A80608:2097
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.
His sixth and last particular consideration is, That how ever Mr. Cotton saith, He hath not found such presence of Christ and evidence of the Spirit in such (separate) Churches, as in the Parishes: What should be the reason of their great rejoicings and boastings of their own separations in New-England, in so much, that some of the most eminent amongst them have affirmed, that even the Apostles Churches were not so pure? Surely if the same new English Churches were in Old England, they could not meet in Old England without persecution: which therefore in Old England they avoid, by frequenting the way of Church-worship in the Parishes, which in New-England they persecute.
His sixt and last particular consideration is, That how ever Mr. Cotton saith, He hath not found such presence of Christ and evidence of the Spirit in such (separate) Churches, as in the Parishes: What should be the reason of their great rejoycings and boastings of their own separations in New-England, in so much, that some of the most eminent amongst them have affirmed, that even the Apostles Churches were not so pure? Surely if the same new English Churches were in Old England, they could not meete in Old England without persecution: which therefore in Old England they avoyde, by frequenting the way of Church-worship in the Parishes, which in New-England they persecute.
Reply. 1. The Examiner might easily have satisfied himself in this consideration, if he had been willing to understand that which he knoweth to be our meaning. He knoweth very well, and hath often told us of it before, that we our selves in our Churches do practise some kind of separation here, to wit, separation, not from the Churches in Old England, as no Churches, but from some corruptions found in them. In such Churches as so separate, we never speak of them, that we had not found the presence of Christ, or evidence of the Spirit in such Churches. But I speak of such rigid Separatists Churches, as renounce the Churches, and Ministry, and worship, and Saints of England, as if they were all false, or none at all, and therefore utterly do refuse to hear the word in their Assemblies, which is such a way of separation, as I told him in my Letter, the Lord Jesus never delivered, nor any of his Apostles after him, nor any of his Prophets before him. Of which he taketh no