The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 54
CHAP. LIV, Replying to Chap. LVI. Examined.
Peace.
IN this 56 Chap. were obſerved two evils in Mr. Cottons conjoyning of ſeducing teachers, and ſcandalous livers, as the proper and adequate object of the Magiſtrates care and work to ſuppreſs and puniſh: Unto which Maſter Cotton replies, Firſt, That he no where makes it the proper and adequate object of the Magiſtrates care and work to ſuppreſs ſeducing teachers, and ſcandalous livers ſaying, that it ought to be the care of the church to ſuppreſs and puniſh ſeducing teachers, and ſcandalous livers in a church-way, as well as the Magiſtrates in a civil way.
Truth.
By this Doctrine, Maſter Cotton will ſeem to deny it,Touching falſe and ſeducing Teachers. to be the Magiſtrates proper and adequate object to puniſh ſcandalous livers, becauſe the church alſo (ſaith he) is to make it her work alſo.
It is true, if a ſcandalous liver be of the church, and fall into any ſcandal, ſhe by the ruls and power of Chriſt ought to recover him in the ſpirit of meekneſs: but yet the puniſhing of him with temporal puniſhment, who will deny it to be the proper work of the civil ſtate?
But (Secondly) what if the ſeducing teacher, or ſcandalous liver, be neither of them members of the Church (and the church hath nought to do to judge them without) will not Maſter Cotton then affirm the ſeducing Teacher, or ſcandalous, liver to be the proper and adequate object of the Magiſtrates care and work?
Peace.
When it was excepted againſt that things of ſuch a different nature and kind, as ſeducing Teachers, and ſcandalous livers, ſhould be coupled together at the civil Bar? Maſter Cotton replies▪ that both theſe agree in one common kind, to wit, they are evil and deſtructive to the common good of Gods people, which ought to be preſerved both in church and Commonweal: If a man ſhall ſay (ſaith he) that the work of creation on the ſixth day, was either of man or of Beaſt, is here any ſuch commi… ture.Monſtrous Mixture.
Truth.
Were Maſter Cotton the worlds Monarch, what bloody reformations or deſtructions rather, would he fill the world withal▪ if he walk by ſuch rules and principles? for, what religions or almoſt men (all the world over) would he finde not oppoſite and deſtructive to Gods people.
2. But (Secondly) an hiſtorical narration of Gods works on man or Beaſt, Birds, Fiſhes, and all creatures Coeleſtial and Terreſtial The great difference of evil and ſin, as againſt the civil or ſpiritual eſtate.is one thing: But to mix them together in doings or ſufferings inconſiſtent with▪ and improper to their kinds is another thing, far different and inſufferable: As for a man to affirme that a man and a beaſt …in'd againſt their Maker, and therefore were juſtly puniſhed with ſpiritual blindneſs and hardneſs of heart, loſs of Gods Image &c. The ſame difference and no leſs is between tranſgreſſors againſt the heavenly ſtate and kingdome of Christ, and the earthly ſtate or Commonweal of Cities, kingdomes, &c.
Peace.
Maſter Cotton adds, that it is more tolerable for ſeducing Teachers to ſeduce thoſe who are in the ſame gall of bitterneſs, as for Pagans to ſeduce Pagans &c.
Truth.
That is but in the degree, and ſo (according to his ſuppoſition) muſt be puniſhed gradually; but what is this to prove ſeducing Teachers as well as ſcandalous livers, the joynt object of the civil ſword?
Peace.
Why doth Maſter ſay it is more tolerable for Pagans to ſeduce Pagans Antichriſtians Antichriſtians? What Scripture doth he produce for this toleration this indulgence, this partiality? All that is here ſaid, is this, We look at it as more tolerable?
Truth.
One thing is ſhroudly to be ſuſpect in this matter, andGroſs partiality the bloody doctrine of perſebution. that is a moſt unchriſtian partiality, in directing the ſword of the Magiſtrate to fall heavieſt on ſuch ſeducers only, as trouble his conſcience, his Doctrine▪ Worſhip, and Government: ſuppoſe in ſome of the Cities of Holland, Poland, or Turkie (where ſome freedome is) that Jews▪ Pagans, Antichriſtians and Chriſtians (that is Chriſtians of Maſter Cottons conſcience) together with Turkes were commingled in civil cohabitation and commerce together: Why now ſhall that Turke that hath ſeduced one of Maſter Cottons conſcience to Mahumetani…me be more puniſhed for that crime then for turning a Jew▪ Pagan or Papiſt to his Relief and worſhip? What warrant ſhall the Magiſtrate of ſuch a city or place finde to their ſouls, either for ſtriking at all with the civil ſword in ſuch a caſe? or elſe in dealing ſuch partial blows among the people?
Peace.
I fear that Gods own people (of this opinion) ſee not the deceitfulneſs of their own heart, crying up the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, Nurſing fathers, Nurſing mothers▪ &c. when all is but to eſcape the bitter ſweeting of Chriſts Great ſhifting …o …ſ…: Chriſts croſs.croſs, ſo daſhing in pieces the moſt wiſe councels of the father, concerning his bleſſed Son and his followers, to whom he hath (ordinarily) alotted in this world, the portion of ſorrow and ſuffering, and of raigning and triumphing, after the battel fought and victory obtained in the world approaching.
Peace.
But Maſter Cotton will ſay, that in ſuch fore-mentioned caſes, ſuch Magiſtrates muſt ſuſpend puniſhments for religion, &c.
Truth.
I ſay, conſequently all or moſt of the Magiſtrates in the world muſt ſuſpend and none but ſome few of his conſcience (by his doctrine) ſhall be found fit, to uſe the civil ſword, in matter of Religion, and that is (in plaine Engliſh) to fight only for his conſcience.
Peace.
But to proceed it will be hard (ſaith Maſter Cotton) for the diſcuſſer to finde Antichriſtian ſeducers clear from diſobedience to the civil laws of the ſtate, in caſe that Antichriſt (to whom they are ſworn) ſhall excommunicate the civil magiſtrate, and preſcribe the civil ſtate to the invaſion of his followers.
Truth.
Moſt properly ſeducing teachers ſin againſt the church and ſpiritual kingdome of Chriſt Jeſus, which if erected and governed according to Chriſt Jeſus, ſhe is a Caſtel or Fort ſufficientlyChriſtian weapons. provided with all ſorts of heavenly ammunition againſt all ſorts of her ſpiritual adverſaries: yea and in the deſolation of the churches (during the Apoſtacy) Chriſt Jeſus (as I have elſewhere obſerved) hath not left his witneſſes deſtitute of terrible defence againſt all gaineſayers: But grant (what Maſter Cotton ſuppoſeth) ſuch ſeducers from obedience to the civil ſtate &c. Such as the Seminaries and bringers over of Pope Pius the 5 his Bul againſt Queen Elizabeth &c. The anſwer is ſhort and pla… ▪ civil officers bear not the ſword in vain, when the civil ſtate is aſſaulted as the ſpiritual officers and governors of the church bear not in vain the ſpiritual and two-edged ſword coming out of the mouth of Chriſt.
Peace.
Whereas now (ſecondly) there▪ was obſerved by the Diſcuſſer in ſuch coupling of [ſeducing teachers & ſcandalous livers] a ſilent and implicite juſtification of the Jews and Gentiles their coupling Chriſt Jeſus and his followers, as ſeducing teachers with ſcandalous livers, Chriſt between two thieves, &c. The ſum of what Maſter Cotton replies, is▪ that the Lord Jeſus and his followers ſuffering under thoſe names, weakens not the hand of Authority to puniſh ſuch who are ſeducing teachers & ſcandalous livers.Chriſt Jeſus betwen two Thieves.
Truth.
It hath ever been the portion of the Lord Jeſus and his followers (for the moſt part theirs onelyonly) to be accounted ſeducing teachers, deceivers and cheaters of the people, blaſphemous againſt God, ſeditious againſt the State; and accordingly to be numbred (as Chriſt Jeſus between two thieves) both in eſteem and puniſhment with ſcandalous and notorious malefactors; and this for no other cauſe, but cauſe of conſcience in ſpiritual matters, and moſt commonly for differing from and witneſſing againſt the ſeveral State and City-Religions and Worſhips wherein they lived.
Peace.
If the Jews (notwithſtanding their fair colours to the contrary) walking in the doctrine of Perſecution for conſcience, juſtified their fathers for murthering the Prophets, &c. I cannot (dear Truth) but ſubſcribe to your ſorrowful obſervation that Maſter Cotton and others (otherwiſe excellent ſervants of God) in coupling ſeducing teachers and ſcandalous livers, as the proper object for the civil ſword to ſtrike at, they do no other but act the Jews true Antitype, coupling Chriſt Jeſus the ſeducing teacher with Barabbas the ſcandalous liver and murtherer.
Truth.
Yea, and who ſees not how often Barabbas the ſcandalous liver is cried out of the Magiſtrates hands by the ſcandalous people, while Chriſt Jeſus in his ſervants is cried to the Croſs, to the Gallows, to the Stake, to Baniſhment, &c. Their Perſecutors alſo are applauded, for (not perſecuting men for their Conſciences, but) righteouſly, legally (and with great ſorrow) puniſhing themThe horible Hypocriſie of all perſecutors for ſinning againſt their own conſcience, for diſturbing of the civil State and peace, for contemning of Magiſtrates, Kings Queens, and Parliaments, for blaſpheming God, and for ſeducing and deſtroying the ſouls of the people.