Letter of Ministers Requesting Judgment Concerning Nine Positions, Title page – To the reader
A LETTER OF MANY MINISTERS IN OLD ENGLAND, Requeſting The judgement of their Reverend Brethren in New England concerning Nine Poſitions.
Written Anno Dom. 1637.
Together with their Anſwer thereunto returned, Anno 1639.
And the Reply made unto the ſaid Anſwer, and ſent over unto them, Anno 1640.
Now publiſhed (by occaſion mentioned in the Epiſtle to the Reader, following in the next page,) upon the deſire of many godly and faithfull Miniſters in and about the City of London, who love and ſeeke the truth.
By Simeon Aſh, and William Rathband.
1 Theſ. 5. 21.
Prove all things; Hold faſt that which is good.
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Vnderhill, at the ſigne of the Bible in great Woodſtreet. 1643.
I Have diligently peruſed this Reply to the Anſwer, of the Miniſters of New-England, to the nine Poſitions which I have approved, and judge very neceſsarie, and ſeaſonable to bee Printed, and publiſhed, Iuly the fifth, 1643.
Iames Cranford Rector of Chriſtophers London.
Errata.
PAge 22. Marg. read Romae. p. 33 line 27 r. ſociety. p 37. l. 21. r. Of all true Churches. p 37. l. 3…. r. parium. p. 47. l. 41 r. ſaith. p 48. l. 30. r. quin. p. 50. l. 31 r. Ordinance. The faults eſcaped in the quotation p. 5…. in ſome Copies, the reader is deſired to correct by Beza de Presb. p 57 l. 7. r. is the ſame. p 61 l 25. r. Objection. p. 61. l. 28. r. were diſpenſed. p 64 l …4 r. which without. p. 67. l. 14. r parium. p. 67 l. 29▪ r. therefore to them, p. 6…. l. 28. r. with Chriſt.
To the Reader.
Good Reader,
VPonUpon the receipt of the Anſwer returned unto the Nine Poſitions, Maſter Ball moved by the requeſt of Brethren, drew up this reply, which upon peruſall and joynt approbation, was directed unto the reverend Elders of the ſeverall Churches in New England. The Reply ſent miſcarrying in the hand, to which it was committed, though both Letters and printed Bookes truſted in the ſame hand were delivered: Hereupon another Copie was from New England deſired, and accordingly prepared in the yeare following. In the meane time, the Anſwer being tendered to the Preſſe, it was judged more meete to keepe the Reply in readineſſe to attend the publiſhing of the Anſwer, then to part with it in the other way. This intelligence was the laſt yeare conveyed into New England, ſince which time, there hath been an expectation to ſee that in Print, which now is ſent abroad to open view. By this Relation it is manifeſt who are voluntiers, and who are preſſed to come forth as defendants in theſe Controverſies. Theſe differences betwixt the loving Brethren of old England and New, had not been made thus notorious, if ſome who cry up the Church way in New England, as the only way of God, had not been forward, to blow them abroad in the world. But ſurely the providence of God is remarkeable in bringing theſe queſtions into debate at this time. When the Miniſters of the Goſpell from all the Counties in the Kingdome are called together by both houſes of Parliament, to conſult about the healing of our breaches, which are very many and dangerous: The Copie of this Reply being committed to our cuſtodie we are neceſſitated to appeare in the publication of it: yet we ſhall preface nothing concerning the Treatiſe it ſelfe, becauſe our known reſpects to the reverend and judicious Author will tender us partiall, and our teſtimony can adde no credit to his works which withall indifferent Readers will plead ſufficiently for their own acceptance. If this diſcourſe ſhall adde any diſcovery of light unto them, who deſire a ſound judgement in the controverſies here agitated, our end is obtained, and our prayers anſwered, who are.
Thy Servants in and for the truth,
Simeon Aſh,
William Rathband.