The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience Discussed and Mr. Cotton's Letter Examined and Answered, by Roger Williams
CHAP. VI.
Mr. Cotton. “And yet it may be they passed that sentence
against you, not upon that ground: but for aught I
know, for your other corrupt doctrines, which tend to the
disturbance both of civil and holy peace, as may appear by
that answer which was sent to the brethren of the church
of Salem and yourself.”
Mr. Cotton himself ignorant of the cause of my sufferings.
[Answer.] I answer, it is no wonder that so many having
been demanded the cause of my sufferings have answered,
that they could not tell for what, since Mr. Cotton himself
knows not distinctly what cause to assign; but saith,
it may be they passed not that sentence on that ground,
&c. Oh! where was the waking care of so excellent and
worthy a man, to see his brother and beloved in Christ so
afflicted, he knows not distinctly for what![239]
He allegeth 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. Oh! that it may please the Father of
lights to awaken both himself and other of my honoured
countrymen, to see how though their hearts wake, in respect
of personal grace and life of Jesus, yet they sleep,
insensible of much concerning the purity of the Lord’s
worship, or the sorrows of such, whom they style brethren
and beloved in Christ, afflicted by them.
Civil peace and civil magistracy blessed ordinances of God.
But though he name not these corrupt doctrines, a little
before I have, as they were publicly summed up and
charged upon me, and yet none of them tending to the
breach of holy or civil peace, of which I have ever desired
to be unfeignedly tender, acknowledging the ordinance
of magistracy to be properly and adequately fitted by God
to preserve the civil state in civil peace and order, as he
hath also appointed a spiritual government and governors
in matters pertaining to his worship and the consciences of
men; both which governments, governors, laws, offences,
punishments, are essentially distinct, and the confounding
of them brings all the world into combustion. He adds: