The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 48
Examination of CHAP. XLVIII.
Peace.
TO the ſecond argument, to wit, the incompetency of thoſe higher powers to which Paul requires ſubjection, which in his time were the ignorant and Pagan perſecuting Emperors, and their ſubordinate governors under them, Maſter Cotton replies.
Firſt, It is one thing to yeeld ſubjection to the righteous decrees of ignorant and Pagan Magiſtrates: And another thing to obey their ordinances in matters of faith and worſhip, and government of the church: The former of theſe, Chriſtians did yeeld unto the Romane Magiſtrates, even ſubjection unto the death; the other they did not, nor ought to yeeld, as knowing God was rather to be obeyed then man.
Truth.
Subjection may be either to lawful governors, or but pretenders and uſurpers: Again ſubjection to lawful rulers may be in caſes pertaining to their cognizance, or in caſes which belong not to their▪ but another court or tribunal; which undue proceeding is not tolerable in all well-ordered ſtates.
We uſe alſo to ſay, that ſubjection is either▪ active or paſſive: Now although we finde the Lord requiring and his ſervants yeelding,The nature of twice ſubjection to civil powers. all active or paſſive obedience to the Romane Emperors, and their deputies, yet finde we not a tittle of the Lords requiring, or his people yeelding any kind of ſubjection to thoſe Romane Emperors or their deputies in the matters of Chriſtian religion, except it be of ſo many hundred thouſand of their bodies, as the bodies of Lambs to the devouring jaws of thoſe bloody lyons and devilliſh Monſters, of more then barbarous cruelty.
Peace.
But (Secondly, ſaith Maſter Cotton) although the Roman Emperors were incompetent Judges, yet the Word of Chriſt Of the Roman Emperors power in ſpirituals.which commandeth a duty, commandeth alſo the neceſſary means which tend to that duty, and therefore giving them a power and charge to execute vengeance on evil doers, and that in matters of ſpiritual unrighteouſneſs againſt the Church, as in matters of civil unrighteouſneſs againſt the Commonweal, it behooved them to try and liſten after the true Religion, to heare and try all.
Truth.
Maſter Cotton may here be intreated to take notice of his own diſtinction of unrighteouſneſs (which a little before he ſeemed to me to forget) for here he rightly diſtinguiſheth between ſpiritual matters of unrighteouſneſs againſt the church, and civil unrighteouſneſs againſt the Commonweal: I therefore urge (as before) that the civil Magiſtrate, although he puniſh (according to his civil place and calling) civil unrighteouſneſs againſt the ſtate, yet he hath no warrant from Maſter Cottons argument, nor any from the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, to puniſh ſpiritual unrighteouſneſs againſt the church; and why then ſhould that tearm of unrighteouſneſs ſo generally and fallaciouſly go undiſtinguiſhed, and Maſter Cotton thus promiſ…uo…ſly proclaime idolatry is unrighteouſneſs, hereſie is unrighteonſneſs, and therefore the civil Magiſtrate is bound to puniſh, &c?
2. But oh that this maxime alleadged by Maſter Cotton might receive its due weight and conſideration! hath Chriſt commanded all means, as well as the duty? what then is the reaſon that ſince (as Maſter Cotton argues) that Chriſt hath commanded all the civil powers of the world ſuch a ſpiritual duty, and yet (I ſay)Foule imputations againſt Christ Jeſus. that all or moſt of the civil ſtates of the world (beyond compariſon) are not furniſhed by Chriſt with thoſe chief means, of grace and light, whereby to try and ſearch, as Maſter Cotton exhorteth? Or▪ (in ſome few places, where means of light are vouchſafed) with hearts and ſpirits unto ſuch a duty? May we not here ſay, that men make Chriſt Jeſus (in appointing ſuch officers, ſuch a duty, without furniſhing them accordingly) to forget that maxime of his Type Solomon (Prov. 26.) He that ſendeth a meſſage by the hand of a fool cutteth off the leg, and drinketh dammage? Did not Chriſt know (as well as John) that all the world lay in wickedneſs, that all the world (in a reſpect) was then Roman Paganiſh▪ and that all the world in after-ages would wonder after the beaſt, and become Roman Popiſh? Or can we imagineChriſt permiteth Tyrants over his churches Saints, but appointeth none but his true ſpiritual Miniſters. that Chriſt Jeſus did not foreſee the cutting off of legs, and the cup of dammage and loſs which he muſt drink, in ſending his minde and will into the world by ſuch fooliſh inſtruments?
Peace.
Surely Maſter Cotton would never adviſe the civil ſtate ty ſend a weighty cauſe and the lives of ſouldiers with ſuch captaines: Nor will he ſet an unruly childe under the rod of ſuch teachers or reformers: He will not ſet forth his Farme or betruſt his cattel no not his very hogs to ſuch keepers.
Truth.
On the other hand▪ let the government of Chriſts Chriſt Jeſus his careful and moſt wiſe proviſion for his kingdome.kingdome be laid upon the right ſhoulders, and we ſhall finde the admirable wiſdome and care of Chriſt, in the affaires of his kingdom, in appointing ſuch meſſengers or Apoſtles to gather and found his churches, as alſo ordinary Paſtors Shepherds or teachers, for their feeding and building up &c.
The qualification of theſe the Spirit of God hath expreſly and exactly recorded wherein (according to the principle mentioned by Maſter Cotton) Chriſt Jeſus his higheſt care and wiſdome ſhines moſt gloriouſly in appointing the means as well as the duty it ſelf.
Peace.
But Maſter Cotton addeth, that the cauſes of religion, wherein we allow the civil Magiſtrate to be Judges, are ſo fundamental and palpable▪ that no Magiſtrate ſtudious of Religion in the fear of God, cannot but judge: ſuch as cannot, they ought to forbear, &c. the exerciſe of their power, either in protecting or puniſhing matters of Religion▪ till they learn ſo much knowledge of the truth, as may inable them to diſcerne of things that differ. This forbearance of theirs (ſaith he) is not for want of authority in their callings, nor for want of duty in their conſciences▪ but want of evidence to them in the cauſe: In which caſe Magiſtrates are wont to forbear their exerciſe of power and judgement even in civil caſes.
Truth.
O the miſerable allowance which Maſter Cotton hath brought the kings and governors of the world unto! We allow them (ſaith he) to judge in ſuch fundamentals and palpable The Cleargies evil dealing with the civil Magistrate.cauſes, &c. Oh with what proud and domineering feet do all Popes tread upon the necks even of the higheſt kings and Emperors! The Magiſtrate muſt wait at their gates for their poor allowance: They ſhall judge, and they ſhall not judge: They ſhall judge that which is groſs and palpable, and enough to hold the people in ſlavery, and to force them to ſacrifice to the Prieſts belly; but the more ſublime and nicer myſteries they muſt not judge or touch, but attend upon the tables of the Prieſts infallibility.
Peace.
Concerning fundamentals (dear truth) you have well obſerved, that ſince the apoſtacy, and the worlds wondring afterThe nature of a church, but lately diſcovered ſince the apoſtaſie. the beaſt, even Gods ſervants themſelves (untill yeſterday) have not ſo much as heard of ſuch a kind of church (and ſo conſequently of ſuch a Chriſt the head of it) as Maſter Cotton now profeſſeth: For▪ no other matter and forme of a church (about which Maſter Cotton juſtly contends) was known I ſay among Gods people themſelves, (till yeſterday) then the matter and form of the ſtone or woodden Pariſh-church.
Truth.
Yea an happy man were Mr. Cotton could he rectifie and ſettle thoſe foundations which are yet ſo controverted amongſt Gods ſervants, to wit, the Doctrine of Baptiſmes, and laying on of hands.
Peace.
You may alſo mention other foundations, which want not their great diſputes among the ſervants of Chriſt.
Truth.
But further, that Chriſt Jeſus the wiſdome of the Father, ſhould commit his wife, his church▪ to be governed in his abſence by ſuch who generally know not the church and Saints but cruelly and blaſphemouſly perſecute them with fire and ſword, and this with charge to ſuſpend moſt Magiſtrates of the world, andMonſtrous Suſpentions. that all their dayes from generation to generation, as appeareth in all parts of the world which is ſuch a monſtrous and blaſphemous Paradox, that common reaſon cannot digeſt, nor ſuffer.
Peace.
If Merchants and owners of ſhips ſhould commit their veſſels to ſuch men as wanted ability to ſteer their courſes, nay could not tell what a ſhip was yea were never like to know all their dayes ſurely it were not only matter of admiration, but even of laughter and deriſion, among all the ſons of men.
Truth.
But further, How weak is that diſtinstion which Maſter Cotton makes between authority of calling, and duty and evidence in the cauſe, when in all judicatures in the whole world, even amongſt the Pagans, there is neceſſarily ſuppoſed beſide theſe three,Spiritual courts and Judges. a fourth to wit, ability or skill of diſcerning or judging in ſuch caſes: Now cognizance of the cauſe or evidence of the cauſe may be wanting in moſt able judges, where matters are not proper or not ripe for hearing and trials; whereas our diſpute is of the very ability or skil of judging, which Maſter Cotton himſelf confeſſeth is wanting, except in ſuch Magiſtrates as fear God, which will be found to be but a little flock, eſpecially compared with the many thouſands and ten thouſands of thoſe who neither know God nor Chriſt, nor care to know them, and this in all the ſtates, regions and civil governments of the world.