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

About this Item

Title
Mr. Cottons letter lately printed, examined and ansvvered: by Roger Williams of Providence in New·England.:
Author
Williams, Roger, 1604?-1683.
Publication
London :: [s.n.],
Imprinted in the yeere 1644.
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Subject terms
Freedom of religion
Cotton, John, -- 1584-1652.
Williams, Roger, -- 1604?-1683.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A96614.0001.001
Cite this Item
"Mr. Cottons letter lately printed, examined and ansvvered: by Roger Williams of Providence in New·England.:." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A96614.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.

Pages

CHAP. VI.

Mr. Cotton. And yet it may be they passed that sentence against you, not upon that ground: but for ought I know, for your other corrupt Doctrines, which tend to the disturbance both of civill and holy peace, as may appeare by that answere which was sent to the Brethren of the Church of Salem and your selfe.* 1.1

I answere, it is no wonder that so many having bin deman∣ded the cause of my suffrings have answered, that they could not tell for what, since Mr. Cotton himselfe knows not distinct∣ly what cause to assigne: but saith, it may be they passed not that sentence on that ground, &c. Oh, where was the waking care of so excellent & worthy a man, to see his brother and be∣loved in Christ so afflicted, he knows not distinctly for what.

He alleadgeth a Scripture, to prove the Sentence righteous, and yet concludeth it may be it was not for that, but for other corrupt Doctrines which he nameth not, nor any Scripture to prove them corrupt, or the sentence righteous for that cause. O that it may please the Father of lights to awaken both himself and other of my honoured Countreymen, to see how though their hearts wake (in respect of personall grace and life of Jesus) yet they sleep, insensible of much concerning the purity of the Lords worship, or the sorrows of such whom they stile Brethren, and beloved in Christ, afflicted by them.

But though he name not these corrupt Doctrines, a little before I have, as they were publikely summed up and charged upon me, and yet none of them tending to the breach of holy

Page 11

or civill peace,* 1.2 of which I have ever desired to be unfainedly tender, acknowledging the Ordinance of Magistracie to be properly and adequatly fitted by God, to preserve the civill State in civill peace and order: as he hath also appointed a spirituall Government and Governours in matters pertaining to his worship and the consciences of men, both which Go∣vernments, Governours, Laws, Offences, Punishments, are Essentially distinct, and the confounding of them brings all the world into Combustion. He addes:

Notes

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