The Bratton Association 1771

BREVIATES

TUESDAY afternoon the Ministers and Messengers being met our Brother ;Nathaniel] Rawlings began in prayer. Brother [John] Tommas was chosen Moderator, the letters from the churches were read. Brother [Robert] Day was desired to draw up the general letter and the meeting was closed in prayer by our Brother Philips. On Wednesday morning at six o clock the Ministers and Messengers being again met some time was improved in prayer by our Brethren [A?] Crisp, [William?] Wykes, [Samuel] Rowles and Wood. At ten the public Meeting was opened in prayer by our Brother [Benjamin] Francis. Brother [John] Tommas then preached from Ps 44 4 Thou king O God command deliverances for Jacob and the meeting was closed in prayer by our Brother [Robert] Day.

After the public service a letter was read signed by eight persons in the name and on the behalf of the Baptist Church without Southgate Exon and desiring to be continued in the number of the associated Churches but as in another letter from the Baptist Church in Exon signed by the late Minister of the Baptist Church without Southgate Exon and by the Minister of the Baptist Church within Southgate and divers others it was intimated that a reunion had taken place betwixt these two churches it was thought prudent to defer the consideration of this matter to another year when we may be better able to judge of it.

At three o'clock in the afternoon the public service was opened in prayer by our Brother [Joseph] Sprague. Brother [James] Newton then preached from 2 Cor iv 1 Therefore seeing we have this Ministry as we have received mercy we faint not and the Meeting was closed in prayer by our Brother [Thomas] Ferrabee.

After the public service the general letter to the churches was read approved and signed by the Moderator on the behalf of the assembly.

The case of the church at Melksham, Wilts was then read setting forth the necessity they were under to rebuild and enlarge their place of worship and their incapacity to defray the expence of such an undertaking without the generous assistance of their fellow Christians in other places and it was unanimously Agreed to recommend the said case as highly deserving encouragement. It was also Agreed to recommend to the churches days of prayer and fasting as usual.

Agreed to desire that the churches in this association would by no means countenance any Minister by asking him to preach or in any other way whose character they are unacquainted with as in many instances for want of such caution great reproach has been brought upon religion and the professors of it and the peace of churches has been greatly interrupted. Agreed to hold the next association at [Chipping] Sodbury Glocestershirc. Brother [Robert] Day and Brother Sprague to preach the sermons.

NB Those churches that are in want of Beddome's Baptist Catechism which has long been out of print are desired forthwith to send orders for any number of them they are willing to take to the Rev Hugh Evans Bristol that another edition of that useful work may be speedily obtained should there be a sufficient number subscribed for to defray the expence there were

In the circle of this association the last year

Baptized 44 Restored 2 = 46

Deceased 43 Excluded 3 = 46

The association was then closed in prayer by the Moderator.