The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 11 – Chapter 13
Examination of CHAP. XI.
Peace.
IN this Chapter Maſter Cotton takes himſelf wronged, that he ſhould be thought to lay this down, as a concluſion, viz. that it is not lawful to perſecute Ieſus Chriſt.
Truth.
What difference is there in ſaying, It is not lawful to perſecute a conſcience rightly informed, and to ſay, It is not lawful to perſecute Chriſt Ieſus; was it not all one in effect for Chriſt to ſay, Take up thy bed and walk, as to ſay, Thy ſins are forgiven thee?
Peace.
He adds, It is no matter of wonder to lay down the principles of Religion for a proof, as Gamaliel did.
Truth.
Who ſees not a vaſt difference between Maſter Cottons and Gamaliels ſpeech? Gamaliel ſpeaks of that particular controverſie concerning Chriſts perſon and profeſſion, which the Iews ſo gainſayed and perſecuted. Gamaliel fitly aggravatethAn over-ruling finger of God, ordering Master Cotton to alleadge Gamaliel, ſure he had forgotten Maſter John Goodwins excellent labour in his foreign or fighting against God. their oppoſition by the danger of their courſe, if poſſibly it might prove to be the Truth, which they perſecuted. Maſter Cotton is to lay down not a particular anſwer, but general concluſions; and notwithſtanding that in the courſe of his Book he maintaines ſuch and ſuch perſecution, yet he layes this down as his firſt concluſion: It is not lawful to perſecute a conſcience rightly informed, that is, Chriſt Ieſus in his Truths and Servants; and that, I ſay never perſecutor profeſſed to do without a Maske or covering.
Peace.
What of that ſaith Maſter Cotton, for although they do not perſecute Chriſt as Chriſt, yet they do it, and it is no matter of wonder to tell them as Chriſt tells Paul, It is not lawful for them ſo to do.
Truth.
Doubtleſs whatever perſecutors profeſs, and what Apologies ſoever they make in all the particular caſes for which Gods ſervants are perſecuted; yet the Saints of God have dealt faithfully to tell Perſecuters that they perſecute Chriſt himſelf, and to breath out the fire of Gods judgements againſt them, even out of their own mouth.
But what is this to a concluſion laid down? for ſo Chriſt laid not down his expoſtulation with Paul as a concluſion, as Maſter Cotton doth by way of teaching, but as a conviction, by way of reproofe.
Peace.
Yet perſecutors (ſaith he) have perſecuted Chriſt as Chriſt; for the Scribes and Phariſes ſaid, This is the heir, come, let us kill him: and Iulian perſecuted Ieſus as Ieſus: And if a Chriſtian in Turkie ſhall ſeek to gaine a Turke to Chriſtianity, they will perſecute ſuch a Christian, and in him Ieſus as Ieſus.
Truth.
It is ſaid Acts 3. that the Iews perſecuted Chriſt out of ignorance; for though they had ſufficient knowledge to convinceChriſt Jeſus never perſecuted as Christ but as a deceiver, braſphemer, ſeduced. them, yet did they not perſecute Chriſt out of a clearely convinced conſcience, for then it could not be out of ignorance. And yet it was ſufficient, that ſo great a power of Gods Spirit appeared in the evidence of Chriſts works, as to make their ſin to be againſt the Spirit of God: yet had they their mask and covering (as is evident:) For, this is not the true Chriſt or Meſſiah, ſay they, but a deceiver, a witch, working by the power of the devil, a blaſphemer, a ſeducer, a Traitor, &c.
Againe, although wretched Iulian perſecuted the very name of Chriſt and Ieſus (whom formerly he had acknowledged and profeſſed) Yet was it ſtill under a mask or covering, to wit, that he was not the true Son of God, nor his worſhip the Truth, but his Roman gods were true &c. And the ſame ſay the Turkes in perſecuting Chriſtians, and in them Chriſt Ieſus as a… Prophet inferiour to their onelyonly great and true Prophet Mahomet.
And laſtly, neither Scribes, nor Phariſees, nor Iulian, nor Turkes did or do perſecute Chriſt Ieſus otherwiſe then as they were and are bound ſo to do by Maſter Cottons doctrine, as ſhall further appear, notwithſtanding his plea, that ſuch Magiſtrates muſt forbeare to puniſh untill they be better informed.
Peace.
But let tyrants and perſecutors profeſs what they will (ſaith Maſter Cotton,) yet this varieth not the truth, nor impeacheth the wiſdome of the concluſion.
Truth.
Sweet peace, how can I here chuſe, but in the firſtCant. 5. I ſleep yet my heart waketh. place obſerve that great myſtery of the waking ſleep of the moſt precious ſervants of the moſt high God, in the affaires of his worſhip; and the Kingdome of his dear Son? Awake; for what fiery cenſures juſtly poureth forth this our excellent Adverſarie againſt the oppreſſours of conſcience, entituling them with the names of tyrants and perſecutors, notwithſtanding their vaine profeſſions, pretences, apologies and pleas for their tyranny and Bloodſhed? Againe, how faſt aſleep, in his ſo zealous pleading for the greateſt tyranny in the world (throughout his whole book) though painted and waſhed over with faire pretences &c?
2. He granteth upon the point the truth, which was affirmed, and he denyed, to wit, that no perſecutor of Chriſt ever perſecuted him as the Son of God▪ as Ieſus▪ but under ſome mask or covering as thouſands of black and bloody clouds of perſecuting witneſſes in this caſe moſt lamentably make it evident and apparent.
Peace.
Maſter Cottons next charge is very heavy againſt the diſcuſſer, for exalting himſelf above God in the diſcerning of Maſter Cottons fellowſhip with perſecutors, notwithſtanding his profeſſion againſt ſuch perſecution.
Truth.
The Lord Jeſus ſaw in the Iews ſuch a contrariety between their profeſſions and practiſes (even in this caſe of perſecution) Mat. 23.
2. Himſelf in effect, but even now, ſaid the ſame of all perſecutors: What ever pretences they make, ſaith he▪ and they will pretend great things of love to Chriſt, and kiſs him ten thouſandA deep mystery in perſecution. times, when treaſons and ſlaughters are is in their courſes. And will Maſter Cotton ſay that Chriſt Ieſus exalted himſelf above God, inſpying out ſo great a myſtery? It is no new thing, that Maſter Cotton ſhould be apt to ſay with David. That man that hath done this thing ſhall die, not duely conſidering and pondering that our ſelves are ſons of blood, and children of death, condemned by our own mouth, if the righteous Iudge of the whole world ſhould deal ſeverely with us.
Peace.
But Maſter Cotton (for a cloſe of this Chapter) complaines of his own ſuffering of bitter perſecution, and the Lord Ieſus in him, being unjuſtly ſlandered, except the diſcuſſer can prove, that any doctrine of his tendeth to perſecute any of the ſervants of Chriſt.
Truth.
Let a mans doctrine and practiſe be his witneſſes, and let every ſoul judge in the fear of God, whether the doctrine of this Book maintaining ſuch and ſuch a perſecution to be an holy truth waſh'd white in the blood of the Lamb, agree not lamentably with all their impriſonings, baniſhings &c. inflicted upon ſo many ſeveral ſorts of their own countrimen friends and brethren in the wilderneſs, for matter of Religion and conſcience; amongſt which the Lord Jeſus will be heard at laſt to have ſaid, Why perſecuteſt thou me? why baniſheſt and whippeſt thou me▪ &c?
2. Will not all perſecuting prelates, Popes &c. take heart from hence (according to their ſeveral religions and conſciences) to perſecute the heretick, blaſphemer, ſeducer &c. although they all will ſay with Maſter Cotton, It is not lawful to perſecute a conſcience rightly informed, that is, Chriſt Jeſus in his truths or ſervants?
Peace.
But the diſcuſſer (ſaith Maſter Cotton) is a bitter perſecutor, in ſlandering him, and Chriſt Jeſus in him, for a perſecutor.
Truth.
I ſee not but Maſter Cotton (though of Davids ſpirit) may be guilty of Sauls lamentable complaint, that David perſecuted him, and that he could finde none to pity him? Who knows not that all and our own Popiſh Biſhops in Queen Maries, yeaWolves complaining that the ſheep perſecute them. and of late times our Proteſtant Biſhops againſt the non-conformiſts have been wont to cry out, what bitter perſecution themſelves have ſuffered from the ſlanderous cenſures and reproaches of the ſervants of Chriſt Jeſus againſt them? Who yet have ſhot no other arrowes at them but the faithful declarations and diſcoveries of Gods holy truth, and the evil of the oppoſing and perſecuting of it, and the profeſſors of it? And how neer will Maſter Cotton be found to cloſe with that late bloody Woolfe (ſo far as his chaine reached) Biſhop Laud, who being an inſtrument of the bloody hunting and worrying of thoſe three famous witneſſes of Chriſt, Maſter Prin, Maſter Baſtwick, and Maſter Burton; yet at their publike ſentence in the Star-chamber, he lamentably complained that thoſe poor Lambs did bark and bite him with unjuſt reproaches, ſlanders, &c,
Examination of CHAP. XII.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton here firſt complaineth that his words are miſreported concerning the puniſhment of the heretick after once or twice admonition, Tit. 3. 10.
Truth.
I deſire that others may judge in three particulars.
Firſt, whether the ſumm and pith of the words are not rendred.
2. Whether this Titus 3. was brought by Maſter Cotton to prove (as is now pretended) that an Heretick might be perſecuted with an excommunication after once or twice admonition: or whether the queſtion be not of another kind of perſecution.
3. Whether that Tit. 3. 11. do hold forth, That although a man be a heretick, blaſphemer, ſeducer, he may be puniſhed with a Civil or corporeal puniſhment, yea though he ſin againſt his own conſcience.
I add a fourth, whether indeed (as Maſter Cotton intimates) the diſcuſſer makes this Tit. 3, a refuge for hereticks. Great ſound and noiſe makes this word heretick, heretick. I dare appeal toThe blood of the ſouls under the Altar is a ſealed myſtery, Rev. 6. Maſter Cottons conſcience and memory, whether the reading of hiſtories, and the experience of time will not evince and prove, that hereticks and Chriſtians, hereticks and Martyrs (or witneſſes of Chriſt) have not been the ſame men and women: I ſay againe, that ſuch as have been ordinarily and commonly accounted and perſecuted for hereticks, have been the ſervants of the moſt high God, and the followers and witneſſes of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Peace.
You know (dear truth) the catalogues of hereſies and hereticks extant &c.
Truth.
Grant it (ſweet peace) that ſome in all times have ſuffered for erroneous conſcience. Yet I dare challenge the father ofA challenge to the devil himſelf. lies himſelf to diſprove this aſſertion, That the moſt of ſuch (beyond all compariſon) that have ever ſuffered in this world for hereticks, have been the diſciples and followers of Chriſt Jeſus. And on that not only the Lions, Leopards, the Bears, Woolves, and Tygers (the bloody Pharoahs, Sauls, Herods, Neroes, Popes, Prelates &c.) ſhould fetch from hence, their perſecuting arrows andAll Antichriſtian … perſecutors make Tit. 3. their den and Fortreſs. commiſſions, but that even the Davids, the men after Gods own heart, the Aſa's (whoſe hearts are perfect with God) that ſuch as are the ſheep and lambs of Chriſt, ſhould be ſo monſtrouſly changed and transformed into lyons, beares, &c. yea and ſhould flie to this holy Scripture of Tit. 3. for this their unnatural and monſtrous change and transformation.
Examination of CHAP. XIII.
Peace.
IN this 13 Chapter, dear truth, you argue the great miſtake of the world in their common clamour, an heretick, an heretick, aTit. 3. Diſcuſſed. perſon obſtinate in fundamentals; and you prove that this word heretick intends no more then a perſon obſtinate againſt the admonitions of the Lord, although in leſſer matters: upon this Maſter Cotton concludes in this 13 Chapter, that the diſcuſſer gives a larger allowance for proceeding againſt erroneous perſons then himſelf did.
Truth.
I muſt deny that the diſcuſſer gives a larger allowance then Maſter Cotton, or any at all, that the hereticks or obſtinate perſon ſhould be dealt withall by the Civil Magiſtrates of Crete, but onelyonly by the ſpiritual power of the Lord Jeſus.
1. For firſt, What though I granted that an obſtinate perſon, contending about Genealogies, ought not to be ſuffered, but after once or twice admonition ought to be rejected? And,
2. What though I grant that after ſuch faithful admonitions once or twice, he cannot but be condemned of himſelf? yet according to his third anſwer, how will it appear that I grant, that an heretick is rightly defined to be one obſtinate in fundamentals, when I maintaine, and Maſter Cotton ſeemeth to grant, that the heretick may be ſuch an one as is obſtinate in leſſer points and practiſes?
3. Further, let the word foreign imply an overturning, yet will it not follow, that therefore an heretick is he, who is wilfully obſtinate, in holding forth ſuch errors as ſubvert the foundation of the Chriſtian religion: For however that Maſter Cotton ſaith, That ſuch diſputes may tend to overthrow Chriſtianity, yet that is but in remote poſſibility, as the prick of a finger may kill the heart, if it ranckle and feſter, and ſo go on from member to member without means applyed: yet this cannot be ſaid to be a mortal wound at firſt. So is it in the body of Chriſt.
Peace.
The Apoſtle diſcourſing of meats and drinks, of eating and drinking with offence, calls an offenſive eating a deſtruction of the ſoul for which Christ died▪ and yet I ſuppoſe he will not ſay that that difference was a fundamental difference.
Truth.
It hath been a groſs and barbarous miſtake of the monopolizers of learning, both divine and humane, The Clergy both of Popiſh and Proteſtant factions and worſhips: And howThe horrible abuſing and profaning of that word Heretick. Great ſins of Gods own children. many are the thouſands of millions of abuſes, prophanations and blaſphemies againſt the God of heaven in all (the Antichriſtian) Chriſtendome, in all preachings, writings, proceedings, and proceſſes, touching this name heretick, hereſie, &c? By the impartial cenſure of the Lord, he is an heretick, who wilfully perſiſts in any ſinful doctrine againſt the due admonitions of the Lord; for every bit and parcell of leaven is to be purged out of the houſe of God, as well as the greater and fundamentall lumps.