A80640:196
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.
And it is true, they professed so: just as Wightman who was burnt at Lichfield for Montanism, (avouching himself to be the Holy Ghost) professed he had received all his grounds from Mr. Hildersam. And I confess my self, being naturally (I thank God) not suspicious, hearing no more of their Tenets from them, then what seemed to me Orthodox•ll, I believed, they had been far off from such gross errors, as were bruited of them. But when some of my fellow-Brethren (the Elders of Neighbour Churches) advertised me of the evil report that went abroad of their corrupt Tenets, I desired to know what the Tenets were, which were corrupt, and which they had vented here and there, in my name. They mentioned some to me, some of those which are published in the short story of that Subject: and named also to me the persons, who had uttered the same. I therefore dealt with Mris. Hutchinson and others of them, declaring to them the erroneousness of those Tenets, and the injury done to my self ⟨p. 40⟩in fathering them upon me. Both she, and they utterly denied, that they held such Tenets, or that they had fathered them upon me. I returned their Answer to the Elders, who had spoken to me of them: and I inquired, if any two of them, or of their Neighbours could bear witness in this case. They answered me, they had but one witness of any corrupt Tenet: and that one, loth to be known to be an accuser of them. I replied, what course would you then advise me to take? They answered, that I could not indeed bring the matter to the Church for want of witnesses: But the best way would be, publicly and privately to bear witness against such errors. I took their counsel, and bare witness against the errors complained of, as well publicly as privately. Which when some Elders and Brethren heard, meeting soon after with some of these Opinionists: Lo, say they, now we have heard your Teacher bearing witness openly against those very points, which you falsely father on him. No matter (say the other) what you hear him say in public: we know what he saith to us in private. This answer bred in some of my Brethren and friends, a jealousy, that my self was a secret fomenter of this spirit of Familism, if not leavened my self that way.
And it is true, they professed so: just as Wightman who was burnt at Lichfield for Montanisme, (avouching himself to be the Holy Ghost) professed he had received all his grounds from Mr. Hildersam. And I confesse my self, being naturally (I thank God) not suspicious, hearing no more of their Tenents from them, then what seemed to mee Orthodoxll, I beleeved, they had been far off from such grosse errors, as were bruited of them. But when some of my fellow-Brethren (the Elders of Neighbour Churches) advertised me of the evill report that went abroad of their corrupt Tenents, I desired to know what the Tenents were, which were corrupt, and which they had vented here and there, in my name. They mentioned some to mee, some of those which are published in the short story of that Subject: and named also to me the persons, who had uttered the same. I therefore dealt with Mris. Hutchinson and others of them, declaring to them the erroneousnesse of those Tenents, and the injury done to my self