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

CHAP. IX.

Mr. Cotton. In which course though you say you doe not remember an houre, wherein the countenance of the Lord was darkned to you; yet be not deceived, it is no new thing with Sathan to transform himselfe into an Angel of light, and to cheare the soule with false peace, and with flashes of counterfeit consolation: Sad and wofull is the memorie of Mr. Smiths strong consolation on his death-bed, which is set as a seale to his grosse and damnable Arminianisme, and En∣thusiasme delivered in the confession of his Faith, prefixed to the Storie of his life and death. The countenance of God is upon his people when they feare him, not when they presume of their own strength, and his consolations are not found in the way of prefidence and error, but in the wayes of humilitie and truth.

Ans. To that part which concerns my self, the speech hath reference either to the matter of justification, or else matter of my affliction for Christ, of both which I remember I have had discourse.

For the first I have exprest in some conference (as Mr. Cotton himselfe hath also related concerning some,* 1.1 with whom I am not worthy to be named) that after first manifestations of the countenance of God, reconciled in the blood of his Son unto my soule, my questions and trouble have not been concerning my reconciliation and peace with God, but concerning san∣ctification

and fellowship with the holines of God, in which respect I desire to cry (with Paul) in the bitternes of my spirit, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!

Secondly, it may have reference to some conference concer∣ning affliction for his Names sake, in which respect I desire to acknowledge the faithfullnes of his word and promise, to be with his in 6 troubles and in 7, through fire and water, making good 100 fold with persecution,* 1.2 to such of his servants as suffer ought for his names sake: and I have said and must say, and all Gods witnesses that have borne any paine or losse for Jesus, must say, that fellowship with the Lord Jesus in his sufferings is sweeter then all the fellowship with sinners, in all the pro∣fits, honours, and pleasures of this present evill world. And yet 2 things I desire to speak to all men and my selfe,* 1.3 Let every man prove his worke, Gal. 6. and then shall he have rejoycing in himselfe, and not in another. Secondly, if any man love God, that soule knows God, or rather is known of God (1 Cor. 8.) Selfe-love may burn the bodie, but happy only he whose love alone to Christ constrains him to be like unto him, and suffer with him.

To that which concerneth Mr. Smith,* 1.4 although I knew him not, and have heard of many points, in which my conscience tells me, it pleased the Lord to leave him to himselfe; yet I have also heard by some (whose testimonie Mr. Cotton will not easilie refuse) that he was a man fearing God: and I am sure Mr. Cotton hath made some use of those principles and arguments on which Mr. Smith and others went, concerning the constitution of the Christian Church. The infinite com∣passions of God,* 1.5 which lay no sin to Davids charge but the sin of Vritah, 1 King. 15. have graciously comforted the soules of his on their death-bed, accepting and crowning their upright∣nes and faithfullnes, and passing by what otherwise is grievous and offensive to him. And indeed from the due consideration of that instance, it appeares that no sin is comparably so grie∣vous in Gods Davids,* 1.6 as a treacherous slaughter of the faithfull, whom we are forced to call beloved in Christ: That opinion in Mr. Cotton or any, is the most grievous to God or man, and not comparable to any that ever Mr. Smith could be charged with. It is true, the countenance and consolations of God are found

in the wayes of humilitie and truth,* 1.7 and Sathan transformeth him like to an Angel of light in a counterfeit of both: In which respect I desire to worke out salvation with feare and trem∣bling, and to doe nothing in the affaires of God and his Wor∣ship, but (like the weights of the Sanctuarie) with double care, diligence and consideration, above all the affaires of this vanishing life. And yet Christs consolations are so sweet, that the soule that tasteth them in truth, in suffering for any truth of his, will not easily part with them, though thousands are deceiv'd and deluded with counterfeits.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A soule at peace with God may yet endure great combats con∣cerning san∣ctification.
• * 1.2

  Affliction for Christ sweet.
• * 1.3

  Two cautions for any in persecution for conscience.
• * 1.4

  Mr. Smith godly, and a light to Mr. Cotton and o∣thers, though left to himself in some things.
• * 1.5

  Gods infinite compassions toward those whose hearts are upright with him
• * 1.6

  The opinion of putting V∣ri••ah to death, the vilest of all opinions.
• * 1.7

  As the weights of the sanctuary were double, so must there bee dou∣ble pondering in all the af∣fairs of Gods worship.