The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 16
Examination of CHAP. XVI.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton here grants a toleration to Jews, Turkes, Pagans, yea and Antichriſtians, with one exception, to wit, ſo that they continue not to ſeduce &c.
Truth.
But it muſt be remembred, that before and after he maintaines perſecution againſt Apoſtates, blaſphemers, and idolatours, and then who knows not how all theſe four ſorts, Jews, Turkes, Pagans, and Antichriſtians, are full of blaſphemy and idolatry? Now in caſe rhey ſeduce not, they are to be perſecuted as idolaters and blaſphemers, how then are they to be tolerated?
Peace.
It could not be (had not this holy man been catcht with ſipping at the bloody cup of the great whore) that Maſter Cottons affirmations and doctrines ſhould thus quarrel among themſelves.
But further, I ſee not the equality of his yoaking the Oxe and the Aſſe together, when he further coupleth ſeducing of people into worſhip of falſe Gods, confidence of a mans own merit, &c. (which are ſpiritual matters) with ſeducing into ſeditions conſpiracies againſt the lives and eſtates of ſuch Princes as will not ſubmit their conſcience to the Biſhop of Rome.
Truth.
Your obſervation (dear peace) is ſeaſonable; the former are meer Religious and ſpiritual, the latter are meerly civil, againſt which the civil ſtate is bound to defend it ſelf with civil weapons.
Peace.
In the next place Maſter Cotton chargeth the diſcuſſer with want of reaſon truth, and candor, for obſerving how unfitly thoſe Scriptures of Phil. 3. Rom. 14. are produced to prove a tolleration of leſſer errors: And he affirmes, that he never intended, that what the Churches might not tolerate, the Cities might not, &c.
Truth.
The point is tolerating or perſecuting by the civil ſtate; whatever therefore be Maſter Cottons intentions, it is apparant, unleſs the Cities and Churches of Rome and Philippi beExamination of Phil. 3. and Rom. 14. confounded together (as commonly they are in caſe of perſecution) I ſay it is then apparent that there is no Scripture brought for the civil ſtate its tolerating of points of leſſer moment, nor are theſe Scriptures brought to any purpoſe in hand, but prophaned.
Peace.
But obſerve his Argument, The civil ſtate tollerates petty theeves and lyers, to live in Towns, Cities &c.
Truth.
No well ordered State or City can ſuffer petty Theeves and lyers without ſome puniſhment, and we know how ſeverely in the State of England, even theeves have been puniſhed evenVery ſevere, but not Chriſtian, more then Judaical puniſhment of Theeves in England. with death it ſelf; but Maſter Cotton is againſt ſuch cruelty, for he pleades for tollerating of leſſer errors, even in points of Religion and worſhip.
2. If tollerating of leſſer errours be granted upon this ground, viz. till God may be pleaſed to manifeſt his truth; is not the ſame a ground for tollerating of greater, as the holy ſpirit of God argues 2 Tim. 2. trying if God may be pleaſed to give repentance?
Peace.
Yea but (ſaith he) the greater will infect, and ſo is more dangerous, and the tolleration is the more unmerciful and cruel to the ſouls of many.
Truth.
Lyars and Theeves infect alſo, even the Civil ſtate, and a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe, and therefore as the Commonweal ought not upon that ground to tollerate petty theeves and lyars, ſo hath Chriſt Jeſus provided in his holy kingdom and City againſt leſſer evils, and upon this ground, that a little leaven will leaven the whole lumpe. But yet Chriſt Jeſus hath not ſpoken (where he gives command for this thing to the Corinthians or Galatians, that ſuch perſons ſo leavened, ſhould (together with their being put out of the Church for obſtinacy in a little leaven) be put out of the world or civil ſtate: (The one (the Church (being his Garden, the other, the Commonweal, being the high wayes, Field, &c. the proper place for men as men to abide in.)