122           187              1680

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octob 18 M^r Burroughs came himself & return^d his answer that he thankfully took notice

of y^e church love, in y^r call, but another place had bin before us & he was preengaged to y^m

                                                              a

octob 24 Sab. y^e church stayed to consider in calling another & greed to give an invita

tion to M^r Pason[113] at Roxbury & chose B^r Tod to be y^e messenger to him & The

letter to him as followeth

Much Respected S^r

Hearty love & respect premised: As by these you may These are to certify

                Xst

your self That as as ye hand of ym has cast hath gratiously exacted us to pray to y^e

lord of y^e harvest that he would thrust forth labourers into his harvest

soe we have in our porr measure bin waighting upon god in prayer upon

fast days as well as other times that he would direct us in y^s waighty affair; accord

=ingly the Church of X^st heer at Rowley in a full Church meeting did acced to give

your self an invitation to help in y^e work of y^e ministry in y^s place in order to

settlm^t with us and taking office in due time upon mutuall agreem^t, w^ch

thing we[114] humbly desire that you would please to take o^r motion into your serious

Consideration & to return an answer as soon as you conveniently can, & farther

know (worthy Sr) that for my part I fully goe along with y^e Church, in y^s y^r

motion to your self; It is true y^e Church of Christ at Topsfeild (with whom y^e

Revern^d M^r Hubbard[115] & my self were lately in a day of fasting & prayer to seek

                                       at [-----]

y^e lords guidance of y^m in y^e like affare [---] your self with 2 or 3 more were

mentioned to y^m by M^r Hubbard but [not?] by me, as to your self and by y^e vote

noe particular man was named but only y^t y^e messengers should inquire of

The Reven^d M^r Eliott[116] & other ministers who might be most sutable for y^m

But your self were commended to us long before your were named to y^m & we

have[117] alsoe taken some pains to inquire concerning your self wherby we have

gaind[118] such satisfaction as we have bin incouraged to adress our selves to

[illeg.] se, & may more fully understand by o^r Beloved B^r M^r John

Tod, The Churches messenger to you, The good lord direct you & us in y^s waigh

ty affare of his kingdome as may make most for y^e honor of his great name &

good of soules In w^ch desire I know you will ioyne with

Rowely 25 Octob                                 Y^or loving Brother in X^st Jesus

       1680.                                       Sam: Phillips

                                  with y^e consent of the Church of X^st at Rowly

M^r Pason did come & stay^d with us a month and then went home to take further time for

advise & consideration as to his coming to us for settlm^t, In y^e beginning of feb 80 I wrote to him

to [illeg.] confirmation of o^r desires to him & o^r thankfullness for his good labours amongst us &

to [illeg.] his coming to us as soon as might be: he made y^s return as followeth

[. . .][119]