A80608:1280
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.
AS for. Calvin, Beza, and Aretius, mine Answer is, since matter of fact and opinion are barely related by the Answerer without their grounds, (whose grounds notwithstanding, in this Book are Answered) If Paul himself were joined with them, yea or an Angel from Heaven, bringing any other Rule, then what the Lord Jesus hath once delivered, we have Pauls Conclusion, and Resolution, peremptory, and dreadful, Gal. 1.8.
AS for. Calvine, Beza, and Aretius, mine Answer is, since matter of fact and opinion are barely related by the Answerer without their grounds, (whose grounds notwithstanding, in this Booke are Answered) If Paul himselfe were joyned with them, yea or an Angel from Heaven, bringing any other Rule, then what the Lord Jesus hath once delivered, wee have Paules Conclusion, and Resolution, peremptory, and dreadfull, Gal. 1.8.
Defender.
That I only quoted the Names of those blessed men of God, It was partly because it was enough to counterpoise the Names of Authors alleged by the Letter against the Truth, by the Names of greater and more holy men of God, for the Truth: partly also, because if I had quoted their grounds, I must have transcribed their whole Books of the Argument. Calvins discourse about it, against Servetus, is bound up in his Opuscula. Beza his. Book de Haceticis a Magistratù puniendis, is bound up also in his Opuscula: but both of them too large by me to be copied, and to strong and accurate, by them of the adverse part to be refuted. Aretius, a like solid writer, may sooner be shifted off, then sifted to Bran. But it seemeth, if Paul himself had joined with them in the like fullness of expressions, himself should rather have been accursed by the Discusser, then his Doctrine accepted. Which seemeth to me a strange both prejudice, and prefidence met together. For since God laid his charge upon Magistrates in the Old-Testament, to punish Seducers, & the Lord Jesus never took this charge off in the New-Testament,