when I undertook a Paforál charge my fell; I kept with me two nifiers to aflìff me (at oneParifh Church and a fmall Chappel): I had! threeGodly Junices of Peace in the Parifh, who tocountenance our difci- pline l kept their monthly meeting at the fame time and place.I had four an- cient Godly men that performed theoffice ofDeacons : I had above twen- ty oftheSeniors ofthe Laity, whowithout pretence cifany office, met with us to be witneffes that we did the Church and finners no wrong,and to awe the offenders by their prefence : Thefe met once amonth together, we had almoft all the worthy -Minifiersof the Country agreeing and affoci- ated todo the like in their feveral Parifhes as far as they were able ; that unity might the more convince offenders: We had in the fame Town the next day afterour monthly Town:meeting , an Affembly of a doz- en or twenty fuch Minifters, to edifie each other, and that thofemight be tryed by themand before them, whether we could perfwade them to re- pentance, who could not be prevailed with by ourfelves : And, which was our cafe incomparably beyondall this, the times nor our judgment allowingus to ufe difciplineupon hone but fuch ascontented toour office and relation to them, we told themthat we had all agreed only to exer- cife fo much of difcipline as Epifcopal, Presbyterians and Indepehdants had no controverfie about (tome of the Epifcopal joyningwith us) and that we would exercife it-in all our locks, but we could be Paflors to none againn their wills; whereupon of about 3000 perlons, rSoo or more of which were at age to be Communicants, all refufed to do any more than hear me preach, (for fear ofdifcipline) except about 600 or a few more. Thcfe 600 were the moil underflanding Religious part of the Parifh, all the groflyignorant, and the Common fwearers, and all the Drunkards and fcandalous perlons were among the refufe.rs, except about fiveor fix young.men that had got 'fuch a Love to tipling that they c©úldnot leaveit. Thefehid their fin a while : But could not ;long : Yet the troubleand work that there five or fix men made us, fometimes by Drunkennefs, fometimes by fighting, fometimes by flandeting their Neighbours, or fuch like wasmore than it is eafy for an unexperienc.d per- fon to believe. So hard was it tobring them to a Confcffìon oftheir fins or to ask thofe Forgivenefs whom they grofly wronged, that whenwe en- deavoured withall our skill to convince them, and ufed both gentle ex- hortation, and alto opened to them the terrorsof the Lord, when we _ prayed before them that God' wòuld give them repentance, when their own Parentsand relations joynedwith us, all would not makethem con- fefs theirdïn, but we were forced to cart them out of our Comm :Mon (for the moll part of them). And amongall the cell there wereforce that fometimes wouldneed admonitions, and reconciliations withone another,. whichfound us Tomework. But ifwehad but been troubled with all the other (mooor rzooas was fuppofed) of the Parifh, and fo-with all the Swearers, railers, Common Drunkards, force Infidels, &c. What . work shouldwe havehad.? Somuch asI dare confidently fay that (wit#r- B b . out
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=