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.

The Copie of a Letter of R. Willi∣ams of Providence in New England, to Major Endicot, Governour of the Massachusets, upon occasion of the late persecution against M^r Clarke and Obadiah Holmes, and others at Boston the chiefe Towne of the Massachusets in New England.

SIR,

HAving done with our transitorie Earthly * 1.1 Af∣faires (as touching the English and the Indians) which in Comparison of heavenly and Eternall you will say are but as dung and drosse, &c. Let me now be humbly bold to remember that Humanitie and pietie, which I and others have formerly observed in you, and in that hopefull Remembrance to crave your gentle audience with patience and mildnes, with in∣genuitie, equanimitie and candour, to him that ever truely and deeply loved you and yours, and as in the awfull presence of his holy Eye, whose dreadfull hand hath formed us to the praise of his mercy or Justice to all Eternitie.

Sir, I have often feared and said within my Soule, Have I so* 1.2 deeply loved and respected? Was I also so well beloved? Or was all counterfeit, and but guilded or'e with earthly Respects, Worldly ends, &c. Why am I silent? my Letters are not Ba∣nished! may be wellcome, may be seene and heard, and if nei∣ther, yet will back againe (together with my prayers and cries) into my Bosome.

Thus while I have sometimes mused and resolved! Objections, Obstructi••ns, and a thousand hindrances (I feare from Sathan as Paul said) have prest in, held my hand, &c.

Sir, It hath pleased the Father of Spirits at this present to smite my heart in the very breaking up of your Letter: This * 1.3 Deaths Head tells that loving Hand that seald it, and mine that opens your Letter, that our Eyes, our Hands, our Tongues,

our Braines are flying hence to the hole or pit of Rottennes: Why should not therefore such our Letters, such our Speeches, such our Actings be▪ as may become our last minutes, our Death∣beds? &c.

If so, how meeke and humble, how plaine and serious, how faithfull and zealous, and yet how tender and loving should the Spirits and Speeches be of dying and departing Men?

Sir, While something of this Nature I muse over your Deaths head, I meete (in the Entrance of your Letter) with this passage

[Were I as free in my spirit as formerly I have been to write unto you, you should have received another manner of Salutation then now with a good Conscience I can Expresse; However God knoweth who are his, and what he is pleased to hide from sinfull man in this life, shall in that great Day be manifested to All.]

Sir, At the reading of this Line, (I cannot but hope I have your leave to tell you) The speech of that wise Woman of Tekoah unto David came fresh unto my Thoughts: Speakes not the King this Thing as one that is Guiltie? For will my honou∣red and beloved friend not know me for feare of being dis∣owned by his Conscience? Shall the Goodnes and Integritie of his Conscience to God cause him to forget me? Doth he quiet his minde with this; [God knoweth who are his? God hides from sinfull man, God will reveale before All?] Oh how comes it* 1.4 then that I have heard so often, and heard so lately, and heard so much, that he that speakes so tenderly for his owne, hath yet so little respect, mercie or pitie to the like consciencious perswasions of other Men? Are all the Thousands of millions of millions of Consciences, at home and abroad, fuell onely for a prison, for a whip, for a stake, for a Gallowes? Are no Consciences to breath the Aire, but such as suit and sample his? May not the most High be pleased to hide from his as well as from the eyes of his fellow-Servants, fellow-mankinde, fellow-English? And if God hide from his, from any, who can discover? Who can shut when he will open? and who can open, when he that hath the key of David will shut? All this and more (honoured Sir) your words will warrant me to say, without any just offence or straining.

Object. But what makes this to Heretickes, Blasphemers, Se∣ducers, to them that sin against their Conscience (as M^r Cotton

sayth) after Conviction? What makes this to stobbers of Kings and Princes, to blowers up of Parliaments out of Conscience?

First, I answer, He was a Tyrant that put an Innocent Man into a Beares-skin, and so caused him as a wild Beast to be baited to Death.

Secondly, I say, this is the common cry of Hunters or perse∣cutours* 1.5 [Hereticks, Hereticks, Blasphemers, &c.] and why, but for crossing the persecutours Consciences, (it may be but their superstitions, &c.) whether Turkish, Popish, Protestant, &c.

This is the Outcry of the Pope and Prelates, and of the Scotch Presbyterians, who would fire all the world, to be avenged on the Sectarian Heretickes, the blasphemous Heretickes, the se∣ducing Heretickes, &c. had it not pleased the God of Heaven who bounds the insolent Rage of the furious Ocean, to raise up a second Cromwell (like a mighty and mercifull Wall or* 1.6 Bullwark) to stay the Furie of the Oppressour, whether English, Scottish, Popish, Presbyterian, Independent, &c.

Lastly, I have said much and lately, and given particular Answers to all such pleas, in my Second Reply or Answer to* 1.7 M^r Cottons washing of the Bloudie Tenent in the Lambes bloud, which it may be is not yet come to your sight and Hand.

'Tis true, I have to say elsewhere about the Causes of my Banishment: As to the calling of Naturall Men to the exercise of those holy Ordinances of Prayers, Oathes, &c. As to the fre∣quenting of Parish Churches, under the pretence of hearing some Ministers: As to the matter of the Patent, and King James his Christianitie and Title to these parts, and bestowing it on his Subjects by vertue of his being a Christian King, &c.

At present, let it not be offensive in your eyes, that I single out another, a fourth point, a cause of my Banishment also, where∣in I greatly feare one or two sad evills, which have befallen your Soule and Conscience.

The point is that of the Civill Magistrates dealing in matters of Conscience and Religion, as also of persecuting and hunting any for any matter meerly Spirituall and Religious.

The two Evills intimated are these; First, I feare you can∣not after so much Light, and so much profession to the con∣trary (not onely to my selfe, and so often in private, but) before so many Witnesses; I say, I feare you cannot say and

act so much, against so many severall Consciences, former and later, but with great Checks, great Threatnings, great Blowes and Throwes of inward Conscience.

Secondly, If you shall thanke God, that it is not so with* 1.8 you, but that you doe what Conscience bids you in Gods pre∣sence, upon Gods warrant, I must then be humbly faithfull to tell you, that I feare your underprizing of holy Light, hath put out the Candle, and the Eye of Conscience in these particu∣lars, and that Delusions, strong Delusions, and that from God (by Sathans subtletie) hath seasd upon your very Soules be∣liefe, because you priz'd not lov'd not the indangered perse∣cuted Son of God in his despised Truths and Servants.

Sir, With Man (as the Lord Jesus said of the Rich man) I know it is impossible for the (otherwise piercing) eye of your understanding to see into these things, for it is discoloured, as in some Diseases and Glasses; It is impossible for your Will to be willing to see, for that's in a thousand chaines resolved (as once you spake heroically and heavenly in a better way) to spend your dearest Heart bloud in your way, &c. Yet with God all things are possible, and they that laughed the Lord Jesus to scorne when he said, the Damsell is not dead but sleepeth, were afterwards confounded, when they saw her raised by his hea∣venly voice.

His holy pleasure I know not, nor doe I know which way the Glory of his great Name will more appeare, either in final∣ly suffering so great a fall and ruine of so strong a pillar, that Flesh may not Glory, but that his strength and Glory onely may be seene in Weaknesse. Or else in your holy Rising and Reviving from the Bed of so much spirituall filthines, and from so bloudie a minde, and lip, and hand, against all withstanders or Disturbers in it. That so the short Remainder of your Candle may hould out to the World, the Riches of his Mercy, at whose words the holyest of his Servants ought to tremble, and to work out their Salvation with feare and trembling: I say (I desire to say it; tremblingly and mournfully) I know not which way he will please to raise his Glory) onely I know my Dutie, my Con∣stience, my Love, all which inforce me to knock, to call to cry at the Gate of Heaven, and at Yours, and to present you with this loving, though lowd and faithfull noyse and sound of a

few Grounds of deeper Examination of both our Soules and Consciences uprightly and impartially at the holy and dread∣full Tribunall of Him that is appointed the Judge of all the Li∣ving and the Dead.

Be pleased then (honoured Sir) to remember that that thing which we call Conscience is of such a Nature (especially in English-men) as once a Pope of Rome at the suffering of an English-man in Rome, himselfe observed) that although it be groundles, false, and deluded, yet is it not by any Arguments or Torments easily removed.

I speake not of the streame of the multitude of all Nations,* 1.9 which have their ebbings and flowings in Religion, (as the longest Sword, and strongest Arme of Flesh carries it) But I speake of Conscience, a perswasion fixed in the minde and heart of a man, which inforceth him to judge (as Paul said of himselfe a perse∣cutour) and to doe so and so, with respect to God, his worship, &c.

This Conscience is found in all mankinde, more or lesse, in Jewes, Turkes, Papists, Protestants, Pagans, &c. And to this pur∣pose let me freely without offence remember you (as I did M^r Clarke newly come up from his sufferings amongst you) I say, remember you of the same Story I did him, twas that of William Hartly in Queene Elizabeth her dayes, who receiving the Sen∣tence of hanging, drawing, &c. spake confidently (as afterward he suffered) what tell you me of hanging, &c. If I had ten thou∣sand millions of lives, I would spend them all for the Faith of Rome, &c.

Sir, I am far from glancing the least Countenance on the Consciences of Papists, yea or on some Scotch and English Prote∣stants too, who turne up all Rootes, and lay all levell and in bloud, for exaltation of their owne way and Conscience. All that I observe is, that Boldnes and Confidence, Zeale and Resolu∣tion, as it is commendable in a kinde when it seriously respects a Dietie, so also, the greatest Confidence hath sometimes need of the greatest Search and Examination.

I confesse, that for Confidence no Romish Priest hath ever ex∣ceeded* 1.10 the holy Martyrs or Witnesses of Jesus: Witnes (amongst so many) that holy English Woman, who cryed out, that if every haire of her head were a life or man, they should burne

for the Name of the Lord Jesus: But Sir, your Principles and Conscience binde you, not to respect Romish or English, Saints or Sinners: William Heartly, and that Woman, with all their lives, you are bound by your Conscience to punish (and it may be) to hang or burne, if they transgresse against your Consci∣ence, and that because (according to M^r Cottons monstrous Di∣stinction (as some of his chiefe Brethren to my knowledge have called it) not because they sinne in matters of Conscience, (which he denies the Magistrate to deale in) but because they sinne against their Conscience.

Secondly, It is so notoriously knowne, that the Conscien∣ces of the most holy men, zealous for God & his Christ to Death and Admiration, yea even in our owne Countrey, and in Queen Maries dayes especially, have been so grossly mislead by mi∣staken Consciences in matters concerning the worship of God, the comming out of the Antichristian Babell, and the Rebuilding of the spirituall Jerusalem, that I need but hint who were they* 1.11 that pend the Common prayer (in its Time, as glorious an Idoll, and as much adored by Godly persons, as any Invention now ex∣tant) I say, who they were that lived and dyed (five in the flames) zealous for their Bishopricks, yea and some too too zea∣lous for their Popish Ceremonies, against the doubting Conscien∣ces of their Brethren: At which and more, we that now have risen in our Fath••rs stead, wonder and admire how such pier∣cing eyes could be deceived, such Watchmen blinded and delu∣ded. But

Thirdly, We shall not so much wonder when we lift up our trembling eyes to Heaven, and remember our selves (poore* 1.12 dust) that our Thoughts are not as the Thoughts of our Maker, that, that which in the eyes of man (as the Lord Jesus tells us, Luc. 16.) is of high and sweet esteeme, it stincks and is abo∣mination with God: Hence such Worships, such Churches, such glorious professions & practices may be, as may ravish themselves and the behoulders, when with the piercing eyes of the most High, they may looke counterfeit and ugly, and be found but (spiritually) Whores, and Abominations.

Fourthly, Wise men use to inquire, what Motives, what Occasions, what Snares, what Temptations were there, which mooved, which drew, which allured, &c. This is the Apologie

which the five Apologists (M^r Goodwin, M^r Nye, &c.) made to the Parliament, to wit, That they were not tempted with the moulding of New Common-wealths, after which they might be mooved to frame their Religion, &c.

Surely Sir, the Baits, the Temptations, the Snares laid to catch* 1.13 you, were not few, nor common, nor laid to every foote. Saul pretended zeale to the Name of God, and love to Israel in perse∣cuting the poore Gibeonites to death, but Honour me before the people, was the maine Engine that turned the Wheeles of all his Actions and Devotions. What set Jeroboams braines to consult and plot the Invention of a new Religion, Worship, Priests, &c. but Honour, & the feare of the losse of his gained honour? What mo∣ved Jehu to be false and halting with God after so much glori∣ous zeale in Reformation? Yea I had almost said, what mooved David to stob Ʋriah (the fire of God) with his pen, but the feare of dishonour in the Discovery of his sin, though doubtles there was some mixtures of the feare of his Gods displeasure and dis∣honour also?

Sir, it is no small offer, the choice and applause and Rule over so many Townes, so many holy, so many wise, in such a holy way as you believe you are in: To say nothing of strong drinkes and wines, the fat and sweet of this and other Lands: These and o∣thers are snares which without abundant strength from God will catch and hould the strongest feete: Sir, I have knowne you strong, in repelling strong Temptations, but I cannot but feare and lament, that some of these and others have been too strong and potent with you.

Fifthly, We not onely use to say proverbially, but the Spi∣rit of God expressly tells us, that there is a minde-bewitching, a* 1.14 betwitching of the very Consciences and spirits of men. That as in Witchcraft, a stronger and supernaturall power layes hould upon the powers of Nature, with a suppressing or elevating of those powers beneath or above themselves: So is it with the very Spirits and Consciences of the most Intelligent and Conscientious, when the Father of Spirits is pleased in his righteous displea∣sure and jealousie, so to suffer it to be with ours.

Sir, I from my Soule honour and love the persons of such, whom I, you, and themselves may see have been Instrumentall in your bewitchin••▪ Why should it be thought inconsistent with

the holy wisdome of God to permit wise and holy and learned persons to wander themselves and mislead others; when the ho∣ly Scripture and Experience tells us of the dangerous Councells and wayes of as wife and learned and holy as now breath in either Old or New English aire?

Sir, I had thought to have named one or two, who may just∣ly be suspected (though otherwise worthily beloved) but I have chose rather to present an hint, for thats enough to so in∣telligent a Breast, if but willing to make an Impartiall Review and Examination of Passages between the most High and your in most Soule in secret.

Therefore sixthly, for a sixt ground of suspecting your Soule and Spirit and Conscience in this particular of persecution, which I now instance in, may you please, Sir, without offence to re∣member, that as it is in such as have exceeded in Wine, their* 1.15 speech will bewray them: So it is in Spirituall Cups and In∣toxications.

The Maker and Searcher of our hearts knowes with what Bitternes I write, as with Bitternes of Soule I have heard such Language as this to proceed from your selfe and others, who* 1.16 formerly have fled from (with crying out against) persecu∣tours! [you will say, this is your Conscience: You will say, you are persecuted, and you are persecuted for your Conscience: No, you are Conventiclers, Hereticks, Blasphemers, Seducers: You deserve to be hanged, rather then one shall be wanting to hang him I will hang him my selfe: I am resolved not to leave an Heretick in the Countrey; I had rather so many Whores and VVhoremongers and Thieves came amongst us:] Oh Sir, you cannot forget what Language and Dialect this is, whether not the same unsavourie, and ungodly, blasphemous and bloudie, which the Gardiners and Bonners both former and later used to all that bowed not to the State goulden Image of what Consci∣ence soever they were. And indetd, Sir, if the most High be pleased to awaken you to render unto his holy Majestie his due praises, in your truely broken-hearted Confessions and Suppli∣cations, you will then proclaime to all the VVorld, that what profession soever you made of the Lambe, yet these Expressions could not proceed but from the Dragons mouth.

Oh remember, and the most holy Lord bring it to your Re∣membrance,

that you have now a great price in your hand, to* 1.17 bring great Glory to his holy Name, great Rejoycing to so gra∣cious a Redeemer (in whom you professe is all your Healing and Salvation) great Rejoycing to the holy Spirit of all true Consolation, whom yet so long you have grieved and sadded, great Rejoycing to those blessed Spirits (attending upon the Lambe, and all his, and terrible to his persecutours) great Re∣joycing and Instruction to all that love, the true Lord Jesus (not∣withstanding their wandrings among so many false Christs) mourning and lamenting after him in all parts of the World where his Name is sounded: Your Tallents are great, your Fall hath been so: Your Eminencie is great, the Glory of the most High in Mercy or Justice toward you will be great also.

Oh remember it is a dangerous Combat for the Potsheards of* 1.18 the Earth to fight with their dreadfull Potter: It is a dismall Battle for poore naked feete to kick against the Pricks; It is a dreadfull voyce from the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Endi∣cot, Endicot, why huntest thou me? why imprisonest thou me? why finest, why so bloudily whippest, why wouldest thou (did not I hould thy bloudie hands) hang and burne me? Yea Sir, I beseech you remember that it is a dangerous thing to put this to the may be, to the venture or hazzard, to the possibilitie: Is it possible (may you well say) that since I hunt, I hunt not the life of my Saviour, and the bloud of the Lambe of God: I have fought against many severall sorts of Consciences, is it beyond all possibilitie and hazard, that I have not fought against God, that I have not persecuted Jesus in some of them?

Sir, I must be humbly bold to say, that 'tis impossible for any Man or Men to maintaine their Christ by the Sword, and to worship a true Christ! to fight against all Consciences oppo∣site to theirs, and not to fight against God in some of them, and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jesus Christ. Oh remember whether your Principles and Consciences must in* 1.19 time and opportunitie force you. 'Tis but worldly policie and Compliance with Men and Times (Gods mercy over-ruling) that houlds your hands from murthering of thousands and ten thousands were your Power and Command as great as once the bloudie Roman Emperours was.

The truth is (and your selfe and others have said it) by your

Principles such whom you count Hereticks, Blasphemers, Seducers, ought to be put to Death; You cannot be faithfull to your Principles and Consciences, if you satisfie them with but impri∣soning, fining, whipping and banishing the Hereticks, and by saying that banishing is a kinde of Death, as some chiefe with you (in my case formerly) have said it.

Sir, 'Tis like you knew or have heard of the man that said he would never Conforme publikely, although he did subscribe in private for his Libertie sake of Preaching: That, although he did conforme in some things, yet in all he never would: That, although he did himselfe yeeld, yet he would not molest and inforce others: That although he yeelded, that others did molest them, yet himselfe would never perse∣cute, and yet did all.

But oh poore dust and Ashes, like stones once roling downe the Alpes, like the Indian Canoes or English Boats loose and a∣drist, where stop we untill infinite mercy stop us, especially when a false fire of zeale and Conscience drives us, (though a∣gainst the most holy and eternall himselfe?)

Oh remember the black Catalogues it hath pleased the most* 1.20 jealous and righteous God to make of his fierie Judgements and most dreadfull stoakes on Eminent and remarkeable persecu∣tours even in this life. It hath been his way and course in all Countries, in Germanie, France and England, (especially) what ever their pretences have been against Hereticks, Rebells, Schismaticks, Blasphemers, Seducers, &c. How hath he left them to be their owne Accusers, Judges, Executioners, some by hang∣ing, some by stobbing, some by drowning and poysoning themselves, some by running mad, and some by drinking in the very same Cup which they had filld to others?

Some may say, Such persecutours hunted God and Christ, but I, but we, &c. I answer, the Lord Jesus Christ foretold how wonderfully the wisest of the World, should be mistaken in the things of Christ, and a true visible Christ Jesus! When did we see thee naked, hungry, thirstie, sicke, inprison, &. How easie, how common, how dreadfull these mistakes?

Oh remember once againe (as I began) and I humbly desire to remember with you, that every gray haire now on both our* 1.21 heads, is a Boanerges, a sonne of Thunder, and a warning piece

to prepare us, for the waighing of our last Anchors, and to be gone from hence, as if we had never been.

'Twas mercy infinite, that stopt provoked Justice from blow∣ing* 1.22 out our Candles in our youths, but now the feeding Substance of the Candle's gone, and 'tis impossible (without repentance,) to recall our Actions! nay, with repentance, to recall our minutes past us.

Sir, I know I have much presumed upon your many waigh∣ty affaires and thoughts, I end with an humble cry to the Fa∣ther of mercies, that you may take Davids Counsell, and silently commune with your owne heart upon your Bed, reflect upon your owne spirit, and believe Him that said it to his over∣zealous Disciples, You know not what spirit you are of: That, no sleepe may seize upon your eyes, nor slumber upon your eye-lids, untill your serious thoughts have seriously, calmely, and unchangeably (through helpe from Christ Jesus) fixed.

First, On a Moderation toward the Spirits and Consciences of all mankinde, meerly differing from or opposing yours with onely Religious and Spirituall opposition.

Secondly, A deepe and cordiall Resolution (in these wonderfull searching, disputing, and dissenting times) to search, to listen, to pray, to fast, and more fearefully, more tremblingly to enquire what the holy pleasure, and the ho∣ly mysteries of the most Holy are; In whom I humbly desire to be

Your poore fellow-Servant, unfainedly, respective and faithfull, R. VVilliams.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Matters touching the p••••ce of the English and In∣dians, about which the said Governour did write to R. W.
• * 1.2

  Great love formerly be∣tween the said Governour Endicot, and R. W. before his Banishment.
• * 1.3

  The Seale wherewith the Governours Leter to R. W. was sealed.
• * 1.4

  Persecutours conclude no Conscience in the whole World but their owne.
• * 1.5

  All persecu∣tours render the most in∣nocent most odious.
• * 1.6

  Cromwell the second, a Re∣fuge of the oppressed.
• * 1.7

  This Rejoyn∣der was sent to England long since, and hoped to have been published.
• * 1.8

  Abuse of light most dange∣rous.
• * 1.9

  The power of Conscience though Erro∣neous.
• * 1.10

  True & false Witnesses both Confi∣dent.
• * 1.11

  The Common Prayers & the Composers of it.
• * 1.12

  What's sweet with man, st••nks (often) in Gods no∣strills.
• * 1.13

  Sathans poli∣cie in propo∣sing Motives and Baits to wise and ex∣cellent Saints.
• * 1.14

  Spirituall Witchcraft.
• * 1.15

  Mysticall Drunkennesse and the drun∣ken Language of it.
• * 1.16

  The language of persecu∣tours.
• * 1.17

  A price and a Heart blessed Companions.
• * 1.18

  The horrible & dangerous path which all persecu∣tours or Hun∣ters walke in.
• * 1.19

  The least 〈…〉〈…〉 sparke of per∣secution tends to bloud, and will proceed, except God mightlly stop it.
• * 1.20

  Gods most dreadfull Judgements against perse∣cutours.
• * 1.21

  Death is a Boanerges.
• * 1.22

  Gray hayres are Gods Alarums.