A defence of Mr. John Cotton from the imputation of selfe contradiction, charged on him by Mr. Dan. Cavvdrey written by himselfe not long before his death ; whereunto is prefixed, an answer to a late treatise of the said Mr. Cavvdrey about the nature of schisme, by John Owen ...

The 15^th Contradiction is thus Declared.

15. What if the whole Pres∣bytery offend? The readiest course is to bring the matter to a Synod, the keyes pag. 43.

15. There is a readier and nearer way; The Brethren may censure them all, Way pag. 45. If the Congregation be found faithfull and willing to Remove an offence by due censure, why should the of∣fence be called up to a more publicke Ju∣dicature. Keyes pag. 42.

Ans. This Contradiction is made part∣ly out of the concealment of Part of my words in the first Columne, and Partly out of the Addition of some words of his own in the second Columne. In the former Columne I say, If the whole Pres∣bytery offend, or such a Part as will draw a Party, and a Faction in the Church with them, the readiest course then is, to bring the matter to a Synod where those words, such a Part as will draw a Party, or Faction in the Church with them, are given for the just Reason, why in such a case, the case of the offending Presby∣tery, or other such Leading members

in the Church should be brought to a Sy∣nod, before it be censured in the Church. But in the words recited in the latter Columne, I speak of the Congregation as Agreeing together, and both faithfull and willing to Proceed against Hereti∣call Doctrine and Scandalous crimes in whomsoever. And then they need not Trouble the Synod to cleare the case, which is already cleare unto themselves, so that this Contradiction speaketh not ad Idem. The one Columne speaketh of a Church, Divided into parts and Factions, and their readiest course is to bring the matter to a Synod. The se∣cond Columne speaketh of a Church both faithfull and willing to Proceede against offences with one accord. And then they have sufficient Power within them∣selves, to judge that which is right, and to execute their Judgment. That which is Added of the Replyers own words, in the latter Columne, doth help not a little to make up an Appearance of the Contradiction. In the Keyes I had sayd (In the case above mentioned)

It is the readiest course to bring the matter to the Synod. In the Way he quoteth my words, as if I had said, There is a readier and nearer way. The Brethren may censure them all. If these words had been mine, there had been an Appearance of Contradiction.

To say this is the readyest course, and yet to say, a Discrepant course is a rea∣dier and nearer way, is (at least, verbo tenus) an apparent Contradiction. But the Truth is, Those words are none of mine, but the Replyers own. And so it will be an easy matter to make up Con∣tradictions (tot quot) if we may take leave, in one sentence to conceale Part of the words necessary to make up the sense, and in another sentence to Adde words of our owne.