The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 62
Exam: of Chap. 62. replying to Chap. 65.
Peace.
VVHen Mr Cotton was juſtly obſerved to uſe the Language of Lyon-like perſecution in theſe words, [More and greater Princes then theſe you mention have not tollerated Hereticks and Schiſmaticks, notwithſtanding their pretence of Conſcience, and their arrogating the Crowne of Martyrdome to their ſuffrings] He defendeth ſuch Language by the Scripture Freedome in ſuch Tearmes againſt Sinners, which ſayth he, the Diſcuſſer acknowledgeth.
Truth.
In holy Scripture are many Expreſſions full of Holineſſe, No Booke or Writing ever ſo abuſed as the holy Writing & Scripture of God is.Gravitie, Love, Meekneſſe, &c. which yet are wreſted by us poore Men to unholy and unchriſtian Ends and purpoſes. How many wofully pervert many grave and heavenly Paſſages and Expreſſions of holy Scripture to baſe and filthy Jeaſting? How many from ſome ſharp Expreſſions of Chriſt Jeſus and Paul (in caſes) take licence to raile and call Men all to naught, in Wrath, Revenge, and Paſſion? And how many out of pride and falſe zeale trampling upon the Heads and Conſciences of all Men, are ready (not in an holy Meeke and Chriſtian way but) in a Phariſaicall, Biſhop-like The Language of perſecutours.and Pope-like way, to roare and thunder out againſt Gods meekeſt Servants the odious tearmes of Hereticks, Schiſmaticks, Blaſphemers, Seducers, &c. Which tearmes though uſed in holy Scripture, yet never in ſuch a way, as commonly and conſtantly the bloudie and perſecuting expreſſe themſelves in.
Peace.
But what or whom meanes Mr Cotton in this paſſage, what Language have they learned, who in point of worſhip have left Zion, but not the Gates and Suburbes of Babylon, for they ſet up Bull-warkes of Impunitie to ſecure them.
Truth.
Surely Mr Cotton knowes that none that plead againſt the Civill Power and Weapons in Spirituall Matters, but they alſo maintaine, that, there ought to be in vigorous uſe the Spirituall and two edged Sword that comes forth of Chriſts Mouth (not for the Impunitie but) for the Ruine and Deſtruction of all Babells …ra…s and Abominations.
Peace.
Mr Cotton ſpends many lines, and quotes Auſtin to prove, that Julians End of tollerating Hereſie to grow, was to choake Chriſtianitie.
Truth.
What ever were Julians End, yet I deny that Tolleration Julian his Tolleration.of the weedes of Hereſie and blaſphemous Religion (Paganiſh, Turkiſh, Jewiſh, Popiſh) in the field of the Civill State and World, hath power to choake the vitalls of Chriſtianitie in the Garden or Bodie the Church of Chriſt Jeſus.
And concerning Infection, It is to be obſerved that whenTouching Infection of falſe Doctrine, &c. the holy Scripture ſpeakes by the Similitudes of Leaven, Gangrene, or Poyſonfull weedes, of Wolves, or ſcabbed ſheepe, &c. it is commonly with reſpect to ſuch Evills got in among the Saints and Churches, the Flocks and Gardens of Chriſt, where ſuch Leaven, weedes, &c. tollerated may ſpread and infect: But what is this to the Lyons, Beares, or Wolves, not to be ſuffered in the Wilderneſſe, or Swine, or Dogs, in the common high wayes; or weedes in the Common or Foreſt, which all may be, and yet the Garden, Body, and Flock of Chriſt be pure and ſafe from ſuch Infection.
Peace.
One paſſage more is very Conſiderable. In former Diſcourſe about the Tares Mr Cotton was large in proving the permiſſion of weedes, even in the Church of Chriſt, and that untill Chriſts Comming, and that after they be diſcovered to be Hypocrites.
Truth.
O what a Diſtance is between that Doctrine and thisHypocrites tollerated in the Church, but not in the World. here? There the Tares muſt not be touched in the Garden of the Church, here they muſt not be ſuffred abroad in the field of the World, for feare of choaking the good plants in the Garden of Chriſt. Who can finde out how theſe Doctrines ſuit with Godlineſſe, with Reaſon, or Themſelves?
Peace.
But now you ſpeake of ſuiting: It is (ſayth Mr Cotton) (for a cloſe) a plaine Contradiction of the Diſcuſſers former Speech to ſay, that perſecuting of others was a meanes of choaking Chriſtianitie, whereas he had ſaid, that Conſtantines unknowing zeale did more hurt to Chriſts Kingdome, then the raging furie of the moſt bloudie Neroes.
Truth.
Let the words be well weighed, and no ſuch Affirmation will be found: The words are, [It was not when Chriſtians lodged in cold Priſons, but in Down… Beds of Eaſe, and perſecuted others.] The Diſcuſſer made not perſecution to be a meanes of choaking Chriſtianitie, but attributes the Loſſe of Chriſtians Life and Love, to thoſe Beds of their abuſed Sweete proſperitie.
2. If he had made perſecution a meanes to choake Chriſtianitie, it had been the perſecution of Chriſtians among Themſelves, and not the perſecution of bloudie Neroes: Which yet if it had been ſo, it might yet be no Contradiction, for Neroes perſecution might doe hurt, although Conſtantines unknowing zeale might doe much more.