1740 March 12 (Wednesday). My Wife and I rode down to Marlborough to the Fast on account of the Sickness in that Town. Dr. Gotts Daughter Betty thought to be Dangerously ill. Colonel Woods ill, and under great Affliction respecting his Children. His Youngest son Dead and others remaining very ill yet. A.M. Mr. Stone[1] pray’d and I preach’d on 1 Pet. 5.6. We were entertain’d at the widow Gates’s.[2] The Storm continued, and although in the Morning it was Still and moderate yet the Day prov’d Cold and Raw. At Evening as we were at Mrs. Gates’s Mr. Smith ask’d our advice touching his Answer to the Call of that people to Settle among them.[3] The Substance of our Advice was that considering the peoples great unanimity in Desiring him, it might appear his Duty to Accept especially being that they had been heretofore of so remarkably divided a Spirit. But then he must plainly distinguish between this Advice resulting from the proceedings and Circumstances of the people, and any Advice grounded on his Qualifications for the Ministry, inasmuch as we were in no wise ripe for this Latter, being that we were in a great Degree Strangers to him, and being that there would be a Time and Method no Doubt appointed on Purpose for his Examination and Approbation. My wife and I lodg’d at Dr. Gotts.
[1]Rev. Nathan Stone of Southborough.
[2]Sarah, widow of Simon Gates of Marlborough.
[3]After their trouble with the Rev. Benjamin Kent the people of Marlborough were careful about the choice of his successor. Hudson, Marlborough, 127-128.