USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Cheshire > Records of the First Baptist Church in Cheshire (formerly New Providence) > Part 2
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by order of the Chh Jonathan Richardson, Clark Adams, Feb 10, 1782
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The Church of Christ In Adams Under the Pastoral Care of Peter Werden Eld'r To Brother Samuel Jones, Wishing you to Remember your Obligations to god and Relation to us in the profession of Religion whereas for a long time you have Refused to Maintain your Felowship with us, In the Religion of Christ, but have Practily withdrawn, We therefore In the Name of the Lord Jesus Admonish you to Repent, and Return to god and this Chh. and Denie our felowship with you Until we find the Evident fruit of Repentance. Adams May 30, 1782 Jonathan Richardson, Clark In behalf of the Chh
P 23 The Church of Christ In Adams Under the Pastoral Care of Peter Werden Eld'r, to brother and sister Jeremiah and Abigail Brown. Sendeth wishing much of the truth and grace of god to be and Abide with you, so as to Conform you holey to his will and Pleasure. Whereas we have Reason to belive that you have Alowed yourselves that fredom together Before Marige that should and Can onely be Injoyed In a life of Chastity In the Marriage State. And upon labour with you, Our breathren
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Inform us that your Sentements Justifie your practis We are heartely Grieved both with your sentiments and Practis, as it Appears to be a Breach of the good order of Society and to Militate Against the ordeance of god In Marriage. We heartiley Intreat you to look to god For Divine Instruction that you may see what you owe to god and Society in this Mater. We In the name of Christ Admonish you to repent and return to god and his peopel. Te likewise Denie felowship with you until your repentance is Manifest to all
Adams, May 30, 1782 Jonathan Richardson Celk v
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24 At a Church Meeting held at Deacon Richardsons Dec 13, 1783 On the Account of the Deficulties with Brother Jeremiah Smith with the Church, and the Church with him. The Church Enquired into the Evidence of Low's Conduct at the Vandue at Capt. Willmoth's the Chh generly apprehend that his Conduct wasn't Christian Like but how Great his Iniquity is we Cannot Determin
Jon'n Richardson Clark
P 25 The Chh of Christ In Adams under the pastoral Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to brother Squire Read a member in the same Chh with us. For Sum time have stoped your Travil in a religious way. And insted thereof, have taken to very wicked Courses ( to wit) The Sin of fornication. In order to prosecute Such a wicked purpus you have Imbrased a prinicipal not founded in the bibel, Equil to such a practis, that is that men and wimen when agread to have oneother are man and wife and so lawful to use that freedom together as man and wife: which opens an efectual doare for the Sin of uncleanness And also very Indesant Behaver and Sinfull Expaestions. which things are a breach of Divine Rule, Very Dishonering to a holy god, and wounding and Insuareing to Souls. Dear brother under a sence of our Duty to god and you, we In the Name of Christ Admonish you to Repentance of your Sins, and to return to god and your Duty with your Breatheren. And we Denie felowship with you until the fruit of your repentance becomes Evident.
Adams, Aug. 1782 Jonathan Richardson, Clark
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P 26 The Chh of Christ In Adams Under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to brother Jeremiah Smith Sendeth, wishing Conformety to the Will of god In all things. Dear Brother we would Remind you that much of the time since you Come into Covenant with us, we have ben Deprived of your travil with us by reason of Many Difuculties that has been Alleged by you. Some against the Church and Some Against perticuler Breathern, We have Inquired into those Matters and Alltho we have found a Measure of Agreement Amongst our selves yet we have not Ben Abel to Sattisfie you, Leet your Knowledge of Matters be as it will, we Conclude that you are Doing Injury to the Relation you Stand in to us. In Refuseing to walk with us unless we will Consent to be Governed by your Knowledge. The Manner in which you have treated the Church and Breathern when Attending to these things appears to us to be Very Oppisite to the Laws of Christ and Very much Like the Unruly passions of Nature. We therefore in the name of Christ Admonish you to Repent of these and all other Sins, to Return to god and your Breathern
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27 Agreable to your Religous Obligations. And we Denie fellowship with you untill the fruit of your Repentance becomes Manifest Adams Feb 20, 1784 Jonathan Richardson. Cl
The Church of Christ in Adams Under the Care of Peter Werden Elder to Brother Michael Hall at Lanesborough Sendeth Greeting, Wishing you grace to fear and Love god, we would Remind you of the Solumn Profession you have made of the holy Religon of Christ and the Obbligations you put your self under to walk with us in the ways of truth. However your Long Absence from us without aney Testimoney that you do walke in the truth and the Intimations we have had of your walking Conterary to the gospel. In Not takeing up your daily Cross and Denying of Ungodlyness and worly Lusts
P 28 Gives us great grief on your acompt: and on our part we Cannot think it Safe to Resk the profession of Felowship with you in these Curcumstances. We therefore Intreat you to Reflect Seriously on the Dishonour don to god and his Cause by you. And we Admonish you to Repent of your Sins, Both
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of Consition and Omition and to Return to the Lord. and the Chh, and we denie felowship with you untill the fruit of Repentance to us is Manifest.
Adams April 1st 1784 Jon'n Richardson Clk
The Church of Christ In Adams under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to brother John Barry Sendeth Greeting, Wishing you to Remember that if any man draw back god will have no pleasure in him. We take this Method to Inform you that your withdrawing yourself from Religiously Walking with us according to the Solemn profession you made, and your Refuseing to attend when we Requested you is Offencive to us.
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P We therefore Admonish you to Repent and to Return to god and the Brotherhod in the feloship of the Gospel. We denie Felowship with you until your Repentance to us becomes Evident. Adams, May 1784 Jon'n Richardson Clark
The Church of Christ in Adams under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to Brother Thomas Fenner Sendeth Greeting. Vishing you might Attaond to the things that make for peace. We Remind you that since your withdraw from us we have often Requested your attendance ( but without Affect) We now find our Selves under the painfull Nesessetie of Declareing our Disaprobation of your Conduct. And to Admonish you to Return to god, and to be Reconciled to your Bretheren. And we Denie Felowship with you until the fruit of your Repentance becomes Evident.
Adams May 1784 Jon'n Richardson Clark
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The Chh of Christ at Adams Under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r, To Brother Barnabas Atter, Reminding you of the Solemn obbligations you have put yourself Under to walk In the ways of god In Keeping the Unety of the spirit In the bonds of peace. We would observe to you that it Appears to us that you have Wounded your one Carrecter as a Christian, In departing from your owne Vollentery Agreament with Dec Carpender at the schoolhouse
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and that in that Affair you transgressed the rule of brotherhood in Chargeing the Sin on him, And this was don to the greaf off those Breatheren that attended that Settelment. We Likewise Believe that you have transgressed in Judgeing and Condemming the Dea'n In the Affair of his tradeing with Mr. Fuller. And further, In a Long and tedious Cours of Labour it Appears that you have Been very Unstabel sumtimes Saying you must go back to the scoolhouse, Intimateing that you must
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31 Take up all those hard things that you haid Laid Against your Brother. Still Refuseing or Neglecting to do it. And at other times Affirming that you Could not walk with the Deacon unless he gave you Satisfaction. For these Things we Admonish you to return and repent, and take up the stumbling blocks you have Laid in the way of the peopel or Breatheren. We Likewise refuse felowship with you until the fruit of your Repentance to us become Evident.
Adams Dec 2, 1784 Jonathan Richardson Clark In behalf of the Chh.
Adams Dec 2, 1784. At a Chh Meeting Held at the Metting house Voated to Record the Chh Voats for the Futer Voated that Brother Isaac Beals and wife be Dismist and Recomended to the Chh of Lesister.
Adams Oct 5, 1788 The Chh voated to Receive Eld Isac Beals under our own woch Care again. Sister Beals the Eldrs wife hant Seen Cause to joyn Licester Chh and Consequently Remains a member with us.
Jon'n Richardson Clark
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0
The Chh of Christ in Adams under the Woch Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to Brother John Newman Sendeth Greeting whereas you have Charged your brother with that you hant proved. And when Come to labour on the matter you speared Much out of temper and out Careter, in being so Infallebally sertain in your Memery and makeing your Confidence the rule of your Conduct. Also when Reproved by the Chh Stoped your travil with them. These things we
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recive to be unruly Conduct, and ought not to be tolerated in the Chh.
Dear brother we wish you to Consider of these things, and repent before it is two late.
We in the name of Christ doe Admonish you to reforn these things. And doe deneye felowship with you until the fruit of your repentance becomes Evident
Adams Jan 14, 1785 Jonathan Richardson Clark
The Chh of Christ in Adams under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to brother Gideon Franklin Sendeth greeting. Whereas there has bin Complaints of your Ungarded maner of talking aboute your Affairs things and Curcumstances. which has not bin Cleared up to us, but has bin Continued in the greate greaf of this Chh, and to the laying a Stumbling block before the blind, and wounding to the Cause of Christ and truth.
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P And the Chh has takein Sum Noteis of these things, you have neglected your duty tho you have bin requested thereto. We pray you to Consider the naterual Consequence of such a practis. the Cause is reproached on your acount, and your Careter stained. Therefore In Compliance to our Duty we in the name of Christ doe Admonish you to reform such things and we denie felloship with you until the fruit of your repentance Comes to light.
Adams, Jan 24, 1785 Jonathan Richardson Clark
The Chh of Christ in Adams under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to brother John Sprague a member of the same Chh Sendeth, Wishing you to Consider of the greateness of your Profestion of Christs Religon. And of the greateness of the Consequence of Revoalting and turning your back upon Such a gloaris Cause as god has Interduced into a world of Fallen Siners to bring them into the Injoyement with him selfe We pray you Sereously to Consider of the wages of Sin which is Death. We Bewale your Refuseing to be Reclamed from your wais to Ruin, your Refuseing to atend to Chh Meetings when requested is a
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breach of the Christian Obligations you have entered into. you have Intimated that you have Difficulties amongst the brotherhod, and do refuse you attendance to Setel them or bring them to light, which is a breach of Christs Requirement and Doing Injury to your breathern, we have reason to fear you do Lay Stumbling blocks
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34 Before Siners and harden them in there rebellion, we haveing Sum Sence of our Duty to god and a regarde to his precious Cause. In the name of Christ do Admonish you to repent and reform your Evil wais and Dowings and turn to god and your breathern before it is two late. And we Do Denie Felowship with you until the fruit of your Repentance becomes to us Evident.
Adams, March 10, 1785 Jonathan Richardson Clark In behalf of the Chh.
Adams Feb 1785 The Chh Voated to Disnis Brother and Sister Silas and Abagial Hall to a Chh in good Standing when they have found one Jonathan Richardson Clark
Whereas Cor'l Stafford is About to Move \way who is put in trust with two Dead's whose Fee is: Ist to Surport the gospel in the first baptis Chh in this place 2 to Chh and Society for the use of a meeting house and buring place. this Chh has thoat proper to Chuse a Comete to Receive and take Care of said Deads, had Chosen Jonathan Richardson, Stephen Carpender and Asa Willmoth for the said purpos
Adams, Mar 24, 1785 Jonathan Richardson Clark
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35
Adams, April 28, 1785. At a monthly Meeting at the Meeting house: this Chh Voated and Did Admonish Joseph Putney 1st For takeing out the taler of a fat Sheep which he owed to Abel James. 2nd the Sheep being heavery then what was Jameses due he takes to himself out of the Lion of the Sheep which was not Equil, which he had often Confest was rong and after took up his confeshun and said he was not rong. 3rd In goeing to sister James to made a Confestion to pleas Eld'r Werden and the Church.
Jonathan Richardson Clark
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The Chh of Christ in Adamis Under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r to Brother Jeremiah Day Sendeth. Wishing you to Consider what greate things god has done in Savering man from Total ruin. and makeing them happy in the Enjoyement of him self in his Dear Son And the Obbligations we are under to him, to serve and glorifie him in this World with our bodyes and Sprits which are his. And we that have partaken of his mercy in his Son, and have Coventied to walk in the Laws of Christs house are under obligations to one another to watch over oneother and so fulfill the Law of Christ.
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36 To our great greafe you have for a Long time Neglected your Duty to god and your breatheren, and tho pains have bin taken with you to Reclame you you dont Return: We fear your Conduct in the world has not bin as becomes the rules of godlyness. We In Obedance to our duty In the name of Christ doe Admonish you to return to (od and yor breatheren. And Denie feloship with you until the fruit of your Repentance Comme to light.
Adams Dec. 4, 1785 Jonathan Richardson Clark
The Above Named Person has by a Leter Made his Confestion of the rongs laid against him and Received J. R.
At a Chh Meeting in Adams Dec 1, 1785 Voted that we will take it into Consideration at the next Chh meeting our Vote in Desireing Eld'r Werden to keep a minuet of what he should have Communacated in the Run of one year and there not Reciveing the minits.
Jonathan Richardson Clark
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At a Chh Meeting held at Jonathan Richardsons Juner Feb 4, 1786. Concluded by the Chh. that it is a Breach of Chh Felowship for any member to withdraw their walk without Attending all Christian Labour According to the gospil.
Jonathan Richardson Clk
At a Chh meeting Feb 4, 1786 Mehehetabel Bensle was Admonished for withdrawing
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her self from the Chh and going into vain Company of Meryment and refuseing to return.
Jonathan Richardson Clk
At a Chh Meeting Aug 3, 1786 John Waterman was Admonished for his Long Forsakeing his walk with the Chh as a brother In the Felowship of the gospel and his Freequently Exercising him Self In the wickedness of Angery Passion. Withall Using wicked and Profane Language. the Chh withdraws Felowship until he returns and Repents.
Jonathan Richardson Clark
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38 Upon Finishing our Meetting house this Chh made choyce and Desired Gideon Hinman Comfort Arnold and Jonathan Richardson Juner, to Inspect and Regulate our Societety both as to Setting and behaveyor. 1786
Jonathan Richardson Clk
May 31, 1787 At a Chh meeting Voated that the Above named persons Continue their place Chosen to the the Insueing year and to take Sum Speshal Care at our Association that our one Meeting give way for Strangers.
Jonathan Richardson Clk
At a Church Metting in the forepart of the preasent year voted to Dismiss and Recomend Sister Easther Putney to the Ch in Bulocks grant 1787
Jonathan Richardson Clark
Adams Nov 3, 1787 At a Church Meeting at the meeting house brother Putney having made restitusion of his Crime for which he was Admonised is restored to felowship
Jon'n Richardson Clark
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39
See page 43
Adams Novr 3, 1787 The Church Did Proseed to withdraw their Felowship and Admonish Simeon Poter to Repentance For neglecting his travil with the Chh. Jon Richardson Clark
Same day withdrew felowship and Admonished Lydie Brown for breach of gods Law in the Sin of Fornication
Jon'n Richardson Clark
CHESHIRE, MASS.
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At a Church Meeting April 3, 1788 The Church Voted and Admonished Hanah Robords for Immoral Conduct and withdrew felowship til Repentance
Jon'n Richardson Chh Clark
Same Day the Church Did Admonish and withdraw Felowship from Joab Andrus for his forsakeing his travil with the Church.
Jon'n Richardson Clark
July 31, 1788 Hanah Roberds Did Return to the Chh with Confession of her wickedness to the Chh's Satisfaction
Jon'n Richardson Clark
Sum time aboute the year 1785 the Chh did Admonish Josiah Patrige for not fulfilling his Koril Ingargments with Philip Mason
Sep 25, 1788 Made his Etracttion and was Recd to his former Standing
Jon'n Richardson Clark
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40
Recd Eld'r Beall As a Member in this Chh upon a Leter of Recomend from the Chh at Leisther
Oct 12, 1788 Jon'n Richardson Clark
At a Chh Meeting Dec 4, 1788, The Chh Did Proseed to
Admonish Brother .... Munroe of Plainfield For his withdrawing his Travel from the Chh's and Neglecting his Obligations in a general Sene. and at the Same time Pretending he was a member in good standing he was Requested to Attend his Duty but did not.
Jon'n Richardson Clark
Adams Jany 5, 1789 The Church Dismist Brother Joseph Putney to the Church at Bulock's grant.
Jon'n Richardson Clark
The Chh of Christ In Adams Under the Care of Eld'r Werde Sendeth to Icabod Proser a member of this Chh but have Neglected your Duty to god and your breathern. tho moved At a Disstance yet occationly you have bin in the neighbourhood but have not Improved the opertunety to maintain your Feloship
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and Travel with the Chh. Which gives Evidence that you are not Disposed to
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41 Fulfill your Covenant Obligations with your Bretheren. It is Commonly Reported that you Doe make two Free with Spirittis Likers which must be Distructtive to your Intist and body and soul and Rumeous to Character and a great Reproach to that Religon which you have made a Profession off. All which makes it our Duety to Admonish you to Repent of these great Evils and forsake them, and turn to god and your Duty. We doe therefore Denie our Felowship with you until the Fruit of your repentance to us becomes Evident
Adams Feb 26, 1789 Jon'n Richardson Chh Clark
(Note -- A sheet of paper half the size of a page is sewed in at the top of page 41 and the back of it is evidently part of a letter which was not intended to form part of the record of the church R. H. Cooke June 19-7) ( Following is face of sheet referred to) (R. H. C. )
Feb 13, 1789 At a Chh Meeting Voted to Admonish Benjamen Backer and Iccabod Prosser
Also Voated to Chuse a Comete to Say what ou to be Done for Eld Werden as his Reward for his Service among us to this day
Commete-Jon Richardson Stephen Carpinder Gideon Hinman Daniel Coomer Nathaniel Bliss Jon Richardson Jnr
Jon'n Richardson Clark
(Note On reverse of above is the following evidently a fragment R. H. C. )
"your Elder and
bin of Brethren from Several Other Churches and with them Consult on my Case and advise me what step I ought to take next. These from your Distresed Brother Eben'r Jones the time of meeting is y'e 22 day of August next at 10 o'clock and the Place of Meeting at the House of Asa Douglass Essq at Hancock"
lance of P 41 The Chh of Christ In Adams under the Pastoral Care of Peter Worden Eld'r to brother Benjamin Baker wishing you to know And partake of the truth as it is in Jesus. Dear Brother it is a Consideabel length of time since you have given
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us any Increasing Evidence of your Continuing in the truth and Felowship of the gospel with us Agreabel to your former Profession. Sum of the Bretheren we understand have Laboured with you on acount of the ocation that they Supposed you had given. In your Conduct with Mrs. Shelden and we are Informed that you Confesed that ware Rong in that afair, we are Likewise Informed that Since this you have Declared your one Inocence in the affair, which Conscioneblely appears to us to be an aggravation to your past offence. We therefore pray you to Consider your ways and the Necessity of making Strayt Paths for your feet.
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And with true Repentance as far as may be Regain Lost Ground. And by Unfaignedly turning to god, and takeing up the Stumbling Blocks & Recomend yourself to your Breatheren in the Bonds of Love. We find ourselves Bound in Duty to Denie our Christian Felowship with you until the fruit of your Repentance is manifest to us Adams, Feb 26, 1789
Jon'n Richardson Clark
Adams, Feb 24, 1789
This Day haveing Met according to the appointment of the Church the first thing taken into consideration was whether A Debt is due from the church to our Elder for Preaching the gospel of christ amongst us. Or not Ans in the Afirmative ques second in what way this Debt ought to be paid Ans in a way of Equality --- Our minds as to the former Conduct of the church in A good Measure answers the gospel requirment taking into view Every privilage that hath ben granted to our Eld'r -- To the Present Reformation Sence the lord hath in such A glorious manner Displaisd of his Glory And goodnes Amongst the children of men there appear to be a Great call for laboures to attend Rising Early and Setting up late preaching the godpel and administring Ordnances we recommend to our brethren with us To attend our duty in making our beloved Eld'r some Compinsation for his labour and Love.
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CHESHIRE, MASS.
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Look to page 39 March 11 1789
Simeon Poter Did apear before the Chh and make Confestion of his Sins and Trancegrestion against god and the Chh to Satisfaction of the Chh
Test -- Jon Richardson Clark
Committee. Jon'n Richardson
Gideon Hinmon
Step'h Carpenter
Daniel Comar
Nathanael Bliss Jon'n Richardson Jr.
At a Chh meting held at the Meetinghouse Voted to Admonish Lifelit Hix
The Chh of Christ in Adams under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r Sendeth to Lifelit Hix how has bin a member of this Church for sum time. but for sum Reasons has Stoped his travel, and Neglected his Duty to god and his Breathern. the Chh has Chosen Commetes and sent to you time after time, who have Laboured we hope Faithfuly, but without sucsess. We are Informed that you Do Openly sin against god and your Felow men, In useing Profane languig and quarling. All which is Contary to the Rules of Chrisanety.
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P These things are a greaf to us, A breach of Divine Rule. We feel our Selves under the greatest Obligations to Admonish you to Repent of these greate Evils turn to god and your breathern. In the name of Christ we Do withdraw the hand of Felowship from you until the fruit of your Repentance becomes Evident.
Adams July 2, 1789 Jon'n Richardson Clark In behalf of the Chh
At a Past Chh meeting Sister Lusinda Wilbor was Dismist to the Chh in Bulock's grant
Adams July 10, 1789 Jon'n Richardson Clark
At a Chh Meeting Dec 31, 1789 Upon a Request of William Fisk, Jonethan Fisk, and William Munrow the Chh Did Dismiss the above named Persons to the Baptis Chh in Lanesborough
Adams, Jan 9, 1790 Jon'n Richardson Clark
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45 At a Church Meting June 3, 1790 Voted to Admonish Zilpha Bucklin The Chh of Christ in Adams Under the Care of Peter Werden Eld'r To Zilpha Bucklin Sendeth. Wishing you to Consider what greate things The great god has Done in and thrugh the Medeator in Saving poor Sinfull man from Total ruin. And makeing them happy in the Enjoyement of himself And the obbligation we are under to him to Serve and glorifie him in this world with our bodyes and Sprits which are his. And we that have Pertaken of his mercy in his Son And have Covented to walk in the Laws of Christs house are under Obligations to one another to watch over Oneother, and so fulfill the Laws of Christ. you have for sum time Stoped your walk with the Chh. and Paied a Disregard to the Labours that have bin taken with you. And taken the Liberty of going into Rude Companey, and Carnel Meryment
P 46 Which is a breach of Divine Rule, and greate Sining against god, Which brings Reproach upon the Divine Chareter and his Holy Law, Christs' Cause and Chh and your one Carrecter. Where is then the blesedness that you once Spoke off. Dear Sister Remember that you must give account to the great governer of the World off the Deeds Done in the Body. We In Obedence to Devine Rule, In the Name of Christ Doe Admonish you to Return to god and your breathern. And Denie Feloship with you until the Fruit of your Repentance Comes to light.
Adams, July 8, 1790 Jon'n Richardson Clark In behalf of the Chh.
At a Chh Meeting July 29, 1790 Upon the Request of Sister Hanah Broadway She is Dismist and Recomended to Eld'r Masons Chh.
Dec 30, 1790 This Chh Voted that Jon'n Richardson Juner should Asist me in aney Rightings or Records that I stand in Need off.
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