17                     1667      83

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Octo: 6 1667 / M^r Phillips after his sermō ( & Contributiō) out of 1 Cor. 5. 2

spoke to the Congregation & related the sin , & layd before y^m . y^e Com^dmt

broken & aggravations  and d then craving the Churches consent by y^r

Vote agayn passt  & then was the sentence pronounced –––––

We doe in y^e name of Christ & authority & by y^e pow^r of y^e L^d

Jesus y^e great King & Law–giver of y^e Church , & by y^e Consent of

this Church , cutt of the sayd Thom: Miller &c.: as in y^e Letter –

Afterward pray^r was made that God would ratify the sentence, & let

loose Satan on Him –––

There was also a Letter sent to Bro: William Harris at Middleton –

desiring that an inclosed Letter conteyning the Sentence &c: might (w^th

those Brethren y^r & as many others as in prudence was thought

fit , Present) be communicated to Thomas Miller; &c:

   The Letter was as followeth ––

Goodm: Miller

     These are to give you to understand y^t the Church of X^t

at Rowley of w^ch you were sometimes a member , have w^th one Con-

=sent , not one dissenting pass’t that dreadful sentence of Ex

=communication upon you , So that you are now cut of from

this Church , putt away from amongst us , accounted as a Heathen

& Publicane & delivered to Satan for y^e destruction of y^e flesh

that y^e Spirit may be saved in y^e Day of y^e Lord. It cannot ,

we are sure ought not to seem strange that y^e church hath

thus dispensed toward you , but may rather wonder y^t this Cen

=sure did not passe long since – upon you, consid^ring what

horrible wickednesse you have bin guilty of , & no more

repentance in any measure suitable to such scandalous

& abominable Evills appears , nor indeed doth God ordinar

=ily give Repentance for such foule falls, till the highest

& sharpest means for awakening & humiliation be app

=lyed      That your repentance is not through appears

1 In that you judge not your self for blood-guiltynesse

in resp: of your carriage to your former wife but

rather lay blame upon her then your self ; this we

have by y^e Testimony of Brethren who have Laboured

w^th you to Convince you of your sin; and whither you

see it or not the Church here is sensible that you

are und^r great guilt as to Shortning of y^r wives Life

and thereby breaking y^e 6^th Command.