The Bloody Tenant Washed and Made White in the Blood of the Lamb, Part 1 · Chapter 62
CHAP. 62. A Reply to his Chap. 65.
Diſcuſſer.
I Deſire you to glance your eye on this not unworthy obſervation, how fully this Anſwere hath learned the Language of Lyon like Perſecution &c. for thus he writeth, more and greater Princes then theſe you mention, have not Tolerated Hereticks, and Schiſmatiks, notwithſtanding their pretence of Conſcience, and their Arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their ſufferings.
Tis true, theſe termes Hereticks (or wilfully obſtinate) and Schiſmaticks, are uſed in holy writ: tis true alſo, that ſuch pretend Conſcience, and Arrogate the Crowne of Martyrdome to their ſufferings. But this is the common clamour of Perſecutors againſt the witneſſes of Jeſus in all ages, you are Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, factious, Seditious, rebellious.
Defender.
If it be true, that theſe be Scripture termes, and by his owne acknowledgement truly applyable to Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, then, it ſeemeth, the Diſcuſſer hath learned this Language of Aſhdod, that the Scripture it ſelf, and Truth it ſelfe ſpeaketh the roaring Language of Lyon-like Perſecution. For he acknowledgeth, the Scripture uſeth the ſame termes, and Truth verefieth the ſame things. In Summe, It is as much to ſay, as Paul had learned the roaring and railing Language of Lyon-like Pharoah: Pharoah told the Children of Iſrael, yee are idle, yee are idle, Exod. 5.17. And Paul had learned to ſay as much to the Cretians by his Letter to Titus, The Cretians are alwayes liars, evill beaſts, and flow bellyes Tit. 1.12. But is it ſo indeed? may not the ſame reproofe unjuſtly caſt upon Gods ſervants, be juſtly applyed to Gods enemies, w…en (by the Diſcuſſers owne confeſſi…n) it may be applyed truly? If Perſecutors miſapply Scripture Termes, & rebukes to Chriſts Witneſſes falſely, may not a ſervant of God apply the ſame truly, as the Scripture applyeth them, but he ſhall be thought to learne to ſpeake not the Language of Scripture, but the Language of perſecutors?
Diſcuſſer.
Ob it is hard for Gods Children to fall to Opinion and practiſe of Perſecution, without ready learning the Language thereof. And doubtleſse that ſoule, that can ſo readily learne Babels Language, hath cauſe to feare that he hath not yet in Point of Worſhip left the gates or ſuburbs of it.
Defender.
If this Language uſed by me be the Termes of Scripture, and by the acknowledgement of Truth rightly applyed, then it is the Language of Canaan, and not of Babel. What Language they have learned, who in point of Worſhip, have left Zion, but not the gates and Suburbs of Babel, (for they ſet up Bulwa…ks of Impunity, to ſecure them) Let themſelves (in the feare of God) confider.
But what Language is it to ſpeake of me, as having learned the opinion & practiſe of perſecution, I deſi…e the God of Truth to teach him to know, It is the Language of him that ſtood not in the Truth, and of ſuch alſo, as call evill good, and good evill.
Diſcuſſer
Againe in blaming Julian the Apoſtate, and Valens the Arian for Tolerating all weeds to grow, he noteth their ſinfull end, that thereby they might choake the vitalls of Chriſtianity: and ſeemeth herein to conſent (on a ſpeech of Jerome) That the weeds of falſe Religions tolerated, have a Power to kill true Chriſtianity in the Church.
But when Chriſtianity began to be choaked, It was not when Chriſtians lodged in cold Priſons, but Downe-Beds of eaſe, and Perſecuted others.
Defender.
I noted indeed the ſinfull end of Julian the Apoſtate in tolerating all Religions and Hereſies, to aime at the choaking of the vitalls of Chriſtianity. Of Valens I noted the like finfull practiſe of Tolerating all Religions: but did not expreſſe his end. But what I ſpake of the end, concerned Julian: and I ſp…ke of it not of mine owne imagination, (though he that ſhall read the ſtories of his Apoſtacy, and malignity againſt the Name of Chriſt, and Chriſtians, might eaſily beleive and ſpeake it without raſhneſſe:) but I ſpeake it out of a grave and judicious Authour, who lived neere thoſe times, I meane Aliguſtine, who in his 166, Epiſtle, thus exp…eſſeth Julians both practiſe, and end. Julianus deſerter Chriſti, et Inimicus, Haereticis libertatem perditionis permiſit, et tum Baſilicas Haereticis reddidit, quando Templa Daemonijs; Eo modo putáns, Chriſtianum Nomen poſſe perire, de Terris, ſivanitati Eccleſiae, de qua lapſus fuerat, invideret, et ſacrilegas Diſſenſiones liberas eſſe permitteret, that is, Julian, the forſaker, and enemy of Chriſt, Permitted to Hereticks liberty of perdition: and at the ſame time reſtored Pallaces (or royall meeting-houſes) to Hereticks, when the Temples to Divells; thinking by this meanes, the Chriſtian Name might periſh from the earth, if he ſhould envy that unity to the Church, from which himſelfe fell, and permit Sacrilegious Diſſenſions to enjoy their liberty.
What the Diſcuſſer ſubjoyned, as weakning this end, that Chriſtiaaity began to be choaked, not when Chriſtians lay in cold Priſons, but Beds of eaſe, and perſecuted others: This doth not at all weaken the right apprehenſion of Julians end, For 1. Julian might ayme at that end, though he might not have attained it.
Secondly, evident it is, that Toleration of bryars and thornes, (and ſuch are Hereſies and Blaſphemies) doe choake the life of Chriſtianity. For beſide experience, the Text in Rev. 8.10.11. Declareth, that by the fall of a Starre, (called wromewood) into the waters, the third part of the watters were embittered by it, and many men dyed that drunk of thoſe warters. And what was that Starre, but Arius and Conſtantius?
Thirdly, Though Beds of eaſe have been one meanes of choaking Chriſtianity, yet that hindereth not, but the Toleration of all weeds to grow with the good ſeed, is another.
Fourthly, when he ſaith, Their perſecuting of others was a meanes of choaking Chriſtianity: It is a plaine contradiction of his former ſpeech, that Conſtantine did more hunt to Chriſts Church and Kingdome, then the raging fury of the moſt bloudy Neroes.