t

Cotton, and the ministers of the New England Churches and others, former and later, tending to prove the doctrine of PERSECUTION for cause of conscience.

"4. The doctrine of PERSECUTION for cause of conscience, is proved guilty of all the blood of the souls, crying for vengeance under the altar.

"5. All civil states, with their officers of justice, in their respective constitutions and administrations, are proved essentially civil, and therefore, not judges, governors, or defenders of the spiritual or Christian state and worship.

"6. It is the will and command of GOD, that since the coming of his Son, the Lord Jesus, a permission of the most Paganish, Jewish, Turkish, or antichristian consciences and worships were granted to ALL nations and countries, and they are only to be fought against with that sword, which only in soul matters is able to conquer; to wit, the sword of God's spirit, the word of God.

“7. The state of the land of Israel, the king and people thereof in peace and war, is proved figurative and ceremonial, and no pattern nor precedent for any kingdom or civil state in the world to follow.

"8. God requireth not an uniformity of religion to be enacted or enforced in any civil state, which enforced uniformity, sooner or later, is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of CHRIST JESUS in his servants, and

of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls!

“9. In holding an enforced uniformity of RELIGION, in a civil state, we must necessarily disclaim our desires and hopes of the Jews conversion to Christ.

“10. An enforced uniformity of religion throughout a nation or civil state, confounds the civil and religious, denies the principles of Christianity and Civility, and that JESUS CHRIST is come in the flesh.

"11. The permission of other consciences and worships, than a state professeth (only can, according to God) procure a firm and lasting peace; good assurance being taken, according to the wisdom of the civil state, for uniformity of civil obedience from all sorts.

"12. And lastly-TRUE CIVILITY and CHRISTIANITY may both flourish in a state or kingdom, notwithstanding the permission of divers and contrary consciences either of Jew or Gentile.”

Then comes an address to "the Right Honourable both Houses of the High Court of Parliament," and also "to every courteous Reader," which thus concludes,

“In vain have ENGLISH PARLIAMENTS permitted English Bibles in the poorest English houses, and the simplest man and woman to search the Scriptures, if yet, against their soul's persuasion, from the Scriptures, they should be forced (as if they lived in Spain or Rome itself, without the

sight of a Bible,) to believe as the church believes. But having tried, we must hold fast (1 Thess. v. ) upon the loss of a crown, (Rev. 13.) we must not let go for all the flea-bitings of the present affliction, &c.; having bought TRUTH deare, we must not sell it cheape, not the least graine of it for the whole world, no, not for the saving of soules, though our owne most precious, least of all for the bitter sweetening of a little vanishing pleasure, for a little puffe of credit and reputation from the changeable breath of uncertaine sons of men, for the broken bagges of riches on eagele's wings, for a dreame of any, or all of these which on our death-bed vanish and leave tormenting stings behinde them. O! how much better is it from the love of truth, from the love of the Father of lights, whence it comes; from the love of the Sonne of God, who is the way and the truth, to say as he, (John xvii. 37.) For this end was I born, and for this end came I into the world, that I might beare witnesse to the truth."

The VOLUME next contains-" Scriptures and reasons, written long since, by a witnesse of Jesus Christ, close prisoner in Newgate, against persecution in cause of conscience, and sent some while since to Mr. Cotton, by a friend, who thus wrote'In the multitude of counsellours there is safety; it is therefore humbly desired to be instructed in this point, viz. Whether PERSECUTION for cause of conscience, be not against the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings."" Then is subjoined,

"The Answer of Mr. John Cotton, of Boston, in New England, to the aforesaid Arguments against Persecution for cause of Conscience, professedly maintaining PERSECUTION for Cause of Conscience." And lastly comes-"A reply to the aforesaid Answer of Mr. Cotton, in a Conference between Truth and Peace!"

The DIALOGUE is conducted with a fascinating ease and simplicity; the reader shall be furnished with its commencement and conclusion. It thus begins

"Truth. In what darke corner of the world, sweet Peace, are we two met ? How hath this present evil world banished me from all the coasts and quarters of it, and how hath the righteous God, in judgement, taken thee from the earth. Rev. vi. 4.

"Peace. "Tis lamentably true, blessed Truth; the foundations of the world have been long out of course, the gates of earth and hell have conspired together to intercept our joyful meeting and our holy kisses. With what a wearied, tyred wing have I flowne over nations, kingdoms, cities, towns, to finde out precious Truth?

"Truth. The like enquiries in my flights and travells have I made for Peace, and still am told she hath left the earth and fled to heaven.

"Peace. Deare Truth, what is the earth but a dungeon of darknesse, where Truth is not?

"Truth. And what's the Peace thereof, but a fleeting dream, thine ape and counterfeit ?

"Peace. O! where's the promise of the God of Heaven, that righteousnesse and peace shall kisse each other?

"Truth. Patience, sweet Peace, these heavens and earth are growing old, and shall be changed like a garment. (Psalm cii. 26.) They shall melt away, and be burnt up with all the works that are therein, and the most high Eternal Creator shall gloriously create new heavens and new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. (2 Peter iii. 13.) Our kisses then shall have their endlesse date of pure and sweetest joys! Till then both thou and I must hope and wait, and bear the fury of the dragon's wrath, whose monstrous lies and furies shall, with himself, be cast into the lake of fire, the second death. (Rev. xx. 15.)

Mine heart is full of

"Peace. Most precious Truth! thou knowest we are both pursued and laid for. sighes, mine eyes with tears.

Where can I better

vent my full oppressed bosome than into thine, whose faithful lips may for these few hours revive my drooping, wandering spirits, and here begin to wipe tears from mine eyes, and the eyes of my dearest children?

"Truth. Sweet daughter of the God of Peace! begin, power out thy sorrowes, vent thy complaints: how joyful am I to improve these precious minutes to revive our hearts, both thine and mine, and the hearts of all that love the Truth and Peace. Zech. viii. 19.