The Bloody Tenant Washed and Made White in the Blood of the Lamb, Part 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20. A Reply to his twentieth Chapter what is meant by Tares?
Diſcuſſer.
The Originall word foreign, ſignifying all thoſe weeds which ſpring up with the Corne, as cockle darnell, Tares &c. ſeemeth to imply ſuch a kinde of people, as are commonly and generally knowne to be manifeſtly differing from, and oppoſite to, the true Worſhipers of God &c.
Defender.
1. It is not true, that foreign, ſignifyeth all thoſe weeds that grow up with the Corne. For they be a ſpeciall weed, growing up cheifely amongſt the wheat: but when it commeth to the earing, it groweth more like to Barley, yet having a narrower leafe, fatter, and rougher, and a leaner ſeed in a prickly barke, bearing a purple flower: as Dioſcorides teſtifyeth. Now this is farre from a deſcription of all ſorts of weeds, that grow up with Corne.
2. Neither is it true, that Tares are commonly and generally known aſſoone as they appeare. For Hierom, who for a time lived in Jury, teſtifyeth, that Inter triticum et zizania, quod nos appellamus lolium, quamdiu herba eſt, et nondum culmus venit ad ſpicam, grandis ſimilitudo eſt, et in diſcernendo aut nulla aut perdifficilis diſtantia. Comment. Mat. Cap. 13.
Yea the Text it ſelfe (though the Diſcuſſer deny it) holdeth forth as much. For the ſervants of the Husbandman (in whoſe Feild the Tares were ſowen by the enemy) did not diſcerne the tares from the wheat, till the blade was ſprung up, and brought forth fruit: for then it was, and not till then, that the Tares appeared to be Tares, Mat. 13.26. what though the Text holdeth forth no ſuch time, wherein the ſervants doubted, or ſuſpected what they were? It is like enough, they did not ſuſpect them at all by reaſon of (the grandis ſimilitudo) the great likeneſſe that was between them, whileſt they were both in the blade. Which ſtill maketh good the Expoſition, that Tares are not bryars and thornes, but ſo like to the wheat, that till they come to earing, the one cannot be diſcerned from the other
Diſcuſſer.
The one appeared as ſoone as the other, and when the wheat put forth its blade, and fruite, the Tares were as early, they put forth themſelves, and appeared alſo.
2. There is ſuch a diſſimilitude and unlikeneſſe between them, that as ſoone as Tares and wheat ſprung up to blade and fruite, every husbandman could tell, which is wheat, and which is Tares.
Defender.
Its true, the Tares put forth their blade, aſſoone as did the wheat, and appeared above ground, one as early as the other: but they were ſo like one to an other, that the husbandmen could not tell, which was wheat, and which Tares, till the blade was growen up, and they both brought forth their fruite. And though when they both brought forth their fruite, there was no apparent dimiſſilitude: yet ſtill it is evident, that at firſt the dimſſilitude did not appeare. The Tares may therefore ſtill ſtand for Hypocrites, who are ſo like at firſt unto good Chriſtians, that they cannot eaſily be diſcerned one from another, till in proceſſe of time, the difference of the fruite diſcover them.
Diſcuſſer.
But when was it that the Houſe-holder gave charge to let them alone? was it not after they appeared, and were knowne to be Tares? which ſhould imply by this interpretation of the Anſwerer, that when men are diſcovered and knowne to be Hypocrites, yet ſtill ſuch a generation of Hypocrites in the Church muſt be let alone, and tolerated untill the Harveſt, or end of the world: which is contrary to all Piety, order and ſafety in the Church of the Lord Jeſus, as doubtleſſe, the Anſwerer will graunt.
Defender.
If the Anſwerer know his owne minde as well as the Diſcuſſer doubtleſſe the Anſwerer will not graunt, that it is contrary to all piety, and order, and ſafety, that hypocrites (knowne hypocrites) be tolerated in the Church till the end of the world. For though it be againſt the ſafety of the Church, when the Officers, or body of the Church prove hypocrites, (for that threatneth a diſ-churching, Rev. 2.5.) yet till the fruits of hypocriſie grow notoriouſly ſcandalous, and ripe for Church-Cenſure, it is not contrary to all piety, and order, & ſafety, to ſuffer them: but rather more ſafety to ſuffer them, leaſt ſome of Gods own Saints, (true wheat) who for a time may degenerate and bring forth like fruit with the Tares, be plucked up with them. If fooliſh Virgins be caſt out of the Church, the wiſe Virgins may be ſometime found ſleeping, as well as they, Mat. 25.5.