The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Appendix
An APPENDIX: To the Cleargie of the foure great Parties (profeſſing the Name of Chriſt Jeſus) in England, Scotland, and Ireland, viz. The Popiſh, Prelaticall, Presbyterian, and Independent.
WORTHY SIRS;
I Have pleaded the Cauſe of your ſeverall and reſpective Conſciences (againſt the bloudie Doctrine of Perſecution) in my former Labours, and in this my preſent Rejoynder to Mr Cotton:
And yet I muſt pray leave without offence to ſay, I have impartially oppos'd and charg'd your Conſciences alſo, ſo farre as Guiltie of that bloudie Doctrine of perſecuting each other for your Conſciences.
You foure have torne the ſeameles Coate of the Son of God The ſeameles Coat of Chriſt Jeſus torne into foure pieces, and the three Nations torne into Thouſands.into foure pieces, and (to ſay nothing of former Times and Tearings) you foure have torne the three Nations into thouſands of pieces and Diſtractions.
The two former of you, the Popiſh and (Proteſtant) Prelaticall, are Brethren: So are the latter, the Presbyterian and Independent: But, oh, how Rara eſt, &c? What Concord, what Love, what pitie hath ever yet appear'd amongſt you, when the providence of the moſt High and onelyonly wiſe hath granted you your Pattents of mutuall and ſucceſſive Dominion and precedencie?
Juſt like two men, whom I have knowne breake out to Blowes and Wraſtling, ſo have the Proteſtant Biſhops fought andThe Battells of the Cleargie. wraſtled with the Popiſh, and the Popiſh with the Proteſtant! The Presbyterian▪ with the Independent, and the Independent with the Presbyterian! And our Chronicles and Experiences have told this Nation, and the World, how he whoſe Turne it is to be brought under, hath ever felt an heavie wrathfull hand of an unbrotherly and unchriſtian perſecutour:
Meane while, what outcries for a Sword, a Sword at any price, All Court the Magiſtrate for his Sword, & his Money.on any Tearmes, wherewith to take finall Revenges, on ſuch their Blaſphemous and Hereticall Adverſaries and Corrivalls?
Hence is it, that the Magiſtrate hath been ſo courted, his perſon adored and Deified, and his Religion magnified and Exalted.
Amongſt the People, ſome have thought and ſaid, How hath the ſhining of the Magiſtrates Money and Sword, out-ſhin'd the Nobilitie of his perſon, or the Chriſtianitie of his Conſcience? For when the perſon changes and Religion too, how groſſely notorious have been the Cleargies Changes alſo? For Inſtance, howFor which, any perſon and Religion hath ſerv'd the Turne. have they Pernified, tack't and turn'd about (as the wind hath blowne) from Poperie to Proteſtaniſme, from Proteſtaniſme to Poperie, and from Poperie to Proteſtaniſme againe, and this within the Compaſſe of about a dozen yeares; as the Purſe and Sword-Bearers were changed, what ever the perſons of thoſe Princes (male or female, Men or Children, or their Conſciences, Popiſh or Proteſtant) were.
Yea, how juſtly in the late Kings book (if his) are the Cleargie The late K. charging his Cleargie, &c.of England charged with horrible breach of Vows and Oaths of canonicall obedience to their Fathers the Biſhops, againſt whom (in the Turne of the Times and the Sword-Bearers) they turned to the Scotch Presbyters, their fathers dreadful Enemies and perſecutours?
Now as to the perſecuting each of other, I confeſſe the Wolfe (the perſecutour,) devoures the Goate, the Swine, yea the veryThe Wolfe in plea with the Lambe, will be alwaies Judge. Fox, and other Creatures, as well as the inoffenſive Sheepe and Lambe? Yet (as the Lord Jeſus made uſe of that excellent Fable or Similitude of a Wolfe getting on a Sheepes-skin, ſo) may I not unſeaſonably make uſe of that of the Wolfe and the poore Lambe coming downe to drinke, upon the ſame Brooke and Streame together: The Wolfe cruell and ſtrong drinks above and aloft: The Lambe innocent and weake, drinks upon the Streame below: The Wolfe queſtions and quarrells the Lambe for corrupting and defiling the Waters: The Lambe (not daring to plead how eaſily the Wolfe drinking higher might transfer Defilement downeward, but) pleads Improbabilitie and Impoſſibilitie, that the waters deſcending could convey defilement upwards: This is the Controverſie, This the plea: But who ſhall judge? Be the Lambe never ſo innocent, his plea never ſo juſt, his Adverſary the Wolfe will be his Judge, and being ſo cruell and ſo ſtrong ſoone teares the Lambe in pieces.
Thus the cruell Beaſt arm'd with the power of the Kings (Revel. 17.) ſits Judge in his owne Quarrels againſt the Lambe, about the drinking at the Waters. And thus (ſayth Mr Cotton) the Judgement ought to paſſe upon the Heretick, not for matter of Conſcience, but for ſinning againſt his Conſcience.
Object. M… ▪ thinks I heare, the great charge againſt the Independent partie to be the great pleaders for Libertie of Conſcience, &c.
Anſw. Oh the horrible Deceipt of the hearts of the ſons of Men! And, what Excellent Phyſick can we preſcribe to others, till our Soule (as Job ſaid) come to be in their ſoules caſes? What need have we to be more vile (with Job) before God, to walke in holy ſence of ſelfe▪ Inſufficiencie, to cry for the bleſſed Leadings of the holy Spirit of God, to guide and leade our Heads and Hearts uprightly?
For (to draw the Curtaine, and let in the Light alittle) doeThe wonderfull Myſterie of Libertie of Conſcience. not all perſecutours themſelves zealouſly plead for Freedome, for Libertie, for MercieMercy to Mens Conſciences, when themſelves are in the Grates, and Pits, and under Hatches?
Doth not Geſ…er tell us of a Gentleman in Germanie, who fitting his Pitfall for Wilde Beaſts, found in the morning a Woman, a Wolfe, and a Fox in three ſeverall Corners, as full ofWhich all perſecutours themſelves (in their turnes) plead for. Feare, and as quiet, and as deſirous of Libertie one as well as another?
Thus bloudie Gardiner and Bonner (priſoners, during King Edwards dayes) yea and that bloudie Queene Mary her ſelfe, all plead the Freedome of their Conſciences. What moſt humble Supplications, and indeed unanſwerable Arguments for Libertie K. Charles and his Chaplains forced to ſubſcribe to Libertie of Conſcience.of Conſcience have the Papiſts (when in Reſtraint) preſented, (and eſpecially) in King James his time? Yea what excellent Subſcriptions to this Soule-Freedome, are interwoven in many paſſages of the late Kings Booke (if his)? Yea and one of his Chaplaines (ſo cald) Doctor Jer. Taylour, what an Everlaſting Monumentall Teſtimony did he publiſh to this Truth, in that his excellent Diſcourſe, of the Libertie of Propheſying? Yea the (formerly) Non-conforming Presbyterian and Independent, Scotch and Engliſh, Old and New, what moſt humble and pious Addreſſes have they made before the whole World, to Princes and Parliaments, for juſt mercy (in true Petitions of Right) to their Conſciences? But, let this preſent Diſcourſe, and Mr Cottons About Twenty years perſecution in New England.Fig-leave Evaſions and Diſtinctions: Let the practices (of the Maſſachuſets) in New England, in twenty yeares perſecution: and this laſt of Mr Clarke, Obadiah Holmes, and others be Examined: Yea let the Independent Miniſters late Propoſalls be waighed, with the double waight of Gods Sanctuary, and it will appeare what Mercy the poore Soules of all Men, and Jeſus Chriſt in any of them, may expect from the very Independents Cleargie themſelves.
Object. But doth not their Propoſalls provide a Libertie to ſuch as feare God, viz. that they may freely preach without an Ordination! and that ſuch as are not free to the publike Aſſemblies may have Libertie to meete in private.
Anſw. It may ſo pleaſe the Father of Lights to ſhew them that their Lines and Modells, and New-Englands Copie alſo (afterThe perſecution of the New and Old Engliſh Independent Cleargie. which they write and penſill,) are but more and more refined Images, whereby to worſhip the Inviſible God: and that ſtill (as before) the Wolfe (the perſecutour) muſt judge of the Lambes drinking!
For inſtance; New Englands Lawes (lately publiſhed in Mr Clarks Narrative) tell us how free it ſhall be for people to gather themſelves into Church-eſtate? how free to chooſe their owne Miniſters? how free to enjoy all the Ordinances of Chriſt Jeſus, &c? But yet, provided, ſo- and ſo (upon the point) that the Civill State muſt judge of the Spirituall, to wit, Whether perſons be▪ fit for Church-eſtate, Whether the Gathering be right, Whether the peoples choice be right, Doctrines right, and what is this in truth, but to ſweare that blaſphemous Oath of Supremacie againe, to the Kings and Queenes and Magiſtrates of this and other Nations in ſtead of the Pope, &c?
Into theſe Priſons, and Cages, doe thoſe (otherwiſe worthy and excellent Men, the) Independents, put all the Children of God, and all the Children of Men in the whole World, and then bid them flie and walke at Libertie (to wit, within the Conjured Circle) ſo far as they pleaſe.
To particularize briefely: When they have in their ſix ſeverall Circuits ejected (according to their Propoſalls) it may beA briefe touch upon the 15 Propoſalls of the (ſo calld) Independent Miniſters. hundreths, it may be thouſands (if impartiall) of Epiſcopall and Presbyterian Miniſters, and that without & againſt their Peoples conſent, to the preſent Diſtreſſing of thouſands, and inraging (through ſuch Soul-oppreſſions) the whole Nation! Then, ſay they, it ſhalbe free for all that be able, &c. to be Preachers, though not ordained, &c. But, provided, that two Miniſters hands (at leaſt,The Independents implicitly and ſilently challenge the power of Ordination. which upon the point, is inſtead of an Ordination) be to their Approbation, &c. Upon this lock any ſhall be free to preach Chriſt Jeſus, upon this point of the Compaſſe (as I may in humble reverence, and with ſorrow ſpeake it) the Spirit of God ſhall be free to breath and operate in the Soules of Men! By this Plummet and Line, Rule and Square, and (ſeeming) Goulden Reede and Meetewand, the Sanctuary muſt be built and meaſured, &c.
But further, if any ſhall be of tender Conſciences, and that the common ſize will not ſerve their foote, if they ſhall thinke the Independents Foundations too weak, or it may be too ſtrong for their weake Beliefe, if they cannot bow downe to their Goulden Image, though of the fineſt and lateſt Edition and Faſhion: Why God forbid they ſhould be forc'd to Church The Danger of pawning ſpirituall Liberties to Civill powers.as others, they ſhall enjoy their Libertie, and meeteapart in private: But, provided, they acquaint the Civill Magiſtrate, that is, as it may fall out (who knows how ſoon?) and too too often hath faln out, the poore Sheepe and Deere of Chriſt muſt take Licence of and betray themſelves unto the pawes and jawes of their Lyon-like perſecutours.
Heare Oh Heavens, give Eare O Earth! What is this but likeThe Dutch Attempts, and the Independents, on their Friends, compared. the Treacherous Dutchmen, who Capitulate of Leagues of Peace and Amitie, with their Neighbour Engliſh, and in the midſt of State Complements (ſome ſay, out of malicious wrath, others ſay twas out of drunken Intoxications at the beſt) thunder out Broad-ſides of Fire and Smoake of perſecution?
Object. Some poſſibly may ſay, Your juſt ſuffring from the Independents in New England makes you ſpeake Revenges againſt them in Old.
Anſw. What I have ſuffred in my Eſtate, Body, Name, Spirit, I hope through helpe from Chriſt, and for his ſake I have deſired to beare with a Spirit of patience and of reſpect and love, even to my perſecutours. As to particulars, I have, and muſt (if God ſo will) further debate them with my truely honoured and beloved Adverſarie Mr Cotton.
But as to you, worthy Sirs, (men of Learning, and men of perſonall Holines many of you) I truely deſire to be far from envying your Honours, pleaſures, and Revenues, from whence the two former Popiſh & Prelaticall are ejected, unto which the two later Presbyterian and Independent are advanced: Nor would IThe Authours deſire as to the Miniſtrie of the Land now poſſeſſed. move a Tongue or pen that any of you now poſſeſſed, ſhould be removed or diſturbed, untill your Conſciences by the holy Spirit of God, or the Conſciences of the people, to whom you ſerve or miniſter, ſhall be otherwayes (then as you are yet) perſwaded.
Much rather would I make another humble plea (and that I believe with all the Reaſon and Juſtice in the World) that ſuchAnd as to that Ejected. who are ejected, undone, impoveriſhed, might ſome way from the State or you receive reliefe and ſuccour: Conſidering, that the very Nations Conſtitution hath occaſioned parents to traine up, & perſons to give themſelves to ſtudies (though in truth, but in a way of Trade & Bargaining, before God) yet, 'tis according to the Cuſtome of the Nation, who ought therefore to ſhare alſo, in the fault of ſuch Prieſts and Miniſters who in all changes are ejected.
I end with humble begging to the Father of Spirits, to perſwadeThe Authour begs three things of God for the Cleargie of England. and poſſeſſe yours with a true ſence of three particulars.
Firſt, of the yoakes of Soule-oppreſſion, which lye upon the necks of moſt of the Inhabitants of the 3 Nations, & of the whole world: as if Chams Curſe from Noah were upon them, Servants of Servants are they, and that in the matters of the Soules Affection unto God, which call for the pureſt Libertie: I confeſſe the World lyes in wickedneſſe, and loveth darkneſſe more thenSoule Bondage the greateſt. light: but why ſhould you helpe on thoſe yoaks, and force them to receive a Doctrine, to pray, to give thanks, &c. without an Heart? yea and (in the many changes and caſes incident) againſt their Heart and Soules Conſent?
Secondly, of the bloudines of that moſt bloudie Doctrine of perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience, with all the Winding Staires and back dores of it, &c. Some profeſſors true and falſe, Sheepe and Goats, are daily found to differ in their Apprehenſions, perſwaſions, profeſſions, and that to Bonds and Death.
What now, ſhall theſe be wrackt, their Soules, their Bodies, their purſes, &c? Yea if they refuſe, deny, oppoſe the Doctrine of Chriſt Jeſus, whether Jewes or Gentiles, why ſhould you call for Fire from Heaven, which ſuits not with Chriſt Jeſus his Spirit The Bloudineſſe of the Bloudie Tenent.or Ends? Why ſhould you compell them to come in, with any other Sword, but that of the Spirit of God, who alone perſwaded Japhet to come into the Tents of Shem, and can in his holy ſeaſon prevaile with Shem to come into the Tents of Japhet?
Thirdly, Of that Biaſs of ſelfe-love which hales and ſwayes our minds to hould ſo faſt this bloudie Tenent: You know it is the Spirit of Love from Chriſt Jeſus, that turns our feete from the Tradition of Fathers, &c. That ſets the Heart and Tongue and Pen and Hands too (as Pauls) day and night to work, ratherLittle of the Spirit of Love from Chriſt Jeſus yet extant, and our ſelfe-love biaſſeth us to Inventions, Traditions, and Doctrines of perſecutions. then the progreſſe and puritie and ſimplicitie of the Crowne of Chriſt Jeſus ſhould be debaſed or hindred.
This Spirit will cauſe you leave (with joy) Benefices, and Biſhopricks, Worlds and Lives for his ſake: the Heights and Depths, Lengths and Breadths, of whoſe Love you know doth infinitely paſſe your moſt knowing Comprehenſions and Imaginations. There is but little of this Spirit extant, I feare will not be, untill we ſee Chriſt Jeſus ſlaine in the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes: Then Joſeph will goe boldly unto Pilate for the ſlaughtered bodie of moſt precious Saviour: and Nicodemus, will goe by day, to buy and beſtow his ſweeteſt ſpices, on his infinitly ſweeter Soules beloved. The full breathings of that heavenly Spirit, unfeinedly and heartily wiſheth you,
Your moſt unworthy Countriman, R. Williams.
FINIS.