N00594:390
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.
§. 21. He was indeed of a very Condescending Spirit, not only towards his Brethren in the Ministry, but also towards the Meanest of any Christians whatsoever. He was very willing to Sacrifice his own Apprehensions into the Convincing Reason of another man; and very ready to acknowledge any Mistake or Fai•ing in himself. I'll give one Example; There happened ⟨p. 31⟩a Damage to be done unto a Neighbour, immediately whereupon, Mr. Hooker meeting with an Unlucky Boy, that often had his Name up, for the doing of such Mischiefs, he fell to Chiding of that Joy, as the I […] of This. The Boy denied it, and Mr. Hooker still went on in an angry manner, charging of him; whereupon said the Boy, Sir, I see you are in a passion, I'll say no more to you! and so ran away. Mr. Hooker, upon further Enquiry, not finding that the Boy could be proved Guilty, sent for him; and having first by a calm Question, given the Boy opportunity to Renew his Denial of the Fact, he said unto him, Since I cannot prove the contrary, I am bound to believe, and I do believe what you say; and then added, Indeed I was in a Passion, when I spoke to you before; it was my Sin, and it is my Shame, and I am truly sorry for it: and I hope in God, I shall be more Watchful hereafter. So giving the Joy some good Counsel, the poor Lad went away extremely affected with such a Carriage in so Good a man; and it proved an Occasion of Good unto the Soul of the Lad all his Days.
§. 21. He was indeed of a very Condescending Spirit, not only towards his Brethren in the Ministry, but also towards the Meanest of any Christians whatsoever. He was very willing to Sacrifice his own Apprehensions into the Convincing Reason of another man; and very ready to acknowledge any Mistake or Fai•ing in himself. I'le give one Example; There happened ⟨p. 31⟩a Damage to be done unto a Neighbour, immediately whereupon, Mr. Hooker meeting with an Unlucky Boy, that often had his Name up, for the doing of such Mis•hiefs, he fell to Chiding of that Joy, as the I 〈…〉 of This. The Boy denied it, and Mr. Hooker still went on in an angry manner, charging of him; whereupon said the Boy, Sir, I see you are in a passion, I'le say no more to you! and so ran away. Mr. Hooker, upon further Enquiry, not finding that the Boy could be proved Guilty, sent for him; and having first by a calm Question, given the Boy opportunity to Renew his Denial of the Fact, he said unto him, Since I cannot prove the contrary, I am bound to believe, and I do believe what you say; and then added, Indeed I was in a Passion, when I spoke to you before; it was my Sin, and it is my Shame, and I am truly sorry for it: and I hope in God, I shall be more Watchful hereafter. So giving the Joy some good Counsel, the poor Lad went away extreamly affected with such a Carriage in so Good a man; and it proved an Occasion of Good unto the Soul of the Lad all his Dayes.