The Way of Congregational Churches Cleared, Title page – Errata
The Way of CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES CLEARED: In two TREATISES.
In the former,
From the Hiſtorical Aſperſions of Mr. Robert Baylie, in his Book, called [A Diſſwaſive from the Errors of the Time.]
In the latter,
From ſome Contradictions of VINDICAE CLAVIUM:
And from,
Some Miſ-conſtructions of Learned Mr. Rutherford in his Book intituled [The due Right of Presbyteries.]
By Mr. JOHN COTTON, ſometime Preacher at Boſton in Lincolne-ſhire, and now Teacher of the Church at Boſton, in New-England.
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simmons, for John Bellamie, at the ſigne of the three Golden-Lions, in Cornhill. 1648.
An Epiſtle PACIFICATORY, To the Brethren diſſenting from this Way.
HEre (Reverend Brethren) is preſented unto you in Print, that very Copie, which the worthy Author (Mr John Cotton, Teacher of the Church at Boſton in New England) ſent together with his letter under his own hand unto me. His honouring me therein (upon my real account) deſerved his requeſt, that I would aſſiſt the Preſs, which with the greatſt diligence opportunity put into my hands I have performed. And the worth of the ſubject, and the Authors ſweet and ſolid handling of it, hath richly rewarded my labour, legendo, perlegendo que , in the uſal and peruſal thereof. The Man, moſt patient towards a sharp Antagoniſt, (you your ſelves being judges.) The Manner of handling, gracious; meek words, playing the Champion for Veritie and Innocency, with arguments of ſteel, unsheathed and shining with an amiable plainnes of ſpeech, and a free and ſincere openeſſe of heart. The Matter partly Apologetical, partly Controverſal. In the former part you will meet with: 1. A true and terſe Hiſtory of the purer Churches in later pudled times: The blots aſperſed upon them, cleerly pummice… and ſpunged off; and divers precious Saints for learning and religion (through whoſe ſides Chriſts wayes by opponents have been ſorely wounded) foreign, evidently and unrepliablely vindicated. 2. A very good account of many ſingular Doctrinal points, not onelyonly of more ſpeculative Theologie, ventilating the chaff from the wheat, Error from Truth; but of moſt practical Soul-ſearching, Soul-ſaving, and Soul-ſolacing Divinitie. I might give golden inſtances, glating gloriouſly upon my Spirit, but for falling under a leaden retarding of diſpatch; fearing leſt the preſſe tarry for me; for it even treads on my heel. In the latter part of this Book, being Controverſal, you have a fair Additional to thea1 Church government and Church C…venant. 2 The way of the Churches. in N. England. 3. The Apologet. Narrat. 4. The Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven. 5. The model of the Church way. by M. Bartlot. 6. Anſwer to 32. Queſt. Models (afore printed) of the Church way (ſo much called for by you;) not Magiſterially laid down, but friendly debated by Scripture, and argumentatively diſputed out to the utmoſt inch of ground, and defended Cap a pie (as they ſpeak) from the head to the heel, of every branch of Truth eſſential to the controverſie.
Now then (worthy Brethren) conſider and view over what ye gain to your deſign, whiles ſome among you endeavour by pen to blot the fair copy of Truth; (becauſe you at preſent b1. Pet. 1.12. foreign The Angels deſire earneſtly to ſtoop down to look into the things of the Goſpel.Stoop not down low enough to ſee it a Truth) and to croſſe out of the Book of mens memory and eſteem the names of them whom God will honour, though you will not? Surely the coppy is written out fairer and fuller; books are multiplied; more men reade them; and by reaſon of the late miſts hovering over Truth, and cordes of bondage ſtreightning mens conſciences; all men of conſcience are more eager to ſearch out, and having found, to ſtand to, and ſit down by thoſe Truths that clear their minds, and ſet free their ſpirits. Miſts mantling and masking, the Sun aſcending, are ſoon caſt off, and diſpelled by its beams, being neer his Zenith. We graſp with men of riſing parts, and high places, for free ſpeaking, about Text proof Points, to our loſſe. By an Antiperiſtatical oppoſition, the zeal of godly learned Writers, (before concealedly clouded with more ſilence) is ſet on fire: the cloud breaks, the voyce of their thunder (as the Hiſtorian ſpeaks of that Greek Commander Pericles his Fulminating Oratory) awakens the World, and the flame burns up the hay and ſtubble. 1. Cor. 3.12, 13. 14 &c.Truth is like Camomile; the more it is trodden, the more it ſpreads. Like the Wal-nut tree, the more it is beaten for its fruit this year, the more it fructifies the next. Eclipſes cauſe men more to ſtare after the Sun, and more joy in the injoying of its light, when got free. The Iews crying up Moſaical Ceremonies, and humane traditions; Stephen, Peter, Paul, diſpute, Preach, Apologize for the Spiritualtie, and liberty of the Goſpel.Act. 2. Act. 4. What ſucceeds? thouſands are converted, ten thouſand are convinced, and the World is over-run with the knowledge of the truth, as the waters cover the Sea. The Gentiles likewiſe, (eſpecially the Roman Empire) take the next turn to dedignifie the chriſtians, ſcandalize their religious practiſes, and to perſecute both (witneſſe the ten perſecutions.) What was the income, the return of gain upon that adventure? Upſtart thoſe mighty Giants in Religion, awakned with an holy inflammation of zeal, Ariſtides, Juſtinus, Melito Apollinaris, Athenagoras, Apollonius, Tertulllanus, &c. And gloriouſly Apologize for the Truth: Iames, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, Philip, Mark, and others of the Apoſtles; Sanguine fundata eſt Eccleſia, ſanguine cre vit, ſanguine ſuccrevit, ſanguine finis erit.Simon and Parmenas of the 7. Deacons; Simeon, Zenon, Polycarp, and millions more in enſuing ages by ſucceſſion, die for Chriſt, and ſeal to the certainty of the Truth with their blouds, making glorious confeſſions of it, whereby many Martyrizers, become Martyrs. Sanguis Martyrum ſemen Eccleſiae. Whiles the Perſecutors marred (as they thought) Martyrs, they made Martyrs: and by their oppoſition they increaſed shrill and conſpicuous confeſſions and profeſſions of the Truth of Jeſus. In ſo much that Plyny a great States man to the Emperour, writes to him a perſuaſive to ſtay the perſecution. At laſt, an Emperor himſelf Conſtantine the Great, becomes a Chriſtian, and then down went Barrabas, and Chriſt was exalted. The Sun of the Goſpel shone out once again over the face of the whole earth.
Therefore my humble requeſt to you my Reverend Brethren, is, that yee more ſtudy Peace, and ſtir up Love, among Brethren, and leſſe controverſie in theſe unparelleld times of univerſal contention, totally polemical, both Scholaſtically, and civilly. And to this end let us be warned (by that good account this Book renders unto us) of facil credulity, either to reports, or letters, or Books, unleſſe they be handed to us from the Authors themſelves, with whom ye have to do. Otherwiſe (as this book bears notable witnes) our eyes and ears shal be abuſed, and our judgements warped from the ſimplicity and ſtraitneſſe of Truth. Suppoſe any real difference should be between us: if we agree in foundation doctrinals, yea, and in the main Principles of the conſtitution and jurisdiction, or power of a particular Congregational Church: as that it should conſiſt of Saints in union, inveſted with Power to take in and caſt out; I wonder it should amount to ſo high a conteſt, about degrees (which alter not the kind) of forming and reforming ſuch a Church. You ſay SAINTS in outward profeſsion is the Matter of ſuch a Church; and an implicit uniting, viz. a walking and communicating with you is a ſufficient evidencing of the form. We judge that real SAINTS uttering in diſcourſe the breathings of the Holy Spirit, and experiences of converſion, witneſſed in a ſtricter converſation, to be the Matter; and their ſolemn confeſsion of their Faith, and expreſſe open covenanting with the Lord to walk with ſuch a body of Saints in all the wayes of Chriſt to their light and power for reciprocal edification, to be the Manifest Form. How is it now that only a going before one another in degrees of reformation, according to the National ſolemn League and Covenant, should breed in you as it were a ſpecifical oppoſition againſt us? If you have a mind to aſcend up higher to fetch down differences from above, about Appeals: Nor here hence is their juſt cauſe to build up ſuch Bulworks of Hoſtilitie between Brethren. If in the reign of Epiſcopacy, thoſe Parishes were quiet where could not be found work for the Hierarchie to intermeddle; ſurely then the Claſſes may conveniently permit particular Congregations, (proſtrated below them as it were at their feet) to reſt in peace, whiles they meetly manage their own Church affairs, within their own Sphere. If we need adviſe, we shal willingly look on a company of Godly Elder and Brethren of other Churches, called together for counſel by our, and other Churches (be the Aſſembly of them ſmaller, greater, or greateſt) as upon an Ordinance of Chriſt, and as bound by the Truth of Chriſt as readily to receive, as they are to give counſel to us according to the Truth. OnelyOnly we cannot be contented to look abſolutely upon all their adviſe (without exception) as authoritative dictates, and Magiſterial Canons, neceſſarily to be obeyed ſub poena under a penalty, how much ſoever our conſciences remain unſatisfied the mean whiles.
The caſe ſtanding here abouts (as near as I could roughdraw the ſtate of it in this inſtantaneous haſt) let us I beſeech you be rather Irenaei, then Caſſandri. Peace-makers, not Breach-makers.As we do foreign (Galat. 2.14.) walk even with the right foot in the Goſpel; ſo let's in diſcipline (whiles the difference in the thing is no wider) give one another (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Gal. 2.9.) the right hand of fellowship. Weems. Pou…trait p. 1.A learned Scot well obſerveth, that there is a kind of justice among theevs, elſe their ſociety would ſoon be disbanded. And shall it not be among Brethren, Saints, Miniſters, leaſt we diſſolve Churches, yea, ordinary communion of Saints? Let Idol-Dagon be half fish and half man, but let not Chriſt be divided, nor the profeſſion of his Truth be ſet at ods. If our hearts grudge (and let that be our ſorrow) yet let us notaAct. 7.54. gnash the teeth and ſaw one anothers repute a two, with the teeth of keen words. Let not angerbEſter. 1.18. The word ſignifies to be angry, and to foam. foreign boyl up into a foam,Chalde. Iob. 16.20. to throw the ſcum upon one another.foreign Syriac. Iohn 16. v. 7. foreign Gr. foreign In N.T. often Vet. Lat. Paraclitus, in N.T. often Hereby elſe we ſlay both the ſouls of thouſands, and the charity of 10000 to their ſin, and our diſcomfort. O it is a ſad thought on my ſpirit, that we should pretend to have the Paraclet (ſo called in many languages for its comprehenſive ſignification of Friend, Comforter, Doctor, Advocate, Interceſsor, &c.) that is, the Spirit to be our comforter, and yet it should appear ſo little in us, to teach us and convince us of vilipending, or to work in us love, friendship, and beſeechings towards one another. Now that the Lord would by his Spirit, with a ſecond converſion (as the Scripture cals the progreſſe of mortification of ſome ſpecial corruption) tranſ-form our rugged hearts into love, charity, yea dilection, is the prayer of yours to ſerve you in the Lord, and for the Lord,
NATHANAEL HOMES.
The worthy name of the Reverend and Learned Author of this Treatiſe (which with delight I have peruſed) is a ſufficient argument to perſwade, not onelyonly to the reading of it, but alſo to a beliefe and expectation of ſomething Excellent therein.
Imprimatur
Imprimatur John Bachiler. January 1. 1647.
The CONTENTS of the Chapters and Sections of the firſt Part.
Chapter 1.
OF the Title inſcribed to M. Baylie his book; A diſwaſive from the errors of the time, Page 1
Chap. 2.
Sect. 1. 2. Of thoſe whom the diſwader ſtileth Browniſts. p. 2
Sect. 3. Of M. Brown and M. Barrow. p. 5
Sect. 4. Of M. Johnſon and M. Ainſworth, p. 6
Sect. 5. Of M. Smith and M. Robinſon. p. 6
Sect. 6. Of the contempt and contumely ſaid to be put upon the old Browniſts, by the Independents. p. 9
Chap. 3.
An anſwer to the diſwaders 3d. Chapter touching the original and progreſſe of the Independents in New-England. p, 10
Sect. 1. Of the title put upon us, of
A Sect,
Independent.
p. 10
Sect. 2. Of the number of the Congregational Regiment, and of the wiſdom threapt upon them, in engaging of note to them. p. 12
Sect. 3. Touching the line of the pedegree of the Independents in New-England. p. 12
Sect. 4. Of Cottons pretended former diſlik of the new Engliſh way, and after cloſing with it. p. 17
Sect. 5. Of the pretended danger of the new Engliſh way unto the world, after Cotton and others cloſing with it. p. 21
Sect. 6. Of Cottons pretended miſleading
M. Davenport.
M, Goodwin.
p. 23
Sect. 7. Of Cottons pretended ſudden change to the paſſionate affecting of the new Engliſh way, and the converſion of Mr. Goodwin to it. p. 25
Sect. 8. Of Cottons pretended raſhnes in change of his mind in latter and former times. p. 28
Sect. 9. Of Cottons pretended known failings, and M. Baylies pretended juſt cauſe to diſcover them to the world. p. 30
Sect. 10. Of Cottons prelatical tenents. p. 32
Sect. 11. Of Cottons pretended Pelagianiſme, and Arminian Errors. p. 32
Sect. 12. Of Cottons pretended Montaniſm. p. 35
Sect. 13. Of Cottons pretended Antinomianiſme and Familiſme. p. 38
Queſt. 1. Whether our Ʋnion with Chriſt be complete before, and without Faith? p. 41
Queſt. 2. Whether Faith be an inſtrumental cauſe in applying Chriſts righteouſneſſe to our juſtification? p. …2
Queſt. 3. Whether the Spirit of God in evidencing our justification, doth bear witnes in an abſolute promiſe of free Grace, without qualification or condition? p. 43
Queſt. 4. Whether ſome ſaving qualification may be a firſt evidence of juſtification? p. 45
Qu. 5. Whether Chriſt and his benefits be diſpenſed in a Covenant of works? p. 46
Sect. 14. Of Cottons humiliation upon his former fal, as is reported by M. Bailie. p. 62
Sect. 15. Of the ſhameful abſurdities ſaid to be found in the way of Independency, notwithſtanding the great helps, to prevent, or cover it and firſt of thoſe helps. p. 66
Sect. 16. Of the firſt abſurdity ſaid to be found in our way of Independency. p. 69
Sect. 17. Of the ſecond ſhameful abſurditie, ſaid to be found in the way of Independency. p. 73
Sect. 18. Of the third ſhameful abſurditie ſaid to be found in our way of Independency. p. 82
Sect. 19. Tending to rectifie ſome miſtakes of M. Bayly, in relating the former abſurdities. p. 87
Sect. 20. Tending to conſider what better fruits might have been expected from Presbyterian Diſcipline for the removing of the like abſurdities. p. 91
Chap. 4.
Sect. 1, 2, 3. Of the antiquity of Congregational diſcipline, compared with Claſſical. p. 93
Chap. 5.
Of the fruits of Congregational Diſcipline. p. 100
Sect. 1. Of the fruits of it in the Primitive times. p. 100
Sect. 2. Of fruits of Congregational Diſcipline in our Churches in new-England. p. 102
Sect. 3. Of the fruits of Congregational Diſcipline in England. p. 102
The CONTENTS of the ſecond Part.
THe ſecond Part (being Doctrinal and Controverſal) concerning Congregational Churches and their Government. p. 1
Sect. 1. Of the Church to which Chriſt committed the power of the Keyes. p. 5
Sect. 2. What the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven be. p. 14
Sect. 3. Of the Subject to whom the power of the Keyes is given. page 19
Sect. 4. Touching the power of the Keyes in the Church of Believers without Officers. p. 21
Reader, be pleaſed (where its Printed falſe) to reade right; as in theſe inſtances.
Part. 1. p. 6. foreign, p. 8. For…es, p. 42. foreign p. 44. erga, p. 79. l. 6. Author. p. 83. l. 9. ſcelus.
Part 2. page 30. foreign or rather foreign p. 31, l. 16. Conſtance.