Some Phases of Sexual Morality and Church Discipline in Colonial New EnglandAdams, Charles Francis
History
Some Phases of Sexual Morality and Church Discipline in Colonial New England
Adams, Charles Francis
Sexual ethics
"Isaac Theer, (the son of Brother Thomas Theer) being a member of this
Church but not in full communion, having been convicted of notorious
scandalous thefts multiplied, as stealing pewter from Johanna
Livingstone, stealing from John Penniman cheese, &c., and others, and
stealing an horse at Bridgewater, for which he suffered the law, after
much laboring with him in private and especially by the officers of
the church, to bring [him] to a thorough sight and free and ingenuous
confession of his sin; as also for his abominably lying, changing his
name, &c., was called forth in public, moved pathetically to
acknowledge his sin and publish his repentance, who came down and
stood against the lower end of the foreseat after he had been
prevented (by our shutting the east door) from going out; stood
impudently, and said indeed he owned his sin of stealing, was heartily
sorry for it, begged pardon of God and men, and hoped he should do so
no more, which was all he could be brought unto, saying his sin was
already known, and that there was no need to mention it in particular,
all with a remisse voice, so that but few could hear him. The Church
at length gave their judgment against him, that he was a notorious,
scandalous sinner, and obstinately impenitent. And when I was
proceeding to spread before him his sin and wickedness, he (as 'tis
probable), guessing what was like to follow, turned about to goe out,
and being desired and charged to tarry and hear what the church had to
say to him, he flung out of doors, with an insolent manner, though
silent. Therefore the Pastor applied himself to the congregation, and
having spread before them his sin, partly to vindicate the church's
proceeding against him, and partly to warn others; sentence was
declared against him according to Matthew 18, 17."
The next also is a case of excommunication. It appears from the records
(p. 658) that "Upon the 9{th} day of August ther went out a fleet
Souldiers to Canadee in the year 1690, and the small pox was abord, and
they died, sixe of it; four thrown overbord at Cap an." Among these four
was Ebenezer Owen, who left a widow and a brother Josiah; and it is to
them that this entry relates:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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