1678.                  167        103

 ^{____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________}

 M^r Nelson was informed what churches the church of Rowley did object a

=gainst as to hearing the matter between him & the church but he took noe no

tice of it but made his address to them & to three churches more, who accordingly

came & sat in Councill the 10 day of Decemb: 1678 from Ipswich 5 Major Denison

M^r Cobbet, M^r Rogers, Deacon Penkrin, Deacon Goodew

From Topsfield M^r Hubbard M^r Perkins Deacon Perkins

From Newberry M^r Richardson M^r Noyer M^r Caleb Moody M^r Woodbridg

From Hampton M^r Cotton M^r Dolton

From Haverhill M^r Ward Captain Saltinstal Leut: Broune

 

The first day of the Councills conveening in y^e afternoon they gave notice y^t

they would hear from the Church the grounds of their proceeding with M^r Nelson

and for y^t End desired us to meet them at y^e meeting house, which accordingly

we did and after prayer by the moderator the Reverend M^r Ward, The major Ge

neral Denison received a paper from M^r Nelson which the church never saw

                                                                 fals

before which took up above half an hour to read it, contayning many reproaches

reflections & charges against the church as 1 that y^e church was partial in her dealings

with offendours let goodm Pickard goe Scott-free though censured by y^e court for his reflecting

speeches against authority & yet prosecuted him for his offences 2 admitted a member against the

mind of y^e major part of y^e cburch 3 in dealing with him he declared publickly (before y^e coun

cil & countrey) that we would not admitt the evidences he gave in to y^e church but rejected y^m

The body of y^e church were much offended with thes fals accusations and sent a message to y^e

councill (who were mett at M^r Nelsons house) desiring to have the paper & a copy of It that we

might make answer to it, & it was say^d by some of the councill y^t our request was rational

& it was told o^r messenger y^t y^e Reve^nd moderator M^r Ward should bring it when he came to

his lodging at S. P. but upon 2^d thoughts they altered their mind & kept it from us.

After reading of that reproachfull paper we gave in in writing to y^e councill the

grounds of o^r proceeding against M^r Nelson as followeth.

 

The grounds upon w^ch y^e church of Rowley proceeded as to their late act

in Excommunicating M^r Philip Nelson, presented to y^e hon^d councill the Elders & messen

gers of y^e five churches (of Ipswich, Newberry, Haverhill Hampton & Topsfeild) con

veened at Rowley this 10^th of y^e 10^th month 1678. Upon the complaint and at the

desier of the say^d M^r Nelson, who complaines that he cannot look upon himself to

be Either regularly or justly Excomunicated

Honoured Reverend & beloved in our lord Jesus

Before we mention the grounds of our proceeding as to M^r Nelsons Ejection we crave

leav to premise a few words

  1 That as we beleeve councills to be a holy ordinance of God, & very necessary for y^e

well being of churches, soe we should very readily have sought for y^t help, If we had mett

with any matter of Scruple or difficulty in these matters, for It is noe question with us

whether a man guilty of Such crimes as are hereafter specified should not be cast out

ther appearing noe repentance for 4 of his Scandelous evills nor any thing worth the

nameing for the fifth, notwithstanding what private & publick means were used for that

End, & therfore we did & doe judg it an abuse of soe solemn an ordinance as council

is to call a councill in this case ^______

  2. Whereas it may be say^d that admonition had bin meet before the highest

censure: we answer in gross & scandelous offences (such as we conceive M^r Nelsons

to be) such gradual proceeding is neither required in the word[76] that we know off

nor is consonant to y^e Plattforme nor to the writings of our congregational divines

D^r Owen M^r Cotton &c.[77] Nor to the frequent practise of the churches as might easily

be demonstrated if need be

  3 Wheras it may be say^d we were very hasty in casting him out: We Answer it

is well towards half a year that these matters have bin in hand (all which time we

have had noe sacra^mt of the lords supper) myself & several brethren assaying to

bring him to a sight of his Evills but nothing prevailed soe that we conceive we

                                                                         have