90                        24    1668 . 1669

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The church having had several times conference about calling

others to help in the work of y^e ministry heer in y^e Room of o^r late dear

& Reverend Pastor M^r Shepard at last June 6 1669 did vote to give

M^r Samuel Brakenbury[89] a call to this place 2 or 3 onely seemd not

see cleer as being desirous to have had yⁿ some tast of M^r Alex Norwells

abilityes they were B^r Leaver B^r Ellsworth B^r Wood: After this

vote a letter was sent in the churches name the next day by B^r

Peirson whom the church by vote sent as their messenger to him

The letter was as followeth

             Dear & much Respected S^r

After thanks promised for your kind & acceptable labours amongst

us in your last visit, these are to certify you, that the Church of

Christ heer in Rowley have by an unamimous vote given you a

call & Invitation to take part of ministerial work in this place

in order to your full settlement & takeing office amongst us; If

upon a competent time of mutuall tryall one of another the

lord be pleased farther to cleer up his mind to you & us: ffurther

by these you may understand , that as the Toun are desirous of

another labourer in the ministry heer, as well as the church; so

yourself is the man they doe desire, none dissenting that we

know off : We hope S^r by this mediate call you may understand

what Paul did gather by his Immediate call, that the lord has

called you to preach the Gospel at Rowley : & therefore we entreat

if god incline your heart to o^r motion, that you would with what

speed maybe come over & help 16 Acts 9 10 : we have sent

our beloved brother Peirson, the messenger of the church more

fully to express our hearty desires to you.  The good lord direct

your way unto us, & thrust you forth into his harvest heer if it

be his blessed will: thus desireing communion w^th you in your

prayers we Rest

                            yo^r Loving brethren in X^t Jesus

                                     Samuel Philips

                                      Maximilian Jewit

                            In the name & with the consent

                               of the Church of Xs^t at Rowley

M^r Brakenbury answer to or letter was a thankfull acknowledgmt of

the churches love; nameing several reasons yt moved him to in

cline to o^r motion as his desire to be wth an other & with him that