Proceedings were at once begun by a synod of
all the ministers, which was held at Cambridge, for the purpose of
restoring peace to the churches. "There were about eighty opinions, some
blasphemous, others erroneous, and all unsafe, condemned by the whole
assembly.... Some of the church of Boston ... were offended at the
producing of so many errors, ... and called to have the persons named
which held those errors." To which the elders answered that all those
opinions could be proved to be held by some, but it was not thought fit to
name the parties. "Yet this would not satisfy some but they oft called for
witnesses; and because some of the magistrates declared to them ... that
if they would not forbear it would prove a civil disturbance ... they
objected.... So as he" (probably meaning Winthrop) "was forced to tell one
of them that if he would not forbear ... he might see it executed. Upon
this some of Boston departed from the assembly and came no more."
[Footnote: Winthrop, i. 238.] Once freed from their repinings all went
well, and their pastor, Mr. Wilson, soon had the satisfaction of sending
their reputed heresies "to the devil of hell from whence they came."
[Footnote: _Magnalia_, bk. 3, ch. ii. Section 13.] Cotton, seeing
that all was lost, hastened to make his peace by a submission which the
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