The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 24
Examination of CHAP. XXIV.
Peace.
Still of the Tares.
MAſter Cotton here ſeems to me (with the Familiſts) to confound heaven and earth together, the matters of Worſhip, and Ordinances of Religion, with the affaires and buſineſſes of this life: for ſaith he, ſuch as ſtand for the kingdome of Satan (as all evil men do) they ſtand in oppoſition to the Kingdome of Chriſt.
Truth.
Maſter Cotton is not now to be taught the diſtinction between the church and Commonweale; nor that a national church is not of Chriſt Jeſus his inſtitution: yet as this diſcourſe ſtrongly inclines to erect a national church, ſo doth this preſent anſwer to the confuſion both of Church and Commonweale.
It is true, a covetuous Iew, that blaſphemeth Chriſt Jeſus, ſtands for Satan againſt Chriſt. But by his covetouſneſs in one kinde, as covetouſneſs is oppoſite to Righteouſneſs and contentation, &c. and for Sathan againſt Chriſt in another ſence, thatTwo ſorts of oppoſites to Chriſt Jeſus. is in a Religious and Spiritual ſence, as he prefers Moſes before Chriſt Jeſus, and denies the true Meſſiah to be yet come in the fleſh.
A cruel Turk ſtands for Satan againſt Chriſt, by his cruelty in one ſence, to wit, in oppoſition to Chriſts mercy, gentleneſs, patience, &c. but by his belief in Mahomet, preferring him before Chriſt, he oppoſeth him in his Kingdome and Worſhip.
To come neerer, a drunken Engliſh, Dutch or Frenchman, ſtands for Satan againſt Chriſt, as their drunkenneſs is oppoſite to Chriſts ſobriety, temperance, &c. but againſt Chriſt in another ſence, as they profeſs the wayes of Antichriſtian idolatry and ſuperſtition: And not to obſerve this diſtinction, is (with ſome Familiſts) to run upon quick-ſands of confounding the ſpiritual kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus, his worſhip and ordinances, with the kingdomes of this world, and the common affaires thereof in natural and civil conſideration.
Peace.
But though Chriſt (ſaith Maſter Cotton) ſhould command other offenders to be let alone beſide Antichriſtians, yet he ſhould not contradict any ordinances for the puniſhment of offenders &c. becauſe, ſaith he, No law of God, nor juſt law of man commands the the rooting out of hypocrites, though the church be bound to endeavour (as much as in them lies) to heale their hypocriſie.
Truth.
Hypocriſie diſcovered in the fruit of it, is not to be let alone in the church or State: For neither church of Chriſt nor civil ſtate can long continue ſafe, if hypocrites or traitors (under what pretence ſoever) be permitted to break forth in them, without due puniſhment and rooting out; this hypocriſie being eſpecially that great ſin againſt which Chriſt Ieſus ſo frequently and ſo vehemently inveighed, and againſt which he denounced the ſoreſt of plagues …nd judgements.
Truth.
By whoſe command, and by what meanes and ordinances, by whoſe power and authority, but by the command, meanes and power of Chriſt Jeſus?
And I further aske, If faithful admonition be not one good means of healing, and if that lye not in the churches power; and if the hypocrite after faithful admonition once or twice, ſubmit not to the voice of Chriſt Ieſus, I ask where the Lord Ieſus commandeth to make a ſtop, and not to caſt forth and reject whomſoever wilfully obſtinate?
Peace.
Doubtleſs (dear Truth) many will be apt to ſay Maſter Cotton intends ſecret and cloſe hypocriſie.
Truth.
And I doubt not but himſelf will ſay, That this is not our queſtion, but of known and unmasked hypocriſie, as himſelf hath formerly declared, and ſuch as here he expreſſeth come under ordinances of healing.
Peace.
But further (ſaith Maſter Cotton) it is not true, that Antichriſtians are to be let alone untill the end of the world, Why? Becauſe Chriſt commanded excommunication, &c.
Truth.
I am aſtoniſht, and wonder why Maſter Cotton here ſpeaketh of excommunication, a ſpiritual ordinance of Chriſt Ieſus in his ſpiritual kingdome or city, when the diſpute onelyonly concerns temporal excommunication or cutting off? Let them alone, that is, in civil State?
I wonder alſo how he ſhould imagine the diſcuſſer in this Chapter to affirme, that Antichriſtians are to be let alone in the church unto the end of the world, when it was the very ſcope of his argument in this Chapter, to prove, that the ſpeech of Chriſt Jeſus, [let them alone] muſt needs be underſtood of letting idolaters and Antichriſtians alone in the civil ſtate, and in the world, becauſe otherwiſe, if he had meant, [Let them alone in the church] he ſhould contradict himſelf, who hath appointed meanes for the diſturbing and purging out the corrupt leaven both of perſons and practices out of his church and kingdome.
Peace.
The ſame anſwer indeed will eaſily be returned to his laſt ſuppoſition of any Popiſh ſpirit conſpiring againſt the life of King and Parliament. The whole ſcope of this book profeſſeth, and in this Chapter the diſcuſſer profeſſedly argueth, that Chriſt Jeſus hath appointed that civil offenders againſt the civil ſtate, ought not to be let alone.
But Maſter Cotton adds, If Popiſh Prieſts and Jeſuits be rightly expounded to be the Rivers and fountaines of water, which drive the dead ſea of Antichriſtian pollutions up and down all Nations in Europe, and in ſome caſes are to drink blood; Then are they not to be let alone, but duely ſuppreſt and cut off from conveying up and down idolatrous, heretical and ſeditious wickedneſs, Rev. 16. 4. 7.
Truth.
The expoſition of this Scripture will be further examinedThe rivers and fountaines of blood, Rev. 16. in the ſequel, and found no true expoſition▪ That Rivers and fountaines of water drive the ſea up and down: For rivers and fountaines however they come from the ſalt-water, yet loſe they the ſavour of the ſalt-ſea, and yeeld a ſavour of the earth through which they make their paſſages; and again they run into the ſea, and are themſelves driven up and down, and ſwallowed up in the ſea: Nor will it be found a true expoſition according to Godlineſs and Chriſtianity, which commandeth patience and waiting, not fire and ſword to gaine ſayers and oppoſites: Nor laſtly, will it be found a true expoſition agreeing with Maſter Cottons own profeſſion in ſome paſſage of this book, wherein he holds forth great toleration and gentleneſs to other conſciences, both Engliſh and Barbarians.