Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton,…

§. 31. Without Liberality and Hospitality, he had been Really as Undeserving of the Character of a Minister of the Gospel, as the Sacrilegious Niggardliness of the People dos• often endeavour to make Ministers Uncapable of answering that Character. But Mr. Cotton was most Exemplary for this Virtue; wherein there are of his Children, that have also Learned of him. The Stranger and the Needy were still Entertained at his Table, Episcopaliter & Benign, as was the Phrase Instructively used for a, Charitable Entertainment, of old. It might be said of him, as once it was of the Generous Corinthian, Semper Aliquis in Cottoni Domo, He was ever Showing of Kindness to Some-body or other. What Posidonius relates of Austin, and what Peter Martyr affirms of Bucer, was very true of our Cotton; His House was like an Inn, for the Constant Entertainment, which he gave upon the Account of the Gospel; and he would say, If a man want an Heart for this Charity, it is not fit, such a Man should be Ordained a Minister: consenting ⟨p. 64⟩therein to the Great Canonist, Hospitalitas usque adeo Episcopis est Necessaria, at si ab ea inveniantur alieni, Jure prohibentur Ordinari. While he lived Quietly in England, he was noted for his Bountiful Disposition; especially towards Ministers driven into England, by the Storms of Persecution then Raging in Germany; for which cause Libingus, Saumer, Tolner, and others of the Germane Sufferers, in their Accounts of him, would Style him, Fautor Doctissimus, Clarissimus, Fidelissimas, plarimumque Honorandus. It was Remarked, that he never omitted Inviting unto his House any Minister Travelling to or through the Town, but only that One man, who perfidiously Betrayed Mr. Hildersham, with his Non Conformist Associates, into the Hands of their Enemies. And after he came to New-England, he changed not his Mind with his Ai•; but with a Quantum ex Quantillo! continued his Beneficence upon all Occasions, though his Abilities for it were very much Diminished; which brings to mind a most Memorable Story. A Little Church, whereof the worthy Mr. White was Pastor, being by the Strange and Strong, Malice of their Prevailing Adversaries, forced off Bermudas in much Misery, into a Desert of America, the Report of their Distresses came to their Fellow-Sufferers, though not now Alike Sufferers, at New-England. Mr.

§. 31. Without Liberality and Hospitality, he had been Really as Underserving of the Character of a Minister of the Gospel, as the Sacrilegious Niggardliness of the People dos often endeavour to make Ministers Uncapable of answering that Character. But Mr. Cotton was most Exemplary for this Virtue; wherein there are of his Children, that have also Learned of him. The Stranger and the Needy were still Entertained at his Table, Episcopaliter & Benigne, as was the Phrase Instructively used for a, Charitable Entertainment, of old. It might be said of him, as once it was of the Generous Corinthian, Semper Aliquis in Cottoni Domo, He was ever Shewing of Kindness to Some-body or other. What Posidonius relates of Austin, and what Peter Martyr affirms of Bucer, was very true of our Cotton; His House was like an Inn, for the Constant Entertainment, which he gave upon the Account of the Gospel; and he would say, If a man want an Heart for this Charity, it is not fit, such a Man should be Ordained a Minister: consenting