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Mr. Cotton. Yea but he speaks not these things to adde af∣fliction to the afflicted, but if it were the holy will of God to move me to a serious sight of my sinne, and of the justice of Gods hand against it: Against your corrupt Doctrines it pleased the Lord Jesus to fight against you with the sword of
his mouth, as himselfe speaketh Rev. 2. in the mouthes and testimonies of the Churches & Brethren, against whom when you overheat your selfe in reasoning and disputing, against the light of his truth, it pleased him to stop your mouth by a sudden Disease, and to threaten to take breath from you: But you instead of recoiling (as even Balaam offered to doe in the like case) chose rather to persist in the way, and protest against all the Churches and brethren that stood in your way: and thus the good hand of Christ that should have humbled you to see and turn from the error of your way, hath rather hard∣ned you therin, and quickned you only to see failings (yea in∣tollerable errors) in all the Churches and brethren, rather then in your selfe.
Answer. In these lines, an humble and discerning spirit may espie: First a glorious justification and boasting of Himselfe and others concurring with him. Secondly, an unrighteous and uncharitable censure of the afflicted.
To the first I say no more,* 1.1 but let the light of the holy lant∣horne of the word of God discover and try with whom the sword of Gods mouth (that is the testimony of the holy Scripture, for Christ, against Antichrist) abideth. And whe∣ther my self and such poore Witnesses of Jesus Christ in Old and New England, Low-Countries, &c. desiring in meeknes and patience to testifie the truth of Jesus, against all false cal∣lings of Ministers,* 1.2 &c. Or Mr. Cotton (however in his person holy and beloved) swimming with the stream of outward credit and profit, and smiting with the fist and sword of per∣secution such as dare not joyn in worship with him; I say, whether of either be the Witnesses of Christ Jesus, in whose mouth is the sword of his mouth, the sword of the Spirit, the holy word of God, and whether is most like to Balaam?
To the sec••n••: his censure. It is true, it pleased God by ex∣cessiv•• labours on the Lords dayes,* 1.3 and thrice a week at Salem, by labours day and night in my Field with my own hands, for the maintenance of my charge; by travells also by day and night to goe and return from their Court (and not by over∣heating in dispute, divers of themselves confessing publikely my moderation) it pleased God to bring me neare unto death, in which time (notwithstanding the mediating testimony of two skillfull in Physick) I was unmercifully driven from my
chamber to a Winters flight. During my sicknes, I humbly appeale unto the Father of Spirits for witnes of the upright and constant diligent search my spirit made after him, in the examination of all passages, both my private disquisitions with all the chief of their Ministers, and publike agitations of points controverted: and what gracious fruit I reaped from that sicknes, I hope my soule shall never forget. However I mind not to number up a catalogue of the many censures up∣on Gods servants in the time of Gods chastisements and visi∣tations on them,* 1.4 both in Scripture, History and experience. Nor retort the many evills which it pleased God to bring up∣on some chief procurers of my sorrows, nor upon the whole State immediatly after them, which many of their own have observed and reported to me: but I commit my cause to him that judgeth Righteously, and yet resolve to pray against their Evils, Psal. 141.
The lanthor••e of Gods word must alone try who fights with the sword of Gods mouth, the same word of God.
Whether Mr. Cotton persecuting, or the answerer persecuted, bee likest to Balaam.
The answe∣rers profession concerning his sicknes, which Mr. Cotton upbraids to him.
Scripture, hi∣story, experi∣ence can wit∣nes the cen∣sures upon Gods servants in their affli∣ctions.