The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 41
Examination of CHAP. XLI.
Peace.
IN the diſcuſſing of the prophecy of Iſaiah and Micah, concerning the breaking of ſwords into plowſhares, and ſpeares into pruning-hooks, truely interpreted to foretell the meek temper of Chriſtians in bringing others to Chriſt Jeſus, Maſter Cotton excepts againſt the diſcuſſers obſervation upon Maſter Cottons ſimilitude from Wolves which he would have driven out from the ſheepfold: The obſervation was this, or to this effect, [That if civil power might force the wolves out, it might force the ſheep in.]
Truth.
The diſcuſſer denied not the uſe of Chriſts ſpiritual power for the life of his ſheep, and deſtruction of the Wolves: but heaven and earth ſhall fall before this truth, to wit, [That power that driveth Wolves out, may drive ſheep in.] If ſpiritual power drive out the wolfe ſpiritual, alſo drives in the ſheep▪ but ifIf Civil power may force cut of the church, it may alſo force in. civil power (to wit, by ſwords whips, priſons, burnings &c.) drives out the ſpiritual or myſtical Wolfe, the ſame undeniably muſt drive in the ſheep.
Peace.
Yea, but Maſter Cotton (too too weakly) would pleaſe himſelf upon the word [ſame:] a father, ſaith he, with a ſtaffe or ſword may drive away dogs that might by the way worry or bite his children going to School, may he therefore with a ſtaffe or ſword drive his children to School? and are wolves to be driven away, and ſheep brought into the fold by the ſame inſtruments? The dog that teares a wolfe, if he tear the ſheep alſo, will finde an halter, &c.
Truth.
Maſter Cotton hath had a name for a man of Moſes ſpirit, of a meek and gentle temper; he cannot but know he hath loſt that name with thouſands …earing God, by not putting that difference, between the Wolves and the ſheep, the Egyptians and the Iſraelites, as Moſes did: Moſes killed the Egyptian, he reproves theEvery true Moſes will make a difference between Iſraelites and Egyptians. Iſraelite: All that contradict Maſter Cottons church way (though before dear brethren, familiar and intimate) he not only drives them out, as wolves blaſphemers▪ ſeducers &c. by his pretended ſpiritual weapons of Chriſt Jeſus, but alſo by civil ſword, impriſoning baniſhing, whipping &c.
But more particularly, The diſcuſſer indeed uſeth this word the ſame power, but not as Maſter Cotton ſeemeth to underſtand it, for the ſame weapon. He hath in this very place printed the diſcuſſers words, that a ſtaff is for the wolfe, and a rod or hook for the ſheep. The dog that teares the wolf, is but to affright the ſheep and conſequently the father that hath a ſtick or rod for the child; But yet theſe ſwords, ſtaves-ſticks, and rods, are all of the ſame nature in general, that is of a material, temporal and civil nature, which may be uſed about natural wolves▪ ſheep, children &c. And if they may be uſed alſo about ſpiritual or myſtical wolves, to force them out; it is as cleare as the Sun-Beames, that they may be uſed, that is ſuch civil weapons as are fit for myſtical wolves, to force them into the ſheepfold: And thus have all Popiſh perſecutors practiſed in our own and other countries, to wit, by civil power (as well as by their own pretended ſpiritual) in forcing their ſuppoſed ſheep to church, and to conformity, as well as by whips, and Priſons, Ropes and Fires, driving out the ſuppoſed wolves or hereticks.
Peace.
In the cloſe of this, Maſter Cotton adds▪ that (Rev. 6. 6.) the Antichriſtian wolves ſhall drink blood, for they are worthy.
Truth.
I have in former paſſages declared the miſconceit of Maſter Cotton and others▪ as touching that Scripture and that, although they ſhall drink blood filled out of the cups of Gods righteous vengeance, yet not by judicial proſecution in civil courts for ſpiritual offences, although yet it is moſt righteous for the kings and powers of the earth▪ meerly with reſpect to theſe wolves their oppreſſions and bloodſheddings, to repay them again with the like ſmart and paine, and kinds of puniſhment.
Peace.
Yea and tis for ever memorable, that while the kings of the earth have given their power to the beaſt, againſt the bodies of the Saints, what cups of blood hath the righteous hand of theCups of Blood given into the hand of perſecuting nations. moſt high filled to Antichriſtian kings and kingdomes, by the bloody Turkes, and by their own more bloody wars▪ ſometimes for the empty puffs of their titles and honors, but as frequently for God (as they pretend) and for his Religion.