89.                        1677                             155

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permitt noe such thing for the future that any shuld stand up to oppose the

admission of a member because of some offence they had against him wheras the

rule of dealing with him had not bin attended for the removal of such offence tho

the party propounded had stood a suffitient time propounded  Yet being willing

rather to err on that hand, in condescension I did desire B^r Homes to come to my

house after the lecture that I might (& some brethren with me) hear what he had

to alleadg against M^r Jewitt

Accordingly he came & M^r Nelson & B^r Sam: Mighell And after looking up

to God for his presence & guidance of us in that agitation I desired brother Homes

who was the principal occasion of y^e meeting, to declare what matter of offence he

had against M^r Neh Jewitt which he had neglected to deal with him privately a-

bout, he told me he should say nothing at present but referred hims to a paper

M^r Nelson put into my hand to w^ch he had set his hand contayning reasons why

he could not joyne in church fellowship with y^e say^d M^r Neh. Jewitt, which

when some conceived he spoke in disdain he answered may I not soe call him

when the Reverend M^r Whiting & our Teacher doe soe

As to ye paper, understanding that M^r Nelson & Somebody els with him went a-

bout w^th him in a factious way to se who the[y] could get to set to their hands

against the admission of Neh Jewitt that so y^rby he might get as many as he

could to oppose the Elder & the church in the admission of y^e say^d Neh, tho

some they solicited to set to their hands denyed to doe it; yet w^th much travell

about the Town M^r Nelson did obtayne 5 besides hims: I testified against this

practise as tending to sow division amongst brethren.

M^r Nelsons Answer was that brethren who dissented had noe other way to ex

=press themselves Answ. How can y^t be soe when the party propounded stood propoun

ded 3 quarters of a year & more soe y^t noe man but might in y^t time have gott

Satisfaction for matters of offence , or Els in an orderly way a Stop might have bin

put to present proceedings as to his admission

     The reasons mentioned were as to y^e substance as followeth

                                   sound of[59]

1 Gods house should be built without axe & hammers or y^e like,[60] alsoe y^e party

      propounded that day when he should have bin admitted showed a spirit not be

  coming one entring into such a relation [--] or side 00 ye rule requiring

 a spirit of Submission &c. & generally if wronged yet bearing, but he rather lying at

 the catch (as we may say[)] before Ever he was admitted

Answ. as to y^e fist branch its very unbecoming M^r Nelson to complain of hamers

& nailes Jarrings &c. in y^e house of God when its hims firstly & cheifly that lifts

up the hamers & has bin y^e cheif instrum^t to break the peace of the church

as to y^e other branch we know noe rule for any to lay heavy charges upon

persons to be admitted before a congregation & neither first nor last make

anything out; Neh might well desire y^e church to take notice of the

Charg & its the churches Duty soe to doe & he deal with Br Homes for such

heavy charges against a godly man when he can make nothing of it out

nor has Dealt w^th him in a private way but take upon him to publish great

faults of his neighbour before according to God it ought to have bin pub

=lished; & hims to doe it w^ch was none of his work. ^_____