N00594:93
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.
§. 12. The Good Spirit of God, so Plentifully, and Powerfully accompanied the Ministry of this Excellent man, that a Great Reformation was thereby wrought in the Town of Boston. Profaneness was extinguished, Superstition was abandoned, Religion was Embraced and Practised among the Body of the People; yea, the Mayor with most of the Magistrates were now called Puritans, and the Satanical party, was become Insignificant. As to the matter of Non Conformity, Mr. Cotton was come to Forbear the Ceremonies enjoined in the Church of England; for which he gave this Account. The Grounds were two: First, The Significancy and Efficacy put upon 'em, in the Preface to the Book of Common-Prayer; That they were neither Dumb, nor Dark, but apt to stir up the Dull Mind of Man, to the Remembrance of his Duty to God, by some Notable ⟨p. 20⟩and Special Signification whereby […] may be Edified; or Words to the like-purpose […] Second was the […] of the Highest Apostolical Comm•••ion, to the Observation of the Commandments of Christ Matt. 28.20. Which made it appear to me utterly unlawful for any Church Power to enjoin the Observation of Indifferent Ceremonies, which Christ had not commanded: And all the Ceremonies were alike […] of the Commandment of Christ, though they had been Indifferent otherwise; which, indeed Others have Justly pleaded, they were not. But this was not all; For Mr. Cotton was also come to Believe, That Scripture-Bishops were appointed to Rule no larger a Diocese, than a Particular Congregation; and that the Ministers of the Lord, with the Keys of Ecclesiastical Government, are given by Him to a Congregational Church. It hence came to pass that our Lord Jesus Christ, was now Worshipped in Boston, without the use of the Liturgy, or of those Vestments, which are by Zanchy called Execrabile• Vests; yea, the sign of the Cross was laid aside, not only in Baptism, but also in the Mayors Mace, as worthy to be made a Ne•ushtan, because it had been so much abused unto Idolatry. And besides all this, there were some Scores of Pious People in the Town, who more exactly formed themselves, into an Evangelical Church-State, by entering into Covenant with God, and ⟨p. 21⟩with one another, To follow after the Lord, in the Purity of his Worship. However the main Bent and Aim of Mr. Cottons Ministry was, To Preach a Crucified Christ;