334 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. to preach among them; When he settled them in the order of a christiap church, and declared himself to be a baptist; but did not make adult baptism a necessary qualification to church communion.. The particular circumstances of his introduction to these people are preserved in the ancient records of the church in Broad-mead, from which my worthy and esteemed friend, Mr. Isaac James of Bristol, has gener ously communicated to me the following curious extract, being the whole of what relates to Mr. Canne : " Shortly after, on a time called Easter, because Mr. Hazard could not in conscience give the sacrament to the people of the parish, he went out of town to visit his kindred at Lime.t At thisjuncture, the providence of God brought to this city one Mr. Canoe, a baptized man. It was that Mr. Canne that made notes and references upon the Bible. He was a man very eminent in his day for godliness, and for reformation in religion, having great understanding in the way of the Lard. When Mrs. Hazard heard that he was come to town, she went to the Dolphin inn and fetched him to her house, and entertained himall the time he stayed in the city ; who helped them much in the Lord. He being skilful in gospel order, like Aquila, taught them the way of the Lord more perfectly, and shewed them the difference between the church of Christ and antichrist, and left with them a printed book treating of the same, and divers printed papers to that purpose. So that by Mr. Canoe the Lord did con- firm and settle them, shewing them how they should join together and take in members. He exhorted them to wait upon God together, and expect the presence of God with those gifts they had ; and to depart from those ministers who did not come out of antichristian worship. When he had, stayed some time in the city, he departed, and, on a Lord's day following, preached at a place called Westerleigh, about seven miles from this city; and many of the professors from hence went thither to hear him, with Mrs. Hazard, willing to enjoy such a light as long as they could : where he had liberty to preach in the public place (called a church) in the morning but in the afternoon could not have entrance. The obstruc- tion was by a very godly great woman that dwelt in that place, who was somewhat severe in the profession of what she knew : hearing that he was a baptized man, by them 4, Thompson's MS. Collections. 1. This Mr. Hazard was minister of Ratclitf parish and St. Ewen's, Bristol, whence he wasejected at the restoration.-PaInter's Noncon. Mem. vol. ii. p. ITT.
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