The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 43
Examination of CHAP. XLIII.
Peace.
UPon the fifth query to wit, whether the elders of the church at Epheſus were not ſufficiently furniſhed by the Lord Jeſus toShameful weakneſs caſt upon the ſpiritual Artillery of Chriſt Jeſus. drive away theſe ſpiritual and myſtical wolves, Maſter Cotton replies, by granting, that they were furniſhed with ſufficient power to caſt them out of the church; but being caſt out, they had not ſufficient power to drive them away from conferring and corrupting the members of the church, or other godly ones out of the church; and he adds, that it is no diſhonour to Chriſt, nor impeachment to the ſufficiency of his ordinances left by Chriſt, that in ſuch a caſe the miniſter of juſtice in the civil ſtate, ſhould aſſiſt the Miniſters of the Goſpel in the church ſtate.
Truth.
This grant and this addition do as ill agree, as light and darkeneſs, Chriſt and Belial together. For, is the church or kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus ſufficiently furniſhed (that is, in it ſelf without the help of the civil Magiſtrate) to excommunicate, to caſt theſe wolves out of the Fold: Oh let M. Cotton then, andThe ſpiritual liberties of Chriſts people in ſpiritual cauſes. all that love Chriſt Jeſus in truth, obſerve what evidently follows▪ then is this church of Chriſt ſufficiently furniſhed to receive ſuch perſons in againe upon repentance, then ſufficiently furniſhed at firſt to be congregated together by Chriſts means to ordaine their officers, to judge of doctrines and perſons, and all this (neceſſarily upon Maſter Cottons grant) without the help of the civil Magiſtrates.
Peace.
Yea, and it ſeemes to me incredible, and unreaſonable, that Chriſt Jeſus ſhould have left power and authority ſufficient to take and bind a rebel againſt his kingdome, to arraigne him and paſs ſentence upon him▪ yea and execute him in the cutting off ſuch an offendor from the land of the living, delivering him over into the power of that roaring Lyon the devil; And yet thatThe mighty power of ſpiritual weapons. Chriſt Ieſus ſhould not have left power ſufficient (in ſuch publick▪ high and ſolmne actions of his kingdome) to declare ſufficient cauſe of ſuch proceedings, by which all men may ſee, the goings of the Son of God in his church and kingdome, or if willfully blind, may juſtly be further hardned.
Truth.
The place from Titus alleadged (unto which many other Scriptures teſtifie) I ſay that place doth evidently ſhew, that the power of Chriſt Ieſus left in the hand of his churches and elders, was not only ſufficient to caſt out ſuch wolves, but even to ſtop or muzzle their mouthes (whatever their gainſaying be, whether by conferring, preaching, printing &c.) which takes off the plea of the great need of the civil ſword, to correct the conference A vaine fear of falſe teachers.of ſuch perſons &c. when by the words of Paul it is here plaine, that they can perform ſuch conferences, no otherwiſe, but with a ſtopt or muzled mouth.
Let it be produced where Chriſt Ieſus in ſuch caſes writes to the Magiſtrates (either of Crete, or Epheſus, or any other civil juriſdiction Chriſt Jeſus nor Paul adreſt themſelves to the civil ſtate.where the churches were reſident) to help the Miniſters and churches with their civil powers, after they had caſt forth any perſon obſtinate: Doubtleſs Chriſt Ieſus in Paul and other of his ſervants would have written to ſome or ſuch Magiſtrates in ſome place or others having occaſion to write to ſo many churches about ſuch caſes.
Peace.
It will (poſſibly) be ſaid, it had been in vaine, for they were idolaters and perſecutors.
Truth.
The Lord is pleaſed throughout the whole Scripture in the mouths of his ſervants and prophets to call for duties at the hands of all men, notwithſtanding their natural hardneſs and inability, that ſo he might drive them to ſee their duty and miſery, and remedy alone in God by Chriſt Jeſus.
Peace.
I ſee now, that this hindring of conference &c. by theTurk and Pope and all Proſtants againſt free conference. civil ſword is nothing elſe but a conformity with the Pope in defending his Canons, and with the Turk in guarding his Alcoran by fire and ſword; with whom, and their ways Chriſt Jeſus hath no conformity nor communion, nor with their carnal ſword, his two-edged ſword that proceedeth out of his mouth Rev. 1. Beſide▪ Chriſt Jeſus hath not onelyonly furniſhed his church with power ſufficient to excommunicate, but every one of his followers withThe ammunition of Chriſts ſouldiers. a compleat armour from head to foot (helmet▪ breaſt-plate ſword and Target, and and ſpiritual ſhoes (Epheſ. 6.) in which reſpect the leaſt of Chriſts ſervants are inabled to ſtop the mouth of Papiſts, Pope, Turks and devils.
Peace.
Yea all experience ſhews how Chriſt Jeſus (little David) in the leaſt of his ſervants, hath been able with thoſe plaineDavid and Goliah types. ſmooth ſtones out of the brook of holy Scripture, to lay groveling in their ſpiritual gore, the ſtouteſt Champions (Popes, Cardinals, Biſhops, Doctors) of the Antichriſtian Philiſtins.
Truth.
I add, if the elders, and churches, and ordinances of Chriſt have ſuch need of the civil ſword for their maintenance and protection (I mean in ſpiritual things) ſure the Lord Jeſus Chriſt cannot be excuſed for not being careful either to expreſs this great ordinance in his will and Teſtament, or elſe to have furniſhed the civil ſtate and officers thereof with ability and hearts for this their great duty and employment, to which he hath called them; the contrary whereof in all Ages, in all nations, and in all experience, hath ever been moſt lamentably true.
Peace.
I am not clear (dear truth) in the diſtinction, Maſter Cotton makes of Chriſts Miniſters in the Goſpel, and Chriſts Miniſters in the civil ſtate.
Truth.
There is a miſtake in it, for although Chriſt hath all power delivered to him in heave and earth, yet as touching his ſpiritual church or kingdome he diſclaimes it to be of the world, or worldly. Hence cannot the civil ſtate or officers thereof be called Chriſts▪ as if they were of Chriſts inſtitution and appointment, himſelf being their ſpiritual head. And therefore it is thatDifference between ſpiritual and civil Miniſters. the Spirit of God cals him the head of the body, which is the church, and the Miniſters and officers of this his kingdome and body Chriſts Miniſters or ſervants. Beſide, Maſter Cotton will not ſay that the kingdomes of the world are yet become the Lord Chriſts: In what manner alſo thoſe kingdomes ſhall become his, we have need of the holy Spirit to evidence and demonſtrate to us.
Peace.
To the fifth query, whether (as men deal with wolves) theſe wolves at Epheſus were intended by Paul to be killed, their braines daſht out with ſtones, ſtaves, halberts, guns, &c. in the hands of the elders of Epheſus: Maſter Cotton replies, Elders muſt keep within the bounds of their calling: But ſuch courſes were commanded the people of God by order from the Judges, Deut. 13. And where it was added, that comparing Things ſpiritual with ſpiritual, ſpiritual and myſtical wolves ſhould be ſpiritually and myſtically ſlaine. Maſter Cotton replies True, but in deſtroying religion they alſo diſturbe the civil ſtate, and accordingly are to be dealt withal by civil Juſtice, as Achan was for troubling Iſrael, Ioſh. 7. 25.
Truth.
This acknowledgement of Maſter Cotton, that theſe wolves muſt ſpiritually be killed, their braines daſht out by the elders and Saints might (if the Lord ſhould graciouſly ſo pleaſe)Iſraels corporal killing types of ſpiritual. eaſily ſatisfie himſelf and all men, that the type of Iſrael ſtoning and killing corporally, is here fulfilled in all dreadful abundance ſpiritually.
Peace.
Yea, but ſaith Maſter Cotton, they diſturbe the civil ſtate as Achan did.
Truth.
I anſwer, Achan troubling of Iſrael, the people of the Lord, muſt figure out any ſuch like troubling Gods Iſrael, theAchans troubling of Iſrael a figure of troubling the Iſrael or Church of Chriſt now. church of Chriſt, for which he is accordingly to be ſpiritually ſtoned or executed: For, as touching the civil ſtate of the nations of the world, who can prove (and Maſter Cotton will not affirme) that they are as the national church of the Iews was? but being meerly civil, are armed with civil power and weapons for their civil defence againſt all diſturbers of their civil ſtate, as alſo Maſter Cotton confeſſeth the ſpiritual ſtate is furniſhed with ſpiritual power againſt all the diſturbers of its ſpiritual peace and ſafety.
Peace.
Now whereas it was further added, that under pretenceThe day of the civil ſtate in ma…ters of worſhip. of driving away the wolves, and preſerving the ſheep that ſtreams of the blood of Saints have been ſpilt &c. Maſter Cotton replies, belike it is a milky, and peaceable, and Goſpel-like Doctrine, that the wolves (hereticks) are to be tolerated, not an haire ſtrook from their heads; but for the poor ſheep, for whom Chriſt died, let them periſh, unleſs Chriſt mean to preſerve them alone with his immediate hand and no care of them belongs to the civil Magiſtrate.
Truth.
I have here in this diſcourſe ſhewed with what honorable and tender reſpect every civil Magiſtrate is bound to honor and tender Chriſt Ieſus in his chriſtian ſheep and ſhepherds, but withall, that it is againſt chriſtianity for the civil Magiſtrate or civil ſtate, to imagine that all a whole nation was or ever will be called to the union of Gods Spirit in communion with God in Chriſt: Alſo, that it is againſt civil juſtice for the civil ſtate or officers thereof to deal ſo partially in matters of God, as to permit to ſome the freedome of their conſciences and worſhips, but to curbe and ſuppreſs the conſciences and ſouls of all others of their free-born people &c.
Peace.
To end this Chapter: whereas it was ſaid, is not this to take Chriſt▪ and to make him a temporal king by force? Is not this to make his kingdom of this world, and to ſet up a civil and temporal Iſrael? To bound out a new holy land of Canaan? yea and to ſet up a Spaniſh inquiſition in all parts of the world, to the ſpeedy deſtruction of millions of ſouls, and to the fruſtrating of the ſweet end of the coming of the Lord Ieſus, which was to ſave mens ſouls (and to that end not to deſtroy mens bodies) by his own blood.
To this Maſter Cotton replies, when the kingdomes of the earth ſhall become the kingdomes of the Lord (Rev. 11.) it is not by making Chriſt a temporal king, but by making temporal kings nurſing fathers to the Church.Concerning the kingdomes of the world becoming the kingdoms of Chriſt Rev. 11.
Truth.
If the Scripture [At the ſound of the ſeventh trumpet] which is the laſt of the great woes, when the time of Gods wrath ſhall be come, be to be underſtood of the removing of the kingdomes of the world unto Chriſt, Maſter Cotton cannot excuſe Chriſt Ieſus from being a temporal king, and the kings of the earth to be but as inferior and ſubordinate officers: For if they adminiſter Chriſts kingdome temporally, as deputies officers or Miniſters temporally, he is much more then himſelf a temporal king and Monarch.
Peace.
Methinks alſo; if that committing of all judgement to the Son (Iohn 5.) be meant of Temporal judgement in ſpiritual things, then can he not be ſaid, not to be a temporal king, then can he not be ſaid (when thoſe words were ſpoken and ever ſince) not to have exerciſed a temporal government. The contrary whereofChriſt no temporal King. is moſt true, both at his firſt coming, and ever ſince, in all generations, it having been his portion, and the portion of his followers to be judged by this world, although himſelf and his judge the world ſpiritually, and will ſhortly paſs an eternal ſentence upon all the children of men.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton addeth, this will not ſet up a civil or temporal Iſrael, unleſs all the members of the Commonwealth be compelled to be members of the church.
Truth.
If that will do it then Chriſt muſt be a temporal king, I ſay▪ then, when the kingdomes of the earth ſhall become the kingdoms of the Lord, for ſhall not the kings of the earth compel all Chriſts ſheep to ſubmit unto Chriſt Ieſus their heavenly ſhepherd?
Peace.
Yea ſecondly, will it not prove that all thoſe commonweals, where men are compelled explicitly or implicitly to be members of the church, are holy lands of Canaan, and if ſo, Oh that Maſter Cotton and other worthy ſervants of God, may timely conſider, whether an explicit forcing of all men to come toTouching forcing men to church. church, becauſe men cannot be denied to be members (at leaſt by implication) with ſuch members and congregations, with whom they do ordinarily aſſemble and congregate▪ although they be injuriouſly (indeed but injuriouſly) kept off from communion and participation of all ordinances, which is indeed their right and due if they be (though but implicitly) conſtrained and forced to partake of any.
Againe (ſaith Maſter Cotton) it is no Spaniſh inquiſition to preſerve the ſheep of Chriſt from the ravening of the wolves, but this rather (which is the practice of the diſcuſſer) to promote the principal end of the Spaniſh inquiſition, to advance the Romiſh tyranny, idolatry and apoſtacie▪ by proclaiming impunity to their whoriſh and wolviſh emiſſaries.
Truth.
If the Nations of the world muſt judge (as they muſt by Maſter Cottons doctrine) who are Christs ſheep, and who are wolves, which is a whore (ſpiritually) and which the true Spouſe of Chriſt, and accordingly perſecute the whores and wolves, this then they muſt do according to their conſcience, or elſe (as Maſter Cotton elſewhere) they muſt ſuſpend. What is thisA Spaniſh Inquiſition all the world. but either to ſet up a Spaniſh inquiſition in all territories, or elſe to hang up all matters of religion (by this ſuſpenſion he ſpeakes of) untill the civil ſtates of the world become chriſtian, and godly, and able to judge, &c. and what is this in effect, but to practiſe the very thing which he chargeth on the diſcuſſer, to wit, a proclaimning an impunity, all the world over, except only in ſome very few and rare places, where ſome few godly Magiſtrates may be found rightly informed, that is according to his own conſcience and religion.
Peace.
Yea further (which I cannot without great horror obſerve) what is this but to give a woful occaſion at leaſt to all Magiſtrates A twofold fire kindled.in the world (who will not ſuſpend their bloody hands from perſecuting, until Maſter Cotton ſhall abſolve them from their ſuſpenſion, and declare them godly, and informed, and fit to draw their ſwords in matters of religion) I ſay occaſion (at leaſt) to all the civil powers in the world, to perſecute (as moſt commonly they have ever done and do) Chriſt himſelf, the Son of God in his poor Saints and ſervants.
Truth.
Yea, if Maſter Cotton and his friends of his conſcience ſhould be caſt by Gods providence (whoſe wheels turn aboutThat may conſume the kindlers. continually in the depth of his councels wonderfully) I ſay ſhould they be caſt under the reach of oppoſite ſwords, will they not produce Maſter Cottons own bloody tenent and doctrine to warrant them (according to their conſciences) to deal with him as a wolfe▪ an idolater, an heretick, and as dangerous an emiſſary and ſeducer as any whom Maſter Cotton ſo accounteth?
But laſtly, Maſter Cotton hath no reaſon to charge the diſcuſſer with an indulgence or partiality toward Romiſh and wolviſh emiſſaries, his judgement and practiſe is known ſo far different, that for departing too far from them (as is pretended) he ſuffers the brands and bears the marks of one of Chriſts poor perſecuted hereticks to this day: All that he pleaded for▪ is an impartial liberty to their conſciences in worſhiping God as well as to the conſciences and worſhips of other their fellow-ſubjects.
Peace.
When Mathias the ſecond king of Hungary Bohemia &c. (afterward Emperor) granted to his Proteſtant ſubjects the liberty of their conſciences, doubtleſs it had been neither prudence Mathias the ſecond Emperor granting liberty of conſcience.nor juſtice▪ to have denyed equal liberty to all of them impartially. But to finiſh this Chapter, Maſter Cotton laſtly affirmeth, that it is not fruſtrating of the ſweet end of Chriſts coming which was to ſave ſouls, but rather a direct advancing of it, to deſtroy (if need be) the bodies of thoſe wolves, who ſeek to deſtroy the ſouls of thoſe for whom Chriſt died, and whom he bought with his own blood.
Truth.
The place referred to, was Luk. 9. where the Lord Jeſus profeſſeth unto the raſh zeal of his Diſciples (deſiring that fire might come down from heaven upon the refuſers of Chriſt)Chriſt came not to destroy mens bodies, though to ſave their ſouls. that he came not to deſtroy mens lives but to ſave them: from whence it appears that Chriſt Jeſus had no ſuch intent (as Maſter Cotton ſeems to make him to have had) to wit, to ſave ſouls by deſtroying of bodies: but to ſave ſoul and body, and that for ſoul ſake, for religion ſake, for his ſake, the bodies of none ſhould be deſtroyed, but permitted to enjoy a temporal being▪ which alſo might prove a means of their eternal life and ſalvation, as it may be was the very caſe of ſome of thoſe Samaritans.