100     166               1678

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All Saturday from morning to night to stirr up those gentlemen to interpose such

churches proceedings (w^ch how farr it was regular from such reformation & instiga

tion we leave it to y^ms to consider) for my own part I did upon sight of y^r letters prefer

to deferr till I had spoaken with them y^t writ to me, but I conceived y^t my effort would

not bear it without the Churches consent & y^rfore according as strength & time would per

mit I seek desired a hope to acquaint some of the principall of the church with y^e

letters & according he did at noon stope 10 or 12 & y^ei with one consent first moved

that they thought these private letters with y^eir private information shuld not put

by what y^e church had voted upon seeking to God & serious consideration,

After sermon therfore I did declare to y^e congregation M^r Nelsons offences & his

                     full

Impenitency & y^e church vote for his Excomunication which accordingly was admi

nistered & by prayer Gods blessing upon soe solemn an ordinance, intreated & y^e congre

gation dismissed.

a fortnight after M^r Nelson gave me a paper to read to y^e Church wherin he desired

y^e Church to joyne with him in Calling a councill, his paper is as followeth &c

 

      To the Rever^nd M^r Phillips & y^e Brethren of the church of Christ in Rowley

 

The deep sence of that humbling providence in the Censure of Excomunication

lately passed, hath put upon serious seeking to God, to shew me his mind

and my sin; but upon my Earnest applying my self to God, & Search of my

heart & wayse, I cannot judg my self regularly & justly Excomunicated

and therfore think meet at this time to request your joyning with my self

in the attayning of the ordinance of a Council wher I shall be ready by

Gods blessing to submitt to y^e light held forth in such an ordinance: Thus

Craveing your speedy answer (that if you think it not convenient to grant

my rational request in joyning with me in such an ordinance,) I may use such

means as God shall direct to, for the repairing of my suffering name) & soe

I Rest your distressed friend & I hope Servant of God

     Novemb 15 1678.                                 Philip Nelson.

 

This was read to y^e Church and after a weeks consideration they returned

the answer following

 

     M^r Nelson

The Church haveing considered the motion you make in your writing lately

to y^e Congregation for a council, their answer is they se noe ground or Rea

son to joyne with you in calling any council, forasmuch as they have noe

questions, or matters of difficulty to present to a councill, with reference to

your Excomunication: Yet notwithstanding if you continue resolved to have

a council who will attend upon y^e councill to give account of the grounds

of those proceedings with your self provided you give us seasonable no

tice of the time of the thing, & alsoe pitch upon such to hear the case as

we have matter of exception against

                    Samuel Phillips with the Consent of y^e Ch

 

The Church did object against Ipswich & Topsfield hearing the case because they

had prejudged their part & were alsoe minded at Ipswich that their letters

were not attended M^r Cobbet alsoe very deaf as to his hearing