The ancient historical records of Norwalk, Conn ... - Hay genealogy

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1727.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 151
A Quorum of Fairfield Association Occasionally convened
in Norwalk July 19tli, 1727.
Whereas it is Signifyed to us from ye records of ye
Society that there are severall persons of this Society
under Scruples respecting the relation they stand in
ye Revd. Mr. Buckingham.
to
That is to say whether ye
said Gentleman be Regularly Discharged from his pastorall
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 greviously perplex*^
& 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 be Dispaired of ;
Whereas also it appeared
to us, that Saveing Ends of ye Gospel Ministry
here may not generally be attained, which in ye Judgment
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 Considered.
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 principle
End being Generally Obstructed and that after
Convenient Time of Waiting, may be well interpreted
as a call from above to y^ Minister that hath been improved,
Humbly to yield himself to that Christ
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