An answer to W.R. his narration of the opinions and practises of the churches lately erected in Nevv-England.: Vindicating those Godly and orthodoxall churches, from more then an hundred imputations fathered on them and their church way, by the said W.R. in his booke. Wherein is plainely proved, 1. That the grounds of his narration are sandie and insufficient. 2. That the maner of his handling it, unloving and irregular. 3. That the matter of it, ful of grosse mistakes & divers contradictions. 4. That the quotations extremely wrested, and out of measure abused. 5. That his marginall notes impertinent and injurious. / By Thomas Welde, Pastour of the Church of Roxborough in Nevv-England. This is licensed and entred according to order.

Answer to CHAP. XI.

HE makes report of a groundlesse course (as he calles it) in the Church at Cambridge in New-England, where (saith he) the people use to meet together privately, each one to hold forth the work of grace in his or her soule, from the first conversion to that day, so that their Pastour might know their growth in grace. And, (saith also) that (as some report) the end of this meeting was to cast out by excommunication, non-proficients.

[Ans.] With what face can any godly man call such meetings of the Saints, for such an holy end (as to try their growth in grace) a groundlesse meeting; and so cast dirt upon it? for he makes proofe of no other end besides that.

2. Did these godly people ever cast any out of the Church there, meere∣ly for non-proficiency?

3. He hath still forgotten that rule in 1 Tim. 3.19. that requires two or three witnesses to bee brought forth, &c. who yet proceeds upon (I know not what) relations to beleeve and report, yea and print to the view of the world, what (in his opinion) may detract from a Reverend Elder, and a godly Church also.

No marvell, he calls his Book [a poore pamphlet,] truly it is so indeed, if all things we have discovered in it be well weighed; and it will appeare yet poorer (before we have done) to any candid reader. It is our humble suit to heaven, that God will discover to himselfe the weakenes and error of his dealings herein, for the humbling of his spirit.