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…

although I grant that a Minister as a Minister may preach the word, to more then those of his own congregation, yet knowing the sense wherein the learned Dr Wallis maintained that question, it is not impossible, but I might say, if I did dispute I must do it ex animo; for his bringing me a challenge, I do not know that either he did so, or that I put that interpretation on what he did; but I shall crave leave to say, that if the learned Dr Wallis do find any ground, or occasion to bring a challenge unto me, to debate any point of difference between us, I shall not wave answering his desire, although he should bring Mr Cawdry for his second; for the present I shall only ⟨p. 88⟩say, that as it is no commendation to the moderation or ingenuity of any one whatever, thus to publish to the world private hearsays, and what he hath been told of private conferences; so if I would insist on the same course, to make publication of what I have been told hath been the private discourse of some men, it is not unlikely that I should occasion their shame and trouble: yet in this course of proceeding a progress is made in the ensuing words; and Mr Stubs (who is now called my Amanuensis, who some five years ago, transcribed about a sheet of paper for me, and not one line, before or since;) is said to be employed or at least encouraged by me to write against the learned Dr Wallis his Thesis being published; this is as true as much of that that went before, and as somewhat of that, that follows after; and whereas it is added that I said what he had written on that subject, was a scurrilous ridiculous piece, it is of the same nature with the rest of the like reports. I knew that Mr ⟨p. 89⟩Stubs was writing on that subject; but not until he had proceeded far in it; I neither employed him, nor encouraged him in it, any otherwise then the consideration of his papers, after he had written them, may be so interpreted; and the reason why I was not willing he should proceed, next to my desire of continuance of peace in this place, was his using such expressions of me, and somethings of mine, in sundry places of his discourse, as I could not modestly allow to be divulged; the following words to the same purpose with them before mentioned, I remember not;

although I grant that a Minister as a Minister may preach the word, to more then those of his owne congregation, yet knowing the sense wherein the learned Dr VVallis maintained that question, it is not impossible, but I might say, if I did dispute I must do it ex animo; for his bringing me a challenge, I do not know that either he did so, or that I put that interpretation on what he did; but I shall crave leave to say, that if the learned Dr VVallis do find any ground, or occasion to bring a challenge unto me, to debate any point of difference between us, I shall not wave answering his desire, although he should bring Mr Cawdry for his second; for the present I shall only