The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 64
Exam: of Chap. 64. replying to Chap. 67.
Peace.
VVHen it was queſtioned, what good to the Soules or Bodies of their Subjects did thoſe Princes bring in perſecuting! Mr Cotton produceth a good …i…fold that is brought to Princes and Subjects by the due puniſhment of Apoſtates, Seducers, Idolaters, and Blaſphemers.
Truth.
Let all that feare God and Mr Cotton himſelfe be perſwaded to obſerve, whether under this faire cloake of puniſhing theſe and theſe ſpirituall ſinners, he maintaine not ſtrongly (what elſewhere he denies) to wit, Perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience. But we know the Evaſion. It is not for Apoſtatizing, ſeducing out of Conſcience, but after Conviction, againſt their Conſcience, &c.
Peace.
You have before ſatisfied me (beſides other Paſſages)Ʋnchriſtian Tribunalls. with this one, that to this End of diſcerning the poore Hereticks ſinning againſt his Conſcience, the Civill State, the Earth, the World muſt neceſſarily Erect its Tribunall, to judge not onelyonly Civill Things, but even the Heart and Conſcience alſo; but now to Mr Cottons five-fold good.
Firſt (ſayth he) it puts away Evill from the People, by cutting off a Gangrene which would ſpread to further ungodlineſſe, Deut. 13. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 1. 6. 7. 13.
Truth.
I anſwer, theſe Scriptures (though pure and holy inDent. 13. 5. & 2 Tim. 2. 16. Ʋnchriſtianly conjoyned. their places, yet) are here coupled together as Linſey Wollſey, contrary to the Law. Deut. 13. which concerns the typicall Nationall Church, uſing Nationall & temporall Weapons: The 2 Tim. 2. concernes the Particular Congregations or Churches of Chriſtians, uſing onelyonly the Sword of Gods Spirit, the Word of God, &c.
Beſide, Deut. 13. concerned ſuch a People whom the Lord brought forth of Aegypt with Miracles, into Canaan, &c. Let any ſuch People be now produced, excepting the Chriſtian (particular) Churches. Why doth Mr Cotton then alledge this Scripture ſo frequently, and in theſe five Reaſons brings two from hence; This the firſt; and the Third, to wit, that all the People may heare and feare, &c. which is alone made good in the Antitype or Chriſtian Church; according to that 1 Tim. 5. 20. Rebuke them that ſinne openly, that others may learne to feare.
2. Peace.
Mr Cotton mentioneth a ſecond good, which is driving away Wolves from worrying and ſcattering the Sheepe of Chriſt.
Truth.
This was largely anſwered in diſcourſing the nature of myſticall or ſpirituall Wolves, upon that very place which he quotes, Acts 20. From whence it may evidently appeare that from the literall urging of ſuch myſticall Scriptures, all Peoples and Nations are enforced (and that Conſcientiouſly) like Wolves and Lyons to teare and devoure each other.
3. Peace.
Mr Cotton addes, that Puniſhments are wholeſome Medicines to ſuch as are curable of ſuch Evills, Zach. 13. 4, 5, 6.
Truth.
I anſwer; All the holy Appointments of God are moſt powerfull (in their ſeverall reſpective ſeaſons, and manner of Diſpenſations, to his owne moſt holy Ends and purpoſes, &c. The Materiall Nationall Sword in the Nationall Church of Iſrael before Chriſt: and the Spirituall Sword, in the ſpirituall and Chriſtian Church ſince his comming to aboliſh thoſe ſhadowes.
As it was therefore in vaine to have cut off or Excommunicated Touching Excommunication in Iſrael.ſpiritually in that Nationall State: So is it in vaine to uſe the materiall or carnall Sword in the ſpirituall. Wherefore (according to this place of Zach.) a true penitent will bleſſe God for the Wounds of Friends and Lovers (faithfull and ſharpe dealing) and for Deliverance from the Kiſſe of deceitfull flatterie: But what is this to prove (that which is ſo much denied) to wit, Corporall Death or Wounds now to be inflicted upon falſe Teachers in theſe times of the Goſpel, and that in all parts and Nations of the World.
4. Peace.
The puniſhment, ſayth Mr Cotton, executed upon falſe Prophets and ſeducing Teachers, doe bring downe Showres of Gods bleſſing upon the Civill State, 1 King. 18. 40, 41.
Truth.
If that Nationall State of Iſraell, and that Nationall orAnſ: Corporeall killing of ſo many hundreth falſe Prophets, and that literall drouth and literall ſhowres of Raine and plentie were figures of no other Prophets and ſlaughters, drouth and ſhowers, but literall, materiall, and corporeall, (now ſince the Body and Subſtance Chriſt Jeſus is come): What ſhould hinder but that thoſe Prieſts of Iſrael, and Sacrifices, and Temple, and Nationall Church ſhould all be in force, for our Imitation, literally, the one as well as …he other?
Peace.
I cannot poſſibly conceive but that (all being of the ſame Nature,) the one is Typicall as well as the other, and that they muſt flouriſh and be glorious (as Gods Ordinances,) or vaniſh and diſappeare (giving place to brighter diſpenſations) at the ariſing of Chriſt Jeſus the Son of Righteouſneſſe.
Truth.
Hence falſe Apoſtles, falſe Teachers, falſe Prophets, areSpirituall Bleſſings and Curſes the Antitypes of Corporall before Chriſt. Spiritually cut off, Revel. 2. 2 Pet. 2. Gal. 4. And ſpirituall ſhowres of Bleſſings deſcend upon the Iſrael of God; for although corporeall Bleſſings of Food and Raiment and plentie, are Gods bleſſings, yet principally under the Goſpel God bleſſeth his Iſrael, the Antitype with ſpirituall Bleſſings, Eph. 1. Houſes, Lands, Fathers, Mothers, Children, &c. with perſecution, Mark. 10.
Peace.
Me thinks (Deare Truth) If Chriſt Jeſus had appointedGreat overſight imputed to Chriſt Jeſus. ſuch puniſhments, ſuch executions, literall, in the Chriſtian Church, he would alſo have appointed Offices and Officers ſuitable and proper for ſuch Ends and purpoſes, ſuch puniſhments, ſuch executions.
Truth.
It cannot otherwiſe with Reaſon and common prudence If civill puniſhments for ſpirituall offences: they muſt be inflicted by holy and Chriſtian Inſtruments and Officers.be ſuppoſed, but that, if Chriſt Jeſus had appointed (which we finde not in his holy Teſtament) holy and Chriſtian Magiſtrates for thoſe great decrees and ſentences, wee ſhould alſo have read of his holy Conſtables, holy Sergeants, holy Priſons, holy Stocks, holy Whipping Poſts, holy Gibbets, and holy Tyburnes; together alſo with holy Hangmen, the ſpirituall Inſtruments and Officers of Chriſt Jeſus, for the Executions of his holy puniſhments upon Apoſtates, Hereticks, Blaſphemers, Idolaters, Seducers, &c.
5. Peace.
Gods Juſtice (ſayth Mr Cotton) is honoured in the Execution of ſuch Judgements, Revel. 16. 5, 6.
1. Truth.
I have (to my underſtanding) formerly ſhewed Mr Cottons miſtake in his expounding of this third Violl, and have preſented an Expoſition more agreeable with the ſcope of this Prophecie.
Peace. 2.
God was honoured in all his Judgements which the Tyrants of the World have executed, (the Babylonian, Perſian, Grecian, Romane) yet not by way of Law and Ordinance, but in the way of his holy providence and juſt permiſſion.
3. Truth.
Yea the Witneſſes of Jeſus, by the two-edged Sword of God in their Mouths, execute Gods Judgements, to the vindicating of Gods Glory, and their Innocencie, (Revel. 11.) although they uſed no carnall Weapon.
4. The holy Name of God is much diſhonoured and prophaned, when the Inventions of Men are ſet up, againſt his holy Appointments, A true Chriſt, a true Sword; a falſe Chriſt, a falſe Sword.and when the Sword of Steele (in ſpirituall caſes) is drawen in ſtead of the ſpirituall Sword, proceeding out of the Mouth of Chriſt Jeſus in his ſervants Teſtimonie. All ſuch worſhip, is but vaine or idle worſhip (Mark. 7.) and ſuch is the carnall Sword and Executions of it.
Peace.
Whereas it was obſerved, that Mr Cotton acknowledged that Queene Elizabeth had well neere fired all Europe, by ſuch Executions, Mr Cotton anſwers, God bore witneſſe to his Truth in Deliverances: And when it was replyed, that Succeſſe doth not prove cauſes true, Mr Cotton anſwers, yes; Pſal. 1. 3, 4. Jer. 22. 15, 16, 17.
Truth.
I reply, Temporall proſperitie, ſucceſſe, &c. were proper in that Temporall and Civill State, of that Nationall Church, and ſpirituall Bleſſing and proſperitie proper in the Goſpel now, Epheſ. 1.
Peace. 2.
It was anſwered that God had given victorie to the Papiſts, eſpecially againſt the Waldenſes (and the Beaſt makes warre againſt the Witneſſes, Revel. 11. and overcomes them, &c.) Mr Cotton herein firſt obſerveth a Contradiction, in the words, to wit, that the Papiſts ever had the victorie, and yet their ſucceſſe hath been various.
Truth.
I reply; the words are not that the Papiſts had ever the Victory, but that they ever had both Victory and Dominion; which words may be true, although that the Event were ſometimes various.
2. Peace.
Againe (ſayth Mr Cotton) Queene Elizabeth ever had the Victorie againſt the Papiſts.
Truth.
I anſwer; Many gracious Deliverances God vouchſafedQ: Elizabeth her wars againſt the Papiſts. to Q: Elizabeth, yet ſometimes her Armies proſpered not againſt the Papiſts, as in that famous Expedition of Eſſex, Drake and Norris (though in a moſt righteous cauſe,) againſt the Papiſts of Spaine and Portugall, as alſo againſt the Papiſts in Ireland and the Low Countries, at ſometimes.
2. Grant not onelyonly Deliverances, but Victories and Succeſſe, Her cauſe (how ever intermingled) was civill Defence of her Kingdome, againſt Invation and Ambition, Dominion and Conqueſt, by practices of Tyrannie and oppreſſion, both againſt the Engliſh and the Hollanders (eſpecially) as appeared by the horrible Exactions, Outrages, Murthers and Slaughters committed upon them by D'alva the King of Spaines Generall.
Peace.
But although the Papiſts (ſayth Mr Cotton) fought with various ſucceſſe, yet it is Gods manner to nurture his People with ſome croſſes, to teach them not to fight in their owne ſtrength, &c.
Truth.
Yea and it might alſo teach them not to fight but with Chriſts Weapons in Chriſts Cauſe; who hath ſaid, That all that take the Sword, that is, (as I conceive) in Chriſts cauſe, ſhall periſh by it, Matth. 26. 52.
3. Peace.
Concerning the Walldenſes Mr Cotton ſayth, TheyThe Warres of the Waldenſes. never loſt Victorie, but when they complied with the Papiſts, and truſted more to their falſe praetences, then to the Lord. And he adds, that it is not true, that the finall ſucceſſe of Victorie fell to the Papiſts, to the utter extirpation of thoſe Walldenſes; for ſayth he, thoſe Witneſſes were not extirpated but diſperſed.
Truth.
For their Complying with Papiſts, alas, what can Gods little flock, his two Witneſſes doe with carnall weapons, unleſſe aſſiſted by carnall Men, to whom this carnall courſe cauſeth them to bow downe, diſſemble, lye, &c. as holy David with Achiſh and his Philiſtims.
2. For the Succeſſe it is evident that the Waldenſes and their Adherents, were ſo defeated by the Popes Armies, that in reſpect of any power to reſiſt, the Armies of the Waldenſes were wholly extirpated, although it is true (through Gods o're-powring hand) the Truths of Chriſt (which the holy Waldenſian Witneſſes teſtified) were more and more propagated by their Diſperſions, Acts 8. & 11.Chriſt Jeſus gaines more by preaching his Truth in a flying perſecuted diſperſion, then by fighting on Horſbacke with carnall weapons in carnall companies, &c.
4. Peace.
But, whereas it was obſerved from Daniell and John their Prophecies, that Antichriſt was foretold to obtaine great ſucceſſe againſt Chriſt Jeſus, for a time determined: Mr Cotton ſayth, Not againſt Chriſt Jeſus, but his Servants, and that either in Suffring for his Truth, or when they ill handled his Cauſe.
Truth.
Be it ſo, yet the Propheſies were true, and truely were fullfilled, and it is Gods Counſell that for the time appointed, Chriſt Jeſus in his Truths and Servants is deſpiſed, Pſal. 89. &c. How can then temporall victorie and proſperitie be expected by Chriſts followers for Chriſts Cauſe, or the temporall Sword be an Ordinance for Chriſts ſpirituall Kingdome and Worſhip?
5. Peace.
Now laſtly, when the weapons of the Saints Victories Chriſtian weapons.were mentioned three; (Revel. 12.) 1. Chriſts Bloud. 2. The Word of their Teſtimonie. 3. Their owne Bloud: Mr Cotton anſwers; this is true in private Chriſtians: But (ſayth he) the Sword of Gideon, the publike Magiſtrate is the Lords Sword, &c. when drawen out for Gods cauſe and Worſhip, according to God, is Victorious, Revel. 17. with Revel. 19. 14. 19, 20.
Truth.
I anſwer; Gideons Sword (if well examined) will be found a Figure of that ſharpe Sword of that great Captaine and Generall Chriſt Jeſus. This Sword comes forth of his Mouth in theChriſts Sword. Preachings and Writings of his Servants: other ſword we never finde he uſed in all his Battells againſt all his Adverſaries: yea even againſt the Devill himſelfe and his Inſtruments.
Peace.
Yea, thoſe very Victories of the Saints, Revel. 19. areChriſts Warres and Victories, Revel. 17. expreſſely won with that Sword which comes forth of his Mouth: And his owne white Horſe, and the Horſes of his Followers, and the white Linnen with which they are clothed, cannot with any ſhew of Chriſtian Reaſon hould forth the carnall praeparation of white Horſes, (literally) Guns, Swords, &c. But of the Word of Meekneſſe, Innocencie and Righteouſneſſe (which is interpreted the Fine Linnen, verſ. 8.)
Truth.
To ſhut up this Chapter, Gideons Armie and Artillerie and Victorie, cannot be type of ſuch Materiall Armies, Artillerie, Gideons Army typicall.and Victories, but of a Spirituall Armie, fighting with the Light and Teſtimonie of Gods Truth openly proclaimed, and the chearefull breaking of the earthen Veſſells of their Bodies for Chriſts Cauſe, when in concluſion, the Antichriſtian Midianites (by their Diviſions and Combuſtions) run their Swords in each others Bowells, with mutuall ſlaughters and Deſtructions; as woefull experiences hath declared.