B20729:13
A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England,…
A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England, to Mr. Williams, a preacher there wherein is showed that those ought to be received into the Church who are Godly, though they do not see nor expressly bewail all the pollutions in church-fellowship, ministry, worship, government.A letter of Mr. John Cottons, teacher of the Church in Boston in New-England, to Mr. Williams, a preacher there wherein is shewed that those ought to be received into the Church who are Godly, though they doe not see nor expressely bewaile all the pollutions in church-fellowship, ministery, worship, government.
London: printed for Benjamin Allen, 1643
Letter: A Letter of Mr. John Cottons, Teacher of the Church in Boston, in New England.
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.
Answ. This exception seemeth to me to imply a contradiction to it self, for if the matter of our Churches be as you say godly persons, they are not then as trees unfelled, or stones unhewn. Godliness cutteth men down from the former root, and heweth them out of the pit of corrupt nature, and fitteth them for fellowship with Christ and with his people.
Answ. This exception seemeth to mee to imply a contradiction to it selfe, for if the matter of our Churches be as you say godly persons, they are not then as trees unfelled, or stones unhewen. Godlinesse cutteth men downe from the former roote, and heweth them out of the pit of corrupt nature, and fitteth them for fellowship with Christ and with his people.
You object, first, a necessity lying upon godly men before they can be fit matter for Church fellowship, to see, bewail, repent, and come out of the false Churches ⟨p. 4⟩ministry, worship and government, according to Scriptures Isa. 52.11. 2 Cor. 6.17. Revel. 18.4. And those this to be done not by a local removal or contrary practise, &c. but by a deliverance of the soul, understanding, mind, conscience, judgement, will and affections.
You object, first, a necessity lying upon godly men before they can be fit matter for Church fellowship, to see, bewaile, repent, and come out of the false Churches ⟨p. 4⟩ministry, worship and government, according to Scripturs Isa. 52.11.