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 17^th Contradiction is thus set forth.

17. Visi∣ble Saints though they be Hypo∣crites in∣wardly, are the matter of a visible church. Mr. Hook. part. 1. p. 14. 15.

17. You say Saints in outward Profession are the matter of a Con∣gregationall Church: we judge that reall Saints uttering in Discourse the Brea∣things of the Holy Spirit, and experi∣ences of conversi∣on, interested in a stricter conversation to be the matter. Dr. Holmes Epistle to Way cleared. pag. 4.

Mr. Bartlet speaketh something (this lan∣guage) Can there be Ability for spirituall & holy services, where the spirit is not yet given? Can there be communion between light and Darknesse? Can they edify one another in the Faith, that have not the work of Faith wrought in them? Modell. p. 57. See more pag. 103.

Ans. What M^r Hooker's Judgment

was, is expressed in that first Columne: what mine own, is declared, and I hope, cleared in the Holynesse of Church-mem∣bers. What D^r Holmes and M^r Bartlet doe further require in it, they Declare what Church-members ought to be de ju∣re, especially in their first constitution, rather then what they are, or are wont to be de facto, especially in their Declen∣sion. Againe I see M^r Bartlet speaketh in opposition to the members of the Pa∣rish Churches, who are in many places Ig∣norant, loose, profane and scandalous li∣vers, who are not indeed visible Saints, pag. 56.

It is true there is some work of the Spirit, where ever there is a visible Saint. But the Spirit giveth many Gifts to the edification of others (as to Judas and De∣mas) which often doe not reach to the Regeneration of him that Receiveth them.