N00594:175
Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton,…
Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton, who dyed, 23.d. 10.m. 1652. Mr. John Norton, who dyed, 5.d. 2.m. 1663. Mr. John Wilson, who dyed, 7.d. 6.m. 1667. Mr. John Davenport, who dyed, 15.d. 1.m. 1670. Reverend and renowned ministers of the Gospel, all, in the more immediate service of one church, in Boston; and Mr. Thomas Hooker, who dyed, 7.d. 5.m. 1647. Pastor of the church at Hartford; New-England. / Written, by Cotton Mather. ; [Three lines of Latin quotation]
Boston : Printed for and sold by Michael Perry, at his shop, under the west end of the Town-House., 1695
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
§. 12. There had been some Overtures between him, and Mr. Winslow, the Agent of Plymouth now on board with him, about his Accepting of a Settlement in that Plantation; and the People of Plymouth now Courteously and Earnestly Invited him, accordingly to continue with them. ⟨p. 9⟩Nevertheless the State of Things in the Massachuset Colony, was more agreeable unto him; and the Church of Ipswich made their speedy Applications unto him, to take the Pastoral charge of them. This Occasioned his Deliberation, with his Friends in the Bay, What Course to Steer.
§. 13. While he Sojourned in his Unsettled State at Boston, he came into Acquaintance with the Ministers thereabouts, who entertained him with a very high Opinion of him; especially Mr. Mather of Dorchester, who though of longer standing than he, yet consulted him as an Oracle, in matters of greatest Consequence unto him; and found him to Accomplished and Experienced a Person, that he maintained a most Valuable Friendship with him to the Last. Yea, though he were yet a Young man, and short of Thirty, when he first came into the Country, yet the Magistrates of the Colony soon became so sensible of his Abilities, as to make use of him in some of their most arduous Affairs. And there happened several Occasions to try the Scholastic Eminencies, whereto he was Arrived; One of which was, when there was in these parts a French Friar, who found in Mr. Norton, a Protestant, equal to his own School-men, and well Acquainted with them all. Indeed there was in him the Union of two Excellencies, which do not always meet. It was the Character of Hortensies, that he was ⟨p. 10⟩Weak in Writing, and yet able to Speak; It was the Character of Abericus, that he was Weak in Speech, and yet Able in Writing; but our Norton was in both of these a very Able Person.
§. 13. While he Sojourned in his Unsettled State at Boston, he came into Acquaintance with the Ministers thereabouts, who entertained him with a very high Opinion of him; especially Mr. Mather of Dorchester, who though of longer standing than he, yet consulted him as an Oracle, in matters of greatest Consequence unto him; and found him to Accomplished and Experienced a Person, that he mentained a most Valuable Friendship with him to the Last. Yea, though he were yet a Young man, and short of Thirty, when he first came into the Country, yet the Magistrates of the Colony soon became so sensible of his Abilities, as to make use of him in some of their most arduous Affairs. And there happened several Occasions to try the Scholastic Emmencies, whereto he was Arrived; One of which was, when there was in these parts a French Friar, who found in Mr. Norton, a Protestant, equal to his own School-men, and well Acquainted with them all. Indeed there was in him the Union of two Excellencies, which do not always meet. It was the Character of Hortensies, that he was