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

§. 6. His Accomplishments Rendered him, as capable of Preferments, as most in his Age; but Preferments were then so Glogg'd, with Troublesome and Scruplesome Impositions, that Mr. Norton, as well as other Conscientious Young Ministers, his Contemporaries, declined meddling with them His Aversion, and indeed Antipathy, to Arminianism, and his Dislike of the Ceremonies, particularly hindered ⟨p. 5⟩him from a Considerable Benefice, whereto his Uncle might have helped him. Dr. Sibs also, the Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge, taken with his Abilities, did earnestly Solicit him, to have Accepted of a Fellowship in that, College; but his Conscience being now Satisfied in the Unlawfulness of some Things then Required in Order thereunto, would not permit him to do it. Wherefore he contented himself with a more Private Life, as Chaplain in a Knights House at High-Laver in Essex, namely Sir William Masham's; there waiting, till God might furnish, him with Unexceptionable Opportunities, for his more Public Preaching of the Gospel. But generally, all those who had any Taste of his Ministry, had a very high Opinion of it; nor was there any man in that part of the Country more esteemed than he was, for all sorts of Excellencies; insomuch, that when he came away, an Ancient Minister said, He Believed there was not more Grace and Holiness left in all Essex, than what Mr. Norton, had carried with him.

§. 6. His Accomplishments Render'd him, as capable of Preferments, as most in his Age; but Preferments were then so Glogg'd, with Troublesome and Scruplesome Impositions, that Mr. Norton, as well as other Conscientious Young Ministers, his Contemporaries, declined medling with them His Aversion, and indeed Antipathy, to Arminianism, and his Dislike of the Ceremonies, particularly hindered ⟨p. 5⟩him from a Considerable Benefice, whereto his Unkle might have helped him. Dr. Sibs also, the Master of Katharine Hall in Cambridge, taken with his Abilities, did earnestly Sollicite him, to have Accepted of a Fellowship in that, Colledge; but his Conscience being now Satisfied in the Unlawfulness of some Things then Required in Order thereunto, would not permit him to do it. Wherefore he contented himself with a more Private Life, as Chaplain in a Knights House at High-Laver in Essex, namely Sir William Masham's; there waiting, till God might furnish, him with Unexceptionable Opportunities, for his more Publick Preaching of the Gospel. But generally, all those who had any Tast of his Ministry, had a very high Opinion of it; nor was there any man in that part of the Country more esteemed than he was, for all sorts of Excellencies; insomuch, that when he came away, an Ancient Minister said, He Believed there was not more Grace and Holiness left in all Essex, than what Mr. Norton, had carried with him.