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Deputy Gov. Thomas Dudley: I
would go a little higher with Mrs. Hutchinson. About three years ago we
were all in peace. Mrs. Hutchinson, from that time she came hath made a
disturbance, and some that came over with her in the ship did inform me
what she was as soon as she was landed. I being then in place dealt with
the pastor and teacher of Boston and desired them to enquire of her, and
then I was satisfied that she held nothing different from us. But within
half a year after, she had vented divers of her strange opinions and had
made parties in the country, and at length it comes that Mr. Cotton and
Mr. Vane were of her judgment, but Mr. Cotton had cleared himself that
he was not of that mind.
But now it appears by this woman's meeting that Mrs. Hutchinson hath so
forestalled the minds of many by their resort to her meeting that now
she hath a potent party in the country. Now if all these things have
endangered us as from that foundation and if she in particular hath
disparaged all our ministers in the land that they have preached a
covenant of works, and only Mr. Cotton a covenant of grace, why this is
not to be suffered, and therefore being driven to the foundation and it
being found that Mrs. Hutchinson is she that hath depraved all the
ministers and hath been the cause of what is fallen out, why we must
take away the foundation and the building will fall.
Mrs. Anne Hutchinson: I pray, Sir, prove it that I said they
preached nothing but a covenant of works.
Dep. Gov. Thomas Dudley: Nothing but a covenant of works. Why a
Jesuit may preach truth sometimes.
Mrs. Anne Hutchinson: Did I ever say they preached a covenant of
works then?
Dep. Gov. Thomas Dudley: If they do not preach a covenant of
grace clearly, then they preach a covenant of works.
Mrs. Anne Hutchinson: No, Sir. One may preach a covenant of grace
more clearly than another, so I said....
Dep. Gov. Thomas Dudley: When they do preach a covenant of works
do they preach truth?
Mrs. Anne Hutchinson: Yes, Sir. But when they preach a covenant
of works for salvation, that is not truth.
Dep. Gov. Thomas Dudley: I do but ask you this: when the
ministers do preach a covenant of works do they preach a way of
salvation?
Mrs.
Anne Hutchinson: I
did not come hither to answer questions of that sort.
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