A80640:219
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.
At her first coming she was well respected and esteemed of me, ⟨p. 51⟩not only because herself and her family were well beloved in England at Alford in Lincolnshire (not far beyond Boston:) nor only because she with her family came over hither (as was said) for conscience sake: but chiefly for that I heard, she did much good in our Town, in woman's meeting at Childbirth-Travels, wherein she was not only skilful and helpful, but readily fell into good discourse with the women about their spiritual estates: And therein cleared it unto them, That the soul lying under a Spirit of Bondage, might see and sensibly feel the heinous guilt, and deep desert of sin, and thereby not only undergo affliction of Spirit but also receive both restraining, and constraining Grace likewise, (in some measure:) restraining from all known evil (both courses, and companies) (at least for a season) and constraining to all known duties, as secret Prayer, Family Exercises, Conscience of Sabbaths, Reverence of Ministers, Frequenting of Sermons, Diligence in calling, honesty in dealing and the like: yea and that the Soul might find some tastes and flashes of spiritual comfort in this estate, and yet never see or feel the need of Christ, much less attain any saving Union, or Communion with him, being no more but Legal work, even what the Law, and the Spirit of bondage (breathing in it) might reach unto. By which means many of the women (and by them their husbands) were convinced, that they had gone on in a Covenant of Works, and were much shaken and humbled thereby, and brought to enquire more seriously after the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom all their Gifts and Graces would prove but common, and their duties but legal, and in the end wizen and vanish. All this was well (as is reported truly, page 31. of her Story) and suited with the public Ministry, which had gone along in the same way, so as these private conferences did well tend to water the seeds publicly sown. Whereupon all the faithful embraced her conference, and blessed God for her fruitful discourses. And many whose spiritual estates were not so safely laid, yet were hereby helped and awakened to discover their sandy foundations, and to seek for better establishment in Christ: which caused them also to bless the Lord for the good success, which appeared to them by this discovery.
At her first comming she was well respected and esteemed of me, ⟨p. 51⟩