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 13^th Contradiction is set be∣fore us thus.

13. Ordination is then Compleat when the Peo∣ple hath Chosen an Offi∣cer, and the Presbytery hath laied their Hands on him, Keyes p. 37.

13. But if the Church want a Presbytery, for want of Elders they want a warrant to Repaire to the Presbytery of another Church to Impose hands upon their Elect Elders, Way, p. 50.

Answer: In that Place of the Keyes, I only Assert and Prove, That a man of Sufficient Gifts chosen by the Peo∣ple of the Church, and Ordained by the Presbytery of his owne Church, wanteth nothing to the compleat Inte∣grity of his calling. The Right hand of Fellowship given by the Elders of other Churches expresseth their Approbati∣on of his calling, but addeth nothing to the essence, or Integrity of his cal∣ling.

But when I say that in want of a Presbytery of their owne, they want a warrant to Repaire to the Presbyte∣ry of another Church for his Ordina∣tion, I no where say, That the Officer

Elected, wanteth the complete Inte∣grity of his calling, for want of the Im∣position of hand, of the Presbytery of another Church. And yet that had been requisite to make up a pretence of a Contradiction. The Replyer knoweth that a Church wanting a Presbytery of their owne to lay hands upon an Elect Officer in our Judgment, they may appoint some of the Elders and graver Members of their owne Body, to sup∣ply the Defect of their owne Presby∣tery; which we Account sufficient to the completing of his calling in such a case.

But when I said (in the Way) That the Church wanting a Presbytery, they wanted a warrant to Repaire to the Pres∣bytery of another Church to Impose hands upon their Elect Elders, I meant in way of Subordination to an Extrin∣secall Power. For it is against that which both the Reasons Plead, which I there Alleadged for that Purpose. But I no where dislike, That a Church wan∣ting a Presbytery of their owne may

send for Elders of other Churches, to Assist them, and to Joyne with them in the Ordination of their Elect Offi∣cers.