A80608:1918
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 the third and fourth point (which he maketh) of my Confession; That a Church of Christ cannot be constituted of godly persons, taken with the inordinate love of the world: or that a Church consisting of such, ought to be separated from: These are only his own palpable mistakes of those words of mine, which I expressed as the sum of his words, which he (through hast) conceived to be mine, whereof we have spoken in the 20th Chapter.
As for the third and fourth point (which he maketh) of my Confession; That a Church of Christ cannot be constituted of godly persons, taken with the inordinate love of the world: or that a Church consisting of such, ought to be separated from: These are onely his own palpable mistakes of those words of mine, which I expressed as the summe of his words, which he (through hast) conceived to be mine, whereof we have spoken in the 20th Chapter.
Let him not say (as he doth) that when I would not have Parish Churches to be separated from, for the remnants of pollutions, I mean only, Ceremonies, and Bishops: neither let him say, that I do extenuate and mince the root, mass, and substance of the matter of National Churches, (though for the greater part unregenerate) by naming only a remnant of pollutions.
Let him not say (as he doth) that when I would not have Parish Churches to be separated from, for the remnants of pollutions, I mean onely, Ceremonies, and Bishops: neither let him say, that I doe extenuate and mince the roote, masse, and substance of the matter of Nationall Churches, (though for the greater part unregenerate) by naming onely a remnant of pollutions.
For he knoweth we wholly avoid National, Provincial, and Diocesan Government of the Churches by Episcopal Authority: He knoweth also, we avoid their prescript Liturgies, and Communion with openly scandalous persons in any Church-order; He knoweth likewise, (or at least may know) that it is a continual sorrow of heart, and a mourning of our souls, that there is yet so much of those notorious evils (which he nameth) still continuing in the Parishes, worldliness, ignorance, superstition, scoffing, swearing, cursing, whoredom, drunkenness, theft, lying, I may add also murder, and malignity against the godly, suffered