A80640:112
The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the…
The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the historical aspersions of Mr. Robert Baylie, in his book, called, A dissuasive from the errors of the time. In the latter, from some contradictions of Vindicæ Clavium : and from, some mis-constructions of learned Mr. Rutherford in his book entitled The due right of presbyteries. / By Mr. John Cotton, sometime preacher at Boston in Lincoln-shire, and now teacher of the Church at Boston, in New-England.The way of Congregational churches cleared in two treatises. In the former, from the historical aspersions of Mr. Robert Baylie, in his book, called, A disswasive from the errors of the time. In the latter, from some contradictions of Vindicæ Clavium : and from, some mis-constructions of learned Mr. Rutherford in his book intituled The due right of presbyteries. / By Mr. John Cotton, sometime preacher at Boston in Lincoln-shire, and now teacher of the Church at Boston, in New-England.
London: printed by Matthew Simmons for John Bellamie, 1648
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 second misreport which the Dissuader maketh of me in his former sentence, is, That howsoever when I was in England, I was then distasted with Episcopal Government; yet so long as I abode in England, I minded no more then the Old Non-conformity.
The second misreport which the Disswader maketh of me in his former sentence, is, That howsoever when I was in England, I was then distasted with Episcopall Government; yet so long as I abode in England, I minded no more then the Old Non-conformity.
I pass by his unsavoury metaphor of my distaste of Episcopal Government. Conscientious judgment in matters of Religion is not led by taste or distaste: will he say, that both the Parliaments of England and Scotland have abolished Episcopal Government upon a distaste?
I passe by his unsavory metaphor of my distaste of Episcopall Government. Conscientious judgment in matters of Religion is not led by taste or distaste: will he say, that both the Parliaments of England and Scotland have abolished Episcopall Government upon a distaste?
But when he saith, I minded no more then the Old Non-Conformity whilst I abode in England, he must be more privy to my mind then any mortal man is, and then my self too, to make it good. There were some scores of godly persons in Boston in Lincoln-shire, (whereof some are there still, and some here, and some are fallen asleep) who can witness, that we entered into a Covenant with the Lord, and one with another, to follow after the Lord in the purity of his Worship; which though it was defective, yet it was more then the Old Non-conformity. Besides, I had then learned of Mr. Parker, and Mr. Baynes, (and soon after of Dr. Ames) that the Ministers of Christ, and the Keys of the Government of his Church are given to each particular Congregational Church respectively: And therefore neither Ministers nor Congregations subject to the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Cathedral Churches, no, nor of Classical Assemblies neither, but by voluntary consociation, and that in some cases; and those falling short of that which is properly called subjection to their Jurisdiction. Which made me then to mind not only a neglect of the censures of Commissary Courts, (which bred not a little offence to them, and disturbance to my self) but also to breath after greater liberty and purity not only of Gods Worship, but of Church estate. But suppose that I had then minded no more then the Old way of Non-conformity: yet the experience of the Godly will easily acknowledge, that the way of the Lord is light and strength to the upright, and giveth more and more understanding and enlargement to them that walk in it.