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. 69. replying to Chap. 72. Touching the Testimony of Brentius.

Peace.

IT is untrue, sayth M^r Cotton, that we restraine Men from Worship according to Conscience, or constraine them to Worship against Conscience, or that such is my Tenent or practice.

Truth.

Notwithstanding M^r Cottons cloake, to wit, that they will not meddle with the Heretick before he hath sinned against his owne Conscience, and so persecute him onely for sinning against his owne Conscience, yet I earnestly beseech every Reader seriously to ponder the whole streame and series of M^r Cottons▪ Discourse, Propositions, Affirmations, &c. through the whole booke, and he shall then be able to judge whether it be untrue that his Doctrine tends not to constraine, nor restraine Conscience.

2. For the matter of fact, how can he with any Humilitie before the staming eyes of the most High, cry out, no such pra∣ctice, when

First, Their Lawes cry out a Command under Penaltie for all* 1.1 to come to Church, though not to be Members, which in truth (as hath been opened) is but a colour and visard, deceiving him∣selfe and others: And a cruell Law is yet extant against Christ Jesus, muffled up under the hood or vaile of a Law against Ana∣baptistrie, &c.

Secondly, Their practice cryes, their Imprisonments, Finings, Whippings, Banishments cry in the Eares of the Lord of Hosts, and the louder because of such unchristian figleave, cloakes, &c.

Peace.

Let it be granted (sayth M^r Cotton) that we did both, yet this did not make Lawes to binde Conscience, but the outward man onely! Nor would we (sayth he) think it fit to binde the outward man against Conscience.

Truth.

I cannot discerne the Coherence of these three Affir∣mations: 1. We restraine no man from Worship according to Conscience. 2. We make Lawes but to binde the outward man onely. And yet againe (3) we thinke not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience. M^r Cotton lived once under a Popish Law, to weare a fooles Coat or Surplice on his back, and to* 1.2 make a Conjuring Crosse with his Fingers, why should he say, that this Law went beyond his back and his fingers, and came even to his Conscience? If these pettie bonds did binde his Con∣science, as well as his back and his fingers; Oh let not M^r Cotton so farre put off the Bowells of Compassion toward Christ Jesus and his Followers, yea toward all men, as to binde their backs, and their Necks, their Knees and Hands backward and forward, to or from Worship, and yet say he binds but the outward man,* 1.3 &c.

Yea and oh let not such uprightnes, candor, and Integritie, as M^r Cotton hath been noted for, be blemished with such an Eva∣sion as this, to wit, when it comes to selfe, that Conscience his owne or his Friends be offred to be bound, &c. then he shall flie to his third Evasion, saying, We think it not meete to binde the outward man against Conscience, that is, against our Consci∣ences, &c. What ever becomes (sinck or swim) of other Mens.

Peace.

In the next Passage, God needs not (sayth M^r Cotton) the helpe of the Magistrate more in the Second, then in the first Table.

Truth.

God needeth not absolutely for the matters of the Se∣cond* 1.4 Table, though respectively, because he hath appointed Ordi∣nances, unto which he hath graciously referd himselfe. But for the first Table, he hath no neede at all, of carnall weapons, no not respectively, because he hath appointed Ordinances to thousand∣fold more potent, suitable and sufficient.

Peace.

Whereas it was urged, that if Magistrates must use their materiall Sword in keeping of both Tables, they must be able to judge of both: M^r Cotton replies, that it is enough,* 1.5 that they be able to judge in Principles and Foundations, and of the Arrogancie of a tumultuous Spirit; for such want not Judge∣ment to censure Apostasie or Heresie, Idolatrie, &c.

Truth.

It is not like that a Carpenter who hath skill suffici∣ent to judge the Principles and Foundations of a house or Building, should be unable to judge about the Beames, Posts, &c.

2. With what great darknes, have the best of Gods children themselves been covered these many hundreth yeares, touch∣ing the very Fundamentalls of Gods Worship!

Peace.

Whereas it was said further, that either they are not* 1.6 fitly qualified Magistrates and Common-weales, that want this abilitie to judge, &c. Or else they must judge according to their Conscience! M^r Cotton replyes; Many Qualifications are requi∣red in Husbands, Wives, Children, Servants, Ministers, Churches, the want whereof may make them sinfull, but not unlawfull.

Truth.

I answer; some Relations are Passive, as that of chil∣dren, who may be true and lawfull children, although they know not that they are children. But, such Relations as are active in their choice and consent, as of Husband, Wife, Magistrate, &c. these cannot be lawfull, unles they be fitted and qualified to performe the maine and essentiall duties of Husbands, Wives, Servants, Magistrates. That Husband, Wife, Servant cannot be lawfull, that are engaged to other Husbands, Wives, Masters: Nor can that Magistrate be lawfull, who is a mad-man or Ideot, not able to discerne between Right and Wrong: and truely (were Magistrates bound, as to the chiefe part of their Dutie and Office) to establish the true Religion, &c. he were no more then

a mad-man (as to the first Table) that were not spiritually in∣dued with ability of discerning the true Church, Ministry, Wor∣ship, &c.

Peace.

Now whereas it was further urged that then the Common-weale, the Civil, Naturall state, hath more Light con∣cerning* 1.7 the Church of Christ then the Church it self, &c Master Cotton replies, it followes not, because that is a weak Church that knowes no more light then that of the Principles; and beside; what light the Common-wealth hath it may have received from the Church.

Truth.

I answer, If Kings and Queens, &c. be nurcing Fa∣thers and Mothers (in a spirituall respect) over the Church, as is usually alleadged; can it be expected but that the Nurse, Fa∣ther or Physician should know more of the Childs state then the Child or Patient himselfe, who oftentimes knows not his sick∣nesse, nor that he is sick, (as oft may be the case of a Church of Christ) It is impossible, but they must have more light then the Child, yea and much more impossible that they should receive their Light and direction from the Child, &c.

Peace.

We see, saith Master Cotton, that Magistrates sometimes have more Light in matters of Religion then the Church it self, as David and Hezekiah.

Truth.

This (1) confirmes what I said, that these Kings be∣ing appointed by God, Formers and Reformers of the Church of Judah, they must needs have more light in the matter of Refor∣mation* 1.8 then the Church it selfe to be reformed.

2 I must deny that David and Hezekiah were other then types of Christ Jesus, both in his owne person and in such, who in his absence are by him deputed to manage the spirituall power and sword of his holy and spirituall Kingdome.

Peace.

Yea, but alas, saith Master Cotton, there is no colour, that because Magistrates are bound to discerne and serve Christ with their power, that therefore they may punish Christ and Christians.

Truth.

True, therefore, Master Cotton elsewhere saith, they must suspend to deal in Church matters untill they can judge, &c.

And this, First implies their light and judgement (absolutely necessary) in all such matters of the Church, about which they are to Judge and act as often I affirme

2 I aske what kind of spirituall Physicians will Master Cotton have, who shall be bound to suspend their power, all their lives long, unlesse they have skill to judge of Diseases? will not the* 1.9 similitude hold against such spirituall Fathers, Nurces, Physici∣ans, who all their life long (yea the greatest number beyond compare of all their spirituall Fathers upon the face of the Earth) must wholly suspend from acting in spirituall diseases or cases, to wit, in reforming, establishing, &c.

3 Although it excuseth not ('tis true) such Magistates, Princes Common-wealths, for making this Doctrine their ground of persecuting Christ and Christians, yet doubtlesse it makes their sin the greater who feed them with such bloody Doctrines, and so consequently occasion them upon the rocks of such fals and dangerous and bloudy practices.

Notes

• * 1.1

  New-England loath to be accounted persecutours.
• * 1.2

  Lawes con∣cerning Gods Worship.
• * 1.3

  Dangerous distinctions.
• * 1.4

  Touching keeping of both Tables.
• * 1.5

  Of Magistrates Judgement in Spirituals, &c.
• * 1.6

  Of Qualificati∣ons of Magi∣strates.
• * 1.7

  Of Magi∣strates Abili∣ties.
• * 1.8

  David and Hezekiah fi∣gurative Kings, &c.
• * 1.9

  Magistrates suspending in matters of Religion.