members in the Church who are or may be chosen and appointed for the time being, to that office and calling, by the authority aforesaid; and also, that we will, as faithful brethren and sisters in Christ, conform and subject ourselves to the known and established faith and principles of our community, and to the counsel and direction of the Elders who shall act in union as aforesaid; and also to all the orders, rules and regulations which are, or may be given and established in the Church, according to the principles, and by the authority aforesaid.

Sec. 4.-As the faithful improvement of our time and talents in doing good, is a duty which God requires of man, as a rational, social and accountable being, and as this duty is indispensable in the members of the Church of Christ, therefore it is, and shall be required of all and every member of this Institution, unitedly and individually, to occupy and improve their time and talents, to support and maintain the interest of this Society, to promote the objects of this Covenant, and discharge their duty to God and each other, according to their several abilities and callings, as members in union with one common head; so that the various gifts and talents of all, may be improved for the mutual benefit of each other, and all concerned.

WITCHCRAFT.

The few pages that close this work, are devoted entirely to a repetition of strong cases of ancient demonology and witchcraft detailed at the time of their occurrence by the Rev. Cotton Mather, a celebrated Divine in this country, and other clergymen and learned men of that day, many of which cases, they pledge their reputation, occurred within their own view, and are accurately and truly repreşented,

That they honestly believed what they have related, cannot be doubted by the reader on the perusal of the original. Indeed, their excited feelings affected more to keep up this strange belief in supernatural events, than all things else; for they were usually the prosecutors, witnesses, and jury, to try the guilty for guilty they of course were, if suspected and accused. And the offenders were pre-judged, condemned, and executed in the minds of the tryers as much before the evidence was heard, as subsequent. It was a business of condemnation under high excitement, not of judicious, honest, adjudication of facts proved before them. The few cases I have collected, are only inserted here to shew the amazing improvement in the minds of men since that strange and truly eventful period of the dark ages.

The following are the only cases of trials for witchcraft upon the Records of the Colony of Connecticut, which are transcribed accurately from the Record.

A Court held at IIartford, July 2d, 1663,

Elizabeth Seger, thou art here Indited by the name of Elizabeth Seger, for not haveing the feare of God before thine Eyes; thou hast enterteined familiarity with Sathan, the grand Enemie of God and mankind, and by his help, hast acted things in a preternaturall way beyound the ordenary course of nature, as allso for that thou hast committed Adultery, and hast spoken Blasphemy against God, con

trary to the Lawes of God and the established Lawes of this Corporation, for all or any of which crimes by the sayd Lawes thou deservest to dye.

The Prisoner pleaded not Guilty of the Inditement, and refered herselfe to the tryall of the Jury.

The Jury returne that they finde the Prisoner Guilty of the Inditement in that perticuler of Adultery.

June, A. D. 1665.

The Inditement of Elizabeth Seger.

Elizabeth Seager, thou art here indited by the name of Elizabeth Seager, the wife of Richard Seager, not having the feare of God before thine eyes, thou hast entertained familiarity with Satan, the Grand Enemy of God and mankind-hast practiced witchcraft formerly, and continuist to practice witchcraft, for which, according to ye Lawes of God and the establisht Law of this Corporation, thou deservest to die.

The Prisoner answers not guilty, and refers herself to be tried by God and the Country.

The Jury being called to return their Verdict upon ye Inditement of Elizabeth Seager, the Foreman declares that they find the prisoner Guilty of familiarity with Satan.

Respecting Elizabeth Seager, this Court considering the verdict of ye Jury, and finding that it doth not legally answer the Inditement, doe therefore discharge and set her free from further suffering or imprisonment.

This is a true copy of record.

The same Elizabeth Segar had been before tried and acquited for the same offence committed with the crime of adultery, and found guilty of adultery, and not guilty of witchcraft.

Court of Assistance at Hartford May 25, 1699.

Kateram Harrison, thou standest here Indicted by ye name of Kater am Harrison, of Weathersfield, as being guilty of Witchcraft, for that thou not having the fear of

God before thine eyes, hast had familiarity with Sathan, the grand enamie of God and mankind; and by his help hast acted things beyound and besides the ordinary course of nature, and hast thereby hurt the bodyes of diuers of the Subjects of our Souraigne Lord, the King; for which, by the law of God and of this Corporation, thou oughtest to dye. What sayest thou for thyselfe, guilty or not guilty. The Prisoner returned not guilty, and referred herself to a Tryall by the Jury present.-Juryes Oath. You doe sware by the grate dreadfull name of the euerliuing God, that yon well and truely try, Just verdict giue, and true deliuerance make between our Sourigan Lord, the King, and such Prisoner or Prisoners at the Barr as sheals be given you in charge according to euidence giuen in Court and the lawes, so help you God, in our Lord Jesus.

The Jury finding difficulty in the matter given them in charge, in refference to the Indictment of Kathern Harrison, cannot as yet, agree to give in a verdict; upon which the Court see cause to adjourne vntill the next Sasion of the Court of Assistant in October; at which time the Jury are to appare to give their verdict, and the Prisoner to remaine in duerance till that time.

A Court of Assistants held at Hartford October 12, 1699.

The Jury were called in Court, and did appeare, who were by the Court ordered to pass upon the consideration of the Indictment of Kath. Harrison, formerly committed to them.

The Jury being called to give in their verdict upon the Indictment of Katherin Harrison, returne that they find the Prisoner guilty of the Indictment.

This Court haueing considered the verdict of the Jury respecting Kathern Harrison, cannot concur with them so as to sentance her to Death, or to a longer continuance in restraynt, but do dismiss her from her imprisonment, she

paying her Just fees, willing her to minde the fullfilment of remouing from Weathersfield; which is that will tend most to her owne safety and the contentment of the people who are her neighbours.

WITCHCRAFT, 1694. r. 77.

Capt'n Daniel Clark at this Court as Att'y in behalf of our sovreign Lord, the King, appeared in Court and arrained Winnfield Benham Sen'r, and Winnfield Benham, Jr. both of Wallingford, for having familiarity with Satan, the enemy of God and mankind, and by his aid doing many preternatural arts, by mischievously hurting the bodies and goods of sundry persons, viz., of John Moses, Jr., Joseph Roys and Ebenezer Clark, with divers others, to the great damage and disturbance of the public peace, &c. This bill of Charges, with the testimonies relating thereunto, being referred to the consideration of the Grand Jury, returned upon the bill Ignoramus.

This suit was commenced at N. Haven, but tried at Hartford.

It is to be confessed and bewailed, that many inhabitants of New England, and young people especially, had been led away with little Sorceries, wherein they did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God: they would often cure hurts with spells and practice detestable conjurations with Sieves, and Keys, and Peas, and Nails, and Horse Shoes, to learn the things for which they had a forbiden and impious curiosity. Wretched Books had stolen into the land, wherein fools were instructed how to become able fortune tellers.

Although these diabolical divinations are more ordinarily committed perhaps all over the world, than they are in the country of New England, yet that being a country devoted unto the worship and service of the Lord Jesus Christ above the rest of the world, he signalized his vengeance