The Bloody Tenant Washed and Made White in the Blood of the Lamb, Part 2 · Chapter 9
TO CHAP. IX.
TO his 9th Chapter, I ſhall not need to returne any large Reply. Let him read over my words againe, which he examineth, and anſwereth in this Chapter, and they may ſerve for a juſt Reply unto his Anſwer, ſo farre as it is needfull.
OnelyOnly let me touch a Paſſage, or two. When he ſaith, That after the firſt manifeſtation of the countenance of God, reconciled in the bloud of Chriſt unto his ſoule, it hath been with him, as with one whom he ſaith, I told him off, his Queſtions, and Troubles have not been concerning his Reconciliation, and Peace with God, but concerning Sanctification, &c.
I would it might pleaſe the Lord to perſwade his heart, that, that one of whom I ſpake to him, was but one to whom the Lord diſpenſed himſelfe in that manner; and he a man, though he ſuffered much, and wrote much, yet no where magnified his ſufferings, nor vilified the Authors of his ſufferings: A man that cleaved to the Ordinances, and Saints of God, and not willing to manifeſt his diſſent from his Brethren, no not there where he did diſſent, as willing to attribute more to the judgements of other ſervants of God, then to arrogate to himſelfe.
But ſurely the ordinary manner of Gods diſpenſation of himſelfe to his ſervants, is otherwiſe; even to thoſe that have been moſt precious in his ſight. Job hath ſometimes complained, that God tooke him for his enemy, Job 13.24.26. David ſometimes complaineth, that he was cut off from before Gods eyes, Pſal. 31.22. And that God ſometimes hid his face from him, Pſal. 30.7. That his ſoule was alſo ſore vexed with the ſence of Gods anger, and hot diſpleaſure, Pſal. 6.1. 3 Aſaph alſo complaineth of the ſame, in Pſal. 77. and Heman the Ezrahite in Pſal. 88. and Hezekiah in Iſai. 38. If the Lord have dealt more indulgently with Mr. Williams, he hath the more cauſe to walke humbly, and circumſpectly, and fruitfully before the Lord, which is the worſt that I wiſh him. And let him alſo conſider, that whileſt he liveth under the Sunne, himſelfe is not exempted from the dangerous Inmate of a deceitfull heart. As for Maſter Smith he ſtandeth, and falleth to his own Maſter: whileſt he was Preacher to the Citie of Lincolne, he wrought with God then: what temptations befell him after, by the evill workings of evill men, and ſome good men too, I chooſe rather to tremble at, then diſcourſe of. If I had made uſe of his Principles, and Arguments, (as this Examiner ſaith I have) it is more then my ſelfe know: for I have not been acquainted with ſundry of his writings, as being diſcouraged with that one, wherein he maketh Originall ſinne an idle name. Albeit, I refuſe not to learne from any man, as being conſcious to my ſelfe of mine own emptineſſe.
But (ſaith the Examiner) whatſoever Mr. Smiths Temptations, and Falls have been: yet that opinion of Mr. Cotton, or any, is moſt grievous to God, and man, and not comparable to any that ever Mr. Smith could be charged withall: nor is any ſinne comparably ſo grievous in Gods Davids, as a treacherous ſlaughter of the faithfull, whom wee are forced to call, Beloved in Chriſt.
Reply. This is one of the Inſtances amongſt many others, upon which I was mooved to ſpeake even now, that the Examiner alloweth more liberty to his tongue, then the Meſſenger of Juſtice, a man of a tender Conſcience, (of whom I ſpake) durſt uſe. But when a man is delivered up to Satan, and neither his minde, nor conſcience, nor tongue, nor pen, are his own, no marvell if he caſt forth fire-brands, and arrowes, and mortall things, which I ſuppoſe a Publican, or Pagan would hardly utter, without ſome more colourable pretence then the Examiner hath to ſay, That Mr. Cotton is of opinion, that it is lawfull to commit a treacherous ſlaughter of the Saints, whom we are forced to call, Beloved in Chriſt.
To the accuſation I ſhall (God helping) make further Anſwer in his Place: Meane while, let the Examiner know, that I was not forced to call him, Beloved in Chriſt. That I did ſo ſtyle him, it was out of indulgence of charitie, not out of any neceſſitie of dutie.