The bloudy tenent, washed, and made white in the bloud of the Lambe: being discussed and discharged of bloud-guiltinesse by just defence. Wherein the great questions of this present time are handled, viz. how farre liberty of conscience ought to be given to those that truly feare God? And how farre restrained to turbulent and pestilent persons, that not onely raze the foundation of godlinesse, but disturb the civill peace where they live? Also how farre the magistrate may proceed in the duties of the first table? And that all magistrates ought to study the word and will of God, that they may frame their government according to it. Discussed. As they are alledged from divers Scriptures, out of the Old and New Testament. Wherein also the practise of princes is debated, together with the judgement of ancient and late writers of most precious esteeme. Whereunto is added a reply to Mr. Williams answer, to Mr. Cottons letter. / By John Cotton Batchelor in Divinity, and teacher of the church of Christ at Boston in New England.

CHAP. 15. A Reply to his fifteenth Chapter touching the admo∣nition and rejection of an Heretick.

THe first and second Admonitions in the place of Titus were not Civill or corporall punishments on mens persons, or purses: But they were the reprehensions, convictions, exhortations, and perswasions of the word of the Eternall God, charged home to the Conscience, in the Name and Presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of his Church. Which being despised, and not hearkened unto, in the last place followeth rejection, which is not a cutting off by heading, hanging, burning, nor an expel∣ling out of the Countrey, and coasts: but the dreadfull cutting off from the visible head and body, Christ Jesus, and his Church—Spirituall cutting off by Excommunication.

Defender.

All this, & the proofes of this, in this Chapter, I willingly con∣sent and subscribe unto: nor doth this touch any conclusion of mine at all, much lesse Discusse, or shake it. For though I said in∣deed, that for an erroneous and blinde Conscience (even in Funda∣mentall and weighty Points) It is not lawfull to persecute any, till after Admonition once or twice, according to Tit. 3.10.11.

Yet in alledging that place, to prove that Conclusion, I inten∣ded no other persecution, but the Churches prosecution against such an Heretick by excommunication: no syllable in my con∣clusion looketh at more.

If it be said, but Excommunication or any other Church-pro∣secution, cannot fitly be called persecution: Yes verily, excommu∣nication is a persecution, and a lawfull persecution, if the cause be just offence, (as the Angell of the Lord is said to persecute the wicked Psalm. 35.6.) But the Excommunication is a cruell and bitter persecution, If it be without just cause and due order: yea and the more greivous persecution, by how much the more grei∣vous it is to a Christian man, to be excluded from the Communi∣on of the Saints, then to be banished from a civill Society, sure it is, the Lord Jesus accounteth it a persecution to his Disciples, to be delivered up unto the Synagogues, and to be cast forth out of the Synagogues Luk. 21.12. with Joh. 16.2.