The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 42
Examination of CHAP. XLII.
Peace.
IN this Chapter Maſter Cotton chargeth the diſcuſſer for makingWhether a commonweal proſper in divers religions permitted. work, to wit, for examining more particularly the ſimilitude of wolves brought in by Maſter Cotton himſelf: yet he conſenteth with him in the firſt quaery, that thoſe Wolves of which Paul warns the elders at Epheſus, were myſtical and ſpiritual wolves; yet he adds that ſuch cannot be good ſubjects, loving neighbors, faire dealers, becauſe they ſpiritually are not ſuch; and he argues, that then it will be no advantage to civil ſtates▪ when the kingdomes of the earth ſhall become the kingdomes of the Lord: and that then they may do as good ſervice to the civil ſtate, who bring the wrath of God upon them by their apoſtacy, as they that bring dow bleſſings from heaven by profeſſion and practiſe of the true religion in purity.
Truth.
I deſire that this reply be well pondred, for it will be found dangerouſly deſt…ctive to the very roots of all civil relations, converſe and dealing; yea, and any civil being of the world it ſelf.
For, if none be peaceable ſubjects, loving neighbors, faire dealers, but ſuch of Maſter Cottons conſcience and religion (whichMen may be very faire and peaceable, though not of the only one religion. he conceives to be the only true religion) what will become of all other ſtates, governments, cities, towns, peoples families neighbors, upon the face of the earth? I ſay, what will become of them (eſpecially if power were in Maſter Cottons hand to deal with them as Wolves?)
Peace.
Alas, too too frequent experience tels us in all parts of the world, that many thouſands are far more peaceable ſubjects, more loving and helpful neighbors, and more true and fair dealers in civil converſation, then many who account themſelves to be the only religious people in the world.
Truth.
But againe, What the ſtate of things ſhall be, and what the manner of the adminiſtration of Chriſts kingdome, when the kingdomes of the earth ſhall become the kingdomes of the Lord Maſter Cotton doth not expreſs: and for wrath brought upon civil ſtates for their apoſtacy, I' deſire Maſter Cotton to ſhew, where ever God deſtroyed any Nation in the world (one only excepted) for Apoſtacy from his truth and worſhip? Yea and where was ever Iſrael (the only true national church that Maſter Cotton will acknowledge) meerly for apoſtaſie deſtroyed, without general ripeneſs in other ſins alſo, and eſpecially for their perſecuting of ſuch, as declared their apoſtaſie, ſuperſtition, and will-worſhip from God unto them.
Peace.
In the next place Maſter Cotton granting that the charge given to watch againſt theſe Wolves, was not given to the Magiſtrates of the City of Epheſus, but to the elders of the church of Chriſt in Epheſus, he yet chargeth the diſcuſſer with a palpable and notorious ſlander, for ſaying, that many of thoſe charges and exhortations given by the Lord Jeſus to the ſhepherds and Miniſters of the churches, are commonly attributed by the anſwerer in this diſcourſe to the civil Magiſtrate.
Truth.
This heavy charge of Maſter Cottons againſt the diſcuſſer, will be found to be a fruit of Anger and paſſion, and not of reaſon and moderation; as alſo his denyal that one of thoſe charges given to Miniſters, were directed by him to Magiſtrates.
For if Maſter Cotton, or any pleaſe to view over Maſter Cottons allegations from the New Teſtament in this diſcourſe, he ſhall findeScriptures perverted from the church to the civil ſtate. that (Tit. 3.) reject the heretick a charge given by the Lord Jeſus to Titus and the church at Crete is brought for the proof of the Magiſtrates puniſhing, impriſoning baniſhing, killing the heretick idolater &c.
The like charges of Chriſt Jeſus ſent to the Miniſters and churches of Aſia, for tolerating amongſt them Balaam and Jezabel▪ are produced to prove proſecutions againſt falſe Prophets and profeſſors in the City and Commonweal.
Yea although Maſter Cotton name not Act. 20. yet in that Maſter Cotton affirmeth that Magiſtrates with the civil ſword muſt drive away Wolves from the ſheepfold of Chriſt the church, meaning ſpiritual wolves, falſe teachers, he may be truly ſaid to quote all ſuch Scriptures as give charge againſt ſuch Wolves.
Peace.
Indeed Maſter Cotton more then once pleaſeth himſelf with this ſimilitude of Wolves▪ to prove the Magiſtrates piety and pity to the ſheep, in ſlaying and driving away the wolves▪ falſe teachers, &c.
Truth.
Hence was it (for commonly where ſtate-Religions areThe Magiſtrate uſually the Cleargies Cane, &c. ſet up, the Magiſtrate is but the Miniſters Cane through whom the Clergy ſpeaks) I ſay probably hence from ſuch miſapplyed Scriptures in their churches, that in their ſolemn civil general court, at the baniſhment of one poor man amongſt them, hunted out as a wolf or heretick, the governor who then was, ſtanding up alleadged for a ground of their duty to drive away ſuch by baniſhment, that famous charge of Chriſt Jeſus to his Miniſters and Church at Rome (Rom. 16) Marke them that cauſe diviſions contrary to the doctrine which you have received, and avoid,Rom. 16. 17. groſly abuſed by a governor in New England. that is, by baniſhment: By all which and more it may be found, how Sathan hath abuſed their godly minds and apprehenſions in cauſing them ſo to abuſe the holy writings of truth and Teſtament of Chriſt Jeſus, and that how ever they deny it in expreſs tearms, yet by moſt impregnable conſequence and implication they make up a kind of national church, and (as the phraſe is) a Chriſtian ſtate and government of church and Commonweale, that is, of Chriſt and the world together.
Peace.
To proceed, it being further inquired into, whether in all the New Teſtament of Chriſt Jeſus there be any ſuch word of Chriſt, either by way of command, Promiſe, or example▪ countenancing the civil ſtate to meddle with theſe myſtical Wolves, if in civil things peaceable and obedient. Maſter Cotton replieth, that this condition of peaceable and obedient, implies a contradiction to the nature and practiſe of wolves. How can, ſaith he, wolves be peaceable and obedient, unleſs reſtrained? Can there be peace, Jehu▪ ſo long as the whoredomes of Jezabel and her witchcrafts are ſo many? And when it might be objected that ſpiritual whoredomes and witchcrafts might ſtand with civil peace, He anſwers, No verily▪ for the whoredomes and witchcrafts of the Jezabel of Rome took away civil peace from the earth, and brought the Turks to oppreſs both the peace of Chriſtian churches and Commonweals, Rev. 9. 15, 21.
Truth.
I wonder ſince Maſter Cotton in this very paſſage mentioneth the ſpiritual wolves, whores, and witches, as well as natural and moral▪ How he can imagine that a ſpiritual wolf or witch (to wit ſo or ſo in matters of ſpiritual worſhip and religion) might not poſſibly be peaceable and obedient in civil things.
Peace.
Yea but he alleadgeth the whoredomes of the Jezabel of Rome.
Truth.
Why, was not the State of England, the Kings and Queens▪ and Parliaments thereof, lawful as kings and ſtates, though overwhelmed and overſpread univerſally with the Romiſh abominations? If ſuch wolves, whores, and witches could yeeld no civil obedience, could they then exerciſe (by the ſame argument) any civil authority? And ſhall we then conclude all theThe bloody Tenent plucks up the nations and all civil being, &c. former Popiſh kings and Parliaments (and conſequently lawes) unlawful, becauſe in ſpiritual things they were as Wolves, &c. tearing and burning the poor ſheep of Chriſt? will it not then be unlawful for any man, that is perſwaded the whole nation where he lives is idolatrous, ſpiritually whoriſh, &c. I ſay unlawful for him to live in ſuch a ſtate, although he might with freedome to his own conſcience? whither will ſuch kind of arguing drive at laſt, but to pluck up up the roots of all ſtates and peoples in the world, as not capable to yeeld civil obedience, or exerciſe civil authority, except ſuch people, Magiſtrates, &c. as are of Maſter Cottons church and religion.
Peace.
Methinks experience (were there no Scripture nor reaſon) might tell us how peaceable and juſt neighbors and dealers many thouſands and millions of Jews, Turks, Antichriſtians, and Pagans are to be found, notwithſtanding their ſpiritual whoredoms▪ witchcrafts, &c.
Truth.
Yea, and why doth Maſter Cotton alleadge the Jezabel of Rome, and the comming in of the Turks? It is true, God The plague of the Turkes.brought in the Armies of the Turkes upon the Eaſtern Empire, which yet flouriſhed many ages (even in their apoſtacies) before their deſtruction by the Turkes. And how many ages and generations hath Iezabel of Rome ſitten as a Queen in triumphantRomes glory and downfal. peace and glory, even ſince the riſing of the Turks (and ſo ſhall ſit probably in greater and greater, untill the time of her appointed judgement and downfal? If Christ Jeſus were a true Prophet (Iohn 16.) outward peace, proſperity▪ riches, honor, is the portion of this world, notwithanding their idolatries, apoſtacies, blaſphemies: But the portion of Chriſts followers (like his own, and both like a woman in travel) paine and ſorrow, yea poverty and perſecution, untill the great day of refreſhing, neer approaching.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton againe ſends us to Revelations the 16. 4, 5, 6, 7.
Truth.
And I muſt alſo ſend Maſter Cotton and the Reader to our diſproving of that proof aboveſaid.
Further, whereas he calls Rom. 13. the great Charter for all Magiſtrates to deal in ſpiritual matters, I have and ſhall manifeſt in the examinations upon that place, how weak a warrant it is for the civil ſtate▪ and the officers thereof, to conceive themſelves ſpiritual Phyſitians, by vertue of their office, appointed by God, in ſpiritual and ſoul-evils.
Peace.
Whereas it was urged, that Magiſtrates beſide their skil in civil laws and government, muſt be able (if Maſter Cottons The civil ſtate and officers thereof cannot be ſpiritual judges.bloody tenent be true) as judges and heads to determine ſpiritual cauſes and controverſies▪ and that by the ſight of his own eyes, and not other mens; Maſter Cotton replies, that Magiſtrates ought to be skilled in the fundamentals of religion, and that their ignorance excuſeth not.
Truth.
In this paſſage Maſter Cotton wa…eth that inference [That then Magiſtrates muſt be heads and judges in ſpiritual cauſes:] That inference cannot poſſibly be avoided if we grant it their duty (as Maſter Cotton ſeemes to do) to paſs ſentence in the fundamentals of religion, and in thoſe points which have been and are ſo greatly controverted among all ſorts of men that name the name of Chriſt.
2. If Magiſtrates muſt thus judge, reforme &c. where hath been the care of Chriſt Ieſus to appoint in all parts of the world, ſuch Magiſtrates as might take care of his religion and worſhip? Foul neglects caſt upon Chriſt Jeſus.why hath he not furniſhed them with ſome capacity and ability to the work?
Peace.
It is lamentable to think that moſt of the Magiſtrates in the world (beyond compare) know not ſo much as whether there be a Chriſt or no.
Truth.
If Chriſt Ieſus had forgotten himſelf for three hundred yeers together, furniſhing his church with no other heads, but of Wolves, Bear, Lyons, and Tygers, the Romane Emperors yet (after a little refreſhing by Conſtantine, Theodoſius &c.) why ſhould he ſtill forget himſelf (even a thouſand yeers together, providing no other heads, but bloody and Popiſh kings and Emperors?
Peace.
What think you (dear truth) of Maſter Cottons grantThe caſe of Gallio. of Gallios not being bound to judge in matters of religion, becauſe he had no Law from Caeſar whoſe deputy he was?
Truth.
I anſwer what if he had not a law from Caeſar, if yet he had a law from Chriſt Ieſus, as Maſter Cotton implies? Or will Maſter Cotton ſuſpend the execution of Chriſts will, upon the kings ſtates, or peoples minds that chooſe ſuch Magiſtrates to be their deputies in the Commonweale? But the truth is, concerning Gallio▪ whatever he was in his perſon, and however he did evil in ſuffering the peace to be broken; yet will Maſter Cotton never prove, that he had calling from either God or man, to go beyond his civil Magiſtracy and office to intermeddle with matters of a ſpiritual nature and that Gallio knew well enough, and other Magiſtrates of the world ſhall know in the Lords moſt gracious appointed ſeaſon.
Peace.
The diſcuſſer ending this Chapter with the infallible ſafety of Gods choſen, notwithſtanding all ravenous wolves, &c. Maſter Cotton replies from Deut. 13. that God was able to keep his ſheep in Iſrael, yet they that ſeduced them were to be put to death.
Truth.
That argument was not alleadged with the derogation to any of Gods holy ordinances, which concern the calling or preſerving of ſuch whom God hath choſen to ſalvation, but only to diſcover the over-buſie fear of Gods looſing any of his choſen to ſalvation, by the jaws of ſpiritual wolves, &c. For Deut. 13. Let Maſter Cotton produce ſuch a miraculous nation or people (as I may call it) ſo brought out of the land of Egypt into covenant with God &c. and I ſhall readily grant that ſeducers of ſuch a people from ſuch a God, are worthy to die a thouſand deaths: But if Maſter Cotton will now tell me that the Chriſtian congregational church is the Iſrael of God, and the coming forth of Egypt is now myſtical and ſpiritual, why will he not content himſelf with a myſtical and ſpiritual death to be inflicted upon him that ſhall ſeduce an Iſraelite from the Lord his God?