A80640:412
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.
SECTION I.
MR. Baylie speaketh of our Congregational, and (as he calleth it) our Independent way, as not having continued a week of years (that is, not 7. years) when the errors brake forth in New-England, Pag. 59. Sometimes he maketh us the same in reality with the Brownists (Pag. 58) to whom he attributeth about 50. years continuance, Pag. 59. sometimes he maketh us followers of Mr. Robinson, who stepped in to support (as he speaketh) languishing Brownism, when it was •eady to fall, Pag. 17. and 54. All which expressions tend to make the world believe, that our Congregational way, or (as he calleth it) Independent, is but of yesterday, newly sprung up, unknown and unheard of in the former Ages of the Church; which if it, were true, were no ⟨p. 94⟩small prejudice to the way we walk in. The way of God is the old way, Jer. 6.16. yea so old, as fetcheth his antiquity from the ancient of days, and from the Lord Jesus, who is the way of Truth and of Life. Id verum, quod primum: id primum quod ab initio. There is no false way, but is an aberration from the first institution.
MR. Baylie speaketh of our Congregationall, and (as hee calleth it) our Independent way, as not having continued a week of yeers (that is, not 7. yeers) when the errors brake forth in New-England, Pag. 59. Sometimes hee maketh us the same in realitie with the Brownists (Pag. 58) to whom he attributeth about 50. yeers continuance, Pag. 59. sometimes he maketh us followers of Mr. Robinson, who stept in to support (as hee speaketh) languishing Brownisme, when it was •eady to fall, Pag. 17. and 54. All which expressions tend to make the world beleeve, that our Congregationall way, or (as he calleth it) Independent, is but of yesterday, newly sprung up, unknown and unheard of in the former Ages of the Church; which if it, were true, were no ⟨p. 94⟩