her that in the name of the Lord Jesus he could have no more Christian intercourse with her. The oldest friends were first not visited at all, and then were told that they visited as friends, but could not own them as Christians, nor pray with them. And this was done so grossly by Mr. N. himself that the husband (not in communion) of one sister met Mr. Newton and told him that had he been still of the world he must have used his cane to him. One poor man excited by the sisters refused to eat with his own wife till he got her back to Ebrington Street. It has been attempted since shame has fallen upon them about it, to say it was only to be done to leaders. Were the sisters, one of whom only came to hear in Raleigh Street, who sent to dear Mrs. Newton flowers and little things suited to the sick when she was ill, leaders? They were sent back, as unreceivable, from Mr. N.’s house. Mr. Hall was refused to be received into the house of one long accustomed to look up to him, but who had fallen under this miserable influence. And now I challenge them to produce an act of ungracious or evil dealing towards one of them. Why, will it be believed that many of them, no longer dealt with the shops of those who went to Raleigh Street, as well as threatened to withdraw Christian kindness from the poor? and to deprive them of temporal advantages they enjoyed.
Last of all while I am writing this they have been forbidden, had they desired it, in case of any wishing to shew it was no want of personal kindness, to attend dear Mrs. N.’s funeral: a person who, though excited about this matter, had by her walk among the saints for many a year engaged the affections, I may safely say, of all. And who has been happily, may we not say taken from the evil to come, and we have excommunicated them! I have done.[1] I have gone over the public ground only,
- ↑ It will hardly be believed that after having forbidden any to come to the funeral, saying, that we hastened Mrs. Newton’s death and were not to come and trample on her grave, it was carefully circulated by themthat we would not go to Mrs. N.’s funeral.
