THE TOWN OF BEDFORD. 47 



meadow with ye house and home loot which ye town bought of Mr. 

 Ambler upon ye account yt sd. Mr. Jones settle with us in Bedford and 

 carry eth' on ye work of ye ministry among us — and forty pounds a year 

 for his maintenance in speshe as followeth — that is to say- — winter wheat 

 at 4s. 6d. pr bushell, ry 3s. pr bushell, flax 6d. pr pound, beef one penny 

 half-penny pr pound, pork . two pence half-penny pr pound. And in 

 case Mr. John Jones continueth with us until he be settled and ordained 

 in gospell order amongst us, then ye above sd house, land and medow 

 to be his owne for him & his forever; as witness our hands thus under- 

 written: Zachariah Roberts Clark, John Miller, John Holmes, sen'r, 

 Cornelius Seely, John Holmes, Jr., Richard Holmes, Richard Wescott, 

 Nathan Clark, Cornelius Seely, Junr., Jonathan Holmes, David Miller, 

 John Wescott, David Holmes, Zachariah Roberts, Jun'r, Joseph Hunt, 

 Jno. Dibbell, Thomas Howard, Joseph Palmer. 



REV. JOHN JONES' REPLY. 

 TO THE INHABITANTS OF BEDFORD. 



My Good Friends : 



These are in answer to your unanimous motion made unto 

 me respecting the work of the ministry to be carried on in your place ; that hav- 

 ing endeavoured at Due consideration of the motion I apprehend encouridgment 

 on the one hand And Discouridgment on the other ; encouridging To me Are 

 my own Affection. Altho unworthy According to my poor capacity in that way 

 to be serving the interest of my Dearest Lord and Master. And if I may be 

 profitable to the eternall good of Precious and Immortall Soules, with which is 

 to Be Added in Relation to your Place, your unanimous Agreement, And good 

 Affection manifested During my Late Short Abode with you. And your une- 

 versal Desires of my further Improvement in that Sacred Imployment with you; 

 Discouridgeing to me is the uncertain face of things with Respect to the govern- 

 ment's allowance and appropriation of my improvement freed from any Impo- 

 sitions which I doe comply with, however in fine my thoughts are these, that soe 

 long as I may Diserne the Providence of God going Before, Guiding and Direct- 

 ing me continuing your good Affections to my Service, And Reasonable En- 

 couridgement and Support, preventing and Diverting any snares or yoke uneasy 

 to my conscience, your Precious and Dear Souls, To Be Dillegent in the minis- 

 terial Improvement Among you. And to Banish all thoughts of the neglecting 

 you, or Deserting the Spirituall work and Employment by you desired, this I 

 conceive the Present needful, from your Affectionate friend and Enclined to Be 

 According to Power — which (with thankful acceptance of your late Proposalls 

 for my Encouragement In Christ's Service Among you) is All from your Absent 

 friend And Servant for Christ's Sake— JOHN JONES. 



Given in Att a Publick 

 Town Meeting at Bedford 

 upon their Desires of my 

 Answer ' 



Aprill ye 2d 1703 

 J. J. 



November 30th, 1703, the town by a maijor vote doth make chois 

 of Jonathan Miller, Nathan Clark John Holmes Jr. and Jonathan Holmes 



