cautious, cool, steady, and persistent.  Of course, they were wholly inexperienced in such things, and liable to make wrong moves, or to be driven or drawn to untenable ground.  But they will not be found, I think, to have taken a false step from beginning to end.  Their line of action was extremely narrow.  It was necessary to avoid all personalities, and every appearance of passion or excitement; to make no charge against Mr. Parris that could touch the church, as such, or reflect upon the courts, magistrates, or any others that had taken part in the prosecutions.  It was necessary to avoid putting any thing into writing, with their names attached, which could in any way be tortured into a libel.  Parris lets fall expressions which show that he was on the watch for something of the kind to seize upon, to transfer the movement from the church to the courts.  Entirely unaccustomed to public speaking, these three farmers had to meet assemblages composed of their opponents, and much wrought up against them; to make statements, and respond to interrogatories and propositions, the full and ultimate bearing of which was not always apparent:  any unguarded expression might be fatal to their cause.  Their safety depended upon using the right word at the right time and in the right manner, and in withholding the statement of their grievances, in adequate force of language, until they were under the shelter of a council.  If, during the long-protracted conferences and communications, they had tripped at any point, allowed a phrase or syllable to escape which might be made the ground of discipline or censure, all would be lost; for Parris could not be reached but through a council, and a council could not even be asked for except by brethren in full and clear standing.  It was often attempted to ensnare them into making charges against the church; but they kept their eye on Parris, and, as they told him more than once in the presence of the whole body of the people, on him alone.  Limited as the ground was on which they could stand, they held it steadfastly, and finally drove him from his stronghold.

On the first movement of Mr. Parris offensively upon them, they commenced their movement upon him.  The method by which alone they could proceed, according to ecclesiastical law and the platform of the churches, was precisely as it was understood to be laid down in Matt. xviii. 15-17.  Following these directions, Samuel Nurse first called alone upon Mr. Parris, and privately made known his grievances.  Parris gave him no satisfaction.  Then, after a due interval, Nurse, Tarbell, and Wilkins called upon him together.  He refused to see them together, but one at a time was allowed to go up into his study.  Tarbell and Nurse each spent an hour or more with him, leaving no time for Wilkins.  In these interviews, he not only failed to give satisfaction, but, according to his own account, treated them in the coolest and most unfeeling manner, not allowing himself to utter