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.

Exam: of Chap. 62. replying to Chap. 65. (Book 62)

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 Holi∣nesse,* 1.1 Gravitie, Love, Meeknesse, &c. which yet are wrested by us poore Men to unholy and unchristian Ends and purposes. How ma∣ny wofully pervert many grave and heavenly Passages and Ex∣pressions 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 tram∣pling upon the Heads and Consciences of all Men, are ready (not in an holy Meeke and Christian way but) in a Pharisaicall, Bi∣shop-like* 1.2 and Pope-like way, to roare and thunder out against Gods meekest Servants the odious tearmes of Hereticks, Schisma∣ticks, Blasphemers, Seducers, &c. Which tearmes though used in holy Scripture, yet never in such a way, as commonly and con∣stantly 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 ••ra••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 Christianitie.

Truth.

What ever were Julians End, yet I deny that Tollera∣tion* 1.3 of the weedes of Heresie and blasphemous Religion (Paga∣nish, Turkish, Jewish, Popish) in the field of the Civill State and World, hath power to choake the vitalls of Christianitie in the Garden or Bodie the Church of Christ Jesus.

And concerning Infection, It is to be observed that when* 1.4 the holy Scripture speakes by the Similitudes of Leaven, Gan∣grene, or Poysonfull weedes, of Wolves, or scabbed sheepe, &c. it is commonly with respect to such Evills got in among the Saints and Churches, the Flocks and Gardens of Christ, where such Lea∣ven, weedes, &c. tollerated may spread and infect: But what is this to the Lyons, Beares, or Wolves, not to be suffered in the Wildernesse, or Swine, or Dogs, in the common high wayes; or weedes in the Common or Forest, which all may be, and yet the Garden, Body, and Flock of Christ be pure and safe from such In∣fection.

Peace.

One passage more is very Considerable. In former Discourse about the Tares M^r Cotton was large in proving the permission of weedes, even in the Church of Christ, and that untill Christs Comming, and that after they be discovered to be Hypo∣crites.

Truth.

O what a Distance is between that Doctrine and this* 1.5 here? There the Tares must not be touched in the Garden of the Church, here they must not be suffred abroad in the field of the World, for feare of choaking the good plants in the Garden of Christ. Who can finde out how these Doctrines suit with God∣linesse, with Reason, or Themselves?

Peace.

But now you speake of suiting: It is (sayth M^r Cot∣ton) (for a close) a plaine Contradiction of the Discussers for∣mer Speech to say, that persecuting of others was a meanes of choaking Christianitie, whereas he had said, that Constantines un∣knowing zeale did more hurt to Christs Kingdome, then the ra∣ging furie of the most bloudie Neroes.

Truth.

Let the words be well weighed, and no such Affirma∣tion will be found: The words are, [It was not when Chri∣stians lodged in cold Prisons, but in Down•• Beds of Ease, and

persecuted others.] The Discusser made not persecution to be a meanes of choaking Christianitie, but attributes the Losse of Chri∣stians Life and Love, to those Beds of their abused Sweete pro∣speritie.

2. If he had made persecution a meanes to choake Christianitie, it had been the persecution of Christians among Themselves, and not the persecution of bloudie Neroes: Which yet if it had been so, it might yet be no Contradiction, for Neroes persecution might doe hurt, although Constantines unknowing zeale might doe much more.

Notes

• * 1.1

  No Booke or Writing ever so abused as the holy Writing & Scripture of God is.
• * 1.2

  The Language of persecutours.
• * 1.3

  Julian his Tol∣leration.
• * 1.4

  Touching Infe∣ction of false Doctrine, &c.
• * 1.5

  Hypocrites tol∣lerated in the Church, but not in the World.