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…

You misrepresent and very much diminish the Matter of your insisting on hearing and trying this Cause of such public Concern in private: You say, the Weather was too cold to allow the Door to stand open, but it was not kept shut to keep out any that we desired might be present: But this you know to be true, that You allowed none but Witnesses to be present: 'Tis true you allowed some Thing that was desired, viz. That the Ministers of the County that were Witnesses might be present, which was desired, after it was seen that nothing else could be obtained; but was far from being all that was desired. The Door was kept fast shut and locked (instead of just shut and latched, as it is through the Error of the Press in the Narrative:) The Hearing was as private as possible, for none were allowed to be present but the Witnesses that were to be heard: So private were you, that when one of the Ministers of the County, viz. the Rev. Mr. Allis, came and stood in the Chamber, it was carefully enquired by the Scribe of the Council, whether he was a Witness, and when it was answered that he was not, he was desired to withdraw. This is not only contrary to Reason, and the Custom of all Nations, for Judicatures to try Causes, and especially Causes of so public a Concern, in such a strict Privacy, but 'tis also contrary to congregational ⟨p. 54⟩Principles, as appears by the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, in his Ratio Disciplinae, that you your self cite as an authentic Witness in such Affairs, Page 160, The Council coming on the Spot, first choose their Moderator, and use all other necessary Preliminaries, whereupon they proceed into as public a Hearing as they can have, (viz. in the Meeting-house) of the Things that are to come under Examination. And Page 165, "When the Council arrives, they first more privately form themselves into Order, by choosing a Moderator, and speaking with all Persons concerned, so far as they count it needful, by Way of Preparation for their Business, then they pass into the Meeting-house, where being first conveniently seated, all Persons that will may see and hear all that is done." Here the Dr. is speaking of this very Case, of the Trial of an offending Pastor.

You misrepresent and very much diminish the Matter of your insisting on hearing and trying this Cause of such publick Concern in private: You say, the Weather was too cold to allow the Door to stand open, but it was not kept shut to keep out any that we desired might be present: But this you know to be true, that You allowed none but Witnesses to be present: 'Tis true you allowed some Thing that was desired, viz. That the Ministers of the County that were Witnesses might be present, which was desired, after it was seen that nothing else could be obtain'd; but was far from being all that was desir'd. The Door was kept fast shut and lock'd (instead of just shut and latch'd, as it is through the Error of the Press in the Narrative:) The Hearing was as private as possible, for none were allowed to be present but the Witnesses that were to be heard: So private were you, that when one of the Ministers of the County, viz. the Rev. Mr. Allis, came and stood in the Chamber, it was carefully enquired by the Scribe of the Council, whether he was a Witness, and when it was answer'd that he was not, he was desired to withdraw. This is not only contrary to Reason, and the Custom of all Nations, for Judicatures to try Causes, and especially Causes of so publick a Concern, in such a strict Privacy, but 'tis also contrary to congregational