A34675:245
A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of self contradiction, charged on…A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of selfe contradiction, charged on…
A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of self contradiction, charged on him by Mr. Dan. Cawdrey written by himself not long before his death ; whereunto is prefixed, an answer to a late treatise of the said Mr. Cawdrey about the nature of schism, by John Owen ...A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of selfe contradiction, charged on him by Mr. Dan. Cavvdrey written by himselfe not long before his death ; whereunto is prefixed, an answer to a late treatise of the said Mr. Cavvdrey about the nature of schisme, by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by H. Hall for T. Robinson, 1658
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.
The 15th Contradiction is thus Declared.
15. What if the whole Presbytery offend? The readiest course is to bring the matter to a Synod, the keys pag. 43. | 15. There is a readier and nearer way; The Brethren may censure them all, Way pag. 45. If the Congregation be found faithful and willing to Remove an offence by due censure, why should the offence be called up to a more public Judicature. Keys pag. 42.
15. What if the whole Presbytery offend? The readiest course is to bring the matter to a Synod, the keyes pag. 43. | 15. There is a readier and nearer way; The Brethren may censure them all, Way pag. 45. If the Congregation be found faithfull and willing to Remove an offence by due censure, why should the offence be called up to a more publicke Judicature. Keyes pag. 42.
Ans. This Contradiction is made partly out of the concealment of Part of my words in the first Column, and Partly out of the Addition of some words of his own in the second Column. In the former Column I say, If the whole Presbytery offend, or such a Part as will draw a Party, and a Faction in the Church with them, the readiest course then is, to bring the matter to a Synod where those words, such a Part as will draw a Party, or Faction in the Church with them, are given for the just Reason, why in such a case, the case of the offending Presbytery, or other such Leading members ⟨p. 66⟩in the Church should be brought to a Synod, before it be censured in the Church. But in the words recited in the latter Column, I speak of the Congregation as Agreeing together, and both faithful and willing to Proceed against Heretical Doctrine and Scandalous crimes in whomsoever. And then they need not Trouble the Synod to clear the case, which is already clear unto themselves, so that this Contradiction speaketh not ad Idem. The one Column speaketh of a Church, Divided into parts and Factions, and their readiest course is to bring the matter to a Synod. The second Column speaketh of a Church both faithful and willing to Proceed against offences with one accord. And then they have sufficient Power within themselves, to judge that which is right, and to execute their Judgment. That which is Added of the Repliers own words, in the latter Column, doth help not a little to make up an Appearance of the Contradiction. In the Keys I had said (In the case above mentioned)