Page:Records of the Life of the Rev. John Murray.djvu/231

Rh "Last Thursday week, Mr. John Murray was ordained to the pastoral charge of the Independent Church of Christ in Gloucester. After Mr. Murray had prayed, and one of the congregation had announced the intention of the meeting, and presented him, formally, with a call, Mr. Murray replied:

"Persuaded of the truth of the declaration, made by the compilers of the shorter catechism, that God's works of providence are his most holy, wise, and powerful, preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions; and having a full conviction that the affairs of the Church are, in an especial manner, under his immediate direction; and that you, my christian friends and brethren, are now, as formerly, under the directing influence of that divine spirit, which, taking of the things of Jesus, and showing them unto me, constrained me to become a Preacher of the everlasting Gospel, and directed you to set me apart, and ordain me, to be your Minister; I now again, with humble gratitude to my divine Master, and grateful affection for you, my long tried, and faithful christian friends and brethren, most cordially accept of this call."

One of the Committee then read the vote of the Church: "Resolved, that we, the proprietors of the Independent Meeting-House in Gloucester, the members of the church and congregation usually attending there for the purpose of divine worship, do, by virtue of that power invested in us by the great High Priest of our profession, the Bishop of our souls, and the Great and only Head of the Church; and according to the institutions of the first churches in New-England, and in perfect conformity to the third article of the declaration of rights, in this public manner, solemnly elect and ordain, constitute and appoint Mr. John Murray, of said Gloucester, clerk, to be our settled Minister, Pastor, and teaching Elder; to preach the word of God, and to inculcate lessons and instructions of piety, religion, and morality, on the congregation; and to do, perform, and discharge all the duties and offices, which of right belong to any other minister of the Gospel, or public teacher of Piety, Religion, and Morality; and it is hereby intended, and understood, that the authority and rights hereby given to the said Mr. John Murray, to be our settled, ordained minister, and public teacher, are to remain in full force, so long as he shall continue to preach the word of God, and dispense instructions of piety, religion and morality, conformably to our opinions, and no longer."

"The Committee then solemnly presented him the Bible, saying, on its presentation: "Dear sir, We present you these sacred scriptures