B20729:39
A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England,…
A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England, to Mr. Williams, a preacher there wherein is showed that those ought to be received into the Church who are Godly, though they do not see nor expressly bewail all the pollutions in church-fellowship, ministry, worship, government.A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England, to Mr. Williams, a preacher there wherein is shewed that those ought to be received into the Church who are Godly, though they doe not see nor expressely bewaile all the pollutions in church-fellowship, ministery, worship, government.
London: printed for Benjamin Allen, 1643
Letter: A Letter of Mr. John Cottons, Teacher of the Church in Boston, in New England.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. For my self, I acknowledge the words which you mention, that the way of separation is not a way that God hath prospered. But you much mistake, when you think I speak it for want of their outward countenance, peace and liberty. The truth is, they find more favour in our native country then the way of reformation wherein we walk, which is commonly reproached by the name of Puritanism. The meetings of the Separatists may be known to the Officers in the Courts and winked at when the Conventicles of the puritans (as they call them) shall be hunted out with all diligence, and pursued with more violence then any law will justify. But I said that God had not prospered the way of separation, because he hath not blessed it either with peace amongst themselves, or with growth of grace; such as erring through simplicity and tenderness of conscience have grown in grace, have grown also to discern their lawful liberty to return to the hearing of the word from English Preachers.
3. For my selfe, I acknowledge the words which you mention, that the way of separation is not a way that God hath prospered. But you much mistake, when you thinke I speake it for want of their outward countenance, peace and liberty. The truth is, they finde more favour in our native country then the way of reformation wherein we walke, which is commonly reproached by the name of Puritanisme. The meetings of the Separatists may be knowne to the Officers in the Courts and winked at when the Conventicles of the puritans (as they call them) shall be hunted out with all diligence, and pursued with more violence then any law will justifie. But I said that God had not prospered the way of separation, because he hath not blessed it either with peace amongst themselves, or with growth of grace; such as erring through simplicitie and tendernesse of conscience have growne in grace, have growne also to discerne their lawfull liberty to returne to the hearing of the word from English Preachers.
Object. But this (you fear) is to condemn the witnesses of Jesus (the separate Churches in London and elsewhere) and our jealous God will visit us for such arrearages, yea the curse of his Angel from Meroz will fall upon us, because we come not forth to help Jehovah against the mighty, we pray not for them, we come not at them, (but at Parishes frequently) yea we reproach and censure them.