1747 May 6 (Wednesday). Mr. Martyn and Mr. Maccarty came. The former tells us that Mr. Goss under his Lameness by a late Fall from his Horse, was now gone home to Bolton. At a Motion of mine to have the Association bring their Answers to any particular Questions which any member Should desire to have consider’d, the ministers voted to prepare their answers to this following, viz. What Shall best be done by us to prevent the Degeneracy and Back sliding in Religion which now awfully Threatens? N.B. This is not at all to hinder the Collections as usual. N.B. Several Gentlemen seem’d to think hard of my having the Collections repos’d with me; and therefore rested not till they obtain’d a Vote to have ‘em from henceforth distributed: and those which were brought at this Meeting were accordingly distributed. When we were going out to meeting (and Mr. Barrett[1] to preach) came Joshua Townsend and presently after him Jason Badcock from Mr. Wheelers (of Westborough) who request’d me to make all haste to visit him before he dy’d, so that instead of going to meeting I went there. Mr. Wheeler was very low, but he wanted me more to assist him in drawing his Will over again than to help him in his Spiritual Work; which greatly engag’d my Thoughts — to See a man So apprehensive that he was going into Eternity So easy and quiet about it — saying that if he was not ready before now, it was now too late to do anything. N.B. I drew over his will, and made the Alterations which he desir’d. And as my office was, I conceiv’d it suitable to recommend some Charitable or Pious Deeds, to a Man that was able to leave such an Estate: I mention’d his leaving something to the Church — a good Bible — a Flaggon — or if he would he might leave something to the poor of the town. He pitch’d upon the first Thing, a Bible, which was accordingly inserted, his wife being by and several Times declaring she was heartily free for it. N.B. Jason accompany’d me through the Barrs and humbly ask’d pardon for all his old ill Behaviour and seem’d very penitent. Upon which I gave him my Hand, and we were reconciled. He ask’d my prayers and was full of good Resolutions. I call’d at Mr. Martyns, where Messrs. Loring,[2] Stone and Smith had stop’d. My Family in peace. Blessed be God!
[1]Samuel Barrett of Hopkinton.
[2]The Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.