Why did they make use of it to shut up the Churcli, as they did, on the 23d of September last, and to deny me the Liberty of performing there the ordinary Service of Prayer, and to deny the rest of the People tlie Liberty of assembling tliemselves there? Why do they make use of it still, with Obstinacy, to deprive above sixty or eighty Tamilies, who think themselves edified by my Ministry, to deprive them, I say, of the Instructions and spiritual Comforts, and, in short, of all the Service of a Minister, wliose Return they demand, and who belongs to them, as well as to the others, and whom they can Re-estate when they please? I know these Gentlemen are free, but only let them take eare not to use their Liberty for a Cloak of Maliciousness. It is St. Peter to w^hom they refer me, I don't know why, who gives them this warning, see 1 Epist. eh. 2 V. 16.

4. Among their pretences to Liberty and Freedom, they lay a stress particularly on this. That "in the enjoyment of that •' Liberty, or rather dispensation or Toleration, their method and •' Rule (meaning the French Refugees) was to make an Agreement " with their Pastors and Ministers (that is to say) each Consistory

FRENCH PROTESTANT CHURCH, NEW-YORK. 1163

" for every particular Congregation, voluntarily and freely united " together, and entred into an Agreement with their Pastor and " Minister upon a certain special mutual Contract, which when " either Party failed in Performance of their part of that Con- " tract, the other was at liberty, and freed there-from on the " other part, and this no ways regarded by the Civil Government, " who took care only, &c.