The Bloody Tenant of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience, Table of contents
A Table of the principall Contents of the Booke.
TRuth and Peace their rare and seldome meeting. Page 15
2 Great complaints of Peace. 16
Persecutors seldome plead Christ but Moses for their Authour. 17
Strife Christian and unchristian. ibid
A threefold dolefull cry. ibid.
The wonderfull providence of God in the writing of the argument…s against persecution. 18
A definition of persecution discussed. 19
Conscience will not be restrained from its owne worship, nor constrained to another. 20
A chaste soule in Gods worship, compared to a chaste wife. ibid.
Gods people have erred stom the very fundamentalls of visible worship. ibid
4 Sorts of spirituall foundations in the New Testament. 21
The 6 fundamentalls of the Christian Religion. ibid.
The comming out of Babel not Iocall, but mysticall. ibid.
The great ignorance of Gods people concerning the nature of a true Church. ibid.
Common-Prayer written against by the New English Ministers. 23
Gods people have worshipped God with false worships. ibid.
God is pleased sometimes to convey good unto his people beyond a promise. ibid.
A notable speech of King James to a great Nonconformist turned persecutor. 24
Civill peace discussed. ibid.
The difference between Spirituall and civill state. 25
Six cases wherein Gods people have been usually accounted arrogant, and peace breakers, but most unjustly 26
The true causes of breach and disturbance of civill peace. 29
A preposterous way of suppressing errours. 30
Persecutors must needs oppresse both erroneous and true consciences. ibid.
All persecutors of Christ professe not to persecute him. ibid.
What is meant by the Hereticke. Tit. 3. Pag. 33
The word Heretick generally mistaken. 34
Corporall killing in the Law, typing out Spirituall killing in the Gospell. 36
The cariage of a Soule sensible of mercy, towards others in their blindness, &c. 38
The difference between the Church, and the World wherein it is, in all places. 38
The Church and civill State confusedly made all one. 39
The most peaceable accused for peace-breaking. 40
A large Examination of what is meant by the Tares, and letting of them alone. ibid.
Sathans subtletic about the opening of Scripture. 41
Two sorts of Hypocrites, 44
The Lord Iesus the great Teacher by Parables, and the only Expounder of them. 44
Preaching for conversion is properly out of the Church. 45
The tares proved properly to signifie Antichristians. ibid.
Gods Kingdome on Earth the visible Church. 46
The difference between the Wheat and the Tares, as also betweene these Tares and all others. 46
A civill Magistracie from the beginning of the world. 47
The Tares are to be tolerated the longest of all sinners. 48
The danger of infection by permitting of the Tares, assoyled. ibid.
The civill Magistrate not so particularly spoken to in the New Testament as Fathers, Masters, &c. and why. 50
A two-fold state of Christianitie; Persecuted under the Romane Emperours, and Apostated under the Romane Popes. ibid.
3 Particulars contained in that prohibition of Christ Iesus concerning the Tares, Let them alone, Mat. 13. 51
Accompanying with Idolaters, 1 Cor. 5. discussed. 52
Civill Magistrates never invested by Christ Iesus with the power and title of Defenders of the Faith. 54
Gods people ever earnest with God for an Arme of Flesh. 55
The … punishment of the blind Pharises in 4 respects. ibid.
The point of seducing, infecting, or Soule killing, examined. 57
Strange consusions in punishments. 59
The blood of Soules, Acts 20. lies upon such as professe the Ministrie: the blood of Bodies only upon the State. ibid.
…surpers and true Heires of Christ Iesus. Page 60
The Civill Magistrate bound to preserve the bo…s of their subjects, and not to destroy them for conscience sake. 61
The fire from heaven, Rev. 13. 13. 2 Tim. 2. 25, 26. examined. 62
The originall of the Christian name, Acts 11. 63
A Civill sword in Religion makes a Nation of hypocrites, Isa. 10 64
A difference of the true and false Christ and Christians. 65
The nature of the worship of unbeleeving and naturall persons. ibid.
Antoninus Pius his famous act concerning Religion. 66
Isa. 24. Mic. 4. 3. concerning Christs visible Kingdome discussed. ibid.
Acts 20 29. The suppressing of Spirituall wolves discussed. 67
It is in vaine to decline the name of the head of the Church, and yet to practise the headship. 68
Titus 1. 9. 10 discussed. 69
Vnmercifull and bloody doctrine. 70
The Spirituall weapons, 2 Cor. 10. 4. discussed. ibid.
Civill weapons most improper in Spirituall causes. 71
The Spirituall artillerie, Eph. 6. applied. 72
Rom. 13. concerning Civill Rulers power in Spirituall causes, largely examined. 73
Pauls appeale to Caesar examined. 77
And cleared by 5 arguments. ibid.
4 Sorts of swords. 79
What is to be understood by evill, Rom. 13. 4. 81
Though evill be alwayes evill, yet the permission of it may sometimes be good. 83
2 Sorts of commands both from Moses and Christ. 84
The permission of diverce in Israel, Mat. 19. 17, 18. ibid.
Usury in the Civill state lawfully permitted. 85
Seducing teachers, either Pagan, Iewish, Turkish or Antichristian, way yet be obedient subjects to the Civill Laws. 86
Scandalous livers against the Civill state. 87
Toleration of Jesabel and Balaam, Rev. 2 14. 20. examined. 88
The Christian world hath swallowed up Christianity. 89
Christ Iesus the deepest polititian that ever was, yet commands be a toleration of Antichristians. 91
The Princes of the world seldome take part with Christ Iesus. 93
Buchanans items to King James. ibid.
King James his sayings against persecution. ibid.
King Steven of Poland his sayings against persecution. Page 93
Forcing of conscience a soule rape. 94
Persecution for conscience hath been the launcet which hath let blood the Nations. All Spirituall whores are bloody ibid.
Poligamie or the many wives of the Fathers. ibid.
David advancing of Gods worship against order. 95
Constantine and the good Emperours confest to have done more hurt to the Name and Crowne of Christ then the bloody Noroes did. ibid.
The language of persecuters. 96
Christs Li…ies may flourish in the Church, notwithstanding the weeds in the world permitted. 97
Queen Elizabeth and King James their persecuting for cause of Religion examined. ibid.
Queen Elizabeth confessed by Mr. Cotton to have almost fired the world in civill combustions. 98
The Wars between the Papists and the Protestants. ibid.
The Wars and successe of the Waldensians against three Popes. 99
Gods people victorious …ver commers, and with what weapons. ibid.
The Christian Church doth not persecute, but is persecuted. ibid.
The nature of excommunication. 100
The opinion of ancient Writers examined concerning the doctrine of persecution. 101
Constraint upon conscience in Old and New England. ibid.
The Indians of New England permitted in their worshipping of devils, 102
In 2 cases a false Religion will not hurt. 103
The absolute sufficiencie of the Sword of the Spirit. 104
A Nationall Church not instituted by Christ. ibid.
Man hath no power to make Lawes, to binde conscience. 105
Hearing of the word in a Church estate a part of Gods worship. 107
Papists plea for toleration of conscience. ibid.
Protestant partiality in the cause of persecution. 108
Pills to purge out the bitter humour of persecution. ibid.
Superstition and persecution have had many votes and suffrages from Gods owne people. 109
Soul-killing discussed. ibid.
Phineas his act discussed. 111
Eliah his slaughters examined. ibid
Dangerous consequences flowing from the civill Magistrates power in Spirituall cases. 114
The world turned upside downe. Page 114
The wonderfull answer of the Ministers of New England to the Ministers of Old. ibid.
Lamentable differences even amongst them that feare God. 115
The doctrine of persecution ever drives the most godly out of the world 116
A Modell of Church and Civill power composed by Mr. Cotton, and the Ministers of New England, and sent to Salem, (as a further confirmation of the bloody doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience) examined and answered. 118
Christs power in the Church confest to be above all Magistrates in Spirituall things. 119
Isa. 49. 23. lamentably wrested. ibid.
The civill Commonweale, and the Spirituall Commonweale the Church not inconsistent, though independent the one on the other. 120
Christ ordinances put upon a whole city or Nation may civilize them, and moralize, but not Christianize before repentance first wrought. 121
Mr. Cottons and the New English Ministers confession that the Magistrate hath neither Civill nor Spirituall power in Soul matters. 122
The Magistrates and the Church (by Mr. Cottons grounds) in one and the same cause made the Iudges onthe Bench, and delinquents at the Bar. 123
A demonstrative illustration that the Magistrate cannot have power over the Church in Spirituall or Church causes. 124
The true way of the God of Peace in differences between the Church and the Magistrate. 125.
The tearms Godlinesse and Honesty explained, 1 Tim. 2. x. and honesty proved not to signifie in that place the righteousnes of the second Table. 127
The forcing of men to Gods worship, the greatest breach of civill peace. 129
The Roman Caesars of Christs time described. ibid.
It pleased not the Lord Iesus in the institution of the Christian Church to appoint and raise up any Civill Governours to take care of his worship. 130
The true custodes utriusque Tabulae, and keepers of the Ordinances and worship of Iesus Christ. ibid.
The Kings of Aegypt, Moah, Philistia, Assyria, Ni…vch, were not charged with the worship of God, as the Kings of Iudah were. 131
Masters of families not charged under the Gospel to force all the consci…uces of their families to worship. 132
Gods people have then shined brightest in Godlines, when they have enjoyed least quietnesse. pag. 134.
Few Magistrates, few Men, spiritually good; yet divers sorts of commendable Goodnes beside spirituall. ibid.
Civill power originally and fundamentally in the People. Mr. Cotton and the New English give the power of Christ into the hands of th… Commonweale. 137
Lawes concerning Religion, of two sorts. 138
The very Indians abhor to disturbe any Conscience at Worship. 139
Canons and constitutions pretended Civill, but indeed Ecclesiasticall. ibid.
A threesold guilt lying upon Civill powers, commanding the Subjects Soule in Worship. 143
Persons may with lesse sinne be forced to marry whom they cannot love, then to worship where they cannot beleeve. ibid.
As the cause, so the weapons of the Beast and the La… be are infinitely different. 146
A…taxerxes his Dicree examined. 147
The summe of the Examples of the Gentile Kings decrees concerning Gods worship in Scripture. 149
The Doctrine of putting to death Blasphemers of Christ, cuts off the hopes of the Iewes partaking in his blood. 18…
The direfull effects of fighting for Conscience. 151
Errour is confident as well as Truth. 152
Spirituall prisons. 153
Some Consciences not so easily healed and cured as men imagine. 154
Persecuters dispute with Hereticks, as a tyrann call Cat with the poore Mouse: And with a true Witnes, as a roaring Lyon with an innocent Lambe in his paw. 155
Persecuters endure not tho name of Persecuters. 156
Psal 101 concerning cutting off the wicked, examined. 158
No difference of Lands and Countries, since Christ Iesus his comming. ib.
The New English seperate in America, but not in Europe. 159
Christ Iesus forbidding his followers to permit Leaven in the Church, doth not forbid to permit Leaven in the World. 160
The Wall (Cant. 8. 9.) discussed. 161
Every Religion commands its professors to heare only its own Priests or Ministers. 162
Ionah his preaching to the Ninevites discussed. 162
…aring of the Word discussed. ibid.
Eglon his rising up to Ehuds message, discussed. ibid.
A two-fold Ministrie of Christ: First, Apostolicall, properly converting, Secondly, Feeding or Pastorall. pag. 162
The New English forcing the people to Church, and yet not to Religion (as they say) forcing them to be of no Religion all their dayes 163
The Civill State can no more lawfully compell the Consciences of men to Church to heare the Word, then to receive the Sacraments. 164
No president in the word, of any people converting and baptizing themselves. 166
True conversion to visible Christianitie, is not only from sins against the second Table, but from false Worships also. ibid.
The Commission, Mat. 28 discussed. 167
The Civill Magistrate not be trusted with that Commission. ibid.
Iehosaphat, 2 Chron. 1…. a figure of Christ Iesus in his Church, not of the Civill Magistrate in the State. 168
The maintenance of the Ministrie, Gal. 6. 6. examined. ibid.
Christ Iesus never appointed a maintenance of the Ministrie from the i… penitent and unbelieving. 169
They that compell men to heare, compell them also to pay for their hearing and conversion. ibid.
Luc. 14. Compell them to come in, examined. ibid.
Naturall men can neither truly worship nor mainteine it. 170
The Nationall Church of the Iewes might well be forced to a setled maintenance: but not so the Christian Church. 171
The maintenance which Christ hath appointed his Ministrie in the
Church. 172
The Vniversities of Europe causes of universall sins and plagues: yet Schooles are honourable for tongues and Arts. 173
The true Church is Christs Schoole, and Believers his Scholars. ibid.
Mr. Ainsworth excellent in the Tongues yet no Vniversitie man. 174
K. Henry the 8. set down in the Popes chaire in England. 175
Apocrypha, Homilies, and Common Prayer precious to our forefathers. ib.
Reformation proved fallible. 176
The president of the Kings of Israel & Iudah largely examined. 178
The Persian Kings example make strongly against the doctrine of Persecution. 179
1. The difference of the hand of Canaan from all lands and countries, in 7 particulars. ibid.
2. The difference of the people of Israel from all other peoples, in 7 particulars. 183
Wonderfull turnings of Religion in England in twelve yeares revolution. Page 185
The Pope not unlike to recover his Monarchy over Europe, before his dow…fall. ibid.
Israel Gods only Church might well renew that Nationall Covenant and ceremoniall worship, which other Nations cannot doe. 187
… The difference of the Kings and Governours of Israel from all Kings and Governours of the world, in 4 particulars. 188
5 Demonstrative arguments proving the unsoundnesse of the maxime, viz. The Church and Commonweale are li…e Hypocrates twins. 189
Asacrilegious prostitution of the name Christian. 192
David immediately inspired by God in his ordering of Church affairs. 193
Solomons deposing of Ab…a…har, 1 Kings 2. 26, 27. discussed. 194
The liberties of Christs Churches in the choice of her officers. 195
A civill influence dangerous to the State liberties. ibid.
Jehosaphats fast examined. ibid.
God will not wrong Caesar, and Caesar should not wrong God. 196
The famous acts of Josiah examined. ibid.
Magistracie in generall from God, the particular formes from the people. ibid.
… Israel confirmed in a Nationall Covenant by revelations, signes and miracles, but not so any other Land. ibid.
Kings and Nations often plant and often plucke up Religions. 197
A Nationall Church ever subject to turne and returne. ibid.
A woman, Papissa, or head of the Church. ibid.
The Rapists neerer to the truth, concerning the governour of the Church, then most Protestants. 198
The Kingly power of the Lord Iesus troubles all the Kings and Rulers of the world. ibid.
A twofold exaltation of Christ. ibid.
A monarchicall and Ministeriall power of Christ. 199
3 Great competitours for the Ministeriall power of Christ. ibid.
The Pope pretendeth to the Ministeriall power of Christ, yet upon the point chalengeth the Monarchicall also. ibid.
3 Great factions in England striving for the Arme of Flesh. 200
The Churches of the separation ought in humanity, and subjects liberty, not to be oppressed, but at least permitted. 201
7 Reasons proving that the Kings of Israel and Iudah can have no other but a Spirituall Antitype. 202
Christianitie …des not to the nature of a Civill Commonweale; nor doth want of Christianitie diminish it. pag. 203
Most strange, yet most true consequences from the Civill Magistrates being the Antitype of the Kings of Israel and Iudah. ibid.
If no Religion but what the Commonweale approve; then no Christ, no God, but at the pleasure of the World. 204
The true Antitype of the Kings of Israel and Iudah. ibid.
4. The difference of Israels Statutes and Lawes from all others in 3 particulars. ibid.
5. The difference of Israels Punishments & Rewards from all others. 205
Temporall prosperitie most proper to the Nationall state of the Iewe. ibid.
The Excommunication in Israel. 206
The corporall stoning in the Law typed out spirituall stoning in the Gospel. ibid.
The wars of Israel typicall and unparalleld, but by the Spirituall wars of Spirituall Israel. ibid.
The famous typicall captivitie of the Iewes. 207
Their wonderfull victories. 208
The mysticall Army of white troopers. 209
Whether the Civill state of Israel was presidentiall. ibid.
Great unfaithfulnesse in Magistrates to cast the burthen of judging and establishing Christianitie upon the Commonweale. 210
Thousands of lawfull Civill Magistrates, who never heare of Iesus Christ. 211
Nero and the persecuting Emperours not so injurious to Christianity, as Constantine and others, who assumed a power in Spirituall things ibid.
They who force the conscience of others, cry out of persecution, when their owne are forced. 212
Constantine and others wanted not so much affection, as information of judgement. ibid.
Civill Authoritie giving and lending their Hornes to Bishops dangerous to Christs truth. ibid.
The Spirituall power of Christ Iesus, compared in Scripture to the incomparable horne of the Rhinocerot. 213
The nursing Fathers and Mothers, Isa. 49. ibid.
The civill Magistrate owes 3 things to the true Church of Christ. 214
The civill Magistrate owes … things to false Worshippers. 214
The rise of High Commissions. 215
Pious Magistrates & Ministers consciences are perswaded for that, which other …as plous Magistrates & Ministers consciences condemn. Page 215
An apt similitude discussed concerning the Civill Magistrate. 216
A grievous charge against the Christian Church and the King of it. 222
A strange Law in New England formerly against excommunicate persons. ibid.
A dangerous doctrine against all Civill Magistrates. 223
Originall sin charged to hurt the Civill state. ibid.
They who give the Magistrate more then his duo, are apt to disreabe him of what is his. 224
A strange double picture. 226
The great priviledges of the true Church of Christ. 227
2 Similitudes illustrating the true power of the Magistrate. ibid.
A marvelous chalenge of more power under the Christian, then under the Heathen Magistrate. 229
Civill Magistrates, derivatives from the fountains or bodies of people. 230
A beleeving Magistrate no more a Magistrate then an unbeleeving. ibid.
The excellencie of Christianity in all callings. ibid.
The Magistrate like a Pilot in the Ship of the Commonweale. 231
The tearmes Heathen and Christian Magistrates. ibid.
The unjust and partiall liberty to some consciences and bondage unto all others. 232
The commission Matth. 28. 19, 20. not proper to Pastors and teachers least of all to the Civill Magistrate. 233
VntoUnto whom now belongs the care of all the Churches, &c. ibid.
Acts 15. commonly misapplied 234
The promise of Christs presence Mat. 18. distinct from that Mat. 28. 235
Church administrations firstly charged upon the Ministers thereof. 236
Queen Elizabeths Bishops truer to their principles then many of a better spirit and profession. 237.
Mr. Barrowes profession concerning Queen Elizabeth. ibid
The inventions of men swarving from the true essentialls of civill and Spirituall Commonweales. 239
A great question viz. whether only Church members, that is godly persons in a particular Church estate, be only eligible into the Magistracie. ib.
The world being divided into 30 parts, 25 never heard of Christ. 240
Lawfull civill states where Churches of Christ are not. ibid.
Few Christians Wise and noble and qualified for affaires of State. ibid.