Mr. Cottons letter lately printed, examined and ansvvered: by Roger Williams of Providence in New·England.:

CHAP. X,

Mr. Cotton. Two stumbling blocks (I perceive) have turned you off from Fellowship with us. First the want of fit matter of our Church. Secondly, disrespect of the Separate Churches in England under affliction, our selves practising Separation in peace.

For the first, you acknowledge, as you say, with joy, that god∣ly persons are the visible members of these Churches, but yet you see not that godly persons are matter fitted to constitute a Church, no more then Trees or Quarries are fit matter pro∣portioned to the building. This exception seemeth to me to imply a contradiction to it selfe, for if the matter of the Chur∣ches be as you say godly persons, they are not then as Trees unfeld, and Stones unhewen: godlinesse cutteth men downe from the former root and heweth them out of the pit of cor∣rupt nature, and fitteth them for fellowship with Christ, and with his people.

You object, first, a necessity lying upon godly men before they can be fit matter for Church fellowship, to see, bewaile, repent, and come out of the false churches, worship, ministry, government, according to Scriptures Isa. 62. 11. 2 Cor. 6. 17. and this is to be done not by a locall remo∣vall or contrary practise, but by a deliverance of the soule, understand∣ing, will, judgement and affection.

Ans. First we grant that it is not locall removall from for∣mer pollution, nor contrary practise, that fitteth us for fellow∣ship with Christ, and his Church, but thas it is necessary also that we repent of such former pollutions wherewith we have been defiled and inthralled.

We grant further, that it is likewise necessary to Church-fellowship, we should see and discerne all such pollutions, as do

so farre inthrall us to Antichrist as to separate us from Christ: But this we professe unto you, that wherin we have reformed our practice, therein have we endeavoured unfeig∣nedly to humble our soules for our former contrary walking: if any through hypocrisie are wanting herein, the hidden hy∣pocrisie of some will not prejudice the sinceritie and faith∣fullnesse of others, nor the Church estate of all.

Answ. That which requireth Answere in this passage, is a charge of a seeming contradiction, to wit, That persons may be godly, and yet not fitted for Church estate, but remaine as Trees and Quarries unfeld, &c. Contrary to which it is affirmed, that godly persons cannot be so inthralled to Antichrist, as to separate them from Christ.

For the clearing of which let the word of Truth be rightly divided, and a right distinction of things applyed, there will appeare nothing contradictorie, but cleare and satisfactorie to each mans conscience.

First then I distinguish of a godly person thus:* 1.1 In some acts of sin which a godly person may fall into, during those acts, although before the all searching and tender eye of God, and also in the eyes of such as are godly, such a person remaineth still godly, yet to the eye of the world externally such a person seemeth ungodly, and a sinner. Thus Noah in his Drunken∣nesse; thus Abraham, Lot, Samson, Job, David, Peter, in their ly∣ing whoredomes, cursings, Murther, denying and forswearing of Christ Jesus, although they lost not their inward sap and root of life,* 1.2 yet suffred they a decay and fall of leafe, and the shew of bad and evill Trees. In such a case Mr. Cotton will not deny that a godly person falling into drunkennes wheredome deliberate murther, denying and forswearing of Christ, the Church of Christ cannot receive such persons into Church-fellowship, before their sight of humble bewailing and con∣fessing of such evills▪ notwithstanding that love may conceive there is a root of godlines within.* 1.3

Secondly Gods children (Cant. 5.) notwithstanding a princi∣ple of spiriuall life in their soules, yet are lul'd into a long con∣tinued sleep in the matters of Gods worship: I sleep, though my heart waketh. The heart is awake in spirituall life and grace, as concerning personall union to the Lord Jesus, and conscio∣nable endeavours to please him in what the heart is convin∣ced:

yet asleep in respect of abundant ignorance and negli∣gence, and consequently grosse abominations and pollutions of Worship, in which the choisest servants of God, and most faithfull Witnesses of many truths have lived in more or lesse, yea in maine and fundamentall points, ever since the Apo∣stacie.

Not to instance in all,* 1.4 but in some particulars which Mr. Cotton hath in new England reformed. I earnestly beseech him∣self & all, wel to ponder how far he himself now professeth to see, and practice, that which so many thousands of godly per∣sons of high note in all ages (since the Apostacie) saw not: As

First concerning the nature of a particular Church to con∣sist only of holy and godly persons.

Secondly, of a true Ministrie called by that Church.

Thirdly, a true Worship free from Ceremonies, Common-Prayer, &c.

Fourthly a true Government in the hands only of such Go∣vernours and Elders, as are appointed by the Lord Jesus. Hence Gods people not seeing their Captivitie in these points, must first necessarily be inlightned and called out from such Cap∣tivitie, before they can be nextly fitted and prepared for the true Church, Worship, Ministrie &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The state of godly persons in grosse sins.
• * 1.2

  Godly persons falling into grosse sins, are to expresse repentance be∣fore they can b•• admitted to the church.
• * 1.3

  Gods children long asleep in respect of Gods worship, though alive in the grace of Christ.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Cotton now professes to practise what thou∣sands of Gods people for ma∣ny ages have not seen.