A80640:155
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.
SECT. X. Of Cottons Prelatical Tenets.
SECT. X. Of Cottons Prelaticall Tenents.
1. He instanceth in the Errors of my education, and my long continuance in them: sundry of them (as he saith) I confess stuck by me all the time of my abode in England.
1. He instanceth in the Errors of my education, and my long continuance in them: sundry of them (as he saith) I confesse stuck by me all the time of my abode in England.
And this he proveth from the testimony of mine own Letter (above mentioned) from New-England to my friends at Boston, October 5. 1635. As joining in Book-prayers and fellowship at the Lords Table with scandalous Communicants. It was but in the next foregoing Page, (pag. 56. of Mr. Baylie's Book) wherein he maketh it the unhappiness of England, that I changed my mind from those very Tenets, which he now calleth the Errors of my education, and Prelatical Tenets? But if they be Errors, why doth he tax me for changing from them? And why doth he say, It had been happy for England, if Mr. Cotton had taken longer time, before he had changed his mind from such Tenets? Let Mr. Baylie choose which he will take; either these are no Errors nor Prelatical Tenets; or if they were, it was no Error in me, nor unhappiness to England that I changed from them. A considerate and equal mind should not be so far transported studio partium; nor so soon forget it self, as to censure it in one Page for an unhappy change from such Tenets, which in the next Page he noteth for Erroneous and Prelatical Tenets.