The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 63
Exam: of Chap. 63. replying to Chap. 66.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton here being underſtood to ſmile on Q: Elizabeth for perſecuting the Papiſts, and to …wne on K: James for perſecuting the (ſo named) Puritans, he denies neither, but inſiſts onelyonly upon the Number, that as many and as great Princes are againſt Tolleration as for it, and in particular Q: Elizabeth and K: James.
Truth.
I ſay (as before) I ſhould never uſe an Argument Touching the Perſecution of K: James and Q: Elizabeth.from the Number of Princes (no more then from the Number of any other men) for any truth of Chriſt Jeſus: Who as he was not pleaſed himſelfe to be borne of the ſons of Nobles, ſo hath he not choſen many Nobles and Wiſe men of this World to be borne of him: Yet 2. If that be his Argument, he hath not ſatisfied, in naming theſe two, for more were named by the Priſoner, and beſides one of thoſe Witneſſes, K: James abundantly declared himſelfe, not onelyonly againſt perſecuting of Papiſts, but againſt all perſecution in generall, what ever otherwiſe or afterwards his practices were againſt ſome Perſons, as Mr Cotton too truely alledgeth.
Truth.
In the next Paſſage the Diſcuſſer having objected that both Q: Elizabeth and K: James did perſecute according to their Conſciences, and arguing why ſhould the one (namely) K: James be more blamed for perſecuting according to his Conſcience, then Q: Elizabeth for perſecuting according to hers: Mr Cotton diſtinguiſheth of Conſciences: The Queenes ſayth he, was rightly informed, but the Kings was not. When it was replyed, that either K: James, and ſuch Princes whoſe Conſciences (according to Mr Cottons Conſcience) are ill informed, muſt act according to their Conſciences, or elſe they want the Qualification and Fitnes for ſuch places: Mr Cotton anſwers two Things.
Firſt, that ſuch Qualifications are not Eſſentiall, but Integrall.
Secondly, That ſuch Princes muſt forbeare all Civill Cenſures in matters of Religion untill they be better informed.
Truth.
It is moſt true as Mr Cotton ſayth, if we ſpeake of the right of Succeſſion, a childe may be a Lawfull King (as K. James himſelfe was being but a yeare old) But if we ſpeake of the Qualifications of the minde, by which a King is enabled to rule his State (as is ſuppoſed Eccleſiaſticall and Civill, and to judge under Chriſt Jeſus in all Cauſes Eccleſiaſticall as well as Civill: Surely, he that knowes not which is the true Church, true Miniſtrie, true Ordinances; yea and perſecutes the true Church, Miniſtrie, and Worſhip, what ever his Qualifications be for the Government of theTouching the Qualification of Princes. Civill State, yet can it never be made good that he is furniſhed with any Eſſentiall Qualification for the Spirituall Adminiſtration, any more then He that undertakes to be a Guide, and yet is blinde, and never ſet foote in the way, and knowes not the true from the falſe: Or to be a Captaine Generall, yea or but a Shepheard, &c. 2. Beſide, Chriſt Jeſus never calld any perſon to any Employment of his, to any Worke, whom he inables not in a Meaſure proportionably, &c.
Peace.
In ſuch caſes (ſayth Mr Cotton) Princes are called to ſuſpend and forbeare all Execution of Civill Cenſures in the matters of Religion, till they be better informed, leaſt they doe perſecute the Son of God in ſtead of the Son of Perdition.
Truth.
I anſwer: Firſt, Then Mr Cotton hath cut off K: James from acting, though ſo long eſteemed and ſworne Supreame in all Cauſes Eccleſiaſticall.
Secondly, I aske, how many ſhall forbeare, and how long, Touching Magiſtrates ſuſpending from acting in matters of Religion.for evident then it is that moſt (beyond all compariſon) of all the Princes and Magiſtrates in the World, muſt not meddle with this pretended chiefe part of their Dutie and Office, and that (if they convert not) for the whole Courſe and Race of their Life: In particular, that no Pagan Magiſtrate (of all the ten thouſands in the World, no Perſian, Turkiſh, Popiſh, nor Proteſtant (if Prelaticall or Presbyterian,) ought to exerciſe any of this High and Glorious Power, but onelyonly ſuch Princes and Magiſtrates as are of Mr Cottons Conſcience; for otherwiſe what Prince in the world more learned King in his time then King James, yet was not he of Mr Cottons Conſcience.
Peace.
Deare Truth: The fall of this partialitie is ſo apparant, Monſtrous partialitie.and withall ſo fowle, that I thinke it impoſſible, but ere long it muſt needs be condemned by Men on Earth, as doubtleſs it is abhord by the moſt holy and impartiall God, and his holy Angells in Heaven: Upon this occaſion I call to minde that famous Act of the ſo greatly renowned Conſtantine, who in his firſt wearing of the Diademe, put forth (his Colleauge Licinius concurring alſo)Conſtantines Edict. a famous and moſt ſolemne Charter and Edict, that no man throughout the whole Empire ſhould be conſtraind in his Religion.
Truth.
Mr Cotton (according to his proviſo of ſuſpenſion) muſt doubtles applaud Conſtantine for this his Forbearance untill he were better informed, whereas afterward his Edicts againſt Arrius and Arrianiſme, teſtifie his practice to the contrary. But he that ſhall reade ſeriouſly in Gods preſence that firſt Edict of Conſtantine and Licinius, will there finde Conſtantine to uſe ſuch Arguments, as might for ever have cauſed him to have forbore perſecution, to have ſtill ſuſpended, to have gratified the Subjects of all his Empire with Libertie and Freedome in the Point of Worſhip and Religion.
But I will End this Paſſage with this Querie; If Chriſt Jeſus have left ſuch Power with the Civill Rulers of the World, Kingdomes, Foule imputations caſt on Chriſt Jeſus.and Countries, of or for the Eſtabliſhing, Governing, and Reforming his Church, what is become of his Care and Love, Wiſdome and Faithfulneſſe, ſince in all Ages (ſince he left the Earth) for the generall, beyond all exception, he hath left her deſtitute of ſuch qualified Princes and Governours, and in the Courſe of his Providence furniſhed her with ſuch, whom he knew would be, and all men finde as fit, as Wolves to protect and feede his Sheepe and People.