1674.                 131           (65

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I desier to be humbled for it & doe beg of y^e lord forgiveness & desire the

Church that I have offended therin that they would alsoe pardon & forgive mee

& accept me into their favour againe.

As for my staying at the last sacram^t I acknowledg that it was inconsiderately

& in some degree presumptiously done Though not by y^e counsell of any brethren

as is supposed, but onely as I understood y^t I was blamed for depriveing my self of the

ordinances of God & if I miss understood the Intent therof I am sorry for it, I alsoe

apprehended that I was not under any admonition , to thos two evasions were answered

1 his being blamed for depriving hims by of gods ordinances throw Impeudency in sin

the intent of that could not be to incorrage him to come though he had not re

pented 2: the major part of y^e church declared thems offended & Expected satisfaction

                                                         an

before they could comunicate w^th you ther was noe less then admonition, he ac

=knowledged his mistake in these conceits & desired god to pardon his sin therin &

beg^d of the church that y^ei would pardon & forgive what they observed was sinfull

therin ffor I dare not nor will not stand to approve any such thing but in

silence submitt to your charitable construction & remayne y^or penetent

 Thom: Remington

After some advise to him & his acknowledm^t of his evill in ingaging hims: to

a remove w^thout consulting with the church or seeking the benifitt of y^r advise

and prayers especially that he went about this out of offence against the church or

most of them; By a full vote y^e Church manifested their acceptance of his repen

tance

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January 5 The church mett about John Wattson to hear his acknowledgm^t of his

great evills for which he was Excomunicated which was as followes

   After the Solemn ordinance of Excomunication was passed upon me I did at the

administration of it & for some time after make light of it. But afterwards it pleased

God that it took more Impression upon my heart; God brought that scripture to me

2 Jer how canst thou say I am Innocent look upon thy wayse, the lord help^t

me to Consider what Evills I had fallen into both by stealing, horrible lying & by

Excessive drinking: & considering the lord had lay^d many corrections upon me, the

lord stird up my heart to beg of him to make that promis good unto me: Job 36 8 9

when they are held in the cords of affliction, then I will shew unto them their

work & y^r transgressions that they have Exceeded: Then the lord was pleased to

Shew me how I went first away from him Even by my unfaythfullness in my service

with M^r Phillips & by my reproaching him & my ministers which has bin a great

greif of heart to me who had shown noe little love & kindness to me, At that time alsoe

I left off seeking God in generel & gave way to my hearts lusts: whilst I thought

on thes things & against what light I had sinned I had despairing thoughts whe

ther there was any mercy for mee who had comitted such foul sins against light &

mercy, And that after y^e lord had delivered me from soe great affliction that then I

Should break out soe to his dishonour, wherby I have greeved his pp, & caused religion

to be evill spoaken off & gods holy name to be blasphemed

Since the ordinance has passed on me I have found very afflicting temptations

and hurryes of spirit that I could not be fixed in holy dutyes, but it has bin

suggested to me, will God regard they prayers that hast soe sinned against him

Sathan has bin busy Every way against me; sometimes to tempt me to security

& to make light of my sin & what was inflicted upon me for it; & when God

did in some measure awaken my heart then he has tempted me to despair

 And