An Account of the Differences in SALEM Village.
THE Reasons why we withdraw from Communion with the Church of Salem Village, both as to hearing the word Preached, and from partaking with them at the Lord's Table, are as followeth.
Why we attend not on publick Prayer, and preaching the word, there are,
[56] 1. The Distracting, and Disturbing tumults, and noises made by the persons under Diabolical Power and delusions; preventing sometimes our hearing, understanding, and profiting by the word preached. We having after many Trials, and Experiences found no redress in this matter, accountea ourselves under a necessity to go where we might hear the word in quiet.
2. The apprehension of danger of ourselves, being accused as the Devil's Instruments, to afflict the persons complaining, we seeing those that we have reason to esteem better than ourselves thus accused, blemished, and of their lives bereaved: for seeing this, thought it our prudence to withdraw.
3. We found so frequent and positive preaching up some Principles and Practices by Mr. Parris,[79] referring to the dark and dismal mystery of Iniquity working among us, was not profitable, but offensive.
4. Neither could we in Conscience join with Mr. Parris, in many of 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 find ourselves justly aggrieved, and offended with the Officer, who does administer, for the Reasons following.
1. 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 the Country.
2. His easie and strong Faith and Belief of the before-mentioned Accusations, made by those called the Afflicted.