being disturbed, was indeed embraced by the greatest part of the town. However, at last, complaints being made against him unto the Bishop's courts, he was for a while then put under the circumstances of a silenced minister; in all which while, he would still give his presence at the publick sermons, though never at the common prayers of the conformable. He was now offered, not only the liberty of his ministry, but very great preferment in it also, if he would but conform to the scrupled rites, though but in one act, and but for one time; nevertheless, his tender soul, afraid of being thereby polluted, could not in the least comply with such temptations. A storm of many troubles upon him was now gathering; but it was very strangely diverted! For that very man who had occasioned this affliction to him, now became heartily afflicted for his own sin in doing of it; and a stedfast, constant, prudent friend; presenting a pair of gloves to a proctor of an higher court, then appealed unto that proctor without Mr. Cotton's knowledge, swore, In Animam Domini,* that Mr. Cotton was a conformable man; which things issued in Mr. Cotton's being restored unto the exercise of his ministry.

§ 11. The storm of persecution being thus blown over, Mr. Cotton enjoyed rest for many years. In which time he faithfully employed his great abilities, not in gaining men to this or that party of Christians, but in acquainting them with the more essential and substantial points of Christianity. In the space of twenty years that he lived at Boston, on the Lord's days in the afternoons, he thrice went over the body of divinity in a catechistical way; and gave the heads of his discourse to young scholars, and others in the town, that they might answer to his questions in the congregation; and the answers he opened and applied unto the general advantage of the hearers. Whilst he was in this way handling the sixth commandment, the words of God which he uttered were so quick and powerful, that a woman among his hearers, who had been married sixteen years to a second husband, now in horror of conscience, openly confessed her murdering her former husband, by poison, though thereby she exposed herself to the extremity of being burned. In the forenoons of the Lord's days, he preached over the first six chapters in the Gospel of John, the whole book of Ecclesiastes; the prophecy of Zephaniah; the prophecy of Zechariah, and many other scriptures. When the Lord's Supper was administred, which was once a month, he handled the eleventh chapter in the first epistle to the Corinthians, and the thirteenth chapter in the second book of the Chronicles: and some other pertinent paragraphs of the Bible. In his lectures, he went through the whole first and second Epistles of John; the whole book of Solomon's Song; the Parables of our Saviour to the seventeenth chapter of Matthew. His house also was full of young students; whereof some were sent unto him out of Germany, some out of Holland, but most out of Cambridge; for Dr. Preston would still advise

In the spirit of the Lord.

his near fledged pupils, to go live with Mr. Cotton, that they might be fitted for publick service; insomuch that it was grown almost a proverb, "That Mr. Cotton was Dr. Preston's seasoning vessel:" and of those that issued from this learned family, famous and useful in their generation, the well-known Dr. Hill was not the least. Moreover, he kept a daily lecture in his house, which, as very reverend ear-witnesses have expressed it, "He performed with much grace, to the edification of the hearers:" and unto this lecture many pious people in the town would constantly resort, until upon a suspicion of some inconveniency, which might arise from the growing numerousness of his auditory, he left it off. However, besides his ordinary lecture every Thursday, he preached thrice more; every week, on the week-days; namely, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, early in the morning, and on Saturdays at three in the afternoon. And besides these immense labours, he was frequently employed on extraordinary days, kept Pro Temporis et Causis, whereon he would spend sometimes no less than six hours in the word and prayer. Furthermore, it was his custom, once a year, to visit his native-town of Derby, where he was a notable excep tion to the general rule of "A prophet without honour in his own country;" and by his vigilant cares this town was for many years kept supplied with able and faithful ministers of the gospel. Thus was this good man a most indefatigable doer of good.

§ 12. The good spirit of God, so plentifully and powerfully accompanied the ministry of this excellent man, that a great reformation was thereby wrought in the town of Boston. Profaneness was extinguished, superstition was abandoned, religion was embraced and practised among the body of the people; yea, the mayor, with most of the magistrates, were now called Puritans, and the Satanical party was become insignificant. As to the matter of non-conformity, Mr. Cotton was come to forbear the ceremonies enjoyned in the Church of England; for which he gave this account:

"The grounds were two: first, The significacy and efficacy put upon them, in the preface to the book of Common-Prayer: That 'they were neither dumb nor dark, but apt to stir up the dull mind of man, to the remembrance of his duty to God, by some notable and special signification, whereby he may be edified;' or words to the like purpose. The second was the limitation of church-power, even of the highest apostolical commission, to the observation of the commandments of Christ,' Mat. xxviii. 20. Which made it appear to me utterly unlawful for any church-power to enjoyn the observation of indifferent ceremonies, which Christ had not commanded: and all the ceremonies were alike destitute of the commandment of Christ, though they had been indifferent otherwise; which indeed others have justly pleaded they were not."

But this was not all: for Mr. Cotton was also come to believe, that Scripture bishops were appointed to rule no larger a diocess than a particular congregation; and that the ministers of the Lord, with the keys of ecclesiastical government, are given by him to a congregational church.

• According to the exigencies of the times.

hence care to pass, that our Lord Jesus Christ was now worshipped in Boston, without the use of the liturgy, or of those vestments, which are by Zanchy called Execrabiles Vestes;* yea, the sign of the cross was laid aside, not only in baptism, but also in the mayor's mace, as worthy to be made a Nehushtan, because it had been so much abused unto idolatry. And besides all this, there were some scores of pious people in the town, who more exactly formed themselves into an Evangelical Church-State, by entring into covenant with God, and with one another, "to follow after the Lord, in the purity of his worship." However, the main bent and aim of Mr. Cotton's ministry was, "to preach a crucified Christ;" and the inhabitants of Boston observed, that God blessed them in their secular concernments, remarkably the more, through his dwelling among them; for many strangers, and some, too, that were gentlemen of good quality, resorted unto Boston, and some removed their habitations thither on his account; whereby the prosperity of the place was very much promoted.

§ 13. As his desert of it was very high, so the respect which he met withal was far from low. The best of his hearers loved him greatly, and the worst of them feared him, as "knowing that he was a righteous and an holy man." Yea, such was the greatness of his learning, his wisdom, his holiness, that great men took no little notice of him. A very honourable person rode thirty miles to see him; and afterwards professed, "That he had as lieve hear Mr. Cotton's ordinary exposition in his family, as any minister's publick preaching that he knew in England." Whilst he continued in Boston, Dr. Preston would constantly come once a year to visit him, from his exceeding value for Mr. Cotton's friendship. ArchBishop Williams did likewise greatly esteem him for his incomparable parts; and when he was keeper of the great seal, he recommended Mr. Cotton to the royal favour. Moreover, the Earl of Dorchester and of Lindsey had much regard unto him: which happened partly on this occasion; the Earl's coming into Lincolnshire, about the dreining of some fenny grounds, Mr. Cotton was then in his course of preaching on Gal. ii. 20. Intending to preach on the duties of "living by faith in adversity;" but considering that these noblemen were not much acquainted with afflic tions, he altered his intentions, and so ordered it, that when they came to Boston, he discoursed on the duties of "living by faith in prosperity:" when the noblemen were so much taken with what they heared, that they assured him, if at any time he should want a friend at court, they would improve all their interest for him. And when Mr. Cotton did plainly, but wisely admonish them, of certain pastimes on the Lord's day, whereby they gave some scandal, they took it most kindly from him, and promised a reformation. But none of the roses cast on this applauded actor, smothered that humble, that loving, that gracious disposition, which was his perpetual ornament.

• Execrable gowns.

§14. At length, doubtless to chastise the seldom unchastised evils of divisions, crept in among the Christians of Boston, it pleased the God of Heaven to deprive them of Mr. Cotton's ministry, by laying a tertin ague upon him for a year together. But being invited unto the Earl of Lincoln's, in pursuance to the advice of his physicians, that he shoul change the air, he removed thither; and thereupon he happily recover-l. Nevertheless, by the same sickness he then lost his excellent wife; who having lived with him childless for eighteen years, went from him now, to be for ever with the Lord; whereupon he travelled further a field, un to London, and some other places, whereby the recovery of his lost health was further perfected. About a year after this, he practically appeared in opposition to Tertullianism, by proceeding unto a second marriage; wherein one Mrs. Sarah Story, a vertuous widow, very dear to his former wife, became his consort; and by her he had both sons and daughters.

15. Although our Lord hath hitherto made the discretion and vir ancy of Mr. Thomas Leveret (afterwards a doubly honoured elder of the church, in another land) the happy occasion of diverting many designs to molest Mr. Cotton for his non-conformity, yet when the sins of the place had ripened it for so dark a vengeance of heaven as the removing of tais eminent light, a storm of persecution could no longer be avoided. A debauched fellow in the town, who had been punished by the magistrates for his debaucheries, contrived and resolved a revenge upon them, for their justice: and having no more effectual way to vent the cursed malice of his heart, than by bringing them into trouble at the High Commission Court, up he goes to London, with informations to that court, that the magistrates did not kneel at the sacrament, nor observe some other ceremo nies by law imposed. When some that belonged unto the court signifie! unto this informer that he must put in the minister's name: "Nay," (said he) "the minister is an honest man, and never did me any wrong:" but it being farther pressed upon him, that all his complaints would be insig nificant, if the minister's name were not in them, he then did put it in: and letters missive were dispatched incontinently, to convent Mr. Cotton before the infamous High Commission Court. But before we relate wha became of Mr. Cotton, we will enquire what became of his accuser. The renowned Mr. John Rogers of Dedham, having been on his lecture day. just before his going to preach, advised that Mr. Cotton was brought into this trouble, he took occasion to speak of it in the sermon, with just lamentations for it; and among others he used words to this purpose: "As for that man, who hath caused a faithful pastor to be driven from his flock, he is a wisp, used by the hand of God for the scowring of his people: bat mark the words now spoken by a minister of the Lord! I am verily per swaded, the judgments of God will overtake the man that has done this thing: either he will die under an hedge, or something else, more than the ordinary death of men shall befal him." Now, behold, how this pre

diction was accomplished: this miserable man, quickly after this, dyed of the plague, under an hedge, in Yorkshire; and it was a long time ere any one could be found that would bury him. This 'tis to turn persecutor.

§ 16. Mr. Cotton, knowing that letters missive were out against him, from the High Commission Court, and knowing that if he appeared there, he could expect no other than to be choaked with such a perpetual impris onment as had already murdered such men as Bates and Udal, he concealed himself, as well as he could, from the raging pursevants. Application was made, in the mean time, to the Earl of Dorset, for the fulfilment of his old engagement unto Mr. Cotton; and the earl did indeed intercede for him, until the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who would often wish, "Oh! that I could meet with Cotton!" rendred all his intercessions both ineffectual and unseasonable. Hereupon that noble person sent word unto him, that if he had been guilty of drunkenness, or uncleanness, or any such lesser falt, he could have obtained his pardon; but inasmuch as he had been guilty of non-conformity, and puritanism, the crime was unpardonable; and therefore, said he, "you must fly for your safety." Doubtless, it was from such unhappy experiments that Mr. Cotton afterwards pablished this complaint: "The ecclesiastical courts are like the courts of the high-priests and Pharisees, which Solomon by a spirit of prophecy stileth, dens of lions, and mountains of leopards. And those who have to do with them, have found them markets of the sins of the people, the cages of uncleanness, the forges of extortion, the tabernacles of bribery, and they have been contrary to the end of civil government, which is the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of them which do well."

§ 17. Mr. Cotton, therefore, now, with supplications unto the God of Heaven for his direction, joined consultations of good men on earth; and among others, he did, with some of his Boston friends, visit old Mr. Dod, unto whom he laid open the difficult case now before him, without any intimation of his own inclination, whereby the advice of that holy man might have been at all forestalled. Mr. Dod, upon the whole, said thus unto him: "I am old Peter, and therefore must stand still, and bear the brunt; but you, being young Peter, may go whether you will, and ought, being persecuted in one city, to flee unto another." And when the Boston friends urged, "that they would support and protect Mr. Cotton, though privately; and that if he should leave them, very many of them would be exposed unto extreme temptation:" he readily answered, "That the removing of a minister was like the draining of a fish pond: the good fish will follow the water, but eels, and other baggage fish, will stick in the mud." Which things, when Mr. Cotton heard, he was not a little confirmed. in his inclination to leave the land. Nor did he forget the concession of Cyprian, that a seasonable flight is, in effect, "a confession of our faith:" for it is a profession that our faith is dearer unto us, than all the enjoyments from which we fly. But that which is further memorable in this matter