A80640:400
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.
Luther complaineth, in Postil. super Evangel. Dom. adventus, Sunt nunc homines magis vindictae cupidi, magis avari, magis ab omni misericordiâ remoti, magis immodesty, & indisciplinati, multoque deteriores, quam fuerunt sub papatu. And Chrysostom, (in opere imperfect. in Matth. Hom. 49.) speaketh of Christians as becoming like the Heretics, or Pagans, or worse.
Luther complaineth, in Postill. super Evangel. Dom. adventus, Sunt nunc homines magis vindictae cupidi, magis avari, magis ab omni misericordiâ remoti, magis immodesti, & indisciplinati, multoque deteriores, quam fuerunt sub papatu. And Chrysostome, (in opere imperfect. in Matth. Hom. 49.) speaketh of Christians as becomming like the Hereticks, or Pagans, or worse.
Yet I suppose he that should improve the words either of Chrysostom, to argue the discipline of Christians, worse then that of the Pagans: or of Luther, to argue the discipline of Protestants to be worse then that of Papists, he shall doubtless stretch their words upon the Rack, far beyond the scope of their meaning. The words I spake, were in comparison between the godly Professors in England, and ours here, and at such a time, when Episcopal persecution made them draw the nearer to God, and to walk the more circumspectly before men. But Sheep set at liberty from the fear of Wolves, will straggle further from their Shepherd, then when they resent danger.
Yet I suppose he that should improve the words either of Chrysostome, to argue the discipline of Christians, worse then that of the Pagans: or of Luther, to argue the discipline of Protestants to be worse then that of Papists, he shall doubtlesse stretch their words upon the Rack, farre beyond the scope of their meaning. The words I spake, were in comparison between the godly Professors in England, and ours here, and at such a time, when Episcopall persecution made them draw the nearer to God, and to walke the more circumspectly before men. But Sheepe set at libertie from the feare of Wolves, will straggle further from their Shepheard, then when they resent danger.