The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Chapter 79

The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody · Chapter 79

p. 290Exam: of Chap. 79. Touching the Modell of Church and Civill power, Examined in the firſt part of the bloudie Tenent, but not defended by M^r Cotton, or any, that the Diſcuſſer knowes of.

Peace.

I Had hoped (Deare Truth) that we had gained aTouching a New Engliſh Modell of Church and civill power. peaceable and quiet harbour, after all our tempeſtuous Toſſings in the boyſterous Seas of this bloudie Tenent, yet now behold a ſharpe and cutting winde of M^r Cottons continuall Cenſures; For I was not (ſayth M^r Cotton) of thoſe that compoſed the Modell: and ſecondly, the Miniſters ſay it was not ſent by them to Salem, and therefore the Diſcuſſer is left of God to a double falſhood.

Truth.

Sweete Peace, till ſweete Death, in and (often) for Chriſt, cloſe up the Eyes of his ſervants, they muſt not expect to reſt fully from their Labours, and expect their workes to follow them.

Once againe therefore let us heare the Diſcuſſers plea for himſelfe againſt this bluſtering charge of double falſhood. Maſter Cottons owne words in the End of his Anſwer to the Priſoners▪ Letter, are theſe; I forbeare adding Reaſons to juſtifie the Truth, becauſe you may finde that done to your hand in a Treatiſe ſent to ſome of the Brethren, late of Salem, who doubted as **Writing to … M^r Hall.you doe.

p. 291Truth.

To my knowledge it was reported (according to this hint of M^r Cottons) that from the Miniſters of the Churches (pretended) ſuch a Modell compoſed by them was ſent to Salem: Hereupon it was that the Diſcuſſer wrote on purpoſe to his worthy friend M^r Sharpe (Elder of the Church of Salem, (ſo called) for the ſight of it, who accordingly ſent it to him.

Peace.

If this Modell, of ſuch conſequence, were ſo compoſed and ſo ſent to Salem, if M^r Cotton directs others thither to repaire to make uſe of it, if he thus approve and promote it, I ſee not why it might not probably be collected, that M^r Cotton (not the laſt in ſuch great and publike matters) was amongſt, if not chiefe amongſt the compoſers of it, and that he and they were not ignorant of the conveyance of it to Salem.

Truth.

But grant M^r Cotton ſhould have been imagined toDeepe Cenſures for none or innocent miſtakes. have been left out in this ſo great and publike a ſervice, and that all the former probabilities faile: yet doubtles M^r Cotton will be caſt at the barre of Chriſtian Love and Moderation, for ſo bitter a charge upon the poore Diſcuſſer for ſo eaſie and harmles Miſtakes.

Peace.

Such fierce flaſhes might well iſſue from the bloudie French Cardinalls againſt the poore Hugenots, from the Engliſh bloudie Biſhops againſt the poore Lollards, from the bloudie Popes againſt the Hereticks and Lutherans: but a gentler Breath and ſtile might well beſeeme a Proteſtant to a Proteſtant, engaged in common principles and Teſtimonies and ſufferings of Jeſus againſt thoſe bloudie Tyrants.

But to the Modell, M^r Cotton ſeemes highly offended, that the Diſcuſſer ſhould ſay, that the Modell awaketh Moſes from his unknowne Grave, and denies Jeſus yet to have ſeene the Earth. For, Moſes his Lawes were of force (ſayth he) to the Iſraelites in the Land of Canaan, when Moſes was dead: and againe, Chriſt came not to deſtroy the Law of Moſes, not the Morall Law, nor the Judicialls, ſuch as are of common Equitie: Or els (ſayth he) the Conſcience of the Civill Magiſtrate could never doe any act of civill Juſtice out of Faith, becauſe he ſhould have no word of God to be the Ground of his Act, if the Lawes of Judgement were abrogated, and none extant in the New.

Truth.

I anſwer; that ſpeech of the Diſcuſſer was neither p. 292unreaſonable, nor untrue, as M^r Cotton alledgeth: for grantTouching Moſes his Judicialls. Chriſt came not to deſtroy the Morall Law of the ten Commands (for the Subſtance of it, for all materiall circumſtances therein M^r Cotton will not urge nor practice). Nor ſecondly, the Judicialls of Morall Equitie, that is, ſuch as in deed concerne Life and Manners, according to the Nature and Conſtitution of the ſeverall Nations and Peoples of the World.

Peace.

Pardon me (Deare Truth) before you proceede, a word of Explication: your Addition [according to the Nature and Conſtitution of the Peoples and Nations of the World] will not he allowed of.

Truth.

Without this I cannot allow of Moſes his Judicialls to binde all Nations of the World, then before, or ſince Chriſt Jeſus: my reaſon is: That people of Iſrael (to which thoſeIſrael in a kinde a miraculous people. Judiciall Lawes and puniſhments were preſcribed) was as I may ſay, a miraculous people or Nation, miraculouſly brought from one Nation, (the Land of Aegypt) into another (the Land of Canaan) both types, a people furniſhed with miraculous food and cloathing during their fortie yeares Travell through the Wildernes: The ſeaven Nations of Canaan wondrouſly and miraculouſly deſtroyed before them; Their Lawes and Inſtitutions miraculouſly delivered to them, &c.

Beſide (not to wade deeper into this Controverſie, as in the Examination of the Modell I have done) their Land was typically holy, and that people the Church of God, the onelyonly Church of God in the World. And therefore being a people of ſuch miraculous conſiderations, Meanes and Obligations, the breach even of Morall Lawes concerning Life and Manners and civill Eſtate, might be more tranſcendently hainous and odious in them, then in the other ſeverall Nations and peoples of the World, many thouſands and millions whereof never ſo much as heard of the Name of the God of Iſrael.

Peace.

If men ſee cauſe to ordaine a Court of Chancerie, and erect a Mercy-ſeate to moderate the rigour of Lawes, which cannot be juſtly executed, without the moderate and equall conſideration of perſons and other circumſtances! Me-thinks, the Father of Mercies (though he be Juſtice it ſelfe, yet) cannot be juſtly imagined to carrie all Judiciall or Civill Lawes or Sentences, by one univerſall ſtrictnes through all the Nations of the Earth.

p. 293Truth.

The Lord Jeſus tells us of a more tollerable Sentence, (even for the Sodomites in the day of Judgement, then for the Jewes, who were the people and Church of God: and Paul his ſervant layes heavier load (Rom. 2.) upon ſuch Adulterers, Thieves, as profeſſe to be Teachers unto others, &c. of the contrary Graces and Vertues.

Peace.

Deare Truth, the Scriptures are full, and many Arguments might be drawne out this way, but pleaſe you to pitch upon an Inſtance, whereby we may the ſooner finiſh this Digreſſion.

Truth.

Take that great caſe of the puniſhment of Adulterie, Touching puniſhment of Adulterie.and I confidently affirme, that the Conſcience of the Magiſtrate, may out of Faith, execute other puniſhments beſide (ſtoning to) Death, which was the puniſhment of that ſinne in Iſraell. For although (as M^r Cotton ſayth) That was the Law of Judgement in the Old Teſtament, and there is no other particularly expreſt in the New, yet the Conſcience of the Magiſtrate may know,

Firſt, That the carriage of the Lord Jeſus about this caſe, when the Queſtion was preciſely put to him, was extraordinary and ſtrange: For (although unto other Queſtions, even of the Phariſees, Herodians, Sadduces, the High Prieſt, and Pilate, he gave more or leſſe, firſt or laſt, punctuall Reſolutions, yet) here, he condemnes the ſinne, yet he neither confirmes, nor diſanulls this puniſhment, but leaves the Queſtion (in all probabilitie) and leaves the ſeverall Nations of the World, to their owne ſeverall Lawes and Agreements (as is moſt probable) according to their ſeverall Natures, Diſpoſitions and Conſtitutions, and their common peace and wellfare.

Secondly, The Lord Jeſus (1 Pet. 2.) approveth of the ſeverallAll Civill Government Gods Ordinance. humane Ordinances (or Creations) which the ſeverall peoples and Nations of the World ſhall agree upon for their common peace and ſubſiſtence. Hence are the ſeverall ſorts of Governments in the Nations of the World, which are not framed after Iſraels Patterne. And hence conſequently, the Lawes, Rewards and Puniſhments of ſeverall Nations vaſtly differ from thoſe of Iſraell, which doubtles were unlawfull for Gods people to ſubmit unto, except Chriſt Jeſus had (at leaſt in generall) approved ſuch humane Ordinances and Creations of Men for their common peace and wellfare.

p. 294Peace.

Me-thinks M^r Cotton, and ſuch as literally ſtick to the puniſhment of Adultery, Witchcraft, &c. by Death, muſt either deny the ſeverall Governments of the World to be lawfull (according to that of Peter) and that the Nature and Conſtitutions of peoples and Nations, are not to be reſpected, but all promiſcuouſly forced to one common Law, or els they muſt ſee cauſe to moderate this their Tenent, which elſe proves as bloudie a Tenent in civill affaires, as perſecution in affaires religious.

Truth.

Yea, of what wofull conſequence muſt this prove toTrue Republikes & Common-weales without Kings. the ſtate of Holland and Low-Countries, to the State of Venice, to the Cantons of Switzerland, to our owne deare State of England, and others who have no King, as Iſraells laſt eſtabliſhed Government had, eſpecially no King immediately deſigned, as Iſraells (in the Roote) was? Yea what becomes of all Chriſtianitie, and of Chriſts Church and Kingdome in the World for ever, if it want the Government of a King: for ſayth BiſhopA wonderfull… ſaying of Biſhop Hall. Hall (in his Contemplation on Michaes Idolatrie) in plaine and expreſſe words: No King, therefore no Church.

Peace.

To end this paſſage, upon the former grounds, methinks the Conſcience of a New Engliſh Magiſtrate (being calld to be a Magiſtrate in Old England) may in Faith execute any other puniſhment (according to Law eſtabliſhed) beſide Death, upon Adulterers. And the New Engliſh Colonies may be exhorted to rectifie their wayes, and to moderate ſuch their Lawes, which cannot poſſibly put on the face of morall Equitie from Moſes, &c.

Truth.

Your Satisfaction (Deare Peace) now praeſuppoſedThe State of Iſrael. I proceed and grant (with that Limitation forementioned) that Chriſt Jeſus neither abrogated Moſes Moralls, nor Judicialls, yet who will deny that Moſes eſtabliſhed, (beſide the two former) a third, to wit, Lawes meerly figurative, typicall and ceremoniall, proper and peculiar to that Land and people of Iſrael? Thoſe Lawes neceſſarily wrapt up that Nation and people in a mixt conſtitution, of Spirituall and Temporall, Religious and Civill, ſo that their Governours of Civill State were Governours of the Church, and the very Land and People were by ſuch Governours to be compelled to obſerve a ceremoniall puritie and Holines. But Chriſt Jeſus erected another Common-weale, the Commonweale p. 295of Iſrael, the Chriſtian Common-weale or Church, to wit, not whole Nations, but in every Nation (where he pleaſeth) his Chriſtian Congregation, &c.

Peace.

Deare Truth, I cannot count him a peaceable childe of mine, that reſts not herewith ſatisfied: M^r Cottons next Exception is againſt your excepting againſt a Magiſtrates Memberſhip in a Church-eſtate, joyned with an Head-ſhip over it, to eſtabliſh, reforme, &c. (as being impoſſible that a Magiſtrate ſhould ſit Head and Supreame on the ſpirituall Bench, Of Magiſtrates being nurſing Fathers, &c.& yet ſtand as a delinquent at the ſpirituall Barre of Chriſt Jeſus) M^r Cotton anſwers, that in ſeverall reſpects, a Magiſtrate may be a nurſing Father and Judge in cauſes Eccleſiaſtiall, and yet be ſubject to Chriſts cenſure in the offenſive Government of himſelfe againſt the Rules of the Goſpel. And where it might be ſaid, that the Church is ſubject to the Magiſtrate in civill cauſes, and the Magiſtrate is ſubject to the Church in ſpirituall caſes, M^r Cotton Of Magiſtrates Power in Spiritualls.anſwers, this eaſeth not the Difficultie, for ſuppoſe, ſayth he, the Magiſtrate fall into Murther, Adulterie, &c. which are civill Abuſes, ſhall the Church tollerate him herein? And he concludes, Let the like Power be granted to the civill Magiſtrate to deale faithfully with the Church in the notorious Tranſgreſſion of the firſt Table, as is granted to the Church to deale with the Magiſtrate in the notorious Tranſgreſſion of the ſecond Table, and the Controverſie is ended.

Truth.

This Anſwer and inſtance of M^r Cotton carries a ſeeming Beautie with it, but bring it to the Triall of the Teſtament of Chriſt Jeſus, and it will appeare to be, but a vaniſhing Colour. For, there is a vaſt Difference: The ſins of each Churchmember, Of the ſins of Magiſtrates.whether againſt the firſt or ſecond Table, are proper to the Cognizance and Judgement of the Church, as the ſinne of the Inceſtuous perſon was puniſhed by Chriſts Ordinances (in the Church at Corinth) as well as the Abuſe of the Lords Supper. But it is not ſo with the civill Magiſtrate, whoſe Office is eſſentially civill, one and the ſame, all the world over, among all Nations and people: For, having no ſpirituall power (as the Authours of the Modell afterwards acknowledge) he cannot poſſibly act as a Civill Magiſtrate in ſpirituall matters, though as a Churchmember, he may in Church-eſtate, as alſo may the reſt of the Members of that ſpirituall Body.

p. 296Peace.

Me-thinks it it cleare as the Light, that if that inceſtuous perſon in the Church of Corinth had beene a Magiſtrate of the Citie of Corinth, the Church might juſtly have proceeded againſt him, becauſe all ſinne is directly oppoſite to theA caſe touching the Magiſtrates puniſhing the Sin of Church members. holy Kingdome of Chriſt. But in that abuſe of the Lords Supper (which was meerly unchriſtian) neither that Magiſtrate, nor all the Magiſtrates of Corinth, or the World to helpe him, could juſtly puniſh the Church, becauſe that Supper (in the Inſtitution, and Spirituall uſe of it) was not onelyonly of the Nature of the Suppers, of the meates and drinks of the Citie of Corinth, but alſo of a divine and ſpirituall Inſtitution, of a heavenly and myſticall Nature and Obſervation. But to Conclude this piece and the whole, M^r Cotton corrects himſelfe for putting in his Sickle into the Harveſt of his Brethren, unto whom he refers the defence of their Modell, and for himſelfe ends with deſires that Chriſt Jeſus would blaſt that peace which he ſayth the Examiner proclaimeth to all the wayes of falſe Religion, to Hereſie in Doctrine, &c.

Truth.

If Chriſt Jeſus ſhall pleaſe (for the further manifeſtation of his holy Truth and Glory) to permit thoſe able and worthy men, to proceed to fortifie and defend their Modell: I hope he will alſo pleaſe to aſſiſt the Diſcuſſer, or ſome other of his poore ſervants, to batter downe (with the Spirituall Artillerie of his Word and Teſtament) ſuch weake and looſe and unchriſtian Fortifications.

Peace.

But with what a deepe and unrighteous charge doth M^r Cotton end againſt the poore Diſcuſſer, as a Proclaimer of peace to all the wayes of falſe Religion, to Hereſie in Doctrine, &c.

Truth.

Grant M^r Cotton (in many excellent Truths of Jeſus) a ſweet ſounding Silver Trumpet: Grant the Diſcuſſer as baſe a Rams-horne harſh and contemptible: Grant that (for the peace of the Civill State, the being of the Nations, and the World, the ſafetie of the good Wheate the Righteous, and the calling home of the Elect to God, Jewes and Gentiles!) the Diſcuſſer proclaimes a civill being, and civill peace to Erroneous Conſciences, not ſinning againſt humane and civill Principles: Yet what Peace hath this Rams-horne proclaimed (as M^r Cotton inſinuates) when throughout this whole Booke, from p. 297firſt to laſt, the Proclamation ſoundeth ou… open warre againſt all falſe Worſhippers.

Peace.

I am a joyfull witnes of warre proclaimed from the God of Truth, from the Sun of Righteouſneſſe, from the Spirit ofThe direfull ſtate of falſe Worſhippers. Holines, from the flames of Fire, thoſe mighty Angells, from all the Saints and Witneſſes of Jeſus, from all his holy Truths and Ordinances. Warre to their Conſciences, Preachings, Writings, Diſputations, a warre preſent, a warre perpetuall, and (without Repentance) a warre eternall and everlaſting.

Truth.

Deare Peace, our goulden ſand is out, we now muſt part with an holy Kiſſe of heavenly Peace and Love: M^r Cotton ſpeakes and writes his Conſcience: Yet the Father of Lights may pleaſe to ſhew him that what he highly eſteemes as a Tenent waſht white in the Lambes bloud, is yet more black and abominable, in the moſt pure and jealous eye of God.

Peace.

The Blackmores Darknes differs not in the darke from the fayreſt white.

Truth.

Chriſt Jeſus the Sun of Righteouſneſſe hath broke forth,The Portraiture of the Bloudie Tenent. and dayly, will, to a brighter and brighter Diſcoverie of this deformed Ethiopian: And for my ſelfe I muſt proclaime, before the moſt holy God, Angells and Men, that (what ever other white and heavenly Tenents M^r Cotton houlds) yet this is a fowle, a black, and a bloudie Tenent.

A Tenent of high Blaſphemie againſt the God of Peace, the God of Order, who hath of one Bloud, made all Mankinde, to dwell upon the face of the Earth, now, all confounded and deſtroyed in their Civill Beings and Subſiſtences, by mutuall flames o… warre from their ſeverall reſpective Religions and Conſciences.

A Tenent warring againſt the Prince of Peace, Chriſt Jeſus, denying his Appearance and Comming in the Fleſh, to put an end to, and aboliſh the ſhadowes of that ceremoniall and typicall Land of Canaan.

A Tenent fighting againſt the ſweete end of his comming, which was not to deſtroy mens Lives, for their Religions, outEuc. 9. to ſave them, by the meeke and peaceable Invitations and perſwaſions Prov. 9.Prov 9of his peaceable Wiſdomes Maide….

p. 298A Tenent fowly charging his Wiſedome, Faithfullnes andThe Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent. Love, in ſo poorly providing ſuch Magiſtrates and Civill Powers all the World over, as might effect ſo great a charge pretended to be committed to them.

A Tenent lamentably guilty of his moſt precious bloud, ſhed in the bloud of ſo many hundreth thouſand of his poore ſervants by the civill powers of the World, pretending to ſuppreſſe Blaſphemies, Hereſies, Idolatries, Superſtition, &c.

A Tenent fighting with the Spirit of Love, Holines, and Meeknes, by kindling fiery Spirits of falſe zeale and Furie, when yet ſuch Spirits know not of what Spirit they are.

A Tenent fighting with thoſe mighty Angels who ſtand up for the peace of the Saints, againſt Perſia, Grecia, &c. and ſo conſequently, all other Nations, who fighting for their ſeverall Religions, and againſt the Truth, leave no Roome for ſuch as feare and love the Lord on the Earth.

A Tenent, againſt which the bleſſed Soules under the Altar The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent.cry loud for vengeance, this Tenent having cut their Throats, torne out their Hearts, and powred forth their Bloud in all Ages, as the onelyonly Heretickes and Blaſphemers in the World.

A Tenent which no Ʋncleannes, no Adulterie, Inceſt, Sodomie, or Beaſtialitie can equall, this raviſhing and forcing (explicitly or implicitly) the very Soules and Conſciences of all the Nations and Inhabitants of the World.

A Tenent that puts out the very eye of all true Faith, which cannot but be as free and voluntarie as any Virgin in the World, in refuſing or embracing any ſpirituall offer or object.

A Tenent loathſome and ugly (in the eyes of the God of Heaven, and ſerious ſonnes of men) I ſay, loathſome with the palpable filihs of groſſe diſſimulation and bypocriſie: Thouſands of Peoples and whole Nations, compelled by this Tenent to put on the fowle vizard of Religious bypocriſie, for feare of p. 299Lawes, loſſes and puniſhments, and for the keeping and hoping for of favour, libertie, worldly commoditie, &c.

A Tenent wofully guiltie of hardning all falſe and deluded The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent.Conſciences (of whatſoever Sect, Faction, Hereſie, or Idolatrie, though never ſo horrid and blaſphemous) by cruelties and violences practiced againſt them: all falſe Teachers and their Followers (ordinarily) contracting a Brawnie and ſteelie hardneſſe from their ſufferings for their Conſciences.

A Tenent that ſhuts and bars out the gracious propheſies and promiſes and diſcoveries of the moſt glorious Sun of Righteouſues, Chriſt Jeſus, that burnes up the holy Scriptures, and forbids them (upon the point) to be read in Engliſh, or that any tryall or ſearch, or (truly) free diſquiſition be made by them: when the moſt able, diligent and conſcionable Readers muſt pluck forth their owne eyes, and be forced to reade by the (which ſoever praedominant) Cleargies Spectacles.

A Tenent that ſeales up the ſpirituall graves of all men, Jewes and Gentiles, (and conſequently ſtands guiltie of the damnation of all men) ſince no Preachers, nor Trumpets of Chriſt himſelfe may call them out, but ſuch as the ſeverall and reſpective Nations of the World themſelves allow of.

A Tenent that fights againſt the common principles of all Civilitie, The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent.and the very civill being and combinations of men in Nations, Cities, &c. by commixing (explicitly or implicitly) a ſpirituall and civill State together, and ſo confounding and overthrowing the puritie and ſtrength of both.

A Tenent that kindles the devouring flames of combuſtions and warres in moſt Nations of the World, and (if God were not infinitly gracious) had almoſt ruind the Engliſh, French, the Scotch and Iriſh, and many other Nations, Germane, Polonian, Hungarian, Bohemian, &c.

A Tenent that bowes downe the backs and necks of all civill States and Magiſtrates, Kings and Emperours, under the proud feete of that man and monſter of ſinne and pride the Pope, and all p. 300Popiſh and proud Cleargie-men, rendring ſuch Laicks and Seculars (as they call them) but ſlaviſh Executioners (upon the point) of their moſt imperious Synodicall Decrees and Sentences.

A Tenent that renders the higheſt civill Magiſtrates and Miniſters The Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent.of Juſtice (the Fathers and Gods of their Countries) either odious or lamentably grievous unto the very beſt Subjects by either elapping or keeping on, the iron yoakes of cruelleſt oppreſſion. No yoake or bondage comparably ſo grievous, as that upon the Soules necke of mens Religion and Conſciences.

A Tenent, all beſprinckled with the bloudie murthers, ſtob…, poyſonings, piſtollings, powder-plots, &c. againſt many famous Kings, Princes, and States, either actually performed or attempted, in France, England, Scotland, Low-Countries, and other Nations.

A Tenent all red and bloudie with thoſe moſt barbarous and Tyger like Maſſacres, of ſo many thouſand and ten thouſands formerly in France, and other parts, and ſo lately and ſo horribly in Ireland: of which, what ever cauſes be aſſigned, this chiefly will be found the true, and while this continues (to wit, violence againſt Conſcience) this bloudie Iſſue, ſooner or later, muſt breake forth againe (except God wonderfully ſtop it) in Ireland and other places too.

A Tenent that ſtunts the growth and flouriſhing of the moſtThe Portraiture of the bloudie Tenent. likely and hopefulleſt Common weales and Countries, while Conſciences, the beſt, and the beſt deſerving Subjects are forct to flie (by enforced or voluntary Baniſhment) from their native Countries; The lamentable proofe whereof England hath felt in the flight of ſo many worthy Engliſh, into the Low Countries and New-England, and from New-England into old againe and other forraigne parts.

A Tenent whoſe groſſe partialitie denies the Principles of common Juſtice, while Men waigh out to the Conſciences of all others, that which they judge not fit not right to be waighed out to their owne: Since the perſecutours Rule is, to take and perſecute all Conſciences, onelyonly, himſelfe muſt not be touched.

p. 301A Tenent that is but Macheviliſme, and makes a Religion, but a cloake o… ſtalking horſe to policie and private Ends of Jeroboams Crowne, and the Prieſts Benefice, &c.

A Tenent that corrupts and ſpoiles the very Civill Honeſtie and Naturall Conſcience of a Nation. Since Conſcience to God violated, proves (without Repentance) ever after, a very Jade, a Drug, looſe and unconſcionable in all converſe with men.

Laſtly, a Tenent in England moſt unſeaſonable, as powring Oyle upon thoſe Flames which the high Wiſedome of the Parliament, (by eaſing the yoakes on Mens Conſciences) had begun to quench.

In the ſad Conſideration of all which (Deare Peace) letPeace her Repoſe and Tabernacle. Heaven and Earth judge of the waſhing and colour of this Tenent. For thee (ſweete heavenly Gueſt) goe lodge thee in the breaſts of the peaceable and humble Witneſſes of Jeſus, that love the Truth in peace! Hide thee from the Worlds Tumults and Combuſtions, in the breaſts of thy truely noble children, who profeſſe and endeavour to breake the irony and inſupportable yoakes upon the Soules and Conſciences of any of the ſonnes of Men.

Peace.

Me-thinks (Deare Truth) if any of the leaſt of theſe deepe charges be found againſt this Tenent, you doe not wrong it when you ſtile it bloudie: But ſince, in the wofull proofe of all Ages paſt, ſince Nimrod (the Hunter or perſecutour before the Lord) theſe and more are lamentably evident and undeniable: it gives me wonder that ſo many and ſo excellent eyes of Gods ſervants ſhould not eſpie ſo fowle a monſter, eſpecially conſidering the univerſall oppoſition this Tenent makes againſt Gods Glory, and the Good of all mankinde.

Truth.

There have been many fowle opinions, with which the old Serpent hath infected and bewitched the ſonnes of men (touching God, Chriſt the Spirit, the Church, againſt Holines, againſt Peace, againſt civill Obedience, againſt chaſtitie) in ſoThe Bloudie Tenent of perſecution compared. much, that even Sodomie it ſelfe hath been a Tenent maintained in print by ſome of the very pillars of the Church of Rome: But this Tenent is ſo univerſally oppoſite to God and man, ſo pernicious and deſtructive to both (as hath been declared) that p. 302like the Powder-plot, it threatens to blow up all Religion, all civilitie, all humanitie, yea the very Being of the World, and the Nations thereof at once.

Peace.

He that is the Father of Lies, and a murtherer from the beginning, he knowes this well, and that this ugly Blackmore needs a maske or vizard.

Truth.

Yea the bloudines and inhumanitie of it is ſuch, that not onelyonly M^r Cottons more tender and holy Breaſt, but even the moſt bloudie Bonners and Gardiners have been forced to armeThe maskes and vizards of the bloudie Tenent. themſelves with the faire ſhewes and glorious pretences, of the Glory of God, and zeale for that Glory, the Love of his Truth, the Goſpel of Chriſt Jeſus, love and pitie to mens ſoules, the peace of the Church, uniformitie, Order, the peace of the Common-weale, the Wiſedome of the State, the Kings, Queenes, and Parliaments proceedings, the odiouſneſſe of Sects, Hereſies, Blaſphemies, Novelties, Seducers, and their Infections: the obſtinacie of Heretick…, after all Meanes, Diſputations, Examinations, Synods, yea and after Conviction in the poore Hereticks owne Conſcience: Add to theſe the flattring ſound of thoſe gloſing Titles, the Godly Magiſtrate, the Chriſtian Magiſtrate, the Nurcing Fathers and Mothers of the Church, Chriſtian Kings and Queenes. But all other Kings and Magiſtrates (even all the Nations of the World over, as M^r Cotton pleads) muſt ſuſpend and hould their hands, and not meddle in matters of Religion, untill they be informed, &c.

Peace.

The dreadfull righteous hand of God, the Eternall and avenging God, is pulling off theſe maskes and vizards, that thouſands, and the World may ſee this bloudie Tenents Beautie.

Truth.

But ſee (my heavenly Siſter, and true ſtranger in thisTruth & Peace, their meetings ſeldome and ſhort in this world. Sea-like reſtles, raging World) ſee here what Fires and Swords are come to part us! Well; Our meetings in the Heavens ſhall not thus be interrupted, our Kiſſes thus diſtracted, and our eyes and cheekes thus we…, unwiped: For me, though cenſured, threatned, perſecuted, I muſt profeſſe, while Heaven and Earth laſts, that no one Tenent that either London, England, or the World doth harbour, is ſo hereticall, blaſphemous, ſeditious, and dangerous to the corporall, to the ſpirituall, to the preſent, to the Eternall Good of all M…n, as is the bloudie Tenent (how ever waſh't and whited) I ſay, as is the bloudie Tenent of perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience.