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

CHAP. XXIII.

Thirdly, wheras I urged a speech of his own, viz. that God had not prospered the way of separation, and conceives that I understood him of outward prosperitie. He affirms the Pu∣ritans to have been worse used in England then the Separatist, & thus writes: The meeting of the Separatists may be known to the Officers in Court and winked at, when the Conventi∣cles of the Puritans (as they call them) shall be hunted out with all diligence, and pursued with more violence then any Law can justifie,

Ans. Doubtles the contraversie of God hath bin great with this Land,* 1.1 that either of both have been so violently pursued and persecuted: I beleeve they are both the Witnesses of seve∣rall truths of Jesus Christ, against an impenitent and unchri∣stian profession of the name of the Lord Jesus.

Now for their suffrings:* 1.2 As the Puritans have not compa∣rably suffred (as but seldome congregating in separate assem∣blies from the common) so have not any of them suffred un∣to death for the way of Non-conformitie to Ceremonies, &c. Indeed the worthy witnes Mr. Vdall was neere unto death for his witnes against Bishops and Ceremonies:* 1.3 but Mr. Penry, Mr. Barrow,* 1.4 Mr. Greenwood followed the Lord Jesus with their Gibbets on their shoulders and were hanged with him and for him in the way of separation: many more have been condem∣ned to die, banished and choaked in prisons, I could produce upon occasion.

Again,* 1.5 I beleeve that there hardly hath ever been a consci∣entious Seperatist, who was not first a Puritan: for (as Mr. Can hath unan••werably proved) the grounds and principles of the Puritans against Bishops and Ceremonies, and prophanes of people pro••essing Christ,* 1.6 and the necessitie of Christs flock and discipline, must necessarily, if truely followed, lead on to, and inforce a separation from such wayes, worships, and Wor∣shippers, to seek out the true way of Gods worship according to Christ Jesus.

But what should be the reason, (since the separatist witnes∣seth against the root of the Church constitution it selfe, that yet he should find (as Mr. Cotton saith) more favour then the Puritan or Non-conformist?

Doubtles the reasons are evident:* 1.7 First most of Gods ser∣vants who out of sight of the ignorance, unbeliefe and pro∣phanes of the body of the Nationall Church, have separated and durst not have longer fellowship with it; I say most of them have been poore and low,* 1.8 and not such gainfull custo∣mers to the Bishops, their Courts and Officers.

That worthy instrument of Christs praise Mr. Ainsworth, during some time (and some time of his great labours in Hol∣land) lived upon 9. d. per week with roots boiled,* 1.9 &c. Wheras on the other side such of Gods servants as have been Non∣conformists have had faire estates been great persons, have had rich livings and benefices, of which the Bishops and theirs (like greedie Wolves) have made the more desirable prey.* 1.10

Secondly, it is a principle in nature to preferre a professed enemie, before a pretended friend. Such as have separated, have been lookt at by the Bishops and theirs, as known and professed enemies: wheras the Puritans profest subjection, and have submitted to the Bishops, their Courts, their Offi∣cers, their Common Prayer and Worships, and yet (as the Bi∣shops have well known) with no greater affection, then the Is∣raelites bare their Egyptian cruel Taskmasters.

He saith,* 1.11 God hath not prospered the way of Separation with peace amongst themselves▪ and growth of Grace.

Ans. The want of peace may befall the truest Churches of the Lord Jesus at Antioch, Corinth, Galatia, who were exercised with great distractions. Secondly, it is a common character of a false Church, maintained by the Smiths and Cutlers Shop,

to enjoy a quiet calme and peaceable tranquility,* 1.12 none daring for feare of civill punishment, to question, object, or differ from the common roade and custome. Thus sings that great Whore the Antichristian Church, Revel. 18, I sit as a Queen, am no Widow, see no sorrow, while Christs dearest complaines, she is forsaken, sits weeping as a Widow, Lam. 1. Thirdly, Gods people in that way, have somtimes long enjoyed sweet peace and soul contentment in England, Holland, New England, and other pla∣ces, and would not have exchanged a day of such an holy and peaceable harmonie for thousands in the Courts of Princes, seeing no other,* 1.13 and in sinceritie seeking after the Lord Jesus. And yet I humbly conceive, that as David with the Princes and 30 thousand Israelites, carrying the Ark on the shoulders of the Oxen, leaped and danced with great rejoycing, untill God smote Vzzah for his Error and Disorder, and made a breach, and a teaching Monument of Perez Vzzah, the breach of Vzzah: So in like manner all those celebrations of the spi∣rituall Arke or Ordinances,* 1.14 which yet I have know, although for the present accompanied with great rejoycing and try∣umphing; yet, as they have not been after the Due Order, so have they all met with and still must a Pe•••••• Vzzah, breaches and Divisions, untill the Lord Jesus discover, direct and incou∣rage his servants in his own due holy Order and appointment. And for growth in Grace, notwithstanding that amongst all sorts of Gods Witnesses, some false brethren creep in as chea∣ters and spies, and Judasses, dishonouring the name of Christ Jesus,* 1.15 and betraying his Witnesses: yet Sathan himselfe the accuser of the Saints, cannot but confesse that multitudes of Gods Witnesses (reproached with the names of Brownists, and Anabaptists) have kept themselves from the error of the wic∣ked, and grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, en∣devouring to clense themselves from all filthines both of flesh and spirit,* 1.16 and to finish holines in the feare of God. I will not make odi∣ous and envious comparisons, but desire that all that name the name of the Lord Iesus may depart wholly and for ever from ini∣quity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gods contro∣versie for per∣secution.
• * 1.2

  The suffrings of the Separa∣tists and Pu∣ritants in England com∣pared.
• * 1.3

  Mr. Vdal.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Penry, Mr, Barrow, Mr. Green∣wood.
• * 1.5

  Few conscien∣tious Separa∣tists but first were Puri∣tans.
• * 1.6

  The Non-conformists grounds in∣force separa∣tion.
• * 1.7

  Most of the separation of the lower sort of people.
• * 1.8

  The poverty of Mr. Ains∣worth.
• * 1.9

  The Noncon∣formists have been a faire booty for the Bishops,
• * 1.10

  The Separa∣tists have been professed enemies, but the Puritans in many things profes∣sed friends & subjects to the Bishops.
• * 1.11

  Mr. Cotton.
• * 1.12

  A false church may enforce a present grea∣ter (though false grace) then the true Spouse of Christ Iesus.
• * 1.13

  Gods people have found infinit sweet∣nes and peace in some times of their holy communion.
• * 1.14

  Breaches have been and must be among all Gods people to make them celebrate the Lords holy ordinances according to due order.
• * 1.15

  Many grace∣lesse Iudasses amongst Gods people.
• * 1.16

  Multitudes of gracions and holy persons that have professed Se∣paration