A26912:645
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and…
A defence of the principles of love, which are necessary to the unity and concord of Christians and are delivered in a book called The cure of church-divisions ... / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for Nevil Simmons, 1671
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.
And that this is the sense of New-England, appeareth, 1. In their banishing Lyford first, and the two Browns after, lest they should be divided about the Prelacy and Liturgy. 2. By their common judgement against dangerous Toleration. 3. By the History of Mrs. Hutchinson's business in Sir Henry Vane's days. 4. By the History of Mr. Williams business. 5. And of Gorton's. 6. And of the Quakers of late; All which I shall say no more of, but only transcribe some of the words of Morton's Memorial, about Mr. Williams, p. 78, &c:
And that this is the sense of New-England, appeareth, 1. In their banishing Lyford first, and the two Brownes after, lest they should be divided about the Prelacy and Liturgie. 2. By their common judgement against dangerous Toleration. 3. By the History of Mrs. Hutchinsons business in Sir Henry Uane's daies. 4. By the History of Mr. Williams business. 5. And of Gorton's. 6. And of the Quakers of late; All which I shall say no more of, but only transcribe some of the words of Morton's Memorial, about Mr. Williams, p. 78, &c:
[In the year 1634. Mr. Roger Williams removed from Plymouth to Salem, He had lived about three years at Plymouth, where he was well accepted as an assistant to Mr. Ralph Smith then Pastor there; But by degrees venting of divers of his own singular opinions, and seeking to impose them upon others, he not finding such a concurrence as he expected, desired his dismission—foreseeing that he would run the same course of rigid Separation and Anabaptistry as Mr. John Smith the Separatist at Amsterdam had done, the Church consented to his dismission; and such as did adhere to him were also dismissed, or removed with him, or not long after him, to Salem.—But he having ⟨p. 171⟩in one years time filled that place with principles of rigid Separation, and tending to Anabaptistry; the prudent Magistrates of the Massachusetts jurisdiction, sent to the Church of Salem, desiring them to forbear calling him to Office; which they not hearkening to, was a cause of much disturbance.—He being in Office, proceeded more vigorously to vent many dangerous Opinions, as, That it is not lawful for an Unregenerate man to pray; nor to take an Oath; and in special, not the Oath of Fidelity to the Civil Government; Nor was it lawful for a godly man to have Communion, either in Family-Prayer, or in an Oath, with such as they judged unregenerate. And therefore he himself refused the Oath of Fidelity, and taught others so to do. Also that it was not lawful so much as to hear the godly Ministers of England, when any occasionally went thither; and therefore he admonished any Church-members that had done so, as of heinous sin. Also he spake dangerous words against the Patent which was the foundation of the Government of the Massachusetts Colony. Also he affirmed that the Magistrate had nothing to do in matters of the First Table, but only the Second: And that there should be a general and unlimited Toleration of all Religions: And for any man to be punished for any matters of his Conscience, was Persecution.—Staying at home in his own house, he sent a Letter, which was read in the public Church-Assembly, to give them notice, That if the Church of Salem would not separate, not only