A80608:1547
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.
TO CHAP. V.
I see I have been so large in answering the former four Chapters of this Examination of my Letter, that if I should proceed in the like sort in a particular search of the other twenty-four Chapters which remain, I should take up more time then were meet about the personal concernments of him, or my self. Who are we, that we should publicly invite the servants of Christ (who are employed in more weighty affairs of their Lord and ours) to attend unto personal Transactions between him, and me? Where any thing shall occur tending to more public edification, I shall insist with more attention thereupon, and pass over other lighter Discourses, with a lighter touch. Yet who so can spare so much time, and leisure, as to compare each Chapter of his, with each Chapter of this Discourse, he shall find (if I be not mistaken) no passage of weight passed over without returning due Answer to each particular. That Text in Prov. 11.26. (He that withholdeth the Corn, (which is the staff of life) from the people, the multitude shall curse him:) I alleged to prove that the people had much more cause to separate such from amongst them, (whether by Civill, or Church-Censure, as do withhold, or separate them from the Ordinances, or the Ordinances from them, which are (in Christ) the bread of life. Let not the Reader be so far mis-led by the Examiner his mis-information, as to think, that this Scripture was produced against him, to justify either a false Ministry, or an unfit people to choose and enjoy a true Ministry. The Ministry, and people, are the Ministry and people of this Country: of which, the people he acknowledgeth to be Saints: and the Ministers of the Churches (chosen by them) not to be destitute of such qualifications, as Christ requireth, save only that we do not forbid the people when they go over into England, to hear the word of God preached by godly Ministers in the Parish Churches. Now for this cause, because we do not separate these English hearers from us, he separated himself, and withdre others from hearing the word in our Churches with us: which I accounted as great, and as unsufferable an injury to the souls of Gods people, as it would be to their bodies to withhold the Corn from them, or them from the Corn: and for that end I produced this Scripture.