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. 65. replying to Chap. 68. (Book 65)

Peace.

FRom the Argument of the Testimonie of Kings and Princes concerning persecution for matters of Religion in their Kingdomes and Dominions, the Prisoner descended to the Argument from ancient Writers: unto some of which sayth the Discusser, the Answerer pleaseth to make Answer: Unto this M^r Cotton replyes; As if any of them were omitted, or as if all of them were not answered: Compare the Prisoners Letter and mine together, and see if I have balked any one of them.

Truth.

M^r Cotton would here insinuate a false Charge: I have compared the Prisoners Letter, and the Answer, and although M^r Cotton hath said some-thing to some-thing, which every one of them spake: Yet he that impartially will view the Passages shall finde, that although in strictnesse of Gammar Rules, he may not be said to omit to say something to each of them, yet in re∣spect of Matter and Argument, he hath toucht but some, and that but lightly, as the Candle of Examination will make it ap∣peare.

Peace.

Hilarius words in the Letter are these:

The Christian* 1.1 Church doth not persecute, but is persecuted: and lamentable it is to see the great folly of these Times, and to figh at the foo∣lish opinion of this World, in that Men thinke by humane ayde to helpe God, and with worldly pompe and power to un∣dertake to defend the Christian Church: I aske you Bishops, what helpe used the Apostles in the publishing of the Gospel? With the ayde of what power did they Preach Christ, and con∣vert the Heathen from their Idolatrie to God? When they were in prisons, and lay in chaines, did they praise or give thankes to God for any Dignities or Graces and Favours received from the Court? Or doe you thinke that Paul went about with Regall Mandates or Kingly Authoritie, to gather and establish the Church of Christ? Sought he protection from Nero, Vespatian, &c? The Apostles wrought with their own hands for their Main∣tenance, travelled by Land, and wandred from Towne to Ci∣tie to preach Christ: Yea the more they were forbidden, the more they taught and preached Christ: But now alas Humane helpe must assist and protect the Faith, and give countenance to it,

and by vaine and worldly Honours doe men seeke to defend the Church of Christ, as if he by his power were unable to per∣forme it.

Truth.

How many goulden heavenly Sentences (like so ma∣ny precious Jewells) are treasured up, in the Cabinet of this holy Testimonie of Hilarius? And yet, but some of them, nay onely one of them doth M^r Cotton choose to answer, to wit, this, The Christian Church doth not persecute, but is persecuted.

Truth.

Deare Peace, Each inch and shread of heavenly Gold is precious, forget not therefore the Addition in the Letter, Hilarie against the Arrians thus:

The Church which formerly by en∣during miserie and Imprisonment, was knowne to be the true* 1.2 Church, doth now terrifie others by Imprisonment, Banishment, and Miserie, and boasteth that ••hee is highly esteemed of the World, whereas the true Church cannot but be hated of the same.

In which and other Passages of Hilarius M^r Cotton might see as in a Glasse, the foule spots of his owne and New Englands face, in a most lively Testimonie against both bloudie Tenents and practices.

Peace.

To close upon the Point: M^r Cotton sayth, He can∣not make it a marke of a Christian Church to be persecuted, for (Acts 9 31.) the Churches had rest, &c. Nor a marke of a false Church to persecute; for, Asa persecuted the Prophet (2 Chron. 16. 10.) Acts 7. 51. the true Church persecuted the Prophets.

Truth.

When the Scripture or common Reason speakes of a common marke or Character, proper to one they deny not; but in an Act, or unusuall cases that Marke or Character may be* 1.3 worne by the Contraries. Noah was drunk; Abraham lyes; Da∣vid commits Adulterie: yet lying, drunkennesse and whoredome were not their ordinarie Characters, but the Markes of the common Lyars, Drunkards and Adulterers of this World: David stobd Ʋriah with his Pen, and Asa imprisoned the Prophet; yet these Acts were not their ordinarie Badges, but rather Spots or Blemishes, Warts, or Scabs, which grew on and were cast off (like Pauls Viper) without the note of a constant marke or character.

It is the propertie of Fire to ascend, and Water to descend, yet the Scripture relates of the descending of Fire, and the ascend∣ing of Water, which takes not away the ordinarie Nature of the

marke and character of Fires ascending, and Waters descending the Hills and Mountaines.

An arrant Whore is not alwayes in actuall Whoredome and Bloud, though both are her Markes and Dispositions: A chast wife or Virgin abhorres both, and yet by force or great Temptation, may be vanquished (as Bathsheba) which afterwards the Teares of godly Sorrow and Repentance wash away.

Peace.

Yea but, the Question is (sayth M^r Cotton) whether Magistrates may not punish arrogant Hereticks and Seducers?

Truth.

In all ages God hath permitted, Goulden Images (like* 1.4 Nebuchadnezzars) to be set up, I say State Worships and Religi∣ons! And he hath also provided his Witnesses to testifie his Truth against such Abominations: Such Witnesses dissenting, Non∣conforming, and refusing to come to the Common Assemblies of such Worshippers (to come to Church in plaine English) to yeeld Conformitie, to Subscribe, to Sweare, &c. are commonly cryed downe for Hereticks, Schismaticks, &c. And if they open their Lips in defence of their owne Conscience, and profession of Gods Truth! Seducers, Seducers, Blasphemers, Blasphemers.

2. Peace.

But 2. sayth M^r Cotton) it is another begging of the Question, to take it for granted, that it is a marke of no true Church to procure the Civill punishment of incorrigible, obstinate Hereticks and Seducers.

Truth.

I intend by a marke of character, an inbred constant disposition, put forth in a constant and ordinarie practice: And then* 1.5 I dare challenge M^r Cotton to produce any true Church of Christ, eyther in Scripture or Historie, that did ordinarily and constantly professe and practice to stirre up the Civill Magistrate against such whom they judged incorrigible obstinate Hereticks and Sedu∣cers.

Peace.

That which follows is full of Wonder and Astonish∣ment, for M^r Cotton confessing the Christian Church doth not persecute, that is (sayth he) persecute in Excommunicating the* 1.6 Heretick) it was replyed; this is but an Evasion, for who de∣nies Power to Christs Church to Excommunicate? or who under∣stands by Excommunication, persecution for Conscience? M^r Cotton answers; the Prisoner did nōt expresse himselfe, what persecu∣tion 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 na∣ture of the word, commonly used and taken, and aske, if perse∣cution 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, notwithstand∣ing 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, perse∣cution. 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* 1.7 there being two States, the Civill or Corporeall, and the Ecclesia∣sticall or spirituall: There are conseqnently two sorts of Lawes, two sorts of Transgressions, two sorts of punishments, to wit, Ci∣vill 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 spi∣rituall persecution, to wit, by Excommunication, contrary to Hila∣ries 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 exceed∣ingly.* 1.8 I parallell not the similitude in all respects, but to illu∣strate the difference and distinction, between a spirituall punish∣ment of the minde, and spirit, soule and affections, with which Christ Jesus hath furnished his Churches: and that Civill or cor∣porall punishment, which he never gave them power to inflict (unlesse in miraculous dispensation) over the Bodies of any, di∣rectly 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 Offi∣cers,* 1.9 Doctrines and Practices, (in the power of Correcting, Refor∣ming, &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 Eng∣lish) 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* 1.10 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 exe∣cution, &c.

Truth.

This M^r Cotton covers over with this Similitude, say∣ing 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 dispositi∣ons 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 Magi∣strates,

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 Je∣sus:* 1.11 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 Israe∣lite now, is incomparablie sharper and more dreadfull, by put∣ting spiritually to Death such as Tempt them from the Lord their God, who hath brought them forth of Aegypt into spirituall Ca∣naan, 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 (other∣wise) 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,* 1.12 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 furi∣ous hand of persecutours and oppressours, slaughtering or captiva∣ting 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 terri∣ble and dreadfull, then the literall and materiall Captivitie of Israel.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Christian Church doth not persecute, but is persecuted.
• * 1.2

  Worldly glory and persecution characters of the false Church.
• * 1.3

  The sins of Gods children.
• * 1.4

  Christs Wit∣nesses.
• * 1.5

  A true Wife of Christ no perse∣cutour.
• * 1.6

  Touching perse∣cution what it is.
• * 1.7

  Difference be∣tween a civill and spirituall State.
• * 1.8

  The nature of spirituall pu∣nishment.
• * 1.9

  The nature of Christs spiritu∣all Government.
• * 1.10

  The Civill Powers and Officers the Clergies Exe∣cutioners.
• * 1.11

  Spirituall Judgements more terrible since Christ, then corporall before his com∣ing.
• * 1.12

  The cutting off or Excommuni∣cating from the holy Land of Israel figurative and typicall.