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this reformed Synod adopted, May 12, 1680, the Savoy confession, composed by a convention of congregational divines at a public building in London, called the Savoy, which differed in nothing essential from the Westminster confession, which was adopted in 1648. They chose thus to unite with European Churches, that they might not only with one heart, but with one mouth, glorify God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed with great purity of doctrine and excellent religious instruction, the New England Churches had been remarkably free from superstition. But at the close of the 17th century, a cloud came over them, producing the most deplorable consequences. Two children in the house of the Rev. Samuel Paris of Salem village, were in the year 1692 affected with some unusual distemper. The physician declared that "they were under an evil hand.” A report spread that they were bewitched. An Indian woman privately made experiments to find out the witch. The children, hearing of her experiment, complained of her as tormenting them, and visible, though not present. They would be dumb and choked, and declare that pins were thrust into their flesh. Others soon complained of similar sufferings, and accused various persons of the sin of witchcraft. The public commotion was tremendous. Councils were called. Fasts were held. The Legislature appointed a fast through the colony, that the Lord might rebuke Satan. The accused were imprisoned; tried before the civil magistrates, and shocking to relate, nineteen were, between March and September, publicly executed. And these were such only as plead not guilty. All who confessed themselves guilty of witchcraft, and many there were who did this to save their lives, were acquitted. Terrible was the day. Every man was suspicious of his neighbor. Business was interrupted. Many people fled from their dwellings. Terror was in every countenance-distress in every heart." Before winter, there was an entire change of public opinion. All were sensible that it was an awful delusion in the public mind. And those who had been active in condemning, confessed their error, and sought forgiveness from the public.

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Witchcraft was universally believed in Europe until the sixteenth century, and very generally until after the phrenzy at Salem. King James wrote a book to teach his people the reality of witchcraft, and the duty of punishing it with the greatest severity, and the great Sir Matthew Hale con

demned to death two women for this supposed crime. The religious community had been taught by the Mosaic writings, that a "witch ought not to live." Let us spare our condemnation of them, and be grateful that we have more light and clearer views on this awful subject. During this early period the Churches of New England were blessed with signal outpourings of the Holy Spirit. The years 1637, 1679, 1683, 1696, and 1704, were memorable for the visitations of grace. At the commencement of the 18th century there were in New England one hundred and fifty Churches, thirty of which were Indian, with Indian pastors.

Harvard College had become flourishing; but that the Connecticut Churches might be supplied with a learned ministry, with less expense than sending their sons there, they in 1700 laid the foundation of Yale College.

In 1703, the trustees of this institution invited all the ministers of Connecticut to meet with the Churches in a general consociation, for the adoption of an uniform system of faith, after the example of the Synod in Boston, in 1680. The proposal was acceded to, and the Westminster and Savoy confessions were adopted. But as there was no authoritative bond of union among the ministers and Churches, and as one was much needed, a convention of ministers and delegates met in 1708, at Saybrook, which adopted a system of discipline and Church fellowship, called the Saybrook Platform. This was recognized by the Legislature as the religious constitution of the colony. It established district associations, a general annual association of ministers, composed of delegates from the district associations, and a consociation of ministers and Churches, a perpetual council in each district composed of ministers and lay delegates, to which all difficulties might be referred, and whose decision should be final.

In 1724, the convention of ministers at Boston, petitioned the general court to call a general Synod; but it was the opinion of the leading civilians, that it could not be done without an order from the king, and the thing was relinquished. No Synod has since been known in these Congregational Churches, and no public body has adopted any other confession of faith, or system of Church government, than those adopted by the above Synod.

By the settlement of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, the bounds of congregationalism became much enlarged. The congregational Churches in these

states adopted in general, the same faith and government as the mother Churches. None, however, but Connecticut, in all New England, became consociated.

About the year 1737, commenced a very general, powerful, and happy revival of religion throughout New England. An extraordinary zeal was excited in the ministers of the Churches. They addressed crowded audiences in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power. The doctrines of the reformation were presented in their native simplicity. Men were taught their entire depravity, the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the duty of immediate submission to God, of evangelical repentance and faith in Christ, and holy obedience. Converts were exceedingly multiplied. Religion was, in many places, almost the only subject of thought and conversation. Vast multitudes united themselves to the Christian Church, who, through life, adorned the doctrine of God their Savior.

This work found a great promoter in Massachusetts in the Rev. Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, one of the greatest divines of the Christian Church, who preached incessantly with great power, and who exposed with wonderful skill in his writings all the arts of the adversary to mislead, delude, and destroy by error and false religion the souls of men. In Connecticut, it was promoted by the ministry of Bellamy, Wheelock,* Pomeroy, and others; but, unfortunately, a class of fanatics arose in that state, who made great disturbances, and finally separated from their brethren as holier than they. These formed a new and distinct community of Churches, called Separates. They are now nearly extinct.

Throughout New England, the work found warm opposers, both among ministers and Churches, who made loud clamors against the wildness and fanaticism which appeared, and in such a world of depravity as this, is apt to hover around and attach itself, in some measure, to revivals of religion.

The good effects of that work of grace were long felt; yea, are felt to this day. They would have been vastly

*This eminent divine made great efforts to educate Indian youth, and establish an Indian charity school at Lebanon. In 1769, he removed his school to Hanover, N. H., and founded Dartmouth College. He had 40 Indian youth under his care; 20 of them, however, returned to savage life. One, Sampson Occum, became a preacher of some distinction, and acted as a missionary among his brethren. He went to England, where he was viewed as a great curiosity.

greater had the Churches listened to the faithful warnings of Edwards, and avoided the gross errors which prevailed; and had they educated their sons, the numerous youth who were called into the kingdom of Christ for the Gospel ministry. An army of able warriors might then have been sent into the field. But the Churches saw not the price put into their hands. The warnings from the watch tower were disregarded; their youth, ignorant of truth, ran wild; errors and corruptions increased, and a long night of darkness succeeded. Such ministers and Churches as opposed the revival, triumphed at every unhappy result, and became more decidedly Arminian in sentiment than they were before.

In the French war, which commenced in 1755, the inhabitants of New England mingled for the first time with foreigners. These were men who were disposed to ridicule their reverence for God, their respect for the Sabbath, their unhesitating belief in revelation, their abhorrence of profanity and sensuality; and men who naturally had a great influence over them as officers from the mother country. The association was very destructive to the piety and morals, especially of the youth of New England.

The Churches engaged in controversy with the Sandemanians, or followers of Mr. Robert Sandeman, who came into this country about 1760, and established Churches at Boston, and Danbury, Connecticut. His peculiar sentiments were, "That justifying faith is no more than a simple belief of the truth or the divine testimony passively received, and that this divine testimony is in itself sufficient, ground of hope to those who believe it without any thing wrought in us or done by us to give it a particular direction to ourselves." He adopted also some peculiar rites and ceremonies. This controversy naturally increased the Arminian spirit that was rapidly growing in the country.

The revolutionary war engrossed the supreme attention of every individual. Had it been attended only with the ordinary consequences of war, it must have been exceedingly destructive to the interests of vital piety. War always lays waste the morals of a nation, and hardens the heart and sears the conscience of depraved man. In the revolutionary war, the clergy took an active part. It was the constant subject of prayer and preaching especially on all public occasions. Many forsook their charges, and became chaplains in the army.

All the worst passions of man were brought

into exercise by the introduction and depreciation of paper currency. But a greater evil than all was, the nation was brought into alliance with the French, and prepared to drink deep of the intoxicating cup of French infidelity. The country was filled with the friends, and deluged with the writings of Voltaire, Rosseau, d'Alembert, and Dideroit. An immense edition of Paine's Age of Reason was printed in Paris, and sent to America to be given away or sold for a few pence a copy. Many were the secret friends of the new philosophy, and not a few in the high places became its open advocates. Secret societies were forming in the country with similar views to the Illuminati in Europe, and Christianity seemed in danger of being overthrown in this precious land, as it had been in France. But an able clergy remained in her Churches, who only needed to be aroused to a sense of danger. They were soon found to be neither unfaithful, timid nor weak. Among the bold assailants upon the destroying monster stood pre-eminent Dr. Dwight, President of Yale College. The Churches were roused and became watchful and prayerful. Men of intellect in the various walks of life were convinced of the danger to which they had been exposed, and turned in abhorrence from the vile seducers to the word of God. The Spirit of grace began to descend upon various parts of New England. ries of revivals almost unparalleled for purity and power, rapidly succeeded one another. Many colleges were remarkably blessed. A numerous body of learned, experimental Christians, entered the ministry, under whose labors, accompanied with signal outpourings of the Holy Spirit, the orthodox Churches of New England have risen within twenty years, to a state of prosperity, which calls for the warmest expressions of gratitude and praise. Their number of communicants is far greater now than at any former period. Still, however, many great and alarming evils exist. Many places, where were once flourishing Churches, have become waste. In others, where the gospel is preached, it is supported with great reluctance. In all, profanity, Sabbath-breaking, intemperance, and unbelief are shamefully prevalent. Powerful efforts have of late been made by means of domestic missionary societies, to reclaim waste places, and, by means of moral societies, to reform the community.

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In Massachusetts, the clergy and Churches which were Arminian, have, with the university of Cambridge, recently

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