The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 45 – Chapter 47
Examination of CHAP. XLV.
Peace.
UPon the unfitneſs (alleadged) of ſpiritual weapons to batter a natural or artificial hold, and conſequently the unfitneſs of natural and carnal weapons to batter the ſpiritual ſtrong holds in the heart, Maſter Cotton replies, that he allows not the civil ſtate to make uſe of their civil weapons to batter down idolatry and hereſie in the ſouls of men: But if (ſaith he) the idolater or heretick grow obſtinate, worſeand worſe, deceiving himſelf, &c. Now, he maketh not uſe of ſtocks and whips (which will but exaſperate the malady) but of death and baniſhment, that may cut him off from the opportunity of ſpreading his leaven, &c.
Truth.
Methinks in this paſſage, Maſter Cotton reſembleth an armed man, who being almoſt convinced, or overcome by the Spirit of God in the former part of this paſſage (granting how unproper and unfit carnal weapons be in ſpiritual matters) yet beingThe bloody tenent in plaine Engliſh. loath to yeeld, and holding up the goodneſs of his cauſe, he recovers again, and grows more fierce and violent: for bearing more gentle ſtroaks of ſtocks and whips, he cuts deeper with no leſs then quick and dreadful gaſhings of death or Baniſhment, that the world (were he one of the worlds Monarchs) may be rid of ſuch …
Peace.
Oh, How can Maſter Cotton waſh this Tenent from blood!
Truth.
Yea whether this tenent be not invented (as once that learned chancellor of England ſaid of all violence againſt conſcience)All civil violence in ſpirituals, is for intereſt. for an end or intereſt: or as (that incarnate devil) the Pope ſaid more plainly of the fable of Chriſt, for honor and profit, ſhall further be examined.
Peace.
But who can read the bloody colour in this book, and yet believe what Maſter Cotton elſewhere ſaith, that he holds not perſecution for cauſe of conſcience?
Truth.
Laſtly, I aske, whether is it not the ſame skill and power of Phyſick and Surgery, that preſerves the body and each member in health and welfare, with that which cuts off (as Maſter Cotton ſpeaks) the Gangrene &c? and (ſince alſo tis in vaine to go about when the next way is as good or better) what means then Maſter Cotton to bring in the Magiſtrate uſing ſpiritual means in all lenity and wiſdome againſt hereſie and idolatry in the ſouls of men, ſince death or baniſhment will effect the cure ſo quickely?
Peace.
To proceed, whereas it was urged, that although civil weapons were proper in ſpiritual matters, yet they were not neceſſary &c. Maſter Cotton replies, this is but a meer pretence, becauſe the diſcuſſer (ſaith he) denies all Church officers and Church weapons.
Truth.
This formerly was cleered from all appearance of pretence, becauſe during all the reign of the beaſt▪ the diſcuſſer granteth the impregnable power of the ſpiritual weapons of Chriſts Chriſts ſpiritual weapons never wanting.witneſſes, Rev. 11. although he ſee not extant the true form and order of the kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus which at firſt he was pleaſed to eſtabliſh.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton adds, Although ſpiritual weapons are mighty to purge out leaven, and to mortifie the fleſh of offenders▪ yet that is not a ſuperſedeas to civil Magiſtrates to neglect to puniſh thoſe ſins, which the church hath cenſured, if the perſon cenſured do proceed to ſubvert the truth of the Goſpel, or the peace of the church, or the ſouls of the people.
Truth.
Why muſt the Magiſtrate ſtay until the party cenſured do proceed ſo and ſo? Why could not he have ſpared the drawing forth of any ſpiritual weapons; ſince they are ſo effectual to do that which was not in the power and reach of the ſpiritual? WhyThe civil▪ ſword eſteemed more powerful then the ſpiritual. was not the firſt obſtinacy (which merited the ſpiritual ſtroaks and cerſures) worthy of the exerciſe of the civil Magiſtrates power and zeale?
Peace.
Me thinks this is an evident demonſtration that men repoſe more confidence (however they deceive themſelves to the contrary) in the ſword of ſteel that hangs by the ſide of the civil officer, then in the two-edged ſword proceeding out of the mouth of Chriſt Jeſus, Rev. 1.
Truth.
The truth is, ſuch doctrine makes Chriſts ſpiritual ſword but ſerviceable and ſubordinate unto the temporal or worldly powers: and preſents the church but making eſſayes and trials of that cure which death and baniſhment (gilded over with pretence of Gods glory, &c.) they think will not faile to effect, &c.
Peace.
More plainly therefore writes another Author (of Maſter Cottons mind) thus: It is known by experience that one reproof or threatning from the Magiſtrate, hath been known to do more then an hundred admonitions from the Miniſter.
Truth.
Yea no queſtion, to force a nation or a world of men to play the idolaters▪ hypocrites, &c. but Gods true ſervants (of whom theſe three famous Jews are type▪ Dan. 3.) know that God whom they ſerve is able to deliver them from ſuch fiery threatnings and executions. But if he pleaſe to try them (as his gold) in ſuch fiery tryals, they will not bow down to invented gods or worſhips.
Peace.
Methinks (dear truth) ſuch Miniſters deal upon the point and in effect with the civil Magiſtrate▪ juſt as that ambitious Pope with the Emperors to wit, make them hold the ſtirrop while they mount, &c. But I grieve &c. What think you therefore of Maſter Cottons cenſure of the reſt of the diſcourſe in this Chapter, to wit, that it is but (as Jude ſpeaks) clouds without waters, words without matter, &c.
Truth.
I will ſay no more, but this▪ Happily (through Gods mercy) Maſter Cottons cenſure may occaſion ſome to view what he deſpiſeth, yea and happily to finde ſome heavenly drops out of thoſe contemned empty clouds▪
Examination of CHAP. XLVI.
Peace.
THe 13 to the Rom. which the anſwerer quotes, is a fort of of ſuch importance▪ in ſo many controverſies depending between the Papiſt and the Proteſtant, and between many Proteſtants Rom. 13. Conſidered.among themſelves, that all ſeek to gaine and win it: In this preſent controverſive I finde a wonderful wreſting of this holy Scripture even by many holy and peaceable (though herein violent and ſinful) hands: and let the charge be examined in the fear of God, whether ſlanderous (as Maſter Cotton intimates) or true and righteous.
Maſter Cotton freely grants, that this 13 to the Rom. exhorteth unto ſubjection to Magiſtrates, and love to all men, whichThe great fort of The civil Magiſtrate not charged with the keeping of the ſeed tables. are duties of the ſecond table: But yet withal he anſwers, that is will not follow, that Magiſtrates have nothing to do with the violation of the firſt table; and further ſaith, that it is a plaine caſe that amongſt the duties of the ſecond table, people may be exhorted to honor their Magiſtrates, and children may be exhorted to honour their Parents; but will it (ſaith he) thence follow, that Magiſtrates have nothing to do with matters of religion in the church, or parents in the family?
Truth.
I anſwer, the ſcope of the diſcourſe was to prove, that it pleaſeth the Spirit of God in Paul here only to treat of the duties of the ſecond table, unto which limitation or reſtriction Maſter Cotton ſpeaks not at all, but only granteth in general, that it ſpeaketh of the duties of the ſecond table: And I ſtill urge and argue, that the ſpirit of God diſcourſing ſo largely in this Scripture of the duties of Magiſtrates and people, and treating only of civil things, in that civil relation between Magiſtrates and people, points as with a finger of God at their error, that wreſt this Scripture to maintaine the power of Magiſtrates and civil ſtates in the ſpiritual and church eſtate of the kingdome of Chriſt.
Peace.
But what may be ſaid to Maſter Cottons argument?
Truth.
I anſwer, If people are bound to yeeld obedience in civil things to civil officers of the ſtate, Chriſtians are much more bound to yeeld obedience (according to God, to the ſpiritual officers of Chriſts kingdome: But how weak is this argument to prove that therefore the civil officers of the ſtate are conſtituted rulers or governors, preſervers and reformers of the Chriſtian and ſpiritual ſtate, which differs as much from the civil, as the heavens are out of the reach of this earthly Globe and Element?
Examination of CHAP. XLVII.
Peace.
AGainſt the Judgement of thoſe bleſſed worthies alleadged, (Calvin and Beza) confining this paſſage of Rom. 13. to theCalvin and Beza's judgement on Rom. 13. ſecond table, Maſter Cotton here oppoſeth their judgement for the Magiſtrates power in matters of religion in other writings of theirs▪ yea and from this very Scripture.
Truth.
This their judgement for the Magiſtrates power was granted and premiſed before; yet let the expreſſions of thoſe worthy men (produced by the diſcuſſer on this Chapter) be faithfully weighed, and it will cleerly appear, that (as James ſpeaks) thoſe excellent men endeavoured to bring from the ſame fountaines ſweet water and bitter, which is monſtrous and contradictory.
Peace.
The pith of what Maſter Cotton further ſaith in this Chapter, I conceive is couched in theſe demands: Are not (ſaith he) all duties of righteouſneſs to man commanded in the ſecond table, as well as all duties of holineſs to God are commanded in the firſt table? Is it not a duty of righteouſneſs belonging to the people of God, to enjoy the free paſſage of religion? &c. Is it not an injurious dealing to the people of God, to diſturbe the truth of religion with hereſie, the holineſs of worſhip with idolatry, the purity of government with tyranny? and he concludes, If ſo, then theſe wayes of unrighteouſneſs are juſtly puniſhable by the ſecond table.
Truth.
I anſwer, It hath pleaſed the Father of lights to open the eyes of thouſands of his ſervants in th…ſe later times to diſcerneƲn…ighteouſneſs civil and ſpiritual. a fine ſpun fallacy in the tearm of unrighteouſneſs and injury which being twofold ſpiritual againſt religion or ſpiritual ſtate, civil againſt the worldly or civil ſtate: It is no civil injury (which he grants is the buſineſs of this 13 to the Romanes in matters of the ſecond table) for any man to diſturbe or oppoſe a doctrine worſhip or government ſpiritual: Chriſt Jeſus and hisSpiritual wars without civil diſturbance. meſſengers and ſervants did▪ and do profeſs a ſpiritual war againſt the doctrine, worſhip and government of the Jewiſh the Turkiſh and other Pagan and Antichriſtian religions of all ſorts and ſects, churches and ſocieties: Theſe all againe oppoſe and fight againſt his doctrine, worſhip, government: And yet this war may be ſo managed (were men but humane civil and peaceable) that no civil injury may be commieted on either ſide.
Peace.
We may then well take up (as Maſter Cotton doth) Beza's own words on Rom. 13. 4. The civil ſword muſt take vengeance on them that do evil: It muſt therefore follow that hereticks are not evil doers (which is groſs &c.) Or elſe that Pauls ſpeech is to be reſtrained to a certaine ſort of evil deeds, to wit, ſuch as they call corporal ſins, of which he ſaith, he diſputeth largely elſewhere.
Truth.
And ſo (through the help of the moſt high) ſhall I▪ in proving, that the ſecond ſort, to wit, external, corporal, civil evils between man and man▪ city and city, kingdomes and Nations (in this faln eſtate of mankind▪ wherein all civility, and humanity it ſelf are violated) are alone, and only intended in this Scripture by the holy Spirit of God and Paul his penman.