60 



yen, while the latter were striving by all the means in their 

 power, to bring Parris before a council. At last, on the 16th 

 of February, 1693, at a meeting of the committee, the dissent- 

 ing brethren gave their reasons for withdrawing from the minis- 

 try at the village. They are the following: — 



" 1st, The distracting and disturbing tumults and noises, made 

 by persons under diabolical power and delusions, preventing 

 sometimes our hearing, understanding, and profiting by the 

 word preached. 



2d, The apprehensions of danger of ourselves being accused 

 as the devil's instruments to molest and afflict the persons com- 

 plaining, we, seeing those whom we had reason to esteem better 

 than ourselves, thus accused, blemished, and of their lives be- 

 reaved. Foreseeing this, we thought it our prudence to with- 

 draw. 



8d, We found so frequent and positive preaching up some 

 principles and practices by Mr. Parris, referring to the dark 

 and dismal miseries of iniquity, working amongst us, was not 

 profitable but oiFensive. 



4th, Neither could we, in conscience join with Mr. Parris in 

 the requests, which he made in prayer, referring to the trouble 

 then among us, and upon us, therefore thought it our most safe 

 and peaceable way to withdraw. The reasons why we hold not 

 communion with them at the Lord's table are, because we es- 

 teem ourselves justly aggrieved and offended with the oflBcer, 

 who does administer, for the reasons following : — 



1st, From his declared and published principles, referring to 

 our molestations from the invisible world, differing from the 

 opinion of the generality of the Orthodox Ministers of this whole 

 country. 



2d, His easy and strong faith and belief of the affirmations 

 and accusations made by those, they call the afflicted. 



3d, His laying aside that grace, which above all we are required 

 to put on, viz : charity towards his neighbors, and especially 

 towards those of his church, when there is no apparent reason 

 for the contrary. 



4th, His approving and practising unwarrantable and un- 

 grounded methods, for discovering what he was desirous to know, 

 referring to the bewitched or possessed persons, as in bringing 

 some to others, and by and from them pretending to inform him- 

 self and others, who were the devil's instruments to afflict the 

 sick and pained. 



5th, His unsafe and unaccountable oath, given by him against 

 sundry of the accused. 



