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. 63. replying to Chap. 66. (Book 63)

Peace.

MAster Cotton here being understood to smile on Q: Elizabeth for persecuting the Papists, and to ••••••wne on K: James for persecuting the (so named) Puritans, he denies neither, but insists onely upon the Number, that as many and as great Princes are against Tolleration as for it, and in particular Q: Elizabeth and K: James.

Truth.

I say (as before) I should never use an Argument* 1.1 from the Number of Princes (no more then from the Number of any other men) for any truth of Christ Jesus: Who as he was not pleased himselfe to be borne of the sons of Nobles, so hath he not chosen many Nobles and Wise men of this World to be borne of him: Yet 2. If that be his Argument, he hath not sa∣tisfied, in naming these two, for more were named by the Pri∣soner, and besides one of those Witnesses, K: James abundantly declared himselfe, not onely against persecuting of Papists, but against all persecution in generall, what ever otherwise or after∣wards his practices were against some Persons, as M^r Cotton too truely alledgeth.

Truth.

In the next Passage the Discusser having objected that both Q: Elizabeth and K: James did persecute according to their Consciences, and arguing why should the one (namely) K: James be more blamed for persecuting according to his Con∣science, then Q: Elizabeth for persecuting according to hers: M^r Cotton distinguisheth of Consciences: The Queenes sayth he, was rightly informed, but the Kings was not. When it was reply∣ed,

that either K: James, and such Princes whose Consciences (according to M^r Cottons Conscience) are ill informed, must act according to their Consciences, or else they want the Qua∣lification and Fitnes for such places: M^r Cotton answers two Things.

First, that such Qualifications are not Essentiall, but Inte∣grall.

Secondly, That such Princes must forbeare all Civill Cen∣sures in matters of Religion untill they be better informed.

Truth.

It is most true as M^r Cotton sayth, if we speake of the right of Succession, a childe may be a Lawfull King (as K. James himselfe was being but a yeare old) But if we speake of the Qualifications of the minde, by which a King is enabled to rule his State (as is supposed Ecclesiasticall and Civill, and to judge un∣der Christ Jesus in all Causes Ecclesiasticall as well as Civill: Sure∣ly, he that knowes not which is the true Church, true Ministrie, true Ordinances; yea and persecutes the true Church, Ministrie, and Worship, what ever his Qualifications be for the Government of the* 1.2 Civill State, yet can it never be made good that he is furnished with any Essentiall Qualification for the Spirituall Administration, any more then He that undertakes to be a Guide, and yet is blinde, and never set foote in the way, and knowes not the true from the false: Or to be a Captaine Generall, yea or but a Shep∣heard, &c. 2. Beside, Christ Jesus never calld any person to any Employment of his, to any Worke, whom he inables not in a Measure proportionably, &c.

Peace.

In such cases (sayth M^r Cotton) Princes are called to suspend and forbeare all Execution of Civill Censures in the matters of Religion, till they be better informed, least they doe persecute the Son of God in stead of the Son of Perdition.

Truth.

I answer: First, Then M^r Cotton hath cut off K: James from acting, though so long esteemed and sworne Supreame in all Causes Ecclesiasticall.

Secondly, I aske, how many shall forbeare, and how long,* 1.3 for evident then it is that most (beyond all comparison) of all the Princes and Magistrates in the World, must not meddle with this pretended chiefe part of their Dutie and Office, and that (if they convert not) for the whole Course and Race of their Life: In particular, that no Pagan Magistrate (of all the ten thou∣sands

in the World, no Persian, Turkish, Popish, nor Protestant (if Prelaticall or Presbyterian,) ought to exercise any of this High and Glorious Power, but onely such Princes and Magistrates as are of M^r Cottons Conscience; for otherwise what Prince in the world more learned King in his time then King James, yet was not he of M^r Cottons Conscience.

Peace.

Deare Truth: The fall of this partialitie is so apparant,* 1.4 and withall so fowle, that I thinke it impossible, but ere long it must needs be condemned by Men on Earth, as doubtless it is ab∣hord by the most holy and impartiall God, and his holy Angells in Heaven: Upon this occasion I call to minde that famous Act of the so greatly renowned Constantine, who in his first wearing of the Diademe, put forth (his Colleauge Licinius concurring al∣so)* 1.5 a famous and most solemne Charter and Edict, that no man throughout the whole Empire should be constraind in his Re∣ligion.

Truth.

M^r Cotton (according to his proviso of suspension) must doubtles applaud Constantine for this his Forbearance untill he were better informed, whereas afterward his Edicts against Ar∣rius and Arrianisme, testifie his practice to the contrary. But he that shall reade seriously in Gods presence that first Edict of Con∣stantine and Licinius, will there finde Constantine to use such Ar∣guments, as might for ever have caused him to have forbore per∣secution, to have still suspended, to have gratified the Subjects of all his Empire with Libertie and Freedome in the Point of Wor∣ship and Religion.

But I will End this Passage with this Querie; If Christ Jesus have left such Power with the Civill Rulers of the World, King∣domes,* 1.6 and Countries, of or for the Establishing, Governing, and Reforming his Church, what is become of his Care and Love, Wisdome and Faithfulnesse, since in all Ages (since he left the Earth) for the generall, beyond all exception, he hath left her destitute of such qualified Princes and Governours, and in the Course of his Providence furnished her with such, whom he knew would be, and all men finde as fit, as Wolves to protect and feede his Sheepe and People.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Touching the Persecution of K: James and Q: Elizabeth.
• * 1.2

  Touching the Qualification of Princes.
• * 1.3

  Touching Magi∣strates suspend∣ing from acting in matters of Religion.
• * 1.4

  Monstrous par∣tialitie.
• * 1.5

  Constantines Edict.
• * 1.6

  Foule imputati∣ons cast on Christ Jesus.