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This gave me some hope y^t he would pardon my sin, when he had

caused his word to take hold of me, and had brought me into that

way y^t he had promised mercy unto. that place also was a great

Encouragem^t unto me Math. 18. 12, 13. how think you, if a man

have a 100 sheepe & one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave

the ninety & nine & go into y^e mountains & seeketh y^t w^ch is gone

astray, & if so be y^t he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoyceth

more y^t he findeth that sheep, then of y^e ninethy & nine y^t went not

astray, yet he had sent out his word & found me; & thereby I

was brought to be deeply humbled, & to mourn before God, and

his people; & God did thereby Encourage me to hope y^t there was

mercy for me. & y^t in y 147 2. was great Encouragement to

my weary soul, y^e L^d doth build up Jerusalem, he gathereth to

-gether y^e outcasts of Israel, he healeth y^e broken in heart,

   I had many other places of Scripture y^t came to mind in dark

hours, y^t was a refreshing to my soul, whereby God caused me to

hope that there was mercy for me. also y^t in Rev. 3. 19. as

many as I love, I rebuke & chasten, be zealous therefore &

Repent; which place of scripture was brought to mind when

I was in great trouble & deepe distress. I was y^e man under

great chastizements of y^e Lord & y^t place often refreshed my

soul, y^t it was for my good, y^t I might be brought to true

Repentance. also y^t In Job. 5. 17. behold! happie is y^e man

whom God correcteth, therefore despise not thou y^e chastening

of y^e Almighty. Such places were sweet to my weary Soul,

when God caused me to believe y^t it was in mercy to me. And

as I do Every day beg pardon of God; I also come this day to

beg forgiveness of his people, & y^t my Soul may be restored.

 I Earnestly beg y^e prayers of Gods pp. y^t my Repentance may be

true, & y^t I may have power to walk humbly before God, and

Inoffensively before his people, & y^t I may be againe restored

to y^e fellowship of Gods people. and I Earnestly desire, y^t if

any body in this, or in any other place, have been any wayes

offended or Scandalized by what they have observed in my words

or In any light carriage & behaviour; that they would forgive me,

and pray for me, y^t I may never be left to demeane myself

any otherwise for y^e future, then becomes y^e Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ. ~. ~.                     Samuel Ayres