1679.                  183        117

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of excomunication, & farther that it should be administred upon him the Sabbath

next following; The vote being alsoe put in the negative 3 onely lift up their hands

as 2 or 3 upon inquiry made concerning the number did publickly declare and not one

contradicted y^m that we heerd off

The grounds of his excomunication were as followes vid page 102 103. 104

 

The Reverd council having labour^d much with M^r Nelson to bring him to a sight of

the Evill of thos 5 things for w^ch he was Excomunicated, he did of his own mind

write his acknowledgm^t & presented it to y^e council which was read in y^e publick meeting

hims as followeth;

                                  vi

  I Philips Nelson, having bin concted of sundry faults & offences, that I have

comitted to the dishonour of God & greif of my Brethren, doe humbly freely and from

my heart present this as my unfeined confession & acknowledgm^t of my guilt in

the particulars following

1 My Charging deacon Jewitt with dishonesty was a rash & inconsiderate speech &

though I cannot remember that word of (Roguery) y^t if that word were used I

am heartily Sorry for it, & doe blame my self for saying soe much as I did, and

had the thing bin true in the charg, yet the Expressions I disallow & condemn.

2 As to that speech for which I am charged (god is not in heaven if I be decei

ved) I cannot say that I spake them in the negative, but in the affirmative,

however as I say^d them, I own it to be a wicked & abominable speech, & doe ab

horr my self & repent in dust & ashes for the same.

3. Concerning my words in prayer, I confess it was very sinfully done of me in

such a solemn ordinance, soe to vent my own spirit, & I doe iudg my self for the

same, Especially that I should pray against my reverend & worthy teacher, which to

have done against an Enimy, I account abominable, & if I did use that tearm, (Re=

veng or aveng) it would have bin a farther, & higher aggravation of my sin

and guilt.

4 I knew not that my going to the Sacram^t at Ipswich would be offensive, Els I

would not have done it, & shall carefully avoyd such actings for y^e future. -–

^___________

5 with relation to my dealing with y^e deaf kid youth, referring to y^e External means used

viz putting my fingers in his Ears, & using those words of our Saviour marc 7. 33.

Haveing had discourse with this Reverend council, & being really convinced that many

learned & godly men have born witness against such a practise as sinfull & unwar

=rentable by the word of god, doe therfore se just cause to suspect my self that I

did y^rin sin against God, & am heartily sorry for whatsoever may be a breach

                                                         it

of Gods law in soe acting, praying that God would discover to me more & more y^e

                                                         ^

naughtiness of my own heart, & whatsoever is sinfull in such a proceeding, that I

may be truly humbled before god, & would not allow my self or others in anything En

=thusiastical, or that hath a tendency to a spirit of Excorcisme which I should loath

in my self or others

  Philip Nelson.

 

here note that the deaf & dum youth was sent for before the council & the mode

raters & other members of the council did call him aloud by his name (which his

father say^d he knew) but he stood like like[107] one deaf as he was, & gave noe toaken

one way or other of any hering though he was cal^d upon to lift up his hand if he

heard when called by his name but he took noe notice of any thing, henc the

Reverend moderators gave it under their hands as followeth.

 The councill assembled at Rowley, having had the deaf youth before them did

not apprehend that any cure was wrought upon him as to his deafness

Rowley Novemb 21 1679.                   Josh Moodey

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