The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 51 – Chapter 51
Examination of CHAP. LI.
Peace.
TO the fourth Argument (Rom. 13.) from the civil rewards due to Magiſtrates; to wit▪ cuſtom▪ Tribute &c. Maſter Cotton replies▪ That even the contributions of the Saints, are called carnal things; ſhall therefore their work be called carnal? Of cuſtome tribute, &c.It is true (ſaith he) the contributions of the Saints are called holy, becauſe they are given to God for his ſervice about holy things; So the reward given to Magiſtrates, is for their ſervice about Righteous things: And it is righteous (ſaith he) to preſerve the purity of Doctrine VVorſhip and Government▪ which if Magiſtrates do not, they do not deſerve all their wages.
Truth.
It is true that money or monies-worth is the ſame for value in the contribution of the Saints, and in that of cuſtome, tribute and yet Maſter Cotton grants a Holineſs of the Saints contribution, which he doth not affirme of cuſtome, tribute, &c.
There is alſo a two fold way diſputed, of preſerving of the puritySpiritual defence for ſpiritual right, &c. of Doctrine▪ worſhip, &c.
Firſt, That which I plead for, by ſpiritual weapons appointed by Chriſt Ieſus.
Secondly, that of Civil weapons, Force of Armes &c. which Maſter Cotton affirmes, and I deny to be ever appointed by Chriſt Ieſus, or able to accompliſh a ſpiritual end, but the Contrary.
Peace.
Me thinks Maſter Cottons addition not a little concernes my ſelf in the peace of all Citties and Kingdomes: for if (as Maſter Cotton ſaith) Magiſtrates ſhall not deſerve all their wages except they preſerve the purity of Doctrine, worſhip &c. (which upon the point is that Doctrine Worſhip and Government Maſter Cotton approves of) what is this (in effect) but to deny tribute, cuſtome ſubſidies, &c. to Caeſar, the Kings and Governours of the Earth, if they prove Hereticks, Idolaters? &c. I cannot ſee, but this in plaine Engliſh tendeth to little leſs then the Popiſh bloudy Doctrine of depoſing heretical Kings &c.
But Maſter Cotton further adds, that ſpiritual wages are to be paid to Magiſtrates. 1 Tim. 2. to wit, Prayers, Interceſſions &c.Touching prayer for all authority … Tim. …. If therefore (ſaith he) the Magiſtrates ſuffer their Subjects to live a quiet life in ungodlineſs and Diſhaneſty, the Magiſtrate fals ſhort of returning ſpiritual recompence for the ſpiritual Duties and ſervices performed for them.
Truth.
Thoſe prayers are not the proper wages paid to Magiſtrates for their work; for then ſhould they not be paid (as the Spirit of God there exhorteth) to all men, whether Magiſtrates or not.
Peace.
And I may add, nor paid to thoſe Magiſtrates that are Idolatrous, Blaſphemous, Perſecutors: But thoſe prayers were to be poured forth for ſuch Magiſtrates (ſuch as moſt of the Magiſtrates in the world then were and are.) Thoſe prayers then were a general Duty to be paid to all men, and eſpecially to the chiefe and principal, Kings and all that are in Authority.
Truth.
Now further, wherein it is ſaid, that ſuch Magiſtrates as ſuffer the people to live in ungodlineſs, fall ſhort in returning ſpiritual Recompence: I anſwer, By this Doctrine, moſt of the free InhabitantsCroſs Slavery. of the world who live in ignorance of God and in abominable Religions without him muſt yet be ſuppoſed to chooſe and ſet up ſuch Miniſters or Servants of civil Juſtice amongſt them, who during their termes of adminiſtration or ſervice, ſhould not ſuffer their Chooſers and Makers to enjoy their owne Conſcience, but force them to that, which their Officers ſhall judge to be Godlineſs; but the neck of no free people can bow to ſuch a Yoak and Tyrany.
Peace.
But (laſtly) to that Argument of Rom. 13. from the title which God gives to Magiſtrates to wit, Gods Miniſters, and to the Diſtinction of Spiritual Miniſters for ſpiritual, and civil Miniſters for civil matters; Maſter Cotton replies. If Magiſtrates be Gods Miniſters or Servants then muſt they do hisCivil Miniſters and Spiritual. work, and be for God in matters of Religion: And further ſaith he, Magiſtracy is of God, for light of Nature, and not onelyonly for civil things▪ but alſo in matters of Religion▪ and he produceth divers inſtantces of Pagans zeal for their Religion, and worſhip.
Truth.
Becauſe Magiſtrates are Gods Servants▪ or Miniſters civil, and receive civil wages for their civil ſervice; will it therefore follow that they muſt attend, and that chiefly, and principallyThe God of heaven hath ſeveral ſorts of Miniſters. a ſpiritual work? That noble-man or Lord, that ſets one to keep his children, and another to keep his ſheep▪ expects not of him appointed to keep his ſheep (though a Miniſter or Servant) to attend upon the keeping of his children, nor expects he of the waiter on his children, to attend the keeping of his ſheep.
Tis true, that Magiſtraſie is of God, but yet no otherwiſe then Mariage is being an eſtate meerly civil and humane, and lawfull to all Nations of the World, that know not God.
Tis true that Magiſtrates be of God from the light of nature; but yet, as the Religions of the World, and the worlds zealous contending for them, with perſecuting of others, are fromOrdinarily the Truth is perſecuted. the Father of lies and murther from the beginning; ſo ſeldome is it ſeen, that the nations of the world have perſecuted or puniſhed any for error, but for the truth, condemned for error.
Peace.
Alas, who ſees not that all nations and people bow down to Idels and Images (as all the world did to Nebuchaduezzars Image.) If any amongſt them differ from them, it is commonly in in ſome truths, which God hath ſent amongſt them, for witneſſing of which they are perſecuted.
Truth.
Your obſervation (deare peace) is evident from the caſes of thoſe Philoſophers, by Maſter Cotton alledged; how weak and poor therefore is that Argument from the zeal of Pagans, &c. It is evident that ſuch Builders, frame by no other then that of nature depraved and rotten, and not by the Goulden reed of the glorious goſpel of Chriſt Jeſus.
Examination of CHAP. LI.
Peace.
IN the diſcourſe concerning that terme, Evil, Maſter Cotton produceth Pareus, who makes that Evil puniſhable by the Magiſtrate, fourfold, natural, civil, moral, and ſpiritual.
Truth. That excellent and holy witneſs of Chriſt Jeſus (in many of his precious truths) Pareus being here produced without Scripture or Argument, for the Magiſtrates puniſhing of the fourth ſort of evil; to wit ſpiritual: nor anſwering my Arguments brought againſt ſuch an Interpretation, gives me occaſion of no further anſwer to Maſter Cotton or him in this place.
Peace.
Whereas it was alleadged, that the Elders of the New Engliſh Churches, in the model prohibite (expreſly) the Magiſtrates from the puniſhing or taking notice of ſome Evils, and thatTouching the …ar… Evil, Rom. 13. therefore as they aſcribe to the Civil Magiſtrates, more then God gives, ſo they take away and diſrobe him of that Authority, which God hath cloathed him with: Maſter Cotton replies, when we ſay that the Magiſtrate is an avenger of evil, we mean of all ſorts or kindes of evil, and not every particular of each kind; and further he ſaith, that domeſtick evils may be healed in a domeſtick way.
Truth.
I readily concur with him, that the Magiſtrate may not puniſh evils that he knowes not of in a due and orderly way ſufficiently proved before him; as alſo, that many domeſtick evils are beſt healed in a domeſtick way; but yet that Limitation added, to wit, without acquainting the Church firſt) ſeems to bind the Magiſtrates hand, where no true Church of Chriſt is, to acquaintThe civil Magiſtrate robbed of his civil power. with ſuch things) yea and further where it is why ſhould the Magiſtrate be denied, to exerciſe his power in caſes meerly civil (the old practice of the Popiſh Church?) And to whom ſhould the Servant or Child or Wife, petition and complaine againſt oppreſſion, unleſs to the publike Father, Maſter, and Husband of the Commonweal? And therefore from their own Interpretation▪ they may well ſpare that ſtrict and literal aception of the word evil▪ and ceaſe to cry Hereſie is evil, Idolatrie evil, Blaſphemie evill, &c.