Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
I am certain y^ my Designs in all my actions & Proceedings, in reference the Church here, are, & have been just & honest ; & my Conduct in ye method of doing the same will I hope, in a short time be determin'd in my Favour by others who are also my Superiors, and proper Judges.
You are pleased not without a seeming Bitterness, still to proceed in y^ third Paragraph, to charge me w*^ a Crime, w<='> (thanks be to God) I never was, & wish nobody else had ever been more guilty of, viz, of being found in bad company : & I am firmly perswaded, yt his Ex'^y dos not believe, yt I have
PAPERS RELATING TO CHURCHES IN QUEENS COUNTY. 265
entei'tamed any new Companions, since y^ time he was pleased • say, lie would sign a certificate as well of my having faithfully & diligently demeaned my self in my runction, as also of my nnblaraeable & exempkiry Life & Conversation.
Tlio' as a true minister of Christ Lam and always have been ready to testlfie against Profaneness and Immorality, it is no small matter of Wonder to me to find you suppose an Expression relating hereto, w<^^ is not contained in my Letter, for no other end than to introduce y^ foregoing tart aspersion, vj^^ I am very well assured, no person will be so hardy as to venture to make appear ; & I dare aver it to be as causeless, as you are pleas'd to term my just Complaint.