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July 10. 1751 at a Chh. meeting held by adjournment
It was voted, That This Church looks upon their Brother
James Hidden as having given just Cause of offence to them
in his absenting himself so long from their Communion without
any Cause fairly made known to and pleaded before them, and
both
in his refusing to attend upon the Church when met partly
^
on his account, and to send in his reasons for his absenting
himself from their Communion ––––––
At a meeting of the Church held Aug. 7. 1751. our
Brother James Hidden appeared in the meeting and
by word of mouth offered, his reason for Absenting
himself from the Communion of the Chh. in the Sacrament
of the Lords Supper, and the Time being Spent in discourse
the meeting was adjourned to four of the Clock of the
next
Day of September Lecture –––
^
The Chh. met Sep. 4. 1751 according to Adjournment and
the Question being put, Whether they judged the Reasons
given by their Brother James Hidden for his absenting him
Self from the Communion of the Church sufficient to justify
him therein and it passed in the Negative ––– and a
vote then passed That this Chh. does judge that their Brother
James Hidden has given just Cause of offence to the Chh.
in his absenting himself from the Communion of it for a long
Time, and in his saying to this purpose that he had as
leave join with the Papists as with this Chh. under the
present Circumstances, and in treating a written Message
from the Chh. with great Contempt and in giving his
Reasons given for his absenting himself from the Communion
of it, the most of which this Chh. looks upon rather as
Unjust Accusations of the Church than any Reasons justifying
his Withdraw from it: and cannot but judge that he has Cut
himself off from the priviledge of Communion with the Chh.