The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 57 – Chapter 58
Chap. 57. (replying to Chap. 60.) Examined.
Peace.
COncerning Princes Mr Cotton addeth, that Princes out of State policie, doe ſometimes tollerate what ſuits not with Chriſtianitie (as David did Joab) againſt their wills.
Unto this it was anſwered, that this agrees not with his former generall Propoſition, to wit, that it was evill to Tollerate ſeducing Teachers, and ſcandalous livers; Mr Cotton replyes; Yes, for Moſes laid downe in generall, Who ſo ſheddeth mans blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed; yet Joab was tollerated to live, &c.
Truth.
If Moſes had ſaid; It is not lawfull to tollerate a Murtherer; and yet afterward had tollerated a Murtherer, his later practice would not have ſeemed harmonious to his former ſpeech, but Moſes did not ſo, and therefore I conceive is not rightly alledged.
Peace.
Whereas it was further alledged, that that State policie, and State neceſſitie, which permitted the conſciences of Men, will be found to agree moſt punctually with the Rules of the beſt politician that ever the world ſaw (the Lord Jeſus himſelfe) who commanded the permitting of the Tares.
Mr Cotton replyes, that he is not againſt the permitting of ſome Antichriſtians, or falſe Chriſtians, unleſſe they maintaine fundamentall Hereſie againſt the Foundation of Religion, and that obſtinately after conviction, and withall ſeduce others: But for ſuch Hereticks and ſeducing Teachers, they are none of thoſe Tares, of which Chriſt ſayth, Let them alone.
Beſides, ſayth he, If by Tares are meant groſſe offenders: then the ſpeech of Chriſt, Let them alone, is not a word of command, but a word of permiſſion and praediction; like that Luc. 22. 36. He that hath no Sword, let him ſell his Garment and buy a Sword.
Truth.
I anſwer, that there ſhould be Antichriſtians, or falſeAll Antichriſtians are fundamentally oppoſite to Chriſt Jeſus. Chriſtians, which maintaine not fundamentall Hereſie againſt Foundation of Religion, I thinke is new to the New Teſtament of Chriſt Jeſus, and to the Tryalls the holy Spirit propoſeth by John in his Epiſtles, diſcovering ſuch to be the Hereticks and Apoſtates, as deny the Lord Jeſus (as all Antichriſtians or falſe Chriſtians doe more or leſſe) to be come in the Fleſh the true Meſſiah, and anointed King, Prieſt, and Teacher to his Church.
Peace.
If Mr Cotton will make good his word, to wit, that he will permit ſome Antichriſtians or falſe Chriſtians, methinks, the whole Tryall of this matter might well turne upon this Hinge, ſo that the true or falſe Chriſtian be tryed by the Rules of the New Teſtament.
Truth.
If ſo, he muſt undeniably ſubſcribe to this great and Chriſtian policie of permiſſion or Tolleration: As for the Exceptions following [Unleſſe they maintaine Fundamentall Hereſie, and unleſſe they ſin actually] Theſe pull backe againe with the Left hand what merciful Freedome he had given before with the Right.
3. But laſtly, by this Interpretation of, Let them alone, byTouching the Tares. way of permiſſion and praediction, it appeares that Mr Cottons Thoughts are not without checks and doubtings what theſe Tares might be: For (ſayth he) [if by Tares are meant groſſe offendours] whereas before he ſpent much precious time to prove the Tares to be a kinde of cloſer Hypocrite.
Moreover, all permiſſion is of Evill, for ſome Good, ſo he, the permiſſion of Tares for the Wheate ſake: In which reſpect (as I conceive) the good Wheate is not ſo tendred, nor the Word of Chriſt ſo attended to by ſuch, as preſume (in pretence for the good wheate ſake) to pluck up thoſe Tares, unto whom Chriſt Jeſus for▪ the good Wheate ſake, hath for a Time granted a permiſſion.
Exam: of Chap. 58. replying to Chap. 61.
Peace.
VVHereas the Diſcuſſer profeſſedly waved any Argument from the number of Princes witneſſing in profeſſion or practice againſt perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience, Mr Cotton replyes, that this is a yeelding of the Invaliditie of the Argument: But 2. that he urgeth not the number, but the greater pietie and preſence of God with thoſe Princes who have profeſſed and practiced againſt Tolleration.
Truth.
As I would not uſe an Argument from the number of Princes about an heavenly matter (as knowing that the Kings and Rulers of the Earth commonly minde their▪ ownePolicie ſtore, but Pietie rare in Princes. Crownes, Honours, and Dominions, more then Gods; and ſuch Princes as are called Chriſtian, uſe Gods Name, Crowne, and Ordinances, as Jeroboam uſed Gods Name, and Jezabell uſed Faſting and prayer, for the advancement of their owne Crownes, and perſecuting of the Innocent and Righteous) So neither would I reſt in the Qualitie, Greatnes or Goodnes of any. That which I attend in this Argument is the Ground and Reaſons of their Speeches; which may alſo have this Conſideration to boote, that they are the Speeches of ſuch who ſit at the helme of great States, and were not ignorant of the Affaires of States, and what might conduce to the peace or diſturbance, to the wealth or woe of a Common-weale. To their Ground and Reaſons therefore I attend in the next Chapter.