Letter to Elizabeth Avery, Title page – To the reader
The COPY of a LETTER Written by Mr. Thomas Parker, Paſtor of the Church of Newbury in NEW-ENGLAND, TO His Siſter, Mrs Elizabeth Avery, Sometimes of Newbury in the County of BERKS, Touching ſundry OPINIONS BY HER Profeſſed and Maintained.
Novemb. 22. 1649.
Imprimatur
JOHN DOWNAME.
London, Printed by John Field for Edmund Paxton, at Pauls-Chain, over againſt the Caſtle Tavern, near the Doctors Commons. 1650.
The Epiſtle to the Reader.
BEſides this enſuing Letter, I have alſo received other Letters to my dear Friend Mrs Avery (which for ſundry Reaſons are not Printed) from Mr. Cotton, Mr. VVilſon, and Mr. Noyes; all which bear the like aſpect as this Letter doth, in oppoſition to her Opinions herein Refuted; That (if ſo be the will of God) ſhe may be reduced to her former Faith and Profeſsion, from which ſhe is ſo ſtrangely turned away. I forbear to acquaint the Reader with the tranſcendent worth of the Reverend Author of this Letter; partly, becauſe I know it will be unacceptable to him, and unneceſſary, in reſpect of them that have any knowledge of him; and partly, becauſe I am unwilling to follow the Devils method in theſe days of Error, who by raiſing an admiration of mens perſons in the hearts of the ſimple, diſpoſeth them to a preſent compliance with their pernicious Doctrines: Such flattery is below the gravity of a ſpirit eſtabliſhed in the Faith of Chriſt, whoſe Genius it is, not to glory in Man, foraſmuch as whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, all is yours, 1 Cor. 3.21,22.
Benjamin Woodbridge.