The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 66
Exam: of Chap. 66. replying to Chap. 69.
Peace.
HEre Mr Cotton complaines of wrong, in that the Diſcuſſer chargeth him to plead for perſecution, and yet confeſſeth that he agrees with Hilarie.
Truth.
Mr Cotton indeed agrees with Hilarie in generall profeſſion, that the Goſpel is not to be propagated by Sword, but in particulars he affirmes, the Blaſphemer, the Idolater, the Heretick, the Seducer is to be perſecuted. In the generall he ſaith, the Magiſtrate may not conſtraine any to believe & profeſſe the Truth, yet in particulars; thus far ſaith he, a man may be conſtrained by theA twofold w…y of conſtraint. Magiſtrates withdrawing Countenance and Favour, Incouragement and Employment from him, which affirming, what doth he elſe but affirme that he may be conſtrained, depoſed, puniſhed, that is, perſecuted.
Peace.
Indeed ſuch kinde of puniſhment, as to diſplace men, to keepe them out from all offices, or places of Truſt and Credit (becauſe of difference of Conſcience) may prove in the particular a greater affliction and puniſhment, then a Cenſure, a Fine, Impriſonment, yea ſometimes more bitter to ſome Spirits then Death it ſelfe.
Truth.
Yea and Mr Cottons ground is both unſafe and darke, and needs a candle of Light to diſcover the bottome and compaſſe of it: Such, ſaith he, as walke not according to their Light, are neither true ſervants to God nor Man, but
Firſt, what meanes here Mr Cotton by Light? Light in thisWhat it is to walke according to a mans Light. ſence is commonly taken two wayes.
Firſt, For that is Light indeed, to wit, the precious Light of Gods revealed will.
Secondly, That which ſo appeares to be, to a mans minde and Conſcience, but may be a falſhood, a lye, a miſtake, and darkneſſe. Mr Cotton had done well to have diſtinguiſhed, for (before) he blamed King James for walking according to his Light: and although (upon the point) he makes the Civill Magiſtrates in all parts of the World, the Heads, Protectours, and Governours of Chriſts Church, yet if the eyes of theſe Heads ſee not by his Light, he cuts off theſe Heads, forbidding them to act as Heads, and to walke according to their Light, they muſt (as often he tells us) ſuſpend, untill they have Light, &c.
2. Peace.
Beſide, it comes oft to paſſe, that the Light whichConviction twofold: Sufficient in it ſelfe: or to the partie efficacious. ſhines by preaching or practice of others, although it be a meane ſufficient to convince, if God pleaſe to bleſſe it, yet untill the Conſciences of men be convinced of the Light of it, I Judge it cannot properly be ſaid to be the Light of their Conſciences, nor they to ſin againſt the Light of their Conſciences.
3. Truth.
Yea, and there is a morall vertue, a morall fidelitie, abilitie and honeſtie, which other men (beſide Church members) are, by good nature and education, by good Lawes and good examples nouriſhed and trained up in, that Civill places of Truſt and Credit need not to be Monopolized into the hands of Church-Members (who ſometimes are not fitted for them) and all others deprived and deſpoiled of their naturall & Civill Rights and Liberties.
Peace.
But what ſay you (Deare Truth) to Mr Cottons Apologie for New England (for as for conſtraint in old he is ſilent) he ſayth he knowes not of any conſtraint upon any to come to Church, to pay Church Duties, and ſayth it is not ſo in his Towne.
Truth.
If Mr Cotton be forgetfull, ſure he can hardly be ignorant of the Lawes and Penalties extant in New England that are (or if repeald have been) againſt ſuch as abſent Themſelves from Church Morning and Evening, and for Non-payment of Church-Duties, although no Members.
For a Freedome of Not paying in his Towne, it is to their commendation Touching the Maintenance of the new Engliſh Miniſters.and Gods praiſe, who hath ſhewed him and others more of his holy Truth: Yet who can be ignorant of the Seſſments upon all in other Townes, of the many Suits and Sentences in Courts (for Non-payment of Church-Duties) even againſt ſuch as are no Church Members? Of the Motions and pleadings of ſome (not the meaneſt of their Miniſters) for Tithes? And how ever for my part I beleeve Mr Cotton ingeniouſly willing, that none be forced expreſly to pay to his Maintenance, yet I queſtion whether he would work if he were not well payd: And I could relate alſo what is commonly reported abroad, to wit, that the rich Merchants and people of Boſton would never give ſo freely, if they were forced, yet now they are forced to give for ſhame (I take it) in the Publike Congregation.
The Indians of this Countrie have a Way calld Nanówwe, or Giving their Commodities freely, by which they get better bargaines, then if they ſtood ſtiffly on their Tearmes of Anaqúſhento, or Trading: And when not ſatisfied to the utmoſt, they grudge, revile, &c. It cannot be, but that to ſuch Deceitfulneſſe of Heart Mr Cotton is ſubject as well as others, though Love bids me, and others, to hope the beſt.
Peace.
The cloſe of this Chapter ſeemes ſtrange and wonderfull, Of propagating Religion by the Sword.for Mr Cotton acknowledged that Propagation of Religion ought not to be by the Sword, and yet inſtantly againe maintaines he the uſe of the Sword when perſons (which then muſt be judged by the Civill State) blaſpheme the true God and the true Religion, and alſo ſeduce others to damnable Hereſie and Idolatrie: But this (ſayth he) is not the Propagation of Religion, but the preſerving of it, and if it doe conduce to Propagation, it is onelyonly Removendo prohibens.
Truth.
What is this Removendo prohibens, but as the weeding of a Field or Garden? And every Husbandman will ſay, that the end of ſuch his work, is the propagation and increaſe of his graine and fruit, as well as the making of his fence, and planting and ſowing of his Field or Garden: What therefore is this Confeſſion, (though with this Diſtinction) but in truth an acknowledgement of what in Words and Tearmes, he yet denies (with Hilarie) to wit, a propagating of Chriſtian Religion and Truth by the Civill Sword?
2. Beſides it is the ſame hand and power that plucks up the weedes, and plants the Corne, and conſequently, that ſame hand and Sword that deſtroyes the Heretick, may make the Chriſtian, &c.