The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 33
Examination of CHAP. XXXIII.
Peace.
THe entrance of this Chapter (dear truth) looks in mine eye like one of the bloody fathers of the inquiſition, and breaths (like Paul in his mad zeal and frenzy) ſlaughters againſt the Son of God himſelf, though under the name or brand of a ſeducer, as all perſecutors have ever done: For (ſaith Maſter Cotton) he that corrupteth a ſoul with a corrupt religion layeth a ſpreading leaven Touching the ſeducer.which corrupteth a ſtate, as Michals idolatry corrupted Laiſh▪ Judg. 19. and that Apoſtacy was the captivity of the land; and the worſhipping of images brought the plague of the Turkes, and therefore it is lex talionis, that calleth for not only ſoul for ſoul, but life for life.
Truth.
Thy tender braine and heart cannot let flie an arrow ſharpe enough to pierce the bowels of ſuch a Bloody Tenent.
Peace.
The flaming jealouſie of that moſt holy and righteous Judge, who is a conſuming fire, will not ever hear ſuch Tenents, and behold ſuch practices in ſilence.
Truth.
Sweet peace, long and long may the Almond-tree flouriſh on Maſter Cottons head in the armes of true Chriſtianity and true Chriſtian honour; And let New-Englands Colonies flouriſh alſo (if Chriſt ſo pleaſe) untill he come againe the ſecond time: But that he who is love it ſelf, would pleaſe to tell Maſter Cotton and the Colonies, and the world, the untrueneſs, uncharitableneſs, numercifulneſs, and unpeaceableneſs of ſuch concluſions▪ For is not this the plaine, Engliſh and the bottome, to wit, If the ſpirit of Chriſt Jeſus in any of his ſervants, ſons o… daughters, witneſſing againſt the abominations or ſtinks of Antichriſt, ſhall perſwade one ſoul, man or woman, to fear God, to come out of Babell &c. to refuſe to bow down to, and to come out from communion with a ſtate-golden-image, and not to touch what it is perſwaded is an unclean thing.
That man or woman who was the Lambs and the Spirits inſtruments thus to inlighten and perſwade one ſoul, he hath (ſaithOf ſeducing. this tenent) laid a leaven, which corrupteth the ſtate, that is, the laud, town, city, kingdome, or Empire of the world; that leaven ſhall bring the captivity, ruine and deſtruction of the ſtate, and therefore Lex Talionis, not only ſoul for ſoul in the next, but life for life alſo in this preſent world.
Peace.
All thy witneſſes (dear truth) in all ages have borne the brand and black mark of ſeducers, and ſtill ſhall, even Chriſt Jeſus himſelf, to the laſt of his holy army and followers againſt his enemies.
Truth.
How famous, or rather abominably infamous hath been the practice of all perſecutors this way? I ſhall pick out one inſtance, a very ſtinking weed out of Babels deſart (to let paſs all the bloody, bulls and their roarings and threatning of Councels, Popes and Emperors, Kings, Biſhops, Commiſſaries &c. againſt the Waldenſians, Wicklevia…s, the Huſſites, Hugonites, Lutheraus, Calviniſts &c.) their infections and ſeducings. To let paſs former and latter perſecutions in our own Engliſh Nation, which hath been (as France, Spaine, Italy, Low-countries, &c. alſo) a ſlaughter-houſe of Chriſts lambs; one inſtance more pertinent then many, we have (in the raigne of that wiſe and mighty prince Henry the eighth) of bloody Longland, Lincolnes Biſhop, acting to the life Maſter Cottons Tenent againſt ſeducers throughout his Dioceſs. What oaths did he exact? what articles did he invent,Biſhop Longlands ſubtle Oaths of inquiſition. to find out the meetings the conventicles, the conferences, of any poor ſervants of God, men and women, day or night; whether the father read to the child, or the childe to the father, the husband to the wife, or the wife to the husband? Yea, whether they ſpake any thing (though never ſo little) out of any line of holy Scriptures, or any of Wickliffes books, or any good Engliſh writings: By which abhorred practices, the fathers (caught in this bloody Biſhops oath, vehemently forced upon all ſuſpected) the fathers, I ſay were forced to accuſe and betray their children, the children their fathers, husbands their wives, wives their husbands, for fear of horrible death on the one ſide, or elſe of running upon the rocks of Perjury on the other ſide.
Peace.
Hold (dear truth) and ſtop; my ſpirit is wounded with ſuch relations.
Truth.
O how were the Saints, and Chriſt Jeſus in them, wounded with ſuch tenents and practices!
Peace.
Maſter Cotton will ſalve this up (with what he elſewhere ſaith) thus: Longlands, and the Papiſts religion, and the religion of England, was then falſe in that kings time.
Truth,
What then? No pious and ſober man can hold all m…n devoid of conſcience to God, except himſelf. In all religions, ſects, and conſciences, the ſons of men are more or leſs zealous and preciſe, though it be in falſhood.
2. But let it be granted, that the religion perſecuted is falſe, and that a falſe religion like leaven, will ſpread, as did this idolatry of Michal, Jeroboam, and others; and grant that this idolatry will bring judgements from heaven in the end, yet I deſire Maſter Cotton, or any knowing man, to anſwer to theſe two queſtions.
1. Where finde we, ſince the comming of Chriſt Jeſus, a land like Canaan, a ſtate-religion, a City, or Town-religion, wherein the Townes, or Cities, or kingdomes apoſtacie may be feared (as Maſter Cotton here writes of L…ſh) and conſequently the Townes or Cities captivity for that ſin?
2. Where read we of the deſtruction of a land for idolatry, or images, without a ripeneſs in other ſins, and eſpecially of violence and oppreſſion (of which perſecution is the greateſt?) And therefore to follow Maſter Cottons inſtance of the Turks beſide idolatry Canſes of destruction to a Nation.(which ſaith Maſter Cotton brought the plague of the Turks, Rev. 9.) read we not alſo in that Scripture, and in all hiſtories, of their deteſtable and wonderful whoredomes, witchcrafts, thefts, ſlaughters, and murthers, amongſt which this bloody Tenent of perſecution was ever in moſt high eſteem? &c.
Peace.
Indeed B… hath been filled with blood of all ſorts R…lations the 18. but in eſpecial manner hath the wh…re been drunk with the blood of the Saints, and witneſſes of Jeſus, Revel. 17.
Truth.
Hence then not idolatry onelyonly, but that bloody doctrine of perſecution (the great fire-brand and incendiary of all Nations and Commonweals) brought in the bloody Turkes to revenge Gods truth and witneſſes ſlaine by the idolatrous and bloody Antichriſtians.
Peace.
I ſomething queſtion, that it can be proved, that the moſt righteous Judge of the whole world ever deſtroyed ſtate or nation for idolatry; but where this bloody doctrine of perſecution was joyned with it, that is, until he had graciouſly ſent witneſſes againſt ſuch idolatries, and till ſuch witneſſes were deſpiſed and perſecuted, and therefore here comes in ſeaſonably the ſad exprobration of the Lord Jeſus, againſt Jeruſalem, threatning the ruine and deſolation of it, Oh Ieruſalem, Ieruſalem, which killeſt the Prophets; and ſtoneſt them which were ſent unto thee &c!
Truth.
I add laſtly, Let it be granted that a ſoul is corrupted with a falſe religion, and that that falſe Religion, like a leaven, in time hath corrupted the ſtate;
Yet firſt, that ſtate or land is none elſe but a part of the world, and if ſo (ſince every part more or leſs in degree follows the natureAll nations Cities, Towns, &c. are part of the world. of the whole) it is but natural, and ſo lieth as the whole world doth in wickedneſs; and ſo, as a ſtate or part of the world, cannot but alter from one falſe way or path to another (upon this ſuppoſition (as before) that no whole ſtate, kingdome, City, or Town is Chriſtian in the new Teſtament.
Secondly, Grant this ſtate to be ſo corrupted or altered from one corrupt religion to another, yet that ſtate may many ages enjoy civil peace and worldly proſperity, as all hiſtories and experience teſtifies.
Thirdly, That idolatry may be rooted out, and another idolatrous religion of the conquerer (as in the Ro…a…e and other conqueſts)Change of Religions. brought: in or the religion may be changed ſomething to the better▪ by the coming of new Princes to the crown, as we ſee in Henry the eighth, King Edward, and Queen Elizabeth, in our own Nation, and of late times▪
Laſtly, A ſoul o… ſouls thus leavened, may be reduced by repentance (as often it pleaſeth God ſo to work, why then ſhould there (as Maſter Cotton intimates) ſuch a peremptory bloody ſentence be thundred out as life for life, &c.
Peace.
But, ſaith Maſter Cotton, falſe prophets, in the old Teſtament, were to die, but for attempting; and the reaſon was not from any typical holineſs of the land, but from the dangerous wickedneſs of the attempting to thruſt away a ſoul from God, which is a greater injury, then to deprive a man of bodily life.
Truth.
The reaſon to me appears plainly typical, with reſpect to that holy nation, and the ſeducers ſeeking to turn the ſoul away from the Lord their God, who had brought them forth from the land of Egypt, by ſuch ſignes, miracles, &c. Let Maſter Cotton The ſtate of Iſrael unparlleld.now produce any ſuch nation in the whole world, whom God in the New Teſtament hath literally and miraculouſly brought forth of Egypt, or from one land into another, to the truth and purity of his worſhip, &c. then far be it, but I ſhould acknowledge that the ſeducer is fit to be put to death. But draw away the curtaine of the ſhadow, and let the ſubſtance appear, not a whole Nation, City, &c. but the Chriſtian church, brought by ſpiritual ſignes and wonders from the Egypt of this world in all nations of theThe puniſhments of Chriſt ſorer then the puniſhments of Moſes. world, where the Goſpel comes. Juſtly therefore he that ſeduceth a ſoul from his God in Chriſt, and ſo endangereth to leaven that only true Chriſtian ſtate or kingdome the church of Chriſt, he ought to die (upon his obſtinacy) without mercy, as well under Chriſt, as under Moſes. Yea, he is worthy of a ſorer puniſhment (as ſaith the Spirit of God) who trampleth under feet the blood of Chriſt: ſuch a deceiver or ſeducer (except he repent) is to be cut from the preſence of the Lord, and to loſe an eternal life: He that is cut off from material Iſrael, might yet repent and live eternally, but he that is cut off from myſtical Iſrael under the Goſpel, that is, for obſtinacy in ſin (the proper hereticke) he is cut off to all eternity; which puniſhment as it is infinitely tranſcendent and more dreadful in the nature and kind of it, ſo anſwereth it fully and infinitely that clauſe of Maſter Cotton, to wit, To thruſt a ſoul from God is a greater injury then to deprive a man of his bodily life.
Peace.
Now whereas the diſcuſſer added, That dead men cannot die, nor be infected with falſe doctrine, and ſuch is the State of all men, all nations, all the world over, until the life of Chriſt Jeſus quicken them; Maſter Cotten replies,
Firſt, Dead men may be made worſe, and more the children of hell then before, Mat. 23. and therefore ſuch as ſo corrupt them, are worthy in a way of due proceeding of a twofold death.
Secondly, Such as profeſs the truth of the doctrine and worſhip of Chriſt, they live a kind of ſpiritual life, though not ſuch as accompany ſalvation, elſe how are falſe teachers, and ſuch as are led by them, ſaid to be twice dead, pluckt up by the roots, Jud. 12.
Truth.
Dead men may be made worſe, that is, more to rot and ſtink; yet this is no taking away of any life. And therefore there is no proportionable reaſon, why the ſeducers ſhould ſuffer a temporal death, having neither taken away ſpiritual nor natural life; Of Seducing.only thus he may be juſtly liable to a ſpiritual death, for endeavouring to hinder a ſpiritual life, by furthering any in their natural ſtate of ſpiritual death.
2. For that place of Iude, Maſter Cotton knows that Beza What meant by twice dead.propounds two ſenſes.
Firſt, Twice dead, that is a certaine number for an uncertaine.
Secondly, This ſence urged by Maſter Cotton, which if it be to be admitted, yet is it but in appearance, as his life which in hypocriſie he profeſſed, was but in ſhew and appearance, he being never raiſed up from the ſpiritual death to a ſpiritual life, and therefore really never ſuffered the loſs of a ſpiritual life, which he never had: And yet as in typical Iſrael, it ſtood with Gods juſtice to take away the life of the ſeducer, which ſeduced an Iſraelite from the God of Iſrael, or but attempted to do it: ſo ſtands it with the holy juſtice of God, to cut him off eternally, who but attempteth to take away or hinders the ſpiritual and eternal life of any.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton in the next place preſumes on advantage that the diſcuſſer ſhould ſay, that none are infected with natural plagues or ſpiritual, but ſuch are thereto appointed, &c.
Truth.
It is plaine that the diſcuſſer alleadged not that, to diminiſh or leſſen ſin (let it have its due aggravation) but as was ſaid before in caſe of the not final deceiving of the elect, ſo was it here ſpoken not to derogate f…om Gods meanes and remedies againſt natural or ſpiritual infection, but to abate the needleſs feares of men, who are apt to cry out, Except the civil ſword be drawn (and ſo therewith the world ſet together by the eares) the world cannot be preſerved from infection.
Peace.
Whereas the diſcuſſer had affirmed, that Chriſt Jeſus had not left his people deſtitute of ſpiritual means againſt ſpiritual infections; This is true (ſaith Maſter Cotton) but it falleth out ſometimes, that when the church hath caſt out an heretick, yet he may deſtroy the faith of many, as did Hymeneus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2. 17.) and if the Magiſtrates ſword do here ruſt, &c. ſuch leaven may leaven the whole country &c. as Arrianiſme leavened the world by Conſtantines indulgence.
Againe, ſaith he, it may be the heretick was never a member of the church; how then ſhall the church do?
Truth.
Who can marvel at this, that the dunghill of this world, worldly men under the power of Satan, unto whom the obſtinate perſon the heretick is caſt, I ſay, that they, many of them, receive worldly doctrine, which the church as filth caſts out? &c.
2. As Paul ſaith concerning the ſalvation of Gods children: Let the world periſh, yet the foundation of God remaineth ſure, he knows who are his, and how to provide meanes to ſave them, though the world ſtill act it ſelf, wallowing and tumblingOf Infection. (like Swine) in one puddle of wickedneſs after another.
3. Maſter Cotton ſhould read a little further in the ſame Scripture quoted by him, where he finds not a tittle of Pauls directing Timothy to ſtir up the ſecular power (as the Pope ſpeakes) to cut off Hymeneus and Philetus, to prevent infection; but tels him, that the ſervants of God muſt not ſtrive, but muſt quiet themſelves with patience, waiting if peradventure God will pleaſe to give repentance.
Peace.
Methinks this Anſwer may alſo …ully ſatisfie his ſecond ſuppoſition▪ to wit, if that the heretick was never of the church.
Truth.
Yea what hath the church to do (that is, judicially) with him that is without? and what hath the civil ſtate to judge him for who in civil matters hath not tranſgreſt? In vaine therefore doth Maſter Cotton ſuggeſt a perſecuting or hunting after the ſouls or lives of ſuch, as being caſt out of the church, keep private conventicles &c.
Peace.
How grievous is this language of Maſter Cotton, as if he had been nouriſhed in the chappels and cloiſters of perſecuting prelates▪ and prieſts, the Scribes and Phariſees? As if he never had heard of Jeſus Chriſt in truth and meekneſs: For ſurely (as the diſcuſſer obſerved) Chriſt Jeſus never appointed the civil ſword an Antidote or remedy in ſuch a caſe, notwithſtanding Maſter Cotton replies that the civil ſword was appointed a remedy in this caſe, by Moſes, not Chriſt, Deut. 13.
Truth.
Moſes in the old Teſtament was Chriſts ſervant, yet Moſes being but a ſervant, diſpenſed his power by carnal rites and ceremonies, laws, rewards and puniſhments in that holy nation, and that one land of Canaan: But when the Lord Jeſus the Son and Lord himſelf was come, to bring the truth, and life, and ſubſtance of all thoſe ſhadowes, to break down the partition-wall between Jew and Gentile, and to eſtabliſh the Christian worſhip and kingdome in all Nations of the world, Maſter Cotton will never prove from any of the books and inſtitutions of the New Teſtament, that unto thoſe ſpiritual remedies appointed by Chriſt Jeſus againſt ſpiritual maladies, he added the help of the carnal ſword.
Peace.
But Chriſt (ſaith Maſter Cotton) never abrogated the carnal ſword in the new, which he appointed in the old Teſtament, and the reaſon of the law, to wit, an offence of thruſting away from the Lord, is perpetual.
Truth.
If it appear (as evidently it doth) that this king (Jeſus the King of Iſrael, wears his ſword (the Antitype of the Kings of Iſrael their ſwords) in his mouth, being a ſharpe two-edgedThe ſword of typical Iſrael a type of Chriſts ſpiritual ſword. ſword, then the anſwer is as clear as the Sun, that ſcatters the clouds and darkeneſs of the night.
Beſides, Maſter Cotton needs not flie to the Popes argument for childrens baptiſme, to wit, to ſay that Chriſt never abrogated D…. 13. therefore, &c. For Maſter Cotton knows the profeſſion of the Lord Jeſus, Iohn 18. that his kingdome was not earththly, and therefore his ſword cannot be earthly: Maſter Cotton knows that Chriſt Ieſus commanded a ſword to be put up when it was drawn in the cauſe of Chriſt, and addeth a dreadful threatning, that all that take the ſword (that is the carnal ſword for his cauſe) ſhall periſh by it.
Peace.
And for the perpetuity of the reaſon of the law, you formerly fully ſatisfied, that even in the dayes of grace, for him that ſhall thruſt away an Iſraelite from his God, there is upon his obſtinacy a greater puniſhment beyond all imagination (to wit, a ſpiritual cutting off from the land of Canaan) then under Moſes, which was but from the temporall, the type and ſhadow.
But Maſter Cotton proceedeth, alleadging, that the Miniſter of God muſt have in a readineſs to execute vengeance on him that doth evil; and evil it is (ſaith he) to thurſt away Gods people from him.
Truth.
Every lawful Magiſtrate, whether ſucceeding or elected, is not only the Miniſter of God, but the Miniſter orMagiſtrates cannot receive from the people a ſpiritual power. ſervant of the people alſo (what people or nation ſoever they be all the world over) and that Miniſter or Magiſtrate goes beyond his commiſſion, who intermeddles with that which cannot be given him in commiſſion from the people, unleſs Maſter Cotton can prove that all the people and inhabitants of all nations in the world have ſpiritual power, Christs power, naturally, fundamentally and originally reſiding in them (as they are people and inhabitants of this world) to rule Chriſts Spouſe the church, and to give ſpiritual power to their officers to exerciſe their ſpiritual laws and commands; otherwiſe it is but prophaning the holy name of the moſt high. It is but flattering of Magiſtrates, it is but the accurſed truſting to an arme of fleſh, to perſwade the rulers of the earth, that they are Kings of the Iſrael or church of God, who were in their inſtitutions and government immediately from God, the rulers and gavernors of his holy church and people.
Peace.
Grant (ſaith Maſter Cotton) that the evil be ſpiritual, and concern the inner man, and not the civil ſtate, yet that evill will be deſtructive to ſuch a City, it ſhall not riſe up the ſecond …ime, N…h…s. 1. 9.
Truth.
Although that it pleaſeth God ſometimes to bring a people to utter deſtruction for their idolatry againſt himſelf, and cruelty againſt his people; yet we ſee the Lord doth not preſently and inſtantly do this, but after a long courſe of many ages and generations, as was ſeen in Nineve her ſelf, and ſince in Athens, Conſtantinople, and Rome both Pagan and Antichriſtian. And therefore the example here by Maſter Cotton produced, gives not the leaſt colour of warrant for the civil ſtate preſently and immediately to execute vengeance for idolatry or hereſie upon perſons or Cities now all the world over, as he gave commandment to that typical nation of Iſrael, which is now alſo to be fulfilled ſpiritually upon the ſpiritual Iſraelite, or Iſraelitiſh City, a particular church or people falling away from the living God in Chriſt Jeſus.
Peace.
Whereas it was ſaid by the diſcuſſer, that the civil Magiſtrate hath the charge of the bodies and goods of the ſubjects,The charge of the civil Magistrate. and the ſpiritual officers of the church or kingdome of Chriſt, the charge of their ſouls and ſoul ſafety, Maſter Cotton anſwers, Firſt, If it were ſo that the civil Magiſtrate had the charge of the bodies and goods onelyonly of the ſubject, yet that might juſtly excite to watchfulneſs againſt ſuch pollution of religion as tends to apoſtacy, for God will viſit city and country with publike calamity, if not with captivity, for the churches ſake. The idolatry and worſhip of Chriſtians (ſaith he) brought the Turkiſh captivity upon the citys and countries of Aſia.
Truth.
By ſoul and ſoul ſafety, I think Maſter Cotton underſtands the ſame with the diſcuſſer, to wit, the matters of religion and ſpiritual worſhip. If the Magiſtrate hath received any ſuch charge or commiſſion from God in ſpiritual things, doubtleſs (as before) the people have received it originally and fundamentally as they are a people: But now if neither the nations of the world, as peoples and nations, have received this power originally, and fundamentally; nor can they derive it Miniſterially, to their civil officers (by what name or title, high or low, ſoever they be diſtinguiſhed) Oh what preſumption, what prophaning of Gods moſt holy name, what uſurpation over the ſouls and conſciences of men, though it come under the vaile or vizard of ſaving the City or kingdome, yea of ſaving of ſouls, and honoring of God himſelf?
Beſide, God is not wont to viſit any country or people in general for the ſin of his people but for their own idolatries and cruelty toward his people, as all hiſtories will prove. And for this inſtance of the Turkes, I ſay it was not the idolatry and image-worſhip The plague of the Turkes.alone of the Antichriſtians, but joyned with their other ſins, which brought Gods vengeance by the Turks upon them as was ſaid above, from Revel. 9. and eſpecially their Antichriſtian cruelty grounded upon this bloody doctrine of perſecution.
Both theſe Antichriſtian ſtates, and ſince alſo the Turkiſh Monarchy, have flouriſhed many generations in external and outward proſperity and glory, notwithſtanding their religion is falſe, and although it is true, that in the time and period appointed, all nations ſhall drink of the cup of Gods wrath, for their nationall ſins, both againſt the firſt and ſecond table, in matters concerning God and man.
Peace.
How ſatisfie you Maſter Cottons ſecond anſwer or queſtion, to wit, Did ever God commit the charge of the body to any Governor, to whom he did not commit in his way the care of their ſouls alſo?
Truth.
There is a twofold care and charge of ſouls manifeſted in holy Scripture.
Firſt, That which in common belongs to all, to love our neighbor as our ſelves, to endeavor the preſent and eternal welfare A twofold care and charge of ſouls.both of ſuperiors, inferiors, equals, friends and enemies; and this by prayers, exhortations, reproofs, examples of juſtice, loving kindneſs, ſobriety, godlineſs &c.
But what is this to the ſecond charge by way of office, which in the old Teſtament was given▪ not only to Prieſts and Levites, but to the governors and rulers of the Iewiſh ſtate: of which ſtate (being mixed of ſpiritual and civil) they were the head and governors, as it was Iſrael, a nation of worſhippers of the true God: And therein were they the types and forerunners of Chriſt Jeſus Chriſt the true King of Iſrael.the true King of Iſrael, as he is called, Joh. 1. The cure and charge of ſouls, now (ſaith Maſter Cotton) in this Chapter, belongeth by vertue of office to the ſpiritual officers of Chriſts kingdom: I add, and during the deſolation of Zion, and the time of the apoſtacy from Chriſts viſible kingdome, belongeth to the two Prophets and witneſſes of truth, Rev. 11. but not to the kings, rulers, nations, and civil ſtates of the world, who can be no true parallel or antitype to the Iſrael or people of God.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton objects Jehoſaphat ſent abroad preachers throughout all the Cities▪ of Judah; and if that were a type of Chriſt, it were to act that now, which typed out Chriſt, and he fulfilled in his own perſon.
Truth.
Chriſt Jeſus ſends out preachers three waies.Christs threefold ſending of preachers.
Firſt, In his own perſon, as the twelve and the ſeventy.
Secondly, By his viſible, kingly power, left in the hand of his true churches, and the officers and governors thereof: In which ſence that church of Antioch, and the governors thereof, rightly inveſted with the kingly power of Chriſt Jeſus, ſent forth Paul and Barnabas with prayer and faſting, and ſaying on of hands: And Paul and others of Chriſts meſſengers▪ being furniſhed with this kingly power, not only planted churches, but alſo ordained elders viſited theſe churches or viſible cities of Judah; that knowledge and teaching, and the word of God might dwel plenteouſly among them.
Thirdly, Chriſt Ieſus as king of his church, and head of his body, during the diſtractions of his houſe and kingdome under Antichriſts apoſtacy, immediately by his own holy Spirit, ſtirs up and ſends out thoſe fiery witneſſes (Rev. 11.) to teſtifie againſt Antichriſt and his ſeveral abominations: For as for lawful calling to a true ordinary Miniſtery, neither Wickliff in England, nor Wald… in France, nor Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prauge in…o other true office of the Miniſtery, ſince the apoſtacie, but that of prophecy and opening the Teſtament of Chriſt againſt the falſhood of Antichrist. Bohemia, nor Luther in Germany, nor multitudes more▪ of famous preachers and prophets of Chriſt, both in theſe countries and alſo in Spaine, Italy &c. I ſay, no true ordinary Miniſterial calling can they ever ſhew; but Chriſt Jeſus by the ſecret motion of his own holy Spirit extraordinarily excited, in couraged and ſent them abroad as an Angel or meſſenger (Rev. 14.) with the everlaſting Goſpel &c.
Peace.
To apply theſe three wayes, or any of them, to the civil Magiſtrates and rulers of the world (of whom Iehoſaphat in that his act ſhould be a type) is but to prophane the holy name of God, to leane upon and …dolize an arme of fleſh, &c.
Truth.
I grant, the civil Magiſtrate is bound to countenance the true Miniſters of Chriſt Ieſus, to incourage, protect, and defend them from injuries, but to ſend them armed (as the Popes Legats and Prieſts) with a ſword of ſteel, and to compel people to hear and obey them, this ſavours more of the ſpirit of the Pope, his courſes and practiſes, Yea of Mahomet his Muſſel-men, D…rg…es, &c. then the Lambe of God and his followers.
Peace.
What Iehoſophat. Aſa. Hezekiah, Ioſiah, &c. did, they did not only by perſwaſion, countenance, example (by which all are bound to further the preaching of Chriſt Ieſus) but alſo by force of armes and corporal puniſhments.
Truth.
Yea even to the death it ſelf▪ and this is not a bare ſending out of Miniſters (as Maſter Cotton gives the inſtance:) For by his argument, all rulers, kings, and Emperors, and other ſtates of the world ought to embrue their hands in the blood of the many thouſands and millions of millions of the poor people, if they forſake not their idolatry and embrace the religion which they ſay is Chriſtian and the only true.
Peace.
No, ſaith Maſter Cotton, this ought not to be, becauſe only godly and truly Chriſtian Magiſtrates may ſo put forth this power of Christ; others muſt ſtay until they be informed.
Truth.
Can it enter into any Chriſtian heart, to believe, that Chriſt Jeſus ſhould ſo looſly provide for his affaires, ſo ſlightlyA foule imputation put upon Chriſt Jeſus. for his name and Fathers work and ſo regardleſly for his deareſt Spouſe, as to leave ſo high a care and charge with ſuch as (generally and conſtantly throughout the whole world) are ignorant of, yea and oppoſite to the very name of Chriſt and true Chriſtianity?
Peace.
Surely if this payment were offered to the governour (as Malachy ſaith) to the world, or governments of it, it would not paſs.
Truth.
I never knew a king or captaine councellor or conſtable, officers of high or low condition, rightly called according to to God, who were not inveſted with ability more or leſs for the maine and principal points of their charge and duty.
Peace.
It ſeemes indeed a marvelous, and yet it is Maſter Cottons) concluſion, that ſuch Magiſtrates, yea all or moſt of the Magiſtrates that ever have been ſince Chriſt, and now extant upon the face of the earth, muſt ſit down, ſtay and ſuſpend, and that all their life long, from the executing of the maine and principal part of their office, to wit▪ in matters concerning the conſcience, religion, and worſhip▪ of the people.
Truth.
Yea (Secondly) in a due ſurvey of the whole univerſe and globe of this world, will one of a thouſand or ten thouſand (according to Maſter Cottons diſabling of them from the chief part of their office) be found▪ I will not ſay fit to be, but to be at all lawful civil Magiſtrates or rulers according to Gods ordinance of Magiſtracy but meer ſhadows or images ſet on high with empty names or titles only of Magiſtrates?
Peace.
Maſter Cotton adds, Although the good of ſouls is the proper or adequate object of the ſpiritual officers of Chriſt, and the bodies and goods of the people, the proper or adequate object of the civil Magiſtrate; yet in order to the good of their ſouls▪ he ought to procure ſpiritual helpes, and to prevent ſpiritual evils.
Truth.
I reply, If he mean (as it is clear he doth) that the civil Magiſtrate ought to do this not only as a Chriſtian by ſpiritual Pretended order, mo…t…o…s diſorder.meanes, but as a civil Magiſtrate by force of armes, It is not in order, but monſtrous diſorder, for then he (the civil Magiſtrate) muſt ſit Judge (judicially and formally) in thoſe ſpiritual cauſes and caſes, which Maſter Cotton grants are proper and adequate objects of the ſpiritual officers which Chriſt hath appointed.
Peace.
Yea, why may not (ſaith Maſter Cotton) the Magiſtrate uſe his power (ſpiritually) in order to the good of bodies, as the officers of Chriſt dehort from idleneſs and intemperance of meats and drinks &c. in order to the good of ſouls?
Truth.
The ſpiritual officers in dehorting from theſe evils or any other of that kind, interfere not, nor take cognizance of that which belongs not to their ſpiritual court; for holineſs in all manner of converſation is the circle wherein they ought to ſee all their ſpiritual ſubjects to walk. If the ſpiritual officers ſhould cauſe by force of armes their people to walk juſtly, temperately, &c. as Maſter Cotton ſaith the civil Magiſtrate in order to the good of bodies ought to deal in ſpiritual and ſoul-matters, I ſay then the eyes of the civil Magiſtrate would begin to open and to ſee the horrible diſorder and Babyloniſh confuſion of that which is here masked under the abuſed name of order.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton cloſeth up this chapter with very bitter cenſures againſt the diſcuſſer.
Truth.
The diſcuſſer may well reply, that although ſince the apoſtacy he ſees not the viſible thrones and tribunals of Chriſt Jeſus (according to his firſt inſtitution) erected, and although the civil Magiſtrate hath not the power of Chriſt in matters of religion, yet they that ſlay the Lords ſheep are not exempted fromThe Parliaments high juſtice aggainſt oppreſſors. all judgement: For, if the offenders ſlay them corporally, the Lord hath armed the civil Magiſtrate with the ſword of God to take vengeance on them. In which reſpect God hath crowned the ſupream court of Parliament with everlaſting honour, in breaking the jaws of the oppreſſing Biſhops, &c. Oh that ſuch glorious Juſtice may not be blemiſhed, by erecting in their ſtead a more refined, but yet as cruel an Epiſcopacy.
2. If the offence be of a ſpiritual nature, is there no ſpiritual way of judging, except the church of Chriſt be granted viſible during Antichriſts Apoſtacy? Hath not Chriſt Jeſus given power to his two prophets (even all the Raigne of the Beaſt) to ſpeak fire, Revelations the 11. to ſhut up heaven, to turn the waters into blood, to ſmite the earth with all manner of plagues, and this untill the time of the finiſhing of their prophecie or Teſtimony, when their great ſlaughters ſhall prepare the way for the downfal of Antichriſt and their own moſt glorious raiſing and exaltation?
There was no Chapter 34 (which probably was Maſter Cottons overſight, or the Printers) therefore I paſs to Chapter 35.