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

CHAP. XIX.

His third answere is:* 1.1 But to satisfie you more fully (and the Lord make you willing in true meeknesse of Spirit to receive satisfaction) the body of the members doe in generall professe, that the reason of their coming over to us was, that they might be freed from the bondage of humane Inventions and Ordinances, as their soules groaned under, for which al so they professe their hearty sorrow, so farre as through ignorance or infirmitie they have bin defiled. Beside, in our daily meetings, and specially in the times of our solemne Humiliations, we generally all of us bewaile all our former pollutions, where∣with we have defiled our selves and the holy things of God, in our former adminstrations and communions: but we ra∣ther choose to doe it then talke of it; and we can but wonder how you can so boldly and resolutely renounce all the Chur∣ches of God, for neglect of that which you know not whether they have neglected or no, and before you have admonished us of our sinfullnes in such neglect, if it be found amongst us.

I answer (with humble desires to the Father of Lights,* 1.2 for the true meeknes and wisdome of his Spirit) here is mention of humane Inventions and Ordinances, and defiling themselvs and holy things of God in former Administrations, and Com∣munions,* 1.3 and yet no mention what such Inventions and Or∣dinances, what such Administrations and Communions were: We rather choose to doe it (saith he) then to talke of it, which makes me call to mind, an expression of an eminent and wor∣thy person amongst them in a solemne conference, viz. What need we speake of Antichrist, can we not enjoy our liberties without inveighing against Antichrist? &c.

The truth is, I acknowledge their witnes against Ceremo∣nies and Bishops, but that yet they see not the evill of a Nati∣onall Church (notwithstanding they constitute only parti∣cular

and independant) let their constant practice speake, in still joyning with such Churches and Ministers in the Ordi∣nances of the Word and Prayer, and their Persecuting of my selfe for my humble and faithfull,* 1.4 and constant admonishing of them, of such unclean walking between a particular Church (which they only professe to be Christs) and a Nationall, which Mr. Cotton professeth to separate from.

But how could I possibly be ignorant, (as he seemeth to charge me) of their state, when being from first to last in fel∣lowship with them, an Officer amongst them, had private and publike agitations concerning their state and condition,* 1.5 with all or most of their Ministers, and at last suffred for such ad∣monitions to them, the miserie of a Winters Banishment amongst the Barbarians: and yet saith he, You know not what we have done, neither have you admonished us of our sinfullnes.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. Cotton.
• * 1.2

  Answer.
• * 1.3

  How can a soule truly oppose Anti∣christ, that endures not to have his name questio∣ned.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Cotton witnessing a∣gainst a nati∣onall Church, and yet hold∣ing f••••••owship with it.
• * 1.5

  Impossible for the answerer to be ignorant of their Church estate, as Mr. Cotton pretendeth.