A80640:252
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.
2. But why they were not called to account by the Presbytery of the Church, the reason was evident: because their gross errors were not confirmed into us, by two or three witnesses. And this I can truly profess, That when the Elders of other Churches acquainted me with some of their Errors, (even when the noise of them was spread far and near:) yet they acknowledged, the Erroneous persons were so cautious, that they would never vent any gross Errors before two witnesses. And this I can further truly avouch, that my self dealt sadly and seriously with some chief leaders of them, both by word, and writing to recover them from the Error of their way: which though they would argue ⟨p. 59⟩for, yet they would ever excuse themselves from settling upon any such things. I dealt also with others (whom I began to suspect might be leavened by their Leaders) and earnestly charged them to beware what Tenets they received from them, lest by that means they might be corrupted themselves, and their Leaders hardened. But they would not be known to me, that they drunk in any such dregs, as afterwards appeared.
2. But why they were not called to account by the Presbytery of the Church, the reason was evident: because their grosse errors were not confirmed into us, by two or three witnesses. And this I can truely professe, That when the Elders of other Churches acquainted mee with some of their Errors, (even when the noise of them was spred far and neer:) yet they acknowledged, the Erroneous persons were so cautious, that they would never vent any grosse Errors before two witnesses. And this I can further truely avouch, that my self dealt sadly and seriously with some chief leaders of them, both by word, and writing to recover them from the Error of their way: which though they would argue ⟨p. 59⟩for, yet they would ever excuse themselves from setling upon any such things. I dealt also with others (whom I began to suspect might be leavened by their Leaders) and earnestly charged them to beware what Tenents they received from them, lest by that means they might be corrupted themselves, and their Leaders hardned. But they would not bee known to me, that they drunke in any such dregs, as afterwards appeared.