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

Now may Celestial Spirits Sing yet Higher, Since one more's added to their Sacred Quire; WILSON the Holy, whose Good Name doth still, In Language Sweet, bid us [With no one […].]

Now may Celestial Spirits Sing yet Higher, Since one more's added to their Sacred Quire; WILSON the Holy, whose Good Name doth still, In Language Sweet, bid us [With no one 〈…〉.]

§. 17. He was One, that Consulting not only his own Edification but the Encouragement of the Ministry, and of Religion, with an Indefatigable ⟨p. 26⟩Diligence Visited the Congregations of the Neighbouring Towns, at their Weekly Lectures, until the Weaknesses of Old Age rendered him Uncapable. And it was a delightful Thing, then to see upon every Recurring Opportunity, a large Company of Christians, and even Magistrates and Ministers among them, and Mr. Wilson in the Head of them, Visiting the Lectures in all the Vicinage, with such Heavenly Discourses on the Road, as caused the Hearts of the Disciples, to Burn within them: and indeed it was Remarked, That though the Christians Then Spent Less Time, in the Shop, or Field, than they do Now, yet they did in Both prosper more. But for Mr. Wilson, I am saying, That a Lecture was a Treasure unto him; he Prized it, he Sought it, until Old Age at Length brought with it a Sickness, which a Long while confined him. In this Illness, he took a Solemn Farewell of the Ministers, who had their Weekly Meetings, at his Hospitable House, and were now come together from all parts, at the Anniversary Election for the Government of the Colony. They asked him, to declare Solemnly, what he thought might be the Sins, which provoked the Displeasure of God against the Country. Whereto his Answer was, I have long feared several Sins; Whereof; One, he said, was Corahism; That is, when People rise up as Corah against their Ministers, as if they took too much upon them, when indeed they do but ⟨p. 27⟩Rule for Christ, and according to Christ; yet it is nothing for a Brother to stand up and Oppose, without Scripture, or Reason, the Word of an Elder, saying [I am not Satisfied!] And hence, if he do not like the Administration (be it Baptism or the Like) he will turn his back upon God and His Ordinances, and Go away. And for our Neglect of Baptising the Children of the Church, those that some call Grand-children, I think God is provoked by it. Another Sin (said he) I take, to be the making Light of; and not Subjecting to the Authority of Synods, without which the Churches cannot long Subsist.