The Lord Jesus said to a Church of his, as many as I love I rebuke and chasten; And this Church of his that I am now speaking unto, hath experienced solemn Rebukes from him in the way of his Providence, and that for a long Time; yea from our first constitution. It was upon the fifth day of the fourth Month, 1650. That the Foundation of this Temple was laid. There is but one stone of that first building that doth now remain among us. The Eyes of those so concerned, were (as some of you know) upon a dear Brother of mine, as desirous that he might have been over them in the Lord. But God had greater Service for him to do, in three other Nations successively, where he finished his Ministry. Wherefore, it was five years before the Church was settled with any Officers; and then the Lord gave them a Pastor and a Ruling Elder; which latter (though a good and choice spirited man) was in short time, by bodily infirmities rendered uncapable of attendance upon the work of his place, for many years, until his death. Your Reverend Pastor, God continued as a blessing unto you, for a considerable Time, even since, as well as before the Lord was pleased to call me (an unprofitable Creature) amongst you, so that (through the grace of Christ) we both lived together in love and peace for the space of eleven years; Albeit, his labours also, was God pleased to deprive you of, upwards of four years, before his course was finished in this world: so that I have been left alone (yet not alone, if the Lord be with me) in the […] of Christ for these 8 years last past. That I feel the burden which I am under, my frequent calling upon you, to endeavour after a full supply of (especially, teaching) Officers in the Church, doth sufficiently testify; yet I must confess, that I am almost astonished, when I consider how the Lord hath disappointed hopes that way from time to time. There was one of our selves a Luke, a beloved Physician, whom many (and for ought I know, all) of you had your thoughts upon, for improvement as a Ruling Elder in this Church; & it was in the purpose of my heart, the next Church-meeting, to have mentioned him to you for that end; but the Lord by an unexpected stroke, […] him away from us; who were not worthy that such a blessing should be any longer continued unto us.
THe Lord Jesus said to a Church of his, as many as I love I rebuke and chasten; And this Church of his that I am now speaking unto, hath experienced solemn Rebukes from him in the way of his Providence, and that for a long Time; yea from our first constitution. It was upon the fifth day of the fourth Moneth, 1650. That the Foundation of this Temple was laid. There is but one stone of that first building that doth now remain among us. The Eyes of those so concerned, were (as some of you know) upon a dear Brother of mine, as desirous that he might have been over them in the Lord. But God had greater Service for him to do, in three other Nations successively, where he finished his Ministry. Wherefore, it was five years before the Church was setled with any Officers; and then the Lord gave them a Pastor and a Ruling Elder; which latter (though a good and choice spirited man) was in short time, by bodily infirmityes rendred uncapable of attendance upon the work of his place, for many years, until his death. Your Reverend Pastor, God continued as a blessing unto you, for a considerable Time, even since, as well as before the Lord was pleased to call me (an unprofitable Creature) amongst you, so that (through the grace of Christ) we both lived together in love and peace for the space of eleven years; Albeit, his labours also, was God pleased to deprive you of, upwards of four years, before his course was finished in this world: so that I have been left alone (yet not alone, if the Lord be with me) in the 〈…〉 of Christ for these 8 years last past. That I feel the burthen which I am under, my frequent calling upon you, to endeavour after a full supply of (especially, teaching) Officers in the Church, doth sufficiently testify; yet I must confess, that I am almost astonished, when I consider how the Lord hath disappointed hopes that way from time to time. There was one of our selves a Luke, a beloved Physitian, whom many (and for ought I know, all) of you had your thoughts upon, for improvement as a Ruling Elder in this Church; & it was in the purpose of my heart, the next Church-meeting, to have mentioned him to you for that end; but the Lord by an unexpected stroke, 〈…〉 him away from us; who were not worthy that such a blessing should be any longer continued unto us.
