sensibly greived, (when I read your letter) for the noyse, and outcryes, made both at Bristoll, and here above upon the account of your cession. How a sudden passion may carry and transport some men at Bristoll I know not; but I am sure I have not heard any of the brethren here, say anything disrespectfull of your person, or your charecter, unlesse what amounts to no more than this, viz. that they seemed offended, because your conduct in and about the cession, was not managed communi consensu. To obviate this objection, I took the fredom to write unto you, and to desire you, not to quit your charge, untill we might, (for our mutuall satisfaction) meet, and consult upon that weighty case, least we should doe anything that might hurt the church, or wound the minds of our brethren. To this, you were pleased to inform me, that your Lordship was fully satisfyed in the meritts of the person, that was to succeed you, and named the reverend Dr. Hooper. I was apprised of his piety, learning, and good temper, and if my approbation would have signified any thing I did then say, and doe now say the same, viz. in my poore opinion you could not have desired, or wished for a worthier or fitter person for your successor, and thereupon wished, that a double portion of his predecessors

double affliction to think that I must be necessitated, to forsake his communion who received me by absolution to the peace and unity of the Church; but I must doe it, if that father hath fallen himself into those errors, out of which (I dayly bless God) I am retrieved. I congratulate the recovery of y' Lady's health. and so does my spouse. I beg the prayers and continuance of y

friendship, and am,

Revd Sir,

Y most devoted.

spirit might rest on him. Thus my Lord, I have plainly laid before your Lordship, all the account I know of, relating to this matter, both to satisfy your Lordship of what I am apprised of, and to prevent (if possible) the groundlesse surmises of those, who are apt to take fire without due materialls. With all respects and service to your Lordship, and to the good ladyes att Nash,

I remain your Lordship's Affectionate brother, and humble Servant,

March 14, 1703.

Wm. NOR:

I have not any manner of news, save that the new King of Spain is arrived at Lisbone and mightily caressed by the King of Portugall.

LETTER XXX.

FOR MRS. HANNAH LLOYD.

"All Glory be to God."

MY GOOD LORD AND DEAR BROTHER,

Among other things which are vehemently laid to my charge, one is, that against your advice, and entreaties I would obstinately go my own way; against this I owne that you had wrote to me to deferre my session, but that the nature of the thing would not permit it, and if I had not given my consent that post, I might have had a hireling and not a shepherd, and I wrote to you to that purpose, and that after I had receded, your Lordship approved of what I had done, and that I had by me your letters, which congratulated my choice, to attest it,

and that in your last, you seem to lay to heart the danger in which the depositum is, as much as myself, and which was the sole motive which inclined me, and you expresse your sense of the hardnesse of the work to stem the strong current which runs against the Church, in which you have the concurrent testimonies of all sober men. Sure I am, if people will duly weigh all circumstances, no well-minded man can blame me. I am told from London, that 'tis urged that by my action, I condemn their conduct, but how I know not, if any of them had a cure of souls, and could transfer it, into like hands, as I have done, I should exhort them to recede, as well as myself, for the common good of the flock, without making a bargaine with the successor for a pension, as I fear some have done who blame me. The ladies here are, God be thanked, very well, and present their respects to yourself and family. God keep us in his holy feare and prepare us for a happy eternity. My dear Ld,

MY GOOD LORD AND BROTHER,

I perceive by youre two last that your Lordshippe is very shy of owning your approbation of my action',

1 His resignation.

at which I justly wonder, in regard that your expressions signify it very clearly. I have done nothing but what may be justified by primitive precedents, and which is for the preservation of the depositum, which ought chiefly to exhaust a pastour's zeal, especially when he is in all respects disabled himselfe for pastoral care, and that the flock might have a shepherd, and not a hireling. As for the clause you mention, I could give some instances, from my own knowledge, but the persons are dead, and I will not name them. If I had been conversant in the towne, I might possibly have heard of more. The truth is, that which provoked me to mention it, was one of our brethren in the country, who to a friend of mine very much blamed my cession. My friend who heard him, presently reply'd to this purpose; that he should rather reflect on himselfe, who had been making a bargain for an acquaintance of his who was deprived, which it seems my friend knew, and he was presently silenced, being told that no such thing was chargeable on me; and this passage coming to my knowledge, occasioned that clause in my letter. I am not surprised at the censures bestowed on me; I foresaw them all; and, to deal freely with your Lordshippe, you are not without your share. "Tis not long ago that a very sober person expressed some dissatisfaction at your suffering your son to take all tests; I reply'd that I never heard you did so; and that it might be a false report; and so the discourse ended. For my own part, I never did any thing in my life more to my satisfaction than my receding. It has eased me of a great load which lay on me, has entirely loosened me from the world; so that I have now

nothing to doe but to think of eternity, for which God of his infinite mercy prepare us.

MY VERY GOOD LORD & DEAR BROTHER,

Though I wrote to your Lordship last, yett I am in a manner bound to write again, to let you know that the ferment against me rises higher and higher, insomuch that when the neighbours at Bristol come hither, they manifestly insult me, and though you are pleased to tell me, that others kindled this fire and not yourself, I must take the freedom to tell you, that it is yourself have most contributed to it. For it is still vehemently urged against me, that I acted quite contrary to your earnest remonstrances, which you know to be false: If I did, I do not remember that I ever put myself into your keeping, and was to do nothing but by your direction; but you yourself can acquit me in that particular, by only relating matter of fact. But I find there is a flat contradiction between them and me; I affirm you approved of my action, and you flatly deny it, and affirm the quite contrary, & that increases their zeal: now I calmly appeal to you to let me know the literal importance of this expression, for I will