The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 72
Exam: of Chap. 72. replying to Chap. 75. Concerning the Teſtimonie of Auſtin.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton finds two faults in the firſt entrance. Firſt, that Antichriſt ſhould be ſaid to be too hard for Chriſt at voting: 2. That Auſtins Teſtimonie ſhould be put off as a Rhetoricall Evaſion.
Truth.
To the firſt, it will ſhortly appeare as the Light at Noone day, what packing of Votes, and liſting, and muſtring up of Numbers have been in all Ages, in all Councells, in all Synods, in all Parliaments, and in all (falſely ſo called) Chriſtian Countries, againſt the Lord, his Chriſt and Servants.
Peace.
But Mr Cotton marvailes that when the caſe concernes tolleration of Hereticks and Antichriſtians, that Antichriſt ſhould procure more Votes againſt Antichriſtians, and that Chriſt ſhould procure any Vote, though fewer, for them.
Truth.
To expound this ridle; It was never affirmed, that Chriſt hath any Votes for the tollerating of Hereticks or Antichriſtians in the Religious State or Church of Chriſt, but in the Civil State or Common-weale, that is, in the common field of the world together.
Secondly, Not onelyonly Antichriſt may oppoſe ſome Antichriſtians, Gods children may poſſibly fight each againſt the other. …but the Iſrael of God may oppoſe Iſrael: Ephraim may be againſt Manaſſeh, and Manaſſeh againſt Ephraim, and both againſt Judah in ſeverall reſpects. Have not the Presbyterians been againſt the Independents, and the Independents againſt the Presbyterians, and both againſt ſuch a… ſeperate from the uncleanneſſes of them both?
No wonder then when one Antichriſtian Faction prevailes to cruſh another, (and therein wraps up Chriſt Jeſus himſelfe asAntichriſtians againſt Antichriſtians, but principally againſt Chriſt. an Antichriſtian,) that Chriſt Jeſus ſhould finde ſome Friends and Votes againſt the Oppreſſing Faction, though the number of the oppreſſours doe farre exceede, and caſt the cauſe (moſt commonly) againſt Chriſt Jeſus, as a Male factor, a Drunkard, a Glutton, a Deceiver, a mad-man poſſeſt with a Devill, a Seducer, a Blaſphemer, &c.
Peace.
But to the ſecond, let us Examine the Reaſons againſt Auſtins Argument with Mr Cottons defence of them.
The firſt anſwer was, that ſoule-killing was of a large extent Touching ſpirituall murther.in Scripture, which may reach to many ſins that are not capitall; Mr Cotton replyes; the Anſwer reacheth not the point; for as every killing of the Body is not a capitall crime, ſo neither is every killing of the ſoule, but ſuch as is more voluntary and preſumptuous, and joyned with ſome groſſe and murtherous intent.
Truth.
Auſtin and Mr Cotton ſpake in generall, without diſtinction of ſoule-murther and killing: the Title and ſound of ſoulemurther and ſoule-killing, ſhould not be caſt abroad like Thunder and Lightning, with a late excuſe that we intend not every ſoule-murther and killing.
Peace.
Your ſecond Argument was from the Diſſimilitude of bodily and ſpirituall Death: Body-killing is but once and for ever, but a ſoule killed may recover, &c. Mr Cotton replyes, that the very attempt of ſoule-killing is capitall, Deut. 13. 10.
Truth.
Firſt, then the Diſſimilitude or Difference remaines good, between the murthering of the body, and the killing of the ſoule or inner man; contrary to his Anſwer foregoing.
Secondly, Concerning this attempting I have ſpoken elſewhere,Touching Seducers. and proved that ſpiritually it may be made good, againſt a Chriſtian Iſraelite, falling away from Chriſt, and ſeducing others; but literally, againſt ſuch attempting againſt any mans preſent Religion or Worſhip, (in any Civill State all the World over) it cannot be taken, becauſe the whole world, the Nations and peoples of it cannot parallell this State of Iſrael, whence this plea is taken.
Peace.
I preſume (Deare Truth) you would not excuſe and extenuate the puniſhment of a Soule-Traitour and ſeducer, now under the Goſpel.
Truth.
No; I aggravate the leaſt attempt of ſoule-murther, The hainouſnes of ſpirituall ſtumbling blocks.and the leaſt prejudice or hindrance to Eternall Life, infinitly above what is temporall and corporall murther, when either Huſband or Wife, Brother or Siſter, King or Queene, Synod or Parliament ſhall lay a ſtumbling block in the heavenly way, or grieve or offend the leaſt of the littles ones of Chriſt Jeſus, and ſuch dreadfull puniſhment ſhall all even the higheſt and greateſt finde, who now ſeeme to forget the Millſtone.
Peace.
The third argument was from the different puniſhmentPuniſhing of Seducers. which Chriſt Jeſus hath appointed for Soul-killing, to wit, by the two edged ſword, which comes out of Chriſts mouth, which is able to cut downe Hereſie, and to ſlay the ſoul of Hereticks everlaſtingly.
Maſter Cotton replies, this anſwer hath been removed above: Church cenſures are ſufficient to heal the Heretick, if he belong to God, and to remove the guilt of his wickedneſſe from the Church, but not to prevent ſpreading, &c. nor to cle…ſe the Common-wealth from ſuch rebellion as hath been taught by him againſt the Lord.
Truth.
Above hath alſo been ſhewen the ſoveraigne excellency Commonweale twofold, and Rebellion twofold.and power of Chriſts ſpirituall meanes againſt ſpirituall infection: Above hath alſo been ſhewen the two-fold Commonwealth; Firſt, the Civil and natural; Secondly, the ſpiritual, religious and Chriſtian.
Rebellion alſo againſt the Lord hath been proved, two-fold, Firſt, ſpirituall, againſt himſelfe in point of his more immediate worſhip and ſervice, for which he hath provided not onelyonly the vengeance of eternall fire approaching (according to the degrees and hainouſneſſe of ſuch rebellion) but alſo preſent ſpirituall puniſhment, far exceeding all corporall puniſhment and torment in the world.
2 Rebellion againſt God is temporall and more mediate, as it is a reſiſtance, oppoſition or violation of any Civil ſtate or order appointed by God or Men. Now to confound theſe together, (and to hover in generall tearms of Rebellion againſt the Lord) is to blow out the Candle or Light, and to make a noiſe in the dark, with a ſound and cry of a guilty Land; a guilty State, ſoul-murtherers, ſoul-killers, hereticks, blaſphemers, ſeducers, rebels againſt the Lord, kill them, kill them, &c.
Suppoſe theſe ſoul-murthering Hereticks, Seducers, &c. be as full of vexation and miſchief as the Musketoes or Wolves in New Myſticall Wolves and Muskeetoes.England or other Countries; It were to be wiſhed, (but never can be hoped in this world) that every Civil ſtate, City and Towne in the world, were free from ſuch myſticall and ſoul-vermin: The poor Planter and Farmer is glad, if his houſe and chamber, if his yard and field, his family and cattel, may be tolerably clear from ſuch annoyances, however the Woods and Wildernes abound with them: They that are of ſuch fierie pragmaticall reſtles ſpirits, that they content not themſelves to keep the Farme and Houſe of the Church of Chriſt free from ſuch Infection & annoyance, but rage that ſuch vermin are ſuffered in the worlds Wood, &c. It is pity but they had their ful employment and taske, to catch and kill even all the ſwarmes and Heards of all the Muskeetoes and Wolves, which either the Wildernes of America, or the whole World can afford them.
4. Peace.
Accordingly the Fourth Argument was from Chriſts tolerating of ſoule-killers to live in the field of the World, though not in the Garden of the Church: Mr Cotton replyes, this hath been largely and fully refeld above.
Truth.
It is true, the Diſcuſſer alledged, and Mr Cotton refuted the Expoſition of this Parable, but whether of them according to the minde of Chriſt Jeſus, let every reader uprightly judge with feare and trembling at the word of the Lord.
Peace.
The Fifth Argument was from the Impoſſibilitie of killing and ſoule by a Heretick: Mr Cotton anſwers, this is againſt Paul himſelfe, 1 Cor. 8. 11.
Truth.
As I ſpake unto the Argument of the Impoſſibilitie of the periſhing of any of Gods Elect, ſo here, the uſing of ſuch anOf Soule-killing. Argument is far from undervaluing or neglecting of any of the meanes or Ordinances, naturall or ſpirituall, which God hath graciouſly appointed, but to condemne the over-wiſe and over-buſie Heads and Hands of Men, adding their Inventions to Gods Appointments, as if weake and inſufficient: whereas Gods number of living and dead are certaine, and though the meanes which he hath appointed for life ſhould faile, and notwithſtanding all other meanes in the World uſed by men as helps and hindrances, yet his holy End ſhall not be diſappointed, but fulfilled.
Beſide the Difference between ſoule-killing and body-killing, is but (as Mr Cotton here uſeth the word) ſo much as in us lieth, that is, by attempt or endeavour, which may be many wayes fruſtrated, and diſappointed by the holy hand of God, and the ſoule yet ſaved and live in the day of the Lord Jeſus.
Peace.
Whereas you ſaid, that the impriſoning of Men in aTouching State Religions. Nationall or State Religion is guiltie of their Deſtruction, together with the monſtrous ſword of Civill Warres, which cuts off Men from all meanes of Repentance.
Mr Cotton anſwers; If the Religion be good, it is no Impriſonment: If it be naught, then there ſhould be no Impriſonment.
To the ſecond (ſayth he) this Feare is cauſeles, for if Men belong to God, he will give Repentance, and how ever (ſayth he) God… revealed Will is fullfilled in their juſt Executions.
Truth.
I could here ask Mr Cotton where (amongſt all the Religions and Worſhips of the ſonnes of men) he ever met in the whole World, with above one Nation, which Nationally profeſt a true Religion; and where ever, ſince Chriſt Jeſus, ending of theGods children Gods Citie, Nation and Kingdome. ſhadowes, any State, Religion, or Nationall Worſhip can be found true; notwithſtanding Mr Cotton knowes I grant Gods people, in Kingdomes, Nations, Cities, Townes, &c. to be Gods Kingdome, Nation, Citie, &c.
Peace.
And ſince Mr Cotton ſpeakes thus of Impriſonment, me-thinkes that every peaceable man and woman may bring in here againſt him, at the Tribunall of Chriſt Jeſus, an Action ofA State Religion a priſon. falſe Impriſonment (indeed falſe every way) not onelyonly of the ſenſible and outward man, but of the moſt noble and inner part, the minde, the ſpirit, and Conſcience; for who knowes not that Jeruſalem it ſelfe may be a priſon to falſe-hearted Shimei? Who hath not found a pallace a priſon, when forc't to keepe within it? yea confine a man to his own houſe and home, though deare and familiar, and moſt intimate to him, his owne houſe during that force and reſtraint, is a priſon to him.
Truth.
Yea it is moſt wofully found evident, that the beſt Religion (like the faireſt Whores, and the moſt golden and coſtlie Images) yea the moſt holy and pure and onelyonly true Religion A forc't Religion.and Worſhip, appointed by God himſelfe, is a Torment to that Soule and Conſcience, that is forc't againſt its owne free love, and choice, to embrace and obſerve it: And therefore whether the Religion be good o… …aught (as Mr Cotton here diſtinguiſheth) there ought to be no forcing, but the ſoule and minde and conſcience of man, that is indeed the man, ought to be left free, as in his Earthly marriage-choice, ſo here ten thouſand times rather in his heavenly and ſpirituall.
Peace.
But what ſay you to his unmercifull concluſion, in the bloudſhed and deſtruction of ſo many thouſands and millions, formerlyOf the late Warres. and lately ſlaine and murthered by this bloudie Tenent of perſecution? Yea the late and lamentable ſtreames of Engliſh bloud, and the bloud of our neighbours, friends, Brethren, Parents, powred forth by theſe late Epiſcopall or Biſhops Warres? Mr Cottons concluſion is, The revealed will of God (ſayth he) is fullfilled in their juſt Execution, whether they belong to God or no.
Truth.
I wiſh Mr Cotton more mercy from God, and a more mercifull minde toward the afflicted, and I ſay as the Lord Jeſus The bloudie Tenent guilty of the Rivers of Bloud, &c.ſaid in the caſe of offence: Great offences, Nationall offences will come for Religions ſake, for Nationall Religion ſake, but woe unto thoſe that beare the guilt of ſo many thouſand ſlaughters, murthers, raviſhings, plunderings, &c. The Pope, the Biſhops, the Presbyterians, the Independants, ſo farre as they have been Authours or Actors in theſe horrible Calamities, out of the perſwaſion of the bloudie Tenent of perſecution for Religion and Conſcience; the voyce of ſo many Rivers of bloud cry to Heaven for vengeance againſt them.
Peace.
But may not (bleſſed Truth) the ſword of Civill power Warres for Religion.which is from God (Rom. 13.) be drawne and drunke with bloud for Chriſt his ſake. What ſay you (among the many Examples of Religions Warres) to the moſt famous Battles of Conſtantine againſt the bloudie perſecutour Maxentius? Was not Conſtantine Chriſts Champion, as once that valiant Scanderbeg cald himſelfe againſt the bloudie Turks?
Truth.
Sweet Peace, the ſword of Civill power was Gods ſword Conſtantines warres for the Chriſtians.committed by Gods moſt wiſe Providence into the hands of that famous Conſtantine: Doubtles his warre was righteous and pious, ſo farre as he broke the Jawes of the oppreſſing perſecuting Lyons that devoured Chriſts tender Lambes and ſheepe: And famous was his Chriſtian Edict (wherein Licinius joyned with him) when he put forth that imperiall Chriſtian Decree, thatConſtantines Edict againſt forcing in Religion. no mane Conſcience ſhould be forced, and for his Religion (whether to the Romane Gods, or the Chriſtian) no man ſhould be perſecuted or hunted: When Conſtantine broke the bounds duplicate page duplicate page of this his owne and Gods Edict, and drawes the ſword of Civill power in the ſuppreſſing of other Conſciences for the eſtabliſhing of the Chriſtian, then began the great Myſterie of the Churches ſleepe, the Gardens of Chriſts Churches turned into the Wilderneſſe of Nationall Religion, and the World (under Conſtantines Dominion) to the moſt unchriſtian Chriſtendome.
Peace.
I am unqueſtionably ſatisfied, that there was neverNever any true Nationall Religion in the World but one. any Nationall Religion good in this world but one, and ſince the Deſolation of that Nation, there was never, there ſhall be never any Nationall Religion good againe: and this will be moſt evident to ſuch as hould the Truth of the continuance of Chriſts viſible Church in the way of particular Congregations.
6. But now to the Sixt Argument, which Mr Cotton thus repeats from the poſſibilitie of a falſe Teacher, & a ſpirituall Wolves recoverie from the eſtate of a ſoule-killer to become a ſoule-Saviour, as it was in the caſe of Paul: And thus he anſwers; If menTouching Pauls blaſphemy before his Converſion. be ſuch Blaſphemers, and ſuch Wolves, as Paul was before his Converſion, neither the Law of God nor man would put ſuch a Man to death, who ſinned of Ignorance, and walked (as himſelfe profeſſed) in all good Conſcience, even in his former evill times, Acts 23. But as for ſuch as apoſtate from the knowne truth of Religion, and ſeeke to ſubvert the foundation of it, and to draw away others from it, to plead for their Tolleration in hope of their Converſion, is as much as to proclaime a generall pardon to all malefactours (ſave onelyonly ſuch as ſin againſt the Holy Spirit) for he that is a willfull murtherer and adulterer now, may come to be converted, and die a martyr hereafter.
Truth.
I ſee not why Mr Cotton ſhould paſſe a more charitable cenſure on Pauls Conſcience, then on other Mens profeſſing Conſcience alſo and the feare of God: nor an harder cenſure upon other Men (to wit, that they are convinced, and ſinne againſt their owne Conſcience) more then upon Paul himſelfe: Heard he not that famous powerfull Sermon of Stephen? Saw he not his glorious and moſt heavenly Death? and having ſo much to doe with the Saints, could he otherwiſe chooſe, but heare and ſee many heavenly paſſages tending to his ſoules conviction?
Peace.
Yea why ſhould Mr Cotton pinch upon Apoſtates from the truth of Religion and Seducers? he cannot chooſe but knowOf Apoſtates. how many thouſands and millions of men and women in the world, are Hereticall, Blaſphemers, Seducers, that never yet made profeſſion of that which he accounteth True Religion?
True.
Yea and (to plead thy caſe Deare Peace) why ſhouldFallacious mixture and confuſion. Mr Cotton couple Murtherers and Adulterers with Apoſtates and Seducers? Doth not even the naturall Conſcience and Reaſon of all men put a Difference? Doe not even the moſt bloudie Popes and Cardinalls, Gardiners and Bonners, put a difference between the crimes of Murther, Treaſon, Adulterie (for which although the offendour repent, &c. yet he ſuffers puniſhment) and the crimes of Hereſie, Blaſphemie, &c. which upon Recantation and Confeſſion, are frequently remitted?
Peace.
I remember it was high Treaſon in H. 8. his dayes to deny the Kings ſpirituall Supremacie, as well as to kill his perſon, and yet upon Confeſſion and Recantation we finde, that the very Conſcience of thoſe bloudy men could diſtinguiſh between theſe Treaſons.
Truth.
'Tis true this bloudie Tenent of perſecution was lamentablySpirituall Treaſon recanted, forgiven: but not ſo (by way ofcourſe) the Civill. drunke with bloud in the dayes of that Henry, as well as afterwards in the dayes of his bloudie daughter Marie, and yet in Henry his dayes we finde John Haywood recanting his (ſo cald) Treaſon againſt the Kings Supreamacie in ſpirituall things, and is cleared. When famous and faithfull Cromwell, for words pretended to be ſpoken by him againſt the Kings perſon, muſt pay his noble Head. But to End this Chapter, moſt true it is, thatAn Inſtance from …: Haywood and the Lord Cromwell in King Henry the 8. his dayes. multitudes of people in all parts of bloudie Chriſtendome, and not a few in England in Henry the 7. and Henry the 8. his dayes; have eſcaped with a Recantation and Abjuration, for ſpirituall Treaſons, when principles of Reaſon and Civill Government have taught men, for their common ſafetie, to thinke of other puniſhments for Murtherers, Adulterers, Traytours.