N00594:317
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.
The Issue of the Business was This. The Court Condemned their Proceedings, as Dangerous to the Church and State; pronouncing, the Gifts, Feoffments, and Contrivances, made to the Uses aforesaid, to be Illegal; and so Dissolved the same, Confiscating their Money unto the Kings Use. Yet the Criminal Part referred unto, was never prosecuted in the Star-Chamber; because the Design was generally approved, and multitudes of Discrete and Devon […], extremely Resented the Ruins of it.
The Issue of the Business was This. The Court Condemn'd their Proceedings, as Dangerous to the Church and State; pronouncing, the Gifts, Feoffments, and Contrivances, made to the Uses aforesaid, to be Illegal; and so Dissolved the same, Conficating their Money unto the Kings Use. Yet the Criminal Part referred unto, was never prosecuted in the Star-Chamber; because the Design was generally approved, and multitudes of Discrete and Devo• 〈…〉, extreamly Resented the Ruins of it.
§ 5. It happened that soon after this, the Famous Mr. John Cotton was fallen under such a Storm of Persecution for his Non Conformity, as made it necessary for him to propose and purpose a Removal out of the Land: Whereupon, Mr. Davenport, with several other Great and Good men, considering the Eminent Learning, Prudence, and Holiness of that Excellent Person, could be at no Rest, until they had by a Solemn Conference informed themselves of what might move him to such a Resolution. The Issue of the Conference was, that instead of their Dissuading him, from exposing himself to such Sufferings, as were now before him, he convinced them of the Truth in the Cause for which he Suffered and they became Satisfied both of the Evil in Sundry Matters of Worship and Order imposed upon them, and of the Duty, which lay upon them, in their places to endeavour the Reformation of things in the Church according to the Word of God. Mr. Davenports Inclination to Non Conformity from this time, felt under the Notice, and Anger of his Diocesan; who presently determined the Marks of his Vengeance for him: Of which being Seasonably and Sufficiently advertised, he convened the Principal Persons under his Pastoral Charge in Coleman-street, at a General Vestry, desiring them on this Occasion to declare, what they would advise; for, acknowledging the Right, which they had in him, as their Pastor, he would