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 Preface.

THE Servants of the Lord (saith Paul) must not strive, but be Gentile to∣wards all men, 2 Tim. 2. 24. how much more towards their Brethren? But what if a Brother, should become an Adver∣sary (whether Adversarius lit is, or Personae,) and speak hard words, yea and write a Booke against his fel∣low Servants? Job telleth us, though he could, yet he would not speak as they doe, Job. 16. 4, 5. And for the book against him, He would take it and bind it upon his shoulder, And yet I doe not think he meant to cast it be∣hind his Backe, but that he would bearé it as a light loade, and in case

of his Innocency, He would we are it as his Crowne: And for that end, would declare unto Him the Number of his steps, Job. 31. 35, 36, 37? Yea though such a Booke might seeme to Impartiall and Judicious mindes written with a Spirit of Bitternesse, and contempt, and in a Style suitable, yet the Servants of the Lord have not so learned Christ, nor the Truth (as it is in Jesus) as to Returne Evill for Evill, or Reviling for Reviling. Hard words are not Given, but as the Lord com∣mandeth, if not in his Ordinances, yet in his Providence: And either they are Deserved, & then they are an excellent Balme which will not break the head: or undeserved, and then the Lord will Requite Good to him that suf∣fereth evill. It is no new Thing for God's owne Servants to be taken with Paroxismes (as Paul and Barna∣bas were, Act. 15.) that is, with Pangs of Passion, And that is the worst I conceive of the tartest Passages of M^r Cawdryes Reply. For I see by his

dealing with M^r Hooker, that he can write with more meeknesse, and mo∣deration, when the Lord helpeth him: Let me therefore briefly give Ac∣count of such Passages of mine, as have seemed most offensive to Him: and that in such termes, as may not unbeseeme either my selfe, or the cause.