A80608:1468
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.
Besides, when he saith, That himself discovered to me, and to other ⟨p. 24⟩servants of God, his grounds against our using of the Common Prayer; which then seemed sandy to us, but now in New-England, I have acknowledged to be rocky in my Discourse to Mr. Ball. I could have wished he had expressed, what grounds those were, which he discovered to us; For my self I can call to mind no such matter, that ever I heard, or received from him, either by word, or writing, any solid grounds against that Practise. But this I am sure of, that the grounds of altering my judgement touching that practise, did chiefly stand upon the exposition of the second Commandment; which if I should say, I received from him, I should greatly fear my forehead were more rocky then his grounds were. I think it no disgrace to change either my judgement or practise upon better grounds then I formerly discerned. Nor would I think it a disgrace to learn any grounds of truth, and to profess that I had learned them from himself, if so I had done. But sure I am, it hath not been wont to be the manner of the servants of God to upbraid their Brethren, with their Retractations of their former Aberrations.
Besides, when he saith, That himselfe discovered to me, and to other ⟨p. 24⟩servants of God, his grounds against our using of the Common Prayer; which then seemed sandy to us, but now in New-England, I have acknowledged to be rocky in my Discourse to Mr. Ball. I could have wished he had expressed, what grounds those were, which he discovered to us; For my selfe I can call to minde no such matter, that ever I heard, or received from him, either by word, or writing, any solide grounds against that Practise. But this I am sure of, that the grounds of altering my judgement touching that practise, did chiefly stand upon the exposition of the second Commandement; which if I should say, I received from him, I should greatly feare my forehead were more rocky then his grounds were. I thinke it no disgrace to change either my judgement or practise upon better grounds then I formerly discerned. Nor would I thinke it a disgrace to learne any grounds of truth, and to professe that I had learned them from himselfe, if so I had done. But sure I am, it hath not been wont to be the manner of the servants of God to upbraid their Brethren, with their Retractations of their former Aberrations.