WHEREAS there hath late­ly been published in Boston a Pamphlet, Entituled, An Account of the Reasons why a considerable Number of the New North Congregation in Boston, could not consent to Mr. Peter Thacher's Ordination there, &c. In which Pamphlet are con­tained several plain and, positive Falshoods, as to Matters of Fact therein related, and many Misre­presentations of the proceedings of the said Church, in their bringing forward the choice of a Pastor to joyn with the Reverend Mr. Webb, in the work of the Ministry, and in their Electing the Reverend Mr. Peter Thacher to be their Pastor, and settling him in said Office. The Falshoods and Misrepresentations hereby spread concerning the Weighty and important Managements of said [Page 2]Church, loudly calls upon us to make our D [...] ­fence against those who make it evident to the World, that they are endeavouring to hurt us in our best and most valuable interests.

In order to our Vindication, we shall recite some of the most material passages mentioned in the said Pamphlet, relating to our Conduct, and set those proceedings of ours in a true Light.

First then, We find them asserting, That a Number of the Members of our Church did use underhand practices to Rob Weymouth, and Im­pose a Minister on Boston; which thing has been much talked of, and we thought we had done enough to prevent its being improved against us any more; for at a Church Meeting, where most of the dissatisfyed Brethren were present, that mat­ter was throughly debated, and every one that could be in the least suspected, declared they never were concerned, directly nor indirectly, by writing, or by any other means whatsoever, to invite Mr. Thacher to leave Weymouth and come to us. After these things were fairly and fully debated, it was proposed by our Reverend Pastor, that if we were in Charity with each other on that account, we should express it by lifting up our hands, which we concluded every one did; and we challenge any person in the world to prove, that ever any of the Members of our Church have been guilty of what they have charged them with in this Affair.

As to what they alledge of their being fallaci­ously dealt with (page 5, 6.) and being cut off from the benefit of a Vore we passed the 13th of [Page 3] May in favour of the Congregation; we say, that this one thing set in a due light, we can't but think silenceth one great clamour of our Oppo­sers, viz. Oppression; for this Vote was proposed and come into purely in indulgence to them, and to make them sensible we would do our utmost we could to quiet them and make them easy.

As to their being cut off from the Liberty gi­ven them in that Vote by an Obligation, which they say was tacked to it; We reply, that the obli­gation so much complained of is plainly implyed in the Vote, for that is founded on the Liberty given by the Province Law to the Congregations in the Country; and the reason why the Vote was not fully compleated at this Meeting was, we could not determine the Bounds of the Congrega­tion, and therefore deferred it till we had consult­ed with some of the chief of the Congregation; and then it was determined that all the constant Hearers and Contributers should be allowed the priviledge of a Vote, that would come under such an Obligation, which was no more than only a promise, That they would do their part towards the Support of the Ministry, so long as God in his Providence continued them in that place, which was signed by a considerable Number who did actually Vote in the Choice, and it was un­reasonable and groundless Jealousies that hindered the dissatisfy'd from coming into it.

As to a pretended promise made by the Rev. Mr. Webb, that they should see Mr. Thacher's Dismission, signed by the major part of the Church of Weymouth before we proceeded further; and that it was promised some of the Church should go to Weymouth and bring it; We reply, that we [Page 4]remember it was moved by them, but Mr. Webb an­swer'd to their proposal, that it was not reasona­ble nor practicable according to Custom in such cases, but that they should see a Dismission in usual Form, and such a Dismission we according­ly produced and offered, at the time when they were called to concur with the Church in the Choice.

Again, we find asserted, (page 12.) That we chose Mr. Thacher to be our Minister when he was the Minister of Weymouth, which we declare to be a positive Falshood; and can prove, that Mr. Thacher had his Dismission from his Pastoral Relation to the Church of Weymonth by a Vote of that Church the 23d of February, 1718, 19, and that another Pastor, viz. Mr. Thomas Pain, was chosen both by Church and Town, and had actu­ally taken Charge of the Pulpit before Mr Thacher left them, and was ordained in his room before we made choice of him to be our Pastor which was on the 9th of September, 1719. And now the Church of Weymouth being settled undersano­ther Pastor, they dismist Mr. Thacher at his de­sire, as a Member, and gave him a Letter of Recommendation, wherein they say, That his Con­versation with them had been as becometh the Gospel, and that they parted with him in perfect Charity; for which there was a full Vote in the Church, and not one Person objected against it, as some of us were assur'd by the present Reverend Pastor of that Church; tho' we find it asserted (page 36.) they can prove it was a lean Vote, and objections made against the Recommendation.

[Page 5] Again, We find them by way of Query (page 28.) asking, Whether Mr. Thacher did not send a Letter, and charge the Church not to consent to a Council, or desire some Friend to do it for him, for such a Letter there was, and it had its Influence. This we declare to be a positive Fashood; for our Church as a Body, nor any single Member of it, as we know of, ever received any such Letter from Mr. Thacher, or any other person in the World; nor ever had the least hint there was such a Letter, 'till we found it asserted in the Pamplet.

There are many more Notorious Falshoods in the forenamed Pamphlet, which we think it not needful for us to answer, since we know not the Author; and those Particulars which we have already answer'd are the foundation of the Contro­versy; and we have no prospect of its being ended, tho' we should answer every Particular.

And we hope no serious Christian will justify that Pamphlet, which appears to be written with so much Heat and Anger; for it's evident, that the force and strength of its Rage is levelled at our Ministers; and what can the design of this be, but to render their Labours unsuccessful, and pre­judice People against them? If this be their de­sign, and they should in the least obtain their end, certainly without deep Repentance and Sorrow for such Sins, dreadful must be the Account which such persons will have to give up another Day. Our Ministers are very dear to us, and some of us can very truly, and we hope very feelingly say that we have cause to bless God for them; and we trust there are great Numbers in the Town that have a great affection for them, for the re­markable [Page 6]Meekness and Moderation they have shewn in this more than ordinary Difficulty and Tryal they have met withal.

And whereas we find them charged with an un­becoming Te [...]per and Carriage in the forecited Pamphlet, in which they very particularly bid the Readers to enquire with what a Temper Mr. Thacher acted upon his admission into the Church, to whom (if any should enquire) we should be glad of the opportunity to relate; Namely, That it was with great Meekness he addressed himself to the Church at that time; and his Expressions were so Christian, and in so moving a manner, as affected the greater part (we believe all, except those few who opposed him) and they being the persons to whom he chiefly apply'd, it was very surprising to all the the rest, that they were no more affected with it.

They charge the Reverend Mr. Webb with parti­ality in our Meetings in reproving Sharply those who were not of his mind, and not reproving those who were, when they spake unbecomingly; we can truly say, we Never once observed it to be so; but always to the contrary, Exhorting us all to a Christian Temper one towards another; and when he saw any thing otherwise with a great deal of meekness and moderation Administred a reproof to one as well as to another; and in all the manage­ments of our affairs carryed it with the same tem­per to the dissatisfyed as he did at the Meeting-House when the Reverend Mr. Thacher was Instal­led; and what his behaviour towards them was at that time and their carriage towards him, we [Page 7]leave to the many hundreds then present to judge. And both our Pastors have always prest it upon us to study the things that make for peace, and to overlook whatever Ill treatment we met with from those who dissented from us; and we hope we have endeavoured to observe those directions, and still are inclined so to do; and can truly say, it is and always hath been a great grie [...] to us, to have such a difference with any of our Bre­thren, and are willing to do any thing that lies i [...] our power to come to an agreement with them and to live in love and peace as becomes Brethren.

Who were the Authors of said Pamphlet wekno [...] not, but find the names of several of our Brethre [...] of the Church inserted in it, whether nhey ga [...] their consent that it should be so, we know no [...] but since it is so, and we find in the Preface a Cha [...] lenge to answer any objection against it, either b [...] fore the Civil Authority or a Council of Churche [...] we do now in the most open and Publick mann [...] Declare, that we are freely willing to submit a [...] our differences with our said Brethren to a Coun [...] of Churches as we publickly voted on the day [...] the Reverend Mr. Thacher's Instalment; when bo [...] our Pastors and the whole Church openly expre [...] their readiness to submit whatever concern'd eith [...] of them in the management of their late Importa [...] affair to the hearing of [...]ouncil, & as the next day [...] offered 'em when Mr. Webb sent for all the dissatis [...] Brethren of the Church to give him a Meeting at [...] House to consult about the calling a Council, se­ral of them then refused to come, & those who d [...] refused to joyn Issue with us. A Council is t [...] which we have always been for and never refu [...] [Page 8]except One which we were desired to call at a Juncture when the Church verily concluded (all things consider'd) could have no tendency to esta­blish Peace among us, nor in the Town, and if we were out in our Judgment about it we earnestly [...]esire to be made sensible of our Error in it, and to make Christian Satisfaction for it. But always before and ever since have been ready to leave our whole controversy to the examination of a Council of Churches according to our Constitution, and [...]nd do now heartily consent to joy [...] issue with [...]ur Dissatisfyed Brethren in that way, excluding [...]hose Churches who have been concerned in any [...]f our late managements and those Persons who [...]ave prejudged the cause. And upon the first no­ [...]ice we have from our Brethren of their Inclinati­ [...]n to joyn with us in calling such a Council we [...]all heartily embrace it, and rejoyce at the very [...]pearance of such a prospect of putting an end to [...]r unhappy controversy in this Christian way.

And having openly and freely declared our selves, [...]e hope it will be a sufficient Vindication and [...]fence against all the unjust Charges made against [...] in said Pamphlet; tho' we have not given [...]either shall we pretend to give) a particular [...]swer to each one of them in this way; much [...]s shall we Recriminate upon our Brethren, and [...]blish to the World in the way and manner they [...]ve done, what the just grounds of our Grievan­ [...] at them are; for so to do we judge wou'd but [...]ry the unhappy Controversy farther, and excite [...]d confirm greater Prejudices in each against o­ [...]er; and we suppose it is own'd by all men of [...]servation and tho't, that such a way of mana­ging [Page 9]Controversys of this Nature never ends them. And we have no Rule that we know of in Scrip­ture to proceed in such a way; and therefore must condemn the Practice as unchristian, and the Treat­ment we have met withal in it as unfair and un­just. What we have therefore to alledge against our Brethren, we propose to do it in a more Christian way, and if they see reason to accept the offer, we shall refer it till we come to have a hear­ing before a Council of Churches regularly called, from whom we may expect to have such directio [...] and advice as by the blessing of God will have an happy tendency to restore peace and unity among us. In the mean time, and at all times we hope w [...] shall study the the things that make for Peace and are heartily willing to observe and conform t [...] that Character which our Blessed Saviour ha [...] given of his true Disciples, Joh. 13, 35. By thi [...] shall all men know ye are my disciples, if ye love on another. We earnestly desire to love our Brethren and do now invite them to terms of Peace and uni­ty, the blessed effects whereof we have elegant [...] expressed in Psal. 133. And upon the whole, w [...] humbly intreat of all our Christian Brethren an [...] Friends a Charitable opinion of us and our manag [...] ments till we are regularly convicted of tho [...] Crimes which we really think the Authors of t [...] late Pamphlet have in a very unjust and unchrist [...]an manner charged upon us.

Signed in the Presence of the Brethren of the Chur [...] by their Order, By