A80640:384
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.
Secondly, when he maketh the number of the erring persons incredible, almost no society, no family free from that pest, Boston it self so far infected, that few there were untainted: let him be pleased to consider, whether his testimony will make it good. His testimonies (recited in his Marks F F. G G.) speak to the utmost of truth, but not so much as he avoucheth. The short Story in Preface, pag. 7. saith indeed, They had some of all sorts and qualities in all places to patronize and defend them: and almost in every family some were ready to defend them as the Apple of their own eye.
Secondly, when he maketh the number of the erring persons incredible, almost no society, no family free from that pest, Boston it self so farre infected, that few there were untainted: let him be pleased to consider, whether his testimony will make it good. His testimonies (recited in his Markes F F. G G.) speak to the utmost of truth, but not so much as he avoucheth. The short Story in Preface, pag. 7. saith indeed, They had some of all sorts and qualities in all places to patronize and defend them: and almost in every family some were ready to defend them as the Apple of their own eye.
But this will not make it good, that almost in every family some were infected with the pest of their errors. It is one thing to speak in the defence of erroneous persons, another to speak in defence of errors. Multitudes there were, that thought well of the persons, who knew nothing of their errors, but heard only of their unbottoming sandy foundations of a spiritual estate, which hath been mentioned above, Chap. 3.
But this will not make it good, that almost in every family some were infected with the pest of their errours. It is one thing to speak in the defence of erroneous persons, another to speak in defence of errours. Multitudes there were, that thought well of the persons, who knew nothing of their errours, but heard onely of their unbottoming sandy foundations of a spirituall estate, which hath been mentioned above, Chap. 3.