History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 1 83
"Amesbury, May 19, 1726; Was gathered the 2d church of
Christ in Amesbury, there being then present the Rev. ministers
of the gospel, viz. : Mr.
Wells, Gushing, Parsons, Tufts and
Brown."
A creed was adopted, containing the embodiment of their
faith, especially the Puritanical doctrine of the decrees, election,
reprobation and depravity. The church covenant followed, and
the whole was signed by
Pain Wingate, Titus Wells, William Moulton,
John Foot, Valentine Rowell, John Blasdell,
Thos. Fowler, Samuel Stevens, Philip Rowell,
Abraham Merrill, Joseph Sargent, Tappan Ordway,
Thomas Colby, Joseph Bartlett. Abram Merrill, jr.
The whole was ratified by public acknowledgment in the
congregation, and Mr. Pain Wingate, then a young man, was
made choice of to carry on the work of the ministry.
Arrangements were then made for the ordination of Mr. Win-
gate. Capt. John Foot and Abraham Merrill were chosen to
send letters to the neighboring churches, to send delegates ; and
their ministers were invited to take part in the services.
Mr. dishing of Salisbury was selected to preach the sermon,
or, if not able to do that, to give the charge, which he did.
Letters were sent on the 23d of May, and the ordination took
place on the 3d of June. Mr. Wells made the prayer, Mr.
Gookin preached the sermon from John xx. :
15.
Mr. Tufts
offered prayer and Mr. Gushing gave the charge, and Mr. Par-
sons gave the right hand of fellowship.
July 13th. Abraham Merrill and Joseph Colby were chosen
deacons, and this completed the organization of the second
church in Amesbury.
It was decided to furnish the communion table by the "free-
will offering" of the church. It cost ^7, 10 s. 10 d., and the
whole service was purchased in Boston and the following is the
bill of pieces :
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