“2. That we will alwaies endeuour, through the grace of God assisting us, to walke in all his waies and ordinances, _according to his written word_, _which is the onely sufficient rule of __good life for euery man_. Neither will we suffer ourselues to be polluted by any sinfull waies, either publike or priuate, but endeauour to abstaine from the uery appearance of euill, giuing no offence to the Jew or gentile, or the churches of Christ. “3. That we will humbly and willingly submit ourselues to the gouernment of Christ in this church, in the administration of the word, the seales, and discipline. “4. That we will, in all loue, improve our com’union as brethren, by watching ouer one another, and (as need shalbe) counsell, admonish, reproue, comfort, releeve, assist, and beare with one another, seruing one another in loue. “5. Lastly, we doe not couenant or promise these things in our owne, but in Christ’s strength; neither doe we confine ourselues to the words of this couenant, _but shall at all tymes account it our duty to embrace any further light or trueth which shalbe reuealed to us out of God’s word_.” {116} Such was the spirit, if not the letter, of the mutual engagement into which they entered, who introduced into the town of Beccles the Independent form of church government. Within twelve months from the formation of the church, twenty-one other persons had joined. The first of these was Mr. Joseph Cutlove, who appears to have been, at the same time, portreeve of the Corporation of Beccles, and to have had some influential friends among the members of the long parliament. {117} Amongst the names is also that of “Humphry Brewster,” one of the truly honourable family to whom belonged the hall and manors of Wrentham, and who, for many years, greatly encouraged and supported the dissenting interest there. {118a} And “Francis Hayloucke,” subsequently a deacon of the church. During the above period there was no recognised pastor. But in the year 1653, occurs this memorandum:— “29 d. 5 m. com’only called July. A pastor was chosen.” Who this was is rather uncertain; perhaps MR. JOHN CLARK. He seems to have been a minister in the established church, for in the parochial register, under the years 1647 and 1648, are recorded the baptisms of two sons of “John Clark, minister, and of Ann his wife.” {118b} It is also observable that his name is the first enrolled on the list of members of the Independent church. And among the individuals subsequently admitted, was “Anna” his wife; which serves to identify him with the person mentioned in the parish register.