A Seasonable Plea for Liberty of Conscience

p. 15Copy of a Church-censure that was past upon Mr. Lord, by the North Church in Berwick.

AT a church-meeting August 11. 1767. It was desired that Mr. Abraham Lord give his reasons of absenting from the communion of this church. And 1st. He said, That he could not approve of the church's admitting many persons to have baptism for their children who are of various characters, as he said they did; and that he did not know of any distinction between owning the covenant and coming into communion, and believed there was but one covenant. 2dly. That he saw a spirit of opposition against the spirit of God in the church, in keeping our some preachers, and depriving the members of hearing, and improving their gifts. Which being considered by the church, the question was put, Whether the church look on these reasons as sufficient to justify his absenting from our communion? Voted in the negative. The consideration of the matter referred to the next church-meeting.

Sept. the 8th, the church met according to adjournment, and 1st. entred upon the consideration of the case of Mr. Abraham Lord; and voted, That Mr. Abraham Lord be declared to lie under the public offence of this church, and be with-held and suspended from the holy fellowship of the Lord's supper, and from all special ordinances and privileges of the church, until his offence be removed by penitent confession.

A true copy of the church's proceedings with regard to Mr. Abraham Lord, according to record. Attest. Matthew Merriam, Pastor.

p. 16(Here Follows a copy of Mrs. Lord's letter to that Church.)

To the reverend Pastor and Brethren of the North Church in Berwick.

BEloved in Christ, as I have no desire nor intent to give any offence in the least, I hope you will look on my request as reasonable, in desiring a dismission from this church to the Baptist church in Berwick. I have revealed my mind to one of the Elders of this church, and have waited some time, and have had no return. I will let you know the reason why I insist on it. I cannot sit easy here in your debaring one of the members of this church from the holy fellowship of the Lord's supper, and from all special ordinances and privileges of this church. You have intirely shut me out who am of the same way of thinking; for tying the conscience in spiritual things is worse than parting with earthly enjoyments. As to the doctrines and discipline of the Baptist church, as far as I can conceive, it is agreable to the word of God, and necessary for my salvation; and to be plain, I cannot benefit here as I would desire. I am willing to take your results, as you shall think fit: As for commendations I look for none, knowing my self to be an unworthy creature. I beg your prayers for me, and though we cannot join in serving God here, I hope we shall all meet at the right hand of God, and there praise Him to all eternity. I heartily wish you the graces of God's holy Spirit, and rest, your's in Christ,

Elizabeth Lord.

To Mrs. Elizabeth Lord, member of the church of Christ in the north parish in Berwick.

BEloved sister in Christ, your letter to us of April last has been laid before us, and we have considered thereon: And though an answer thereto has been delayed for a considerable time, yet we would not have you think that it is through a neglect of you; but it was thought proper that some previous steps should be taken before a positive answer was given; as we would leave no suitable christian means untried to remove what we esteem your false opinions, which are grounds of your request of a dismission. And indeed the subject of your letter is such, and your mind is (as we conceive) so much turned aside from the truth, that after labouring with you to reclaim you by a committee of the church, it may be considered as a prudential act, and an act of kindness and tenderness to you to delay an answer, that you might have opportunity to think better of the subject, and to return to your duty before you had wholly gone off and forsaken the communion of the church of Christ, with which you solemnly covenanted: praying that God would lead you into the truth, and deliver you from error; we hope that you do by this time at least begin to think better.

p. 17As to the principal subject of your letter, which is your requesting a dismission from this church, to the Baptist church in this town, we having met twice and deliberated thereon, judged it inconsistent with our covenant-engagements and christian communion; accordingly voted, That we cannot see our way clear to comply with your request, by giving p. 18you a dismission from this church to the Baptist church in this town.—There are several reasons which (as they appear to us) render it improper and what we ought not to comply with, to give you a dismission in the manner which you request.—1st. We cannot but esteem your motives thereto, in part at least, to be very wrong, and that you labour under a very mistaken apprehension of things in the reasons which you give therefor.—You say, the reason why you insist on it is, That you cannot sit easy here; and that the reason that you cannot sit easy here is, that we have debated one of the members of this church from our communion, or to that purpose; whereby you say, we have shut you out, who are of the same way of thinking. We must suppose that you mean your Husband, when you speak of one of the members of this church being debared, with whom you say, you are of the same way of thinking. …