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                         M^r Payson Ordained Oct 18 25 1682 1682  25 - 1682[127]               (125

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-partakers of y^e fruit of Christs ascention, by thrusting another faythfull labourer into his harvest

heer viz M^r Edward Payson, of whom we have had suffitient proof touching his earnest & good

affection to gods flock in y^s place, & alsoe of y^e gifts & graces of Gods Spirit wherwith (from the

fullness of X^st) the lord hath graciously furnished him to y^e comfortable satisfaction of y^e whole con

gregation of God in this place

We canot but with humble thankfulness acknowledg y^e lords free & great mercy that as we have

                              with desire

in some measure sought unto him, desiring to acknowledg him in all our wayse soe he hath brought

it to pass, soe y^t [--] hath [-]the church has unanimously agreed to call & choose our much Respected

brother M^r Edward Payson to office, And alsoe inclined his heart to accept of office relation

amongst us

The lord haveing thus farr gone before us & cleared o^r way to us, we have farther pitcht upon

the 25 of y^s instant (being y^e 4^th day of y^e week) for y^e time to set him apart by fasting and

prayer & laying on of hands, unto y^e service wherunto the lord hath called him

  These The more humbly & Earnestly to Crave your prayers to God for us, & your concurrance

with us that we being incorraged by the right hand of your fellowship may manage y^t w^ch re

=maynes in y^t great & waighty affaire of gods house, according to y^e good & acceptable will of God in

Christ Jesus .

In order whereunto we further intreat you to send your Elders & messengers to be present w^th us on

that day, (by 9 of y^e clock in y^e morning if it maybe) to consider together with y^e elders & messen

=gers of other churches & to advise what may be most sutable to our state & work, according to y^e

will & counsell of o^r dear & blessed God, not els, but our desire to approove o^r selves in y^e lord (To

whose free grace & abundant mercy we heartily comend you & desire to be comended by you) to

be for ever

Rowley 16 octob.                          Y^or loving Brethren in y^e fellowship of y^e gospel

1682.                                          Samuel Phillips

Maxamilian Jewitt

with y^e consent of y^e Church of Christ at Rowley

 Heer note y^t in y^e forgoing letter y^r is noe mention what y^e office in the church calls

M^r Payson to, because they desired y^r unworthy Teacher to chang his office & to be y^e pastor

but I saw ground to object against it, & not to give any full answer to y^e motion till it

might appear not only y^t y^e whole church did desire it but y^t alsoe the Elders & messengers

we seek to (or soe many of y^m as should be present) did also advise theeto.

upon y^e day of ordination the church mett at my house & mentioned their desire & desired

their advise, it being an untroaden way. The Elders & messengers of 5 churches present did concurr

with the church & accordingly did advise me to accept their call notw^thstanding the objections I

gave in to them in writing as followes on y^e ordination day morning 25 octob 1682.

 

   Reverend & beloved

Ther is noe mention what office M^r Payson is called to in the letters sent to your churches, because

the whole church as they tell me are very desirous I should be their pastor, I have onely they desired

and I noe less to have the advise of y^e elders & messengers when they meet, I doubt not but y^e ch

will tell you what grounds move them to desire me to chang my title from Teacher to pastor

The grounds w^ch make it some what dubious to me are

1 Those scriptures wherein you are called of God therin abide w^th god[128] : They Answ y^t is till god call

to another work or office alsoe y^t scripture we have noe such custome &c.[129] Alsoe it has bin soe

practised in Boston first church M^r Wilson[130] first ordained Teacher then some years after ordain

ed pastor The like in Charlestown.

2 Consider whether such a chang may not occasion some Evill consequences as 1 Trouble in

the church in after times : It maybe they may have a mind to call M^r Paison to be y^e pastor

                                                               be an

rather then a younger man, & haveing soe practised before, It may incouragem^t to doe soe

                                                                ^

often & it may fall out that him whom they may call to joyne with M^r Paison, will not be

willing to joyne with him upon those tearmes, though he be to joyn with me : 2 may it not

hinder the success of my ministry in y^e hearts of some : ffor though ther noe matter of prehemi

nanc in such a chang, yet it will be thought that y^t is aimed at by me If I accept it, now

I would abhore being, & voyd all appearance of being filoprwteuwn[131] 3 Epist John 9.

 3 my time is almost spent, haveing bin above 30 years in the office of a Teacher & why to

chang now, who did not chang when y^r was y^e like oppertunity I am some what doubtfull, besides

I remember God sayth to Moses put some of thine honour upon thy successor Josuah, but he

was to take none from him

4 [illeg.] who cam not be ministred to but to minister[132] & washt his disciples

feet