The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 36,37 – Chapter 38
Examination of CHAP. XXXVI, and XXXVII.
Peace.
IN theſe paſſages Maſter Cotton firſt queſtions (having not his copy by him) the truth of ſome expreſſions printed as his.
Truth.
It is at hand for Maſter Cotton or any to ſee that copy which he gave forth and corrected in ſome places with his own hand, and every word verbati… here publiſhed.
2. To the anſwer it ſelf, or reproof of the Lord Ieſus given to his diſciples for their bloody and raſh zeal deſiring fire to come down from heaven, &c. we both agree that Chriſts rebuking of his diſciples did not hinder the Miniſters of the Goſpel from proceeding in a Church-way &c. 2. That falſe …perſecution in a church way is as odious and dreadful a perſecution, as any proſecution … a court of civil juſtice, as alſo that this is not the point intended, though it be reckoned up with the reſt.
Peace.
I marvel at that which follows, where Maſter Cotton ſaith, that it never fell from his pen in any writing of his, viz. that it is lawful for a eivil Magiſtrate to inflict corporal puniſhment upon ſuch as are contrary indeed in matters of Religion: and therefore he paſſeth by the diſcuſſers reaſons as which might well have been ſpared, being brought but againſt a ſhadow of his own fancy.
Truth.
I am not able to imagine what Maſter Cotton meanes by ſuch as are contrary minded, againſt whom he will not (in this Chapter) maintaine any corporal puniſhment to be inflicted, when in ſo many of his writings, and throughout his whole book he maintaines corporal puniſhment, and that to death it ſelf in many caſes, againſt the idolatrous, the blaſphemous, the heretical, the ſeducing, yea the degenerate and Apoſtate.
Peace.
Love bids us take this paſſage as a pang of reluctancy The fire from heaven, Rev. 13(in his other wiſe-holy and peaceable breaſt) againſt ſuch unholy bloody Tenents.
But what ſay you to the paſſage about the ſecond beaſt, bringing fire from heaven? (Rev. 13.) This was no wonder (ſaith Maſter Cotton) for Conſtantine had done the like before to hereticks, the Arrian Biſhops againſt the Orthodox Saints. Alſo, it is related as a different matter from the former (verſ. 15.) that he had power to cauſe, that as many as would not worſhip the image of the beaſt ſhould be killed. And this fire comes not down upon the Saints, but the earth.
Truth.
Maſter Cotton I think knows that the diſcuſſer is not alone in this interpretation: If he propoſe any other more ſuitable to Chriſt Ieſus, I hope the diſcuſſer deſires thankfully to embrace it. But this fire being not literal, but myſtical, in imitation of the true prophet Elijah, and alſo as the true witneſſes cauſe fiery judgements deſcend from heaven upon the enemies of the truth: ſo the falſe witneſſes cauſe fire to deſcend againſt the faithful: and ſure it is (as the diſcuſſer related) that the Popiſh Biſhops in France, and England and other places have ever conſtantly cryed out, that the juſt judgements of God are brought down by them upon the hereticks, which is no ſmal wonder that the hearts of the ſons of men ſhould be ſo hardened againſt the light of truth in truths witneſſes, notwithſtanding the acts of Conſtantine and the Arrian Biſhops long before.
Peace.
But this fire (ſaith Maſter Cotton) comes down from heaven upon the earth.
Truth.
True, but it may well imply no more, then in the open view and face of all men in this world.
Peace.
And laſtly (ſaith he) it is ſaid, that he cauſeth that as as many as would not worſhip the Image of the Beaſt ſhould be killed, which is a different effect.
Truth.
Becauſe it comes from a different cauſe, with reſpect, not to the firſt Beaſt himſelf, but only to his picture or image, and implies, that fiery judgements deſcend not onelyonly upon ſuch as refuſe to worſhip the firſt or ſecond beaſt, but the very picture of the beaſt likewiſe.
Examination of CHAP. XXXVIII.
Peace.
MAſter Cotton here firſt obſerving the diſcuſſers agreement with him, that this inſtruction (2 Tim. 2.) to be meek and patient to all men, is properly directive to the Miniſters of the Goſpel, he concludes that therefore hitherto his anſwer was not perplext and ravelled.
Truth.
Many plaine threads may be drawn forth of a perplext and ravelled ſtring, as it ſeemes to me the many particulars of different natures here wrapt up together were.
Peace.
Yea, but he ſeems to diſown thoſe words [unconverted Chriſtians in Crete) and more then once in the Chapter toucheth the diſcuſſers credit, &c.
Truth.
I know the diſcuſſer deſires unfainedly (with the Lords aſſiſtance) rather to die a thouſand deaths, then willingly to impeach the leaſt of holy or civil truths; and therefore affirmeth in this caſe, that at his pleaſure the copy (not which he received fromAll Truth, heavenly, moral, civil, &c. precious. Maſter Cotton for there never paſſed ſuch writings between them as Maſter Cotton often affirmeth, but) which he received from another, with the correction of Maſter Cottons own hand to it, ſhall be ready for himſelf or any to view.
Peace.
However, Maſter Cotton maintaining the tearms of unconverted converts from Ier. 3. 10. (Iudah turned unto me, but not with all her heart, but fainedly:) ſo Iudas, An…as, and Sapphira, Balaam, the Ni…laitans, Iezabel in Thyatira, as alſo the children of believing parents born in the Church, who though holy, yet cannot be conceived to be truely holy.
Truth.
Were the queſtion about hypocrites, counterfeits and trayters in the church and kingdome of Chriſt, theſe words might here rightly be alleadged; but Maſter Cottons words beingƲnconverted Chriſtians viſibly a paradox. theſe [unconverted Chriſtians in Crete▪ whom Titus as an Evangeliſt was to ſeek and to convert] I conceive that Maſter Cotton will not affirm that the office of an Evangeliſt was to ſeek to convert the church (though poſſibly an hypocrite may be turned from his hypocriſie by an Evangeliſt or private man in the church.)
2. He makes in the very words a diſtinction between theſe, unconverted Chriſtians, and thoſe Iews and Gentiles in the Church, who (ſaith he) though carnal, yet were not convinced of the error of their way.
And to conclude this Chapter, the diſcuſſer readily with thanks acknowledgeth Maſter Cottons words, that it is not probable that Timothy was now at Epheſus, and that the ſubſcription added to the ſecond Epiſtle of Timothy in the Engliſh tranſlation, is juſtly to be ſuſpected.