N00594:334
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.
Indeed very Thoroughly, and I had almost said, Severely, Strict, were the Terms of his Communion, and so much, I had well nigh said, Overmuch, were the Golden Snuffers of the Sanctuary Employed by him in his Exercise of Discipline towards those that were Admitted, that he did, all that was possible to render the Renowned ⟨p. 18⟩Church of New-haven, like the New-Jerusalem; and yet, after all, the Lord gave him to see that in this World, it was impossible to see a Church State, whereinto there Enters nothing which defiles. This Great Man, hath himself, in one of his own Treatises observed it, The Officers and Brethren of the Church, are but Men, who judge by the outward Appearance. Therefore their Judgment is fallible, and hath been Deceived; as we see in the Judgment of the Apostles, and the Church at Jerusalem, concerning Ananias and Sapphira; and in that of Philip, and the Church in Samatia, concerning Simon Magus. Their Duty is to proceed, as far as men may, by Rule, with due Moderation and Gentleness, to Try them, who offer themselves to Fellowship, whether they be Believers or not; Refusing known Hypocrites; Though when they have done all they can, Close Hypocrites will Creep in. And now, because I shall thereby Entertain my Reader, I hope, with a Profitable, I am sure, with a very Prodigious, History, I will on this Occasion, Relate a most Horrible Thing done in the Land, which this Good man saw, to Confirm his own Observation.
Indeed very Thoroughly, and I had almost said, Severely, Strict, were the Terms of his Communion, and so much, I had well nigh said, Overmuch, were the Golden Snuffers of the Sanctuary Employ'd by him in his Exercise of Discipline towards those that were Admitted, that he did, all that was possible to render the Renowned ⟨p. 18⟩Church of New-haven, like the New-Jerusalem; and yet, after all, the Lord gave him to see that in this World, it was impossible to see a Church State, whereinto there Enters nothing which defiles. This Great Man, hath himself, in one of his own Treatises observed it, The Officers and Brethren of the Church, are but Men, who judge by the outward Appearance. Therefore their Judgment is fallible, and hath been Deceived; as we see in the Judgment of the Apostles, and the Church at Jerusalem, concerning Ananias and Sapphira; and in that of Philip, and the Church in Samatia, concerning Simon Magus. Their Duty is to proceed, as far as men may, by Rule, with due Moderation and Gentleness, to Try them, who offer themselves to Fellowship, whether they be Believers or not; Refusing known Hypocrites; Though when they have done all they can, Close Hypocrites will Creep in. And now, because I shall thereby Entertain my Reader, I hope, with a Profitable, I am sure, with a very Prodigious, History, I will on this Occasion, Relate a most Horrible Thing done in the Land, which this Good man saw, to Confirm his own Observation.