The bloody tenent yet more bloody: by Mr Cottons endevour to wash it white in the blood of the lambe; of whose precious blood, spilt in the blood of his servants; and of the blood of millions spilt in fromer and later wars for conscience sake, that most bloody tenent of presecution for cause of conscience, upon a second tryal, is found now more apparently and more notoriously guilty. In this rejoynder to Mr Cotton, are principally I. The nature of persecution, II. The power of the civill sword in spirituals examined; III. The Parliaments permission of dissenting consciences justified. Also (as a testimony to Mr Clarks narrative) is added a letter to Mr Endicot governor of the Massachusets in N.E. By R. Williams of Providence in New-England.

To the several Respective General Courts, especially that of the Massachusets in N. ENGLAND.

Honored and beloved Friends and Countreymen,

WHile You sit drie on your safe American* 1.1 Shoars (by Gods most gracious Providence) and have beheld the dolefull tossings of so many of Europs Nations, yea of our dearest Mother, aged England, in a Sea of Tears and Bloud, I am humbly bold to present your Eyes and Hearts with this (not unseasonable) discourse of Bloud, of the Bloudy Tenents of Persecution, Oppression, and Violence, in the Cause and matters of Conscience and Religion.

It is a Second Conference of Peace and Truth, an Exa∣mination of the worthily honoured and beloved Mr. Cottons* 1.2 Reply to a former Conference and Treatise of this Subject. And although it concern all Nations, which have persecuted and shed the Bloud of Jesus, the Bloudie Roman Empire, with all the Savage Lyons thereof, Emperours and Popes, the bloudie Monarchies of Spain and France, and the rest of Europs Kingdoms and States (which under their several Vizards and Preteness of Service to God, have in so many thousands of his Servants, Murthered so many thousand times over, his dear Son) yea although it concern that Blou∣die Turkish Monarchy, and all the Nations of the World who practise violence to the Conscience of any Christian, or Anti∣christians,

Jews or Pagans; yet it concerns your selves (with all due respect otherwise be it spoken) in some more emi∣nent* 1.3 degrees: Partly, as so many of yours of chief note (be∣side Mr. Cotton) are engaged in it; partly as N. England (in respect of Spiritual and Civil State) professeth to draw nearer to Christ Jesus then other States and Churches, and partly as N. England is believed to hold and practise such a Bloudie Doctrine, notwithstanding Mr Cottons Vails and Pre∣tences of not persecuting men for conscience, but punishing them only for sinning against conscience! and of but so and so, not persecuting, but punishing Hereticks, Blasphemers, Idolators, Seducers, &c.

It is Mr. Cottons great mistake and forgetfulnesse, to charge* 1.4 me with a publick examination of his privat Letter to me; whereas in Truth, there never passed such Letters between himself and me about this Subject; as he alledgeth: But the Prisoners Arguments against Persecution, with Mr. Cottons Answer thereunto (which I examined) I say these were un∣expectedly, and solemnly sent to me, as no privat thing, with earnest desire of my consideration or Animadversions on them.

These Agitations between Mr. Cotton and others, so sent unto me, as also the Model of Church and Civil Power by Gods Providence coming to hand, I say they seem'd to me to be of too too Publick a nature: And in which my soul not only heard the dolefull cry of the souls under the Altar to the Lord for Vengeance, but their earnest sollicitations, yea and the command of the Lord Jesus for Vindication of their blouds and lives spilt and destroyed, by this Bloudie Tenent, though under never so Fair and Glorious Shewes and Co∣lours.

The most holy and allseeing knowes how bitterly I resent* 1.5 the least difference with Mr. Cotton, yea with the least of the followers of Jesus, of what conscience or worship soever: How mournfully I remember this stroak (as I believe) on Mr. Cot∣tons eye, and the eyes of so many of Gods precious children and servants, in these and other parts; that those eyes so

peircing and heavenly (in other holy and precious Truths of God) should yet be so over-clouded and bloudshotten in this: I grieve I must contest, and maintain this contestation with (in other respects) so dearly beloved and so worthy Adver∣saries.

And yet why mention I or respect I man that is but Grass, and the children of men that must die, whose Brains, Eyes and Tongues (even the holyest and the highest) must shortly sink and rot in their skuls and holes.

Without remembring therefore who my Adversarie is, nor all the Wormwood and the Gall so frequently in Mr. Cottons Reply against me; I fully and only level with an upright and single eye (the Lord Jesus graciously assisting) against that fowl and monstrous bloudie Tenent and Doctrin, which hath so slily (like the old Serpent the Author of it) crept under the shade and shelter of Mr. Cottons Patronage and Pro∣tection.

My end is to discover and proclaim the crying and horri∣ble* 1.6 guilt of the bloudie Doctrin, as one of the most Seditious, Destructive, Blasphemous, and Bloudiest in any or in all the Nations of the World, notwithstanding the many fine Vails, Pretences and Colours of not persecuting Christ Jesus, but Hereticks, not Gods Truth or Servants, but Blasphemers, Se∣ducers: not Persecuting men for their Conscience, but for sinning against their Conscience, &c.

My end is to perswade Gods Judah (especially) to wash their hands from Bloud, to cleanse their hearts and wayes* 1.7 from such Ʋnchristian practices, toward all that is man, ca∣pable of a Religion and a Conscience, but most of all toward Christ Jesus, who cries out (as he did to Saul) in the suffe∣rings of the least of his Servants: Old England, Old Eng∣land, New England, New England, King, King, Parlia∣ments, Parliaments, General Courts, General Courts, Presby∣terians, Presbyterians, Independents, Independents, &c. Why persecute you me? It is hard for you to kick against the Pricks.

My end is to prepare the Servants and Witnesses of Jesus

(what Truth soever of his they testifie) for that great and ge∣neral and most dreadfull slaughter of the witnesses, which I cannot but humbly fear, and almost believe, is near approach¦ing, and will be Ʋshered in, provoak'd and hastned by the preud security, worldly pomp, fleshly confidence, and bloudy violences of Gods own children, wofully exercised each against other, and so rendred wofully ripe for such an Ʋniversal and dreadfull Storm and Tempest!

My end and scope is to put a Christian barr, and just and mer∣ciful* 1.8 Spoaks in the wheels of such zealous reforming Jehues, who (under the Vizard and Name of Baals Priests) may possibly be induced to account it good service unto God, to kill and burn his precious Servants.

My end is, that the greatest Sons of Bloud (the Papists) may know, when ever (as the Saints in Queen Maries days confessed) when ever it shall please the jealous God for the* 1.9 sins of his Saints to turn the Wheels of his most deep and ho∣ly Providences, and to give the Power to the Paw of the Beast, against his Saints and Truths, for their last dreadfull slaugh∣ter (as Daniel and John do clearly seem to tell us) I say those Sons of Bloud, the bloudie Papists, may know, that their bloudy Doctrin of persecution, was disclaimed by some, whom they call Sectaries: That equall and impartiall favour was pleaded to the Catholicks, as wel as to their own or other mens Souls and Consciences: And that if that great Whore shall yet proceed not only to drink the wine of their carnal Jolli∣tie, in the Bowles of the holy Ordinances of Christs Temple and Sanctuary; but also to drink more drunk in the bloud of his Saints and witnesses! This Testimony may stand as a Cha∣racter of Bloud, fixed by the hand of Gods eternal Truth and Peace, upon the Gates of their bloudie Courts, and upon the forehead of their bloudie Judges, who (under what pretence soever) hunt and persecute the Souls and Consciences of any Child of God or Man.

My truly honoured and beloved Countrimen, vouchsafe me* 1.10 I beseech you that humane and Christian Libertie to say, that I fear your Spirits are lock'd up in a double prison from any

serious Audience to ought of mine presented to you. The first of Prejudice against such and such a person. The se∣cond of Conscience, against such and such a matter; and that while my Conscience or another mans saith, Let me be Heretick, Blasphemer, Idolater, Seducer, with Christ Jesus, with his Apostles, Saints and Witnesses: Let me (for his sake) bear Frowns, Censures, and Persecutions, from men so dear, so excellent, so holy! Your Consciences plead for equall Li∣bertie of opposing in your way, all such erroneous or wandring Consciences.

For answer, It is but Humanity, it is but Christianity to exercise meeknesse and moderation to all men: It is humane and Christian Wisdom to listen to a serious Alarm against a Common Enemy: Prove the Alarm false, it may be but trou∣blesome: Prove it true, it may be Destruction to have despis∣ed it.

As the wounds of a Lover are better then the Kisses of an Enemy: So saith the same Spirit, an open Rebuke is better then secret Love.

But yet your Consciences (as all mens) must be satisfied,* 1.11 I have therefore in all these Agitations humbly presen∣ted (amongst others) two Foundamental Hints or Conside∣rations.

First that the People (the Original of all free Power and Government) are not invested with Power from Christ Jesus, to rule his Wife or Church, to keep it pure, to punish Opposites by force of Armes, &c.

Secondly, that the Pattern of the National Church of Is∣rael, was a None-such, unimitable by any Civil State, in all or any of the Nations of the World beside: In this latter hint I insisted more largely in my former Considerations upon Church and Civil Power in N. E. unto which Mr. Cotton replyed not (and of any other Replyes of any (to whom Mr. Cotton refers it) do I yet not know of.)

I Add, it is a glorious Character of every true Disciple or Scholler of Christ Jesus, to be never too old to learn.

It is the Command of Christ Jesus to his Schollars, to try

all things: And Libertie of trying what a Friend, yea what an (esteemed) Enemie presents, hath ever (in point of Chri∣stianity) proved one especiall means of attaining to the truth of Christ.

For I dare confidently appeal to the consciences of Gods most knowing servants, if that observation be not true, to* 1.12 wit, that it hath been the common way of the Father of Lights, to inclose the Light of his holy Truths, in dark and obscure, yea and ordinarily in forbidden Books, persons and Meetings, by Sathan stiled Conventicles.

New English Voyages, have taught most of our Old English spirits, how to put due prices upon the most common and or∣dinary undervalued mercies; how precious with some hath* 1.13 been a little water? how dainty with others a piece of bread: How welcome to some the poorest howsing? Yea the very Land and Earth, after long and tedious passages?

There is one commoditie for the sake of which most of Gods children in N. England have run their mighty hazards; a commoditie marvellously scarce in former times (though in some late years by Gods most gracious and mighty hand more plentifull) in our native Countrey: It is a Libertie of search∣ing after Gods most holy mind and pleasure.

Out of this most precious and invaluable Jewel, if you suffer Sathan (that grand thief and cheater to bereave you, and that it shall be a crime, humbly and peaceably to question even* 1.14 Lawes and Statutes, or what ever is even publickly taught and delivered, you will most certainly find your selves after all your long Run (like that little Frenchman who kill'd the Duke of Guise, and was taken next morning neare the place from whence he had fled upon a swift horse all night)* 1.15 I say you will most certainly find your selves, but where you were, enslav'd and captivated in the Chains of those Popish Darknesses, [to wit, Ignorance is the mother of Devotion, and we must believe as the Church believes, &c.]

Remember therefore (O ye the Cream and Flower of English Plantations in America) what a black and direfull a cole it was with which it pleased the Spirit of God in Haba∣cuck,

to brand the Assirian Monarchie, to wit [a Bitter and hastie Nation] but in the spirit of meeknesse, in the meeknesse of wisdom, be pleased to remember that possible it is for Gods* 1.16 visible, only people in the world to have very foul and blou∣die hands, full of Bloud (Isa. 1.)! To build up Zion and Je∣rusalem (that is, to erect the Visible Church and Kingdom of God) with Bloud (Mic. 3.) and with Iniquitie, That the Heads and Judges of Gods People, may judge for a reward (and the deceitfull heart of man graspeth at rewards more then of one sort) that the Priests and Prophets thereof may teach and Prophesie (and it may be frequently and excellent∣ly, but yet for) an hire and for money; And that yet their consciences may lean upon Jehovah, and they may say with confidence, is not the Lord amongst us? None evil shall come unto us; &c. O remember that your Gifts are rare, your Professions of Religion (in such way) rare, your Persecuti∣ons* 1.17 and hidings from the storms abroad, rare and wonderfull: So in proportion your Transgressions, estate and publick∣sins cannot but be of a rare and extraordinary Guilt: Nor will New England's sorrowes (when sins are ripe and full) be other then the Dregs of Germanie's, of Ireland's, of Eng∣land's, and of Scotland's Tears and Calamities.

Amongst the crying sins of our own or other sinfull Na∣tions: those two are ever amongst the lowdest, to wit, In∣vented Devotions to the God of Heaven. Secondly, Violence and Oppression on the Sons of men (especially (if his sons) for* 1.18 dissenting, and against both these, and that the impartial and dreadfull hand of the most holy and Jealous God (a consuming fire) tear and burn not up at last the Roots of these Plantations, but graciously discovering the Plants which are not his, he may graciously fructifie and cause to flourish what his Right hand will own: I say this is the humble and unfeigned desire and cry (at the Throne of Grace) of your so long despised Out-cast:

ROGER WILLIAMS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  N, England Priviledge.
• * 1.2

  Whole Nation of Lyons or Per¦secutors.
• * 1.3

  The Bloudy Te∣nent more espe∣cially concerns N. E.
• * 1.4

  The occasion of the present con∣••••••versie.
• * 1.5

  This Contesta∣tion is not with persons, but a∣gainst their bloo∣dy Doctrins and Tenents.
• * 1.6

  The end of this Treatise.
• * 1.7

  The cry of the Lord Jesus.
• * 1.8

  A Bar against Persecution.
• * 1.9

  Or a Testimony against it, espe∣cially in the Pa∣pists.
• * 1.10

  A double prison, of prejudice and Conscience.
• * 1.11

  2 Foundamen∣tall Hints a∣gainst Persecu∣tion.
• * 1.12

  Libertie of try∣ing forbidden Books, &c.
• * 1.13

  New Englands Lessons.
• * 1.14

  Liberty of searching our Truth, hardly got, and as hard∣ly kept.
• * 1.15

  Jan le petit.
• * 1.16

  The wonderfull deceitfulnesse of the hearts of Gods only peo∣ple.
• * 1.17

  Mic. 3. N. England must be singular, as in Mercies, so in Judgments.
• * 1.18

  2 of the loudest State. crying sins.