The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Prefatory letter
To the ſeveral Reſpective General Courts, eſpecially that of the Maſſachuſets in N. ENGLAND.
Honored and beloved Friends and Countreymen,
WHile You ſit drie on your ſafe American N, England Priviledge.Shoars (by Gods moſt gracious Providence) and have beheld the dolefull toſſings of ſo many of Europs Nations, yea of our deareſt Mother, aged England, in a Sea of Tears and Bloud, I am humbly bold to preſent your Eyes and Hearts with this (not unſeaſonable) diſcourſe of Bloud, of the Bloudy Tenents of Perſecution, Oppreſſion, and Violence, in the Cauſe and matters of Conſcience and Religion.
It is a Second Conference of Peace and Truth, an Examination of the worthily honoured and beloved Mr. Cottons Whole Nation of Lyons or Perſecutors.Reply to a former Conference and Treatiſe of this Subject. And although it concern all Nations, which have perſecuted and ſhed the Bloud of Jeſus, the Bloudie Roman Empire, with all the Savage Lyons thereof, Emperours and Popes, the bloudie Monarchies of Spain and France, and the reſt of Europs Kingdoms and States (which under their ſeveral Vizards and Preteness of Service to God, have in ſo many thouſands of his Servants, Murthered ſo many thouſand times over, his dear Son) yea although it concern that Bloudie Turkiſh Monarchy, and all the Nations of the World who practiſe violence to the Conſcience of any Chriſtian, or Antichristians, Jews or Pagans; yet it concerns your ſelves (with all due reſpect otherwiſe be it ſpoken) in ſome more eminentThe Bloudy Tenent more eſpecially concerns N. E. degrees: Partly, as ſo many of yours of chief note (beſide Mr. Cotton) are engaged in it; partly as N. England (in reſpect of Spiritual and Civil State) profeſſeth to draw nearer to Chriſt Jeſus then other States and Churches, and partly as N. England is believed to hold and practiſe ſuch a Bloudie Doctrine, notwithſtanding Mr Cottons Vails and Pretences of not perſecuting men for conſcience, but puniſhing them only for ſinning againſt conſcience! and of but ſo and ſo, not perſecuting, but puniſhing Hereticks, Blasphemers, Idolators, Seducers, &c.
It is Mr. Cottons great miſtake and forgetfulneſſe, to chargeThe occaſion of the preſent con…verſie. me with a publick examination of his privat Letter to me; whereas in Truth, there never paſſed ſuch Letters between himſelf and me about this Subject; as he alledgeth: But the Priſoners Arguments againſt Perſecution, with Mr. Cottons Anſwer thereunto (which I examined) I ſay theſe were unexpectedly, and ſolemnly ſent to me, as no privat thing, with earneſt deſire of my conſideration or Animadverſions on them.
Theſe Agitations between Mr. Cotton and others, ſo ſent unto me, as alſo the Model of Church and Civil Power by Gods Providence coming to hand, I ſay they ſeem'd to me to be of too too Publick a nature: And in which my ſoul not only heard the dolefull cry of the ſouls under the Altar to the Lord for Vengeance, but their earneſt ſollicitations, yea and the command of the Lord Jeſus for Vindication of their blouds and lives ſpilt and deſtroyed, by this Bloudie Tenent, though under never ſo Fair and Glorious Shewes and Colours.
The moſt holy and allſeeing knowes how bitterly I reſentThis Conteſtation is not with perſons, but againſt their bloody Doctrins and Tenents. the leaſt difference with Mr. Cotton, yea with the leaſt of the followers of Jeſus, of what conſcience or worſhip ſoever: How mournfully I remember this ſtroak (as I believe) on Mr. Cottons eye, and the eyes of ſo many of Gods precious children and ſervants, in theſe and other parts; that thoſe eyes ſo peircing and heavenly (in other holy and precious Truths of God) ſhould yet be ſo over-clouded and bloudſhotten in this: I grieve I muſt conteſt, and maintain this conteſtation with (in other reſpects) ſo dearly beloved and ſo worthy Adverſaries.
And yet why mention I or reſpect I man that is but Graſs, and the children of men that muſt die, whoſe Brains, Eyes and Tongues (even the holyeſt and the higheſt) muſt ſhortly ſink and rot in their skuls and holes.
Without remembring therefore who my Adverſarie is, nor all the Wormwood and the Gall ſo frequently in Mr. Cottons Reply againſt me; I fully and only level with an upright and ſingle eye (the Lord Jeſus graciouſly aſſiſting) againſt that fowl and monſtrous bloudie Tenent and Doctrin, which hath ſo ſlily (like the old Serpent the Author of it) crept under the ſhade and ſhelter of Mr. Cottons Patronage and Protection.
My end is to diſcover and proclaim the crying and horribleThe end of this Treatiſe. guilt of the bloudie Doctrin, as one of the moſt Seditious, Deſtructive, Blaſphemous, and Bloudieſt in any or in all the Nations of the World, notwithſtanding the many fine Vails, Pretences and Colours of not perſecuting Christ Jeſus, but Hereticks, not Gods Truth or Servants, but Blaſphemers, Seducers: not Perſecuting men for their Conſcience, but for ſinning againſt their Conſcience, &c.
My end is to perſwade Gods Judah (eſpecially) to waſh their hands from Bloud, to cleanſe their hearts and wayesThe cry of the Lord Jeſus. from ſuch Ʋnchriſtian practices, toward all that is man, capable of a Religion and a Conſcience, but moſt of all toward Chriſt Jeſus, who cries out (as he did to Saul) in the ſufferings of the leaſt of his Servants: Old England, Old England, New England, New England, King, King, Parliaments, Parliaments, General Courts, General Courts, Preſbyterians, Preſbyterians, Independents, Independents, &c. Why perſecute you me? It is hard for you to kick againſt the Pricks.
My end is to prepare the Servants and Witneſſes of Jeſus (what Truth ſoever of his they teſtifie) for that great and general and moſt dreadfull ſlaughter of the witneſſes, which I cannot but humbly fear, and almoſt believe, is near approaching, and will be Ʋſhered in, provoak'd and haſtned by the preud ſecurity, worldly pomp, fleſhly confidence, and bloudy violences of Gods own children, wofully exerciſed each againſt other, and ſo rendred wofully ripe for ſuch an Ʋniverſal and dreadfull Storm and Tempeſt!
My end and ſcope is to put a Chriſtian barr, and juſt and merciful A Bar againſt Perſecution.Spoaks in the wheels of ſuch zealous reforming Jehues, who (under the Vizard and Name of Baals Prieſts) may poſſibly be induced to account it good ſervice unto God, to kill and burn his precious Servants.
My end is, that the greateſt Sons of Bloud (the Papiſts) may know, when ever (as the Saints in Queen Maries days confeſſed) when ever it ſhall pleaſe the jealous God for theOr a Teſtimony againſt it, eſpecially in the Papiſts. ſins of his Saints to turn the Wheels of his moſt deep and holy Providences, and to give the Power to the Paw of the Beaſt, againſt his Saints and Truths, for their laſt dreadfull ſlaughter (as Daniel and John do clearly ſeem to tell us) I ſay thoſe Sons of Bloud, the bloudie Papiſts, may know, that their bloudy Doctrin of perſecution, was diſclaimed by ſome, whom they call Sectaries: That equall and impartiall favour was pleaded to the Catholicks, as wel as to their own or other mens Souls and Conſciences: And that if that great Whore ſhall yet proceed not only to drink the wine of their carnal Jollitie, in the Bowles of the holy Ordinances of Chriſts Temple and Sanctuary; but alſo to drink more drunk in the bloud of his Saints and witneſſes! This Teſtimony may ſtand as a Character of Bloud, fixed by the hand of Gods eternal Truth and Peace, upon the Gates of their bloudie Courts, and upon the forehead of their bloudie Judges, who (under what pretence ſoever) hunt and perſecute the Souls and Conſciences of any Child of God or Man.
My truly honoured and beloved Countrimen, vouchſafe meA double priſon, of prejudice and Conſcience. I beſeech you that humane and Chriſtian Libertie to ſay, that I fear your Spirits are lock'd up in a double priſon from any ſerious Audience to ought of mine preſented to you. The firſt of Prejudice againſt ſuch and ſuch a perſon. The ſecond of Conſcience, againſt ſuch and ſuch a matter; and that while my Conſcience or another mans ſaith, Let me be Heretick, Blasphemer, Idolater, Seducer, with Chriſt Jeſus, with his Apoſtles, Saints and Witneſſes: Let me (for his ſake) bear Frowns, Cenſures, and Perſecutions, from men ſo dear, ſo excellent, ſo holy! Your Conſciences plead for equall Libertie of oppoſing in your way, all ſuch erroneous or wandring Conſciences.
For anſwer, It is but Humanity, it is but Chriſtianity to exerciſe meekneſſe and moderation to all men: It is humane and Chriſtian Wiſdom to liſten to a ſerious Alarm againſt a Common Enemy: Prove the Alarm falſe, it may be but troubleſome: Prove it true, it may be Deſtruction to have deſpiſed it.
As the wounds of a Lover are better then the Kiſſes of an Enemy: So ſaith the ſame Spirit, an open Rebuke is better then ſecret Love.
But yet your Conſciences (as all mens) muſt be ſatisfied,2 Foundamentall Hints againſt Perſecution. I have therefore in all theſe Agitations humbly preſented (amongſt others) two Foundamental Hints or Conſiderations.
Firſt that the People (the Original of all free Power and Government) are not inveſted with Power from Chriſt Jeſus, to rule his Wife or Church, to keep it pure, to puniſh Oppoſites by force of Armes, &c.
Secondly, that the Pattern of the National Church of Iſrael, was a None-ſuch, unimitable by any Civil State, in all or any of the Nations of the World beſide: In this latter hint I inſiſted more largely in my former Conſiderations upon Church and Civil Power in N. E. unto which Mr. Cotton replyed not (and of any other Replyes of any (to whom Mr. Cotton refers it) do I yet not know of.)
I Add, it is a glorious Character of every true Diſciple or Scholler of Chriſt Jeſus, to be never too old to learn.
It is the Command of Chriſt Jeſus to his Schollars, to try all things: And Libertie of trying what a Friend, yea what an (eſteemed) Enemie preſents, hath ever (in point of Chriſtianity) proved one eſpeciall means of attaining to the truth of Chriſt.
For I dare confidently appeal to the conſciences of Gods moſt knowing ſervants, if that obſervation be not true, toLibertie of trying forbidden Books, &c. wit, that it hath been the common way of the Father of Lights, to incloſe the Light of his holy Truths, in dark and obſcure, yea and ordinarily in forbidden Books, perſons and Meetings, by Sathan ſtiled Conventicles.
New Engliſh Voyages, have taught moſt of our Old Engliſh ſpirits, how to put due prices upon the moſt common and ordinary undervalued mercies; how precious with ſome hathNew Englands Leſſons. been a little water? how dainty with others a piece of bread: How welcome to ſome the pooreſt howſing? Yea the very Land and Earth, after long and tedious paſſages?
There is one commoditie for the ſake of which moſt of Gods children in N. England have run their mighty hazards; a commoditie marvellouſly ſcarce in former times (though in ſome late years by Gods moſt gracious and mighty hand more plentifull) in our native Countrey: It is a Libertie of ſearching after Gods moſt holy mind and pleaſure.
Out of this moſt precious and invaluable Jewel, if you ſuffer Sathan (that grand thief and cheater to bereave you, and that it ſhall be a crime, humbly and peaceably to queſtion evenLiberty of ſearching our Truth, hardly got, and as hardly kept. Lawes and Statutes, or what ever is even publickly taught and delivered, you will moſt certainly find your ſelves after all your long Run (like that little Frenchman who kill'd the Duke of Guiſe, and was taken next morning neare the place from whence he had fled upon a ſwift horſe all night)Jan le petit. I ſay you will moſt certainly find your ſelves, but where you were, enſlav'd and captivated in the Chains of thoſe Popiſh Darkneſſes, [to wit, Ignorance is the mother of Devotion, and we muſt believe as the Church believes, &c.]
Remember therefore (O ye the Cream and Flower of Engliſh Plantations in America) what a black and direfull a cole it was with which it pleaſed the Spirit of God in Habacuck, to brand the Aſſirian Monarchie, to wit [a Bitter and haſtie Nation] but in the ſpirit of meekneſſe, in the meekneſſe of wiſdom, be pleaſed to remember that poſſible it is for Gods The wonderfull deceitfulneſſe of the hearts of Gods only people.viſible, only people in the world to have very foul and bloudie hands, full of Bloud (Iſa. 1.)! To build up Zion and Jeruſalem (that is, to erect the Viſible Church and Kingdom of God) with Bloud (Mic. 3.) and with Iniquitie, That the Heads and Judges of Gods People, may judge for a reward (and the deceitfull heart of man graſpeth at rewards more then of one ſort) that the Prieſts and Prophets thereof may teach and Propheſie (and it may be frequently and excellently, but yet for) an hire and for money; And that yet their conſciences may lean upon Jehovah, and they may ſay with confidence, is not the Lord amongſt us? None evil ſhall come unto us; &c. O remember that your Gifts are rare, your Profeſſions of Religion (in ſuch way) rare, your PerſecutionsMic. 3. N. England muſt be ſingular, as in Mercies, ſo in Judgments. and hidings from the ſtorms abroad, rare and wonderfull: So in proportion your Tranſgreſſions, eſtate and publickſins cannot but be of a rare and extraordinary Guilt: Nor will New England's ſorrowes (when ſins are ripe and full) be other then the Dregs of Germanie's, of Ireland's, of England's, and of Scotland's Tears and Calamities.
Amongſt the crying ſins of our own or other ſinfull Nations: thoſe two are ever amongſt the lowdeſt, to wit, Invented Devotions to the God of Heaven. Secondly, Violence and Oppreſſion on the Sons of men (eſpecially (if his ſons) for2 of the loudeſt State. crying ſins. diſſenting, and againſt both theſe, and that the impartial and dreadfull hand of the moſt holy and Jealous God (a conſuming fire) tear and burn not up at laſt the Roots of theſe Plantations, but graciouſly diſcovering the Plants which are not his, he may graciouſly fructifie and cauſe to flouriſh what his Right hand will own: I ſay this is the humble and unfeigned deſire and cry (at the Throne of Grace) of your ſo long deſpiſed Out-caſt:
ROGER WILLIAMS.