A80640:138
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.
For first, I do not remember that ever I wrote Letter to him from New-England about our way. And my Letter, which Mr. Baylie quoteth amongst his Testimonies (in G) was not written to him, but to a brother of mine (by Marriage) in Boston. Men that have been bred and brought up under a form of Doctrine, or Worship, or Government, and never saw ground to scruple it, they may with little ado receive it, and embrace, and follow it: which, it may be, hath been the case of many thousands in England, and usually falleth out in settled Churches. But for M. Goodwin to take up a way not only contrary to that wherein he hath been bred and brought up, but also discrepant from the judgements of so many godly learned Brethren, to the hazard of his Ministry, and to the smothering of himself in a cloud of calumny and obloquy, believe it who will, I cannot easily believe it, that he took up such a way with very little ado. I cannot but believe, it cost him many prayers, and sighs, and groans, much study, meditation, and conference, before he could satisfy himself in such a course; He being especially (as Mr. Baylie reporteth him) a man of a fine and dainty Spirit, (and therefore loving and tender:) to which sort of men, it is most unwelcome to offend Reverend Brethren by dissenting from them: and with whom it is most usual to suspect their own judgments and ways, when they go alone. Luther was not accounted a man of a fine and dainty spirit, but of a more resolute and stern temper; and yet it was no small temptation even to him. Nunquid tu solus sapis? Quoties mihi palpitavit tremulum Cor, & reprehendens objecit fortissimum illud argumentum, Tu solus sapis? tóine errant universi? &c. Luther. in Praefat. de Abrogandâ Missa privata, &c.
For first, I doe not remember that ever I wrote Letter to him from New-England about our way. And my Letter, which Mr. Baylie quoteth amongst his Testimonies (in G) was not written to him, but to a brother of mine (by Mariage) in Boston. Men that have been bred and brought up under a form of Doctrine, or Worship, or Government, and never saw ground to scruple it, they may with little adoe receive it, and embrace, and follow it: which, it may be, hath been the case of many thousands in England, and usually falleth out in setled Churches. But for M. Goodwin to take up a way not onely contrary to that wherein he hath been bred and brought up, but also discrepant from the judgements of so many godly learned Brethren, to the hazzard of his Ministery, and to the smothering of himself in a cloud of calumny and obloquy, beleeve it who will, I cannot easily beleeve it, that he took up such a way with very little adoe. I cannot but beleeve, it cost him many prayers, and sighs, and grones, much study, meditation, and conference, before he could satisfie himself in such a course; He being especially (as Mr. Baylie reporteth him) a man of a fine and dainty Spirit, (and therefore loving and tender:) to which sort of men, it is most unwelcome to offend Reverend Brethren by dissenting from them: and with whom it is most usuall to suspect their own judgments and wayes, when they goe alone. Luther was not accounted a man of a fine and dainty spirit, but of a more resolute and stern temper; and yet it was no small temptation even to him. Nunquid tu solus sapis? Quoties mihi palpitavit tremulum Cor, & reprehendens objecit fortissimum illud argumentum, Tu solus sapis? tóine errant universi? &c. Luther. in Praefat. de Abrogandâ Missa privata, &c.