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

For some good while after the beginning of the Sermon, his Frustrated Expectation caused him to manifest his Uneasiness all the ways that were then possible; but before the Sermon was ended, like one of Peter's Hearers, he found himself Pierced at the Heart▪ His Heart within him wa• now struck with such Resentments of his ow• Interior state before the God of Heaven, that […] could have no Peace in his own Soul, till with Wounded Soul, he had Repaired unto Mr. Cotton from whom he received those Further Assistances wherein he became a Spiritual Father, unto one of the Greatest men in his Age.

For some good while after the beginning of the Sermon, his Frustrated Expectation caused him to manifest his Uneasiness all the ways that were then possible; but before the Sermon was ended, like one of Peter's Hearers, he found himself Pierced at the Heart▪ His Heart within him wa• now struck with such Resentments of his ow• Interiour state before the God of Heaven, that 〈…〉 could have no Peace in his own Soul, till with Wounded Soul, he had Repaired unto Mr. Cotton from whom he received those Further Assistances wherein he became a Spiritual Father, unto one of the Greatest men in his Age.

§. 7. The Well-disposed People of Boston in Lincolnshire, after this, Invited Mr. Cotton, to become their Minister; with which Invitation, out of a Sincere and Serious Desire to Serve our Lord in His Gospel, after the Solemnest Addresses to Heaven for Guidance in such a Solemn Affair, he complied. At this Time, the Mayor of the Town, with a more Corrupt Party, having procured another Scholar from Cambridge, more agreeable to them, would needs have him to Preach before Mr. Cotton: but the Church-Warden pretending to more of Influence, upon their Ecclesiastical matters, over-ruled it. However when the matter came to a Vote, amongst those to whom the Right of Election did by Charter belong, there was an Equi-Vote for Mr. Cotton, and that other Person; Only the Mayor, who had the Casting-Vote, by a strange Mistake pricked for Mr. Cotton. When the Mayor saw his Mistake, a New-Vote was urged and granted; wherein it again proved an Equi-Vote; but the Mayor most unaccountably mistook again, as he did before. Extremely Displeased here at, he pressed for a Third Vote; but the Rest would not Consent unto it; and so the Election fell upon Mr. Cotton, by the Involuntary Cast of that very Hand, which had most opposed it. This Obstruction to the Settlement of Mr. Cotton in Boston, being thus Conquered, another followed; For the Bishop of the Diocese,