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ffeet, how much now ought I to wash the meanest disciples feet, much more the

feet of my fellow labourer: It is my duty & it is my desire to learn of Christ who is

meek & lowly of heart, & I desire your prayers y^t y^r may be such a heart in me, & y^t God

would keep it forever in my heart soe to doe, & would prepare my heart unto himself: −

___

Notw^thstanding these objections they advised me to accept of the churches call, & in publick

before M^r Paisons ordination did declare their iudgm^t as well as y^e churches desire to y^t

great assembly, & the church Exprest y^r desire by an unanimous vote, & none of y^e assembly

objected though it was put to y^e assembly to object If any had any objection to make

It was then put to me by Revrend M^r Hubbard whether I did accept of y^t office y^e church cal^d me to

I Answered as followes

The churches motion to me to take on me the denomination of a pastor, has with some awe & scruple

bin entertayned in my thoughts : My heart has say^d not my will nor y^e churches will, but Gods will

be done, as may be most for his glory, & y^e benifitt of y^e soules of his pp

now we haveing noe better way to know Gods mind in y^s case then by advise of y^e Reverend Elders

and respected messengers of y^e churches we sent to, that we might have y^r counsell & direction as y^e

matter might Require; they have (notwithstanding what I lay^d before them as matter of objection)

concurred with y^e church in their desire

I doe not know any Temptation I can have as to any preheminence by y^s chang (If I had I should

not have yeilded to what is desired & advised) Ther being as is generally held, noe difference in y^t

respect in y^e offices considered simply in themselves, If pastor be first mentioned in order 9^th ch; y^e

Teacher is first named 12 Rom 7. & o^r great shepard y^e Lord Jesus y^s stiled a Teacher sent from

God 3 John onely y^r is a difference as to y^e special use or end of y^e offices : The one being more es

pecially to enlighten y^e mind & judgm^t doctrinally The other to insist more upon application for work

=ing upon the will & affections: & both according to y^e various gifts of y^e same spirit

ffor my self, I may say in some measure with y^e prophet Jer[133] I have not hasted from following

the lord in y^e office he soe long since called me too, & throw his free mercy & much long Suffe

rance has continued me soe long in: I have cause to be ashamed to mention how long I have

bin an unworthy Teacher In Israel, when I consider how little good I have done, & how ignorant

I am (as y^t Teacher in Israel was) of Christ & y^e great misteryes of y^e gospel : And could y^rfore

have bin freely content to have spent y^e few dayse y^t remaine in y^t office in hopes y^t by gods

                                                    more

grace & y^e help of your prayers I might have gott some aptness to teach both by word & deed

                                                     ^

then I have yet attained to.

I hope I shall obtain y^e pitty & prayers of the church, & of all gods pp about us, that y^e lord Jesus

in whom are had all y^e treasures of wisdom & knowledg; That he would give me an understanding

                                     also

to know y^e duty that he calls me to, & ability to attend therto for w^thout him I can doe nothing.

I shall say noe more But that I am your servant (most Especially in y^s place) for Jesus sake & allso

to all Gods pp as I have oppertunity, & as God shall inable.

And then hands were imposed (upon y^e churches desire) by the Revrend Elders M^r Cobbett M^r Hubbart

M^r Moodey with prayer & a Solemn charg w^ch y^e lord grant me very faithfully to attend.

Then the ordination of my Revrend brother M^r Edward Paison was carried on as on pages

52 53 . onely that of 1 Tim 5 21 was added in y^e charg

onely before Imposition of hands It was Say^d to y^e assembly

The lord Jesus having soe farr favoured us, as to vouchsafe to us (as well as to his several flocks In

=habiting this wilderness) that precious fruit of Christ affection, even to thrust forth an other fayth

=full labourer into his harvest in this place, we desire to acknowledge with all thankfullness this great

Coronation gift from o^r God In X^st Jesus

And soe it is that after suffitient time of tryall y^e mutuall acquaintance between the Revered M^r Paison

& gods pp in this place, the matter is come unto this hoped for & desired issue - that y^e church (none

in y^e Town dissenting but well approoving & incourageing) has chosen him to y^e office of a Teacher, &

he has bin inclined by y^e God of y^e Spirits of all flesh to accept of y^e say^d office relation amongst

us

                                 beloved

It now remayns to inquire of you my brethren in this church whether you continue of y^e same

                                  ^

mind as has already bin manifested by you to chose my Reverend brother M^r Ed^w Paison to y^e office

of a Teacher I shall take your silence at present for consent therto.

Then it was propounded to y^e Reverend Elders & respected messengers of y^e churches we sent to (w^ch were

Ipswich Newberry Haveral Wenham Portsmouth Hampton Dover) or any others in y^e whole

assembly that had any thing to object that might rightly hinder from proceeding to y^e ordination of M^r

Paison in y^e office of a Teacher they had liberty to Express themselves & hear y^r churches mind