32               1671

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98        ffrom Newberry March 17 1670/1   from the Lord Jesus X^st

Tho y^e ch of x^st w^ch is at Rowley both Elder & brethren grace & peace be w^th you

 

Rev^d & dearly beloved in y^e lord after y^e long & troublesome differences in y^e ch: it is well

known to your selves y^t in April y^e 22^nd last by y^e help & advise of y^e assembly of y^e Elders &

brethren of 9 churches we made an agreem^t or consent y^t y^e Church of Newberry shall

be governed by a ruler then agreed upon in all y^r administrations  contayned in 5 Artic

cles: Notwthstanding o^r troubles have still bin continued & lengthend out w^thout all hope of

Remedy in y^t Estate ye Church stood in, having but one Elder & himself soe contrary

to y^e church w^th whom he hath entered into y^e late covenant or agreem^t:

Insomuch that we are w^thout all orderly proceeding in any church matters

noe members admitted, noe censure can pass on offendours, but our condition

attended w^th many evill occurrences to y^e Dishon^r of God, to y^e reproach of con

gregational churches, & especially to y^s ch: as not being capable of healing of

o^r distempers: In consideration wherof a brother of y^s congregation hath

lately attempted to deal w^th M^r Parker, as concerning y^e cause of all o^r troubles &

contentions have proceeded from himself; But M^r Parker refused to hear him

saying that none but Elders had to doe w^th him; Wherupon this brother

made this complaint to y^e whole ch: one lords day, & desired the ch to

appoint a time to hear him in his complaints: But M^r Parker forbids the

brother to complain to y^e church & forbade the Ch. to hear him: Notw^th-

-standing the church did stay & appointed a time to hear y^e complaint &

have mett & heard it: Then considering y^e waight of y^e cause, w^th

respect to y^e person conserned in y^e complaint, agreed to call in two nei

=ghborring churches for advise, but ther came to our help but the messengers

from Salisbury church onely; whose advise was that y^e choise of officers Either

Teaching or Ruling Elders, such as y^e church should most unanimoulsy agree

upon, would most conduce to our peace & quiett: wherupon 3 or 4 of ch

brethren being sent to M^r Parker to desire his consent to y^r advise, but he

did deny it: the Church having adjourned their former meeting when yei

heerd y^e complaint, mett again at a time appointed, & passed their judgm^t

upon it, & being forced thereunto, to y^e great greif & trouble of our hearts

& by an act layd M^r Parker under blame suspending him from all offic[ial]

acts untill he give the church satisfaction; onely to preach as a gifted bro

=ther if he please: & haveing soe done they elected two Ruling Elders

M^r Richard Dumer & M^r Edward Woodman & have appointed Thursday

next for their ordination, This is therfore to request that you would be

pleased to send your Messengers to give their approbation to y^e work

intended, & what help you can by y^e furtherance of y^e work: If your Rev^d

Pastour would be pleased to preach us a sermon we shall be much obliged

unto him: Thus we thought good to lay open to your understanding the

order of o^r proceedings, as not desireing to walk in y^e dark or any way

to beguil your apprehensions; in case y^e lord should stirr up your hearts to

send us your help in a work that soe much concerns the glory of God y^e

peace of the Church, we hope you shall have noe cause to repent