The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

Saml. Cooke, Daniel Chapman, Thomas Hauley, Richard Sacket. Advice about procuring a minister. There was nominated by some persons in the meeting, viz. Mr. John Curtice of Wethersfield, Mr. Gilbert Tenant in ye Jerseys, Mr. Dunbar of Boston, and Mr. Chauncey, Jr., of Hadley ; and ye Society crave of the Revd. Association their particular direction concerning them, or any other that they shall see meet to direct to us as a person to be applyd to, with an invitation to a probationary improvement among us in ye ministry. The return from y« Revd. Association. We ye subscribers associate at Norwalk March 23, 1726 — 7, being applied to by ye Prime Ancient Society in sd Norwalk for advice and direction, &c. ^ * *- We are of opinion that as to Mr. Tennant now in the im- provement in ye ministry in the New Jersey, it may not be so proper to make application to him for the supply of a vacancy here for this reason, viz. Because of ye pau- city of Gospel labourers in those parts ; which requires us rather to wish their increase than to take any methods for ye decrease of their numbers ; especially considering our ministry from time to time earnestly solicited to send Gospel labourers unto those parts, more than we have been capable of supplying them with ; and do ad- vise that this society would soon as may be, endeavor to inform themselves whether there may be a proba- 1727.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 149 bility of obtaining Mr. Dunbar of Boston ; and upon sucb a probability attained, to make application to liim for ye purpose afore sd ; and if there shall not be a probability of obtaining the sd Mr. Dunbar, we advise that the society make application either to ye said Mr. Curtice or Mr. Chauncey, as upon consulting the min- isters next neighbouring either of them, they may be en- couraged. Saml. Cooke, Danl. Chapman, Thomas Hauley, Richard Sacket. Sending for a minister. May 10, 1727. The Society * * determines to send a meet person to Mr. Chauncey Jr. of Hadley, as upon consulting ye ministers neighbouring to him he may be encouraged ; and in case Mr. Chauncey cannot be ob- tained, then to apply himself to ye sd ministers for ad- vice to some other suitable person to apply to, and that he do his utmost endeavor to obtain one according to such direction, or to act about ye whole according to the best of his discretion, to supply ye vacancy in our pul- pit, at least for a probationary improvement in the ministry among us. * * Mr. James Brown to proceed upon ye business as above expressed. Revd. Moses Dickinson invited. June 26, 1727. The Society by major vote agree to give the Revd. Mr. Moses Dickinson a call to supply the vacancy in our pulpit. * * Made choice of Capt. Joseph Piatt, Esq., to go to ye Revd. Gentleman, and endeavor to obtain him pursuant to s*^ vote. 150 NORWALK. [1727. Made clioice of Mr. John Bartlett, Capt. Joseph Piatt, and Mr. Thos. Fitch Junr., to provide for, & to treat with y^ s^ gentleman when he comes. Call to Mr. Dickinson. July 19, 1727. The Society having had report made from y^ late Committee of y"" circumstances of y® Revd. Mr. Moses Dickinson, who hath been with us upon a probationary improvement, with which report they are well satisfied as to the gentleman's circumstances ; and do hereby give the s^ Revd. Gentleman a call to y^ work of y* ministry among us ; provided y^ Revd. Elders now convened in this place give their approbation there- unto, voted in y*' affirmative 75, Contra 39. Advice asked of the Association. The society determines to move to the Revd. Elders for a resolve respecting the circumstances of y^ Revd. Mr. Dickinson, and whether they advise to the call above s*^. There being severall persons of this Society under scruples respecting the relation they stand in to y^ Revd. Mr. Buckingham, that is to say, whether s^ gentleman be regularly discharged from his pastorall relation to y Chh. and people of this place ; the Society taking this matter into consideration, do move to y'' Revd. El- ders convened, that they would give their opinion in y'' premises, that such persons may receive satisfaction in that matter. Answer of the Association. July 20, 1727. The society receiving from y^ Revd. Elders associated, an answer to y^ foregoing matter of scruple, and it was read off as followeth : 1727.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 151 A Quorum of Fairfield Association Occasionally con- vened in Norwalk July 19tli, 1727. Whereas it is Signify ed to us from ye records of ye Society that there are severall persons of this Society under Scruples respecting the relation they stand in to ye Revd. Mr. Buckingham. That is to say whether ye said Gentleman be Regularly Discharged from his pas- torall Relation to ye Church and people of this place ; and that our opinion in this case is desired. In answer whereunto we Declare this to be our Opinion that the Revd. Mr. Buckingham hath been regularly Discharged from his pastorall Relation to ye Church and people of this place ; And offer upon it as followeth ; viz. (1) The Condition of this Church and people hath been for a considerable time greviouslyper- plez*^ & Divided ; whereof a very great part have been so distanced in affection from their Late pastor, that the Cure of it after a Considerable time of Tryall, hath appeared even to beDispaired of; Whereas also it ap- peared to us, that Saveing Ends of ye Gospel Ministry here may not generally be attained, which in ye Judg- ment of ye late Counsel and in our Opinion is Cause Justifying ye pastor's Resigning his pastorall Office, as to ye Exercise of it in ye place of his Improvement ; We propose the following Scriptures to be well Con- sidered. Ephe. 4:11, 12, Our ascended Lord gave ye gifts of y^ Ministry to men for y^ Edifying y^ Body of Christ : Where y^ Edifying y^ Body is expressly Set down as a main End of Gospel Ministry. Now the prin- ciple End being Generally Obstructed and that after a Convenient Time of Waiting, may be well interpreted as a call from above to y^ Minister that hath been im- proved, Humbly to yield himself to that Christ 152 NORWALK. [1727. our Lord and ye Interest of immortal Souls may increase and flourish ; John 3d, 30th. We have also considered James 3d, 16th, Where envying and strife is, there is Confusion and every evil work. Now this we have thought ye Malancholly Condition of this Place ; & have been Ready to account the Method of ye Council in their late Doings accepting ye Revd. Gentleman's Resignation, & supplying the Sanction of their au- thority thereunto, to he a proper and probable Remedy of ye unhappy Distemper of this place. (2) The Revd. Mr. Buckingham, as we understand, appearing in the late Council, affected with ye Sorrowful state of ye place and ye improbability of his future service here. Did Seriously, Solemnly, & willingly resign his pastorall Relation to ye Church and people of the place ; which was in his power to Do so far as Concerns an act of his. And the s*^ Resignation being willingly made by him, we apprehend no injury Done him. Because an injury to a willing mind cannot be Done. We propose John 3d, 30th, he must increase, but I must Decrease. Which example of that Great man, than whom a greater was not Born of Women, We do understand presidential even to ye ministers of ye Gospel in our Times, when this continuing in the exercise the Gospel ministry may be justly thought to interfere with the Generall Spirituall good of Precious Souls. 3. The Resignation of ye Revd. Mr. Buckingham in ye presence of ye society's com'tee, before ye council, ye authority whereof we suppose not proper for ye good people of this place to question, who have come into onr ecclesiastical constitution and accepted our articles of administering Chh. discipline ; yet for ye satisfaction of any of our people of this place, we mention ye 1727.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 153 fifteenth Chapter of ye Acts ; and thence observe, that ye council at Jerusalem (ye pattern for Chh. councils in Gospel times) in the difficulties that had arisen, in ye church of Antioch, &c., did undertake to determine that difference, in authoritative way. Acts 15 : 2. " To whom we gave no such commandment." Now commandment is a word necessarily implying authority — see also verse 28. " It seemed good to ye Holy Ghost & to us to lay no greater burden," &c. ; which expression to us implies authority, carrying an obligation in it on ye Chh. and people that applyd to ye council, see also verse 29 ; " From which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well ;" whejice followeth yt ye Chh., which applied to the coun- cil at Jerusalem, if they did not observe the order of council, they should not do well, for that ye conclusion of council were ye highest authority, not to be control- led or disputed. 4. The Resignation of ye Revd. Mr. Buckingham being authorized by his proper judges, that is to say, ye council of ye elders & Chhs. of this county, the bond of his relation to this society, as pastor, is dissolved & ceaseth : (whereupon it followeth that ye bond of ye relation of this Chh. and every member thereof to ye sd Mr. Buckingham, their late pastor, is also dissolved and ceaseth.) Unto ye above we only add as ye Rev. Mr. Bucking- ham hath formally declared himself willing to be direct- ed by ye ministers of this county ; now then as we ac- count it on his part a good observance of order, for the future to forbear the exercise of ye pastoral office, to say, preaching and administering any sacraments in this place; so also, ye good & Christian people of this place will, in our opinion, show themselves men of order to 154 NORWALK. [1727. contribute their part to sucli a direction of our associa- tion. Our thouglits in relation to ye motion of this society to the Revd. Mr. Moses Dickinson, we offer as follow- eth, vizt :