The life and death of that Reverend man of God, Mr. Richard Mather, teacher…

Now the Consequence of the Reason is, That then Ministers being free, are bound to remove, if they be in such place where they may not govern their own Flocks. The Reason of which Consequence is, Because of Parents and Masters over their Children and Servants, and of Pastors over their Congregations, there is par Ratio, That if one be bound in case aforesaid to remove, the other are bound in the like case to remove also.

These Arguments were thus presented to the Consideration of some godly Ministers, and other Christians in Lancashire, at several Meetings for that end. Nothing was satisfactorily said ⟨image ?⟩to take off the strength of the Reasons: But many were thereby persuaded that his Call […] New-England was clear, yea even his own people at Toxteth, who did so dearly love his Person, and highly prize his Ministry, yet thought he was now Called of God to leave them. And hereunto he was the more inclined, by some Letters of Mr. Cottons and Mr. Hooker's who were lately arrived in New-England, and wrote (as then there was cause) very encouragingly unto godly people to come after them. Mr. Hooker in one of his Letters had this Expression; In a word (faith he)If I may speak my own thoughts fully and truly, though there are very many places where […] may receive and expect more Earthly commodities, yet I do believe there is no place this day upon the face of the Earth, where […] gracious heart and a judicious head may receive more spiritual good to himself, and do more temporal and spiritual good to others.

These Arguments were thus presented to the Consideration of some godly Ministers, and other Christians in Lancashire, at several Meetings for that end. Nothing was satisfactorily said ⟨image ?⟩to take off the strength of the Reasons: But many were thereby perswaded that his Call 〈…〉 New-England was clear, yea even his own people at Toxteth, who did so dearly love his Person, and highly prize his Ministry, yet thought he was now Called of God to leave them. And hereunto he was the more inclined, by some Letters of Mr. Cottons and Mr. Hockers who were lately arrived in New-England, and wrote (as then there was cause) very encouragingly unto godly people to come after them. Mr. Hocker in one of his Letters had this Expression; In a word (faith he)If I may speak my own thoughts fully and truly, though there are very many places where may receive and expect more Earthly commodities, yet I do believe there is no place this day upon the face of the Earth, where gracious heart and a judicious head may receive more spiritual good to himself, and do more temporal and spiritual good to others.