A80640:225
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 occasion of my intent of removal was this. After the ⟨p. 53⟩banishment of Ms. Hutchinson and sundry others by occasion of her, the general court made an order, that none should be received to abide as Inhabitants in this Jurisdiction, unless they were allowed under the hand of the Governor, or two Assistants. The Assistants are our Magistrates. When this Law came to be put in ure, I was informed that some godly passengers who hither arrived out of England, were refused to sit down amongst us, because (upon trial) they held forth such an union with Christ by the Spirit giving Faith, as did precede the acting of Faith upon Christ: and such an evidence of that union, by the favour of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, as did precede the seeing (though not the being) of Sanctification.
The occasion of my intent of removall was this. After the ⟨p. 53⟩banishment of Ms. Hutchinson and sundry others by occasion of her, the generall court made an order, that none should be received to abide as Inhabitants in this Jurisdiction, unlesse they were allowed under the hand of the Governour, or two Assistants. The Assistants are our Magistrates. When this Law came to be put in ure, I was informed that some godly passengers who hither arrived out of England, were refused to sit down amongst us, because (upon tryall) they held forth such an union with Christ by the Spirit giving Faith, as did precede the acting of Faith upon Christ: and such an evidence of that union, by the favour of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, as did precede the seeing (though not the being) of Sanctification.
This took the deeper impression upon me, because I saw by this means, we should receive no more Members into our Church, but such as must profess themselves of a contrary judgment to what I believed to be a Truth. Besides I was informed, that it was the judgment of some of place, in the Country, that such a Doctrine of Union, and evidencing of Union, as was held forth by me, was the Trojan Horse, out of which all the erroneous Opinions and differences of the Country did issue forth.