86)     152                    1677.

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Churches peace As to his breach of y^e 8^th comand he sas he was noe transgressor

after he had complemented that he would submitt to my better judgm^t And was

noe transgressor because he was informed that y^e church mett about y^t they had

nothing to doe in w^thout the Toun

1 when y^e officer that calls the meeting not declaring what it was about

is not inquired of is it orderly for any brethren to gather by reports what

they mett about we had other things in hand besides y^t he was informed of

as to call upon the church to remember their solemn covenant to reform those

Evills amongst us that the councill had mentioned as procurers of gods

judgments One of w^ch was to send their children to catechism w^ch M^r Nelsõ

had as much cause to put in mind of as any member in y^e church who has

not sent his children at all this year & much neglected it in former years

2 They mett to consider amongst y^mselves (as they may lawfully at any time doe)

what stipend may be meet to allow their minister and soe comend it to y^e

whole Town w^ch accordingly they did; If they had known that the law

did not allow them to determine any such matter alone yet they might con

=ferr of it & signify their minds about it what they for their own parts did

think was meet, whether the Town accepted of their judgm^t or noe

Again if 2 or 3 did alleadg that they thought ther was a law that did

strengthen in what they judged was meet to be allowed yet what can be

made of this amongst brethren yea or by any Impartiall man mistake

of them that say^d they thought y^r was a law that did allow the church

to determin in such a case ; Its most evident that not one of y^e church

much less y^e whole had any designe to to deprive the toun of their liberty

to act in a matter y^t did concern them, ffor as soon as upon search in

the law book they understood ther was noe such law they reported

to the Toun & expressed what they had judged meet to be allowed desiring y^r

concurrance therin ; but how the churches judgm^t therin was slighted &

O how resolved to allow but single maintenance for double labour it was too

apparent

ffinally let the church censure & judg whether any member can refuse to

come to a church meeting when called by y^e officer though what they meet

                             not

about is a matter that concerns them alone to deal in; thers need of every

                              ^

member of the body to prevent the wrong or hurt of y^e body as well as

to be otherwise helpfull to y^e body If he had bin y^r he might have shown

y^r was noe law that would countenance the church to determin such

a matter alone which none present could affirm tho many doubted of

it & if he had bin present it is not doubted but he would have shown his

thoughts as well as others what incorragem^t was meet (the times con

sidered) to allow his minister & soe have it propounded to the Town for

their concurrance

But wheras he Church adds if every man of y^e church had done as he did it

had bin better for church & Town; it is highly to reflect upon the officer

calling the church together & upon y^e churches doing well in obeying

which is not onely to rebell against gods order hims but to incorrage

Every brother in the church soe to doe.

To y^e 2 about the breach of y^e 9^th comand he chargeth y^e Church Excusing

4 or 5 as joyning with him in y^e same act of calling M^r Shepard to prech

which is falty the body of the Church have not broaken y^r agreem^t y^ei

submitted to by ye councills advise in calling M^r Shepard to preach the

whole church agreeing to noe such thing but almost y^e whole church being

                            a

against it much less had they hand in joyning as he did w^th The Town in

such an act contrary to the known Rule of the Country hither