The New Covenant, To the reader – Publishers advertisement
TO THE READER.
IF either Author or Matter may tend to commend any Treatise, I might take occasion from both these respects to speak to the high commendation of all these three ensuing Treatises; the Authors of them being such as whose commendations are in the gates of all the daughters of Zion, and therefore need not Epistles of Commendation from any others. The Name of Mr. John Cotton (the Author of the two former) being like a precious Ointment powred forth; and although his blessed soul be now amidst the spirits of just men made perfect in the heavenly Jerusalem that is above; yet his holy works and labours left behind him, doe (and I trust ever will) speak to the Saints, to the Churches here below, both in the present and also future Generations yet unborn. Neither doth the other (viz. the third, that concerning the Power of Magistrates in matters of the first Table) seem to claim any lower descent, being indeed a Result of a meeting of divers rev…rend and godly Elders of severall Churches in the Masathusets Plantation in New-England, An. 1646. where both the head and heart of the forenamed reverend and precious man was also present, amongst those approved workmen who need not to be ashamed.
And as for the Matter which they do treat of, 'tis the establishment of Peace both Spirituall, viz. of a beleeving soul with the Lord in the Covenant of Grace, as in the first Treatise: and Ecclesiasticall, viz. between the Brethren and Churches of the Presbyterian and Congregationall way, as in the second: and also Politicall, viz. between Magistrates and people in point of power and Jurisdiction, about matters belonging to the first Table, as in the third Treatise. How well these things are here spoken unto, I shall willingly leave to the godly and learned Readers to judge.
I shall only desire to give a brief account of the publishing of them to the world, that the Reader may undoubtedly assure himself that these are neither spurious Copies, nor surreptitiously put forth.
The Treatise of the New Covenant having been taken from the Authors mouth in Preaching, was afterward presented unto him with desire of his perusal and emendation of it; which being done (and indeed the interlinings of his owne hand doe plainly testifie his correcting of it) he delivered back, not long before his death, into the hands of a Gentleman, (one of the Church in Boston there) who coming over hither, and being about to return, left it with me to take order for the Printing of it.
That of the Queries I had from the Reverend Author himself (my most Honoured friend) in a letter from him, with liberty (if it might be thought meet) of publishing of it: At my coming over from that Country (which was about a year before his death) he delivered unto me the same for substance, but in another Form, viz. in 12 Propositions, and therefore did then expresse his unwillingness to yield to the impression of them (being moved thereunto by a Reverend Elder then present with us) by reason (as he said) they were set down by way of Propositions; but afterward the Lord having directed him to mould them into another model (turning the twelve Propositions into eleven Queries) he was pleased to send them over unto me as here they are presented. He was a man of peace, of a very sweet spirit, and had a speciall faculty of composing differences in the judgements of Brethren: and thus much I shall crave liberty to testifie of him, that, beside… the multiplicity of occasions which was constantly upon him, he was not without care about the Peace and welfare of the Churches abroad; and notwithstanding his so vast a distance in body from the Churches and Saints in his Native Countrey, yet he had great thoughts of heart for the Division of his Brethren here, being seriously studious how to compose and heale their breaches: He hath sometimes said unto me being privately together, Brother I perceive there is a great gravamen which the one party is much offended at with the other, I pray let us study how we may ease and remove it. From that solicitous care it was that he drew up these 11 Queries, unto which (may it be without offence) I shall be bold to add one more to make up the number even and round, the which I doe presume that our Reverend and honoured friend would not have been averse unto, had he been on earth, to have been consulted withall.
The third and last Treatise, being The Result of a Synod at Cambridge (as 'tis stiled by the Copy come to my hands) was lately sent over unto me from a Reverend Friend (one that was present at that Assembly) desiring mee earnestly (intimating also that 'twas not his owne desire only) to procure the Printing of it, as conceiving it might prove very usefull for the present season.
Now these three little Treatises being in mine hand (through providence) together, and each of them somewhat too small to put forth severally, I was the more willing (especially apprehending them not to be altogether heterogeniall) to joyne in one small Volume, and as they came from one and the same place, so to send them forth as Companions together: and oh that the presence and blessing of the Spirit of Christ may go along with them, making them usefull and profitable unto the Readers or Hearers of them!
THO: ALLEN.
BOOKS Sould by John Allen at the Rising Sun in Pauls Church-yard.
NOva Testament. Beza. fol.
Doctor Holdsworths Works, compleat. fol. 4o.
Mr. Caryl's fifth Vollume, on Job. fol. 4o.
Mr. Greenhil's second Voll: on Ezekiel. fol. 4o.
Gospel-Liberty, by Mr. Cradock. fol. 4o.
Mr. Lockiers Works. fol. 4o.
Andrew's Catechisticall Doctrine. fol. 8o.
Simpson of Justification. fol. fol. 8o.
Ainsworth's Communion. fol. 8o.
Ainsworth's Arrow against Idols fol. 8o.
Welch Testament. fol. 8o.
The Saints Desire, by Samuel Richardson. fol. 8o.
Gaule of Witches. fol. 8o.