The Rise Reign and Ruin of the Antinomians Familists and Libertines, Title page – To the reader
A SHORT STORY Of the Rise, Reign, and Ruin of the Antinomians, Familists, and Libertines That Infected the CHURCHES Of New-England: And how they were Confuted by The Assembly of Ministers there: As also of the Magistrates proceedings in Court against them. Together with God's strange Remarkable Judgements from Heaven upon some of the Chief Fomenters of these Opinions; And the Lamentable Death of Mrs. Hutchison. Very fit for these Times; here being the same Errors amongst us, and Acted by the same Spirit. Published at the Instant Request of Sundry, by one that was an Eye and Ear-witness of the carriage of Matters there.
Ephes. 4. 14.
Be no more Children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of Doctrine, by the slight of Men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
Beware, lest ye being led away with the error of the Wicked, re fall from your own stedfastness,
2 Pet. 3. 17.
London, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst, at the Bible and three Crowns at the lower end of Cheapside, near Mercer's Chappel, 1692
To the Reader.
I Meeting with this Book, newly come forth of the Press, and being earnestly pressed by divers to perfect it, by laying down the Order and Sense of this Story, (which in the Book is omitted) Though for mine own part, I was more slow unto it; (not as if I think it contains any thing but Truth; but) because the Names of some parties, that acted in our Troubles, that have, since that time, (I hope) repented, and so God having pardoned their Sins in Heaven, I should have been loth to have revived them on Earth; But considering that their Names are already in Print without any act of mine, and that the necessity of the times call for it, and it's requisite that Gods great Works should be made known; I therefore, in a strait of time, (not having had many hours,) have drawn up this following Preface, and prefixed hereunto, with some Additions to the Conclusion of the Book. I commend thy self and this to the Blessing of God.
T. W.