The Way of the Churches of Christ in New England, Title page – To the reader
THE Way of the Churches OF CHRIST IN NEW-ENGLAND. OR THE VVAY OF CHURCHES walking in Brotherly equalitie, or co-ordination, without Subjection of one Church to another. Meaſured and examined by the Golden Reed of the Sanctuary. Containing a full Declaration of the Churchway in all Particulars. By Mr. J. COTTON, Teacher of the Church at Boſton in New-England.
1 THES. 5.22, 23.
Prove all things; hold faſt that which is good; Abſtaine from all appearance of evill.
Publiſhed according to Order.
LONDON, Printed by Matthew Simmons in Alderſgate-ſtreete. 1645.
not in our apprehenſion be ſaid to hold no analogie. Yet with much ſweat, and wiles, ſome meſſengers have got through that Court of Guard, to anticipate, or ſatisfie (if it might be) thoſe clamourers for a larger Narration.
1. The 32. Queſtions, or Church-government, and Church-Covenant, done by ſome Elders of N. E. they have had; with ſeconds of frequent intimations, that wee hold with the Churches of New England.
2. The Apologeticall Narration they have had, with our generall approbation of it.
3. Mr Cotton of the Keys of the Kingdome of heaven they have had, with our Brethrens Epiſtle to it, how farre they approve it.
4. The Reaſons of the diſſenting Brethren are in Print.
5. Wee have been enformed that thoſe our Brethren formerly have tendered themſelves, that in caſe they might be put into a Committee, or like meet poſture for ſuch a work, they would bring in the whole frame of their judgements in a body, with their grounds and reaſons.
6. That now very lately they gave in ſeven Propoſitions to be diſcuſſed, with promiſe of more. But neither of them was debated. Which wee alledge rather to vindicate our particular charge, then to blame men whoſe reaſons wee know not.
7. With much adoe wee have preſented you with a fuller declaration of all our way, according to the Scriptures, in this learned, yet modeſt Treatiſe of THE WAY OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN NEVV-ENGLAND, &c. Written and ſent over by Mr. Cotton. And wee doe in this Epiſtle certifie our aſſent thereunto, ſaving that wee doe not yet fully cloſe with ſome expreſsions paſſim in the Book, before ſome of which wee minded it to note a * in the Margin. This we could not but ſay and doe (pace tanti authoris) or wee could not aſſert the Booke. If all things in this Treatiſe, as now printed, doe not anſwer punctually word for word, to the firſt written Copie, let the reverend Authour, and the candid Reader pardon us, becauſe wee had not the faireſt Copie, nor knew wee, till the Book was neer done, that there was a better to be had, nor to this day yet ever ſaw it.
Therefore wee were forced to ſhift with this, ſo as to keep the mind of the Authour, make it conſtare ſibi, and by an interpretative leave in his abſence, not onelyonly to doe as wee would be done by, but alſo as he himſelfe would have done (wee are confident) if he had been in our caſe, or preſent here.
Leaſt any ſhould imagine, that every thing in the Keyes doth not fit all the wards in this Treatiſe to an haire, wee will here inſert Mr. Cottons own words, in his Letter coming from him in New-England to our hands in the very nick of time, whiles this Epiſtle lay under the Preſſe; viz. If you think the Draught of ChuRCH-DISCIPLINE, which was ſent over in your Ship, varieth from that of the POVVER OF THE KEKES, ſent over the yeare after; you may have ſome occaſion ſo to conceive from ſome difference of expreſſion in LOGICALL TERMES, but not a jote in any DOCTRINE OF DIVINITIE, or CHURCH-PRACTISE. So Mr. Cotton in his Letter to Mr. R. M.
Diverſe Objections formerly laid againſt the Printing of this Book (to the ſadding of the Authour.) Some whereof are now anſwered by the late ſeaſon of printing it. Others, by the neceſſitie of them, that conſcientiouſly and candidly cry out for information. Others, by the fore-printing of the Keyes, to open the full minde and whole ſphere of the Authours judgement in this. Others, by that putting forth in print of an anſwer to this Book, before this was mid-wiſed by the Preſſe into the world. All reaſon therefore (now it can ſpeake) that it ſhould anſwer for it ſelfe.
Wee hope wee have ſatisfied the minde of the Authour as well as our owne; and of others too, of the other judgement; eſpecially of thoſe that call for fuller Declarations. The Lord root out of all our hearts the ſpirit of contradiction; that wee call not for Books, with a reſolution, rather to confute them (as wee imagine) then to throw downe our ſelves humbly under the power of truth.
Wee are now fighting Modo militari, for reformation; let us not therefore fight againſt it more eccleſiaſtico. With how much gravitie, ſoliditie, and modeſtie, have Mr. Cotton, the Apologiſts, the Authours of 32. Queſtions, or Church Covenant, and other milde and judicious Authours written in our cauſe? But with what a different ſpirit have the adverſe part replyed; as if perſonall invectives, and imbittring a ſtile, were Gods way of bettering a cauſe, or battering an opinion?
Here is a Booke ſo grave, and ſolid, that it cannot be juſtly deſpiſed by ingenuous learned men. So full of neceſſary caſes and truths, that it cannot but be deſired of thoſe that would be knowing men. And ſo milde and gentle, that it cannot but be cauſleſly quarrelled, if quarrelled by Cholerick men. Had wee not been perſwaded, that it would prove a welcome Tract on all hands, for the reaſons afore-intimated, wee could with our injoyment of the written Copie, well have ſaved this great travell. If it fall out otherwiſe, as it hath with diverſe of the like nature; Golden Lavers, or Veſſels made Common-ſhores and receptacles to be filled with all filthy contempt; wee ſhall then clearly and fully decerne mens ſpirits, and deſcry their intents in challenging us for larger Narrations; and ſhall beware for time to come, how wee anger them with kindneſſes. But if this be candidly entertained of them, then have they encouraged us in due time to impart (if God permit) a fuller Treatiſe of the ſame ſubject, with amplior demonſtrations, by joynt conſent of the Churches of Old and New-England: and meane while, they have abundantly recompenced the labour of love, of theirs in the Lord.
N.H. I.H.