Roger Williams, Prophet and Pioneer of Soul-LibertyStrickland, Arthur Barsazou
Religion
Roger Williams, Prophet and Pioneer of Soul-Liberty
Strickland, Arthur Barsazou
Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683
He plead especially that permission be granted the Jews “to live freely
and peaceably amongst them.”
He was on intimate terms with Milton, to whom he read and from whom he
received instruction in certain languages. He also was associated with
Sir Henry Vane. Returning to his colony in 1654, he at once exercised
his influence in smoothing out its many and varied difficulties.
During this second visit to England he issued three publications. John
Cotton had written a reply to the “Bloody Tenent,” publishing it in
London, in 1647. It had the following title:
The Bloudy Tenent, washed, and made white in the bloud of the Lambe:
being discussed and discharged of bloud-guiltinesse by just Defence.
Roger Williams in 1652 printed his rejoinder to Cotton’s book. Its
title is descriptive of its contents:
The Bloody Tenent yet More Bloody: by Mr Cottons endevour to wash
it white in the Blood of the Lambe; of whose precious Blood, spilt
in the Blood of his Servants; and of the blood of Millions spilt in
former and later Wars for Conscience sake, that Most Bloody Tenent of
Persecution for cause of Conscience, upon a second Tryal, is found now
more apparently and more notoriously guilty, etc., etc. By R. Williams
of Providence in New-England. London, Printed for Giles Calvert, and
are to be sold at the black-spread-Eagle, at the West-end of Pauls,
1652.
It is a small quarto of three hundred and seventy-three pages. Two
copies are in the Library of Brown University, one, a presentation copy
from Williams to his friend, Dr. John Clarke, of Newport.
[Illustration]
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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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