A80640:342
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.
Answ. 1. What if he have not read, what we preach here of conversion? Doth he think it meet, we should print all the Sermons we preach? What if any of us should say, I have not read of any Scottish Minister who have published any of their labours in that argument, (save Mr. Rollock, and him in Latin, and that haply in the Schools, and many have not seen him neither:) shall we therefore think it credible, that so many holy faithful labourers in Christs Vineyard in that whole Nation, do not seem to mind the matter of conversion?
Answ. 1. What if he have not read, what we preach here of conversion? Doth hee thinke it meet, wee should print all the Sermons wee preach? What if any of us should say, I have not read of any Scottish Minister who have published any of their labours in that argument, (save Mr. Rollock, and him in Latine, and that haply in the Schooles, and many have not seene him neither:) shall we therefore thinke it credible, that so many holy faithfull labourers in Christs Vineyard in that whole Nation, doe not seeme to minde the matter of conversion?
But whether he have read of any of our books of that Subject, or no, surely it is not, because none of such are extant to be read. He may read when he pleaseth Mr. Shepherds two Treatises, one styled The sincere Convert, the other The sound Believer, besides sundry Treatises of Mr. Hooker touching the Souls Preparation to Christ, Effectual Calling, and Justification, &c. and when he hath read them, let him then tell the world, whether of all that have crossed the American Seas (as he speaketh) the Ministers of this way have been justly noted to be most neglectful of the work of conversion. Yea let me make bold in Gods fear to pray Mr. Baylie, and those others, who have noted us as most neglectful of this work, to enquire and consider whether among all the servants of Christ now living in any reformed Churches (put them all together) they have published so many Treatises of the work of conversion, as the Ministers of this way have done, in New-England, and London, which I speak not (the Lord is witness to my soul) out of carnal Arrogancy to boast of our labours, in so holy and weighty an Argument: but out of conscience to bear witness to the way of Gods truth against such an unjust & unworthy scandal. But when I speak of these Treatises of Conversion, I do not include all that are written under the glorious and fallacious stiles of Free Grace, and Gospel-Truth, which nevertheless do but indeed lay the Leaven of Arminian-universal-free