A80608:1809
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. If there be (saith he) any voice of Christ in the mouths of his witnesses against these sins, &c. If there be: he doth not say, there be. And if there were, how doth it appear, that their voice is the voice of Christ, or that they be the witnesses of Christ, in whose mouths this voice is? How easy had it been for the Examiner, if he himself knew any such voice of Christ in the mouths of any of his witnesses against these sins of false worship which our godly Brethren do live in, to have alleged the same, and the word of Christ, which might have been witness to the voice of those witnesses? But these Ifs and Overtures will neither convince nor edify others, nor justify himself.
Reply. If there be (saith he) any voyce of Christ in the mouths of his witnesses against these sinnes, &c. If there be: he doth not say, there be. And if there were, how doth it appeare, that their voyce is the voyce of Christ, or that they be the witnesses of Christ, in whose mouths this voyce is? How easie had it been for the Examiner, if he himselfe knew any such voyce of Christ in the mouths of any of his witnesses against these sinnes of false worship which our godly Brethren doe live in, to have alledged the same, and the word of Christ, which might have been witnesse to the voyce of those witnesses? But these Ifs and Overtures will neither convince nor edifie others, nor justifie himselfe.
Besides, what if there be some witnesses have testified against the false worship in England, and against the hearing of those Ministers, by reason of that false worship? What if the Godly Persons (of whom he speaketh) here, are not so ignorant, but they know what those witnesses have said, nor so negligent, but they have duly considered and pondered the same, and weighing it in the Balance of the Scriptures, have found it too light? Is it spiritual hardness, to choose, rather to fear God, and his Word, then to fear the false Interpretations and Applications of it by the spirit of Error? The word of the Lord we reverence and acknowledge, Come not ye to Gilgall, neither go ye up to Bethaven: But do we come to Gilgall, or go up to Bethaven, when we hear the word of the Lord from the godly Preachers in the Parishes in England? If such alledgements of Scripture may go for the voice of Christ in the mouths of his witnesses, we shall soon forget the Counsel of Solomon; Cease my Son to hear the Instruction, which causeth to err from the words of knowledge,