A80640:371
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.
But Independency by the blessing of Christ doth speedily, safely, and effectually purge out such grievous and dangerous evils, as threaten the ruin of Church and State: therefore Independency is safely allowed, and justly, and wisely established in any civill State.
But Independency by the blessing of Christ doth speedily, safely, and effectually purge out such grievous and dangerous evills, as threaten the ruine of Church and State: therefore Independency is safely allowed, and justly, and wisely established in any civill State.
Ob. 1. But this purging and healing of these grievous and dangerous evils was not the fruit of their Independent-Church-Government, but of their civill Government. We have oft marvelled, that the Eldership of Boston did never so much, as call Ms. Hutchinson before them, to be rebuked for any of her errors, though their general Assembly had confuted them, and condemned them: yet still she was permitted to go on, till the zeal of the new Governor, and the general Court did condemn her to perpetual banishment. Then, and not till then, so far as we can perceive by the story, did the Church of Boston bring a process against her. And when the process was brought to an end, Mr. Cotton would by no means put it in execution; that burden was laid upon the back of Mr. Wilson his Colleague, how ever not the fittest Instrument, being the person to whom Ms. Hutchinson had professed greatest opposition. And when the sentence was pronounced against her, they tell us, that the great cause of it was none of her Errors or Heresies, but her other practises, specially her gross lying.
Ob. 1. But this purging and healing of these grievous and dangerous evills was not the fruit of their Independent-Church-Government, but of their civill Government. We have oft marvelled, that the Eldership of Boston did never so much, as call Ms. Hutchinson before them, to be rebuked for any of her errors, though their generall Assembly had confuted them, and condemned them: yet still shee was permitted to goe on, till the zeal of the new Governour, and the generall Court did condemne her to perpetuall banishment. Then, and not till then, so far as wee can perceive by the story, did the Church of Boston bring a processe against her. And when the processe was brought to an end, Mr. Cotton would by no meanes put it in execution; that burden was layed upon the back of Mr. Wilson his Colleague, how ever not the fittest Instrument, being the person to whom Ms. Huthinson had professed greatest opposition. And when the sentence was pronounced against her, they tell us, that the great cause of it was none of her Errors or Heresies, but her other practises, specially her grosse lying.