74      140               1675

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who has expressed hims, that if it were to doe again he would not have

voted as he did, both because he was absent when the voat passed in Janu

=arÿ last past, & knew not how things were then carried but by report

                                                    fear   will

and alsoe in that he was removing from the Towne; we wish it maynt appear

that you have dealt with him in setting to his name as you did with Deacon Ten

=ny & B^r Watson

5 We inquire whether if you can produce nothing wherin the church has sin

ned or broaken Rule at least in your apprehension (of which we have heard

nothing yet made out) your selves have not cause to be humbled that you have

bin instruments to break the peac of this place, & for your Seperating from

the church ; ffor after matters were a 2^d time issued by claer voat you

refused to joyne with your Brethren at y^e lord’s table which is a knoan duty, &

are the cause of its long omission : we had need before that soe solemn

a part of Gods worship which by covenant we are bound to attend be not lay^d

aside for disputable & questionable matters

 

As concerning your affirmation that several other brethren doe express thems unsa

tisfied with M^r Shepards being hindered to preach, w^ch is all one as to say

they are unsatisfied with y^r own voat; we Expect you should make it out, or

Els we cannot but account it an injust reflection on your brethren ffor o^r

                                                            that

own parts we know not a tittle that way, neither can we think any of o^r

brethren that acted, would come to your selves to complain of y^r own act

what indeavours any of you have used to weaken the churches act, your

selves best know, & yet we know in part by yo^r actings in y^e names you

have set to your Quæries

 

  Septemb. 15                                 Samuel Phillips In

     1675.                                    the name of y^e church.

 

octob 17 1675 Mary West made her acknowledgm^t of her great sin of unclean

ness & the church testified their acceptance of her acknowledgm^t by a pretty full vote

___

octob 18 1675 church mett at my house about M^r Shepards business to se how

farr we could agree amongst our selves, but o^r dissenting brethren did not take

Satisfaction by any light that was held forth to y^m but desired a concell of Elders &

pitched upon those Reverend Elders M^r Higgeson M^r William Hubbert M^r Hale

M^r Cotton M^r Moody,[42] intreating their advise & counsell in the matter

in difference amongst us upon the 2 day of november next

___

Octob 20 ordination at Newberry messengers from Rowley S P. Captain

Brottlebank & Deacon Jewitt M^r Cobbet M^r Wheelwright[43] & S P imposed

hands M^r Cobbet prayed & gave the charg, M^r Wheelwright gave the

right hand of fellowship .

___

The result of the Reverend Elders as to the differences in the church of Rowley

 

We whose names are under written being called by the Teacher & Brethren

of the church of Christ at Rowley, to give them our advise in relation to y^e

uncomfortable differences amongst them, haveing heard both sides as farr as

time with other considerations would allow, we doe declare & advise as fol

loweth

1 Wee cannot but have a deep sence of the Evill of your divisions in such a time

of Jacobs trouble, & as they have caused great thoughts of heart with us

                                                                  soe