26     92                   1670

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    In order to settlement amongst us if it please god ther be

a mutual inclination of hearts his to us & ours to him, in y^t time

Jan 15 1670 Mr Brakenburyes return to this call that if it he might

have liberty from the church of Rowley w^thout y^e offence to accept of Maldens

call having formerly ingaged to stay with us half a yeer of y^e time mentioned

in the vote & y^e Church not being willing to release y^t ingagement but be

side desiering further continuance in order to settlement; he was willing

to abide w^th us according to o^r desier & call expressed in y^e above mentio

ned vote : at least the half year (before y^e call of Malden) ingaged to us

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                      A letter to Goodm Miller.

I have not opportunity now to write much in regard of som unexpected

work to morrow which calls for attendance : yet I could not but put you in

mind how much it is to my greif & to ye greif of this Church (of w^ch sometimes

you were a member) that soe many years have past since that dreadfull ordi

nance passed upon you, & yet we hear nothing of any good Effect that ordinance

has had upon you: It argues some hardness of heart in you that you would

not take y^e pains to come to us neither first nor last tho sometime could take

pains to travail to satisfy an unclean heart, nay you have not onely refused

to come to us, but have had noe heart soe much as to write to us how it

is w^th you since your cutting off: If your sin had bin a heavy burden to you

(as beleave it it will be as long as you have a day to live if god intend

you good) we should have heard from you before this time : Doe not think to say

with yourself you have repented already & satisfied y^e law, for this argues not

Impenitency : sound repentance for such soul wasting sins as you have fallen

into is not easily obtayned; & y^rfore it were better to be liked to hear y^t you are

troubled that your heart is noe more affected nor afflicted for y^e dishonour you

have cast upon y^e house of God, then to hear y^t you look upon your self as

haveing repented already : you shall find & be humbled under y^e senc of great

backwardness to & difficulty in the work of sound judging of yourself, before

God will give you a heart to be in bitterness for your sin or cause his face

to shine upon you: Me thinks one half year should have bin more

then you could tell how to stand under to be cast out from y^e house of God y^e

place where his honour dwells ; what evill did you find in God or his ordinances

that you are gone farr away & doe neglect to return unto him; I pray doe

not cast behind your back, what my late Reverend brother M^r Sheperd and

my self writ unto you; doe not be [   ] sencless there (the Son of the Stranger

hath joined)[91]

of your seperation from Gods pp 56 Isai 3. Are you one of y^m that will fall

& not arise that have turned away from God but return not Jer. 8. 4 5 y^e

Lord awaken your heart & bless y^e counsell you have from Gods watchmen & pp

[   ] amg^st whom you are : I have done  onely my desire to God is that

your repentance may be as deep & evident as your sin was great & aggrava

ted, other^ws god will say, where is my breach & you will say where is my god in a

day of visitation  I Rest

                                     y^r greaved friend S. P.

     Rowley 29 May 1672.