A80608:1189
The bloody tenet, washed, and made white in the blood of the LambThe bloudy tenent, washed, and made white in the bloud of the Lambe
The bloody tenet, washed, and made white in the blood of the Lamb: being discussed and discharged of blood-guiltiness by just defence. Wherein the great questions of this present time are handled, viz. how far liberty of conscience ought to be given to those that truly fear God? And how far restrained to turbulent and pestilent persons, that not only raze the foundation of godliness, but disturb the civill peace where they live? Also how far the magistrate may proceed in the duties of the first table? And that all magistrates ought to study the word and will of God, that they may frame their government according to it. Discussed. As they are alleged from divers Scriptures, out of the Old and New Testament. Wherein also the practise of princes is debated, together with the judgement of ancient and late writers of most precious esteem. Whereunto is added a reply to Mr. Williams answer, to Mr. Cottons letter. / By John Cotton Bachelor in Divinity, and teacher of the church of Christ at Boston in New England.The bloudy tenent, washed, and made white in the bloud of the Lambe: being discussed and discharged of bloud-guiltinesse by just defence. Wherein the great questions of this present time are handled, viz. how farre liberty of conscience ought to be given to those that truly feare God? And how farre restrained to turbulent and pestilent persons, that not onely raze the foundation of godlinesse, but disturb the civill peace where they live? Also how farre the magistrate may proceed in the duties of the first table? And that all magistrates ought to study the word and will of God, that they may frame their government according to it. Discussed. As they are alledged from divers Scriptures, out of the Old and New Testament. Wherein also the practise of princes is debated, together with the judgement of ancient and late writers of most precious esteeme. Whereunto is added a reply to Mr. Williams answer, to Mr. Cottons letter. / By John Cotton Batchelor in Divinity, and teacher of the church of Christ at Boston in New England.
London: printed by Matthew Symmons for Hannah Allen, 1647
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
What we have opened out of Cant. 4.8. against Persecution, when (as he saith) we were under the Hatches, amounted to this, That it was lawful for the sheep of Christ, to follow Christ, and and to come along with him, and fly away from persecution. Did any of us then teach, that it was unlawful for Magistrates to pursue with just revenge Apostate Seducers unto Idolatry, Heresy, or blasphemy? or turbulent subverters of civill or Church-Order? And since we are come hither, where he is pleased to honour us with sitting at Helm (which is far from us) what have we taught or practised more, then our selves allowed in times of our own restraint? But men that can allow themselves a Liberty of calumny, it may well become them to plead for a Liberty of impunity for all Religions.
What we have opened out of Cant. 4.8. against Persecution, when (as he saith) wee were under the Hatches, amounted to this, That it was lawfull for the sheep of Christ, to follow Christ, and and to come along with him, and flye away from persecution. Did any of us then teach, that it was unlawfull for Magistrates to pursue with just revenge Apostate Seducers unto Idolatry, Heresie, or blasphemy? or turbulent subverters of civill or Church-Order? And since we are come hither, where he is pleased to honour us with sitting at Helme (which is farre from us) what have we taught or practised more, then our selves allowed in times of our owne restraint? But men that can allow themselves a Liberty of calumny, it may well become them to plead for a Liberty of impunity for all Religions.
We keep not a weight and a weight (as he calumniateth) a measure and a measure: what we measure out to others, we should never think it hard measure to have the same returned to our selves in the like case, Only this measure we desire of all hands to be kept (that which Abraham the Father of the faithful, and God the Judge of all the Earth, thought equal, Gen. 18.25