A80608:1657
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.
Reply. 2. He may do well to consider, that the most of those Saints he nameth, were not as rude Trees and Quarries unproportioned to the Building, but as Trees of Righteousness, and living Stones, laid by God himself in the Building of his Church. But I easily grant him, that according to the Discipline of the Churches of Christ in the days of the Gospel, it were meet that godly persons falling into any gross, and scandalous, and notorious pollution, they should first give satisfaction to the Church by profession of their Repentance, before they be received into holy fellowship with the Lord, and his People, in Church-communion. In which respect, if Christ be considered as head of the visible Church, he who is a member of the Church, (and so a member of Christ) may fall so foully into gross sin, and be so enthralled to it, as to be separate from the Church, yea and from Christ too, considered as the visible head of it. And therefore the Examiner mistook himself, and me too, when he writeth, that I affirmed, that godly persons cannot be so enthralled to Antichrist, as to separate them from Christ. For I never denied, that godly persons may fall, as into other gross ⟨p. 61⟩and notorious sins; so also into gross and notorious Antichristian Pollutions, so as to separate them from Church-Communion, yea and from Christ himself, as he is the Head of the visible Church.
Reply. 2. He may doe well to consider, that the most of those Saints he nameth, were not as rude Trees and Quarries unproportioned to the Building, but as Trees of Righteousnesse, and living Stones, layed by God himselfe in the Building of his Church. But I easily grant him, that according to the Discipline of the Churches of Christ in the dayes of the Gospel, it were meete that godly persons falling into any grosse, and scandalous, and notorious pollution, they should first give satisfaction to the Church by profession of their Repentance, before they be received into holy fellowship with the Lord, and his People, in Church-communion. In which respect, if Christ be considered as head of the visible Church, he who is a member of the Church, (and so a member of Christ) may fall so foully into grosse sinne, and be so enthralled to it, as to be separate from the Church, yea and from Christ too, considered as the visible head of it. And therefore the Examiner mistook himselfe, and me too, when he writeth, that I affirmed, that godly persons cannot be so enthralled to Antichrist, as to separate them from Christ. For I never denied, that godly persons may fall, as into other grosse