A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answer [sic] to the…A letter to the author of the pamphlet called An answeer [sic] to the…

for Springfield Church and Mr. Breck, in the Method they began with, viz in referring the Matter to the Judgment and Advice of neighbouring Ministers, did but act in pursuance of those Principles in which both congregational and presbyterian Churches agree, (however you suggest as if it were not agreeable to our Constitution) and this is evident by the Heads of Agreement assented to by the united Ministers, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational, Chap. II. of the Ministry, Sect. IV. That in so great and weighty a Matter as the calling and choosing a Pastor, we judge it ordinarily requisite, that every such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of neighbouring Congregations. This ⟨p. 30⟩supposes that the neighbouring Pastors ought to enquire and use all proper Means, to enable them to pass a Judgment and to give Advice.

for Springfield Church and Mr. Breck, in the Method they began with, viz in referring the Matter to the Judgment and Advice of neighbouring Ministers, did but act in pursuance of those Principles in which both congregational and presbyterian Churches agree, (however you suggest as if it were not agreeable to our Constitution) and this is evident by the Heads of Agreement assented to by the united Ministers, formerly called Presbyterian and Congregational, Chap. II. of the Ministry, Sect. IV. That in so great and weighty a Matter as the calling and chusing a Pastor, we judge it ordinarily requisite, that every such Church consult and advise with the Pastors of neighbouring Congregations. This ⟨p. 30⟩supposes that the neighbouring Pastors ought to enquire and use all proper Means, to enable them to pass a Judgment and to give Advice.

But you think that the Church of Springfield had sufficient Reason for doing thus, because Mr Breck objected against one of the Committee as a Person prejudiced, and the Association would not take him off; and the Reason we give for it is, That Mr. Breck did not pretend to offer any Reason why he thought Mr. Williams prejudiced, and we knew nothing of ourselves that should incline us to think Mr. Williams an unfit Person; and we did not think it fit, without some weighty Reason, to exclude the Ministers of the Town, who were next Neighbours, and were above all others nearly concerned to have an orthodox Minister settled there. But you say that was Reason enough, it was sufficient for him to say he looked upon him prejudiced, upon this Mr. Williams ought immediately to have excused himself, and all other Judicatures would have taken him of . But we conceive that you are mistaken in this Matter, and that no other Judicature would have allowed it as sufficient without some Pretence of Reason why he thought so; and we think your own Council to be an Instance of a Judicature that would not allow such a Reason to be sufficient; for when you sat in Judgment on Mr Breck's Affair, that Part of the Church that were Complainants objected against you as partial and prejudiced, and not only so but backed it with several Reasons why they feared it; and therefore insisted on it as most reasonable, that they should be allowed to have their Case heard by Judges mutually chosen, but could not be heard by you; you did not show so much Regard to their Objections as to try 'em with any further Proposals, as we did Mr. Breck, who when he showed his Dislike of the Committee, offered him that his Case might be heard before the whole Association, and when this was refused, it was offered him, by his own Desire, that he might join two or three others with the Association, but these Proposals were rejected by him: You say, if the Moderator did consent to this, others did not, and