A80640:87
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.
It is very likely (and by the fruits of some of them, it is very evident) that the Church of Plymouth in New-England received very much light and life, by the blessing of Christ upon Mr. Robinson his Ministry, whilst he lived with them in Holland: nor need we to be ashamed, to learn any truth of God from him, or them, or from any other Saints of God, of far meaner gifts, then he or they ⟨p. 14⟩had received. But I must confess ingenuously, that his denial of the Parishionall Congregations in England to be true Churches, (either by reason of their mixed and corrupt matter, or for defect in their Covenant, or for excess of their Episcopal Government) was never received into any heart, from thence to infer a nullity of their Church-estate. Neither was our departure from them even in those evil times, a Separation from them as no Churches, but rather a Secession from the corruptions found amongst them, unto which also we must have been forced to conform, even in our own Practise through the Rigour of the times, unless we had timely departed from them. In which case, Doctor Ames will excuse us (yea and the Holy Ghost also) from aspersion of schism or any other sin, in so doing, De Conscientia, lib. 4. cap. 24. Numero 16. in Responsione 7. ad quaest. 3.
It is very likely (and by the fruits of some of them, it is very evident) that the Church of Plymmouth in New-England received very much light and life, by the blessing of Christ upon Mr. Robinson his Ministry, whilst he lived with them in Holland: nor need we to be ashamed, to learn any truth of God from him, or them, or from any other Saints of God, of farre meaner gifts, then he or they ⟨p. 14⟩had received. But I must confesse ingenuously, that his denyall of the Parishionall Congregations in England to be true Churches, (either by reason of their mixt and corrupt matter, or for defect in their Covenant, or for excesse of their Episcopall Government) was never received into any heart, from thence to inferre a nullity of their Church-estate. Neither was our departure from them even in those evill times, a Separation from them as no Churches, but rather a Secession from the corruptions found amongst them, unto which also we must have beene forced to conforme, even in our owne Practise through the Rigour of the times, unlesse wee had timely departed from them. In which case, Doctor Ames will excuse us (yea and the Holy Ghost also) from aspersion of schism or any other sin, in so doing, De Conscientia, lib. 4. cap. 24. Numero 16. in Responsione 7. ad quaest. 3.