N00594:374
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.
§ 13. At the end of two years, he had a Call to Rotterdam; which he the more heartily and readily Accepted, because it Renewed his Acquaintance with his Invaluable Dr. Ames, who had newly Left his Place in the Frisian University. With him he spent the Residue of his Time in Holland, and Assisted him in Composing some of his Discourses, which are, His Fresh Suit against the Ceremonies: for such was the Regard which Dr. Ames had for him, that notwithstanding his vast Ability and Experience, yet when i• came to the Narrow of any Question about the Instituted Worship of God, he would still propels himself Conquered by Mr. ⟨p. 20⟩Hookers Reason; Declaring, that though he had been Acquainted with many Scholars of divers Nations, yet he never met with Mr. Hookers Equal, either for Preaching or for Disputing. But having tarried in Holland long enough to see the State of Religion in the Churches there, he became satisfied, that it was neither Eligible for him to tarry in that Country, nor Convenient for his Friends to be Invited thither after him. I have at this time in my Hands, his Letter from Rotterdam to Mr. Cotton, wherein are these words; The State of these Provinces to my weak eye, seems wonderfully ticklish and miserable. For the better part, Heart-Religion, They content themselves with very Form•, tho' much Blemished; but the Power of Godliness, for ought I […] see or hear, they know not; and if it were thoroughly pressed, I fear least it will be fiercely opposed. My Ague yet holds me; the ways of Gods Providence, wherein He has walked towards me, in this long time of my Sickness, and wherein I have drawn forth many wearyish Hours, under His Almighty Hand (Blessed be His Name) together with Pursuits and Banishment, which have waited upon me, as one Wave follows another, have driven me to an Amazement: His Paths being too secret and past finding out by such an Ignorant, Worthless Worm as my self. I have Looked over my Heart and ⟨p. 21⟩Life, according to my measure; aimed and guessed as well as I could: and Entreated His Majesty to make known His Mind, wherein I missed; and yet methinks I cannot spell out readily the Purpose of His Proceedings; which I confess have been wonderful in Miseries, and more than wonderful in Mercies to me and mine. Wherefore, about this time, understanding that many of his Friends in Essex, were upon the Wing, for a Wilderness in America;