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. 74. and 75. replying to Chap. 77. and 78. (Book 74-75)

Peace.

IN Chap. 74. One passage cannot be past by, to wit, [God hath laid this charge upon Magistrates in the Old* 1.1 Testament to punish Seducers, and the Lord Jesus never tooke off this Charge in the New Testament: Who is this Discusser, that he should account Paul himselfe, or an Angel from Heaven accursed, that should leave this Charge upon Magistrates, which God laid on, and Christ never tooke off?]

Truth.

This is but a Repetition of what hath formerly been examined: unto which therefore I briefly say, It will never be found true, that God hath laid this charge upon all Magistrates in the World, as he did upon the Magistrates in Israel, to punish Seducers.

Secondly, God laying this charge upon the Governours and Magistrates in Israel, the Church of God (in the type) lays it still upon Christ Jesus and his Governours spirituall under him in his spirituall Israel, which Kingdome he administreth, with Lawes, Punishments and Weapons Spirituall. All this M^r Cotton in this Controversie hath acknowledged.

Thirdly, When he saith, Christ Jesus never tooke off this Charge.

First, I answer, let that Parable which he mentioneth be the Tryall of it in the feare of God.

Secondly, God having now in these last times declared his* 1.2 will by his Sonne: Where hath his blessed Sonne spoken to us, to build no more Temples, to erect no more Altars, to offer no more Sacrifices? And yet these and the whole frame of that ty∣picall State we justly abrogate, both from the words of Christ and his first Messengers, which are plaine and easie enough to such whose eyes it pleaseth God to open, although (in expresse Tearmes) Christ Jesus hath not given an expresse Catalogue of all such particulars to be abolished.

Peace.

In the next passage M^r Cotton deeply chargeth the poore Discusser with partialitie & falshood; upon which Grounds he turnes off all the Consequences, which the Discusser observed to follow upon M^r Cottons Conclusions.

Truth.

It is true, the Authour of the Letter expresseth Liber∣tie

of Conscience to such as feare God indeed: M^r Cotton sub∣scribes, but presently razeth out his Subscription in these words following, which he hath againe now reprinted, to wit,

But the Question is whether an Heretick after once or twice Admonition (and so after Conviction) and any other scandalous and hainous offendour, may be tollerated, either in the Church without Excommunication, or in the Common-weale without such punishment, as may preserve others from dange∣rous and damnable Infection.

Peace.

Who sees not but this bloudie Tenent (I meane these* 1.3 words now recited) doth not onely restraine Libertie of Con∣science to such as feare God indeed, and speakes fire and fagot to all the world beside: But also (under the name of Heretick and Seducer) throwes into the Furnace (most commonly and ordinarily) all such as feare God (Christ Jesus and his Mes∣sengers and Ministers not excepted) who have alwayes been and are accounted, the chiefest Hereticks, Blasphemers, Decei∣vers and Seducers in this World?

Truth.

I adde the Consequences therefore remaine good, that* 1.4 either All the Inhabitants of the World must come into the estate of men fearing God: Or else dissemble Religion, and fearing God, in hypocrisie: Or else, be driven out of the World. Then al∣so the Civill State must judge of the Spirituall, and of Magistrates fearing or not fearing God: The People must judge (I say) who feare God indeed, and are by them to be permitted, and who are the Hereticks, and to be punished, which who may not see to be the driving of the world out of it selfe, and the bloudie rou∣ting up of all Societies of Men?

Peace.

This charge of partialitie and falshood, you have (Deare Truth) to my understanding shielded the poore Discusser from, Can you now helpe his Forehead, and his Heart, which M^r Got∣ton in the next passage chargeth with another notorious and im∣pudent falshood, in relating out of a printed booke an Answer of the New English Ministers to Questions sent unto them from their Brethren in old, which answer M^r Cotton sayth he cannot* 1.5 finde.

Truth.

So much Gall and Vinegar hath M^r Cotton powred forth in this whole passage from the first to the last of it, that no sober minded man fearing God, and knowing M^r Cottons

former temper of Spirit, but will confesse two things:

First, that this bloudie Tenent of persecution hath infected and* 1.6 inflamed his very naturall Temper and former sweet peaceable disposition.

Secondly, his Eye (being thus bloudshot) is so weakened in its former (and otherwise excellent sight) that it now que∣stions no Difference between the Mountaines and the Molehills, for at the worst, in common probabilitie of Reason, there can be but a mistake in the Discusser concerning this passage.

Peace.

If the Discusser have no sparke of the feare of God, yet if but common crvilitie and honestie, or least respect of common credit among men, it were impossible for him to forge so grossely in matters lately printed, publike and obvious to every eye.

Truth.

The truth is, whether there be different Editions or different Copies printed, let M^r Cotton and whom it concerns take care of it, for the Discusser is confidently resolved that if this passage (for the substance of it) be not printed and to be read in print of all men, in their names, he will then willingly beare and lye under the charge of a false forehead and heart, which M^r Cotton in such heate and anger imputes unto him.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Touching Seducers, and their punish¦ments.
• * 1.2

  Christ Jesus abolished for∣mer figures, though he name not each of them in particular.
• * 1.3

  The Mysterie of the Bloudy Tenent.
• * 1.4

  The bloudie consequences of the bloudy Tenent.
• * 1.5

  The sad Ef∣fects of the bloudie Te∣nent on M^r Cottons owne Spirit.
• * 1.6

  A lamentable Character of the change of M^r Cottons Spirit.