon Revel 20. M r Cotton here grants that it is indeed a Note of a false Church but not a certaine One for sayth he which of all the Prophets did not the Church of the Old Testament persecute Truth M r Cotton granting persecution to be a degree of Falsehood and Apostacie as he doth in his following words he must also grant that where such a Doctrine and practice prevailes and the Church growes obstinate after all the Lords meanes used to reclaime such a Church will proceede to further degrees untill the whole be leavened with Falshood and Apostacie and the Lord divorceth her and casts her out of his Heart and Sight as he dealt with Israel and Judah And it will be found no false but a dutifull part of a faithfull childe to abhorre the whoredomes of such an one though his own Mother who for her obstinacie in whoredomes is justly put away by his heavenly Father but of that the Lord assisting more in its place Peace Further Whereas it was said that M r Cotton had passed by King Stephen of Poland his Speech to wit the true Difference between the Civill and Spirituall Government M r Cotton answers that it is true that the Magistrate cannot command their Soules nor binde their Consciences nor punish their Spirits All that he can doe is to punish the Bodies of Men for destroying or disturbing Religion Truth It is true the Lord alone reacheth the Soules or Spirits of Men but he doth it two wayes First Immediately stirring up the Spirits of the Prophets by Visions Dreames c. Secondly By instituted Meanes and Ordinances of which is the Question Now Stephen King of Poland professed that he was King of bodies and not of Consciences It being most true that the Lord Jesus hath appointed spirituall Rulers and Governours to binde and loose Soules and Consciences to wound and kill Comfort and save alive the Spirits and Consciences of Men. This power Christ Jesus committed to his true Messengers but oh how many are there that pretend to this Apostleship or Ministrie who yet have sold away this spirituall Power to the Earthly or worldly powers upon an implyed secret Condition or Proviso to receive a broken Reed an Arme of Flesh in stead of the Everlasting Armes of Mercy to protect them Peace With your leave Deare Truth let me adde a second If the Magistrate as M r Cotton sayth punish the body for a spirituall offence why doth he not punish by a spirituall power as a spirituall Officer with a spirituall Censure and punishment Truth M r Cotton will tell us that the bodies of the Israelites were punished for spirituall offences And we may againe truely affirme that the very cutting off by the materiall Sword out of the typicall Land of Canaan was in the type a spirituall punishment Peace M r Cotton is not ignorant of this and hath often taught of these Types from Passages on Genesis and other bookes of Moses c. Truth The Father of Lights graciously be pleased to set home the light he hath vouchsafed him fix and imprint the beames thereof in his heart and affections also Peace This Argument of punishing the body for the soules good I remember was feelingly resented by an honourable Gentleman in the parliament against the Bishops urging how contrary unto Christ Jesus those Prelates were for Christ Jesus did make way for his working upon Mens soules by shewing kindnesse to their bodies c. but Prelates contrarily c. Truth All the Angells ' of God will one day witnesse that Christ Jesus was never Captain to Pope nor Prelate Presbyter no nor Independent Emperour nor King Parliament nor Generall Court who punish and afflict persecute and torture the bodies of Men under pretence of a spirituall and religious medicine Peace Yea but sayth M r Cotton Religion is disturbed and destroyed what shall be done Truth Religion is disturbed and destroyed two wayes First When the Professors or Assemblies thereof are persecuted that is hunted and driven up and downe out of the world Against such Destroyers or Disturbers being Tyrants and Oppressours the Civill Sword ought to be drawen Peace The drawing of the Sword of Justice against such Tyrants I believe hath prevailed in Heaven for the Parliaments successes and prosperitie The turning from the violence that was in the hands of those Men of Bloud the Bishops as in the Men of Ninivies case hath laid the long and violent storme of Fire and Bloud c. Truth Yea let the most renowned Parliament of England and all England know that when they cease to listen to Daniells counsell to Belshazzar to wit to shew Mercy to the poore even the poorest and most afflicted in the World the Consciences of Men then is their Parliamentarie Glory and Tranquillitie ecclipsed Till then I confidently believe their Government which hath now so many yeares with so many Wonders continued shall not be numbred nor another fatall change surprize them But now 2 the Disturbance or Destruction
an Evasion for who denies Power to Christs Church to Excommunicate or who understands by Excommunication persecution for Conscience M r Cotton answers the Prisoner did nōt expresse himselfe what persecution he meant and also since false Excommunication is a great persecution and so Christ Jesus himselfe esteemes of it Luk. 21. 22. Truth I have formerly and must againe appeale to the nature of the word commonly used and taken and aske if persecution properly so taken be not a corporeall violence or hunting for Religion and Conscience sake And then halfe an eye will see through this poore and thin excuse and covering notwithstanding that false excommunication be a spirituall persecution and the abuse of the spirituall Sword be also deeper and fouler then the abuse of the civill and materiall Peace To this upon the Point M r Cotton consented to wit that Hilarius complaint speaketh not to Excommunication but civill censures and therefore answers first by proportion that excommunication of an Heretick is no persecution and therefore by proportion neither is the civill punishment of an Heretick persecution By concession of Hilaries words that the Apostles did not and we may not propagate Religion by the Sword Truth The Question with Hilarie was not whether a true Church did persecute an Heretick Idolater Blasphemer c. but whether a true Church persecuted at all by civill censures Now there being two States the Civill or Corporeall and the Ecclesiasticall or spirituall There are conseqnently two sorts of Lawes two sorts of Transgressions two sorts of punishments to wit Civill and Spirituall and there must of necessitie be two sorts of false or corrupt punishments which are not just punishments but oppressions persecutions or huntings to wit the Civill persecution and the spirituall Now M r Cotton confounding Heaven and Earth together deceives himselfe and others by a notion of spirituall persecution to wit by Excommunication contrary to Hilaries scope and the scope of this whole Dispute and Controversie I may illustrate it thus Some Tutours of Kings Children not being authorized to correct the Bodies of such young Princes are said sometimes not without some desert to correct the Bodies of Inferiours the young Princes Favourites by which the minds of such young Princes smarted sufficiently if not exceedingly I parallell not the similitude in all respects but to illustrate the difference and distinction between a spirituall punishment of the minde and spirit soule and affections with which Christ Jesus hath furnished his Churches and that Civill or corporall punishment which he never gave them power to inflict unlesse in miraculous dispensation over the Bodies of any directly or indirectly by Themselves or others Peace It is an everlasting Truth Rightly distinguish rightly Teach but let us view M r Cottons Second Answer He grante that the Christian Religion was not nor is not to be propagated by the Sword Truth Then let Heaven and Earth judge if M r Cotton may not in this case out of his owne mouth be judged since in this whole Discourse he sets the visible Headship of Christ Jesus that golden Head Cant. 5. over the Church and all her Officers Doctrines and Practices in the power of Correcting Reforming c. on the shoulders of the Civill State the Ministers and Officers thereof provided that they execute not this Headship or Government except they be able to judge that is in English provided they be of his Conscience and Judgement and so consequently will judge and execute according to the Clergies though implicite decree and sentence Peace It is not much unlike that M r Cotton affirmeth in the words following for although he confesseth it is not proper for Christian Churches to inflict Civill punishments by Themselves yet makes he as all Popes and Popish persecutours have done the Magistrates and Civill powers their servants and slaves for execution c. Truth This M r Cotton covers over with this Similitude saying that although it is not proper for Lambes to teare Wolves yet if they were reasonable they would run to their Shepheards to send out their Dogs after them Now under this fine Paint and vizard of Lambe like dispositions of Shepheards the Bishops Presbyterians and Independents may render the Civill Magistrate not as Shepheards but no other upon the point and in plaine English then their servants and Executioners to punish such on whom the Clergie first have past their Sentence The bloudie Papists have commonly used to persecute Christ Jesus formally and judicially delivering over Christ Jesus in his Servants orderly to Pontius Pilate the Secular Power The Protestant persecutors use a finer vaile every ugly vizard will not so deceive for though they practice not so above boord in respect of a formall and judiciall delivering of Christ the Heretick unto their Shepheard Pontius Pilate the Secular power yet they doe it and doe it as substantially and fully by preaching and chalking out to then servants the Magistrates their task I say as fully as ever the bloudie Popes the Bishops or their Chancellours did Peace But why sayth M r Cotton should a Christian Church spare an Idolater tempting of her now any more then the eye of an holy Israelite was to spare the like Tempters in the dayes of old Deut. 13. 3 Truth M r Cotton cannot get over this block though it be but a shadow yea the shadow of a shadow abolished by Christ Jesus M r Cotton a little before grants that the power of spirituall chaines far exceeds the power of materiall and if so how cleere is it that the spirituall impartialitie and severitie of a Virgin Israelite now is incomparablie sharper and more dreadfull by putting spiritually to Death such as Tempt them from the Lord their God who hath brought them forth of Aegypt into spirituall Canaan then the impartialitie and severitie of any literall Israelite against such as tempted them from the Lord who in a Type had brought them forth of materiall Aegypt into materiall Canaan I adde sweete Peace to end this Chapter If the Father of Lights graciously please to open a crevis of Light to that otherwise excellent and piercing eye of M r Cotton in this Controversie he will confesse concerning this cutting off in Israel these two things First that the cutting off in materiall Israel was by Swords Stones c. a cutting off from the holy Land and a casting out of Gods sight which cutting off God executed either by legall Judgement and Sentence among Themselves or by furious hand of persecutours and oppressours slaughtering or captivating that People Secondly That there is no other cutting off in the Gospel but by the spirituall Sword of the Word Ordinances of Christ or the violent hand of Oppressours Antichristians c. carrying Gods Israel captive into mysticall Babylon or Aegypt of false Worship or worldly corruption which is ten thousand-fold more terrible and dreadfull then the literall and materiall Captivitie of Israel Exam of
too too like that Distinction of the bloudie Bishop against the poore Martyr or Witnes of Jesus which M r Fox mentioneth The Scripture is sufficient for Salvation but not for Instruction There is need of Tradition c. The Sword of the Spirit sayth M r Cotton is absolutely sufficient for these foure to wit the Conviction Conversion Mortification and Salvation of the offendour the Heretick yea and for a fifth for Expiation and cleansing of the Church from the Fellowship of that Guilt but there is a sixth to wit Infection and there the Sword of the Spirit is too weake and the Sword of the Magistrate must helpe Peace What sound and modest Reason can be almost pretended why the holy Ordinances Appointments and provisions of the Lord Jesus who is the Wisdome of the Father whose is all power in Heaven and in Earth and whose Heart is all on Fire with Love to his people should be so weake in suppressing the Enemies of his Kingdome that all the Counsell Order and Power he hath left in his Absence are not able to resist the Infection of false Doctrine without the helpe of the Powers of the World his professed Enemie unto whom who so is a Friend sayth John he cannot but be an Enemie unto God Oh what should be the mysterie that the two-edged Sword of Gods mighty Spirit is sufficient for Conviction for Conversion Mortification Expiation Salvation but yet not powerfull enough against Infection Truth There is written evidently on the Forehead of this plea as on the forehead of the great Whore Revel 17. Mysterie The Aegyptian Onions as I may so speake are full of Spirituall Infoldings or Mysteries One or two I shall briefly unfold or peele First the Clergie sacrilegiously so called in all Ages since the Apostasie have like some proud and daintie Servants disdain'd to serve a poore despised Christ a Carpenter one that came at last to the Gallowes c. And therefore have they ever framed to Themselves rich and Lordly pompous and Princely temporall and Worldly Christs in stead of the true Lord Jesus Christ the spirituall King of his Saints and people And however it suits well the common End to retaine the Name of Christ as the Lord Jesus prophesied many false Christs should arise and many should come in his Name c. yet most sure it will be found that a temporall Crowne and Dignitie Sword and Authoritie Wealth and Prosperitie is the White that most of those called Scholars Ministers Bishops aime and levell at How many thousand of them will readily subscribe to the pleas of the French Bishops against the Lord Peter disputing before Philip the French King for temporall Jurisdiction and Peters two Swords in the hands of Christs Ministers Peace M r Cotton is not far off for howsoever He and some will say with him one Sword is enough for a Presbyter or Elder enough for Conviction Conversion Mortification Expiation and Salvation yet one Sword is not enough against Infection and therefore it is needfull though we are not of the opinion of those French Prelates and others that challenged to themselves the Sword of temporall jurisdiction into their owne hands yet it is needfull that it be at our call in the hands of our Executioners the Civill Magistrates Truth It is impossible that temporal and worldly Christs should walke with the legs of a spirituall supportment but as in respect of outward Government they spring from the Earth and the World it is impossible I say but their Feeding and Aliment Defence and Protection should be of the nature of the Root and Eliment from whence they arise Peace It is objected was the Church of the Jewes temporall that was assisted and protected with a temporall Sword Truth The Spirit of God tels us Heb. 8 10. of a worldly Sanctuary of a weake and old vanishing Covenant to wit a Nationall Covenant and Ordinances of a Jewish Church Peace It is againe said how can the Discusser extoll the Sword of the Spirit only and acknowledge no Churches Truth Although the Discusser cannot to his Souls satisfaction conclude any of the various and severall sorts of Churches extant to be those pure golden Candlesticks framed after the first patterne Rev. 1. Yet doth he acknowledge golden Candlesticks of Christ Jesus extant those golden Olive trees and candlesticks his Martyrs or Witnesses standing before the Lord and testifying his holy Truth during all the Reign of the Beast Rev. 11. Hence although we have not satisfaction that Luther or Calvin or other precious Witnesses of Christ Jesus erected Churches or Ministeries after the first patterne as they conceived they did yet doth he affirm them to have been Prophets and witnesses against the Beast and furnished sufficiently with spirituall Fire in their mouthes mightily able to consume or humble their Enemies as Eliah did with the Captains sent out against him Peace I will object no more please you Dear Truth to passe on to the 2nd viz. the Ministry of the Spirits pretended insufficiency against Infection why should not the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus be powerful enough against creepers into Houses against such as lead captive silly souls against such as destroy the faith of some c. as well as in the first Churches and Assemblies professing his holy name and worship Truth Search his Will and Testament and we find no other but spiritual means prescribed and bequeathed by the Lord Jesus to Paul to Peter or any of the holy Apostles or Messengers Peace I must needs acknowledge that the poor servants of Christ for some hundereth of years after the departure of the Lord enjoyed no other power no other Sword nor Shield but spirituall until it pleased the Lord to try his children with Liberty and ease under Constantine a soarer Tryall then befell them in 300 years persecution under which temporall protection munificence and bounty of Constantine together with his temporall Sword drawne out against her spirituall enemies the Church of Christ soon surfeited of the too much honey of worldly ease authority profit pleasure c. Truth Deare Peace the second mistery is this In all ages the world hath been o'respread with the delusions and abominations of false worship invented by Sathan and his Instruments in opposition to the pure worship of the God of Heaven Against these the Lord Jesus hath not been wanting to stir up his witnesses servants and souldiers fighting for their Lord and Master spiritually c. These witnesses when Sathan hath not been able to vanquish and overcome them by disputing writing c. but hath ever lost that way he hath been forced to run to the fleshly Armories of temporall weapons and punishments and to fetch in the powers of the world So hoping to dash out the Candle of Truth and break the candlesticks thereof the witnesses of Christ Jesus This Sathan hath ever practised one of these two wayes sometimes
such as feare God indeed and speakes fire and fagot to all the world beside But also under the name of Heretick and Seducer throwes into the Furnace most commonly and ordinarily all such as feare God Christ Jesus and his Messengers and Ministers not excepted who have alwayes been and are accounted the chiefest Hereticks Blasphemers Deceivers and Seducers in this World Truth I adde the Consequences therefore remaine good that either All the Inhabitants of the World must come into the estate of men fearing God Or else dissemble Religion and fearing God in hypocrisie Or else be driven out of the World Then also the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall and of Magistrates fearing or not fearing God The People must judge I say who feare God indeed and are by them to be permitted and who are the Hereticks and to be punished which who may not see to be the driving of the world out of it selfe and the bloudie routing up of all Societies of Men Peace This charge of partialitie and falshood you have Deare Truth to my understanding shielded the poore Discusser from Can you now helpe his Forehead and his Heart which M r Gotton in the next passage chargeth with another notorious and impudent falshood in relating out of a printed booke an Answer of the New English Ministers to Questions sent unto them from their Brethren in old which answer M r Cotton sayth he cannot finde Truth So much Gall and Vinegar hath M r Cotton powred forth in this whole passage from the first to the last of it that no sober minded man fearing God and knowing M r Cottons former temper of Spirit but will confesse two things First that this bloudie Tenent of persecution hath infected and inflamed his very naturall Temper and former sweet peaceable disposition Secondly his Eye being thus bloudshot is so weakened in its former and otherwise excellent sight that it now questions no Difference between the Mountaines and the Molehills for at the worst in common probabilitie of Reason there can be but a mistake in the Discusser concerning this passage Peace If the Discusser have no sparke of the feare of God yet if but common crvilitie and honestie or least respect of common credit among men it were impossible for him to forge so grossely in matters lately printed publike and obvious to every eye Truth The truth is whether there be different Editions or different Copies printed let M r Cotton and whom it concerns take care of it for the Discusser is confidently resolved that if this passage for the substance of it be not printed and to be read in print of all men in their names he will then willingly beare and lye under the charge of a false forehead and heart which M r Cotton in such heate and anger imputes unto him Exam of Chap. 76. replying to Chap. 79. Peace IN this short Chapter the Discusser is charged with Ignorance and uncharitablenes for thinking amisse of the Penmen of the Answer to the Questions to wit that he should conceive that the passage to New England should change the Judgement or Consciences of Men. Truth The Discusser professeth and I know in truth to bewaile his Ignorance and uncharitablenes yet upon a second review of the words it will be found there was not an Imputation of such a conceit to those worthy Authors or any man but an Item unto all men occasioned by the Confidence expressed that they doubted not but those godly brethren of old England should agree with them here in New if they were in New England together This Item or Caveat will appeare to be given not by way of positive Charge nor in the least derogating from the holy and blessed use of free and humble Conference but to take off the Edge of such Confidence of agreeing in New England when the Differences of Gods people have been and are yet so great in Old and New and so many Conferences and Disputations of Truth and Peace have not yet raised that blessed Agreement of which the Answer to the Questions would make no doubt Peace Me-thinkes there should be little hope of their comming to New-England when the New-English Ministers had got the Advantage of the higher ground and Carnall Sword for their Religion to Friend and had exprest their Judgement of their conceiving it not safe that if they should not agree their severall wayes of Worshipping God should be permitted in one Common-weale Truth Yea and I believe still the Consequence was truely gathered by the Discusser how ever M r Cotton hath so charged his Forehead and Heart for it to wit That the New English Ministers could not as their Conscience stood advise the Magistrates of New-England to permit that which their Consciences and Judgements taught them was not safe c. Peace These passages occasion me to remember a serious Question which many fearing God have made to wit Whether the promise of Gods Spirit blessing Conferences be so comfortably to be Expected in New-England because of those many publike sinnes which most of Gods people in New-England lye under and one especially to wit the framing a Gospel or Christ to themselves without a crosse not professing nor practicing that in Old except of late in times of Libertie which they professedly come over to enjoy with Peace and Libertie from any crosse of Christ in New Truth I know those thoughts have deeply possessed not a few considering also the sinne of the Pattents wherein Christian Kings so calld are invested with Right by virtue of their Christianitie to take and give away the Lands and Countries of other men As also considering the unchristian Oaths swallowed downe at their comming forth from old England especially in superstitious Land his time and domineering And I know these thoughts so deeply afflicted the Soule and Conscience of the Discusser in the time of his Walking in the Way of New Englands Worship that at last he came to a perswasion that such sinnes could not be Expiated without returning againe into England or a publike acknowledgement and Confession of the Evill of so and so departing To this purpose before his Troubles and Banishment he drew up a Letter not without the Approbation of some of the Chiefe of New-England then tender also upon this point before God directed unto the King himselfe humbly acknowledging the Evill of that part of the Pattent which respects the Donation of Land c. This Letter and other Endeavours tending to wash off publike sinnes to give warning to others and above all to pacifie and to give Glory unto God it may be that Councell from Flesh and Bloud supprest and Worldly policie at last prevailed for this very cause amongst others afterward re-examined to banish the Discusser from such their Coasts and Territories Peace But from Violence to the Discusser or any other M r Cotton in the next passage protests his Innocencie and insinuates the Discusser to be
Christ Jesus shall please for the further manifestation of his holy Truth and Glory to permit those able and worthy men to proceed to fortifie and defend their Modell I hope he will also please to assist the Discusser or some other of his poore servants to batter downe with the Spirituall Artillerie of his Word and Testament such weake and loose and unchristian Fortifications Peace But with what a deepe and unrighteous charge doth M r Cotton end against the poore Discusser as a Proclaimer of peace to all the wayes of false Religion to Heresie in Doctrine c. Truth Grant M r Cotton in many excellent Truths of Jesus a sweet sounding Silver Trumpet Grant the Discusser as base a Rams-horne harsh and contemptible Grant that for the peace of the Civill State the being of the Nations and the World the safetie of the good Wheate the Righteous and the calling home of the Elect to God Jewes and Gentiles the Discusser proclaimes a civill being and civill peace to Erroneous Consciences not sinning against humane and civill Principles Yet what Peace hath this Rams-horne proclaimed as M r Cotton insinuates when throughout this whole Booke from first to last the Proclamation soundeth ouâ— open warre against all false Worshippers Peace I am a joyfull witnes of warre proclaimed from the God of Truth from the Sun of Righteousnesse from the Spirit of Holines from the flames of Fire those mighty Angells from all the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus from all his holy Truths and Ordinances Warre to their Consciences Preachings Writings Disputations a warre present a warre perpetuall and without Repentance a warre eternall and everlasting Truth Deare Peace our goulden sand is out we now must part with an holy Kisse of heavenly Peace and Love M r Cotton speakes and writes his Conscience Yet the Father of Lights may please to shew him that what he highly esteemes as a Tenent washt white in the Lambes bloud is yet more black and abominable in the most pure and jealous eye of God Peace The Blackmores Darknes differs not in the darke from the fayrest white Truth Christ Jesus the Sun of Righteousnesse hath broke forth and dayly will to a brighter and brighter Discoverie of this deformed Ethiopian And for my selfe I must proclaime before the most holy God Angells and Men that what ever other white and heavenly Tenents M r Cotton houlds yet this is a fowle a black and a bloudie Tenent A Tenent of high Blasphemie against the God of Peace the God of Order who hath of one Bloud made all Mankinde to dwell upon the face of the Earth now all confounded and destroyed in their Civill Beings and Subsistences by mutuall flames oâ— warre from their severall respective Religions and Consciences A Tenent warring against the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus denying his Appearance and Comming in the Flesh to put an end to and abolish the shadowes of that ceremoniall and typicall Land of Canaan A Tenent fighting against the sweete end of his comming which was not to destroy mens Lives for their Religions out to save them by the meeke and peaceable Invitations and perswasions of his peaceable Wisdomes Maideâ—â— A Tenent fowly charging his Wisedome Faithfullnes and Love in so poorly providing such Magistrates and Civill Powers all the World over as might effect so great a charge pretended to be committed to them A Tenent lamentably guilty of his most precious bloud shed in the bloud of so many hundreth thousand of his poore servants by the civill powers of the World pretending to suppresse Blasphemies Heresies Idolatries Superstition c. A Tenent fighting with the Spirit of Love Holines and Meeknes by kindling fiery Spirits of false zeale and Furie when yet such Spirits know not of what Spirit they are A Tenent fighting with those mighty Angels who stand up for the peace of the Saints against Persia Grecia c. and so consequently all other Nations who fighting for their severall Religions and against the Truth leave no Roome for such as feare and love the Lord on the Earth A Tenent against which the blessed Soules under the Altar cry loud for vengeance this Tenent having cut their Throats torne out their Hearts and powred forth their Bloud in all Ages as the onely Heretickes and Blasphemers in the World A Tenent which no Vncleannes no Adulterie Incest Sodomie or Beastialitie can equall this ravishing and forcing explicitly or implicitly the very Soules and Consciences of all the Nations and Inhabitants of the World A Tenent that puts out the very eye of all true Faith which cannot but be as free and voluntarie as any Virgin in the World in refusing or embracing any spirituall offer or object A Tenent loathsome and ugly in the eyes of the God of Heaven and serious sonnes of men I say loathsome with the palpable filihs of grosse dissimulation and bypocrisie Thousands of Peoples and whole Nations compelled by this Tenent to put on the fowle vizard of Religious bypocrisie for feare of Lawes losses and punishments and for the keeping and hoping for of favour libertie worldly commoditie c. A Tenent wofully guiltie of hardning all false and deluded Consciences of whatsoever Sect Faction Heresie or Idolatrie though never so horrid and blasphemous by cruelties and violences practiced against them all false Teachers and their Followers ordinarily contracting a Brawnie and steelie hardnesse from their sufferings for their Consciences A Tenent that shuts and bars out the gracious prophesies and promises and discoveries of the most glorious Sun of Righteousues Christ Jesus that burnes up the holy Scriptures and forbids them upon the point to be read in English or that any tryall or search or truly free disquisition be made by them when the most able diligent and conscionable Readers must pluck forth their owne eyes and be forced to reade by the which soever praedominant Cleargies Spectacles A Tenent that seales up the spirituall graves of all men Jewes and Gentiles and consequently stands guiltie of the damnation of all men since no Preachers nor Trumpets of Christ himselfe may call them out but such as the severall and respective Nations of the World themselves allow of A Tenent that fights against the common principles of all Civilitie and the very civill being and combinations of men in Nations Cities c. by commixing explicitly or implicitly a spirituall and civill State together and so confounding and overthrowing the puritie and strength of both A Tenent that kindles the devouring flames of combustions and warres in most Nations of the World and if God were not infinitly gracious had almost ruind the English French the Scotch and Irish and many other Nations Germane Polonian Hungarian Bohemian c. A Tenent that bowes downe the backs and necks of all civill States and Magistrates Kings and Emperours under the proud feete of that man and monster of sinne and pride the Pope and all Popish and proud Cleargie-men
black Catalogues it hath pleased the most jealous and righteous God to make of his fierie Judgements and most dreadfull stoakes on Eminent and remarkeable persecutours even in this life It hath been his way and course in all Countries in Germanie France and England especially what ever their pretences have been against Hereticks Rebells Schismaticks Blasphemers Seducers c. How hath he left them to be their owne Accusers Judges Executioners some by hanging some by stobbing some by drowning and poysoning themselves some by running mad and some by drinking in the very same Cup which they had filld to others Some may say Such persecutours hunted God and Christ but I but we c. I answer the Lord Jesus Christ foretold how wonderfully the wisest of the World should be mistaken in the things of Christ and a true visible Christ Jesus When did we see thee naked hungry thirstie sicke inprison How easie how common how dreadfull these mistakes Oh remember once againe as I began and I humbly desire to remember with you that every gray haire now on both our heads is a Boanerges a sonne of Thunder and a warning piece to prepare us for the waighing of our last Anchors and to be gone from hence as if we had never been 'T was mercy infinite that stopt provoked Justice from blowing out our Candles in our youths but now the feeding Substance of the Candle 's gone and 't is impossible without repentance to recall our Actions nay with repentance to recall our minutes past us Sir I know I have much presumed upon your many waighty affaires and thoughts I end with an humble cry to the Father of mercies that you may take Davids Counsell and silently commune with your owne heart upon your Bed reflect upon your owne spirit and believe Him that said it to his over-zealous Disciples You know not what spirit you are of That no sleepe may seize upon your eyes nor slumber upon your eye-lids untill your serious thoughts have seriously calmely and unchangeably through helpe from Christ Jesus fixed First On a Moderation toward the Spirits and Consciences of all mankinde meerly differing from or opposing yours with onely Religious and Spirituall opposition Secondly A deepe and cordiall Resolution in these wonderfull searching disputing and dissenting times to search to listen to pray to fast and more fearefully more tremblingly to enquire what the holy pleasure and the holy mysteries of the most Holy are In whom I humbly desire to be Your poore fellow-Servant unfainedly respective and faithfull R. VVilliams The Parliaments Labours and Labyriâ—ths Two Subsidies granted by the Parliament to the King of Kings The first Subsidy The second Subsidâ— The Bloody Tenent a common Pyrat Mr. Cottons Reply The first Petition Difference between the Piety and Mercy and State-necessity of granting freedâ—m to mens Consciences Constantines and Maximilians acts compared Two wayes of oppressing conscience in Religion The late King Charles his conscience to oppresse the consciences of others no small occasion of the ruine of him and his The Bishops kild the King Hollands policy The permission of conscience in Holland Gods wonderful goings in Holland from Stafore undone by Pride and Unthankfulness To Enchuysin undone by the bloody Tenent of Persecution From Enchuysin to Amsterdam raised to its present hight and glory by mercy to the persecuted Englands ship got into Harbour Striking of Colours The States of Holland yet to seek in the matters of liberty of Conscience Touching absolute freedome to every mans conscience impartially Freedome of Popish consciences Sâ—â— Chap. 59 more particularly Old images puld down and new set up All Images must down All violent courses must break The Act for Civill Engagement of great necessity The second Pettion Worldly wisdome in straits a most dangerous rock The third Petition Soul shipwrack Dangers of Parliament men Wonderfull Confessions of two mighty Kings True Heavenly wisdome The onely valour or cowardize True and best diligence True Justice and Righteousness Heavenly mercy Late zealous Reformations Jehu his zeal and reward Of the Parliaments patience Of the Crown of true Constancy The Controversies of late years about Religion So many opposite Churches so many opposite Christs to the onely true The Pageant of Perken Warbeck in K. H. 7. his dayes a picture of false Christs or Churches * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The six fundamentals of Christian Religion Heb. 6. with or without the first two salvation or no salvation N England Priviledge Whole Nation of Lyons or Persecutors The Bloudy Tenent more especially concerns N. E. The occasion of the present conâ—â—â—versie This Contestation is not with persons but against their bloody Doctrins and Tenents The end of this Treatise The cry of the Lord Jesus A Bar against Persecution Or a Testimony against it especially in the Papists A double prison of prejudice and Conscience 2 Foundamentall Hints against Persecution Libertie of trying forbidden Books c. New Englands Lessons Liberty of searching our Truth hardly got and as hardly kept Jan le petit The wonderfull deceitfulnesse of the hearts of Gods only people Mic. 3. N. England must be singular as in Mercies so in Judgments 2 of the loudest State crying sins Soul wounds the deepest The Akeldamaes or fields of Bloud caused by the Bloudy Tenent of Persecution Michael the son of God and Sathan the red Dragon the two great Generals Lamentable discordâ— about Religion even among the servants of the true and living God The Israelites divided Joseph sold by his brethren Israel force Aaron to make them Gods Israels murmurings Aaron and Miriam against Moses An Armie of 32000 Israelites shrunk into 300. Samson and David discouraged by their own brethren Benjamin almost destroyed by the 11 Tribes Israels rejecting of Samuel the Lord himself Saul persecuting David Ishbosheth and Israel against David and Judah David stabbing Vriah with his Pen. The divisions dispersions of the Tribes Asa imprisoning the Prophet Christs Disciples destrous of fire from heaven c Bitterness between Saul and Barrabas Gods mercy drawes one many sweet fruits from the bitter contentions of his servants Various affections of Readers expected The Model of N. English Church and Civil Power Of Mr. Cottons Reply to the Answer to his Letter Gods wisdom adored in the Discussing of the Bloudie Tenent A memorable Speech touching Mr. Cotton The strange retreats Mr. Cotton makes in this controversie The rearing of Lyon like persecution pag. The strange reluctancies of the Lamb. like spirit of Mr. Cotton forced to against the Persecuting Lyon Monstrous partiality as touching the Magistracy The slaughter of the Witnesses Revel 2. 10. Christ Jesus shortly ruining the two dreadfull Empites of the bloody Turk and Pope The Turks sorest enemies in Euope The Popes sorest enemies Freedome of Conscience in worship due even to the Papists themselvs See Chap. Truth peace rarely meet in this vale of tears Many dear Saints of God plead for persecution Oh how
in the Grates and Pits and under Hatches Doth not Gesâ—er tell us of a Gentleman in Germanie who fitting his Pitfall for Wilde Beasts found in the morning a Woman a Wolfe and a Fox in three severall Corners as full of Which all persecutours themselves in their turnes plead for Feare and as quiet and as desirous of Libertie one as well as another Thus bloudie Gardiner and Bonner prisoners during King Edwards dayes yea and that bloudie Queene Mary her selfe all plead the Freedome of their Consciences What most humble Supplications and indeed unanswerable Arguments for Libertie K. Charles and his Chaplains forced to subscribe to Libertie of Conscience of Conscience have the Papists when in Restraint presented and especially in King James his time Yea what excellent Subscriptions to this Soule-Freedome are interwoven in many passages of the late Kings Booke if his Yea and one of his Chaplaines so cald Doctor Jer. Taylour what an Everlasting Monumentall Testimony did he publish to this Truth in that his excellent Discourse of the Libertie of Prophesying Yea the formerly Non-conforming Presbyterian and Independent Scotch and English Old and New what most humble and pious Addresses have they made before the whole World to Princes and Parliaments for just mercy in true Petitions of Right to their Consciences But let this present Discourse and M r Cottons About Twenty years persecution in New England Fig-leave Evasions and Distinctions Let the practices of the Massachusets in New England in twenty yeares persecution and this last of M r Clarke Obadiah Holmes and others be Examined Yea let the Independent Ministers late Proposalls be waighed with the double waight of Gods Sanctuary and it will appeare what Mercy the poore Soules of all Men and Jesus Christ in any of them may expect from the very Independents Cleargie themselves Object But doth not their Proposalls provide a Libertie to such as feare God viz. that they may freely preach without an Ordination and that such as are not free to the publike Assemblies may have Libertie to meete in private Answ It may so please the Father of Lights to shew them that their Lines and Modells and New-Englands Copie also after The persecution of the New and Old English Independent Cleargie which they write and pensill are but more and more refined Images whereby to worship the Invisible God and that still as before the Wolfe the persecutour must judge of the Lambes drinking For instance New Englands Lawes lately published in M r Clarks Narrative tell us how free it shall be for people to gather themselves into Church-estate how free to choose their owne Ministers how free to enjoy all the Ordinances of Christ Jesus c But yet provided so and so upon the point that the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall to wit Whether persons be fit for Church-estate Whether the Gathering be right Whether the peoples choice be right Doctrines right and what is this in truth but to sweare that blasphemous Oath of Supremacie againe to the Kings and Queenes and Magistrates of this and other Nations in stead of the Pope c Into these Prisons and Cages doe those otherwise worthy and excellent Men the Independents put all the Children of God and all the Children of Men in the whole World and then bid them flie and walke at Libertie to wit within the Conjured Circle so far as they please To particularize briefely When they have in their six severall Circuits ejected according to their Proposalls it may be A briefe touch upon the 15 Proposalls of the so calld Independent Ministers hundreths it may be thousands if impartiall of Episcopall and Presbyterian Ministers and that without against their Peoples consent to the present Distressing of thousands and inraging through such Soul-oppressions the whole Nation Then say they it shal be free for all that be able c. to be Preachers though not ordained c. But provided that two Ministers hands at least The Independents implicitly and silently challenge the power of Ordination which upon the point is instead of an Ordination be to their Approbation c. Upon this lock any shall be free to preach Christ Jesus upon this point of the Compasse as I may in humble reverence and with sorrow speake it the Spirit of God shall be free to breath and operate in the Soules of Men By this Plummet and Line Rule and Square and seeming Goulden Reede and Meetewand the Sanctuary must be built and measured c. But further if any shall be of tender Consciences and that the common size will not serve their foote if they shall thinke the Independents Foundations too weak or it may be too strong for their weake Beliefe if they cannot bow downe to their Goulden Image though of the finest and latest Edition and Fashion Why God forbid they should be forc'd to Church The Danger of pawning spirituall Liberties to Civill powers as others they shall enjoy their Libertie and meeteapart in private But provided they acquaint the Civill Magistrate that is as it may fall out who knows how soon and too too often hath faln out the poore Sheepe and Deere of Christ must take Licence of and betray themselves unto the pawes and jawes of their Lyon-like persecutours Heare Oh Heavens give Eare O Earth What is this but like The Dutch Attempts and the Independents on their Friends compared the Treacherous Dutchmen who Capitulate of Leagues of Peace and Amitie with their Neighbour English and in the midst of State Complements some say out of malicious wrath others say t was out of drunken Intoxications at the best thunder out Broad-sides of Fire and Smoake of persecution Object Some possibly may say Your just suffring from the Independents in New England makes you speake Revenges against them in Old Answ What I have suffred in my Estate Body Name Spirit I hope through helpe from Christ and for his sake I have desired to beare with a Spirit of patience and of respect and love even to my persecutours As to particulars I have and must if God so will further debate them with my truely honoured and beloved Adversarie M r Cotton But as to you worthy Sirs men of Learning and men of personall Holines many of you I truely desire to be far from envying your Honours pleasures and Revenues from whence the two former Popish Prelaticall are ejected unto which the two later Presbyterian and Independent are advanced Nor would I The Authours desire as to the Ministrie of the Land now possessed move a Tongue or pen that any of you now possessed should be removed or disturbed untill your Consciences by the holy Spirit of God or the Consciences of the people to whom you serve or minister shall be otherwayes then as you are yet perswaded Much rather would I make another humble plea and that I believe with all the Reason and Justice in the World that such And as to that Ejected who are ejected undone impoverished
2. Of Jerome Heresie must be cut off with the Sword of the Spirit Let us strike through with the Arrowes of the Spirit implying not with other weapons 3. Of Luther in his Booke of the Civill Magistrate The Lawes of the Civill Magistrate extend no further then over the Bodies and Goods And againe upon Luk. 22. It is not the true Catholike church which is defended by the Secular Arme or humane Power Lastly The Papists in their Booke for Tolleration When Christ bids his Disciples to say peace to this house he doth not send Pursevants to ransack or spoyle the house Lastly The Prisoner in answering some Objections concludeth It is no prejudice to the Common-wealth if Libertie of Conscience were granted to such as feare God indeed He also alledged that many Sects lived under the Government of Caesar being nothing hurtfull unto the Common-weale Peace From these severall Tasts Deare Truth I cannot imagine how the Prisoner can be understood to cast the least glance unto spirituall persecution or prosecution as M r Cotton in this Chap calls it But to end this Chapter When as the Power of Christ Jesus in his Church was argued sufficient for spirituall ends M r Cotton grants both for the healing of sinners and for keeping of the Church from Guilt but not for the preventing of the spreading of false Doctrine among those out of the Church and in private among Church-Members nor sufficient to cleare the Magistrates of a Christian State from the Guilt of Apostasie in suffering such Apostates amongst them c. Truth I have in other Passages of this Discourse proved 1. That Christ Jesus whiles his Churches and Ordinances flourished and since the Apostasie of Antichrist in the hands of his Witnesses hath gloriously and sufficiently furnished his Servants for all spirituall cases of all sorts defending offending c. 2. That there is no other Christian State acknowledged in the New Testament but that of the Christian Church or Kingdome and that not Nationall but Congregationall 3. That the Apostles or Messengers of Christ Jesus never addressed themselves by Word or Writing to any of the Civill States wherein they lived and taught and were mightily opposed and blasphemed I say they never ran to borrow the Civill Sword to helpe the two edged Sword of Christ Jesus against Opposers Schismaticks Hereticks The Lord Jesus was a wiser King then Solomon even Wisdome it selfe and cannot without great Dishonour and Derogation to his Wisdome and Love be imagined to leave open such Gaps such Leakes such Breaches in the Ship and Garden of his Church and Kingdome The Exam of Chap. 56. replying to 58. 59. Peace TO the first observation that M r Cotton urgeth that Princes are nurcing Fathers to feede and correct and consequently must judge of feeding and correction and all men are bound to submit to such their feeding and correction M r Cotton sayth This is false and fraudulent so to collect and these are devised Calumnies Truth It will evidently appeare how greatly M r Cotton forgets the Matter and Himselfe when he so deeply chargeth for all this he granteth in this his Reply onely with this Limitation that Subjects are bound to submit to them herein when they judge according to the Word This Limitation takes not away the observation for it is alway implyed in subjection to all Civill Rulers Fathers Husbands Masters that it be according to the Word Peace Yea but sayth he it is a Notorious Calumnie so to represent M r Cottons dealing with Princes as if he made his owne Judgement and practice the Rule of the proceeding of Princes Truth Let it be laid in the Ballance and seene where the Calumnie or slander lies Princes or Civill Rulers saith M r Cotton are Fathers to feed and correct and their Judgement ought therein to be obeyed according to the Word Now some Princes and Rulers declare themselves against M r Cottons Tenent of persecution for conscience M r Cotton will answer The profession and practice of Princes is no rule to Conscience I reply and ask who shall judge of Princes profession and practice when they thus feed and judge in spirituall matters whether their profession and practice be according to the Word or no M r Cotton when Princes are alleadged against his judgement and conscience pleads that Princes profession and practice is no rule Let all men judge whether his judgement and conscience be not made the Rule to the consciences and practices of Princes whom yet he makes the nurcing Fathers Peace When it was further demanded whether M r Cotton and others of his minde could submit in spirituall cases to any Magistrates in the world but onely to those just of his owne Conscience He answers they will submit to any in Active or Passive obedience Truth But how can M r Cotton suppose Active obedience in spirituall things to such Magistrates who are Pagans Turkish Antichristian and unable to judge and bound by his Doctrine to suspend their Dealings upon matter of Religion untill they be better informed What Active obedience can I be supposed to give to him that hath no Activitie nor Abilitie to command and rule me And must it not evidently follow that Active obedience in these cases according to his Judgement must onely be yeelded to such Magistrates as are able to judge the true Religion and way of Worship That is the Religion and Worship which he takes to be of God Peace Whereas it was said will it not follow that all other Consciences in the world besides their owne must be persecuted by such their Magistrates were power in their hand M r Cotton replyes no except all Mens consciences in the world did erre fundamentally against the Principles of Christian Religion or fundamentally against Church-Order and Civill Order and that in a tumultuous and factious manner for in these cases onely sayth he we allow Magistrates to punish in matters of Religion Truth I have and must observe the Evill of that Distinction between Christian Religion and Christian Order as not finding any such in the Testament of the Sonne of God but finding Church-Order a principall part of the Christian Religion as well as Repentance and Faith Heb. 6. But 2. grant once M r Cottons Religion and way of Worship to be the onely true Religion and way of Gods Worship and all other Religions and wayes of Worship false how can that Errour be otherwise then fundamentall And if other mens Consciences attend not to M r Cottons convictions but obstinately maintaine their blasphemous Religions how can the Magistrates of his conscience be dispenced with and absolved from persecuting such obstinate Consciences throughout the whole World beside Peace When it was further demanded if this were not to make Magistrates Staires and Stirrops for themselves the Clergie to mount up in the seats and sadles of their great and setled Maintenance M r Cotton replyes this is rather to make them Swords and