Some part of the Determination of the Elders and Messengers of the Churches, met at Salem Village, April 3, 1695, relating to the Differences there.
IF the Distemper in Salem Village should be (which God forbid) so incurable that Mr. Parris after all, find that he cannot with any comfort and service continue in this present station, his removal from thence will not expose him to any hard Character with us (nor we hope) with the rest of the People of God, among whom we live, Mat. x. 14. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words; when you depart out of that house, or city, shake off the dust of your feet, &c. Acts xxii. 18. All which Advice we follow with our Prayers, that the God of Peace would bruise Satan under our feet, Now the Lord of Peace give you Peace always, by all means, &c.
Quest. Whether Mr. Parris his going to Abigail Williams[85] (and others) whom he supposed to have a Spectral sight (to be informed who were Witches and who afflicted those pretended sufferers by Witchcraft) in order to their being questioned upon their lives for it, were not a turning after such as had familiar Spirits; and a greater wickedness than Saul was guilty of (in that he did not intend thereby bodily hurt to any others.)
And whether in a crime of such a high nature, the making a slender and general confession, without any proposals of reparations, or due time of probation, ought so far to be accounted sufficient, from such a Pastor to his People.
[63] And whether such as were accused, or the surviving Friends and Relations of those that were any ways sufferers, by Accusations so by him proved, are in duty and conscience bound to continue their respect, honour and support to him, in the Ministry, after such known departures from the Rule of Gods word, and after such dire effects as followed thereupon, under the penalty of the dust shaken from his feet, testifying against them, even so as to render them in a worse case than those of Sodom and Gomorrah.
To the Honourable Wait Winthrop,[86] Elisha Cook,[87] and Samuel Sewall, Esquires, Arbitrators indifferently chosen, between Mr. Samuel Parris, and the inhabitants of Salem Village.
THE Remonstrances of several aggrieved persons in the said Village, with further reasons why they conceive they ought not to hear Mr. Parris, nor to own him as a Minister of the Gospel, nor to contribute any support to him as such, for several Years past; humbly offered as fit for consideration.
We humbly conceive that having in April 1693, given our Reasons why we could not join with Mr. Parris in Prayer, Preaching, or Sacraments. If these Reasons are found sufficient for our withdrawing, (and we cannot yet find but they are) Then we conceive ourselves virtually discharged, not only in Conscience, but also in Law; which requires maintenance to be given to such as are Orthodox, and blameless. The said Mr. Parris having been teaching such dangerous Errors, and preached such scandalous Immoralities, as ought to discharge any (tho ever so gifted otherways) from the work of the Ministry.