The Bloody Tenant Yet more Bloody, Title page – Notice
THE BLOODY TENENT YET More Bloody: BY Mr Cottons endevour to waſh it white in the BLOOD of the LAMBE; Of whoſe precious Blood, ſpilt in the Blood of his Servants; and Of the blood of Millions ſpilt in former and later Wars for Conſcience ſake, THAT Moſt Bloody Tenent of Perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience, upon a ſecond Tryal, is found now more apparently and more notoriouſly guilty.
In this Rejoynder to Mr Cotton, are principally
I. The Nature of Perſecution, Examined;
II. The Power of the Civill Sword in Spirituals Examined;
III. The Parliaments permiſſion of Diſſenting Conſciences Juſtified.
Alſo (as a Teſtimony to Mr Clarks Narrative) is added a Letter to Mr Endicet Governor of the Maſſachuſets in N. E.
By R. WILLIAMS of Providence in New-England.
London, Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be ſold at the black-ſpread-Eagle at the Weſt-end of Pauls, 1652.
TO THE MOST HONORABLE THE PARLIAMENT OF THE Common-wealth of ENGLAND.
Moſt Noble Senators,
ONE of the greateſt Spirits, and as active as later times have yeelded, Charles the fifth, tired out with Affairs of State, reſigns up all, and ſits down toThe Parliaments Labours and Labyri…ths, end his dayes in quiet Contemplation. I doubt not but many of your Honorable Heads have felt the thorny Crown (of theſe late years troubles) ſo ſharp, ſo weighty, that your tired Spirits would joyfully embrace, if not (with Charles the fifth) a totall Ceſſation, yet like ſome faithfull tired Judge, (after ſo long and troubleſome a Tearm) at leaſt ſome breathing ſhort Vacation.
Although I dare not (as to Englands peace and ſafety) admit deſires of your Totall. Ceſſation, or long vacation: yet common Gratitude for ſuch incomparable labours, expences, hazards, &c. from whence the God of heaven hath vouchſafed ſuch rare and incomparable preſervations, deliverances, enjoyments, &c. I ſay common gratitude cannot onelyonly wiſh you heartily & pray for earneſtly your eternal Reſt, and moſt joyfull Harveſt in the Heavens, but alſo, all the poſſible breathing hours, and cool retired ſhades of Contemplation and ſelf-enjoyment amidſt the ſcorching Travels of ſo many vexing and tedious Actions. You cannot (ever renowned Patriots) but like ſome grave Commanders of Fleets and Armies, who have brought their Ships and followers through tempeſtuous ſt…rms and bloody fights, to joyful Reſt and Harbours! You cannot but look back with Admirings, with Praiſings, with Reſolvings to caſt you Crowns, and Heads, and Hearts, and Hands, (for the remaining Minutes of the ſhort Candle of your life) at his Feet, in whoſe moſt High and moſt gracious Hands have all your Breaths and wayes been.
In the review of the multitude of your Actings and Sufferings, your Battells and Victories, Dangers▪ and Deliverances, you cannot, (no man can) but obſerve and ſee (a naked)▪ Arm fromTwo Subſidies granted by the Parliament to the King of Kings. Heaven fighting for you, but moſt eſpecially ſince the times and houres you gratified the moſt High Eternall King of Kings (now more then ever Englands King) with theſe two famous Subſidies (if I may in humble Reverence ſo call them.)
The firſt, of Mercy and Moderation to theThe firſt Subſidy. poor oppreſſed Conſciences of the Engliſh Nation, amidſt the throng of which he graciouſly will, yea he hath acknowledged, that ſome of his own dear Children (the Sonnes and Daughters of the God of Heaven) have been relieved and ſuccoured by you.
The ſecond your high and impartiall drawingThe ſecond Subſid…. of the Sword of Juſtice upon the great and higheſt offendors: Since which two wonderfull Subſidies, the moſt wilfully blind muſt be forced to ſee the glorious Goings of the God of Heaven with your Councels and Armies, and the diſcharge of his holy promiſe in honouring you, who have ſo highly, (in ſo rare and unparalleld Travels and Hazards) honored him.
Concerning the firſt of theſe Subſidies, I was humbly bold ſome few yeares ſince, to preſent you with a Conference between Peace and Truth, touching a moſt bloudy Murtherous Malefactor, The Bloody Tenent a common Pyrat.the bloody Tenent of Perſecution for cauſe of Conſcience: (a notorious and common Pyrate, that takes and robbs, that fires and ſinkes the (Spirituall Shipps and Veſſels) the Conſciences of all men, of all ſorts, of all Religions and Perſwaſions whatſoever.
It hath pleaſed Maſter Cotton, (a Man incomparably too worthy for ſuch a ſervice) to attempt the waſhing of this bloody Tenent, (as hee ſpeakes) in the blood of the LambMr. Cottons Reply. CHRIST JESUS (though one part of the Conference, to wit, the Examination of a N. Engliſh Modell of Church and Civill Power, he leaveth to the waſhing of ſome other of the N. Engliſh Miniſters, the Authors of that Modell, of whoſe waſhings as yet I have not heard of:) This preſent diſcourſe preſents your Honours with the ſecond part of the Conference between Peace and Truth, and hath examined Mr. Cottons Reply and waſhings.
I ſumme up the multitude of my Thoughts touching your Honours Conſideration of this point, in theſe three moſt humble Petitions.
Firſt, I moſt humbly and earneſtly beſeech yourThe firſt Petition. Honours to mind the Difference between State Neceſsity of Freedome to different Conſciences, and the Equity and Piety of ſuch a Freedome.
State Policie and Neceſsity of Affairs drew fromDifference between the Piety and Mercy, and State-neceſſity of granting freed…m to mens Conſciences. great Conſtantine (with his Colleague Licinius) that famous Edict of Freedome to all mens Conſciences, whom yet afterward he perſecuted: But a Succeſſor of his (of late years) Maximilian the ſecond, comes neerer the Life of the Buſineſſe, when he conſcientiouſly profeſt in a ſolemne Speech to the BiſhopConſtantines and Maximilians acts compared, of Olmuts in Bohemia, There is no ſin ordinarily greater againſt God, ſaid he, then to uſe violence againſt the Conſciences of men.
Your Honours will find (if the Father of Spirits pleaſe to ſpare you time and Spirits, to mind this Cauſe and Controverſie, that all violence to Conſcience turns upon theſe two Hinges.
Firſt, of Reſtraining from that worſhipping of aTwo wayes of oppreſſing conſcience in Religion. God or Gods, which the Conſciences of men in their reſpective worſhips (all the world over) believes to be true.
Secondly, of Conſtraining to the practiſing or countenancing of that whereof their Conſciences are not perſwaded.
In the practice of both theſe, the Hiſtories of our own Nation will tell us (beſides the forraigne) how ſharp and zealous the ſtrongeſt Swords of England have ever uſ'd to be.
And yet of the practice of both, what a Propheticall The late King Charles his conſcience to oppreſſe the conſciences of others, no ſmall occaſion of the ruine of him and his.paſſage of our late troubles and King, did the foreſaid Maximilian expreſſe to Henry the third of France, (in his paſſage from Poland to France to claim the French Crown) to this effect, Sir, remember that when men think to get Heaven by uſing violence to the Conſciences of men, they oftentimes loſeThe Biſhops kild the King. that which they might peaceably have kept on Earth. Some have ſaid that worldly policie perſwaded, as well as State-neceſsity compelled the States of Holland to a prudent permiſſion of different Conſciences. Hollands policy.And that the ſaid State-Policie perſwaded ſome Dutch to wiſh that England might not tolerate, leaſt a permiſſion of Conſcience in England ſhould break down the Bridge and Paſſage into their parts of Freedome in cauſes of Conſcience.
Thoſe prudent and proſperous States have goneThe permiſſion of conſcience in Holland. far (though driven by Spaniſh perſecution) to it) in taking off the yoak from the necks of Dutch & Engliſh, French yea, Popiſh & Jewiſh conſciences. For all which (though but Mercy, though but Juſtice and humanity to fellow mankind) he that runs may read the truth of Gods never failing Promiſes, Bleſſed are the Mercifull for they ſhall obtain Mercy.
Their own Chronicles tell us of a wonderfull walk of the God of Heaven between three of their moſtGods wonderful goings in Holland from Stafore, undone by Pride and Unthankfulneſs, eminent Towns or Cities, Firſt Stafore was the wondrous Wealthy City, their golden Citie, til a proud wealthy, Merchants widow, cauſed a whole ſhips loading of wheat (which her ſhip brought home and ſhe deſpiſed) to be thrown over into the Harbour, which (with other Accidents of water and weather, Gods moſt righteous providences) ſo choak'd up the Haven, that Veſſels of Burthen durſt never frequent that Citie (by this occaſion) moſt wondrouſly impoveriſh'd) ſince.
From Stafore God carries all the Shipping andTo Enchuyſin, undone by the bloody Tenent of Perſecution: wealth to Enchuyſin, whoſe Zealous, over-zealous and furious Clergie provoke the Civil Magiſtrates to perſecute diſſenting, non conforming conſciences: Amongſt the reſt 'tis rare (if ever) that the moſt glorious Son of God himſelf eſcapes.
From Enchuyſin therefore (a Den of perſecutingFrom Enchuyſin to Amſterdam, raiſed to its preſent hight and glory, by mercy to the perſecuted. Lyons, and mountain of Leopards) the perſecuted fled to Amſterdam, a poor fiſhing Town, yet harborous and favourable to the flying, though diſſenting conſciences: This confluence of the perſecuted, by Gods moſt gracious coming with them, drew Boats, drew Trade, drew Shipping, and that ſo mightily in ſo ſhort a time, that Shipping, Trading, wealth, Greatneſſe, Honour (almoſt to aſtoniſhment in the Eyes of all Europe, and the world) have appeared to fall as out of Heaven in a Crown or Garland upon the head of that poor Fiſher-Town.
O ye the prime of Engliſh men and Engliſh worthies, whoſe ſences have ſo oft perceived the everlaſting Arms of the Invincible and Eternal King, when your Ships Hold hath been full with water, yea with Blood, when ſtorms without, fires and mutinies within, whence he hath beaten upon ſome Rocky Hearts Englands ſhip got into Harbour.and paſſages, as if ſhe would have ſtaved and ſplit into a thouſand pieces; yet this ſo neer ſtav'd, ſo neer fired, ſo neer ſplit, foundred, ſinking Nation, hath the God of Heaven (by your moſt valiant and carefull hands) brought ſafe to Peace her Harbour! Why now ſhould any duty poſſible be impoſſible? yea, why not impoſſibilities poſſible? Why ſhould your Engliſh Seas contend with a neighbour Dutchman Striking of Colours.for the motion of a piece of Silk, &c▪ and not ten thouſand fold much more your Engliſh Spirits with theirs for the Crown of that State-piety and Wiſdome which may make your faces more to ſhine, not only with a common luſtre after a Dutch Preſiſident, but (if it be the holy will of God, and I humbly hope it may be) with a glory far tranſcending all your faireſt neighbours Copies.
The States of Holland having ſmarted deeply, and paid ſo dearly for the purchaſe of their freedomes, reach to the neighbour Nations and the world, a taſt of ſuch their dainties. And yet (with due reverence to ſo wiſe a State, and with due thankfulneſſe for mercy and relief to many poor oppreſſed Conſciences)The States of Holland yet to ſeek in the matters of liberty of Conſcience. I ſay their Piety nor Policie could ever yet reach ſo far, nor could they in all their School of Warre (as their Countries have been call'd, learn that one poor Leſſon of ſetting abſolutely the conſciences of all men free.
'Tis true, they vouchſafed to the Papiſts and Arminians the liberty (as I may ſo ſpeak) of the priſon, and ſometimes to go abroad (as I may ſay) with a Keeper, &c. But why ſhould not ſuch a parliament as England never had, (and who knows whether everTouching abſolute freedome to every mans conſcience impartially. will the like) why ſhould not the piety and policie of ſuch Stateſmen out ſhoot and teach their Neighbours, by framing a ſafe communication of freedome of Conſcience in worſhip, even to them to whom with good ſecurity of Civill peace) it is as due as to any other Conſciences or Worſhippers in the World) the Papiſts and Arminians themſelves. Of the Piety and Policie of ſuch a freedom I have diſcourſed more largely in the anſwering ofFreedome of Popiſh conſciences. S… Chap. 59 more particularly. ſome Objections of Mr. Cotton in Chapter 59. of this Book: and proved that ſuch a freedom of the Conſcience of each member of the Commonweal, and ſuch a Commonweal as Englands now is, eſpecially, cannot in all probability prove ſo dangerous and prejudiciall as many do imagine and diſcourſe, but contrarily many wayes prove beneficiall, and marvellouſly advantageous.
Your Honors know what bloody bickerings and bloodſheds have been in later times in Germany, in the Low-Countries, in France, in England, in Polonia, in Hungaria, Bohemia, Tranſilvania, &c. about the Freedome of mens Conſciences and Worſhip?
The God of Heaven may alſo pleaſe graciouſly to remember you, that it hath been the fatall errour of all Reformers that England or other States have ſeen, to doe as the Portugals did in theOld images puld down, and new ſet up. Eaſt-Indies, who pull'd down the Images of the Pagans whom they conquered, and ſet up their own Images of Portugall in their ſtead and places.
It is agreed on all hands that ſubſcribe to one GOD, that his worſhip is but one, and that all beſides that one true GOD, are idols, and all worſhipAll Images muſt down. beſide his own (but one) are Images: And you know the fiery jealouſie of the Eternall will not ever endure an Image (though never ſo fair) his Rivall: Hence in the many former Changes of eſtates, and State-worſhips (by Gods juſt and jealous permiſſion) the childrens work hath been to tumble down their fathers buildings. Nor can your moſt prudent Heads, and potent Hands poſſibly erect that Fabrick, which the next Age (it may be the next Parliament) may not tumble down. And yet ſo may the God of Heaven ſo pleaſe to guide you in the high matters that concern the worſhip of God, and the Conſciences of men, that (what ever be the preſent or future conſequences) your own Conſciences may reap the joyfull harveſt of their preſent and eternall Requiems.
The Pope, the Turk, the King of Spain, the Emperour, and the reſt of Perſecutors, build among the Eagles, and the Starres, yet while they practice violence to the Souls of Men, and make their Swords of Steele Corrivals with the twoedged Spirituall Sword of the Sonne of GOD: the Baſis of their Higheſt Pillars, the Foundation of their glorious Palaces, are but Droſſe and Rottenneſſe. And however in our poore Arithmeticke, their Kingdomes Number ſeem great, yet in theAll violent courſes muſt break. onelyonly wiſe account of the Eternall, their Ages are but Minutes, and their ſhort Periods are neer accompliſhed; for herein the Maxime is moſt true (in the matters of Religion and Conſciences of men, eſpecially:) the violent motion muſt break.
But Light from the Father of Lights hath ſhined on your eyes: Mercy from the Father of Mercies hath ſoftned your breaſts, to be tender of the tendereſt part of Man, his Conſcience: for indeedThe Act for Civill Engagement of great neceſſity. there is no true Reaſon of Policy or Piety (as this Diſcourſe diſcovereth) why that man that will ſubſcribe (and give aſſurance for honeſt meaning) to that moſt prudent Act of Civill Engagement, (what ever his Conſcience be) ſhould be depriv'd and rob'd of the liberty of it, in Spirituall and Religious matters.
I have (I fear) been long in my firſt Petition, my ſecond ſhall be brief, is this.
I moſt humbly and earneſtly beſeech your Honours The ſecond Pettion.in all the ſtraits and difficulties which yet you are to paſſe (concerning this great point of mens Conſciences, or other high affairs) ſteere carefuly off from one ſunk Rock, on which ſo many gallant Veſſels have miſcarried. This Rock lies deeper then others, and ſeldom hath appeared but at ſome Deadlow water, when the moſt high Judge of the whole world reckons with Men or States; in low condititions and debaſements.
I humbly beg from God the gracious continuance of his mighty Angels guard about your ſitting, to preſerve your Honours from the flames of Wars abroad, and from ſuch flames at home: from Riſings, from Tumults, from Mutini…s, from Piſtols, from Stabs, Worldly wiſdome in ſtraits a moſt dangerous rock.from Powder-plots, from Poyſon, &c. but above all, from your own Wiſdome and Policies in ſtraits and difficulties.
The holy Hiſtory tells, that on this Rock (in a State ſtrait) ſtrook the great Statiſt Jeroboam, to the ruine of himſelf and his poſterity.
On this Rock ſplit that famous and zealous Reformer Jehu.
This pluckt the Crown from Sauls high head, when his own wiſdome in ſtraits made him preſumtuous about the worſhip of God.
This pluckt off the Crown, and pluck out the eyes of Zedekiah, when in a ſtrait he truſted not in God, as Solomon ſpeaks, but leaned to his own underſtanding for his ſafety.
To which purpoſe my third Petition is, that in theThe third Petition. midſt of ſo many great Negotiations of Juſtice, of Mercy to the Bodies and Eſtates, or Spirits & Conſciences of ſo many thouſands and ten thouſand, you forget not to deal juſtly, & to ſhew mercy to your ſelves: Oh how lamentable and dreadful wil it prove, if after all your high Employments (as the State-Agents &Soul ſhipwrack. Factors for the Commonweal!) if in the midſt of all your cares and fears, and toſſings about the Souls and Conſciences and ſalvations of others, your own moſt dear and pretious ſelves make an eternal ſhipwrack?
Your Honors know, that although men have choſen and cull'd you out as wiſe and noble, yet God hath not choſen (if Paul ſay true) many wiſe and noble to eternall life and bleſſedneſſe.
Who can love and honor you, and not cry to the God of Heaven for you, and to your ſelves for your ſelves: Be not ſo buſie about the Earthly eſtate, no nor the Heavenly eſtate of others, as to forget to make ſure your own vocation and election, & to work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling.
Oh let not this bold cry offend, and though offend, yet let it throughly awake your noble ſpirits to know your dangers & hindrances (more then other mens)Dangers of Parliament men. from a world of diſtractions from without, from pride & ſelf-confidence from within, from the flatteries of ſuch who (hoping for rewards & morſels from you) proclaim abroad (that you may hear it) O bleſſed Christian Magiſtrates, Chriſtian Kings & Queens, Chriſtian States, Christian Parliaments, Chriſtian Armies, ſo lulling your pretious ſouls into an eternall ſleep.
I need not remember your Honours of that moſt wonderful ſumma totalis of all the caſtings up of Solomons choice particulars (his wiſdom, works, riches, peace and pleaſures,) Vanity and vexation of ſpirit. I need notWonderfull Confeſſions of two mighty Kings. remember you of that wonderfull Confeſsion of Philip the 2nd of Spain (neer his laſt) to his ſucceſſor and ſon Philip the 3rd, to this effect: I have had and expended (about the time of theſe 30 years) 594. millions of Treaſure, and yet gained nothing for my ſelf but heart ſorrow, and vexation of Spirit. Your own obſervant eyes and ears (in the late moſt wonderfull changes and toſſings of all affairs and things) cannot but read a thouſand Lectures to your moſt ſerious midnight and morning Thoughts of the moſt certain uncertainties of Friends, Treaſures, Revenues, Armies, Forts, Magazines, Caſtles, Ships and Navies, Crowns and Lives.
Why then ſhould your renowned wiſdom & prudence excel the folly of others as much as light excelleth darkneſs, in ſearching of the root and cauſes of matters, in fore-ſeeing Events and Conſequences, inTrue Heavenly wiſdome. raiſing Monies and Armies, in chooſing Agents, in framing Laws, in managing great affairs at home & abroad, in diſcovering plots, in preventing dangers, & finall overthrows by ſure retreats, &c. If yet, alas, that wiſdome make not out a ſaving diſcovery of the moſt holy and only wiſe, the Alpha & Omega, the firſt of cauſes and laſt of Ends (in whoſe hand is all your breath and ways:) in raiſing ſpiritual ſupplies againſt your ſpiritually devouring adverſaries, in diſcovering their methods, deſignes, deceits, in preventing that (that) fatall overthrow, and eternall defeat (remedileſs, hopeleſs) where the worm never dies, and the fire never goes out?
O why ſhould your renowned valors ſo glory in theThe onelyonly valour or cowardize. conqueſt of Cities, Caſtles, Ships & Armies, if your ſelves are led capti…e in the ſpiritual chains of lusts & paſsions, a more lamentable, and more to be deplored object, then the pooreſt ſlaves in the Spaniſh and Turkiſh Gallies.
What ſhall avail your admired diligence and activity in managing & quick diſpatching ſo many and ſo highTrue and beſt diligence. affairs, by day and night, catching hold of all occaſions, redeeming all oportunities, improving all advantages, if you loſe the fair Gales, and oreſlip and ſleep away the pretious and ineſtimable ſeaſons and calls, and knocks and offers of your own eternal Mercies?
What boots your exemplary and impartiall justice on ſo many and ſo high Delinquents, if your own boſomesTrue Juſtice and Righteouſneſs. are found traiterous to the State of Heaven, rebellious to the King, to the God of ſpirits, and if in that moſt high Court of Juſtice from Gods moſt dreadful tribunal you hear that thunder (which oh that you may never hear) …o ye curſed, &c.
'Tis true your mercies have been eminent to the poor, to the opreſſed, to the captive, to the maimed, to theHeavenly mercy. wounded, to the fatherleſs, widows, &c. But will you now be cruel to your ſelves, incompaſſionate to your own bowels, inſenſible of your own wounds and miſeries? O ſearch and ſee, and be perſwaded of your infinite want of Crummes falling from your Table of Mercy! of the infinite price and value of the wine & oyl of the mercifull (though deſpiſed Samaritan) to eaſe and ſupple, to cleanſe and heale your broken Hearts and wounded Spirits.
The flames of your zeal for the God of Iſrael (as that famous Iehu ſaid) have been ſo bright, and mounted ſo high againſt two mighty Factions of the Kings and Queens (the Prelats & the Popes) that thoſe flames have not only dazled and amazed all Britiſh eys (the Engliſh Late zealous Reformations.& the Scotch) but or'e the Seas, and or'e the Alps, and or'e the Pirenean mountains, and Romes own 7 hils hauehave flown & fild all Proteſtant and Popiſh ears, and hearts, and tongues, with either admiration & exulting, or furious rage and indignation! Yet what avails theſe glorious flames, and furious whirling of your zealous Chariots, if yet they are but Jehu's? If Sathan the God of this world poſſeſſe the Throne of Pride and Oſtentation in your boſoms (Come ſee my zeal which I have for the God of Iſrael) yea though you ſhould go on where Jehu left, and ſhoot home where he fell ſhort, yet what avails it that the God of Iſrael be in Iehu's mouth, when Godſelfe, God-honour, &c. fill his breaſt & heart? What gains he by the ſlaughter of Princes, Prieſts and Gods, when Iſrael it ſelf is but an Apoſtate ſtate from the true worſhipJehu his zeal and reward. of the God of Iſrael, and Iehu himſelf (according to the purity of Gods word and ordinances at Ieruſalem) reformed not ſo much as his own priv…t heart & cenſcience?
Alas, what ſolid joy (moſt zealous Worthies) ſhall a Crown of leaves (a temporal reward, Iehu's wages) bring to your Noble Heads & Breaſts, if you heare not at laſt that ſaving Call to all humble and ſelfe-denying Followers of Jeſus Come ye bleſſed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Your admired publick patience ſo wonderfully aſſaulted, ſo wonderfully loaden with ſuch mightie Trials from Mans, from Gods hand, with ſuch mighty Loſſes, mighty Defeats, mighty Labours & Hazards, Of the Parliaments patience.mighty Reproaches, &c. I ſay your unwearied Patience hath ſtood (like ſome mighty Rock, or Anvill) invincible: Yet who can ſtile this Patince, or Statepolicie! if your private Howſes and Breaſts ſwell and ſwarm with rebellious Paſſions, Impatiences, Revenges! If in the furnaces of your own private afflictions, and in the powrings out and changes of the moſt High upon you, your Droſſe and Lees of unmortified, unſanctified Spirits remain uncleanſed! if you moſt humbly kiſſe not the Rods of the moſt High chaſtiſing you by ſickneſſes, by leſſes, and other trialls, humbly thankfull, and longing to declare the Spirits of true Children, truly deſiring more and more to partake of his Divine Nature and Holineſſe?
Yea, what avails the Crown of your enduring Conſtancy, that have rid out ſo long a ſtorm, held outOf the Crown of true Conſtancy. ſo long a ſiege, not fainted in ſuch tedious Travels, Labours, Oppoſitions, Treacheries, Diſcouragements, but gloriouſly caſt Anchor in the Port of Patience; if yet your perſonall Righteouſneſs paſſe away as the morning dew melted with the warme beams of victorious and proſperous Succeſs? If your own profeſſions of Chriſt Jeſus prove but a fading colour, and not died in the right Grain of the pretious blood of the Son of God?
Your Honours well remember, that the main point of Luthers Reformation, (and before him of the Huſsites in Germany and Bohemia, and before them of the Wickleviſts in England, and before them of the Waldenſes in France, conſiſted chiefly about Repentance and Faith in the blood of Christ: That the main Contentions of Calvin, and ſince him of the moſt Reformers, have turn'd upon the hinge ofThe Controverſies of late years about Religion. the Form of the Church, and the Adminiſtrations thereof, the lamentable though pretious Fuell of thoſe fires of ſtrife among the wiſeſt, holieſt, and learnedſt of the Followers of Christ Jeſus in theſe times. You know the Lord Jeſus propheſied, ThatSo many oppoſite Churches, ſo many oppoſite Chriſts to the onelyonly true. many falſe Christs ſhould ariſe, and the Scriptures more then once give the title of Chriſt to the Ghurch; whence it is evident, That every ſeverall Modell, Platform, and profeſsion of a Church, is the profeſſion of a various and different Chriſt. Your Honours alſo know he ſpake moſt true (being Truth it Selfe) that ſaid, That which is moſt highly esteemed amongſt men, is abomination in the ſight of God, Luke 16. Hence, ſuch may the glorious profeſſion of Chriſts or Churches be, as may raviſh the eyes and hearts of men, and from which the jealous eys of the true Lord Jeſus turn away as from the falſe and counterfeit with indignation. Beſide the Counterfeit in holy Scripture, how famous was the Pageant of that counterfeit King of England, which ſoThe Pageant of Perken Warbeck in K. H. 7. his dayes, a picture of falſe Chriſts, or Churches. haunted with long vexations one of the wiſeſt of Englands Kings (Henry the ſeventh?) How wonderfully (even to aſtoniſhment) did the impoſture of Richard Duke of York (proclaiming Henry an uſurper and …alſe.) I ſay, how wonderfully did that monſtrous impoſture take, that not onelyonly Foraigners where that Counterfeit moſt kept (the Arch-Duke, the King of France, the King of Scots, the King of Romanes, the Iriſh Nation, &c.) were deceived with that feigned King, but alſo ſo many gallant men of our own Nation, even to the wiſest and highest (as that famous Stanley Lord Chamberlain, the Preſerver and R…iſer of King Henry himſelfe) lamentably loſt their Heads and Lives about that pretended King? Now counterfeit Spirituall deluſions of falſe and counterfeit Chriſts, as they are deeper and ſtronger, ſo they find more eaſie poſſeſſion of the Ears and Souls of men, ſo wofully prepared by naturall ſelf-deceivings.
On ſix principall Pillars or *foreign. The ſix fundamentals of Chriſtian Religion. Heb. 6.Foundations (ſaith the holy Spirit, Heb. 6. 6.) is built the fabrick of of true Chriſtianity: On Repentance, on Faith, on Baptiſmes, on laying on of Hands, on the Reſurrection, and the Eternall Judgement.
Concerning the two middle ones of theſe there are and have been mighty and lamentable differences among the Scholars of Jeſus, who yet agree in the other foure, of Repentance and Faith, the Reſurrection and Eternall Judgement.
Whatſoever your Honours apprehenſions are ofwith or without the firſt two, ſalvation or no ſalvation. the foure laſt, I beſeech you (as you love your lives to Eternity) make ſure of the two firſt, and ply (with Sails and Oars) day and nights, and give not reſt to your ſouls till you have anchored in ſome bleſſed aſſurance, that although you find not ſatisfaction in the many frames of Churches pretending; yet that you have ſaved (as once you know a wiſe and honorable perſonage ſaid) the Bird in your Boſome: and that thoſe your very eyes which have ſeen ſo much of Chriſt Jeſus, and ſo many wonderfull changes, and have been rotten awhile in their holes (in Death) ſhall joyfully poſſeſſe, and fill their holes again, and be gloriouſly bleſſed with the ſight of a Redeemer, when theſe Heavens and this Earth ſhal paſſe away. For which humbly and unceſſantly prayes
Your Honours moſt unworthy, yet unfainedly devoted, Roger Williams.
Your Honours (wanting time to read much) may pleaſe to view in a few minutes the Portraicture and Map of the whole Bloody Tenent in the latter end of the laſt Chapt. Chap. 79.