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

CHAP. XXVI.

The second thing which Mr. Cotton himselfe hath profest concerning English preachers is,* 1.1 that although the Word, yet not the Seales may be received from them: because (saith he) there is no communion in hearing, and the Word is to be preached to All, but the seales he conceives (and that rightly) are prophaned in being dispensed to the ungodly, &c.

Ans. Mr. Cotton himselfe maintaineth,* 1.2 that the dispensing of the Word in a Church estate, is Christs feeding of his flock Cant. 1. 8. Christs kissing of his Spouse or Wife, Cant. 1. 2. Christs embracing of his Spouse in the mariage bed, Cant. 1. 16. Christs nursing of his children at his wives brest, Cant. 4. and is there no communion between the Shepheard and his Sheep? the Husband and his Wife in chast kisses and embra∣ces and the Mother and her Child at the brest?

Beside he confesseth, that that Fellowship in the Gospel, Phil. 1. 3. is a fellowship or communion in the Apostles do∣ctrine, communitie, breaking of bread, and prayer, in which

the first Church continued, Acts 2. 46. All which overthrows that Doctrine of a lawfull participation of the Word and Prayer in a Church estate, where it is not lawfull to commu∣nicate in the breaking of bread or seales.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mr. Cotton.
• * 1.2

  The communi∣on or fellow∣ship of the word taught in a Church estate.