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Things Never Change, Even After 359 Years
Things never change, even after 359 years, as reflected in the following excerpt from the October 1998, NEHGR, pg. 448:
On 20 April 1640, Richard Waighte, a man who had long been excommuncated because of his drinking, keeping bad company, and general sinfullness, was encouraged to confess and be brought back into the church. His lengthy confession focussed on his lustful thoughts about a neighbor, but failed to mention several major offenses. As the day wore on, the minister expressed impatience with Waighte...Brother Heaton spoke up, saying, "I desire to judge the best of him."
Sargent Hutchinson was not so easily satisfied. He found it very aggravating that Waighte impudently denied having caused trouble for "our Brother Heaton." Waighte had claimed that Heaton falsely charged him. Hutchinson wanted Waighte to speak to those offenses, but he did not. The church eventually readmitted Waighte, but his offenses against Nathaniel Heaton were never spelled out.
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