N00594:97
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.
§. 15. Although our Lord had hitherto made the Discretion and Vigilancy of Mr. Thomas Leveret (afterwards a double Honoured Elder of the Church, in another Land) the happy Occasion of Diverting many Designs, to molest Mr. Cotton for his Non Conformity, yet when the Sins of the place had Ripened it, for so Dark a Vengeance of Heaven, as the Removing of this Eminent Light, a Storm of Persecution could no longer be avoided. A Debauched Fellow in the Town, who had been punished by the ⟨p. 24⟩Magistrates for his Debaucheries, Contrived and Resolved a Revenge upon them, for their Justice: and having no more Effectual way to vent the Cursed Malice of his heart, than by bringing them into Trouble at the High Commission Court, up he goes to London, with Informations to that Court, that the Magistrates did not Kneel at the Sacrament, nor observe some other Ceremonies by Law imposed. When some that belonged unto the Court signified unto this Informer, that he must put in the Ministers Name, Nay (said he) the Minister is an Honest man, and never did me any wrong: but it being further pressed upon him, that all his Complaints, would be Insignificant, if the Ministers Name were not in them, he then did put i• in: And Letters Missive were dispatched Incontinently, to Convent Mr. Cotton, before the Infamous High Commission Court. But before we Relate, what became of Mr. Cotton, we will enquire, what became of his Accuser? The Renowned Mr. John Rogers of Dedham, having been on his Lecture-Day, just before his going to Preach, Advised, that Mr. Cotton, was brought into this Trouble, he took Occasion, to speak of it in the Sermon, with just Lamentations for it; and among others, he used Words to this purpose: As for that man, who hath caused a Faithful Pastor, to be driven from his Flock, he is a Wisp, used by the Hands of God, for the Scouring of his People; But mark the words now spoken by a ⟨p. 25⟩Minister of the Lord! I am verily persuaded, the Judgments of God, will overtake the Man, that has done this thing: Either he will Die under an Hedge, or something else, more than the Ordinary Death of men shall befall him. Now behold, how this Prediction was accomplished! This miserable man quickly after this, Died of the Plague, under an Hedge in Yorkshire; and it was a long Time, ere any could be found, that would Bury him. This 'tis to turn Persecutor!