A80608:473
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.
Beply. 3. We do not say that it is a part of the Magistrates duty, to see all his Subjects to become Christians, if they were Pagans before: though we say, it is his Duty to neglect no good means to help them onward to the knowledge and faith of Christ Jesus. But why doth the Discusser shake this duty out of the Magistrates, to see that the Church, and the Christians under his Government, should walk in purity of worship, at least not so far to degenerate and apostate as to provoke Christ to depart from them? Can he hope that such Christians will be faithful and loyal to their Prince, whom he seeth to grow false and disloyal to their God? Surely the Land of Ismael though it had some peculiar and and typical Holiness belonging to it, yet no other then what did prefigure the Holiness of the Church, which is as holy to Christ, and ought to be as holy to us, as the Land of Israel was to them. If therefore it was the duty of Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Isaiah, to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings, because they were an holy people, (2 Chron. 19.4.) Surely the like Duty lieth upon all Godly Christian Princes, to reduce their backsliding Churches to their Primitive Purity.
Beply. 3. We doe not say that it is a part of the Magistrates duty, to see all his Subjects to become Christians, if they were Pagans before: though wee say, it is his Duty to neglect no good meanes to help them onward to the knowledge and faith of Christ Jesus. But why doth the Discusser shake this duty out of the Magistrates, to see that the Church, and the Christians under his Government, should walke in purity of worship, at least not so farre to degenerate and apostate as to provoke Christ to depart from them? Can he hope that such Christians will be faithfull and loyall to their Prince, whom he seeth to grow false and disloyall to their God? Surely the Land of Ismael though it had some peculiar and and typicall Holinesse belonging to it, yet no other then what did prefigure the Holinesse of the Church, which is as holy to Christ, and ought to be as holy to us, as the Land of Israel was to them. If therefore it was the duty of Jehosaphat, Hezekiah, and Isaiah, to reduce the people of Israel from their backslidings, because they were an holy people, (2 Chron. 19.4.) Surely the like Duty lyeth upon all Godly Christian Princes, to reduce their backsliding Churches to their Primitive Purity.